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4.9 from 123 votes

Vegan Meatballs

This vegan meatballs recipe is SO delicious and easy to make! The hearty veggie balls are crisp on the outside, tender in the middle, and full of rich, savory flavor. Great on pasta, in subs, and more!

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
Servings: 4 to 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces mixed cremini and shiitake mushrooms stemmed and sliced
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • ½ cup coarsely chopped yellow onion
  • 2 garlic cloves grated
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt plus more for sprinkling
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus more for sprinkling
  • ½ teaspoon fennel seeds toasted
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon ground sage
  • 1½ cups cooked black beans drained and rinsed
  • ¼ cup whole rolled oats
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
  • 1 tablespoon tamari
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • ¾ cup Panko bread crumbs
  • avocado oil for the pan
  • marinara sauce for serving (for store bought, we love Rao's)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Place the mushrooms on the baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Spread evenly on the baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes, or until slightly shriveled around the edges.
  3. In a food processor, place the walnuts, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, fennel seed, cumin, paprika, and sage. Pulse until coarsely ground, then add the roasted mushrooms, black beans, oats, olive oil, tomato paste, flaxseed, tamari, and balsamic vinegar. Pulse until the mixture is well-combined but still has a few larger bean and mushroom chunks remaining.
  4. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and fold in the panko. Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the mixture, then use your hands to roll it into balls.
  5. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and coat the bottom with avocado oil. Add the vegan meatballs and cook, rotating the balls as they brown, until browned all around, about 5 minutes.
  6. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the vegan meatballs are firm and lightly crisp around the edges.
  7. Serve with marinara.