What to Serve with Meatballs {13 Low-Carb Side Dishes)
This post is about what to serve with meatballs {13 low-carb side dishes}.
Are you looking for some yummy side dishes to serve with meatballs?! I absolutely love making meatballs and always keep frozen meatballs in the freezer for a quick and easy last-minute dinner. Meatballs are such an easy recipe with so many different ways to enjoy them. They are the ultimate comfort food the whole family will enjoy.
Meatballs are also a great choice if you’re looking for simple and tasty ways to lose weight and eat healthy.
You can make Italian meatballs, Asian inspired meatballs, barbecue meatballs and so much more. It’s all about what herbs and spices you decide to put in the meat mixture. The possibilities are truly endless.
Whether you want to make ground pork, beef, turkey, or chicken meatballs. They are such a great option when it comes to easy meal prep.
In this post, I’m sharing the best side dishes for your favorite meatball recipes and BONUS, these are all low-carb! We typically think of things like classic meatball subs, a pasta dish, and garlic bread. However, next time you have meatballs on the menu I encourage you to try one of these low-carb ideas instead!
Just pair your favorite meatball recipe with one or two of these ideas below and you have a complete and healthy meal! I’ve included my favorite Homemade Meatball recipe below.
Zucchini noodles (AKA “zoodles”) are a great low-carb way to serve meatballs. They are delicious with traditional meatballs and tomato sauce sauce.
2. Green beans are one of my favorite sides to serve with meatballs! Some homemade meatballs with a side or roasted green beans is such a filling and delicious meal. You can even cook your meatballs and roast your green beans at the same time.
3. Cauliflower rice is a low-carb basic that goes so well with pretty much anything! Whether you decide to turn it into some cauliflower fried rice or just simply serve with a little butter, salt and pepper it is the perfect easy side dish.
4. Salad is pretty much my favorite thing and you can definitely get creative. Serve a simple green salad or Caesar salad with a hearty meatball dish and you have a filling and delicious meal.
5. Grilled mixed veggies are so simple and you’ll be surprised how filling they are. Toss your favorite garden veggies with some olive oil, salt and black pepper and grill to perfection. I prefer to use a grill basket and give them a squirt of lemon juice once they are done on the grill.
6. Asparagus is one of my favorite side dishes. You can easily cook it up in about 4 minutes in the microwave. Talk about a tasty and healthy side dish!
7. Shirataki noodles just might be the easiest low-carb side dish you could make! These noodles only require a quick rinse then top with marinara sauce or any sauce that compliments your meatball recipe.
8. Spaghetti squash itself does not have much flavor, but this actually makes it a perfect side dish for some flavorful meatballs and a tangy sauce. It is a blank slate that lends itself well to any meatball recipe.
9. Broccoli is unexpectedly delicious and filling when paired with your favorite meatball recipe. This Air Fryer Broccoli is one of our favorites or simply steam a bag of broccoli in the microwave.
10. Roasted Eggplant is such a delicious side dish. If you’re making Greek meatballs, this would be my top pick!
11. Cauliflower mash seriously tastes just like mashed potatoes. Even your kids won’t know the difference. This is perfect for your favorite Swedish meatball recipe.
12. Roasted mushrooms have become one of my favorite things and wow they are so good with pretty much any meatball recipe! I know most people either love or hate mushrooms, but if you’re a lover then serve them up with your next meatball dinner.
13. Grilled zucchini deserves a spot on this list. Even though we already talked about zucchini noodles, grilled zucchini has a different texture and flavor. You’ll find it fills you up and and an easy way to prepare zucchini.
I hope you enjoyed these low-carb side dish ideas. As you can see, fresh produce and a few simple ingredients can take any kind of meatball recipe to the next level!
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Additional meatball recipes:
The Best Homemade Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef, pork, chicken or turkey
- 1 1lb bulk Italian (hot or sweet) chicken sausage (if you cannot find bulk sausage, just remove link sausage from casing
- 2 Tablespoons diced onion
- 2 cloves crushed garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning or 2 tablespoons mixed fresh herbs (parsley, oregano, or basil)
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 eggs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 slices sandwich bread
- 2 Tablespoons grated parmesan (optional)
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- In a large bowl, whisk together onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, milk, Worcestershire sauce, eggs, salt and pepper (parmesan, if using)
- Add bread slices and allow to sit a few minutes to soak up the liquids, then stir until bread is incorporated with liquids.
- Add ground beef and sausage to bowl.
- Using your hands, mix just until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Form meatball mixture into balls about the size of a golf ball.
- Place meatballs on baking sheet sprayed with olive oil and bake for 12-15 minutes until cooked thru.
- Allow to cool, then serve immediately or place on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Freeze overnight and then transfer to gallon freezer bags. Freeze up to 8 weeks.
