These carnivore meatballs are exactly what you need when you want a simple, protein rich meal that actually tastes good.
Made with just a handful of ingredients, they’re perfect for anyone following a carnivore diet or simply looking to add more meat based dishes to their menu.
The combination of ground beef and Italian cheese creates a perfect texture. The pork rinds act as a binder, replacing the traditional breadcrumbs while keeping the recipe strictly carnivore friendly.
You can make a big batch and store them in the fridge for quick meals throughout the week.
They taste great both hot and cold, making them perfect for meal prep or when you need a quick protein snack between meals.
The recipe is straightforward and takes about 20 minutes to prepare. Even if you’re new to cooking or the carnivore diet, you’ll find these meatballs easy to make.
👍 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Perfect Texture: These meatballs have an amazing texture that’s hard to find in other carnivore meatball recipes.
The combination of ground beef and pork rinds creates meatballs that are firm enough to hold their shape but still tender and juicy when you bite into them.
Great for Meal Prep: These meatballs stay fresh in the fridge for several days and don’t lose their flavor or texture when reheated.
You can cook a big batch on Sunday and have ready to eat protein for the whole week.
Quick Cooking Time: From start to finish, these meatballs take just 20 minutes to cook. That’s much faster than many other carnivore main dishes that often require long cooking times.
Excellent Macros: The combination of beef, cheese, and eggs creates a perfect macro ratio for the carnivore diet. You get plenty of protein and healthy fats without any unnecessary ingredients.
✨ Recipe Ingredients
For this carnivore diet meatballs recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- 2 pounds (900g) Ground Beef
- 3 oz (85g) shredded Italian cheese Blend
- 2 oz (55g) Pork Rinds – Use these pork rinds (Amazon link) for this recipe.
- 2 large Eggs
- 1/3 cup Water
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Optional: Coriander (omit for strict carnivore version)
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👨🍳 How To Make
These carb free meatballs are very easy to make:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 360°F (180°C).
Step 2
In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients until well combined.
Step 3
Form the mixture into small meatballs.
Step 4
Place meatballs on a baking sheet and cook for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until browned.
Step 5
Remove meatballs from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes.
💡Tips
1. Don’t Overmix
Mixing the ingredients too much will make your meatballs tough and dense. Mix just until everything is combined – you should still see bits of cheese and small pieces of pork rinds.
Once you can’t see any plain ground beef anymore and all ingredients are evenly distributed, stop mixing.
Overmixing will cause the proteins in the meat to tighten up, leading to harder, less juicy meatballs.
2. Try Different Types of Cheese
There are lots of other cheeses you can try that work well in these meatballs. For example, you can use cheddar cheese, which has a sharp, strong flavor.
Or you could try mozzarella, which melts really well and gets nice and stretchy. Monterey Jack is another good option – it has a mild flavor that goes well with beef. If you like a bit of spice, you could even try pepper jack cheese.
3. Add Extra Cheese on Top
Even though there’s already cheese inside the meatballs, you can make them even more delicious by adding more cheese on top after they’re cooked.
Variations
1. Beef and Lamb Meatballs- Replace half the beef with an equal amount of ground lamb for a richer, bolder flavor.
2. Bacon Wrapped Meatballs- For an indulgent, smoky twist, wrap the shaped meatballs with thin bacon slices before baking.
The rendered bacon fat keeps the meatballs juicy. Cook at 400°F for 15 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. Drain excess grease.
You’ll Love These Recipes Too
If you liked my carnivore meatballs recipe, make sure to check out these carnivore recipes too:
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t have an Italian cheese blend?
You can use any shredded hard cheese like cheddar, Parmesan, romano, or a mix. The cheese adds great flavor, so use whatever you have on hand.
Can I air fry the meatballs instead?
Absolutely! Air fry at 380F (193C) for 8-10 minutes. The air fryer really makes them crispy, juicy and tasty!
Carnivore Meatballs
Print RecipeIngredients
- 2 pounds 900g Ground Beef
- 3 oz 85g shredded Italian cheese Blend
- 2 oz 55g Pork Rinds Use these pork rinds (Amazon link) for this recipe.
- 2 large Eggs
- 1/3 cup Water
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Optional: Coriander omit for strict carnivore version
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 360°F (180°C).
- In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients until well combined.
- Form the mixture into small meatballs.
- Place meatballs on a baking sheet and cook for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until browned.
- Remove meatballs from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes.
Defiantly going to try making these
Defiantly going to try making these
Absolutely delicious!!
So good! Didn’t change anything from the base recipe. Will make again and play with adding different flavors!
Can I leave out the pork rinds? I don’t eat pork.
Yes
Hi i have been having alot of luck with juicy meatballs (no dairy) by simply mixing the mince with cold water about 1/2 a cup to 500gm of mince. I then add a 1/2 tsp gelatin and 1/2 tsp physillum husk (less if powder) – you could also try more of each of these to see what different effect it has. Also i add 1/2 tsp baking soda and a few flavours such as 1 tsp garlic, onion powder, cumin, coriander powder, little chilli, tamari and fish sauce a tablespoon of each mix well. What i like about this recipe with water is you dont have to use cheese to get that juicy meatball – dry meatballs not great – then remember to not overcook your meatballs.