Meatballs are an incredibly popular dish offered at a variety of restaurants, stores, and they are pretty easy to make homemade. They are common in a number of cuisines including Italian, Swedish, Turkish, and Chinese.
What is a Meatball?
Meatballs are small, round balls of ground meat, typically beef, pork, veal, or a combination of these. They are often seasoned with spices, herbs, and other ingredients, and can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as frying, baking, or simmering in a sauce. Meatballs are a popular food in many countries and are often served as part of a meal, such as with pasta, or on their own as a snack or appetizer.
Let’s find out if this traditional meat dish contains any wheat or gluten ingredients . . .
Related question: Is Parmesan Cheese Gluten Free?
Are Meatballs Gluten Free?
Typically NO
Traditional Italian meatballs almost always contain some type of breadcrumbs. If they are not confirmed gluten free or labeled this way on the product/packaging, then it is typical for meatballs to contain wheat/gluten. This goes for restaurants, eating out, take out, etc.
For Swedish meatballs, they are not made with breadcrumbs, but often have gravy/sauces that may contain gluten.
For any other cultures meatballs, you have to check depending on the ingredients. For example, Chinese meatballs are typically made with soy sauce, which generally contains wheat.
In general, meatballs are a risky item for people with Celiac Disease or a gluten allergy, because they are commonly made with some form of wheat/gluten/bread. Keep this in mind and always get confirmation that a product/dish is gluten free.
Some restaurants will offer gluten free meatballs, though I have not commonly come across this. It’s not hard to find gluten free meatballs at the store though! A few brands we recommend for Italian style gluten free meatballs are:
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Gluten Free Italian Style Meatballs from Cooked Perfect
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Rosina Gluten-Free Italian Style Meatballs
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Fontanini All Natural Gluten Free Meatballs
We were unable to find many gluten free Swedish meatball products. Same goes for other cuisines like Turkish or Chinese. To ensure these types of meatballs are made gluten free, we recommend following a good recipe online!
Photo: Clark Douglas
Traditional Meatball Ingredients
Example: Chef John’s Italian Meatballs via Allrecipes
Plain bread crumbs, milk, olive oil, onion, ground beef, pork, eggs, parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, italian herb seasoning.
Traditional Meatball Nutrition Facts
Example: Nutrition Facts for Chef John’s Italian Meatballs via Allrecipes
Serving: no serving size specified (but full recipe contains 8 servings) | Calories: 390 | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 31g | Cholesterol 91mg | Sodium 617mg
Additional Information about Meatballs
Meatballs are a popular food in many countries and are often served as part of a meal, such as with pasta, or on their own as a snack or appetizer. While they are typically associated with Italian food and culture, meatballs are found in many other cuisines as well.
Meatballs are popular in many countries around the world, and each country has its own variations and styles of preparing them. Here are a few countries that are known for their meatballs:
- Italy: Italian-style meatballs, called “polpette,” are typically made with a mixture of ground beef and pork, and seasoned with garlic, parsley, and Parmesan cheese. They are often served with pasta or in a sandwich.
- Sweden: Swedish meatballs, known as “köttbullar,” are typically made with a mixture of ground beef and pork, and are seasoned with a blend of spices including nutmeg, allspice, and white pepper. They are often served with lingonberry jam and mashed potatoes.
- Turkey: Turkish meatballs, called “köfte,” are typically made with ground lamb or beef, and are seasoned with a variety of spices such as paprika, cumin, and red pepper flakes. They can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as grilling, frying, or simmering in a sauce.
- United States: In the United States, meatballs are often made with ground beef, and are typically served with pasta or in a sandwich. They can be flavored with a variety of ingredients such as garlic, herbs, and Parmesan cheese.
- China: In China, meatballs are often made with ground pork and are flavored with ginger, green onions, and soy sauce. They are often served in soups or stir-fries.
Read more facts about the origin of the Meatball from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meatball
Related articles about Italian food products:
Related menus from Italian food restaurants that contain meatballs:
- Olive Garden Gluten Free Menu Items and Options
- Jersey Mike’s Gluten Free Menu Items and Options
- Pizza Hut Gluten Free Menu Items and Options
- Jet’s Pizza Gluten Free Menu Items and Options
