Spice things up with this keto chicken meatballs recipe. These savory keto meatballs are smothered in a low-carb creamy cajun sauce – serve with cauliflower rice!
I can’t tell you how much I love spicy Cajun foods. It’s funny, but when I am craving something sweet on my keto diet, I can usually satiate it with something really spicy instead. It’s a nice bonus that spicy peppers have very food carbs, so I can eat as many as I can handle.
Keto Cajun Recipes
When you hear the phrase “cajun recipes” what comes to mind? For me, it’s either jambalaya, gumbo, or boudin. All three of those dishes have one thing in common – lots of heat!
This meatballs recipe is one of my favorites because it spiced with my favorite Cajun seasoning, and it has a lot of kick to it. Plus, it’s a one-skillet meal. That means I don’t have to make a bunch of dishes dirty when I prepare it. (and I am all about saving myself work later on).
Low Carb Meatball Recipe
Typical meatballs are made with breadcrumbs. On a low-carb diet like keto, you can’t have breadcrumbs unless you want to get kicked out of ketosis. Instead of breadcrumbs, I used crispy pork rind crumbs. The result is perfect! This recipe is a flavorful low-carb twist on meatballs.
Ingredient Substitutions
If you don’t have all of the ingredients, here are some of the best substitutions you can make. Remember that if you are counting your macros, when you change an ingredient you are going to have to recalculate them since these foods will have different amounts of carbs in them. All of the ingredients swaps I’m sharing are still low in carbs.
- Ground Chicken – Use any type of ground meat including beef, sausage (sugar-free) or ground turkey.
- Olive Oil – Avocado oil is also an excellent choice
- Chopped Parsley – Fresh oregano or basil leaves will look and taste amazing with this recipe.
- Cajun Seasoning – You can make your own but it is so much easier to just buy the jarred kind. Homemade cajun seasoning has cayenne pepper, thyme, oregano, and paprika in it (and more garlic and onion powder too).
- Pork Rind Crumbs – There really isn’t a substitute for pork rinds that has the same crispy texture. The closest thing might be coconut flour, but it absorbs so much more moisture that you might have to use a little more butter in it. Stick with the pork rinds.
It’s so easy to make. If you know how to mix things together and roll meatballs, you can make this dish.
Low Carb Creamy Cajun Sauce
What really sets this dish apart from other meatball recipes I’ve made is the creamy cajun sauce. Save this sauce recipe, you can use it for Cajun smothered pork chops or to dip some roasted veggies in.
Here’s what I used in this sauce:
- Sliced mushrooms
- Raw spinach
- Heavy whipping cream
- Chicken Broth
- Parmesan Cheese
- Minced Garlic
Best Low Carb Chicken Meatballs
This is the best recipe to make ahead and store for later. I suggest you store the meatballs and creamy sauce in separate containers. Then heat them up separately and enjoy. Store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Cajun Meatballs
What do you serve with Cajun meatballs? Since rice is a popular dish in Lousianna, you can serve this with some cauliflower rice. It would also taste amazing on a bed of Miracle Noodles Angel Hair Pasta too.
I love to eat them just like they are and serve it with a side of steamed veggies. It’s an effortless meal that comes together in minutes.
Keto Meatball Skillet
If you want to make this an entire meal in one pan, then add some mushroom and broccoli to the skillet. Then, all you have to do is scoop it and serve it. It’s so easy and delicious!
Keto Chicken Meatballs Recipe
Here is the entire list of ingredients to make these keto meatballs. Exact measurements can be found within the printable recipe card below.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
Servings: 4
Net Carbs: 4 net carbs per serving
Ingredients:
For the meatballs:
Ground chicken
Olive oil
Chopped parsley
Parmesan cheese
Large egg
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Cajun seasoning
Pork rind crumbs
Salt and pepper
For the sauce:
Sliced mushrooms
Raw spinach
Heavy whipping cream
Chicken broth
Parmesan cheese
Minced garlic
Salt and pepper
Instructions:
Add all of the ingredients for the meatballs into a large mixing bowl, and use your hands to combine well.
Form the meat mixture into 24 evenly sized meatballs.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Add the meatballs to the heated skillet, and saute until cooked through completely. Remove the cooked meatballs and set aside.
Lower the heat in the skillet to medium, and add the sliced mushrooms. Saute until the mushrooms begin to become tender.
Add the spinach to the skillet and saute until wilted. Mix in the minced garlic and saute another 30 seconds.
Whisk the heavy whipping cream and chicken broth into the skillet and cook until the mixture thickens.
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Keto Chicken Meatballs Recipe
Spice things up with this keto chicken meatballs recipe. It's smothered in a low-carb creamy cajun sauce - serve with cauliflower rice!
Ingredients
- 16 oz Ground Chicken
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- 3 tbsp Parmesan cheese
- 1 Large egg
- 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion powder
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 cup Pork rind crumbs
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the sauce:
- 6 oz Sliced mushrooms
- 3 cups Raw spinach
- 1 cup Heavy whipping cream
- 1/3 cup Chicken broth
- 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- Salt and pepper taste
Instructions
-
Add all of the ingredients for the meatballs into a large mixing bowl, and use your hands to combine well.
-
Form the meat mixture into 24 evenly sized meatballs.
-
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
-
Add the meatballs to the heated skillet, and saute until cooked through completely. Remove the cooked meatballs and set aside.
-
Lower the heat in the skillet to medium, and add the sliced mushrooms. Saute until the mushrooms begin to become tender.
-
Add the spinach to the skillet and saute until wilted.
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Mix in the minced garlic and saute another 30 seconds.
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Whisk the heavy whipping cream and chicken broth into the skillet and cook until the mixture thickens.
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Stir in the parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.
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Add the meatballs back to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce.
Recipe Notes
Calories: 425
Net Carbs: 4 net carbs per servings
The nutritional information for this recipe is calculated as a courtesy and is approximate only. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipes on this site.
More Low-carb Dinner Ideas
If you enjoyed this keto chicken meatballs recipe, then you will love these side dish ideas too. They are kid-friendly, and some of my family’s all-time favorites: