Gluten Free Chicken Meatballs with Thai Sunbutter Sauce Recipe
It happens every year here in America; the country gets divided into two firm camps, bets are placed, emotions soar and anticipation builds as each camp hopes to be able to experience the thrill of victory instead of the agony of defeat. Yep, it’s almost Super Bowl Sunday.
For the better part of a year men have battled for real estate on fields across the country, smashing, bashing and sacking each other, knocking off opponents systematically until at the end, two teams remain standing. Regardless of the fans disappointment in their own team not making the cut, they still find it in them to rally around one or the other of the final two.
And regardless of how many times the hubby says he will not watch this year as his beloved 49ers are absent, I know that come Super Bowl Sunday there will be football on television at our house and there will be snacks. Lots and lots of snacks.
Super Bowl Sunday is, to me, a seemingly endless day of cursing, cheering and eating. First there is the preamble, hours of announcers giving the build-up, then the game itself and finally, that last minute of the game. Horse racing may be the most thrilling minute of sports but the last minute of football is the longest minute EVER! Seriously, I have heard announcers say “a minute to go in the game,” come back 45 minutes later and the game is still going on! I don’t think even Einstein could figure that out!
So to keep our guests fueled up for all that sitting around cheering and cursing we need lots of food and for my family that means we need lots of allergy friendly food to accommodate all the various food intolerances – no gluten, no dairy, and no peanuts.
The tried and true for Super Bowl like chicken wings and chili are fine but I think it is nice to change things up a bit. So this year, we are having some international treats thrown in as well. Such as these gluten free chicken meatballs with an out-of this-world, lick-the-spoon-clean amazing nut-free Thai sauce using Sunbutter.
You can make these ahead of time; just re-heat the meatballs for a few minutes before serving.
Ok, so it has to be asked – who will you be rooting for come Super Bowl Sunday?
Gluten Free Chicken Meatballs with Thai Sunbutter Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
Chicken Meatballs
- 1 cup gluten free crackers (such as Crunchmaster)
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger , grated or finely minced
- 2 cloves garlic , grated or finely minced
- 4 scallions (green onions), finely minced
- 2 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 large egg , lightly beaten
Thai Sunbutter Sauce
- 1/3 cup creamy Sunbutter
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 cloves garlic , grated or finely minced
- 1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger , grated or finely minced
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1 tablespoon gluten free soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
Chicken Meatballs
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 2 baking sheets with gluten free, non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Grind the crackers in a blender or food processor to fine crumbs. Pour into a large mixing bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Mix to combine. Shape into small balls using about 1 tablespoon of mixture per ball. Place on the prepared baking sheets and spray the meatballs lightly with gluten free, non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 15 minutes or until the meatballs are browned and feel firm to the touch. Remove the meatballs to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any extra fat. Serve with Thai Peanut Sauce.
Thai Sunbutter Sauce
- Combine all the ingredients in small mixing bowl and mix well. If the sauce is lumpy, microwave for a few seconds and stir until smooth. Serve with the chicken meatballs.
- Makes about ½ cup sauce.
Nutrition
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Wow these look amazing! My recipe list for this weekend just keeps getting better and better! what do you think would work in place of soy? maybe apple cider vinegar…
You can use Braggs amino or even better try coconut aminos – here’s a link – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XB5LMU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=jensmenandlif-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003XB5LMU
oh and one more thing – you could just use fish sauce. I ofetn use that instead of soy sauce – sorry I didn’t think of ot sooner.
oh thanks! good idea! I am here making my list for the grocery store. I can’t wait to make these…my kids are so excited for a *superbowl* party…they have no idea what it is, and it is just the 5 of us haha, just wanting to do something fun with them :)
Good luck – hope they love ’em!
Carol, they were awesome! so much flavour! the sauce, wow so good! all of it so easy to make, Honestly going to be my *go to* receipe for potlucks, TFS! :)
Yay! Glad you liked it and they are pretty perfect for potlucks, right? Thanks for reporting back :)
mmm – my husband would love these! Going to have to try this on him…
Hope he likes them Kate!
Fantastic, we love satay style. Hope your team wins!
Thanks. I have no emotional investment in the game – I am making food then going shopping :)
First off! I am with Thom here! No 49ers is making me grumpy about the game. BUT…since we will undoubtedly have a borage of people over this weekend to watch the game due to a completely unnecessary theater room that my husband insisted on including in this house for this very reason, I am SO TOTALLY MAKING THESE! Oh my goodness. These sound SO right up my alley!!
Haha – I am sure that with a theatre room, you have a packed house every SUper Bowl Sunday regardless of whose playing. But it would have been SOOOO much better with the 9ers! Just saying.
I am still laughing over that last minute of football – how true that is! These looks great, thanks for sharing.
My pleasure Anita, enjoy!
These look amazing! That sauce sounds absolutely heavenly! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks Beth, yep that sauce is pretty much to die for!
Yummyyyy.. I would be more happy if you offer me this dish rather than giving a recipe for this.
Haha! They are pretty darn tasty.
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I don’t have any sunbutter on hand. Would tahini work?
Hi Sophia,
If you’re not allergic to nuts you could substitute the Sunbutter for peanut butter. If you are allergic to nuts you can try tahini, but I’ve never personally tried that so I can’t guarantee it will come out the same. If you do try that, please let me know how it turns up!
xo,
Carol