Craving classic Italian meatballs but want to keep it plant-based? This Beyond Meat Meatballs recipe delivers all the delicious flavor and texture you love without using ground beef. Made with simple ingredients, these vegan meatballs are perfect for pasta dishes, meatball subs, or even served on their own with a Garden Veggie Pasta Sauce. Whether you follow a plant-based diet or are just looking for a meatless alternative, these meatballs will quickly become one of your favorite ways to enjoy a classic Italian comfort food.
These meatballs are allergy-friendly and pack 18 grams of protein into each serving. They are easy to make gluten-free too!
For more plant-based Italian dishes, try this Vegan Cacio e Pepe, Vegan Italian Wedding Soup, or Vegan Lasagna.
Why You’ll Love These Plant-Based Meatballs
- Amazing Texture & Flavor – These meatless wonders hold their shape and have a texture and flavor exactly like the meatballs grandma made.
- Great for Meat Eaters – Beyond Beef is NOT just for vegans. These are a perfect option for your Meatless Monday or Lenten Friday menus. Or if you keep kosher, they are a great way to “mix” meat and dairy flavors.
- Versatile – Serve them with spaghetti squash, in meatball subs, or on their own with tomato sauce.
- Meal Prep Friendly – Make a batch, store in an airtight container, and enjoy them throughout the week.
Ingredients
- Beyond Beef – I personally prefer the flavor of Beyond Beef over many other meat substitutes out there. It is also the easiest for me to find in grocery stores.
- Breadcrumbs – I use Italian flavored breadcrumbs, but you can use plain or even gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Italian Herbs – I make my own mix of Italian Herbs, but you can use a store-bought combo. If you can’t find that, use a combo of thyme, parsley, oregano, and basil.
- Spices – Don’t forget the garlic powder and onion powder! Is it really an Italian dish without garlic?
- Salt – Just a pinch helps bring out all the flavors in this recipe.
- Vegan Parmesan Cheese – You can use any brand of vegan parmesan that you like. I prefer the Violife block here, because if can grate it to be very small and the flavors disperse well.
Helpful Equipment
In addition to measuring cups and spoons, the following equipment is helpful for this recipe:
- Large Bowl
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Air Fryer (optional) – A great option for a crispier texture.
- Frying pan (optional)
How to Make Beyond Meat Meatballs
This is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to make this recipe including photographs. For the quick version, skip ahead to the recipe card below!
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (see below for alternative cooking methods).
Start by adding the Beyond Beef to a large bowl, then sprinkle in the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, salt, and vegan parmesan cheese.
Using a spoon (or your hands), gently mix until everything is combined.
Once the mixture is ready, form the meatballs by rolling small portions between your hands. You can make the meatballs as large as you’d like, but try to keep them even-sized (a cookie scoop can help with this), to ensure even cooking.
Oven Method
Place them on a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 375 F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
Air Fryer Method
Air Fry at 350 for 8-10 minutes or until cooked through.
Pan Fry Method
For those who love crispy edges, try pan-searing them in a bit of olive oil over medium-high heat until golden-brown and cooked through.
That’s it! Serve and enjoy!
How to Serve
- Classic Pasta Night – Serve these vegan meatballs with tomato sauce and your favorite pasta.
- Meatball Subs – Load them into a sandwich roll with extra vegan parm and melted cheese.
- Game Day Appetizers – Toss them in vegan BBQ sauce, teriyaki sauce or your favorite buffalo sauce, stick them with a toothpick and pass them as an appetizer for your next game day potluck.
How to Store
- Fridge – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer – For longer storage, freeze the cooked meatballs in a flat layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag once solid.
- Reheat – When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator then reheat on low heat in a pan or in the air fryer for the best finish.
More Tips
- Not Vegan? Add an egg to the mixture or use classic parmesan cheese.
- Gluten-Free? Swap gluten-free breadcrumbs and you should be all set!
- Use Fresh Herbs – A sprinkle of fresh parsley or basil takes the flavor up a notch.
FAQ: Plant-Based Meatballs
Yes! Substitute oat flour, almond flour, or even a flax egg to help bind the mixture.
For best results, warm them in a pan over medium heat with a little olive oil or in the air fryer at 325 for 5 minutes or until heated through.
Absolutely! While this Beyond Meatballs recipe is designed for Beyond Beef, you can try other brands like Impossible or a TVP mixture, though the quantities may vary.
Yes! The delicious flavor and texture are very similar to traditional Italian meatballs, making them a hit with both vegans and meat eaters.
That sounds AMAZING! I haven’t done this yet, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. If you try it, let me know how it works out in the comments, please!
Beyond Meat Meatballs
Equipment
- Parchment paper
- Air Fryer (optional)
- High-walled sauté pan (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 package Beyond Beef
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp Italian Herb mix
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup vegan parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add the Beyond Beef to a large bowl, then sprinkle in the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, spices, salt, and vegan parmesan cheese.
- Gently mix until everything is combined.
- Form the meatballs by rolling small portions between your hands. Try to keep them even-sized to ensure even cooking.
Oven Method
- Place them on a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 375 F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
Air Fryer Method
- Air Fry at 350 for 8-10 minutes or until cooked through.
Pan Fry Method
- For those who love crispy edges, try pan-searing them in a bit of olive oil over medium-high heat until golden-brown and cooked through.
- That’s it! Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Not Vegan? Add an egg to the mixture or use classic parmesan cheese.
- Gluten-Free? Swap gluten-free breadcrumbs and you should be all set!
- Use Fresh Herbs – A sprinkle of fresh parsley or basil takes the flavor up a notch.
Nutrition
Please note, while all ingredients used in this recipe have been verified to be vegan and free of applicable allergens at the time of recipe creation, different brands may differ in their ingredients or processing procedures and may change their ingredients at any time. For some recipes, I do include ingredients that are processed in a facility that processes other allergens. Please make sure to check the ingredients and processing procedures for your specific purchases to ensure they meet your dietary needs.
Last Updated on February 14, 2025
My toddler LOVES these! I love that they are a great source of protein and SUPER easy to make.