It was my dream to bring together my keto dinner rolls and grain free meatballs for an old school meatball slider.  But, I wondered, would it work? Would the rolls hold up to the sauce and meat?

I served these to my latest cake baking class and the feedback was tremendous. Everyone wanted the recipe for the meatballs, the sauce and the rolls. My initial concern was if the rolls would stand up to the sauce and meatballs. They did.

Even though the class was here for a cake class, I think they were almost more thrilled with these sliders. They were wow’d with the homemade tomato sauce and I promised them the recipe.

I now feel confident saying that you can eat old school Italian food and stay on your keto or Paleo diet plan.

Meatball sliders are perfect for my classes, as it shows off the keto rolls and my flair for grain free Italian cooking, and this is the best of both worlds. I currently teach a keto cake class and a keto bread class. The rolls are taught in the bread class and have been so well received because they taste like real bread and do not fall apart holding an ample meatball.

What are the ingredients in keto meatballs?

In these meatballs, I chose only to use ground beef, using equal amounts of ground round and ground chuck, which yielded an flavorful, tender meatballs. I soaked the meat in milk to tenderize, added a little olive oil, lots of pecorino and parsley. Keeping it simply, I used garlic powder, but you could use fresh minced garlic.

What Meat Makes the Best Keto Meatballs?

While I used all beef, a mix of ground round and ground chuck, you can use a variety of ground meat. Instead of beef, you could also use ground turkey. Just make sure to add in some olive oil because ground turkey can be very lean.

You can mix your meat up by adding pork, but I wasn’t sure who did or didn’t eat pork, so I stuck wth all beef. This proved very fruitful, as I intentionally set out to make the best all beef meatball I could, meaning a tender meatball.

My Cooking Technique for Keto Meatballs

Ground meat should not be packed tightly, when making meatballs. They will end up tough. Be gentle when rolling and bake for only 15 to 20 minutes at 375 degrees F.  before immersing into tomato sauce.

How to Make Easy Low Carb Tomato Sauce for Meatball Sliders

My basic tomato sauce is a version of  my grandmother’s authentic tomato sauce using Cento San Marzano tomatoes. In that recipe I use a food mill to separate the pulp. In this easy recipe, it’s not necessary as long as you use the Cento brand. It has the least amount of pulp and you can crush it with your hands. I simply heat some olive oil, garlic cloves and an quartered onion. I then remove the onion and garlic, add in two or three cans of tomatoes and cook on low for about 45 minutes.

All of these components can be done in advance. Keto Meatballs can be frozen. Rolls can be frozen. This means you can have access to meatball sliders at any time or make the components well in advance. It’s always a good idea to have meatballs in the freezer, ready to go. I love them in this spaghetti squash lasagna dish. 

Keto Slider Rolls

I use the same recipe I use for keto dinner rolls to make the keto slider rolls. The only thing I change is that I will press them down a little more.  They are the perfect size for sliders of all types.

The dough can be made and refrigerated for up to five days. It can also be frozen.  The recipe makes 8 rolls and a pound and a half of meat will make eight sliders, each with 3 ounces of meat.

More Keto Friendly  Italian Food You Might Love

Keto Eggplant Parmesan

Keto Chicken Parm

Keto Sausage Crusted Pizza

Low Carb Edamame Pasta with keto meatballs

Baked Italian Sausage with Broccoli Rabe

Three Cheese Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

Keto Cooking/Baking Classes 

These were so well received at my keto baking class and a meatball slider cooking class my be in order.  As of this date, we have keto bread classes, keto cake classes and a newly formed keto sausage crusted pizza class.

Keto Cooking Class Here

Keto Baking Class Here

Print

Keto Meatballs and Keto Meatball Sliders

Grain Free, all beef keto meatballs with grain free keto dinner rolls.

Course Keto Entree

Cuisine Italian

Keyword keto meatballs, keto sliders, meatball sliders

Servings 8 Sliders

Ingredients

Keto Meatballs

• 1 pound ground round
• 1 pound ground chuck
• 1/2 cup milk see notes
• 1/2 cup pecorino romano or parmesan grated
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 tablespoons Italian parsley chopped

Tomato Sauce

• 2 cans Italian San Marzano Tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic peeled
• 1/2 onion quartered
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Assemble Sliders

• 8 keto dinner rolls
• 8 meatballs
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
• 1/4 cup pecorino romano grated

Instructions

Keto Meatballs

• Mix meat together gently.
• Pour milk over meat. Allow a minute to soak in.
• Add eggs, and remaining ingredients. Mix gently. Don't compact meat.
• Roll into 16 meatballs.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Once meatballs are baked, add to the sauce.

Tomato Sauce Recipe

• Heat olive oil with garlic cloves and onion. Once those are browned, remove and add in cans of tomatoes.
• Use your hands to crush the tomatoes. There should be very little pulp left. I usually discard the tips of the tomatoes.
• Add in salt, pepper, and fresh basil (if you have it).
• Cook on low, uncovered for up to two hours until the sauce thickens.

Assemble

Get Keto Roll Recipe Here

• Cut rolls through middle. Brown for about 5 minutes at 400 degrees F.
• Place meatballs on each roll. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake another five minutes until cheese is melted.
  
• Sprinkle Pecorino Romano over meatballs.

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