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

What to use if you don't have eggs for meatballs? ›

Finally, for every egg your meatball recipe calls for, add ¼ cup of mashed potatoes, then prepare as usual. When using mashed potatoes as a binder for meatballs, the potato flavor won't come through very strongly, but the butter and cream will enhance other flavors in the meatballs and keep them moist.

How do you keep meatballs from falling apart without eggs? ›

Some recipes also call for taking slices of bread, cutting the crusts off and soaking them in milk for several minutes. Once the bread is soaked, you squeeze out as much of the milk as you can. What soaking the bread does is add moisture to the meatball as well as bread for a binder.

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.

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

For 1-2 inches of beef, pork, or turkey meatballs without any pre-cooking, use these guidelines for your wall oven:
  • 350°F wall oven:
  • 8–14 minutes for 1-inch meatballs.
  • 14–18 minutes for 2-inch meatballs.
  • 400°F wall oven:
  • 6–10 minutes for 1-inch meatballs.
  • 10–14 minutes for 2-inch meatballs.
  • 425°F wall oven:
Aug 16, 2023

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

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

What can I use instead of eggs to bind a recipe? ›

See the list of 11 egg substitutes below to find the right one for the recipe you're whipping up.
  1. MASHED BANANA. ...
  2. APPLESAUCE. ...
  3. SILKEN TOFU. ...
  4. GROUND FLAXSEED OR CHIA SEEDS & WATER. ...
  5. YOGURT. ...
  6. BUTTERMILK. ...
  7. SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK. ...
  8. ARROWROOT POWDER OR CORNSTARCH.

How do you bind ground meat without eggs? ›

No, eggs are not necessary for binding burger patties, though they are commonly used for binding them. However, you can use other binding agents such as breadcrumbs, cracker crumbs, potato starch, flour, and porridge oats to bind burger patties according to your preferences.

What can I use instead of eggs to hold meat together? ›

Common egg substitutes for meatloaf include flaxseed meal, chia seeds, mashed banana, applesauce, silken tofu, yogurt, and various commercial egg replacers.

What is the best binder for meatballs? ›

The Key to Tender Meatballs

Here, we're soaking fresh or dried breadcrumbs in a little milk until the bread becomes soggy, then mixing that right into the meat. This binder (aka panade) helps add moisture to the meatballs and also prevents the meat proteins from shrinking and becoming tough.

How to make meatballs bind? ›

How to make meatballs that won't fall apart
  1. Massage your meat. True story. ...
  2. Add breadcrumbs. Add breadcrumbs to the mixture, but not too many breadcrumbs. ...
  3. Add egg. ...
  4. Don't add much apart from meat. ...
  5. Roll your meatballs in flour. ...
  6. Give your meatballs space. ...
  7. Shake your meatballs. ...
  8. Brown your meatballs first.
Mar 3, 2022

Is milk or egg better for meatballs? ›

Add Milk for Moisture

A little bit of milk will add moisture to your meatballs. (Many people think it's the eggs that add the moisture, but their role is to bind the meat, breadcrumbs, cheese and herbs.)

What can you substitute for eggs in meatloaf? ›

The ratio of ¼ cup water to one tablespoon of flaxseed meal is equivalent to one egg. So to substitute for two eggs in a meatloaf, you'll want to mix ½ cup of water with 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal.

Is it better to cook meatballs in a skillet or oven? ›

Baking will result in meatballs with a crunchy exterior, though the caramelisation achieved from frying will be superior. Baked meatballs take the least amount of effort, as you'll only need to turn them once or twice throughout the cook and you can make a larger batch at once.

Do you bake meatballs covered or uncovered? ›

Covering them with foil can help when reheating, but you will still want to remove it during the last few minutes of cook time in the oven. How do you keep meatballs moist when baking? The key is in the preparation! Make sure to handle the meat mixture as little as possible and mix the ingredients just until combined.

What can be used as a binder for meatballs? ›

Add a lightly beaten egg, but not too much. Egg acts as a binder for the ingredients, but you only need a small amount. One small egg will do for one pound of minced meat. Alternatively, if you're following an egg-free diet, you could soak fresh bread in milk, squeezing out any excess milk, to use as a binder.

What can you use instead of egg to bind breadcrumbs? ›

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.

What can I add if I don't have eggs? ›

Egg replacers
  1. Vinegar & baking soda. Replace 1 egg with: 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon vinegar. ...
  2. Unsweetened applesauce. Replace 1 egg with: 1/4 cup applesauce. ...
  3. Plain or vanilla soy yogurt. Replace 1 egg with: 1/4 cup yogurt. ...
  4. Silken tofu. ...
  5. Ripe banana. ...
  6. Ground flaxseed.

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