These vegetarian meatballs will have both meat eaters and veggies jumping for joy! As a long time vegetarian, I can tell you the one dish I really hated missing out on was spaghetti and meatballs. Now my family is all mostly vegetarian (ironic right), so I'm glad I have learned how to make vegetarian meatballs to share and enjoy with them anytime. These baked meatballs are gluten free, low fat, vegan, and packed with fiber and protein.
I love making veggie burgers since they are so versitile, but sometimes I just want a classic dish. I'm sure anyone that has been vegetarian for any amount of time can agree, sometimes you just want to fit in! As a teenager I ate a lot of Morningstar and Garden Burger products. Although I still enjoy these items from time to time, I realize that the ingredients in these premade vegetarian items are often not gluten free and can sometimes contain some whacky ingredients. I like to make as much of my food at home as possible, this way I know what the ingredients are and I can be comfortable serving it to people that have food allergies or sensitivities. I also find great joy in making my own food, and I am always proudly sampling my creations to whoever is around (mostly on Dave, poor Dave).
The ingredient list in these meatballs has all of my favorite ingredients. Mushrooms and liquid aminos (or soy sauce), add a savory, almost meaty flavor. The green lentils and quinoa are packed with fiber and protein. The ingredients for these meatballs get a quick whirl in the food processor and are ready for the oven in no time. They bake up in 30 minutes and hold up well in the fridge, so make a batch and use them in different ways through the week. I love serving mine on a bowl of zucchini noodles with homemade roasted garlic marinara. This would be great paired with the tomato basil salad as well.
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These meatballs are really filling, it actually sneaks up on you. The first time I made this dish, I couldn't resist taste testing a few of these meatballs right off the cookie sheet for quality control. There is no reason to take pictures of bad food right? Well by the time I was done taking pictures, I realized that I was already too full to eat dinner. And this fullness stuck with me for the rest of the night! So consider yourself warned!
Vegetarian Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
- 1/2 cup cooked green french lentils
- 6 tbs organic vegetable broth
- 2 tbs. liquid aminos or coconut aminos
- 4 tbs. sunflower seeds
- 3 tbs. coconut flour
- 3 tbs. ground flax
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 package white or portobello mushrooms - chopped and sauteed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Chop and saute mushrooms.
- In a food processor combine the cooked quinoa, lentils, vegetable broth, aminios, sunflower seeds, coconut flour, flax and garlic powder. Pulse to combine.
- Add sauteed mushrooms to the mixture. Turn on the food processor and mix until combined thoroughly.
- Using a tablespoon, scoop out equal sized portions. Roll in palms to make a round meatball.
- Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet that has been lightly sprayed with coconut oil.
- Bake at 400F for 30 minutes.
- Allow to cool slightly before serving.
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Nutrition Information
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What about you?
- What is a classic dish that you crave?
- Have you ever had a vegetarian meatball?
- Do you like zoodles?
Fareeha
These simply look incredible.. feel like having a bite
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma)
These look great! My youngest has been asking me to make him some vegan meatballs. I can’t wait to try this! I’d love for you to share this gluten free recipe at my gluten free fridays party! It happens each friday where bloggers from around the world share GF recipes! I think these would be a hit!
Sam
Oh Cindy please let me know if he liked them!! I will definitely try to link up this week!!
Melissa Vera
Thanks for this yummy veggie recipe. My youngest daughter has decided that she doesn’t like to eat meat. Now I can make spaghetti and meatballs for her.
Jody @easypeasymom
Yum, these look great! I am always searching for some more meatless recipes so I’m definitely saving this one. Pinning, thanks for sharing!
Elaine
Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope to see you tomorrow! Pinned!
Catherine Holt
Delish!! I am really trying to cut down on my meat eating, so recipes like this are perfect. Vegetarian meatballs….awesome idea. The zucchini spaghetti sounds really interesting too!
Thanks for linking up to Marvelous Monday on Smart Party Planning.
Jhuls | The Not So Creative Cook
Wow! This looks really amazing. Great idea on making vegetarian meatballs. :) #What’dYouDoThisWeekend
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast
These look awesome!
Sam
Thanks Laura!
She Rocks Fitness
I love my Mom’s meatballs and spaghetti…She always makes it when I go home. It is the best and stuff myself silly on it. I am definitely a fan of zoodles. They’re fun and versatile!
Sam
Oh man anything mom makes from my childhood I can’t seem to keep my control over! Sounds like your mom steals your heart with her spaghetti and meatballs!!
Jess @hellotofit
I LOVE zoodles! And I crave all sorts of pasta all the time, hehe.
Jamie
I love this! I was just discussing how we could modify meatball recipes to make them vegetarian!! Thanks for posting : )
GiGi Eats
What a wonderful way for the vegans of the world to get their fare share of protein :)
Holly Housewife
these look delish!!!
As someone with food sensitivities I feel so bad never eating anywhere but the teeny tiniest little crumb can make me so ill! It’s hard to describe to people who don’t have it so I try to make as much of my own food as possible and stick to the tried and trues :)
These look so so yummy!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes
I absolutely love zoodles! I haven’t made them in a while, thanks for the reminder! I may have to dig my spiralzier out this weekend!
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment
Back in my vegetarian days I ate tons of processed veggie burgers. Glad to see there is an alternative with such clean ingredients like this recipe.
Deborah@Confessions of a mother runner
Never would have thought of using lentils in those. Yum!
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness
Great idea! I actually just tried Gardein meatless meatballs for the first time last week, and my hubby and I both thought that they were decent. It’s funny that you mention feeling like you were “missing out” on spaghetti & meatballs, because when I went veg, one of the only meat dishes that still sounded good to me was my grandma’s Swedish meatballs! Ha.
Miranda @ Miranda Writes Blog
I have never had a vegetarian meatball but I would love to try these. They sound great!
Meg @ Green With Decor
These look good!!
Annie @ Annie's Noms
Oooh, I’ve never tried Vegetarian meatballs before, but these looks delicious!
Angie
Mmmm, those look super good! I have to try that.
Susie @ SuzLyfe
TOTALLY making these with TVP