I grew up in an Italian family, so I hold my meatballs to a high standard! And I have to say, store bought vegan meatballs are not very good. I haven’t found one yet that I like. But I stopped buying them. Why? Because homemade vegan meatballs are awesome! And there are so many ways to make them. I’ve created quite a collection over the years, and I have no plans on stopping.
Vegan Meatball Ingredients
The Main Ingredient
I start nearly all of my vegan meatball recipes with a sturdy, meaty, plant-based ingredient, like tofu, tempeh, or beans! The main ingredient should be hearty, have a nice texture, and a bit of moisture to it, so it can be mashed up, combined with other ingredients, and formed into balls.
Binding
You’ll usually need to add something starchy or sticky to give your meatballs structure and help them hold together. Breadcrumbs, oats, and different types of flours all work well.
Seasonings
I always include some aromatics, such as garlic, onions, and ginger in my veggie balls. In addition to these, I’ll also choose between liquid seasonings like soy sauce and hot sauce, as well as dried spices like oregano, paprika, and cumin.
Sauce
You can’t have meatballs without sauce! Marinara sauce works great for Italian-style meatballs, but also consider creamy sauces, Asian-inspired stir-fry sauces, and spicy sauces.
How to Make Vegan Meatballs
Mix up your ingredients! I like to use a food processor, but you can also mash your mixture up by hand using a potato masher. Either way, be careful not to overdo it! Nobody likes mushy meatballs.
Roll your mixture into balls and bake them up! Unlike conventional meatballs, most vegan meatballs will fall apart if you cook them in sauce. You’re better off lightly oiling and then baking them.
Vegan Meatball Recipes
Here are a few of my favorites to try!
Cannellini Bean & Broccoli Rabe Meatballs
Bitter greens add a delicious bite to these Italian-style beanballs! Perfect with a plate of pasta.
Ginger-Glazed Tofu Meatballs
I promise, you’d never guess that these balls were made from tofu! Serve them as a meal with a side of rice, or as fun party appetizers that will really wow your guests.
Vegan Salisbury Steak Meatballs with Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Mushroom Gravy
These savory chickpea balls are perfect when you’re craving a hearty comfort food meal.
Vegan Tortas de Albondigas
Meatball sandwiches are good, but these Mexican-inspired meatball subs are amazing! Made with spicy black bean meatballs in smoky chipotle sauce.
Firecracker Chickpea Meatballs
Bring on the heat! These vegan meatballs are smothered in a knock-your-socks-off spicy sauce. Perfect for stuffing in sandwiches or game-day snacking!
Vegan Moroccan Meatball Stew
Beanballs are served in a spicy tomato stew over couscous to make this delicious meal! Perfect for special dinners.
Eggplant Meatballs
Do you love eggplant Parm? Well, then these are the meatballs for you! Made with tender sautéed eggplant, they’re amazing topped with homemade marinara sauce.
Teriyaki Tempeh Meatballs
Tempeh’s meaty texture makes it the a perfect base for hearty protein-packed vegan meatballs, and sweet teriyaki sauce is the perfect topping for this batch of tempeh balls.
Vegan Swedish Meatballs
These comforting vegan meatballs are made with beans and savory mushrooms, then smothered in a luscious creamy sauce that you’d never guess was dairy free!
Vegan German Meatballs
These tofu balls are served over cabbage in creamy mustard sauce. The perfect meal for enjoying with a cold beer!
Italian-Style Lentil Meatballs
Lentils give amazing texture and savory flavor to these hearty meatless balls.
Vegan Meatball Banh Mi
If you’re a fan of the classic banh mi sandwich, then you need to try this vegan version! Made with bean and nut-based balls that are smothered in hoisin sauce and stuffed into rolls with zippy picked veggies. Like this post? If so, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter. And please stop back and leave me a review and rating below if you make any of the recipes!
