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Simple Joyful Food

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beef recipe

Healthy low-carb taco meatballs.

February 18, 2020 8 Comments
healthy low-carb taco meatballs up close 2 (c)thejoyofeatingwell
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This delicious and healthy five-ingredient low-carb taco meatball recipe will be ready in thirty-minutes, from start to finish. And you’ll only need to wash three things: a mixing bowl, a skillet, and your hands.

Which taco meat is the best?

Meatballs come in all shapes, sizes, and ingredients such as beef, pork, turkey, chicken, vegetarian, and vegan. My personal favorite meatball base is ground chicken breast. The consistency is extremely fine and therefore you avoid any mystery bites of fat, grizzle, or well, mystery bites.

Another great reason for choosing ground chicken for meatballs is that ground chicken breast is somewhat bland all by itself. This means that whatever ingredients you add will stay pure and deliciously powerful. Score!

Just in case you were wondering, by all means, substitute the ground chicken in this recipe with turkey or beef!

healthy low-carb taco meatballs - bowl (c)thejoyofeatingwell

How are these low-carb meatballs?

Most meatballs have the addition of bread crumbs, which spells c-a-r-b-s. This low-carb taco meatball recipe eliminates the bread crumbs. You won’t even miss it. And here’s the awesomeness… one single serving has less than one net carb!

Serving suggestions

Serve these low-carb taco meatballs over super-delicious green rice, mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower, or go crazy. Tuck them in a taco shell, stuffed in a sub, sliced on a pizza, or toss them with your favorite pasta!

Right now I am imaging the next iteration of this recipe… I think I will grab a baking dish and add a layer of the most delicious home-made refried beans, then seasoned rice, and then tightly pack a layer of these taco meatballs covered with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for fifteen minutes so that everything gets really nice and gooey. Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and sour cream. Sounds delicious, right?

But first things first, start with making these simple taco meatballs. So many people have shared with me that this recipe is now a staple dinner item for their families. It’s simple, easy, low-mess, quick, healthy, and super delicious!

healthy low-carb taco meatballs - up close (c)thejoyofeatingwell

The best cooking methods for low-carb taco meatballs.

My recipe calls for cooking in a skillet over medium-high heat. I prefer the skillet method because it’s quick and easy – plus, you’ll have dinner ready in no time!

  • SKILLET: Medium-high heat with olive oil for thirty-minutes, turning until evenly browned.
  • OVEN: You can also bake them in a pre-heated oven at 400-degrees on a sheet pan with parchment paper for thirty-minutes. Flip them over until the inside temperature is at least 165-degrees. T
  • SLOW COOKER: Brown the meatballs in a skillet before placing them in a slow cooker on low for six hours (or high for three).
  • PRESSURE COOK: Brown using saute function on all sides. Switch to manual high pressure for fifteen minutes and release steam.

I can’t wait to hear what you think about this recipe and how it improves your kitchen life and that four-o’clock “what’s for dinner?” challenge.

Happy meatball dinner!

Eat well, my friends.

Lyndi

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healthy low-carb taco meatballs up close 2 (c)thejoyofeatingwell
Print

Healthy low-carb taco meatballs

A quick and easy recipe that your family will love
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onions, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 1 pound ground chicken breast
  • 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin

Instructions

  • Mix cilantro, onions, taco seasoning, and ground chicken together and form bite-size meatballs.
  • Heat skillet to medium-high heat and add olive oil.
  • Cook meatballs for approximately thirty-minutes, turning until evenly browned and temperature reaches 165 degrees.
  • Serve and enjoy!

healthy-low-carb-taco-meatballs-(c)thejoyofeatingwell

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Recipe Rating




  1. Rhonda says

    September 14, 2017 at 1:59 pm

    This is 100% the kind of recipe that would work for me and mine!

    Reply
    • lyndi says

      September 29, 2017 at 12:54 pm

      Yea! That makes me happy. Hugs!

      Reply
  2. Debbie says

    September 15, 2017 at 3:51 pm

    Yummy as always! Love the new touches to the site.

    Reply
    • lyndi says

      September 29, 2017 at 12:54 pm

      Thank you, Miss Debbie! I needed to get rid of a lot of the clutter!

      Reply
  3. Debbie says

    March 9, 2018 at 8:38 am

    Meatball appetizer skewers! Thanks for sharing❌⭕️

    Reply
    • lyndi says

      March 9, 2018 at 10:33 am

      Yes! Meatball appetizer skewers are perfect for this dish! I am going to steal your idea!

      Reply
  4. Suzy Taylor Oakley says

    April 28, 2018 at 3:32 pm

    Oh, my goodness. 5 ingredients, 30 minutes … and cilantro? No-brainer — I’m making these!

    Reply
    • lyndi says

      May 7, 2018 at 2:29 pm

      Hi Suzy! haha! Yes, it’s a new brainer and seriously, these meatballs are my “what do I make for dinner tonight” go-to meals!

      Reply

hellooooo Foodie!

author image of thejoyofeatingwell blogHi! My name is Lyndi Fultz, and I live in the beautiful Ozark Mountains that span Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri.

I’m a foodie on a journey to EAT HAPPILY and LIVE SIMPLY. Learning and encouraging along the way and writing about it here on Simple Joyful Food.

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