Spaghetti & Italian Vegan Meatballs
This is a super simple and delicious spaghetti and vegan meatballs recipe to add to your Italian inspired repertoire. It’s easily customizable and comes together quick enough for a busy weeknight meal!
Behold, Spaghetti & Italian Vegan Meatballs (or beanballs if you prefer)! This Italian-American main dish is one of my favorites and always has a spot in the meal rotation.
The vegan meatballs are tender and flavorful. Plus, you’ll love that they can be browned on a sheet pan in the oven or cooked on the stovetop.
I really wanted the meatball recipe to be easy, using things you may already keep on hand so you can whip these up without too much planning and/or work involved.
Also, I wanted to make this with an option for being low fat, as well as for people with nut allergies, you can add the nuts or seeds if you wish. Adding them to the mixture will give an extra dose of protein, texture, and hardiness to the vegan meatballs.
I like to switch up the pasta using spaghetti squash for variation. It’s a great replacement for those looking for a change or wanting to stay away from wheat and rice alternatives!
Ingredient Notes
Onions, mushrooms, and garlic are sauteed with herbs, then combined with beans, oats, and nuts, creating a flavorful mixture that’s rolled into the best vegan meatballs, simmered with pasta sauce, and served with pasta for a hearty and delicious Italian-style meal.
Here is everything you’ll need:
- White beans – Use cannellini, great northern, or chickpeas (kidney, pinto, or black beans can be used).
- Oats – Use regular or quick oats.
- Mushrooms – We prefer brown because they are more nutritious, but the white variety will also work.
- Onion – A yellow onion is pref., but can sub with white or red as needed.
- Garlic – If you don’t have fresh garlic on hand, double or triple the garlic powder.
- Walnuts – Adds texture but can be optional. Those with nut allergies can sub with sunflower seeds, using half the amount called for.
- Italian seasonings – Use dried oregano, basil, thyme or a mixture of these.
- Fresh basil – I had some on hand, so I added it, it can be optional.
- Garlic powder – I like to add this for good measure.
- Red pepper flakes – Adds a little heat, but can be optional.
- Salt and pepper – Add to taste.
- Pasta sauce – Make homemade Marinara Sauce or use your favorite.
- Pasta – Use your favorite. If using spaghetti squash like I’ve done here, see How To Cook Spaghetti Squash.
How To Make Vegan Meatballs (aka Beanballs)
- Start by sauteing the mushrooms, onion and garlic, adding the herbs at the last minute. Let cool for a few minutes.
- If using old-fashioned oats and or nuts/seeds, pulse them in a food processor until broken up.
- Add the remaining ingredients – the mushroom mix, beans, and optional fresh basil – to the food processor and give it a few good pulses.
- Transfer the mixture to a small bowl, and mix well to combine.
- Scoop up and roll into balls.
Tip: To keep the meatballs uniform, I used this 4-Tablespoons scoop (affiliate link). I was able to get 10 jumbo bean balls. You can use smaller portions and get up to 16 – 20 smaller meatballs.
Now your meatballs are ready to cook!
How To Cook Vegan Meatballs
Cook the meatballs in one of two ways:
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the meatballs on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat and bake for 25 – 30 minutes. Once done, add the meatballs to a shallow pan or skillet, top with pasta sauce, and simmer over low for 10 minutes, or until the sauce is warmed through.
- Stovetop: In a skillet or shallow pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook for 15 – 20 minutes, turning often to brown all sides. Add the pasta sauce, and cook over low for 10 minutes, or until the sauce is warmed through.
While the meatballs are cooking, make the pasta.
And now you’re ready to dine!
Serving Suggestions
- Vegetable: Spaghetti Squash (a personal favorite) is a lower-calorie but still delicious alternative to pasta. Learn how to roast spaghetti squash!
- Topping: Serve with a light dusting of Almond Parmesan and chopped parsley or basil.
- Bread: Serve with a slice of homemade Artisan Bread, breadsticks or soft and chewy Vegan Naan for swiping up the sauce.
- Salad: Pair with Green Salad + Lemon Tahini Dressing (or use this Healthy Flax & Evo Balsamic Vinaigrette or Vegan Ranch) or this hearty Vegan Caesar Salad.
- Soup: Serve with a side of this Vegan Minestrone or Creamy Asparagus Soup + Red Lentils.
How To Store Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Leftovers can be stored for 5 – 6 days in the refrigerator, in a covered container.
- Freezer: These vegan meatballs are freezer-friendly and can be stored for up to 2 – 3 months! To freeze, let the meatballs cool completely, place them on a rimmed baking sheet, and place them in the freezer for a few hours. Once frozen, store them using freezer-safe multi-use glass containers (affiliate link) or ziplock baggies, removing as much air as possible before sealing the bags. Freezing them individually first will help them from sticking together once stored all together.
- Reheat: Simply re-warm the meatballs with a little sauce on the stovetop over low heat until warm. Alternatively, zap them in the microwave using 30 – 60-second intervals until warmed through. You can also reheat using a toaster oven or warm in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
- Make ahead: These vegan meatballs can easily be made ahead, and stored uncooked until ready to use.
Adjusting For Dietary Restrictions
- Gluten-Free: Use spaghetti squash or gluten-free pasta.
- Low-Fat: Omit the nuts or seeds, and bake the meatballs in the oven.
- Oil-Free: When sauteing the mushrooms, onions, and garlic, be sure to use water or vegetable broth instead of oil to make this recipe oil-free. The broth will yield the most flavor, but water is great, too, and is what I usually use. Also, bake the meatballs in the oven.
- Nut-Free: Omit the nuts, using seeds instead.
More Easy Vegan Italian Recipes!
- The Ultimate Vegetable Vegan Lasagna
- Spinach and ‘Ricotta’ Vegan Stuffed Shells
- Risi E Bisi (Rice + Peas)
- Easy Vegan Calzones
- Eggplant Puttanesca
If you try this spaghetti and vegan meatball recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintSPAGHETTI + ITALIAN VEGAN MEATBALLS
A family favorite, this spaghetti and vegan meatballs is flavorful and hearty!
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 40 min
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4 – 6 1x
- Category: Entree
- Method: Stovetop, oven
- Cuisine: Vegan, Italian-American
Ingredients
- 12 oz. pasta or 2 spaghetti squash
- 1 jar (25 oz.) marinara sauce (or pasta sauce of choice)
Bean Balls
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or 1/4 cup water, for water saute
- 8 oz. mushrooms (about 8 oz), sliced (I used cremini)
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup walnuts or sunflower seeds, optional
- 1 can (15 oz) beans (cannellini, chickpeas, kidney or black beans), drained and rinsed
- 1 cup of oats (old fashioned or quick oats)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasonings (sub with dried oregano, basil, thyme or a mixture of these)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch of red pepper flakes, to taste
- sea salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Saute: In a skillet or pan, heat oil or water over medium heat. Add mushrooms, onion and garlic, add saute for 5 minutes, adding the herbs during the last minute. Let cool for a few minutes.
Food processor: If using the nuts/seeds, place in food processor first and pulse until coarsely ground, and continue. Also, if using old fashioned oats place them in the with the nuts to chop them up a bit. Add the beans, sauteed veggies, oats. Pulse until just combined (don’t overmix or it’ll turn into a paste). Taste for seasoning adding anything extra you may like. I added in some fresh chopped basil I had on hand.
Shape vegan meatballs: Roll mixture into balls, about 1 1/2 – 2 inches, and place on a baking sheet. I was able to get 10 jumbo sized bean balls. You can easily make smaller balls, yielding 16 – 20.
Cook in 1 of 2 ways:
- Bake: Place balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment or silicone mat. Put in the oven on the middle rack and bake for 25 – 30 minutes at 400 degrees F. If roasting spaghetti squash, add in while the squash is cooking. Remove both when time is up and let cool.
- Stovetop: In a skillet or shallow pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat, add meatballs and cook for 15 – 20 minutes, turning often to brown all sides.
Cook sauce + meatballs: Add the pasta sauce and meatballs together, cook over low for 10 minutes, or until sauce is warmed through.
Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package directions. If using spaghetti squash, see How To Cook Spaghetti Squash
Serve: In individual bowls serve spaghetti topped with sauce and vegan meatballs. Top with salt, pepper, and chopped fresh parsley or basil. A nice dusting of Almond Parmesan will also enhance this dish!
Serves 4 – 6
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Leftovers were great!
Notes
If you don’t have quick oats, use regular oats but process gently into a very rough flour. Also, replace the oats with breadcrumbs if you prefer.
Sub in zucchini noodles, gently heated, in place of pasta or spaghetti squash.
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I will now always trust your recipes, Julie. And I love the site. Gorgeous photos.
These are amazing meatballs. I put them on actual pasta, and my hubby could not stop eating them. (He’s not overweight, so…all good!)
I did not have garlic powder so I added another clove of raw garlic to the mixture before shaping.
So yummy and easy.
Thank you.
We made these the other night. Although very good, the bean balls were not moldable. I'm questioning if I did something wrong. I ended up adding panko which certainly helped, perhaps I needed 2 cups of Oats. We all enjoyed the dinner. Thanks!
I just made the Bean Balls for dinner tonite. After baking them, I dropped them into some meatless spaghetti sauce, and then had them in with my (huge) salad for dinner. Delicious!!.
So glad you loved this Lori! Sounds super in a salad too! Cheers :)
Perfect! On the stove is great too. Thank you so much for the feedback! Cheers :)
I am so excited to find this recipe and can't wait to try this!
Oh, you're in for a treat! This is delicious! :)
okay,i just made this and it was really amazing how good it was!
for the "meat balls"-i did not use sauteed veggies-i just used a jar of mushrooms! i did not use jar sauce, i used a can of tomato puree. i also did not use any seeds.
i was surprised how yummy, quick, and easy this was to make.
my dad, who is a heavy smoker, did not like it, he said it had a "fishy" taste-but i disagree, just think it's his foul taste buds!
Great! Your substitutes sound like they worked well for you. Happy it turned out so good even though your dad didn't like it. More for you!
I made this tonight minus mushrooms and plus kale, swapped pine nuts for the walnuts and rolled in some bread crumbs before baking…….also added sage and fennel seed to the mix……the whole family loved it.
It all sounds wonderful! I love fennel seeds, I almost added some into the recipe but decided not too. It's a wonderful flavor and is great here. So glad the family loved it!
Do you have a substitute for mushrooms when making the nut meat? I'm allergic but a lot of these recipes look great!
I would suggest adding a in 3/4 cup of extra beans in place of the walnuts. Would love to know how it turns out for you!
Just made this for dinner – really terrific! Thank you – I'll be keeping it in my arsenal.
Yes, I need to make this again soon…so good on every level! Thanks for stopping to share. :)
This looks terrific — a spin on Isa Chandra's "beanballs" (which are great, but I love the addition of NUTS — I'm looking for more ways to incorporate these in my diet). I found this recipe while searching for spaghetti squash recipes — this will be my first effort. I've tried "spaghetti squash and sauce" eating out, and look forward to doing this at home.
You will love having it right in your home! Would love to know how your first try goes with the meat balls and anything else you may have done differently. I may have to make this again myself as I'm craving this again as I type. Enjoy and have fun making it :)