These delicious hearty Vegan Meatballs are filled with scrumptious flavors, protein, and quite a lot of fiber. Made with simple and nutritious components, this lentil-based recipe makes the exact social gathering appetizer, household dinner, or centerpiece for internet web internet hosting dinner agency.

closeup of lentil vegan meatballs covered in tomato sauce

This recipe was written on April 18, 2021. It was up to date with extra recipe knowledge on Sep 3, 2024.

You gained’t take into consideration these lentil meatballs are made with 100% plant-based components! The corporate, meaty texture and combination of irresistible flavors will excite the tastebuds of meat eaters and herbivores alike. The mix of inexperienced lentils, hearty breadcrumbs, fragrant spices, newest herbs, nutty dietary yeast, and a slight kick of crushed pink chili flakes make the perfect vegan meatballs.

The meatballs are baked all through the oven till crisp on the pores and pores and skin and tender and juicy on the within. There’s a set off they have been one amongst my most requested meals from prospects as soon as extra after I was a personal chef in New York Metropolis!

Lentil balls are scrumptious as an appetizer dipped in marinara sauce, served over spaghetti, or used for Italian subs. They’re giant straightforward to make and don’t require any particular devices! This vegan meatballs recipe furthermore contains instructions to make an non-obligatory vegan parmesan cheese topping for the ultimate phrase expertise!

For additional lentil-based recipes, attempt my lentil meatloaf, vegan burrito bowl, or straightforward lentil tacos.  

overhead of vegan meatball ingredients overhead of vegan meatball ingredients

Components

  • Flooring Flaxseed. Used as an egg replacer to create a gel-like consistency that binds the veggie meatballs collectively when blended with water. Search for pre-ground flaxseed all through the baking or correctly being meals aisle on the grocery retailer. 
  • Lentils. I choose to advocate utilizing inexperienced or brown lentils to sort the perfect meatball base. Alternatively, use canned lentils – merely rinse and drain them first. 
  • . Provides a savory depth of favor and fascinating aroma. Use newest garlic cloves for the perfect mannequin or go for pre-minced garlic to avoid dropping time on
  • Onion. Minced onion not solely gives pungent mannequin, it furthermore gives moist texture and chunk to those vegan meatballs.
  • Dietary Yeast. Elevates the vegan lentil meatballs with a satisfyingly wealthy and savory umami fashion and tacky aroma. I choose to purchase it in bulk! Alternatively, combine in your most popular vegan cheese model for added tacky fashion. 
  • Fennel Seed. Gives a light-weight, candy, licorice-like fashion. Use full fennel seeds or swap for a lesser quantity of floor fennel seeds is most popular. 
  • Dried Thyme. Provides the meatballs a tasty delicate earthy fashion. Alternatively, use triple the quantity of newest thyme for an additional vibrant fashion  all through the veggie meatballs recipe. 
  • Sea Salt. Enhances the meatballs’ frequent flavors. Alternatively, use kosher salt and alter the quantity to your mannequin choice. 
  • Black Pepper. Provides complexity and a contact of warmth. Use freshly floor black pepper for primarily in all probability probably the most strong fashion, nonetheless pre-ground pepper furthermore works good. 
  • Crushed Purple Chili Flakes. Provides the vegetarian meatballs an thrilling spicy kick. Regulate the quantity to fit your mannequin or omit for a lot of who want a milder fashion. 
  • Breadcrumbs. Assist bind the meatballs collectively to present them improvement. Use widespread, full wheat, or gluten-free breadcrumbs, ideally unflavored, based mostly on dietary wants. Panko breadcrumbs may be utilized to supply the meatballs with a lighter texture.
  • Marinara Sauce (Elective). If desired, serve this lentil balls recipe with a basic Italian tomato sauce, every store-bought or hand-crafted (recipe for my straightforward hand-crafted sauce beneath)
  • Vegan Parmesan Cheese (Elective). This lentil meatballs vegan recipe isn’t full with out savory vegan parmesan cheese made with walnuts and miso.
sideview of sliced vegan meatball on forksideview of sliced vegan meatball on fork

The becoming strategy to Make Vegan Meatballs

  • Put collectively Flax Egg. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Mix the flaxseed and water in a small mixing bowl. Put aside to thicken for not decrease than 5 minutes.
  • Put collectively Meatball Base. Mix the cooked lentils, garlic, onion, dietary yeast, fennel seed, parsley, thyme, salt, black pepper, chili flakes, and breadcrumbs in an enormous mixing bowl. Stir numerous conditions till merely blended.
  • Add Flax Egg. Add the flax egg and stir correctly to mix the climate. If the doesn’t begin to keep collectively, use clear arms to combine it.
  • Mix batter. Change about 1/3 of the lentil meatball combination to a meals processor and mix till it turns proper right into a thick batter (not a whole puree). In case your combination may be very dry and troublesome to mix, add 1/4 water and pulse. Change the blended batter as soon as extra into the large bowl and stir correctly.
  • Variety Meatballs. Scoop out 2 tablespoon-sized balls of the lentil combination, then roll them between your palms till simple. 
  • Bake. Place the meatballs on the ready baking sheets. Bake for 25 minutes or till barely browned on the pores and pores and skin and tender on the within.
overhead of baked vegan meatballsoverhead of baked vegan meatballs
  • Elective: Put collectively Vegan Parmesan. If utilizing, make the vegan parmesan cheese. Place the climate correct proper right into a meals processor and pulse till a chunky crumble stays.
  • Elective: Toss Meatballs. If desired, toss the meatballs with heat marinara sauce, serve over pasta sauce, and garnish with the vegan parmesan cheese.
sprinkling vegan parmesan over lentil meatballssprinkling vegan parmesan over lentil meatballs

Recipe Expert-Ideas

  • Appropriately put together dinner dinner lentils. Prepare dinner dinner dinner the lentils till tender nonetheless retain their sort to present the straightforward lentil meatballs the appropriate texture. Avoid overcooking them or they are going to be mushy! 
  • Let the flax egg sit. Give the flaxseed and water satisfactory time to sort a gelled consistency—not decrease than 5 minutes (or longer should you’ve purchased the time)—to create an correct binding that holds the meatballs collectively.  
  • Regulate the meatball consistency as wished. If the combination appears too moist, steadily add additional breadcrumbs till you obtain the appropriate consistency – the combination needs to be firm satisfactory to carry its sort when rolled into balls. 
  • Combine correctly. Guarantee all components all through the vegetarian meatballs recipe are utterly blended for primarily in all probability probably the most cohesive texture. Use your arms as wished to combine, guaranteeing even distribution.
  • Don’t overcrowd the baking sheets. Place the ready meatballs with residence between them on the baking sheets. This permits the warmth to stream into and helps them put together dinner dinner evenly and brown correctly.
vegan meatballs stacked on a bed of spaghettivegan meatballs stacked on a bed of spaghetti

Serving Ideas

Take pleasure in this lentil meatballs recipe in numerous methods – as an Italian basic served over a mattress of scorching pasta with marina sauce, inside a toasted hoagie bun as a meatball sub, as an appetizer alongside collectively along with your favourite dipping sauces, or paired with just some of our favourite recipes beneath:

Storage Instructions

  • Refrigeration: Permit leftover meatballs to organize dinner dinner completely before transferring to an hermetic container and refrigerating for as lots as 5
  • Freezing: Place cooled meatballs on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze till strong, about 2-3 hours. Change frozen meatballs to a -safe bag or container and freeze them for as lots as 3 months. 
  • Reheating: Heat refrigerated meatballs all through the oven at 350ºF on a ready baking sheet for 10-Quarter-hour or all through the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Reheat frozen meatballs all through the oven at 350ºF for 20-25 minutes or till warmed by means of. Phrase: Cowl frozen meatballs with foil for the primary 10 minutes of reheating to hurry up the warming course of.
overhead of vegan meatballs in a skilletoverhead of vegan meatballs in a skillet

Additional Vegan Italian-Impressed Recipes

Recipe Card

  • 1 meals processor this one is used all through the footage

Stop your present from going darkish

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Mix the flaxseed and water in a small mixing bowl. Put aside to thicken for five minutes.

  • Mix the cooked lentils, garlic, onion, dietary yeast, fennel seed, parsley, thyme, salt, black pepper, chili flakes, and breadcrumbs in an enormous mixing bowl. Stir numerous conditions till merely blended.

  • Add the flax “egg”, and stir correctly to mix the climate. If the batter should not be coming collectively, use clear arms to combine it.

  • Change about 1/3 of the lentil meatball combination to a meals processor and mix till it turns proper right into a thick batter (not a whole puree). In case your combination may be very dry and troublesome to mix, add 1/4 water and pulse. Change the blended batter as soon as extra into the large bowl and stir correctly.

  • Scoop and roll the lentil combination into 2-tablespoon-sized balls.

  • Place the lentil meatballs on the ready baking sheets. Bake for 25 minutes, or till barely browned on the pores and pores and skin and tender inside.

  • If desired, toss the meatballs with heat marinara sauce, serve over pasta sauce, and garnish with the vegan parmesan cheese.

Easy Marinara Sauce

  • Heat oil in a saucepan over medium- warmth.

  • Add the onion and garlic, and sauté for about 1 minute, till onions are translucent.

  • Pour the tomato sauce into the sauce , and add the sugar, salt, and basil. Stir correctly, and canopy the pan.

  • Prepare dinner dinner dinner the tomato sauce on low for 20 minutes. For a thinner sauce, add 1/4 cup of water, and put together dinner dinner for two minutes longer.

  • Serve the sauce over the lentil meatballs.

Storage Instructions

  • Refrigeration: Permit leftover meatballs to organize dinner dinner completely before transferring to an hermetic container and refrigerating for as lots as 5 days. 
  • Freezing: Place cooled meatballs on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze till strong, about 2-3 hours. Change frozen meatballs to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze them for as lots as 3 months.
  • Reheating: Heat refrigerated meatballs all through the oven at 350ºF on a ready baking sheet for 10-Quarter-hour or all through the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Reheat frozen meatballs all through the oven at 350ºF for 20-25 minutes or till warmed by means of. Phrase: Cowl frozen meatballs with foil for the primary 10 minutes of reheating to hurry up the warming course of.

Recipe Expert-Ideas

  • Appropriately put together dinner dinner lentils. Prepare dinner dinner dinner the lentils till tender nonetheless retain their sort to present the straightforward lentil meatballs the appropriate texture. Avoid overcooking them or they are going to be mushy! 
  • Let the flax egg sit. Give the flaxseed and water satisfactory time to sort a gelled consistency—not decrease than 5 minutes (or longer should you’ve purchased the time)—to create an correct binding that holds the meatballs collectively.  
  • Regulate the meatball consistency as wished. If the combination appears too moist, steadily add additional breadcrumbs till you obtain the appropriate consistency – the combination needs to be firm satisfactory to carry its sort when rolled into balls. 
  • Combine correctly. Guarantee all components all through the vegetarian meatballs recipe are utterly blended for primarily in all probability probably the most cohesive texture. Use your arms as wished to combine, guaranteeing even distribution.
  • Don’t overcrowd the baking sheets. Place the ready meatballs with residence between them on the baking sheets. This permits the warmth to stream into and helps them put together dinner dinner evenly and brown correctly.

 

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