Quick & Easy Eggless Meatball Recipe (2024)

Here’s a great recipe for eggless meatballs that takes less than thirty minutes from beginning to end. Make a double batch and freeze some later.

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I love homemade meatballs and this is one of my favorite recipes. It’s great when my kids eat ALL their dinner! This is such a good recipe and so easy to make and you can use them in so many different ways: pasta, subs, soups or just by themselves. They make meal planning easy!

Eggless Meatball Recipe

These Italian meatballs without eggs stand out. I usually double or triple the recipe because they are perfect to freeze for another time. I love throwing frozen meatballs in the crockpot with a jar of spaghetti sauce, putting on low and dinner is ready a few hours later.

Making oven-baked meatballs is so simple. No messy skillet to clean up or greasy splatter all over your oven.

How do I freeze meatballs?

Freezing meatballs is simple. You can add them to an airtight freezer-safe container or a freezer baggie. You can pull them out in advance or throw them in sauce, still frozen.

I love these containers for freezer storage. They hold a bunch, reusable, you can see through them and you can even use a Sharpie to write on top. They are perfect for soups and sauces too.

Supplies to make egg free meatballs

Baking Sheet– I received this as a wedding gift and I have had no issues at all and still using it over 20 years later.

Stainless steel bowls– I always use stainless steel bowls and love this set. It comes in a variety of sizes and lids and is perfect to mix up your spices.

Tongs– This set of tongs is great. It comes in three different sizes and has silicone tips. They are great when you have nonstick pots, pans and baking sheets.

Ingredients for Eggless Meatball Recipe

Ground beef– I normally use 80/20. You can actually use any ground meat that you prefer. Ground pork and turkey meatballs are delicious!

Breadcrumbs– I keep panko-style breadcrumbs in my pantry and that’s normally what I use.

Parmesan cheese– I’ve never used fresh parmesan cheese in this recipe. I normally use the grated style that’s located in the pasta section in the grocery store.

Garlic– Fresh garlic is best for this recipe and it should be minced. Jarred minced garlic is a perfect time saver for this recipe. Of course, you can always use garlic powder in a pinch.

Onion– These should be chopped into very small pieces.

Italian seasoning spices -oregano, basil, salt, and fresh ground black pepper

Milk– Just a little milk will help moisten up your mixture. If you use all ground beef, you may not need the milk.

How to make homemade eggless meatballs

Step 1

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly using hands. These are my VERY favorite mixing bowls.

Step 2

Form 1-2 inch balls with the meat mixture and place them on a baking sheet. The size of a golf ball is perfect.

Step 3

Broil for 3 minutes, flip, broil another 3 minutes.

This recipe should make about 20-30 meatballs. If you make your meatballs larger, make sure to cook them a tad longer.

Tip 1

Make sure to preheat the broiler for at least 5-10 minutes so it’s hot before you start cooking.

Tip 2

I like using parchment paper on my baking sheet because it makes for an easy clean-up.

Tip 3

If you are allergic to eggs, double-check your breadcrumbs. There are brands out there that contain eggs! Trust me, I found out the hard way!

Eggless Dessert Resources

If you’re like me, then you’re probably on the lookout for more recipes that are egg free. I hate finding a recipe and clicking on it and it has an egg in it!

I started an eggless recipe board on my personal Pinterest page and then realized that I should probably link it to my blog. It’s great finding recipes that are egg free and when I need one I can go look and eat everything in it.

I have anEGGLESS Recipe boardon Pinterest and there are a ton of great recipes. You can follow ithere. I pin on it every week because I’m ALWAYS on the lookout for new recipes.

I also have aEGG FREE RECIPE Facebook pagethat I just started,so there is only one follower right now, me! (Update: It’s over 1800 now!!) Go follow over there and I’ll post any good recipes I find!

More dinner recipes that are thirty minutes or less!

  • Garlic Butter Shrimp Fettuccine
  • Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
  • One Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta
  • Meatball Subs

Reminder: If you make one of my recipes, it would be GREAT if you could leave any feedback in the comment section and rate it for other readers who are looking for something new to make.

Quick & Easy Eggless Meatball Recipe (5)

Print Pin

4.50 from 4 votes

Homemade Eggless Meatballs

Here's a great eggless meatball recipe that takes less than thirty minutes from beginning to end. Make a double batch and freeze some later.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword eggless, ground beef, meatball

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 6 minutes minutes

Total Time 26 minutes minutes

Servings 25 meatballs

Author Holly- Keeping Life Sane

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef 80/20
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • ½ medium onion chopped
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Mix thoroughly using hands.

  • Form 1-2 inch balls with the meat mixture and place on a baking sheet.

  • Broil for 3 minutes, flip, broil another 3 minutes.

Notes

Tip 1

Make sure to preheat the broiler for at least 5-10 minutes so it’s hot before you start cooking.

Tip 2

I like using parchment paper on my baking sheet because it makes for an easy clean-up.

Tip 3

If you are allergic to eggs, double-check your breadcrumbs. There are brands out there that contain eggs! Trust me, I found out the hard way!

Quick & Easy Eggless Meatball Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you bind meatballs without eggs? ›

What can I use instead of eggs to bind meatballs? There are several options to substitute eggs in a meatball recipe: 2 tablespoons of buttermilk per egg, 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt per egg, 1/4 cup ricotta cheese per egg, or 3 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce per egg.

What happens if you don't put eggs in meatballs? ›

If you forgot to grab eggs at the grocery store, don't worry. The liquid and breadcrumbs are sufficient to hold the egg-free meatballs' shape and ensure the meatballs are tender. However, we do want to add a little extra liquid to make up for the lack of egg.

Can you substitute oil for eggs in meatballs? ›

Olive oil makes a perfect egg substitute for meatballs. It provides moisture and it works as a binding agent to keep the meatballs together. Fresh parmesan cheese adds a delicious savory and cheesy flavor and also works with almond flour to keep the meatballs from falling apart.

Is milk or egg better for meatballs? ›

Egg is used as a binding agent, and some type of bread crumb or cracker is added to give meatballs a bit more depth. When it comes to adding liquid to meatball mixtures, milk is often used for its versatility, depth of flavor, and richness. Without the use of milk, you may be faced with a plate of dry meatballs.

What can I use as a binder if I don't have eggs? ›

Some common egg substitutes include:
  • Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  • Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  • Fruit puree. ...
  • Avocado. ...
  • Gelatin. ...
  • Xanthan gum. ...
  • Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  • Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

What can be used as a binder if no eggs? ›

Pumpkin or Sweet Potato Puree

Canned pumpkin is good for more than just pie. Both pureed pumpkin and sweet potato are good egg substitutes in muffins, doughnuts, and quick breads. These purees act as both a binder while keeping baked goods moist.

What is the best binder for meatballs? ›

An egg is usually a good start, as that can help with the tenderness and texture, but the king of meatball binders is breadcrumbs soaked in milk (also known as a panade). Soaking the breadcrumbs first makes them pliable and soggy, which allows them to easily and evenly mix into the ground meat.

Is egg necessary in meatballs? ›

You only need a small amount of egg – it's there only to help the cooked meatball retain its shape, and shouldn't detract from the meat's flavour or texture. Filler ingredients like breadcrumbs or flour are important too because they stop the meatballs becoming dry.

How much mayonnaise is equal to one egg? ›

Mayonnaise. Eggs are a key ingredient in mayonnaise, so it makes sense that it can be a perfect substitute when you're out of eggs. Use 3 tablespoons of mayo as an egg substitute.

Is it better to bake meatballs at 350 or 400? ›

In an oven preheated to 350 degrees F, these meatballs should be fully cooked through and evenly browned in about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the meatball should read at least 165 degrees F.

Can I substitute mayo for eggs in meatballs? ›

But it's not an unusual choice, either, when you consider its parts: egg, oil, and a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice, all whisked or blended together. Because it's a stable emulsion, mayo serves as an excellent binder for meatballs. It easily slips into the role played by eggs and bread crumbs.

Can you substitute mashed potatoes for eggs? ›

Instant mashed potatoes are another great ingredient for binding. Use 2 tablespoonfuls to replace one egg in recipes that are meant to be dense.

What does Bobby Flay put in his meatballs? ›

Ingredients
  1. Deselect All.
  2. 2 tablespoons, plus 1 cup pure olive oil.
  3. 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped.
  4. 2 large eggs.
  5. 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley.
  6. 1/3 pound ground chuck.
  7. 1/2 pound ground veal.
  8. 1/2 pound ground pork butt.

What not to do when making meatballs? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs
  1. Not seasoning the meat.
  2. Not adding any moisture to the meat.
  3. Over-mixing the meat.
  4. Not shaping the meatballs correctly.
  5. Not forming evenly-sized meatballs.
May 1, 2019

What's the difference between Italian style meatballs and regular meatballs? ›

Italian-style meatballs often include additional ingredients such as milk, olive oil, ground pork, fresh parsley, red pepper flakes, Italian herb seasoning, and sometimes a combination of ground beef, veal, and pork [2].

How do you get meatballs to stick together? ›

  1. Use extra eggs as a binder. I doubled the egg binder to make sure the meat held together. ...
  2. Add melted butter to the meat if it's less than 80/20. Low fat meatballs fall apart in the cooking process. ...
  3. Chill the meatballs or freeze them. Cold meatballs hold together better.
Aug 2, 2019

What can I use as a binder for meatballs instead of breadcrumbs? ›

Rolled Oats

Oats are the perfect substitutes for breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf. While they aren't ideal for a crispy coating, they add the right amount of texture to bind meat, eggs and flavorings together into a delicious Italian-inspired feast.

How do you bind breadcrumbs without eggs? ›

The typical three-step process is flour, eggs and then breadcrumbs. Instead of the egg, Moskowitz recommends a mix of cornstarch and water, which, when stirred together, forms a slurry. It, too, is an effective glue, and you may even notice more crispness to, say, your chicken parm.

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