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These Cast Iron Meatballs are healthy meatballs that you can make in one pan. This Whole30 meatball recipe is made with just a few simple ingredients. You can prep these cast iron meatballs with marinara sauce or serve them plain.
Make some Cast Iron Meatballs for Sunday night dinner!
In my family, Sunday night is pasta and meatball night and my grandmother always makes the best meatballs. While I was on the Whole30 I came up with this healthy Whole30 alternative to the standard Italian meatballs.
This cast iron meatball recipe is made with just a few basic ingredients and comes together in about 30 minutes. All you need to do is mix up the ingredients, roll it into balls, fry in the skillet, and then transfer the skillet to the oven to bake.
Once prepared, you can add marinara directly to the meatballs or serve separately.
What kitchen tools will I need to make these Whole30 meatballs?
What ingredients will I need to make these healthy one-pan meatballs?
- Ground beef
- Egg
- Almond flour
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Crushed red pepper
- Dried oregano
- Avocado oil
Frequently asked questions
These meatballs are first seared on the stove top over medium heat and then finished in the oven.
After searing on the stove top, bake ground beef meatballs at 350F for 12 minutes.
Meatballs should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160F
Let’s make some Cast Iron Meatballs!
Step 1: Mix the ingredients
First, preheat the oven to 350F and add avocado oil to a 10″ cast iron skillet. Then, combine meatball ingredients in a mixing bowl until evenly mixed. Next, roll the mixture into 12 even balls.
Step 2: Fry the meatballs
Then, heat the avocado oil over medium heat and add the meatballs to the hot oil. Cook the meatballs on the stovetop for 6 minutes and rotate to brown on all sides.
Step 3: Bake the meatballs
Next, place the cast iron skillet into the oven. Bake the meatballs in the cast iron skillet in the oven at 350F for 12 minutes.
Step 4: Combine with sauce
Enjoy the meatballs plain or pour a jar of marinara sauce into the cast iron skillet with the meatballs. Finally, heat the marinara over medium-low for about 5 minutes and serve.
Step 5: Enjoy!
How long will these meatballs last in the fridge?
You can keep these meatballs in the fridge for up to 4 days or store them in the freezer to keep longer. Be sure to cool the meatballs and sauce completely prior to freezing.
Check out these other delicious cast iron recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me in the photo on Instagram and leave a comment and review below!
Cast Iron Meatballs
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 mintues
- Total Time: 54 minute
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Fry and Bake
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Healthy Whole30 meatball recipe that you can make in a cast iron skillet.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup almond flour
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- Optional: 24oz jar of marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and add avocado oil to a 10″ cast iron skillet
- In a large mixing bowl combine ground beef, egg, almond flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and crushed red pepper
- Mix until evenly combined and roll into 12 even balls – each ball will be a little over 2 tbsp worth
- Heat oil in cast iron skillet over medium heat
- When oil is hot, add the meat balls to the pan to cook
- Continue cooking for about 6 minutes rotating occassionally until meatballs are browned on all sides
- Place the cast iron skillet in the oven at 350F and bake for 12 minutes
- Enjoy without sauce or add a jar of marinara directly to the skillet with the meatballs and warm on the stove at medium-low heat for 5 minutes
Keywords: cast iron meatballs, whole30 meatballs, healthy meatball recipe
Do you have any leftovers for dinner tonight?
Perfect meatballs. I used ground turkey instead, and I made sure to pack the meatballs loosely. 10/10!
★★★★★
Thanks for letting me know they work with Turkey!! Good to know!
These are delicious! I had a lot of ground venison, so I used that instead and they came out great. Can’t wait to have for dinner! And love that I can freeze the leftovers.
★★★★★
Wonderful! thank you for sharing. i agree this is a great make-ahead option
I’m gluten sensitive and had a pound of ground pork, wanted to use my favorite cast iron skillet, and came across your recipe! These were delectable and served with a Spaghetti from Italy (which I can eat despite being GF) and a marinara sauce. I just used my one-for-one GF flour and minced garlic instead of garlic powder. It was so delicious that I’m saving this recipe! Thank you!
★★★★★
Thank you for sharing, Arlene!! That meal sounds absolutely incredible!!
I have made these meatballs twice now and they’re so good! I serve with gluten free pasta or zucchini noodles and it’s a great meal. Will definitely be a staple of mine from now on!
★★★★★
Yay!! thank you!!
These meatballs are absolutely delicious, and the 4 pieces per serving is the perfect amount.
I swapped the almond meal for gluten-free flour (all I had on hand) and they came out a bit floury (100% my fault), but the flavor is still there and I can imagine how delicious they are when you actually follow the recipe.
I had them plain with salad and they were delish. Can’t wait to pair them with sauce next!
★★★★★
thank you so much!! i will work on adding a note about using other flours as a substitute because you will need far less.