Check out these delicious baked meatballs filled with Paleo cheese. They are completely dairy-free and packed with tons of juicy flavors. Make them with paleo pasta or serve solo as savory appetizers.

Have you ever made cashew-based cheese before? It’s a great dairy-free cheese alternative and really simple to make. All you have do is soak the cashews for a few hours, blend, and serve.

Typically, I place the cashews in a bowl of water and set in the refrigerator overnight. Otherwise, you’re stuck waiting around all afternoon! After they’re soaked, they should be nice and plump – which is when you know they’re ready. Just make sure to drain them before placing them in the blender.

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Tip: If the cheese doesn’t seem to want to mix, just add more water or oil. If you’re adding more water, start by adding one tablespoon at a time; for the oil, start with one teaspoon at a time.

Erin Druga

Baked Meatballs Filled with Paleo Cheese

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Total time:45 mins

Cook Time:30 mins 30 minutes

Prep Time: 15 mins 15 minutes

Serves:12 Meatballs

Baked Meatballs Filled with Paleo Cheese

Recipe by: Erin Druga

These delicious baked meatballs are filled with Paleo-friendly “cheese.” Make them with paleo pasta or serve solo as savory appetizers.

Tools

• Blender
• Large Mixing Bowl
• Foil-Lined Baking Sheet

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup almond flour OR 1/2 cup gluten free bread crumbs
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 1 cup soaked cashews
• 2 T nutritional yeast
• Juice 1/2 lemon
• 1/4 t salt
• 1 T water*
• 1 t olive oil*
• Optional: 1/4 t garlic powder

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Start by making the cheese. Place soaked cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, water, and oil in blender and pulse. You may need to add more water and/or oil if mixture is too dry. Once blended and smooth, set aside.
• For the meatballs, combine beef, egg, flour, and onion in a large bowl.
• Using your hands form beef mixture into balls (mine were larger than golf ball size but smaller than a tennis ball). Using your thumb, poke a hole in the middle of each meatball and then fill them with cheese. You don't want to use too much cheese or else it will spill out. Start with a quarter size of cheese. After each one is filled with cheese, fold the beef overtop, closing the meatball back up.
• Place meatballs on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake meatballs for approximately 30 minutes. To make sure they're cooked, test one meatball (let it cool first) and use a knife to cut in half. The meat should have a light brown color inside and cheese should be slightly melted.
• Enjoy!

Looking for Paleo ingredients? Here’s what we recommend:
Almond Flour (Bob’s Red Mill)
Nutritional Yeast (Sari Foods Co)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Sky Organics)

(You’ll also love: Nacho ‘Cheese’ Kale Chips Recipe)