Celebrate March Meatball Madness

March Madness, an American college basketball competition, is celebrated in office betting pools and beer-soaked bars across the U.S. Although I am firmly an NFL football girl—and a Fug Madness girl—I’m also a girl that cannot resist alliteration.

And meatballs.

So, along with my husband Dave (tall enough for basketball but really more of a reader) and some paleo friends, here’s a roster of paleo meatball recipes, along with a little sprinkling of basketball lingo and slang because I am also a sucker for specialty vocabulary. Go ahead! You can call me a baller.

The New Players Recipes

In addition to the meatball recipes I rolled out (see what I did there?!), there’s also a special edition of Tuesday 10 that makes the case for meatballs as the Franchise Player of your plate. I also explained the science behind meatball mixing methods and offered an assist from Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Rice. Alley-oop!

Bacon-Jalapeno Burger Balls with Dill Pickle Relish & Awesome Sauce

Tuesday 10: Meatballs Are The Franchise Players of Your Plate

Bakso (Indonesian Beef Balls) from The Domestic Man

Chicken Pesto Meatballs in Marinara

Crockpot Italian Meatballs (with liver) from Stupid Easy Paleo

Making “Meat Dough”

Classic Meatballs from Elana’s Pantry

An Assist: Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Rice

Gyoza Meatballs from Well Fed 2

Gyoza Soup with Pork Broth from Paleo Periodical

Cuban Meatballs with Pan-Fried Plantains from Well Fed 2

Highlight Reel Recipes

Here are more of my previously posted meatball recipes that are worthy of an all-star lineup!

Old School Italian Meat Sauce
Tender beef meatballs (along with sausage and pork) simmered in basil-tomato sauce

Turkey and Cranberry Meatballs
The traditional flavors of Thanksgiving, anytime and portable

Moroccan Meatballs
Succulent lamb meatballs simmered in a tomato sauce spiced with cumin and paprika

Czech Meatballs
Just the right touch of caraway and mustard with pork

Merguez Meatballs
Lamb seasoned with Merguez Sausage Seasoning — a French-Moroccan favorite

Bora Bora Fireballs
Tropical paradise on your plate: pork and pineapple, rolled in toasted coconut

Mad for Meatballs?

If you like meatballs as much as I like meatballs, you might want to check out Well Fed 2: More Paleo Recipes For People Who Love To Eat, which includes 15 meatball varieties, as well as instructions for cooking on the stovetop, the grill, and in the oven. Tips on freezing and defrosting, too!