Check out these best vegan meatball recipes. With ingredients like lentils, chickpeas, and black beans, there’s more than enough here for vegans of all tastes!
- Easy Lentil Meatballs
- Vegan Meatballs With Spaghetti
- The Ultimate Vegan Meatballs
- Easy Vegan Meatballs
- Super Easy Vegan Meatballs In Italian Tomato Sauce
- Tofu Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce
- Vegan Meatballs with Spaghetti
- Moroccan-Inspired Vegan Meatballs
- Vegan Meatballs Recipe
- Vegan Italian Meatballs
- Vegan Meatballs
- Firecracker Chickpea Meatballs
- Vegan Swedish Meatballs
- Vegan BBQ Black Bean Meatballs
- BBQ Lentil Meatballs
- Vegan Cranberry Meatballs (Sweet & Tangy)
- Lentil Meatballs (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
- 17 Best Vegan Meatball Recipes (Lentils, Chickpeas, Eggplant, and More)
Vegan diets typically have very limited choices, and can get very routine and unspectacular. One of the ways people who follow vegan diets have attempted to liven up their meals is through vegan substitutes for ordinary food such as burgers or meatballs. These substitutions allow typically non-vegan dishes to be prepared using vegan ingredients.
Meatballs, in particular, are a food with many different possible combinations. The best part about vegan meatballs is the limitless possibilities of ingredients they can be constructed with. While typical meatballs are always made from ground beef or ground turkey, there are many different vegan foods which can be used in meatball recipes. These different foods give different flavors to the recipes and allow the meatballs to be paired with different ingredients, depending on what is used to form the meatballs.
Here are 17 delicious vegan meatball recipes which are guaranteed to leave you not missing meat at all.
Easy Lentil Meatballs
The breadcrumbs and herbs in these meatballs make you think traditional Italian meatball, and the lentils used allow them to be similarly high in protein to a typical meatball.
The typical cheese and egg are mimicked by vegan parmesan cheese and flax egg, giving them a taste just like a normal meatball but with all vegan ingredients.
Vegan Meatballs With Spaghetti
This vegan meatball recipe uses rolled oats, sunflower seeds, and kidney beans to give a cheap and vegan alternative to the traditional meatball.
These meatballs hold their shape perfectly, and with onion, garlic, oregano, and basil they taste have the same Italian taste a normal meatball would.
The Ultimate Vegan Meatballs
This meatball recipe uses the protein packed duo of mushrooms and chickpeas to create a meatball texture.
The recipe also uses onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper to give the meatballs the traditional Italian taste desired. Rolled oats, flaxseed, and breadcrumbs work to bind the meatballs and keep them from falling apart to make these super easy to make.
Easy Vegan Meatballs
A unique twist on the traditional ingredients in a vegan meatball, this recipe uses mushrooms and rice to create the base for the meatball.
Italian seasoning, garlic, and onion are added to give Italian flavor, and once formed the meatballs can be baked or fried to enjoy them.
Super Easy Vegan Meatballs In Italian Tomato Sauce
The beauty of these vegan meatballs is in their simplicity. The main ingredients are black beans, breadcrumbs, and sunflower seeds which are all readily available.
To make these, you simply throw the ingredients in a food processor, process them, add the breadcrumbs, and they are ready to bake.
Tofu Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce
A unique spin on vegan meatballs using tofu, this recipe mixes tofu and mushrooms to form a protein filled base of the meatball.
These meatballs give a nice Mexican twist on the usual meatball style, and use a sauce made of tomatoes and chipotles to give some heat to spice up the meatballs.
Vegan Meatballs with Spaghetti
This recipe uses a different technique by using vital wheat gluten, which can be bought in stores or made on your own.
These meatballs use potato and white beans with the vital wheat gluten for the base, and basil, oregano, and paprika to give them an Italian kick.
Moroccan-Inspired Vegan Meatballs
These meatballs are a Moroccan twist on the typical vegan meatball. With a base of mushrooms, carrots, and chickpeas they still pack plenty of protein.
Lemon, apricots, and walnuts are used in this recipe to give a tasty Moroccan twist that makes these meatballs a must try.
Vegan Meatballs Recipe
These meatballs mock the texture of ground beef nicely and are a cheaper alternative to traditional meatballs.
Made from chickpeas and a host of nuts including almonds, walnuts, and cashews, these meatballs can be baked and served with marina, teriyaki, or practically any other sauce you can think of as a vegan alternative to a normal meatball.
Vegan Italian Meatballs
Using lentils and mushrooms, these vegan meatballs are full of protein and guaranteed to keep you filled.
This recipe uses flax seed and water as a binder rather than egg, which is a useful trick that makes the meatballs hold together really well. Simple Italian ingredients onion, garlic, and parsley are used to give an Italian taste which will make this recipe a favorite.
Vegan Meatballs
The last meatball recipe is one of the easiest to make, using only 8 simple ingredients.
These meatballs use a base of black beans and can be baked or fried, and cooked with marinara sauce or olive oil, making them perfect anyone who is calorie conscience. Oats and nutritional yeast work to keep the meatballs together, and these are so simple to make they will be your new go to recipe.
Firecracker Chickpea Meatballs
This dish lives up to its name with its sweet and spicy sauce, and it’s packed with nutrients. Chickpeas are an excellent source of protein and fiber. In one serving of this recipe, you’ll get 7.6 grams of protein and nearly six grams of fiber. Put these vegan meatballs in a sandwich or enjoy as a snack.
Vegan Swedish Meatballs
This gluten-free and nut-free recipe shows that creamy and rich gravy can be made without butter or oil. Ingredients for the gravy include coconut milk, and soy or almond milk. Lentils, mushrooms, and rolled oats are the main components to the meatballs. A side of mashed potatoes goes well with this dish.
Vegan BBQ Black Bean Meatballs
Taste and good nutrition can go hand-in-hand, as this dish demonstrates. The delicious BBQ sauce is made with such ingredients as olive oil, onion, garlic, hot sauce, and crushed tomatoes. The meatballs contain rolled oats, which are high in fiber and antioxidants, and cooked black beans, which are rich in protein, potassium, and B-vitamins.
BBQ Lentil Meatballs
A whopping 25 grams of protein and 26 grams of fiber are in one serving of this recipe. Choose dry lentils instead of canned lentils (or pat canned lentils dry with a paper towel) to avoid the mixture being too wet to hold together. Don’t use red lentils since they are too mushy.
Vegan Cranberry Meatballs (Sweet & Tangy)
Did you know vegan meatballs could be made with cauliflower and quinoa? Packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, they are two key ingredients for these meatballs. This uses a delicious cranberry sauce recipe, which also includes soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and other ingredients. Serve at a Thanksgiving dinner or other holiday party.
Lentil Meatballs (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
The creamy cashew gravy is easy to make: simply combine the ingredients in a high-speed blender, and then heat the sauce in a saucepan with thyme, Italian seasonings, and paprika. Cashews are a great source of unsaturated fats (healthy fats), and they are high in copper, magnesium, and manganese. Take these vegan meatballs to your next potluck.
