These delicious Paleo friendly meatballs are so simple to whip up and are a flavour sensation- Sweet, salty, sour and spicy- Perfect for food prep and easy weeknight meals!
Operation ‘Paleo-fy Niki’s favourite recipes’ is going well. Thanks for asking.
Niki is picky when it comes to meat. Really picky. Her favourite forms of animal protein would probably be chicken McNuggets (and the actual meat content of that is all but questionable), cheeseburgers and the overly processed meatballs they serve at birthday parties. The ones where beef is the tenth ingredient. The TENTH ingredient.
Seeing as all the ingredients bar the beef would be paleo friendly, this was a slight challenge- but one which doable. Then the ever kind sister threw the spanner in the works- she wanted her favourite condiment- the sweet and sour sauce to compliment the meatballs. Sister of the year award right there.
Anyway- I decided to play around with some ingredients, adjust some sauces to get that happy balance- and dammit, I think I nailed it.
These meatballs are moist, flavourful and to be honest- I’m glad Niki demanded suggested the sweet and sour sauce- It takes it up a notch. This quick, easy and healthy meatball recipe will change the way you look at ground meat again- and leave you snubbing those birthday party treats.
Just kidding, you need to eat those to balance the vino.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs [Paleo, Gluten Free, Grain Free]
Paleo Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 kilogram ground beef Can sub for other ground meat
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 red bell pepper finely diced
- 1 onion finely diced
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup coconut flour sifted
- 1/2- 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 3 eggs
- Coconut oil for frying
Sweet and Sour Sauce
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon coconut aminos soy sauce substitute
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup tomato passata sauce
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoon orange juice
- Coconut oil for frying
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat, minced garlic, diced bell pepper and diced onion. Add the salt, cumin and red pepper flakes and mix well.
- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and add to the mixture with the sifted coconut flour. Add the almond milk, 1/4 cup at a time until meat mixture is moist. Form mixture into golf sized meatballs and set aside.
- Coat a large frying pan with coconut oil and once hot, add the meatballs to cover the pan in an even layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes, flip, and cook again for another 2-3 minutes. Continue the process until all the meatballs are cooked. Set aside.
- In a large pot, add coconut oil and fry the garlic until fragrant. Add the coconut aminos, honey, tomato passata sauce, orange juice and red pepper flakes. Cook on low heat and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Once sauce has thickened, remove from heat.
- In a large bowl, add the meatballs then pour the sauce evenly over until the meatballs are fully coated.
- Serve immediately, or allow to cool
Notes
What is your favourite finger food at a party?
How much chicken do you think are in McNuggets?
What McDonalds myths are infamous in your city? Here the famous one is that there is pig fat in the soft serve cones.
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I’m a sucker for some good meatballs on top of my pasta! I think the sweet and sour will intensify the flavor up to the right notch. 🙂
They are so good- try them out!
oh my goshhh i lovvvve meatballs. seriously this is something well known about me- ever since i was a kid. i have another friend who doesn’t like them and will feed them to her dog- unless I’m around, then i get first dibs. (ha-HA!) these look amazing, i want to make them right now.
You would appreciate this fact. I ate them for breakfast yesterday in a sub….cold. Oh man it was amazing. I’d fight a dog for it.
i like this operation. Can i be part of niki’s taste test crew? I LOVE MEAT
YES. Come to Australia!
Hello delicious! Niki sure is lucky to have you as a brother. Tell her I said that! 😛
There was a myth going around here about rat parts being found in the McDonald’s patties. Not sure how true it was, but it was still gross! I only go to McDonalds for McFlurries every once in a while these days. If I want a burger, I can think of about a million other places that can make a burger that is a million times better.
Chelseakale…complimenting me? What is the world coming too!
RATS PARTS? Khushboo has chicken fat, we have pig fat…you guys have rats? But seriously. McFlurries are so worth it.
I have a million and one things to say. I shall channel Meg and list. 1) Picky Niki is her new name 2) Who goes to McDs on their birthday? 3) McDs sells meatballs in Australia?! 4) I’m becoming paleo 5) Does that mean the chickpeas I just ate were illegal? 6) Expect a visit to McDs at 4:00 AM post Toronto rave. 7) I haven’t raved in at least 3 years so I should start building my stamina now 8) Can I bring a hard-boiled egg to a rave? 9) Is it Thursday yet? I want Picky Niki 10) I had to end on an even number.
1. Picky Niki is too complimentary. You ain’t seen Picky yet. 2. I do! 3. No! These are better than mcNuggets. 4. Good girl. Start with bread. 5. Chickpeas are considered a laxative and medication is paleo. 6. YES. But softserve cones please. 7. Me neither. Are we sucky if we leave at midnight? 8. no. But you may bring a larabar and shredded chicken. 9. Nearly. In Sydney. 10. Hi.
I’m totally going to steal your sauce recipe for my TVP meatballs! I have been experimenting with different ways to eat this plant based ground meat alternative and that sweet and sour sauce looks delicious!
YES- The sauce was amazing- I literally mopped my baguette with it
Ugh yessss, Nikki. Sweet and sour makes the meatball world go ’round. Now I’m in the mood to go to a cocktail party (minus the cocktails) and eat these on cute little toothpicks. Can you make that happen for me?
These look amazing! And I love that they can be frozen; I need to start stocking my freezer for when school starts in a couple of weeks.
Oh hell those look good! I want them now badly!
This might surprise you, but I make a mean meatball. I always whip up a few batches every fall for the Hubby and I usually freeze them mixed with pasta sauce (the standard red) and he uses them to make meatball subs.
Guess who ate leftover meatballs in a white 100% processed baguette for lunch with 2 babybel cheeses melted on top?
you have a smart hubby.
Ooooh I love how coconuty these are. I love meatballs, no shame here. I’m just bad at making them because I’m impatient and they fall apart and turn into bolognese!
Hahaha the number of times meatballs turn into bolognese…..urgh.
Oh man! These looks absolutely mouth watering! I love the sweet and sour sauce. I would demand it, too!
Thanks Mandy! I’ll make you a batch of the sauce for those lunch box treats 😉
Oh, these are great! I love meatballs but am a big traditionalist and don’t often stray from eating them over pasta with sauce. But sweet and sour is absolutely something I can try!
Please do, Kim! 🙂
For some reason I have been obsessed with meatballs for the past year (after not really caring for them) and now I can’t get enough. So naturally these are happening!
YESSSS. I wonder how this would go on a certain strawberry salad 😉
These were the best meatballs ever! What a great recipe 🙂
Naw, thanks Sarah! Hope you enjoyed them! 🙂