Tender, flavorful meatballs are cooked down in a bright, tomato and garlic-forward marinara sauce. 

When you have a bit of extra time to spend in the kitchen, it’s nice to make a meal that you know everyone will enjoy and that you’re guaranteed to have some leftovers.

A classic dish that always pleases is spaghetti and meatballs and my Weeknight Stovetop Meatballs. 

Italian food is some of the trickiest to make both gluten-free and dairy-free, but I was up for the challenge and only made a few substitutions to recreate this hearty dish. 

Instead of dairy, I leaned on nutritional yeast which is full of B vitamins and I swapped traditional breadcrumbs for gluten-free oats.

And by making them on the stovetop, the meatballs come out incredibly juicy — never dry or bland — as they cook in the tomato-forward marinara sauce.    

Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t have to give credit to my mother-in-law for helping me create this recipe. I’m lucky that I get to work so closely with her when it comes to developing and testing recipes.

And, obviously, a huge shout out to my husband Kyle who is my ultimate partner-in-crime. While I’m in front of the camera, he’s responsible for all the backend logistical and management work.

It truly takes a village to operate a small business, and I’m so fortunate for my small but mighty team. 

With that, I hope you and your family or friends enjoy this recipe as much as we do.

Enjoy! 

Key Ingredients for Stovetop Meatballs

Don’t be overwhelmed by the ingredient list! This is for both the classic marinara sauce and the beef meatballs. Many of the ingredients are a twofer, meaning you’ll use them in both the sauce and the meatballs. 

• Tomatoes: For the marinara, I like to use a fresh tomato along with a large can of crushed tomatoes. The Roma tomato brings a freshness to the sauce. 
• Onion and Garlic: A staple in any Italian meal, but especially spaghetti with meatballs. 
• Nutritional Yeast: This helps give the sauce and meatballs a cheesy flavor, sans the dairy. See the FAQs below to learn more about this versatile ingredient.  
• Beef: Look for organic, grass-fed and finished ground beef whenever possible. It’ll have the best flavor and packs the most nutritional punch too. 

• Egg: One egg is used to help bind the meatballs. I haven’t tried this recipe with an egg substitute, but if you do please let me know how they turn out! 
• Oats: You’ll want to use gluten-free quick oats here. 
• Fresh Basil Leaves: There’s no such thing as too much basil in a classic meatball recipe. 
• Spaghetti: One of my favorite gluten-free brands is @jovialfoods. Their brown rice fettuccine is excellent in this recipe. 

How to Make Beef Stovetop Meatballs

You’ll want to start by making the marinara sauce first. Begin by heating olive or avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the diced onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until translucent. Add the fresh Roma tomato and garlic and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, bay leaf, nutritional yeast, coconut sugar, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Allow the sauce to come to a gentle simmer as you start on the meatballs. 

To make the meatballs, first go ahead and line a sheet pan (or any large flat surface) with parchment or wax paper.

Add the ground beef, egg, onion, garlic, tomato paste, nutritional yeast, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and oats to a large mixing bowl and mix until evenly incorporated. I find this is best done by hand to ensure everything is well mixed. 

Divide the mixture into about 10 to 12 meatballs, roll and shape, and place on your prepared sheet pan.

Drop the meatballs into the sauce mixture, cover, and cook for 25 minutes. Uncover, flip the meatballs, and allow to cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Remove from the heat and serve with your favorite gluten-free pasta, a ladle of sauce, and more fresh basil. Enjoy!

FAQs and Recipe Variations for Skillet Meatballs

Other Easy Weeknight Meatball Recipes: 

• Sticky Glazed Chicken Ginger Meatballs
• Marry Me Chicken Meatballs (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free)
• Sundried Tomato Chicken Meatballs With Dairy-Free Tzatziki
• Meatballs in Green Curry Sauce