The BEST Oven-Baked Keto Pork Meatballs with Ricotta

The BEST Oven-Baked Keto Pork Meatballs are so easy to make. Incredibly moist, juicy and jammed-packed with flavour that will have you making these every week! Made with ground pork, ricotta, onion, garlic, parmesan cheese, and parsley, these gluten-free meatballs are seasoned to perfection and ready to be served in just 30 minutes!

The BEST Keto Meatballs

There’s nothing more comforting than a hot plate of zoodles or shirataki noodles smothered in marina-drenched meatballs. These are so indulgent tasting that after your first bite, you will love your new low-carb and gluten-free diet!

After a single bite, you will think that these oven-baked keto meatballs have been served to you in a restaurant since every bite practically melts in your mouth. Truly, one of the best keto meals EVER!

You can enjoy these keto meatballs as an appetizer, just like my Keto Sausage Balls or these Keto Cranberry meatballs or add them to this Pizza Bowl for a delicious meatball pizza!

Why you need to try this keto meatball recipe

These keto pork and ricotta meatballs are amazing on several levels:

1. Instead of a trio of ground meats, only pork is used in this recipe. Mild and slightly sweet, using only pork allows its flavour profile to shine.
2. Using only some basic ingredients and keeping the spices to a minimum, the flavour of the pork is not overtaken.
3. Since ground pork tends to dry out more easily than ground beef, a combination of tangy ricotta and pork crumbs adds moisture and lightness to the meatballs.
4. Oven-baking the meatballs on a rack allows for these gluten-free meatballs to brown without the mess of a frying pan.
5. Lastly, braising the keto pork meatballs in a sauce for 30 minutes, not only makes the meatballs more tender but also infuses the sauce with great flavour.

Ingredients for Keto Pork Meatballs

These Italian-based meatballs call for simple ingredients that are easily found in your fridge and pantry. The only ingredient you may need to buy or make are the pork rind crumbs.

Here is everything you’ll need:

• Ground pork: This recipe calls for all ground pork. Make sure that your pork is plain and has not already been seasoned. I use Butcher Box ground pork since it is free-range and antibiotic-free.
• Pork Crumbs: Since we are keeping these keto pork meatballs gluten-free, you will need some pork panko crumbs. I make my own by simply adding a bag of pork rinds to my food processor and turning it on until the pork rinds have been reduced to the size of bread crumbs.
• Ricotta:  Most meatball recipes call for milk but using whole-milk ricotta adds a little tang to this recipe as well as keeps these meatballs nice and juicy. Do not use reduced-fat ricotta as these meatballs will not turn out quite as delicious.
• Egg: Adds extra moisture to the meatballs, and acts as a core component to bind the mixture together.
• Parmesan cheese: Adds heavenly, cheesy flavor to the meat mixture. I recommend using fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano for the best authentic flavour. Freshly shredded is always better but if you are in pinch, pre-shredded Parmesan will work.
• Onion & garlic: Many recipes call for sautéing these ingredients, but there is no need as long as you mince the ingredients into very fine pieces.
• Parsley: I highly recommend using fresh herbs, but if you don’t have them on hand, using dried parsley will work as well (for 1 tbsp. of fresh herbs, use 1 teaspoon of the dried alternative).
• Salt + pepper: to season the overall mixture.

Instructions for Making the BEST Keto Meatballs

Quick and simple is the name of the game when it comes to creating these oven-baked keto meatballs!

1. Combine the ricotta and pork crumbs in a bowl and stir until fully combined.
2. Add the pork, Parmesan, parsley, eggs, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper to the ricotta mixture and mix with your hands until thoroughly combined.
3. Divide the meat mixture into 24 portions (about ¼ cup each) and place on a platter. Roll meat between your wet hands to form meatballs and space them evenly on a prepared wire rack. Roast meatballs until browned, 30 to 35 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through roasting. Remove from oven. 
4. If Eating Immediately, reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
5. Add ½ cup of the sauce to the bottom of a cooking dish.  Nestle the meatballs into the sauce, and pour remaining sauce over the meatballs.  Cover with foil, and transfer the pot to the oven. Bake until meatballs are tender and sauce has thickened, about 30 minutes. Remove the foil from the meatballs and sprinkle additional mozzarella or Parmesan cheese over the top, if desired. 
6. Set the oven to "broil - high" to brown cheese.  Sprinkle with basil and serve, passing extra Parmesan separately.

Hint: If you want to freeze the meatballs or make them ahead of time, bake the gluten-free meatballs and allow them to cool fully. Once cooled, place them in a zip lock back and store them in the fridge or freezer.

More Keto Meatball Recipes

Looking for other keto meatball recipes like this? Try these:

What to pair with these Keto Pork Meatballs

These are my favourite dishes to serve with the BEST keto meatballs:

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