Ok, ok, ok, hold the phone. These meatballs aren’t…well…really meatballs at all. They’re loaded-with-veggie-goodness-balls. Savory bites of perfection that are delicious paired with your favorite vegetarian dinner recipes like marinara and spaghetti, in a sub-sandwich, or used in a stroganoff.

Cast iron skillet with vegetarian meatballs and red sauce with parmesan cheese on top.

Or, keep them as is, stick a toothpick in them, and add them to your meatless appetizer repertoire. Really, the possibilities are endless.

You’ll not only love the flavor and texture but how easy they are to make. I mean, really.

I’ve converted one of my meat-loving coworkers to the love of vegetarian meatballs. Mindset shift to accepting that vegetarian food can be super flavorful, delicious, and filling. This coworker even suggested I call them “holy-sh*t-I-didn’t-know-there-wasn’t-meat-in-these-meatballs” meatballs.

So it’s safe to say, even the meat-eaters in your life will love these for the rich, savory flavor, and perfect meatball-like texture. Let’s get to cooking them then, shall we?

Up close vegetarian meatball in red sauce.

What do you need to make vegetarian meatballs?

Are you sitting here wondering well, ok, but what is even in vegetarian meatballs if there’s no meat?

There are many varieties out there, and depending on your preferences, you may lean for one version over another. My goal with this recipe was to use completely approachable ingredients that can be found in any good ol’ grocery store, and that don’t require any extra prep.

Mushrooms, panko, chickpeas, oil, sun-dried tomatoes, eggs, onion, spices, garlic, and worcestershire sauce.

That being said, here’s what you’ll need for this version:

  • Mushrooms – a huge part of the umami and meat-like flavor and texture comes from mushrooms in this recipe. They sauté with onions and garlic aromatics to infuse the flavors and are oh-so-yummy.
  • Chickpeas – an excellent source of protein and they add to the texture of the meatballs.
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes – a little sweet, totally savory, umami-packed flavor. And again, they add to the texture! I recommend using the ones that are not packed in oil, to ensure the meatballs don’t become too wet.
  • Italian herbs – use a blend or mix and match your own, the herbs add a lovely flavor punch to the meatballs.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – use a vegetarian version of this sauce (the traditional version is made with anchovies). It adds another hint of umami flavor to the meatballs. You could also sub in soy sauce, but then they won’t be soy-free.
  • The Binders – egg and panko bind together the meatballs.

How to Make Veggie Meatballs

You’ll need a food processor to make these meatballs, and then they’ll come together in a snap!

First, saute the mushroom, onion, and garlic until the water has evaporated out of the mushrooms. This is important to ensure that your meatballs have the right texture and doesn’t end up soggy. No one wants soggy… meatballs.

Let that mixture cool while you combine the chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, and spices in the food processor. Add the mushrooms and pulse again several times until combined, but still somewhat coarse. Alternatively, you can combine these steps if your mushrooms are completely cooled.

Once that coarse mixture is formed, add in the panko and pulse until combined, keeping it a semi-course mixture for the texture of the meatballs (photos 7-8).

Taste test the mixture at this point (before you add the egg!) to make sure that the salt levels are appropriate for your tastes and adjust as needed.

Stir in the whisked egg – opposed to food processing it in because you don’t want the mixture to get mushy! I like to transfer it to a mixing bowl at this point to make stirring it easier.

If the mixture seems warm (from the mushrooms) or a little too sticky, place it in the fridge for about 15 minutes. Proceed to form approximately 1 to 1 1/2-inch balls. You’ll end up with 20-24 depending on the size (as one reader recommends – make them smaller for more crispy edges when cooking if you prefer. Great idea!).

Heat an oil-coated skillet and pan-fry the balls on each side until golden brown and crispy, on each side (photos 9-10). I like using my cast iron skillet because it gives the exterior of the meatballs a perfectly crisp and golden brown coating.

You can bake them if preferred, they just won’t get as crispy of an exterior as if you pan fry them.

Once they’re golden brown, they’re ready to enjoy!

How to Serve Meatballs in Sauce

I don’t recommend cooking vegetarian meatballs in sauce, as they will likely break down from overcooking. Instead, serve them one of two ways in the sauce:

  • As pictured above, place the meatballs on top a layer of sauce. You can then either turn the meatballs in the sauce to coat them or pour more sauce on top. Scoop, and serve.
  • Plate the meatballs on a serving tray or individual bowls and pour sauce on top of the meatballs.

Of course, I highly recommend garnishing with some parmesan cheese, too (just check that you’re getting a vegetarian version if needed!)

Cast iron skillet with meatballs, basil, next to parmesan and wine.

More Ways to Serve Vegetarian Meatballs

The world is your oyster…er, meatball, because there are no limits to ways you can use these meatballs.

There’s the obvious, spaghetti and meatballs. I love using my homemade tomato sauce, tossing it with perfectly al dente noodles, and placing the meatballs on top. A delicious, flavorful dinner!

You can also use these meatballs to make a meatball sub – the best with a high-quality baguette. Or turn them into meatball sliders.

Make a meatball flatbread pizza (and add burrata to make dreams come true). Mix and match and enjoy the heck outta them!

Vegetarian meatballs on plate with fork, cut open next to glass.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these without a food processor?

Honestly, it’s hard to do so. Using a food processor is the easiest way to get the right texture and make sure the ingredients are mixed. You might be able to use a blender if you blend the ingredients in batches and mix it by hand, but I cannot guarantee those results.

What can I substitute for Worcestershire sauce?

If you can’t find a vegan or vegetarian version of Worcestershire sauce, just use soy sauce in its place.

Can I bake the meatballs instead?

Yes, you can! The exterior just won’t get quite as crispy as when fried. I’ve included baking instructions in the recipe card notes below.

Can I make this vegan (or without egg)?

I haven’t tried it myself so I can’t be certain, however, I would recommend using a flax egg or egg replacement to make these egg-free. Let us know if you give it a try!

More Classic-turned-Vegetarian Recipes to Love

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review in the form below. I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!

cast iron skillet with vegetarian meatballs and red sauce with parmesan cheese on top
5 (32 ratings)

Get the Recipe Super Savory Vegetarian Meatballs

The best vegetarian meatballs! Ultimately savory, made with a base of mushrooms, chickpeas, and umami-packed sun-dried tomatoes. They're easy to make, and even meat-eaters will love the texture and flavor! Serve as an appetizer or for dinner – so many possibilities!

Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 2 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms, cook for an additional 5-7 minutes until brown and tender, and the water has evaporated from them. With 2-3 minutes remaining with the mushrooms, add the garlic. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
    1 – 1 ½ Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, ½ cup yellow onion, 2 cups mushrooms, 3 garlic cloves
  • Chickpea mixture in food processor.
    In a food processor, add chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, sea salt, white pepper, Italian herb blend, and Worcestershire sauce. Pulse 2-3 times until a very coarse mixture forms.
    1 15- oz. can chickpeas, ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, 1 tsp fine sea salt, ¼ tsp white pepper, 1 Tablespoon Italian blend herbs, 2 Tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
  • Food processor with meatballs in chickpea mixture.
    Add mushroom mixture and continue pulsing as a more uniform, yet still slightly coarse, mixture forms.
  • Egg pouring into mushroom chickpea mixture.
    Add the panko breadcrumbs and pulse until incorporated.  Taste test and add additional salt as needed. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in whisked eggs until fully incorporated.
    1 cup panko, 2 eggs
  • Formed meatballs on tray up close.
    Optional: you can place the mixture in the fridge for 15 minutes if it seems too warm, depending on how cooled your mushrooms were. Using your hands, form and roll 1 – 1 ½ inch meatballs; creating approximately 20-24 balls.
  • Meatballs cooking in cast iron skillet.
    To pan-fry, coat a heavy-duty skillet (I like to use cast iron) in approximately ¼ inch of flavorless oil or olive oil, and heat over medium heat. Add the meatballs to the heated oil, being sure to not crowd the pan. Cook 1-2 minutes on each side, until golden brown. You may need to gently turn the meatball from underneath so the outside layer doesn’t stick on the first side. Continue cooking in batches until all meatballs are cooked.
    Olive oil
  • up close vegetarian meatball in red sauce
    Serve with your favorite tomato sauce as desired, or in your preferred recipe.

Notes

I recommend using sun-dried tomatoes that come in a pouch (they are dry) as opposed to the ones packed in the oil. If you do use the ones in oil, be sure to rinse the oil and pat them dry before using to ensure they don’t add too much extra moisture to the mixture. If they’re not julienned, roughly chop them to ensure they’re mixed in with the food processor. 
Want to bake them? Preheat oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet or baking dish, spreading the meatballs evenly across. Bake for 13-15 minutes until golden brown and a crisp exterior forms.
Calories: 326kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 82mg, Sodium: 1075mg, Potassium: 885mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 257IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 105mg, Iron: 4mg
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating and review in the form below. I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!

This post was originally published in February of 2018; the text and photos were updated in January of 2020 for clarity.