You won’t believe how flavorful these plant based meatballs are! Made with lentils and spiced to perfection, these Lentil Meatballs are vegan friendly and gluten free. But even meat eaters approve!
Looking for more traditional meatball recipes? Check out my recipes for Italian Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs, Instant Pot Meatballs, or Swedish Meatballs.
Vegan Meatballs
Meatballs have long been one of my favorite foods ever.
In an effort to eat more plant based meals, I set out to create a vegan friendly meatballs that could stand up to my favorite Italian Baked Meatballs.
I must say, I was VERY skeptical. While I love so many plant based recipes like Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili and Vegetarian Fajitas, I was a bit skeptical I would be able to enjoy a vegan meatball as much as traditional meatballs.
But friends, I hit this one out of the park!
These Vegan Meatballs are full of Italian flavor and are a bit crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They also happen to be gluten free! While the texture is not an exact replica of meat-based meatballs, these plant based meatballs won me AND my picky husband and kids over!
Ingredients
These vegan meatballs are made with pantry staples. There is no need to purchase tempeh or tofu or stabilizers, making these meatballs economical and the perfect go to recipe when you have nothing fresh on hand.
- Lentils: Lentils really are a great substitute for meat in so many dishes, as they are full or protein and have a great hearty texture. Lentils also come with the added benefit of being gluten-free, full of fiber and iron. And when blended up in a food processor, lentils are the perfect base for this meatless meatball. Be sure to use GREEN lentils for the best texture.
- Oats: To keep these meatballs gluten free as well as vegan friendly, I use oats in place of bread crumbs. By all means you can use bread crumbs instead, but I love the texture that the oats provide in these meatballs.
- Flax Egg: Instead of eggs, mix together ground flax seed and water, which will help be the glue to keep these meatballs together.
- Spices: Spices are KEY in these meatballs. And I add in A LOT of dried spices, along with minced garlic.
How to Make Vegan Meatballs
Step One: Prepare Lentils
Prepare lentils according to package directions. And then let them cool. This is a great recipe to use leftover lentils you may have in your fridge.
Step Two: Make Flax Egg Substitute
While lentils are cooking, mix together one tablespoon ground flax seed with three tablespoons of water. Let sit for 15 minutes to thicken.
Step Three: Process Meatballs
These meatballs come together easily in a food processor. Place all the ingredients in the base of your food processor and process by pulsing until the mixture just comes together. You want there to still be some texture to the meatballs.
Step Four: Form Meatballs
Prepare a baking sheet, by greasing with an thin layer of olive oil or baking spray. To keep meatballs even, so that they bake up at the same time, use a cookie scoop to portion out lentil meatballs. Then with slightly damp hands, roll the mixture into balls and place on baking sheet.
Step Five: Bake Meatballs
Bake for 15 minutes until meatballs are browned and outside is crispy. Serve these meatballs with your favorite tomato sauce over pasta, in meatballs subs, or as an appetizer.
More Recipes using Lentils
Lentil Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry green lentils
- 1/4 cup gluten free oats
- 1 flax egg
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt divided
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Flax Egg
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxmeal
- 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Prepare lentils according to package directions and allow to slightly cool.
- While lentils are cooking prepare flax egg by mixing together flaxmeal with water and let sit for 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly brush sheet pan with olive oil or cooking spray.
- Process lentils, oats, flax egg, red pepper flakes, oregano, parsley, onion powder, pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon garlic together in food processor until just combined.
- Shape mixture into 1 inch balls and place on baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, or until just browned.
- Serve meatballs with marinara sauce if desired.
Notes
- Feel free to use regular egg in place of flax egg.
- Use certified gluten free oats to keep these meatballs gluten free.
- Be sure to use green, not red lentils, for the best texture.
Kristen Chidsey
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Can I use a regular egg in this recipe? Would I use only 1 egg?
Yes Teresa, and just one egg. Enjoy!!
Just wondering why there is a tablespoon and a half of garlic (divided)in the ingredients list but only says add 1 tablespoon to food processor. And no other instructions for the other half tablespoon .
Hi Robin! Fixing now. It should only be 1 tablespoon garlic for entire recipe! Sorry about that!
These are the tastiest meatballs! Every recipe I looked up prior to this one, called for a lot of ingredients and a lot of prep to the point that I was unwilling to try the recipe. So glad I found this one. It is so easy and simply delicious! Thank you!!
Oh I am so happy to hear that Rachel! I really do try to cut back on prep work and ingredients–but not on taste 😉
These are fabulous! My daughter is vegan but my husband and I eat meat…but everyone LOVED them. New favorite Meatless Monday recipe.
WAHOO!!! I love hearing that this pleased the whole family!
Delicious with nice texture… great meatless alternative!
I am so glad you enjoyed!
so good! I served mine with organic pasta sauce and baked asparagus. Me and my roommate ate it up. Thanks for the post!
WOHOO!!! Love to hear when people make my recipes and enjoy them!! YEA!!
I love this vegetarian option! My and my 5 year old daughter live in a house w a bunch of meat eating boys 😉
Totally feel your pain Gwen. My daughter and I could be vegetarians, but the men–NEVER! However, they did like this recipe.
Dear Kristin, what a healthy, wholesome and delicious meal. This sounds like a wonderful alternative and I know I would absolutely love it! xo, Catherine
Thanks Catherine!
I have never tried lentil meatballs but I love the idea!
You will love them–so deceptively meaty 🙂
Loved going along on this culinary trip to Vegas Kristen! Great zoodles and meatballs recipe, thank you. I need to buy a spiralizer too, still haven’t succumbed. Guess I’m waiting for a sale!
I am waiting for a sale too 🙂 But the food processor works!
Oh lentil meatballs – that’s a new one for me! I’ll have to give them a try.
I hope you like them–I think they have a great texture for meatless meatballs.
I wonder if my kids would like this…they do like lentils! I think I am going to have to try it! Thanks for the recipe, Kristen…I would have never though of making something like this. 🙂
Well Michelle, I can pretty much guarantee they will like the meatballs. So if you are worried about the zucchini, just serve them over over regular noodles.
This so good! I’m drooling right now. Pinned and tweeted. We appreciate you being a part of our party. Please stop by on Monday at 7 pm. Happy Saturday! Lou Lou Girls
Thanks Kimberly!
I love zoodles so much! I definitely want to try these lentil meatballs. Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board.
You bet! Zoodles are so fun!
YUM!
This sounds like an awesome dinner! I am going to have to try it!
Thanks Paris. Let me know how you like it!
This looks so yummy! I got a veggie spiralizer for Christmas that I have been playing around with. I haven’t tried zucchini noodles yet so thanks for the idea 🙂
You bet! This is one dish you must try since you have a spiralizer.
Yum! These look fantastic. I had no idea the Wynn was so vegan-friendly. Thanks for making these gluten free, too!
I was surprised at their embrace of vegan cuisine myself!
Lentil meatballs are a great idea–I have to try this out!
I hope you do–they are great!
I love this idea! Can’t wait to try myself and perhaps do for a client. Would the “meat” balls freeze okay?
They freeze wonderfully! Just of course be sure they are in a well sealed container and cooled before freezing. I think they are best to warm through in the oven, but microwave works too!
This looks so good! Lentil meatballs sound perfect! I like to tuck some meatballs away in the freezer and I bet these would freeze beautifully!
Majory, they freeze perfectly. Enjoy!
Absolutely making these! I adore lentils and I love the idea of using flax! I’ve never even thought to make a ‘flax’ egg!
YEA!! Let me know what you think Madaline.
Definitely making this – love that you did lentil meatballs – so creative!! Can’t wait to try it 🙂 Pinned!
Thanks Sam, I love that you appreciate my creativity. I hope you enjoy!