Easy Vegan Meatballs

These Easy Vegan Meatballs can be made with marinara sauce and served as a spaghetti and meatball main dish. Another option is to coat them with bbq sauce and serve them as an appetizer. Whichever way you decide to make them, they’re going to be a hit!

If you’ve been looking for a hearty and filling vegan meatball recipe that is so versatile that it can be used in many different recipes, look no further!

We love these vegan meatballs because they’re…

• Smokey
• Full of flavor
• Firm and not mushy
• Perfect for spaghetti or appetizers
• Wholesome
• Delicious

From vegan meatloaf to meatballs

This recipe was inspired by my No-Meat Loaf recipe. One day while I was making the no-meat loaf, I happened to notice that the firm consistency of it reminded me of meatballs due to the bulgur used. I decided to give it a try, and I’m so glad that I did.

Getting that firm texture

The bulgur gives these veggie balls a great firm texture that will work great in a number of different ways.

Bulgur is a whole wheat grain that is cooked exactly like rice in about 15 minutes. I like to make a big batch of it in my rice cooker and freeze it for use in recipes like this one, spaghetti, lasagna, and nachos.

This amazing grain adds a ground beef texture and soaks up flavors of dishes you’re preparing.

Whether used with barbecue sauce as an appetizer or with marinara for spaghetti and no meatballs, these meatless meatballs hold together very well.

They are terrific served with marinara and pasta, alongside a salad and crusty bread. Other times I bake them with barbecue sauce, and we have them as an appetizer.

How to make vegan meatballs

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with parchment paper.

Begin by cooking the bulgur according to package directions. It cooks on the stove or in a rice cooker in about 15-minutes.

Though it calls for bulgur, a number of people have told me that they’ve subbed with buckwheat groats, quinoa, brown rice, and barley and it still comes out good.

Dice the veggies–onion, garlic, celery, bell pepper, carrots, and walnuts. One tip here is that a blender or food processor makes it easy to make bread crumbs. It’s also great for chopping the walnuts.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl (including the fully-cooked bulgur). Mix with a spoon, or do like I do and use your hands to mix thoroughly.

Form into balls and place on a baking sheet. If the mixture seems too wet, add a few more oats. If it seems too dry, add a little bit of the juice drained from tomatoes or water. These should hold together to form balls pretty well.

Bake at 350°F for approximately 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cover with marinara and serve over pasta or on subs. Or drizzle barbecue sauce over top and bake an additional 15 minutes to serve as an appetizer.

If you like them really firm, I suggest refrigerating them once they are cooked so they have more time to set up. When they are reheated, the texture is even denser.

*Originally published June 2015.

Italian Vegan Meatball Sandwich

This delightfully messy vegan meatball sandwich is great for dinner, parties, and game-day food. It’s such a versatile meatless marinara sandwich, even kids love it!

If you like parmesan cheese, I have a terrific easy recipe for you to try out.

Making homemade vegan parmesan cheese is surprisingly easy and only requires a handful of ingredients. It keeps for months, so you’ll have it available to sprinkle on any and everything.

BBQ sauce options

Whether served as an appetizer, main dish, or on a sub sandwich, these fabulous veggie barbecue balls will be a hit! Last week, I took a batch to a company dinner and a family reunion, and they got rave reviews!

There are so many dishes that could use a great barbecue sauce to enhance the flavors. With its sweet smoky flavor, a good bbq sauce can transform a bland recipe into a culinary masterpiece. This 8-ingredient Healthy BBQ Sauce Recipe can do just that!

If you are looking for a premade barbecue sauce, we love this oil-free Bone Suckin’ Sauce.

Other great bulgur recipes to try

• Crockpot Chili
• No-Meat Loaf
• Vegan Meatball Italian Sandwich
• What is Bulgur: How to Cook and Recipes
• Spaghetti & Meatballs

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.