Cubano Sandwich Meatballs (Gluten-Free)

Recipe

May 28

These aren't like Cuban-style meatballs in a sandwich... they are Cubano Sandwich Meatballs.

Yes, my friends. Yes.

These meatballs are packed with all the fillings and fixings you'd normally find in a perfectly pressed Cubano, just without the perfectly pressed bread. We've got pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles all mashed up together, baked and then dipped into a creamy, tangy sauce made with straight-up mayo and yellow mustard (no fancy mustards allowed).

I've had this recipe drafted up in a notebook for almost six months along with about two dozen other meatball riffs to add to my meatball collection. I finally decided it was time to debut this one at a family BBQ this weekend.

My 1-year-old niece was obsessed with them and we all pretty much went H.A.M. along with her... so I can confidently say they were a hit.

Not only did these make a really easy appetizer, but they would be excellent alongside rice and beans and/or some fried yucca if you wanted to make them a meal.

Cubano Sandwich Meatballs

gluten-free recipe | makes ~24 meatballs

Meatball Ingredients

1 lb. ground pork
3/4 cup ham, minced
1/3 cup dill pickles, minced
3/4 cup swiss cheese, shredded
1 T yellow mustard
pinch of salt
a sprinkle of black pepper
thinly sliced pickles for garnish (I used a veggie peeler)

Sauce Ingredients

1-2 T yellow mustard (like French's)
1/4 cup mayo (I use avocado oil mayo)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment.
Mix up all the meatball ingredients and form into approximately 24 small meatballs (about 1-inch in diameter).
Bake for 15-17 minutes or until the pork is cooked through.
While the meatballs are cooking whip up the sauce. It's just two things—you know what to do.
Garnish with thinly sliced pickles and serve with the dipping sauce.

Tips

Because the mustard, pickles, cheese and ham have so much salt going on among them, you don't need to add much to the meatball mixture.
As I mentioned, these make a great party appetizer but would be really versatile in a salad or a rice/bean bowl or any kind of dinner application.
These would also make great burgers!