These Gluten Free Pesto Meatballs are super easy to make and something the whole family can enjoy! These meatballs are soft, moist, and full of flavor. The fresh pesto to serve and inside the meatball is what takes this recipe to a whole new level!
If you enjoy this dish, you will also enjoy my Cranberry BBQ Meatballs as well. If you have left over pesto, check out my Pesto Orzo Salad.
Gluten Free Pesto Meatball Ingredients:
- Ground chicken–I like to get mine from Butcher Box. Butcher Box has the best quality meats, seafoods and proteins that get sent right to my door once a month. If you use my code HERE you can get a bunch of free meat on your next order.
- Gluten free flour-I like cassava flour! Otto’s is my go to brand. It is important to remember not all brands are created equally when it comes to cassava flour so that is why I stick to Ottos.
- Sea salt and parsley-For flavor.
- Black pepper-Omit for AIP.
- Egg-To bind everything together. If you are doing AIP (The Autoimmune Protocol) you can substitute with a gelatin egg using my recipe HERE.
For The Pesto:
- Fresh basil-Washed and leaves pulled.
- Nutritional yeast-To give these meatballs a cheesy flavor. If you do eat dairy you can use regular parmesan.
- Pine nuts-To thicken the sauce.
- Garlic-For flavor.
- Olive oil-Adds the best flavor!
- Lemon juice-To taste.
How To Make:
For the pesto-
- Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.
For the meatballs-
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix well throughout.
- Add a piece of parchment paper to a baking sheet and scoop the meatballs with a 1 inch cookie scoop onto the baking sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Pour the remaining sauce on top of the meatballs.
How Should I Serve?
- These meatballs make for a great appetizer or also go great over vegetable noodles (zoodles) , cauliflower rice or with broccoli!
If you like this recipe, you will LOVE my other meatball recipes:
If you enjoyed this recipe it would mean the world to me if you rated it and left a comment below. It helps others find it on google.
Gluten Free Pesto Meatballs (Whole30, AIP Option)
Servings 12 meatballs
388kcal
Cost $8
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Equipment
- Food processor
- baking sheet
Ingredients
For pesto:
- 4 cups fresh basil
- 1/2 cup pine nuts omit for AIP
- 8 cloves garlic
- 1 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast or parmesan cheese if you tolerate cheese
- 2 lemons juiced
- 1/2 tsp salt
For the meatballs:
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/3 cup pesto from above
- 1 egg skip for AIP
- 1/4 cup gluten free flour I like cassava flour, especially for AIP. Almond flour will work for non-AIP.
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/4 tsp black pepper omit for AIP
Instructions
For the pesto:
- Place all ingredients in the food processor and blend until smooth.
For the meatballs:
- Preheat the oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Using a cookie scooper scoop the mixture into 12 small balls and roll. Bake for 25 minutes. Pour remaining sauce over meatballs to serve. If you enjoyed this recipe it would mean the world to me if you rated it and left a comment below. It helps others find it on google.
Notes
If you enjoyed this recipe it would mean the world to me if you rated it and left a comment below. It helps others find it on google.
Pesto infused meatballs the whole family will love!
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 142mg | Potassium: 330mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 587IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Tag me on instagram @alliannaskitchen!
Kelly Hyatt says
I tried the pesto meatballs & they are delicious.
I am so glad you like them!
Lori says
Pesto is so good and in these meatballs – it makes them so flavorful! Unique recipe that is so good
Allianna Moximchalk says
Pesto is SO good – so glad you enjoyed this meatball pesto recipe 🙂