carnivore-style cheesy meat bites—crispy outside, soft and cheesy inside. Here’s a true zero-carb / carnivore version (no breadcrumbs, no fillers):
🧀🥩 Carnivore Cheese Balls (Zero-Carb)
📝 Ingredients (about 25–30 balls)
- 500 g (1 lb) ground chicken or ground beef
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella (melts + stretch)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar (flavor + browning)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (for crispy crust)
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp cream cheese (adds richness & softness)
- 1/2 tsp salt (adjust depending on cheese saltiness)
👉 Optional (if you allow minimal seasoning in carnivore):
- pinch of garlic powder
- pinch of black pepper
🔥 Instructions
1. Preheat
- Oven: 200°C / 400°F
- Line tray with parchment paper
2. Mix
- In a bowl combine:
- ground meat
- mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan
- egg
- cream cheese
- salt
- Mix until just combined (don’t overmix)
3. Shape
- Roll into small balls (1–1.5 inch)
- Place on tray with space between each
💡 Tip: lightly wet or grease your hands—they’re sticky
4. Bake
- Bake for 18–22 minutes
- Then broil 2–4 minutes for that golden crust like in your photo
5. Rest
- Let cool 5 minutes (they firm up as they rest)
🔥 Texture & Taste
- Outside: crispy, golden, cheesy crust
- Inside: juicy, soft, slightly gooey from melted cheese
🧠 Pro Tips
- Use fattier meat (80/20 beef or chicken thigh mince) → prevents dryness
- Parmesan is key for that browned, crispy look
- Don’t overcrowd tray → helps crisping
- If too wet: add a little more Parmesan
🍳 Air Fryer Version
- Temp: 190°C / 375°F
- Time: 10–14 minutes
- Shake halfway through
🧊 Storage
- Fridge: 3–4 days
- Freezer: up to 2 months
- Reheat: air fryer or oven (best crisp)
🥓 Variations (Still Carnivore)
- Add chopped crispy bacon
- Stuff with a cube of cheese for molten center
- Use only beef + Parmesan for ultra-simple version