Meatballs Without Eggs: Quick and Easy

Name: Meatballs Without Eggs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound lean (93/7) ground beef- chilled; 1/3 cup oat flour; 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese; 3 tablespoons plain yogurt; 1/4 cup grated onion; 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

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Homemade meatballs without eggs make a delicious quick and easy dinner. They're tender, juicy, and cook in under 20 minutes. You can pair these eggless Italian meatballs with spaghetti, use them in subs, or enjoy with sauce and cheese for a healthy weeknight meal.

meatballs without eggs in cast iron pan with pasta, sauce, and basil.

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WHY ARE EGGS IN MEATBALLS?
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE MEATBALLS WITHOUT EGGS
HOW TO MAKE EGGLESS MEATBALLS
DIFFERENT COOKING METHODS
EXPERT TIPS
FAQs
STORAGE AND REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS
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Meatballs Without Eggs
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These delicious homemade eggless meatballs are the absolute best! They're so juicy and tender and hold together well despite being both gluten free and egg free.

You just need 5 main ingredients and a few pantry staple spices to make this healthy weeknight dinner. Simply mix all ingredients together, roll into balls, and bake, pan fry, or air fry for a 20 minute meal.

These are delicious coated in tomato sauce and used on top of spaghetti, zucchini noodles, or mashed potatoes. You can also use them to make incredible meatball subs and sandwiches, or freeze for those busy weeknights when you don't feel like cooking. Either way, these egg free meatballs are sure to become a new family favorite.

Be sure to also check out these gluten free meatballs or these delicious air fryer turkey meatballs!

WHY ARE EGGS IN MEATBALLS?

Traditionally, there are eggs in meatballs to bind the meat, breadcrumbs, and spices together. The yolk adds fat which helps impart more flavor while the white holds all ingredients together and keeps them from falling apart when cooked.

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE MEATBALLS WITHOUT EGGS

ingredients for egg free meatballs labeled with black text.

Kitchen Tools:

Large mixing bowl
Cookie scoop
Baking sheet

Ingredients:

Ground beef: I prefer to use lean, 93/7 ground beef
Oat flour: This helps to binds the meatballs together and keeps them gluten free
Parmesan cheese: Be sure to use grated parmesan for best results
Yogurt: I use whole milk, plain yogurt to add moisture, bind the ingredients, and keep the meatballs moist
Onion: You want to grate the onion because it combines better with the meat and adds necessary moisture
Spices: You will need Italian seasonings, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper

Substitutions:

The ground beef can be substituted with ground pork or ground turkey
Oat flour can be changed to gluten free breadcrumbs or almond flour
Substitute the parmesan cheese with vegan parmesan
Yogurt can be changed out for regular sour cream or dairy free sour cream

HOW TO MAKE EGGLESS MEATBALLS

In a large glass bowl combined chilled ground beef, oat flour, parmesan cheese, yogurt, grated onion, and spices
Use your hands to gently combine everything until JUST mixed
With a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop, roll your meatballs and place them onto a parchment lined baking sheet
Cook them with one of the methods listed below
Once cooked, transfer the meatballs into your favorite sauce and enjoy!

ground beef, spices, onion, flour, and yogurt in white bowl. — **Add all ingredients into a large bowl**

healthy meatball mixture in a white bowl with a cookie scoop. — **Gently mix and use a cookie scoop to divide into equal portions**

healthy meatballs rolled on parchment paper. — **Roll into balls and place on parchment lined baking sheet**

egg free meatballs cooked on parchment paper. — **Bake at 400 F for 15-18 minutes**

DIFFERENT COOKING METHODS

Sauté Pan:

In a large non-stick skillet, heat some oil over medium heat
Place a few meatballs into the hot oil being sure to not crowd the plan
Cook them until golden on all sides (about 2 minutes a side), using tongs to flip them.
Once cooked through, about 15 minutes, transfer the meatballs to a large pot of tomato sauce and enjoy!

Oven:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
Place rolled meatballs 1 inch apart on your prepared baking sheet and lay the tray into the hot oven
Cook for 15-18 minutes, then carefully pull the eggless meatballs out of the oven
Transfer the meatballs from the baking sheet to your favorite sauce and enjoy!

Air Fryer:

Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F and spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray
Place rolled meatballs in a single layer into the preheated basket
Cook for 8-10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F
Use tongs to pull the meatballs out of the air fryer and coat with your favorite sauce

EXPERT TIPS

Keep the meat cold when mixing up the meat mixture
Be sure to use grated onion NOT chopped. It adds necessary moisture
Don't overmix or your eggless meatballs will tough
Use a cookie scoop to keep them all the same size
These are great in tomato sauce, on meatball subs, or make mini ones and add them to soups
They're also great for meal prep and freezing

egg free meatballs in tomato sauce with basil.

FAQs

Will meatballs stay together without eggs?

Yes, as long as you use another type of binder. In this case I use oat flour and yogurt.

Can I make eggless meatballs ahead of time?

Absolutely! These are a fantastic make ahead and meal prep option. You can either make and roll the meat mixture and keep them in the fridge until you're ready to cook, or you can cook them and freeze for quick meals.

How long do they take to cook?

It depends on your method of cooking, but generally about 15-20 minutes on the stovetop or in the oven.

What do I serve with meatballs without eggs?

You can serve them traditionally with spaghetti or as cheesy, saucy subs. A good low carb choice is spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles, but mashed potatoes are also a popular option. Check out this post for more healthy side dish options!

gluten and egg free meatballs in cast iron pan with sauce and fresh basil leaves.

STORAGE AND REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS

Storage:

You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freezing:

These juicy meatballs are also great to freeze and keep for quick and easy dinners. Let them cool completely before placing in a freezer safe bag and going into the freezer.

Reheating:

To reheat refrigerated leftovers, place them into a microwave safe bowl with a teaspoon of water. Cover with a paper towel and cook for 30 seconds at a time until warmed through.

If you're reheating frozen leftovers, let them thaw in the fridge overnight before following directions listed above.

eggless meatballs in sauce with spaghetti and basil.

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