Here’s the thing: bread crumbs are mostly about texture and structure. You want something dry that will soak up juices and crisp up in the oven or pan. Anything dry and crunchy works.
Your meatball doesn’t know the difference. It just wants a friend to hold it together. So when you’re out of bread crumbs, don’t panic. Ransack your pantry. Crush something. Pretend you’re a genius.
And if all else fails, just use plain flour and call it a “paleo version.” Nobody will know the difference, except maybe your dog. But dogs don’t judge—they just eat the failed meatballs off the floor.