A 30-minute, weeknight dinner, this easy, gluten-free teriyaki meatball recipe is perfect for busy nights. Topped with a sticky, homemade sauce, these teriyaki meatballs are simple, flavorful, and kid-approved.
"Meatballs are a go-to for easy dinners that I know everyone will eat at our house. These are a winner and we will definitely be making them again!" - Dana
Dinner doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when you’ve got these Teriyaki Meatball Bowls in your back pocket. As a Certified Nutrition Coach (and mom), I live for quick, high-protein meals that actually get eaten (hence my most popular e-book: The Busy Mom's Cookbook).
These gluten-free teriyaki meatballs come together in under 30 minutes, are easy to prep ahead, and are packed with sweet-savory flavor the whole family loves.
This is the kind of teriyaki meatball recipe that works for everyone: customizable bowls, allergy-friendly ingredients, and no mystery sauces.
Whether you're meal prepping or just trying to get dinner on the table before baseball practice, this recipe hits all the marks: fast, flavorful, and fueling. In fact, my kids love customizing their bowls with all their favorites so, it’s a dinner win every time!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
These Teriyaki Meatball Bowls bring flavour, convenience, and balance in one bowl, and keep your kitchen sane during busy weeknights
Allergy-friendly: Made with whole food ingredients, this teriyaki meatball recipe is naturally dairy-free and gluten-free, though it can be made paleo as well.
Versatile: Make the meatballs into a variety of meals with varying flavors.
Meal prep: The teriyaki meatballs can be made in advance and even frozen to make busy nights easier.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Gluten-free meatballs are obviously a switch up from the norm because it doesn't use bread crumbs, along with these grape jelly and chili sauce meatballs. Nonetheless, it's super easy and you probably have all the ingredients you need (especially if you have a well stocked, gluten-free pantry).
Lean Ground Beef: The leaner the beef, the less grease you'll have when you bake them.
Potato Starch: This is what replaces the bread crumbs. Potato starch will absorb the grease and hold the gluten-free meatballs together. Know that gluten-free breadcrumbs and tapioca starch will also work.
Seasonings: You'll need fresh ginger and garlic to bring out the teriyaki flavor. This is also the base for this gluten-free Thai crispy chicken.
Gluten-free Soy Sauce: Double check that you have a gluten-free soy sauce (many actually contain wheat as a hidden source of gluten) or use Tamari in its place.
Coconut Palm Sugar: Technically, any sweetener or sugar will work here for the homemade teriyaki sauce.
Easy Variations
Protein: Though ground beef is used, these meatballs can be made with ground turkey, ground chicken like in these ground chicken meatballs, or even a blend of pork and beef.
Make them paleo: To make the teriyaki meatball recipe paleo approved, you'll need to use coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce as well as arrowroot powder in place of potato starch. Coconut palm sugar already works on a paleo diet, so you're good there.
Spicy: If you enjoy a kick of heat, add chopped jalapenos to the mix (like in these spicy ground turkey meatballs) or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
How To Make Gluten-Free Teriyaki Meatballs
Step 1: Combine all the ingredients for the gluten-free meatballs into a bowl.
Step 2: Portion the meatballs with your hands and lay them on a raised baking sheet. Bake until cooked through.
Step 3: In a small pot combine all ingredients except arrowroot powder.
Step 4: Bring to a rolling boil and whisk in the arrowroot powder until no clumps remain. Reduce and simmer until it thickens.
Step 5: Remove the meatballs from the oven. Serve over rice with a side of veggies!
How To Serve Them
These gluten-free teriyaki meatballs are perfect for building quick, flavorful bowls:
- Serve over rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice for a paleo option.
- Add sautéed or oven-roasted veggies.
- Drizzle with extra homemade teriyaki sauce and top with something crisp like pickled daikon.
- Pair with other 30-minute, gluten- and dairy-free dinners like this Dominican ground beef.
Cooking Hack
The biggest meatball hack you'll ever learn silicone pyramid baking mat.
You can see in the video that I use a red silicone mat for these gluten-free meatballs.
After years of cooking meatballs either directly on the pan (in which they sit in the grease- ew) or having to pre-cook the grease off before baking them, my mom got me this mat.
And it was a game-changer. It allows the grease from the dairy-free meatballs to drain off so they're not sitting in it. Furthermore, it's silicone so super easy to clean. Honestly, it's been one of the things I use most in the kitchen!
How To Meal Prep Meatballs
Make weeknights easier by prepping the gluten-free meatballs and rice in advance. I always keep cooked grains like rice or quinoa in the fridge (perfect for these meal-prep friendly wraps).
Store them: Cooked gluten-free meatballs can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or sauce.
Freeze them: Freeze the meatballs raw on a baking sheet, then transfer to a sealed container. They’re great for batch cooking and perfect for postpartum meal prep.
Meal prep them: Prep the meatballs and rice ahead of time for quick assembly. I like to keep a batch of cooked grains like quinoa or rice in the fridge, just like I do for these quinoa and veggie wraps. It cuts dinner down to 15 minutes or less.
Quick Tip
The homemade teriyaki sauce tastes best freshly made. Though you can put it in the fridge, it ends to turn into a gel-like substance. It also works just as a dipping sauce for something like air fryer meatballs.
FAQs
Since you're not using bread crumbs, you still need to ensure there is some sort of flour that binds the ingredients together and absorbs the grease. Potato starch, tapioca flour, arrowroot powder, or a combination of coconut flour and arrowroot powder work well in most gluten-free meatball recipes.
Adding eggs to a gluten-free meatball recipe is a personal choice. Eggs do help to bind the ingredients together, however, they also make meatballs much denser. If using other binders, you don't always need to add eggs.
You can cook meatballs ahead of time and reheat them. However, you'll want to reheat the meatballs at a low temperature to avoid them drying out.
If you cook them in the slow cooker a lot of grease will mix into the teriyaki sauce and change its texture. Personally, I would bake them first and then keep them warm in the slow cooker until you need them.
Sure, in place of soy sauce use coconut aminos which is s soy-free, paleo-approved sauce.
Other Gluten-Free Dinner Recipes You'll Love
- Slow cooker Tuscan chicken
- Crock pot balsamic chicken
- Slow cooker Teriyaki chicken
- Baked teriyaki chicken thighs
- Stovetop venison stew
- Skiller coconut lime chicken
- 3 minute teriyaki meatballs
- Slow cooker teriyaki chicken
- One pot chicken alfredo
- 33 Dairy and gluten-free dinners
- Easy cauliflower rice
- One pot sausage and tomato pasta
- 45 dinner ideas for busy nights
- 30 minute chicken fajita bowl
- 30 minute dinner ideas
- Easy, healthy dinners
Skip Dinner Stress
The Busy Mom's Cookbook is where frazzled moms get high-protein dinner on the table fast without sacrificing nutrition or sanity.
Gluten-Free Teriyaki Meatball Bowls
Video
Equipment
- Pyramid silicone mat
- Bakin tray
Ingredients
For the teriyaki meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- ⅛ cup potato starch
- 1 clove garlic grated
- 1.5 inches fresh ginger grated
- 1 teaspoon soya sauce
For the teriyaki sauce
- ⅓ cup soya sauce
- ⅛ coconut palm sugar
- ½ water
- ½ tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1.5 tablespoons arrowroot powder
Assembling the bowls
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 2 bell peppers thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ⅓ cup chopped green onions
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400. Combine the ground beef and the rest of the ingredients for the meatballs into a bowl and use your hands to mix well. Make sure it's mixed together well.
- Using your hands, portion and roll the mixture into balls roughly 1 inch wide and place them on your baking sheet. The mixture should make 18 meatballs (roughly).
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until cooked through.
- While the meatballs are cooking make the rice according to package directions and the sauce. Combine all ingredients together in a small saucepan except for the arrowroot powder
- Heat over medium to high heat. When the mixture starts to boil, whisk in the arrowroot powder and ensure no clumps remain. Reduce heat to medium-low until the sauce is the consistency you desire (it will thicken after about 5-8 minutes)
- At the same time, preheat a skillet with the avocado oil over medium heat. Add the peppers when hot and saute them. Toss them in the sesame oil and cook until cooked through but still firm.
- Assemble the bowls. Place ¾ cup of rice into each bowl and top with veggies, meatballs and sauce, finally add the green onions if using.
Notes
- The serving size/ nutritional breakdown is skewed slightly as it depends on your own personal portions! I find we have leftover meatballs from the recipe so know that the values may be off.
- Opt for lean ground beef so that your meatballs are less greasy.
- Double-check your soy sauce to confirm it's gluten-free as most contain wheat. in its place, Tamari is a great substitute!
- This recipe has not been made with gluten-free breadcrumbs so I can't comment on the portion/amount you would need to swap.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Shelby S says
These make the best meal prep recipe! You can keep them in the fridge or frozen for when you need them.
Dana says
Meatballs are a go-to for easy dinners that I know everyone will eat at our house. These are a winner and we will definitely be making them again!
fitasamamabear says
Right?! They're just so awesome with kids!
Aarika says
This teriyaki bowl looks yummy! I don't eat beef. Do you think this will work ground turkey or tofu? Thanks for sharing such a yummy recipe.
fitasamamabear says
It would totally work with ground turkey! The sauce is what makes it so I think it would be just as tasty!
Emily Morton says
This sounds so yummy! I think I'm going to substitute brown rice and give it a try this week sometime!
fitasamamabear says
It's a tasty one! I'm a sucker for meatballs though lol
Lisa says
This sounds delicious and is right up my ally! Totally making this!
XO-Lisa
fitasamamabear says
Enjoy them and let me know!
Kate says
Love single bowl Asian dishes! I definitely need to make this some weekend! It looks delicious.
fitasamamabear says
Anything in one bowl is definitely amazing! Hope you enjoy it!
Shell says
These look super delicious and easy to make !!! I need to try out your recipe this weekend!!
fitasamamabear says
Thanks Shell! I love them so I hope you do too- keep me posted!
Bianca says
This looks super simple and delicious! I never have teriyaki sauce in the house, but i think i have all of these ingredients in the cupboard.
fitasamamabear says
It's so simple to make the teriyaki sauce! I hope you enjoy them 🙂
Nita says
Looks great and something that can be tackled easily. Do you think I can freeze these for another day?
fitasamamabear says
You can! I have some in the freezer right now lol I make them but don't cook them, then in a ziplock I make the sauce and put it all in a bag. Thaw and pop in the oven!
Daneisha Smith says
These meatballs look and sound so good! I'm definitely trying out this recipe! I've been looking for some new ones to try anyway!
https://officiallychic.com/
fitasamamabear says
I love these meatballs! Honestly I end up eating them all day long lol- I hope you enjoy them!
thatssodarling says
The meatballs look like they'll be perfect for the upcoming football season!
fitasamamabear says
Oh that's a great way to use them- you can't go wrong with a sports game and meatballs 😉
Shileen says
Ooooh yuuuum! Looks and sounds amazing! And definitely appears to be easy!
fitasamamabear says
It`s not a tricky recipes and it smells amazing!