Best 9 Meatless Meatballs In Marinara Sauce Recipes

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Are you looking for a delicious and satisfying meatless meal? Meatless meatballs in marinara sauce is a great option that is packed with flavor and easy to make. With the right ingredients and a few simple steps, you can create a hearty and satisfying dish that even meat-lovers will enjoy. Whether you're a vegetarian, vegan, or simply looking for a healthier alternative to traditional meatballs, this article will provide you with the best recipe for meatless meatballs in marinara sauce.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

MEATLESS MEATBALLS IN MARINARA SAUCE



Meatless Meatballs in Marinara Sauce image

These "meatballs" use plant-based ground meat, and a combination of onions, garlic and tamari give them a satisfying chew and robust flavor. Because there's no egg for binding, these are slightly more delicate than other meatballs, so use a light touch when shaping them, and make sure the mixture is very cold. Serve them on their own, covered in marinara sauce, or stuff them into hero rolls for sandwiches. They are also excellent over spaghetti.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     weekday, meatballs, main course

Time 45m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup minced onion
1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves and tender stems
3 garlic cloves, grated or minced
1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch of red-pepper flakes (optional)
1 1/2 pounds plant-based vegan ground beef (such as Beyond Meat)
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
3 cups marinara sauce, homemade or store-bought
Parmesan (optional, or use vegetarian Parmesan if you prefer), for garnish

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, onion, parsley, garlic, tamari, salt, pepper, oregano and red-pepper flakes, if using, and mix well. Add plant-based beef, and blend with your hands until well mixed. Cover mixture and chill for at least an hour or up to 24 hours. (It's easiest to form the meatballs when the mixture is very cold.)
  • Heat the broiler. Form 28 meatballs, each about 1 1/4 inches in diameter. Transfer meatballs to one or two rimmed baking sheets, and drizzle with olive oil.
  • Broil meatballs until golden and firm, 7 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat marinara sauce in a pot. Serve meatballs with sauce on top, showered with cheese if you like and drizzled with a little more olive oil.

MEATBALLS WITH MARINARA



Meatballs with Marinara image

Provided by Anne Burrell

Categories     main-dish

Time 4h30m

Yield 18 to 20 meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 22

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 pound diced pancetta
2 large Spanish onions, cut into 1/4-inch dice
Kosher salt
4 large garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
Pinch crushed red pepper
Four 28-ounce cans Italian plum San Marzano tomatoes
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, 1/4-inch dice
Salt
2 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
Pinch crushed red pepper
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground veal
1/2 pound ground pork
2 large eggs
1 cup grated Parmigiano
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1 cup dill pickles, chopped
1/2 bunch fresh chives, chopped
Serving suggestion: fresh ricotta, grilled garlic bread

Steps:

  • For the marinara sauce: Coat a large saucepot with olive oil and add the pancetta. Bring the pot to a medium-high heat and cook the pancetta for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the onions, season generously with salt and stir to coat with olive oil. Cook the onions for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently. The onions should become very soft and aromatic but have no color. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
  • Pulse to combine the tomatoes in a food processor. Add the tomatoes to the pot and rinse out 1 of the empty tomato cans with water and add that water to the pot (about 2 to 3 cups). Season generously with salt and TASTE IT!!!! Tomatoes take a lot of salt. Season in baby steps and taste every step of the way. Cook the sauce for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally and tasting frequently.
  • Use the sauce right away on pasta or for any other tomato sauce need. This sauce can also be cooled and stored in the refrigerator for a few days and freezes really well.
  • For the meatballs: Coat a large saute pan with olive oil, add the onions and bring to a medium-high heat. Season the onions generously with salt and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes. The onions should be very soft and aromatic but have no color. Add the garlic and the crushed red pepper and saute for another 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to cool.
  • In a large bowl combine the meats, eggs, Parmigiano, parsley and breadcrumbs. It works well to squish the mixture with your hands. Add the onion mixture and season generously with salt and squish some more. Add 1/2 cup water and do 1 final really good squish. The mixture should be quite wet. Test the seasoning of the mix by making a mini hamburger size patty and cooking it. The mixture should taste really good! If it doesn't it is probably missing salt. Add more. Add more anyway.
  • Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
  • Shape the meat into desired size. Some people like 'em big and some people like 'em small. I prefer meatballs slightly larger than a golf ball. Place them on a cookie sheet and bake them for about 15 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked all the way through. If using right away, add them to your big pot of marinara sauce. If not using right away, they can be frozen for later use. Serve with pasta and sauce or just eat them straight out of the pot! Top with fresh ricotta cheese, garnish with chopped pickles and chives and serve with grilled garlic bread. YUM!

THE BEST MARINARA SAUCE & MEATBALLS



The Best Marinara Sauce & Meatballs image

The best recipe that I have found after many years of looking. My husband even loves it. It comes from one of Richard Simmons cookbooks.

Provided by southerngal1222

Categories     Meat

Time 1h50m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 25

1 cup chopped onion
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes in puree
1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes, undrained
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 lb lean ground beef (his recipe calls for ground turkey)
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumb
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 egg whites, beated till frothy
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
nonstick olive oil flavored cooking spray

Steps:

  • Marinara Sauce: Combine onion, chicken broth, garlic, paprika, basil, salt, oregano, pepper and fennel seeds. Cook over medium heat 10 minutes or until broth is reduced by half. Add crushed and whole tomatoes with their liquid, worcestershire sauce and parsley. Simmer partially covered over low heat for 30 minutes or until thicken. Add sugar.
  • Meatballs: Combine all ingrediants. Lightly shape into 1" balls. Use a non-stick skillet and brown 8 at a time for 2-3 minutes. Add all meatballs to skillet and cook until the inside is done.
  • Note: Can place the sauce in a blender for smoother sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 283.1, Fat 10.1, SaturatedFat 4, Cholesterol 52.8, Sodium 789.9, Carbohydrate 27.1, Fiber 5.7, Sugar 6.5, Protein 23.3

MEAT-FREE MEATBALLS IN MARINARA SAUCE



Meat-Free Meatballs in Marinara Sauce image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 45

1 1/2 pounds plant-based ground beef/meat alternative
1/2 cup panko or breadcrumbs
A splash of whole milk or half-and-half
1 egg
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Salt
1 1/2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons fennel pollen
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated onion
3 large cloves garlic, grated
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
A drizzle of EVOO or EVOO non-aerosol spray (see Cook's Note)
3 to 4 tablespoons EVOO or butter or a combination
3 large cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, plus more for serving
1 teaspoon fennel pollen
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 small onion
1/4 cup red wine
2 cans (28 ounces) Italian tomatoes
2 cups passata/tomato puree or sauce
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
Salt
Salt
1 pound spaghetti
2 tablespoons butter or EVOO or a combination
2 handfuls of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for serving
A handful of basil, torn
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar or white balsamic
2 teaspoons superfine sugar
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon granulated onion
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon fennel pollen
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Olive oil
Salt
6 gem romaine hearts, cored and leaves roughly torn or chopped
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced into half-moons
3 center stalks celery with leaves, thinly sliced on a bias
3 baby carrots (rainbow colors if available), thinly sliced on a bias
3 radishes, thinly sliced into rounds
Salt

Steps:

  • For the balls: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F with a rack in the center of the oven. Heat a large pot of water for pasta. Line a baking sheet with foil and top with parchment paper.
  • Put plant-based meat in a large bowl. Put panko in a small bowl and moisten with milk or half-and-half. Put the egg in small bowl and beat lightly. To the plant-based meat, add egg, moistened panko, cheese, salt, red pepper flakes, oregano, fennel pollen, granulated onion, garlic, parsley and a drizzle of EVOO (see Cook's Note) and mix together with your hands. Roll 24 balls slightly larger than golf balls and place on baking sheet. Roast 15 to 17 minutes to golden and remove from the oven.
  • For the sauce: Meanwhile, heat a cast-iron enamel Dutch oven or large saucepan over low heat with EVOO, add garlic, red pepper flakes, fennel pollen and oregano, grate in the onion and stir. Add wine, raise the heat and cook 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, passata or puree and a sprinkle of sugar and salt, bring to bubble, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
  • For the pasta: While sauce simmers the last 8 minutes or so, salt boiling water and cook pasta a minute or so less than directions. Reserve about 3/4 cup salty water, drain pasta and add back to hot pot. Add half the salty water, butter or EVOO, cheese and about two-thirds of the sauce. Toss pasta and adjust seasonings. Add roasted balls to remaining sauce.
  • Serve pasta in a large family-style bowl or in shallow individual bowls topped with balls and basil. Pass more cheese and red pepper at the table.
  • For the salad dressing: Whisk to combine vinegar, sugar, granulated garlic, granulated onion, dried oregano, dried thyme, fennel pollen and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil, season with salt and whisk until well combined.
  • For the "clean out the fridge" salad: Place the lettuce, onion, celery, baby carrots and radishes (or whatever salad ingredients you have in your fridge) in a large salad bowl. When ready to serve, season with salt, drizzle dressing over salad and toss to combine.

RAO'S MEATBALLS WITH MARINARA SAUCE



Rao's Meatballs With Marinara Sauce image

This is one of the signature dishes at Rao's, the East Harlem red-sauce joint that is best-known for a loyal, boldface-name clientele that makes it difficult to get a table. The restaurant now has satellites in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Provided by Adam Nagourney

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 ounces salt pork, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons minced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 28-ounce cans imported Italian crushed tomatoes
6 leaves fresh basil, torn into small pieces
Pinch of dried oregano
Salt and ground black pepper
1 pound ground lean beef
1/2 pound ground veal
1/2 pound ground pork
2 large eggs
1 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 small garlic clove, minced
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups fine dry bread crumbs
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, lightly smashed

Steps:

  • Make the sauce: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, then add the salt pork. Sauté until fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Remove and discard salt pork. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and sauté just until softened. Add tomatoes with their juice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce is slightly thickened, about 45 minutes. Add the basil, oregano and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 1 minute more.
  • Make the meatballs: In a mixing bowl, combine the beef, veal and pork. Add the eggs, cheese, parsley and minced garlic, then salt and pepper as desired. Add the bread crumbs and mix well. Slowly add up to 2 cups water, 1/2 cup at a time, until the mixture is moist; all the water may not be needed. Shape into 1 1/2 -inch meatballs.
  • Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the smashed garlic and sauté until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes, then discard the garlic. Working in batches and taking care not to crowd the pan, add meatballs and fry until undersides are brown and slightly crisp, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn and brown the other sides, about 5 minutes more. Transfer cooked meatballs to paper towels to drain, then add to the marinara sauce. Mix gently and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1086, UnsaturatedFat 55 grams, Carbohydrate 50 grams, Fat 79 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 49 grams, SaturatedFat 20 grams, Sodium 1472 milligrams, Sugar 14 grams, TransFat 0 grams

MARINARA MEATBALLS RECIPE BY TASTY



Marinara Meatballs Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: ground beef, ground beef, ground pork, ground pork, panko breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, onion, onion, fresh parsley, fresh parsley, garlic, garlic, eggs, eggs, kosher salt, kosher salt, pepper, pepper, olive oil, onion, garlic, dried oregano, dried parsley, dried basil, red pepper flakes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, grated parmesan cheese

Provided by Matthew Johnson

Categories     Appetizers

Yield 40 meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 28

1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground pork
1 lb ground pork
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
½ cup onion
½ cup onion, finely minced
¼ cup fresh parsley
¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 eggs
2 eggs
kosher salt
kosher salt, to taste
pepper
pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
⅓ cup tomato paste
2 cups tomato sauce
grated parmesan cheese, to serve

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
  • In a medium-size bowl mix together the beef, pork, bread crumbs, onion, parsley, garlic, eggs, salt, and pepper until just combined.
  • Take a walnut size of the meat mixture and roll into a ball. Repeat with remaining meat and transfer to an oiled rack on a sheet tray.
  • Bake meatballs for 15 minutes, until golden brown. Set aside.
  • Add a little oil to a pan on medium-high heat and cook the onions and garlic until they are deeply caramelized.
  • Add in the oregano, parsley, basil, red pepper flakes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce.
  • Stir the mixture and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Add the meatballs and coat them with the sauce.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, poke with toothpicks, and serve!
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 170 calories, Carbohydrate 6 grams, Fat 9 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 13 grams, Sugar 1 gram

MEATBALLS WITH MARINARA SAUCE



Meatballs with Marinara Sauce image

Pack on the flavor with just a few ingredients! These meatballs hit the spot. -Mary Poninski, Whittington, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Appetizers

Time 30m

Yield 20 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 package (22 ounces) frozen fully cooked angus beef meatballs
1-1/2 cups marinara sauce
1/3 cup chopped ripe olives
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

Steps:

  • Prepare meatballs according to package directions. , Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine marinara and olives; heat through. Add meatballs and basil; heat through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 93 calories, Fat 7g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 17mg cholesterol, Sodium 301mg sodium, Carbohydrate 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

SIMPLE ITALIAN MEATBALLS IN MARINARA SAUCE



Simple Italian Meatballs in Marinara Sauce image

This recipe is based upon an Italian family recipe, modified for working or busy moms like me, who need something homemade but quick. While cooking the sauce, prepare a fresh salad and garlic bread to complete the meal. Serve hot over your favorite pasta.

Provided by darcy907

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Meatball Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon milk
1 pound extra-lean ground beef
1 egg
¼ cup dried plain bread crumbs
1 teaspoon Greek seasoning
2 (20 ounce) jars marinara sauce, or more to taste
1 pinch white sugar
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Steps:

  • Blend ketchup and milk together in a bowl. Mix in beef, egg, bread crumbs, and Greek seasoning to combine.
  • Heat marinara sauce to a simmer in a 2-quart pot over low heat.
  • Roll beef mixture with your hands to form meatballs. Drop into the simmering sauce. Add sugar and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring gently and regularly, until meatballs are no longer pink and sauce is heated through, 25 to 30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 366.2 calories, Carbohydrate 31.4 g, Cholesterol 86.9 mg, Fat 16.7 g, Fiber 5.1 g, Protein 21.2 g, SaturatedFat 5.8 g, Sodium 1018.5 mg, Sugar 18.8 g

MAMA'S MARINARA SAUCE AND MEATBALLS



Mama's Marinara Sauce and Meatballs image

In culinary school, Rocco DiSpirito learned the term Mother Sauce, which refers to a sauce that is the base for other sauces. When he opened Rocco's and was developing the recipes for it, he and his cooks joked that marinara was "Mama Saucer" because it is an ingredient in many other dishes, and of course it's the mother of all sauces. It is also excellent on its own, especially with fresh pasta, which is more porous than dried pasta and therefore grabs the sauce and thickens it. I encourage you to make this in large quantities and keep it on hand in glass or plastic containers. It will keep in your refrigerator for weeks or your freezer for months. His mama is known better for these meatballs than she ever could have imagined. In Italy, meatballs, or polpette, are usually a lot smaller and, weird as it may seem, never eaten with pasta. They are served alone or in soup. In the United States, they became a lot bigger and are eaten alone, on heros, with spaghetti, and even on pizza. There are a lot of meatballs out there, folks, and I'm sure you have tasted your fair share, but I believe these are the best meatballs in the world. I can't, to this day, pinpoint what it is that makes them so phenomenal; I think it is largely the fact that you mix and roll them by hand. They are not dense like many meatballs, but they also don't fall apart in tomato sauce. It's not just my bias speaking here; everyone loves them. People who hate pork love them; people who never go near veal can't get enough. Vegetarians make exceptions for them. I encourage you to make these meatballs your own. Your kids will love something you make by hand, too.

Provided by By The Lake

Categories     Meat

Time 3h

Yield 20 meatballs, 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 23

3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
1/2 onion, peeled and chopped fine
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 (28 ounce) cans tomato puree
1 (23 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chicken stock
1/4 onion
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
1/2 lb ground veal
1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
2 eggs
1/4 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil

Steps:

  • MAMA'S MARINARA SAUCE.
  • Cook the garlic and onion in the olive oil in a sauce pot over a medium-low flame, about 10 minutes or until garlic is tender and onions translucent, not brown (this is called "sweating" because it will draw out a lot of moisture and flavor).
  • Add all the tomato products. Pour the chicken stock into one of the 28-ounce cans. Fill it the rest of the way with water and add that and the sugar to the pot. Stir and bring to a simmer. Taste and season with red pepper flakes and salt, and cover. Simmer the sauce for about 1 hour. The sauce should be fairly thin but not watery and very smooth. Uncover and simmer for 3 minutes. If it is too thin for your taste, add a little water if it seems thick.
  • MAMA'S MEATBALLS.
  • Place the chicken stock, onion, garlic, and parsley in a food processor and purée.
  • In a large bowl, combine the puréed stock mix, meat, bread crumbs, eggs, Parmigiano-Reggiano, red pepper flakes, and salt. Combine with both hands until the mixture is distributed evenly. Do not overmix.
  • Put a little olive oil on your hands and form the mixture into balls a little larger than golf balls. They should be about ¼ cup each, though if you prefer bigger or smaller, it will only affect the browning time.
  • Pour about ½ inch of olive oil into a straight-sided, 10-inch-wide sauté pan and heat over a medium-high flame. Add the meatballs to the pan (working in batches, if necessary) and brown the meatballs well on all sides. This will take about 10 to 15 minutes.
  • While the meatballs are browning, heat the marinara sauce in a stockpot over medium heat. Lift the meatballs out of the sauté pan with a slotted spoon and put them in the marinara sauce. Stir gently. Simmer for one hour.
  • Serve with a little extra Parmigiano-Reggiano sprinkled on top.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 455.8, Fat 27, SaturatedFat 7.3, Cholesterol 124.2, Sodium 1096.6, Carbohydrate 29.9, Fiber 5.7, Sugar 14.5, Protein 26.4

Tips:

  • For a richer flavor, use a combination of bread crumbs and oats in the meatballs.
  • If you don't have almond flour, you can use regular all-purpose flour.
  • Be sure to cook the meatballs all the way through before adding them to the sauce.
  • Use a variety of vegetables in the sauce, such as onions, carrots, celery, and zucchini.
  • You can also add herbs and spices, such as basil, oregano, garlic, and pepper, to the sauce.
  • Serve the meatballs over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.

Conclusion:

Meatless meatballs are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are a great source of protein and fiber, and they are also low in calories and fat. With so many different variations, there is sure to be a meatless meatball recipe that everyone will love. So next time you are looking for a healthy and satisfying meal, give meatless meatballs a try!

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