Gluten free ricotta meatballs filled with zucchini and ricotta cheese are a delicious and satisfying meal for any hungry family. These meatballs are a great way to sneak in some veggies too!
This recipe is perfect for meatball lovers. You can even make these meatballs into an amazing gluten free meatball sub sandwich!
Learning how to eat gluten free is easy AND delicious with a gluten free meatball recipe like this one. And a bonus, these meatballs are also egg-free!
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I am always on the lookout for easy gluten free dinner ideas. When school is in session, our family barely gets 30 minutes to sit down together to enjoy a family meal. Thank goodness I have a few recipes that are so easy to make.
Are your school nights like this too?
Tonight we are having my kids' favorite meatballs. This is hands down the most popular meatball recipe I make. If you have read my blog, you know my family is NOT fond of zucchini...and yet, they love these meatballs.
Check out two of their favorite meatball recipes, these Pressure Cooker Turkey BBQ Meatballs, and these Savory Ground Pork Meatballs!
I really think the secret is the ricotta cheese. Even better? This meatball recipe bakes up in your oven! Oven-baked meatballs are so easy because you mix the ingredients, roll into meatballs, and bake. So easy!"
Ricotta cheese makes the perfect binder in this meatball recipe. I was able to make these egg free too! (We don't need to be egg free, but I felt it would make this a great option for many of my readers.)
These meatballs are perfect for meal prep because you can make a big batch and freeze some so you have them on hand for busy days. This is a huge time saver! Learning how to cook meatballs is so easy.
Meatball lovers unite! You can make big Italian meatballs like I did, or make smaller meatballs and enjoy them as an appetizer. Bigger meatballs are great for meatball sub sandwiches (aka grinders) too.
Can't you just see these gluten free meatballs being served as an appetizer at your next party?
These ricotta meatballs are healthy and delicious, and this entire gluten free meatball recipe, with the gluten free pasta and sauce, is ready in under 30 minutes!
Instructions:
This simple gluten free meatball recipe is ready in just a few easy steps! First, use either a gluten free jarred sauce or make a delicious homemade sauce like this gluten free meat sauce.
What jarred pasta sauce is gluten free?
There are quite a few great jarred pasta sauces that are gluten free. Here are some of our favorites:
- Ragu Old World Style and the one pictured above. Some of their sauce brands have barley so definitely read the labels!
- Prego
- Classico
- Contadina
- Eden
- Newman's Own
- Rao's
- Mezzetta
- Organicville
I am sure there are many others that are gluten free, just make sure to read the labels.
Ingredients:
- gluten free bread crumbs
- ricotta cheese
- zucchini, and
- lean ground beef
Add your meatball ingredients to a large bowl and mix well.
Can you use different ground meats?
I used ground beef, but you can easily substitute another ground meat like turkey, pork, or chicken.
Mix the ingredients. Form the ricotta meatballs and put them onto a greased baking sheet. Bake the meatballs at 350 degrees F in your oven until they are cooked through. Use a meat thermometer to check to ensure they have an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
You can even bake the gluten free meatballs in the sauce if you want the tomato flavors to bake in!)
More Delicious Pasta Recipes to Try:
Tools:
- A food processor to shred the zucchini.
- A great nonstick baking pan so you don't have to scrub a ton for cleanup.
📋 Recipe
Gluten Free Meatballs with Zucchini and Ricotta
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup gluten free bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shredded zucchini
- 1 jar Ragu Homestyle Pasta Sauce
- 1 box gluten free pasta
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Put the first 6 ingredients into a large bowl and mix well.
- Shape meatballs and place onto a greased baking dish.
- Bake meatballs for 20 minutes.
- While the meatballs are baking, set a pot of water on the stove with high heat to boil.
- Add your favorite gluten free pasta when the water is boiling. Cook the pasta to the box directions.
- Heat the pasta sauce on low heat.
- When pasta is cooked, toss in the pasta sauce.
- Remove meatballs from the oven and place one to two on top of your pasta. Serve with more sauce if you like 🙂
Nutrition
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eddie taylor
Got too try this,can I freeze them after cooking,many thanks.
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Eddie, I have not personally frozen these meatballs, but I am sure you can. Would you please come back and comment back if you try it? I know other readers will benefit from your feedback. Thank you so much.
Melanie | Melanie Makes
What a great use for an abundance of summer zucchini!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you Melanie 🙂
Donna
Do these lovelies absolutely 'need' the gluten-free breadcrumbs for proper binding?...Or could one use psyllium husk flakes or crushed buckwheat crackers if trying to avoid grains? Thanks so much for any insight! (I also use 100% buckwheat (or sarrasin) pasta as well. This offering looks spectacular AND spectacularly fast after a harried day!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Donna, I imagine they wouldn't need any breadcrumbs because of the ricotta cheese being a bit "sticky." If you try with psyllium husk, or without the breadcrumbs, can you please write back so other readers know? It would be so helpful to everyone. Thank you so much for your note 🙂 Sandi P.S. I haven't seen buckwheat pasta. What brand are you using?
Cathy | Lemon Tree Dwelling
I love this healthier, veggie packed dish! It looks amazing!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you Cathy 🙂
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
Love the addition of zucchini in these meatballs. Looks like perfect comfort food!