Italian Meatballs with Baked Japanese Sweet Potato (Paleo-Inspired Comfort Food)
This cozy plate is the perfect mix of rich, savory meatballs and naturally sweet, fluffy Japanese sweet potatoes. It’s a hearty, gluten-free twist on classic Italian comfort food — no pasta or garlic bread needed. Whether you’re eating paleo or just craving something satisfying yet nourishing, this dish delivers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes (for potato)
- Total Time: 1 hr 15 min
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 egg
¼ cup almond flour (or breadcrumbs if not paleo)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh parsley or basil, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste
1 cup marinara sauce (no sugar added)
Grated parmesan or nutritional yeast (optional)
For the Sweet Potato:
1 Japanese sweet potato (baked until tender)
Sea salt to taste
Olive oil or ghee for extra richness (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake the Japanese sweet potato for 45–60 minutes until soft.
In a bowl, mix ground meat, egg, almond flour, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Form into meatballs.
Cook meatballs in a skillet over medium heat until browned on all sides.
Add marinara sauce to the pan and simmer for 10–15 minutes, until meatballs are fully cooked.
Slice baked sweet potato and plate with meatballs.
Garnish with parmesan and fresh basil.
Nutrition
- Calories: 450–500
- Fat: 25g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Protein: 30g