Gluten free ground chicken meatballs are a simple dish that is healthy and packed with lots of sweet and sour flavors. Each juicy chicken meatball leaves you yearning for the next. Plus, ground chicken is low cost and makes a healthy option for budget entertaining.
These addictive ground chicken meatballs are always a hit because they taste so delicious. These low-fat chicken meatballs are plump and have just the right amount of sweetness. You can cook these ground chicken meatballs in an Air Fryer or in the oven!
If you can’t get enough meatball recipes, I have the ultimate list of tasty gluten free meatball recipes. Each one has something different to offer, so I am certain you will have several new favorites!
I think what draws the Fearless Dining household towards meatball recipes is the versatility they offer. For example, they are fancy enough to serve at a dinner party. But, they are low-key enough to have on a busy weeknight.
These little meatballs are ready in under 20 minutes with an Air Fryer!! If you are having a party to watch the game with friends and family, these gluten free ground chicken meatballs are an excellent idea!
Gluten Free Sauces to Dip These Ground Chicken Meatballs In:
Plus, you get a craving for some Asian take-out, you can whip up a batch and nibble on these low-fat chicken meatballs dipped in this gluten free Asian sauce. Oh, and one more thing, your friends and family won’t realize these are gluten free unless you tell them!
You can also dip them in:
- Ketchup
- Salsa
- Marinara Sauce
- Melted Cheese Dip
Speaking of Asian take out, if you are new to eating gluten free, you may have several concerns when it comes to going out to eat. It can be so scary because you don’t know what goes on in the kitchen.
Imagine being on vacation and eating something with gluten and having to deal with the repercussions. It’s no fun at all. So, I made this guide to help you along the way to avoid these situations.
Take a peek at my Safe Gluten Free Dining Tips And My Most Popular Recipes. Don’t forget to reach out to me if you have any questions; I am always here to help.
Are you ready to make these Air Fryer Ground Chicken Meatballs?”
Shopping List for Air Fryer Ground Chicken Meatballs:
- Ground Chicken
- Rice Crumbs (Trader Joe’s) or Gluten Free Panko
- Egg
- Thyme
- Garlic
(In case you are wondering what the heck Rice Crumbs are, they are a new gluten free item at Trader Joe’s. They work beautifully in place of gluten free breadcrumbs!)
Add your raw ground chicken and the other ingredients in a bowl. Mix it well.
Can you use ground beef or ground turkey instead of ground chicken?
You can use any ground meat to make this meatballs recipe. Note that ground beef has a higher fat content and you may need to slightly increase the amount of gluten free bread crumbs to keep it from getting tough from cooking.
Next, form the ground chicken into meatballs.
Add the ground chicken meatballs into an air fryer. Air Fryer TIP: Make sure there is room for the hot air to circulate around each meatball.
Can you make these gluten free ground chicken meatballs in the oven?
You can definitely make these in an oven instead of an air fryer. Bake at 350F degrees for 25 minutes. Make sure they have a cooked internal temperature of 165F degrees.
Cook in your air fryer for 15 minutes. Enjoy!
How do you know when the ground chicken meatballs are cooked?
Your chicken meatballs are cooked when they have an internal temperature of 165F degrees inside. Check with a digital thermometer by inserting it into the middle of a few of the meatballs.
What can I do with these gluten free ground chicken meatballs?
These meatballs can be eaten plain, dipped in sauce, put into pasta sauce, and served in a meatball sub. You can also make them into very cool appetizers. Here are 4 fun appetizer recipes to make with meatballs.
Why Are My Meatballs Tough?
Tough meatballs can be frustrating because they just don’t taste as good as moist, delicious meatballs. You might be scratching your head and wondering why this happened. Odds are, there simply wasn’t enough moisture in the meatballs as they cooked.
A lot of dishes you can throw a little of this and a little of that in, but meatballs are more particular. The reason why is as they cook the protein will shrink out of them. So, making sure you have adequate moisture will prevent dryness as the protein shrinks. The moisture usually comes from eggs or milk in most meatball recipes.
Can You Freeze Raw Meatballs?
Yes, you can actually freeze these gluten free ground chicken meatballs while they are raw. If you haven’t tried flash-freezing food yet, this is a great time to learn. To flash freeze, lay the meatballs on a cookie sheet or in a baking pan.
TIP: Make sure the raw meatballs do not touch each other in the air fryer tray. Then place the pan in the freezer for around 2 hours.”
When you feel a meatball, it should be pretty hard and frozen. Then you can add all the meatballs together into a freezer-safe container. They will last around 4 months.
When it comes time to cook the frozen meatballs, thaw in the refrigerator then simply follow the instructions as directed and heat them up.
Why Did My Meatballs Fall Apart?
Chicken meatballs falling apart is the opposite issue as them being too dry. If you use too much binder in the meatballs, then they won’t correctly hold together as they cook. I use a combination of gluten free panko, egg, garlic, and thyme. Make sure you use the amounts I recommend, so you don’t have this issue.
Now that you are drooling, I want to share some of my other meatball recipes for you to try.
- Savory Italian Gluten Free Pork Meatballs
- Instant Pot Gluten Free Barbecue Turkey Meatballs
- Gluten Free Bok Choy Meatballs
- Instant Pot Deconstructed Stuffed Cabbage Meatballs
Air Fryer Gluten Free Ground Chicken Meatballs
Delicious gluten free ground chicken meatballs made in your air fryer in under 20 minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/3 cup gluten free panko
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons chives
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 egg
Instructions
- In a bowl, add all of the ingredients and mix well.
- Open the air fryer and remove the tray.
- Use a spoon to take some of the raw chicken mixture and roll it into a meatball.
- Place in the air fryer and repeat until you fill the air fryer basket.
- Make sure none of the meatballs are touching. You want the hot air to be able to circulate around each meatball.
- Cook for 15 minutes on 350F degrees.
- Enjoy!
Notes
You can use ground beef, pork, or turkey for this recipe if you don't have ground chicken.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 meatballs Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 54 Total Fat: 3g Saturated Fat: 1g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 34mg Sodium: 139mg Carbohydrates: 1g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 0g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 6g
Jenni
What an easy and delicious appetizer! I want to dunk them in all the Red Duck!
Sandi Gaertner
Oooh, I like how you think!!
Beth
wow – thanks for the explanation on why meatballs can get tough. Also the options for cooking without an air fryer and other ideas for how to use them. Great post!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad to help Beth!!