Italian meatballs can be achieved just like your Nonna made without any eggs. This eggless meatballs recipe is made with simple ingredients, quickly baked in the oven, and the perfect accompaniment to your spaghetti and marinara.
Smell that? That is the smell of success because you are about to make a super easy eggless meatballs recipe.
Here is what makes this eggless meatballs recipe a success:
- There are no weird ingredients, unless you feel like adding a bunch of extra seasonings.
- It comes together super quickly
- It can be doubled to feed a larger family
- It can be frozen if you made too many for said larger family
Meatballs and pasta is such an easy dinner recipe, especially if you are looking for ground beef dinner ideas.
Why make meatballs without eggs?
Like many other recipes, I have found you simply do not need eggs in everything. They are an (unwelcome) addition for those who suffer from egg allergies, and quite frankly do not make any noticeable difference.
If you do not have an egg allergy and are here because you ran out of eggs and are craving some delicious meatballs, then ciao Bella! You’ve also come to the right place.
Some tips for making eggless meatballs
-You will need some kind of a binder. I like to make a concoction of plain yogurt, oil and water.
-You will need bread crumbs – panko works great, or a plain standard bread crumb. Be conscientious when using Italian style breadcrumbs since the flavor will be part of the meatball.
-You will need meat, preferably not a super lean meat. Fat is flavor, so something around the 85 lean ground beef is ideal, but if you use another meat take the fat content into account. Pork is commonly added to meatball recipes but that is a personal flavor preference and I don’t care for it.
Can the eggless meatballs recipe be made dairy free?
You could easily make this a dairy free meatball recipe by switching the plain yogurt for a vegan/dairy free alternative such as the Follow your Heart brand and Tofutti. I think in a pinch, soy milk and a teaspoon of vinegar to make a faux buttermilk would work too — I have yet to experiment.
Luckily, there is no Parmesan cheese in this recipe (sorry, Nonna) which helps maintain its ability to be dairy free. Cooking is much less of a science than baking so if you want to change things up, go for it. Just don’t come at me about it later 😂
Freezing and Storing Eggless Meatballs
One of the great things about this eggless meatballs recipe is that it’s perfect for meal prep making it a great option for busy families. After cooking the meatballs, let them cool completely. Then, place them in a zip top bag and seal. Or you could use an airtight container that is freezer safe. They will stay fresh in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply reheat the meatballs in a simmering sauce, or defrost them quickly in the microwave.
If you love Italian inspired eggless dinner recipes, then be sure to check out a family favorite: Chicken Parmesan 😍
How to make the best eggless meatballs recipe
Preheat oven to 400F. Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, mix all ingredients until combined. I prefer to use my hands for this step.
Roll meatball mixture into ping pong sized balls, and place onto prepared baking sheet.
Bake for approximately 20 minutes, until internal temperature reads 165 for beef meatballs. If you do smaller or larger meatballs, check time accordingly.
Transfer the cooked meatballs into the marinara sauce AND include the brown bits from the pan and some of the grease from the pan into your marinara sauce. It will give it a nice hit of flavor.
Things that helped in the kitchen for this recipe, and can help you too:
Stainless steel mixing bowl with non-slip base – amazon
17.25 X 12.25 inch USA half sheet Pan which can be found on amazon or Home Goods
Food thermometer/ digital instant read thermometer (amazon) to check the temperature of basically everything and anything. One of my most used and underrated kitchen tools.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This comes at no cost to you, just like a free Disney travel agent. I’m only here to make suggestions that hopefully help you
Eggless Meatballs Recipe (Italian Style)
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt I use low fat
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1/2 tablespoon parsley flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix all ingredients until combined. I prefer to use my hands for this step.
- Roll meatball mixture into ping pong sized balls, and place onto prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for approximately 20 minutes, until internal temperature reads 165 for beef meatballs. If you do smaller or larger meatballs, check time accordingly.
- Transfer the cooked meatballs into the marinara sauce AND include the brown bits and some of the grease from the pan into your marinara sauce. It will give it a nice hit of flavor.
