Vegan Meatballs

These vegan meatballs will earn a spot in the list of your favorite dishes if you are all about a plant-based diet. They are hearty, and juicy, and pair well with all kinds of sauces. 

Being vegan doesn’t mean you can’t crave meatballs. And if you do, then these Beyond Beef meatballs in a juicy veggie sauce are

the recipe to go for. 

Why this recipe works

• Meaty and juicy. These meatballs are made with Beyond Beef which has the perfect meaty texture. They turn out so juicy and flavorful that you don’t need to be vegan to like them. 
• Nutritious. Vegan meatballs are quite healthy. They contain all the essential nutrients without being high in fat. 
• Freezer-friendly. These meatballs make an amazing freezer meal. Just bring them out of the freezer and put them right into the tomato sauce to heat them up and enjoy them with pasta or rice. 
• No legumes or nuts. Most vegan meatball recipes call for lentils or another legume, and tons also use cashews. These don’t use either and taste the most like real meatballs.

What I love about this recipe is how easy they are to customize. They are great tossed through marinara sauce or even glazed with some sweet and sour sauce for the ultimate flavor explosion! We also love to use them in meatballs subs.

What are vegan meatballs made of?

As this recipe is made with Beyond Beef, you don’t need a lot of ingredients to make them. Here’s everything you will need to make these vegan meatballs in sauce. 

• Beyond beef. This is a plant-based ground beef substitute made of pea, rice, and beans. 
• Garlic. Minced, 
• Ginger. Minced. 
• Olive oil. To fry the meatballs.
• Salt. To taste. 

For the sweet and spicy sauce: 

• Bell pepper. Red and yellow bell peppers, chopped. 
• Onion. Quartered. 
• Ketchup. To provide a rich tomato-flavored base for the sauce. 
• Sweet chili sauce. To make the flavor of the sauce richer and deeper.
• Hot chili sauce. To add some heat to the sauce. 
• Soy sauce. To provide saltiness and add a rich umami flavor to the sauce. 
• Cornstarch. To thicken the sauce and give it a glossy finish. 
• Water. To cook the sauce longer and develop a deeper flavor. 

How to make vegetarian meatballs

The process of making vegan meatballs in the sauce is pretty much the same as making meatballs using real meat. Here is how them: 

Step 1- Shape and fry the meatballs 

Add all meatball ingredients to a bowl and mix well. 

Shape the mixture into small meatballs using your hands.

Add oil to a large non-stick pan. When the oil gets hot, add the meatballs and fry until they are fully browned. Remove the meatballs from the pan and place them on paper towels to soak up the excess oil. 

Step 2- Cook the sauce

Clean the pan and add more oil. Saute the onion and bell peppers for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients, including water. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes. 

Step 3- Combine the meatballs with sauce and serve 

When the sauce thickens, bring back the meatballs and coat them in the sauce. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds and serve. 

Tips to make the best recipe

• Use an ice cream scoop to shape the meatballs. This will help you make perfectly round meatballs of the same size. 
• Use tomatoes. If you don’t have ketchup, use canned or fresh tomatoes for the sauce. As tomatoes are quite juicy, you will not need to add extra water to the sauce. 
• Add nutritional yeast. If you are afraid your vegan meatballs are going to crumble and fall apart, add a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast. Aside from being a healthy additive, nutritional yeast is also a good binder. 
• Swap water for vegetable stock. Using vegetable stock for the sauce helps create a richer flavor. 
• Omit the sauce. These meatballs can work with any sauce of choice: marinara, cream, etc. Simply prep the meatballs as instructed then toss them through your favorite sauce.

Storage instructions

To store: Place leftover meatballs in sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

To freeze. You can freeze vegan meatballs in sauce for up to 2 months. However, it is best to freeze the meatballs without the sauce, cooked or uncooked.

To reheat. Reheat meatballs on the stove over medium heat. Add a small amount of water to the sauce if needed. You can also reheat the vegan meatballs in the microwave. 

More vegetarian recipes to try

• Spicy noodles
• Vegetable korma
• Korean spicy noodles
• Sofritas
• Pesto pasta bake

Frequently asked questions