This meatballs and rice recipe is great for a weeknight dinner! The juicy baked meatballs pair perfectly with the creamy gravy and fluffy rice. This 30 minute meal is warm, delicious, and comforting!
If you're looking for an easy meal that's full of flavor, this recipe is for you. It's similar to swedish meatballs served over rice, with tender meatballs and a savory sauce.
Meatballs and rice is a classic comfort food that's enjoyed by both kids and adults. It's easy to make, nutritious, and budget friendly. Whether you're looking for an everyday meal or special occasion dinner, meatballs with rice and gravy is sure to satisfy.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Great for a hearty main dish, meal prep, and leftovers.
- Homemade meatballs are dairy free, egg free, oil free, and gluten free!
- The rich and creamy sauce is made from scratch and takes under 10 minutes.
- It's versatile! Serve over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes.
Equipment
Here's what you need to make baked meatballs and gravy with rice.
- Mixing bowl: To combine the beef meatball ingredients.
- Baking sheet: For baking meatballs in the oven.
- Rice cooker: To quickly and easily make rice, hands off!
- Saucepan: For whisking the sauce together.
Ingredients
- Meat: I suggest using ground beef to make homemade meatballs. I typically use 80/20, but it's okay to use a leaner ratio or substitute with ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Onion: A yellow or white onion will work best here. Finely chop the onion or use this handy food chopper so you don't have big chunks in your meatballs.
- Gravy: This smooth and creamy gravy is made with broth, dairy free milk, and seasoning. The cornstarch thickens the sauce, which could be substituted with flour if needed. Use milk of choice, I suggest almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. Any will work as long as it's unflavored and unsweetened.
How to make meatballs and rice
I love this recipe because the 3 separate components to it all cook at the same time and come together beautifully at the end!
- Bake the meatballs in the oven.
- Make rice in rice cooker or on the stove.
- Stir the saucy gravy together in a skillet on the stove.
To assemble, serve meatballs and gravy over rice. Garnish with extra black pepper, fresh parsley, or crushed red pepper flakes.
Serving suggestions
Meatballs and rice make a tasty entree. Serve with a simple side salad, green beans, or brussels sprouts.
How to store leftovers
Store leftover meatballs with rice and gravy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments until warm, stirring in between.
Related recipes
Try these dairy free dinner recipes next:
- Dairy Free and Egg Free Chicken Meatballs
- Cranberry BBQ Meatballs (Crockpot)
- Ground Beef Sliders
- Soft Shell Tacos
- Beef and Broccoli
- Tater Tot Casserole
- Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers
- Dairy Free Shepherd's Pie
- Dairy Free Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Old Fashioned Sloppy Joe's
Meatballs and Rice
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¼ small onion finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Rice
- 1 cup long grain rice
- 2 cups water
Gravy
- 1 cup beef or vegetable broth
- 1 cup unsweetened dairy free milk almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch extra if needed to thicken
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil sprayed with cooking oil. Assemble meatballs by combining ground beef, finely chopped onion, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Roll into bite-sized meatballs and arrange on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until browned and cooked through. Remove from oven and set aside.
- As the meatballs bake, cook rice in rice cooker or on the stovetop in a saucepan. Once cooked, fluff, and set aside.
- Meanwhile, make the gravy by warming a large pan over low-medium heat. Whisk together broth, dairy free milk of choice, garlic powder, and dried thyme. Bring to a simmer and whisk in cornstarch. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir until the gravy is thick and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve meatballs with gravy over rice. Enjoy warm!
Notes
Nutrition
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