Vegans and meat-eaters alike can enjoy a delicious plate of spaghetti and meatballs by preparing these easy vegan meatless meatballs in just a matter of minutes!
If you've ever been dabbled in the vegetarian world, then you are familiar with the concept of "meatless meat."
Kinda meat-like, but doesn't quite taste the same. But it's a way to enjoy those meals you may have grown up with in the average American home. So if you're looking to cut out beef or even chicken from your diet but still want that same familiar taste, then these are perfect for you.
In my experience, meatless recipes often have more flavor than their meat counterpart, and these meatless meatballs are no exception!
Packed with flavor, these vegan meatballs are out of this world deLISH and honestly take no time at all to whip up.
Ingredient Spotlight for Meatless Meatballs
The ingredients for meatless meatballs are very simple, easy to find at the grocery store, and pretty budget-friendly as well.
Flax Egg - Flax egg is a vegan substitute for eggs. It's ground flax seeds mixed with water to create something similar to an egg white.
This mixture can then be used in place of eggs, and it helps bind the meatless meatballs together without using any actual animal product.
Lentils - Lentils are full of protein and fiber. They are essential to any vegetarian or vegan diet, as they contain everything we need in order to be healthy!
Lentils are also super budget friendly, especially if you buy them in bulk, so they're great to just keep on hand. You can also buy them already cooked in cans for convenience sake.
Quick Oats - Quick oats are just regular old-fashioned oatmeal that has been chopped up into smaller pieces. This makes it easier for our bodies to break down and digest, which is why I use it in these meatless meatballs, as we're not cooking the oats in water like you would in oatmeal.
Seasonings - Seasonings are totally your preference when it comes to cooking. You can play around with the ratios, or even add more of a kick with some chili powder or cayenne.
Look how easy it is to make these meatless meatballs!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Meatless Meatballs
Step 1 - Preheat oven to 350° F and spray a sheet pan with cooking spray.
Step 2 - Place all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
Step 3 - Form into 16 meatballs and place on the baking sheet.
Step 4 - Transfer to the oven and bake for 40 minutes.
This Meatless Meatball Recipe is everything you’ve ever needed when it comes to an easy vegan dinner:
- Has way more flavor than the meatballs you're used to
- Vegan - adaptable for vegetarians - and totally gluten free
- Quick to make
- Easy on the budget
Cindy's Insider Pro Tips
Freeze for later
You can easily make a big batch of these and freeze for later. Just allow them to cool completely after baking, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and freeze. Once completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe ziploc bag or container.
Buy already cooked lentils
If you're short on time, or maybe you just don't want to cook your own lentils from scratch, then I would recommend buying the pre-cooked kind that comes in a can. It'll save you so much time!
Make a double batch
If you love meatless meatballs as much as we do, then I would recommend doubling the recipe. It can easily be doubled, just make sure your baking sheet is big enough to handle it!
Meatless Meatballs FAQs
Meatless meatballs are exactly what it sounds like. They're a tasty mixture of seasonings, oats, and lentils. Sometimes you'll find that some people use beans or a meat substitution such as Impossible or Beyond Meat.
They are pretty good for you! Lentils are full of fiber and protein making their high iron count easier to absorb into our bodies.
You don't need fake meat to make a great vegan meatball! You can use lentils instead (they're actually cheaper than fake meats and easier to find), and they taste super delicious.
The taste of these meatless meatballs are pretty similar to a traditional meatball, but with some extra flavor from the lentils, seasonings, and sauce.
Meatball subs, spaghetti, swedish meatballs, vegan alfredo sauce, cut up on pizza, or you can even add them to a salad (like my vegan cobb salad) for some extra protein!
Looking for more Vegan Recipes?
Vegan Mac and Cheese
Vegan Pot Roast
Vegan Lobster Roll
Vegetarian Sloppy Joes
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers
Vegan Shepherd's Pie
Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
Vegan Bolognese
Vegetarian Pot Pie
Now that you know how to easy it is to make this meatless meatballs recipe, please give it a star rating below and comment letting me know how it turned out for you.
Meatless Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 3 Tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 ½ cups cooked lentils (about 1 cup uncooked lentils)
- ½ small yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- ¾ cup grated vegan parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces unsweetened tomato sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F and spray a sheet pan with cooking spray.
- Place all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
- Form into 16 meatballs and place on the baking sheet.
- Transfer to the oven and bake for 40 minutes.
olga says
I tried this recipe! so delicious meatless meatballs! paired with Grechka buckwheat http://www.grechka.co.uk instead of pasta though