Do Meatballs Have Gluten?

Last Updated on July 3, 2024

What’s in Meatballs? Are They Gluten Free?

There are many types of meatballs, depending on which meat and spices you use. However, the most common ingredients you’ll find in typical meatballs are:

• Ground Meat (usually beef, but also pork, chicken or turkey)
• Eggs
• Butter
• Onion
• Seasoning (garlic, paprika, etc.)
• Breadcrumbs
• Tomato

This list is by no means extensive and other ingredients can be added to meatballs according to the recipe you’re working from.

Do Meatballs Have Gluten?

In their purest form, meatballs are gluten-free. However, breadcrumbs or some kind of flour are often used as a filler in meatballs. This is because breadcrumbs are great at absorbing the meat juices when cooking, so it keeps your meatballs flavorful. While that’s great for people that can eat gluten, what about us?

Don’t worry – there are plenty of gluten-free meatballs out there that are just as flavorful and use no gluten-containing ingredients. No dry meatballs here! Whether shop-bought or homemade – we’ll be covering them both later in this article.

Whenever you’re buying meatballs, even if they look to be in their purest form, be sure to check the ingredients label. You probably won’t be able to see the breadcrumbs inside, so it’s always best to check and opt for products with a “gluten-free” label if possible.

Gluten-Free Meatballs

If you’re looking to buy your meatballs ready-made, look no further. Here’s a round-up of some of the best gluten-free meatballs on offer.

Rosina

It’s important to note that not all Rosina meatballs are gluten-free, but the Rosina Gluten-Free Italian Style meatballs are most definitely gluten-free. They have some amazing gluten-free recipes using their meatballs on their website, which is definitely worth checking out. Their Gluten-Free Honey Balsamic Meatballs sound incredible.

The ingredients in these meatballs are:

“Beef and Pork, Chicken, Water, Textured Soy Protein Concentrate, Soy Protein Concentrate, Salt, Dehydrated Onions, White Pepper, Garlic Powder, Romano Cheese, Parsley.”

You can usually find these meatballs in your local grocery store.

Ian’s Meatballs

Ian’s Italian Style Chicken Meatballs are a great option if you’re looking for something other than beef. What’s good about these meatballs, is that they’re not just free from gluten. Oh no! They’re also free from wheat, tree nuts, milk or casein, soy, eggs, and peanuts – most of the most common allergens! They do carry a “may contain” for fish, so that may be worth keeping in mind if you have a separate fish allergy.

The ingredients in these meatballs include:

“Skinless, Boneless, No Added Antibiotic or Hormone Chicken Breast, Cornflake Crumbs (no gluten), Tomato Paste, Water, Potato Flakes, Salt, Garlic Powder, Spices, Onion Powder, Sea Salt, Lemon Juice, Canola Oil”.

You can usually find them in your local grocery store.

Other Brands

If you have a local butcher, or you want to try another brand that isn’t on the list – just be sure to check the labels, or ask your local butcher which ingredients they use. More often than not, they’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you have. And as becoming gluten intolerant is becoming increasingly popular, many companies are choosing to make all of their meatballs gluten-free.

Gluten-Free Meatballs Recipe

You may want to make your own meatballs, especially as most of the ingredients you’ll need you’ll likely already have in your pantry. This Easy Gluten-Free Meatballs recipe from Gluten-Free Palate is a great place to start if you’re looking at making homemade gluten-free meatballs. The only ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are:

• Ground Beef (or Chicken/Turkey)
• Schar Crackers (or any other GF cracker)
• Parmesan Cheese
• Salt
• Pepper
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Dried Parsley
• Egg

With 10 minutes of prep time and 18 minutes of cooking time, you’ll be ready to serve your meatballs in no time at all! And the best part about homemade meatballs is, you can use whichever herbs or spices you fancy. If you like your meatballs with a bit of heat, add your favorite spice to give it a kick. I have no doubt you’ll have a killer recipe to impress your dinner guests within no time!

Conclusion

Meatballs are one of the easiest foods to make yourself – even if you’re a novice like me. So why not have a go at making your own? I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.