These gluten-free, paleo chicken meatballs turned out so juicy and flavorful. They’re spiced with curry, ginger, garlic, and cloves so they’re perfect if you’re craving something a little different from your standard chicken meatball recipe. They also happen to be low carb, keto diet friendly, gluten-free, grain-free and dairy-free.
This recipe is made in a food processor, but if you don’t have one you can just purchase ground chicken (or ground turkey or even ground beef if you prefer) instead of boneless skinless chicken thighs. That way you can make this paleo chicken meatballs recipe in a regular mixing bowl. But if you do have a food processor, it’s a worthwhile step to use the boneless skinless chicken thighs because they are what makes this recipe so deliciously juicy.
Main ingredients
To keep this gluten-free meatballs recipe paleo, I opted to use coconut flour to help the meatballs hold their shape. Coconut flour is a wonderful ingredient to have on hand, particularly if you follow a paleo diet, because it’s lower in carbs and higher in fiber than grain flours. And it also complements the flavors of the ginger and curry in this recipe.
These paleo chicken meatballs are baked in the oven as opposed to being fried in oil. I recommend using parchment paper on a baking tray for easy clean up and to prevent the meatballs from sticking to the tray.
I love rolling these chicken meatballs in sesame seeds before placing them on the baking tray. The sesame seeds add an extra layer of flavor and texture, plus they look so good. It’s optional but definitely recommended.
More paleo recipes to try
- These curried chicken thighs are oven baked. They’re easy to make, juicy, and flavorful.
- This baked butternut squash is sweet, tender, and so tasty.
- This paleo sweet potato bread is sweet, moist, and spiced just right.
Paleo Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
- 12 boneless skinless chicken thighs (approximately 1 3/4 pounds)
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- Optional: sesame seeds to roll the meatballs in
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add the egg, coconut flour, salt, black pepper, cloves, garlic powder, curry powder, and ginger to a food processor and process for a few seconds to mix the ingredients.
- Add the chicken thighs to the food processor and process again for a minute or two until all the ingredients are well mixed.
- Use your hands to form meatball sized balls. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on a plate and roll the meatballs in the sesame seeds to coat them (optional but recommended).
- Place the meatballs on a parchment paper lined baking tray and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.
- Makes approximately 15 paleo chicken meatballs.
Notes
- Store these in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days or freeze for up to six months.
Nutrition
I’m Jennifer, the author at A Sweet Alternative. I create simple recipes made with nutrient-dense ingredients.