Cheddar cheese, red pimiento peppers, and the secret ingredient — mayonnaise — creates a zesty, creamy and juicy keto meatball. It's perfect for a weeknight dinner but also for a low carb snack or your lunchbox!
April 2 2016 recipe by Anne Aobadia, photo by Emma Shevtzoff, nutritional review by Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE in Recipes, Appetizer, Main course
Cheddar cheese, red pimiento peppers, and the secret ingredient — mayonnaise — creates a zesty, creamy and juicy keto meatball. It's perfect for a weeknight dinner but also for a low carb snack or your lunchbox!
USMetric
4 servingservings
Ingredients
Pimiento cheese
- 1⁄3 cup 80 ml mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise
- ¼ cup 60 ml pimientos or pickled jalapeños
- 1 tsp 1 tsp paprika powder or chili powder
- 1 tbsp 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 pinch 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 cup (4 oz.) 240 ml (110 g) grated cheddar cheese
Meatballs
- 1½ lbs 650 g ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 1 eggeggs
- salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp butter, for frying
This recipe has been added to the shopping list.
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Making low carb simple
Instructions
Start by mixing all ingredients for the pimiento cheese in a large bowl.
Add ground beef and the egg to the cheese mixture. Use a wooden spoon or clean hands to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Form large meatballs and fry them in butter or oil in a skillet on medium heat until thoroughly cooked.
Serve with a side dish of your choice, a green salad and perhaps a homemade mayonnaise.
Tip!
This recipe works well for meatloaf, too. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Press the meat mixture into a loaf pan and bake for 30-40 minutes. Meatloaf can also be sliced for sandwiches or luncheon meat.
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💬 Have you tried this recipe?
What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!
47 comments
1
Rens
May 28 2016
Sounds delicious, but what exactly is 1 batch of pimiento cheese? 4 servings, as descripted in the recipe for pimiento cheese, or only 1 serving?
Reply: #3
- 1 comment removed
3
Reply to comment #1 by Rens
Kristin Berglund Team Diet Doctor
May 29 2016
Hi Rens!
It is delicious and it's meant to be the entire recipe, so 4 servings of Pimiento cheese. Please let us know if you liked it!4
Gerardine Farrington
June 12 2016
How many grams in a batch
5
Jeri Derr
June 15 2016
How many carbs
Replies: #6, #20
6
Reply to comment #5 by Jeri Derr
Peter Biörck Team Diet Doctor
June 15 2016
1 gram carbs/serving. 4 grams in the batch.
7
Noushka
See AlsoRoasted Potato Hash RecipeSheet Pan Meatloaf and Green Beans RecipeLow Carb Eggplant Cheese Pizza - Recipe - Diet DoctorKeto Brussels Sprouts and Hamburger Gratin - Recipe - Diet DoctorSeptember 7 2016
Can anybody tell me what is the difference between keto low carb and strict low carb? thanks
Reply: #8
8
Reply to comment #7 by Noushka
Peter Biörck Team Diet Doctor
September 9 2016
Hi Noushka!
I would say it's about the same... ;-)
9
Ruby
September 18 2016
Cooked this tonight but just used venison instead of beef. It was on reduced price as had to be eaten/cooked by Monday. Had small side dish of zucchini noodles drenched in butter. Saved half for lunch tomorrow. Very filling, and no snacking afterwards-new for me. Keep up the fantastic recipes as I get bored by food and it triggers overeating the old carb–heavy foods through boredom. Glad I took out the membership. Lost 9kgs so far in 12 weeks or so. Thank you.
10
Gail
April 12 2017
This looks so perfect (and for simplicity, I will be making a meat loaf - lazy cook) because I have always loved pimento cheese and would have never thought to make it part of meat loaf! Thanks for such creativity and attention to the tasty factor!
11
Nat
May 27 2017
How much is one batch of pimiento cheese (in grams or oz)? Thanks
12
Simon
June 19 2017
I made these last night and while they were delicious they did pretty much fall apart in the pan. I would recommend anyone else to use an egg as part of their meatball mixture to help bind it together.
13
Jon
June 25 2017
Tried meatballs with half the mixture, they fall apart while cooking. So made a meatloaf with the other half, let it cool completely, then tried to slice it but again it falls apart. Followed recipe exactly so no idea why this happened.
14
Emily
July 28 2017
These were fabulous! They were soft, but I had no problems with falling apart as other posters did. I used a ceremic nonstick pan, and tried not to overhandle. I'll also bet that shredding your own cheese is important, as the anti-caking agents in the pre-shredded stuff will encourage falling apart in the meatballs. They came together quickly, and formed a beautiful browned crust from the cheese. They were soft and moist, which is hard to achieve in a grain free meatball. They were so flavorful, too. My husband said they were the best meatballs he's ever had and requested I make them again, which I will do. I served with a side salad of mixed greens with tomato, avocado, and balsamic vinaigrette. Thanks for a great recipe!
15
Ken
March 3 2018
When I make pimento cheese I shred my own cheese as it binds better and tastes better.
16
Cyndi
May 3 2018
I shredded my own cheese and they melted & fell apart. Should have chilled them at least an hour maybe that will bind them better or just do the meatloaf style.
Reply: #18
17
Aleesha
May 22 2018
I can't get pimiento - what are some alternatives?
18
Reply to comment #16 by Cyndi
ashlee
June 21 2018
I added ground flax seed and it held together better
19
Melissa
August 14 2018
Typically Pickled Jalepenos have 21 grams of sugar per serving (about 5 whole peppers)
20
Reply to comment #5 by Jeri Derr
Brenda
October 10 2018
Emily, made the meatball form it was prefect and sooooo good . After cooking I cut it into 4 pieces... l am hoping Peter or someone can help me with sides ... I made green beans , sliced up 1 tomatoe , some cucumber and sprinkled feta cheese on it with some salt and olive oil .... how I count that up .?? Is it this way .....green beans =4
Tomatoe = 3
Cucumber = 3
Feta = ?
1 serving meatloaf = 1
On the visual guides is whole avocado 2 carbs ??
On the olives it show 3 carbs but not on how many ...help please
Why don’t we have a chart or a website to go to for carb counts . This confuses me so much . I am on my third 3 and I feel so uneducated about how to add things to a main meal ...help .thanks21
Helga Brandt
October 25 2018
How many meatballs do you get out of your 4 servings/25oz ground beef, say about the size of a large apricot?
22
Anne
November 4 2018
Hi can I substitute an ordinary red pepper for the pimientos? And if I do does this change the net carb?
Reply: #23
23
Reply to comment #22 by Anne
Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
November 5 2018
Hi can I substitute an ordinary red pepper for the pimientos? And if I do does this change the net carb?
Yes, if that's what taste you would prefer. Any change to carb count would be minimal.
--Kristin
24
Dawn
November 11 2018
I tried to shortcut and bake in the oven (batch 1) and air fryer (batch 2), and I think all the cheese (and oil) just drained out of meatball. I guess pan frying would have seared the outside first? Still good!!!
25
bec
November 21 2018
Ours fell apart 😥
26
Teresa
December 5 2018
So easy, so deliscious and great to have on hand in a pinch for another day!
- 1 comment removed
28
Susie
January 2 2019
Please, please, please, stop measuring non liquids in millilitres! Non liquids are usually measured in milligrams, grams, and kilos. Or their non metric equivalent. Throughout your recipes I come across many non liquid ingredients measured in millilitres. I ask why? I get no reply. For example: 110g or 125 ml of CHEESE! And why measure the jalapeños in ml? Please, I beseech you, make this easier for me/us and use “normal” measurements. It’s driving me mad!
29
Susie
January 2 2019
I calmed down and went over to American cup sizes! I made the whole recipe into a meatloaf. It was delicious and very filling. Definitely a favourite.
30
Mark
May 23 2019
Like others this fell apart and would not stay together. It ended up being a disgusting mess and waste. I followed recipe exactly with measurements.
31
Sheetal
July 19 2019
I guess pan frying would have seared the outside first
32
Carly
July 26 2019
Serves 4, makes 8? is a serving size 2 meat balls per person?? does the nutritional info add up for 2 meatballs per serving??
Reply: #33
33
Reply to comment #32 by Carly
Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
July 26 2019
Serves 4, makes 8? is a serving size 2 meat balls per person?? does the nutritional info add up for 2 meatballs per serving??
Yes, this recipe makes 4 servings. If you get 8 meatballs, then a serving is 2 and yes, the nutritional information is for one serving.
34
PJ
November 8 2019
We made these tonight. They were good, but fell apart in the pan. Decided to go with the flow and let them crumble. I definitely can see where this would make a great meatloaf.
35
Candice
December 5 2019
Super annoying how everything falls apart and turns into mush. How about brown some ground beef and throw the pimento cheese on top afterwards?
36
Laura Lisk
January 15 2020
Can the meatballs or meatloaf be frozen?
Reply: #37
37
Reply to comment #36 by Laura Lisk
Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
January 16 2020
Can the meatballs or meatloaf be frozen?
Yes, they can both be frozen and enjoyed at a later date.
38
Linda
January 19 2020
Serves 4, makes 8? is a serving size 2 meat balls per person?? does the nutritional info add up for 2 meatballs per serving??
Yes, this recipe makes 4 servings. If you get 8 meatballs, then a serving is 2 and yes, the nutritional information is for one serving.
Wow! So 2 meatballs are 651 calories?? That's half of my calories for the whole day!
39
QT
February 21 2020
What is the nutritional info. I can't find it anywhere. I made them. They fell apart a little but not much. They were yummy. I used habanero because I didn't have jalapeño.
Reply: #40
40
Reply to comment #39 by QT
Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
February 21 2020
What is the nutritional info. I can't find it anywhere. I made them. They fell apart a little but not much. They were yummy. I used habanero because I didn't have jalapeño.
All of our recipes have the full nutrition information listed in the Nutrition+ tab under the list of ingredients.
41
Tawni
July 13 2020
Mine did not brown very good in pan. Kept falling apart. So I just cooked it like ground beef. Awesome flavor I will try it with meatloaf😊
42
Hristo
July 28 2020
Fell apart for me...
43
Greg Yancey
August 18 2020
Made this tonight, it had great flavor albiet totally fell apart during cooking. Might try again as a meatloaf who knows.
44
Leesa
August 20 2020
This was "Ok" but I am a ketchup fiend and i miss a sauce. Is there any keto friendly sauce that could go with this? OR can tomato paste be added? or tomatoes?
Reply: #45
45
Reply to comment #44 by Leesa
Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
August 20 2020
This was "Ok" but I am a ketchup fiend and i miss a sauce. Is there any keto friendly sauce that could go with this? OR can tomato paste be added? or tomatoes?
We have a ketchup recipe you may like.
https://www.dietdoctor.com/recipes/ketchup46
Leah
October 4 2020
Talk about a complete mess, none of mine resembled balls. 😭 Way too soft to handle, so as soon as you turn them, they just fall apart to make a pan full of mess. Would there have been anything else to add to bind them better?
Reply: #47
47
Reply to comment #46 by Leah
Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
October 4 2020
Talk about a complete mess, none of mine resembled balls. 😭 Way too soft to handle, so as soon as you turn them, they just fall apart to make a pan full of mess. Would there have been anything else to add to bind them better?
You might want to try adding some crushed pork rinds or Parmesan, as they make great binders. You may also want to try baking them on a rack, as they wouldn’t need to be turned.
48
Lori
November 5 2020
To keep them from falling apart I added 1 T of almond flour and an extra egg and subbed used parmesan cheese and they were great. Also I used chopped sundried tomatoes instead of the pimientos and the flavor was outstanding ;)
Reply: #49
49
Reply to comment #48 by Lori
Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor
November 5 2020
To keep them from falling apart I added 1 T of almond flour and an extra egg and subbed used parmesan cheese and they were great. Also I used chopped sundried tomatoes instead of the pimientos and the flavor was outstanding ;)
What a neat variation, Lori!
