Gluten Free Paneer Meatballs in Marinara
These meatballs are a serious crowd-pleaser — juicy, golden-seared beef packed with little cubes of paneer that melt into creamy pockets throughout every bite. The combination of finely grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and a splash of whole milk keeps things rich and tender, while gluten free breadcrumbs do all the binding work without any compromise on texture. Meatballs are one of those dishes where hidden gluten loves to sneak in through conventional breadcrumbs or store-bought sauces, so making everything from scratch here is genuinely worth it. The marinara comes together in the same skillet — garlic, red pepper flakes, crushed tomatoes, and a pinch of sugar simmered down into something deeply savory and just a little spicy. Searing the meatballs before finishing them in the oven gives you that irresistible browned crust, and then nestling them back into the sauce for a final simmer means every meatball is coated and soaked through. Finish with torn fresh basil and extra Parmesan and you have a dinner that feels completely indulgent — because it is. This one serves four and disappears fast.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
- 6 oz paneer, cut into ¼-inch cubes
- ⅓ cup gluten free breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp whole milk
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 2 tsp dried italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the marinara
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp sugar
- salt and pepper, to taste
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, torn (optional)
- parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, paneer cubes, gluten free breadcrumbs, egg, milk, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix with your hands until just combined — do not overwork the mixture or the meatballs will be dense.
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