Meatball Salad is one of the meals that screams summer to me. I love summer, hot weather, sunshine, and meals that I can enjoy in the cold. When I mention cold meals, some of the things that pop into my head immediately are salad ideas and salad recipes. And I love salads, and how with a few ingredients you can have a delicious, nutritious, and healthy lunch or dinner.
Meatball Salad without onion and garlic came to life a few summers ago when I was left with a few meatballs after dinner. The next day I combine lettuce, tomato, cabbage, carrot, and meatballs. Then I made no oil Mint salad dressing and drizzled and tossed the salad. It tasted wonderful, and since that day I’ve often made no onion no garlic Meatball Salad.
Table of contents
Ingredients
- Ground meat
- Parmigiano Reggiano or parmesan cheese or any other hard cheese
- Egg
- Plain breadcrumbs
- Rice
- Mixed greens
- Cherry tomato
- Parsley flakes
- Dry dill weed
- Dry basil
- Dry mint
- Ground clove
- Plain yogurt
- Lemon juice
- Granulated sugar
- Salt
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Large mixing bowl
- Instant read meat thermometer
- Parchment paper
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cheese grater
- Pot
- Wooden spoon
- Whisk
- Small bowl
- Mason jar
- Colander
- Cutting board
- Utility knife
How to make no allium Meatball Salad recipe?
Here is a quick overview of the no onion no garlic Meatball Salad recipe with step-by-step photos. Check out the full ingredients & instructions in the recipe card below.
Add ground meat and seasoning to a bowl, mix it until combined, and shape the meatballs. Cook them in an air fryer until cooked through. Set them aside to cool down.
While the meatballs are cooking in the air fryer, cook the rice, and set it aside to cool down.
Whisk the salad dressing, adjust the seasoning if necessary, and set it aside.
Wash, and cut the vegetables. Choose your favorite. Then, cut meatballs into medium-sized cubes.
Add rice, vegetables, and meatballs to the bowl. Drizzle with the salad dressing, and toss to combine. Taste it, and add more dressing if necessary. Serve it immediately.
Have meatballs leftovers?
I love meatballs, and sometimes I make a bigger batch, so I can have leftovers for the next day. Whenever this happens, I usually make this Meatball Salad for lunch the next day. It is super convenient because you can prepare the Mint salad dressing the day before, cut meatballs, and mix them with lettuce, rice, and some other vegetables you would like to have in the salad. Pack Meatball Salad and Mint salad dressing separately, and bring them to work the next day. With this recipe, you will have a delicious lunch salad for work to enjoy.
How to do meal prep salad?
I love meal prepping, and it is a perfect way to ensure my family will have healthy, nutritional meals, and on time. Besides, it saves time and eliminates the chaos of what’s for lunch or dinner.
Making a meal prep with this Meatball salad is very easy. The day before, I bake meatballs and cook the rice.
If you are making a big batch (like more than 1lb of ground meat), I recommend baking them in the oven instead of the air fryer. It will save time, and sometimes you can bake them all in one batch. When I’m baking meatballs in the oven, I always bake them at 356F/180C for about 25 to 30 minutes. It depends on the size of the meatballs. Check the meatballs with an instant-read thermometer to make sure that the meatballs are baked completely. The inside of the meatballs has to read 165F/74°C.
Let meatballs cool down to room temperature, and then put them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator.
While the meatballs are baking, cook the rice. Let it cool down, and then store it in an airtight container and put it in the refrigerator.
When it comes time for the meal, make a salad dressing, wash the vegetables, and cut meatballs. Usually, this takes me max 10 minutes. After it is time for the family to sit together, everyone makes their own salad. You can of course serve salad to everyone, but in my family, we prefer that everyone is making its own salad.
Can I make meatballs without eggs for this salad?
Of course, you can. Instead of my suggested Parmesan Infused Meatballs, you can use my Flavorful Meatballs from the air fryer. There are no eggs or breadcrumbs in them, and they will taste wonderful in the Meatball Salad.
Is it possible to make this recipe with different dressing?
Of course, it is. You can always switch up the salad dressing.
If you are not a fan of mint, I recommend that you try my Healthy Ranch Dressing, or if you have a favorite salad dressing, then use that one. In case you love sweet salad dressing, you can try my Cinnamon Honey Salad Dressing.
How to store Meatball Salad?
Refrigerator
Store everything separately!
Meatballs can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Rice can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Vegetables can be stored for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Mint Salad Dressing can be stored in a mason jar for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Freezer
You can only freeze baked meatballs. Store them in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
I do not recommend freezing the rest.
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Meatball Salad
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground meat 450
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup dry PLAIN breadcrumbs 50g
- 3 ½ tablespoons grated Parmigiano Reggiano or parmesan or any other hard cheese
- 1 teaspoon dry basil
- ¾ teaspoon dry dill weed
- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- Pepper to taste optional
Vegetables (choose your favorite, here are just some suggestions to try)
- Lettuce like Romaine or Iceberg or Butterhead, or mix of them
- Tomato
- Carrot
- Cabbage
Salad Dressing
- 1 cup plain yogurt 236ml
- 4 teaspoons dried mint
- 3 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 pinches ground cloves
- ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
Carbs
- 1 cup uncooked rice 225g
Instructions
Meatballs
- In a large mixing bowl, add ground meat, dry basil, dry dill weed, parsley flakes, salt, pepper, Parmigiano Reggiano, breadcrumbs, and egg. Mix it lightly until just combined. Then shape the meatball mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs.
- Preheat the air fryer. Set the temperature to 392°F/200°C and run it empty for 4 to 6 minutes.
- Reduce the temperature of the air fryer to 356°F/180°C.
- Line the bottom of the air fryer basket with the parchment paper to prevent sticking. Carefully place the meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket, so cook it in batches if necessary.
- Cook the meatballs for 10 to 12 minutes or until browned and the center of the meatball reaches 165°F/74°C. Set them aside to cool down to room temperature. While the meatballs are baking, cook the rice.
Salad Dressing
- In a bowl add plain yogurt, dry mint, ground cloves, granulated sugar, salt, and lemon juice. Whisk together until smooth.
- Taste the dressing, and add more salt or sugar if necessary. Set it aside.
Assemble the Salad
- Wash mix greens, and any other vegetable that you will add to your salad. If necessary, cut the vegetables. Cut the meatballs into medium-sized cubes.
- In a bowl first, add rice, then cut meatballs, and vegetables. Drizzle the salad with the salad dressing, and toss it to combine. Taste the salad, and add more salad dressing if necessary. Serve it immediately!
Notes
- When having gallstones, parmesan can overstress the gallbladder. Instead of the Parmesan-infused meatballs, you can make my Flavorful Air Fryer meatballs. They are delicious, and they will fit perfectly into this recipe while being gentle on your gallbladder.
- If you have problems with cholesterol, use the Flavorful Air Fryer Meatballs instead of Parmesan-infused meatballs. It will taste the same, while it will be a low-cholesterol meal.
- Use Greek Yogurt or lactose-free plain yogurt if you have IBS and follow LOW FODMAP diet. For the vegetable part, use the vegetables that you love and that are LOW FODMAP (like carrot, lettuce, tomato)
Need more recipe ideas?
Check out these recipes:
- Healthy Chicken Salad Bowl
- Greek Chicken Wraps
- Cauiliflower Casserole
- No Onion Baked Ziti
- Turkey Smash Burger
If you need more recipes, check out my meal plan! There you will find 20 unpublished no onion no garlic recipes! Get exclusive recipes without onion & garlic and cheer up your dinner time with delicious meals!
