Are you interested in doing the Carnivore Diet? The carnivore diet seems to be taking the world by storm. Not only do people claim to have lost tons of weight, but they are also talking about the decrease is brain fog, sore joints, snoring, and more on the carnivore diet. If you are a carnivore diet believer, then you are going to love this easy juicy carnivore meatball recipe! No carbs but plenty of taste.
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What is the Carnivore Diet?
The carnivore diet is focused on eating only animal products. The main stables of the diet is meat, cheese, eggs, butter, and heavy cream. The carnivore diet is not for everyone as it restricts all breads, pasta, fruits and vegetables and is considered a no carb diet.
But if you love meat, really want to lose weight, and are tired of aching joints, it is a diet you will want to explore. On the carnivore diet do include plenty of red meat to get all your vitamins. And talk to your doctor to make sure you have blood work done before and after an extended period on the diet.
Read this bestselling Carnivore Code book to discover more about the myths and truths behind the carnivore diet
Some people have used the carnivore diet as a 30 or 60 day challenge. While others talk about it as a lifestyle change.
Easy Juicy Carnivore Meatballs with Alfredo Sauce
The carnivore diet does limit your recipe ingredients. But don’t worry. You can still make yummy meals that make you forget all about the gluten heavy ingredients you have eliminated.
These juicy carnivore meatballs are made up of a mixture of ground beef, Italian sausage, cheese, eggs, and pork rinds. They are juicy, full of flavor, and only have a little bit of seasoning, appealing to even the most strict carnivore dieter.
And a easy four ingredient alfredo sauce poured over these carnivore meatballs with pork rinds, makes them irresistible. This recipe is also keto friendly if you are following a keto friendly diet!
How to Make Easy Carnivore Meatballs with Pork Rinds
Preheat oven to 375. Place 2 pounds of ground beef and 1/2 pound of Italian sausage in a large mixing bowl.
Place pork rinds in a plastic bag. Crush with a rolling pin until mixture is fine. Measure out 1/2 cup of finely crushed pork rinds.
Add your Italian seasoning, salt, and garlic salt. Add your parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Mix using your hands or a spoon or spatula.
Next, add two eggs to the beef and sausage mixture. Mix again until everything is completely mixed.
Roll out meatballs into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place meatballs into a 9 by 13 pan or casserole dish and a 8 by 8 pan.
Put casserole dishes with meatballs into the oven. Set timer for 20 minutes.
Clean up your dishes and pull out ingredients for alfredo sauce. Pour heavy cream into a saucepan on the stovetop.
Warm up heavy cream over medium heat. When heavy cream is warm, add chesses. Continue to stir. Add in salt and pepper.
Stir until cheese is melted and heavy cream starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. You want alfredo sauce to be thick, but don’t overcook as it will get too thick and make less sauce.
Lastly, add in butter and stir til butter melts. Turn sauce on simmer or turn off so as to not overcook.
Check meatballs at 20 minutes. Turn all the meatballs with tongs. Place back in the oven for another 5 minutes. Meatballs are done when temperature reaches 165.
Plate your meatballs and pour your creamy alfredo sauce over the meatballs!
Tips to Making Easy Carnivore Meatballs with Mozzarella Cheese
Use Ground Beef with Some Fat. Since carnivore meatballs don’t have breadcrumbs, they need that extra fat to help them stick together. So using an 85% lean ground beef will work well.
Include Italian Sausage. I tried several different recipes for the meatballs. One whole pound of the Italian sausage was too much and made the meatballs feel a bit mushy. But not using the Italian sausage left the meatballs a little lacking in taste. So I found adding 1/2 pound of Italian sausage was the perfect amount.
Grind Up Pork Rinds Finely. Make sure to finely grind up the pork rind, so it adds a bread crumb consistently but avoids clumps in your meatballs!
Use a Variety of Cheeses. For carnivore diet, it works well to mix cheeses. For the meatballs, I used mozzarella and parmesan cheese. And for the alfredo sauce, I used parmesan cheese and Private Selection Chef’s Blend (Kroger brand) that has sharp cheddar, gouda, and asiago cheese. It really ups the flavor!
Cook and Freeze Carnivore Meatballs. This recipe makes about 35 generous carnivore meatballs. For a family of 5, that means everyone can have 6 meatballs each. Or you can cook them all and freeze for later. Or, what we typically do is everyone eats what they want, and we have the leftovers for lunch the next day!
Add Cheesy Bread. We love to make this cheesy bread that is carnivore friendly to go with our meatballs. Once you make the cheesy bread a time or two, it comes together pretty quickly. Here is the carnivore cheesy bread recipe we use!
Easy Juicy Carnivore Meatballs
Make these meatballs tonight! They are full of flavor and make a lot so no one will walk away hungry. And with the creamy homemade alfredo sauce, everyone will be happy!
Easy Carnivore Meatballs Recipe
Equipment
- 1 9 by 11 inch casserole dish
- 1 8 by 8 inch casserole dish
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 small or medium saucepan
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef recommend 85% lean
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup pork rinds finely crushed (start with 1 cup)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4-1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
Alfredo Sauce
- 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded cheese mix sharp cheddar, gouda, asiago
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbls butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Place thawed 2 lbs ground beef and 1/2 lb Italian sausage in mixing bowl
- Add cheeses, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt in mixing bowl.
- Pour about 1 cup of pork rinds into a plastic bag. Roll with rolling pin until crushed finely. Measure out 1/2 cup of pork rind crumbs. Pour into mixing bowl.
- Mix beef, sausage, spices, cheese, and crumbs all together.
- Add 2 eggs in with mixed meat mixture. Stir until mixed thoroughly.
- Roll meatball mixture into 1 1/2 meatballs. Place in greased casserole dishes. Make sure meatballs are not touching to cook more evenly.
- Place meatballs in oven for 20 minutes.
- While meatballs cook, make the alfredo sauce.
- Add heavy cream into saucepan. Warm over medium heat. Stir.
- Add cheese (1/4 cup parmesan cheese & 1/4 cup cheese mixture of your choice) to warmed cream. Stir.
- Stir for several minutes. Once cream and cheese mixture starts to thicken slightly turn heat down to low.
- Add 2 tbls of butter to sauce. Stir til butter is melted. Turn off alfredo sauce.
- Check meatballs after 20 minutes. Flip meatballs over with tongs. Place in oven for another 5 minutes, til temperature reads 165 degrees.
- Plate meatballs and pour warm alfredo sauce over meatballs.
