The best way to describe our Vegan Spaghetti Recipe is ultimate comfort food. We pair it with amazing vegan meatballs for a hearty and delicious meal. This is quite possibly the best vegan spaghetti and meatballs you will ever taste!
Why You're Gonna Love This Vegan Spaghetti Recipe with Meatballs
Incredibly easy to make. The meatball ingredients are simply baked in muffin tins for thirty minutes while you get the pasta and side dishes ready!
Crowd Favorite. Everyone loves a good spaghetti and meatballs. We aren't pretending our vegan version tastes like meat. But we can guarantee it tastes good!
Texture. I don't know what it is about spaghetti, but cooked al dente there is nothing that can beat the texture. It's so satisfying. Add to that our delicious meatballs and the texture of this dish is seriously on point.
Ingredients for Vegan Spaghetti Recipe
- Uncooked Quinoa. The first thing you will do is cook the quinoa, so if you have plain cooked quinoa, just use that.
- Chopped Kale. You can also use frozen spinach.
- White Beans. Cannellini beans wil also work. I used canned beans, drained and rinsed.
- Almond Flour. This helps hold everything together.
- Walnuts.
- Vegan Mayo.
- Seasoning: Thyme. Garlic Powder. Onion Powder. Salt.
- Your Favorite Marinara Sauce.
- Whole Wheat Spaghetti. (One Pound Box)
- Cashews. Or Vegan Parmesan Cheese. This for optional topping.
How to Make Vegan Spaghetti and Meatballs
Start by cooking the quinoa and either cook the kale or thaw the spinach. Remove all excess water. Add all of the meatball ingredients to a food processor and pulse to combine. Form the meatballs and place them in a muffin tin. Spray these with cooking spray and bake. When the Vegan meatballs are almost ready, cook your pasta and heat the sauce through.
Expert Tips for Vegan Meatballs and Spaghetti
Add the meatballs to the plate last to keep them from falling apart.
Use a large pot to cook your pasta with plenty of water so that it doesn't stick together.
Variations
Add a dash of red pepper flakes to your marina sauce to give it a little mph.
Saute vegetables like mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, grated carrots, and garlic, and add those to you marinara sauce with a can of crushed tomatoes to take your vegan spaghetti sauce over the top.
Try adding a little freshly minced garlic, fresh basil, or oregano to your marinara sauce. If you do this make sure you simmer it for a little while on the stovetop to help the flavors meld. Stir occasionally.
This dish is perfectly good with gluten-free pasta.
FAQ
Can I make vegan meatballs ahead of time?
Yes, as long as they haven't been placed in the sauce, they can be refrigerated for several days and reheated in a microwave or oven when you are ready to eat.
How do I serve Vegan Spaghetti?
Just like classic spaghetti and meatballs, you can serve this dish with garlic bread and salad. I know many people who consider it a meal unto itself.
How do I store leftover Vegan Spaghetti and Meatballs?
This dish should be kept in separate parts until you are ready to serve it. Store the plain spaghetti noodles in a freezer quality bag or airtight container. Place the sauce back in the original jar or in an airtight plastic container. Keep the meatballs in a plastic container large enough that they will not need stacked since they are fairly delicate. All three pieces of the dish should be in the refrigerator until you are ready to reheat and serve the leftovers, which can be done in a microwave.
Here's What Inspired This Vegan Spaghetti Recipe
This post is dedicated to all the hard-core meat-eaters out there you'll love our vegan meatballs. Think of it as an invitation or a dare to get out of your comfort zone. To get rid of your preconceived notions about vegan food. Because let's face it, chances are, you have them. And that's OK! I have a lot of friends who do, and they're still my friends (even one in particular who LOVES to tease me about it every time he sees me..)
Please understand, that our goal here isn't to "convert" you (yes, we are Spanish, but Inquisition techniques aren't our thing..). Our goal is to help you broaden your horizons, and step outside your (culinary) box if you will. And also realize that (wait, you may wanna sit down for this one) you eat vegan stuff every day (unless, of course, you've never had a carrot, or an apple, or a banana, or pasta, or peanut butter or an Oreo cookie in your life... ).
Trying Vegan Food for the First Time?
We're not even gonna ask you to play pretend. No. We're not gonna look you in the eye and tell you that these veggie meatballs taste just like the "real" thing. Why? Because they're made with beans, quinoa, nuts, and kale, that's why. And beans, quinoa, nuts, and kale taste nothing like the flavor of meat (and if anyone tries to tell you the opposite, well, you can save the eye-rolling for them). That doesn't mean they don't taste good though. That doesn't mean they can't be part of your menu rotation every now and then, right?
\You can give them a try. If you like them great, you don't, try something else! The point is, whether it's food or life in general, being receptive to new ideas and experiences can't hurt. The worst thing that can happen, is you'll learn something new! You know what they say, the mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work unless it's open.
Enjoy... Or not! As long as you try 😉
Need more veggie meatball ideas? Check out these two recipes:
Cauliflower Quinoa Meatless Meatballs In Coconut Turmeric Sauce
Spinach Veggie Meatballs In Spicy Tomato Sauce - Vegan & Paleo!
More Delicious Vegan Pasta Recipes
- Pasta with Chickpeas, Olives and Cheese
- Pea and Artichoke Pasta
- High Protein Pasta Puttanesca
- chickpea pasta
- Penne Pasta With Vegan Cauliflower & Walnut Kale Pesto
Vegan Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 22 1x
Description
Need a new idea for Meatless Monday? Give these Spaghetti and Vegan Meatballs a try. They are deliciously satisfying and possibly the best vegan meatballs you will ever taste!
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 1 ½ cups chopped kale or frozen spinach thawed
- 1 can (15 ounces) canned white beans or cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- ⅔ cup almond flour
- ⅓ cup walnuts
- 2 tbsp vegan mayo
- 1 tsp dry thyme
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 jar (24 ounces) of marinara sauce or your favorite pasta sauce.
- 1 pound pack of whole wheat spaghetti
- 4-5 cashews or vegan parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F. Generously coat a mini muffin tin (24 holes) with cooking spray (you will only need about 22)
- Cook quinoa choose your favorite method in our post on how to cook quinoa
- Place the chopped kale in a heat-safe bowl. Add boiling water to cover and let sit for 2-3 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Squeeze the excess water using your hands. If using frozen spinach just let it thaw and squeeze as much waster as possible from the spinach.
- Combine all the ingredients (including cooked quinoa and kale or spinach) in a food processor and pulse until all the ingredients are well combined
- Scoop 1 ½ tablespoons into each muffin tin, generously spray the meatballs with cooking spray and bake for 25-30 minutes or until firm. Let them cool before taking them out of the muffin tin. Alternatively, you can bake them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- While the vegan meatballs are cooking cook the pasta following the package instructions.
- Right before serving heat the sauce add the meatballs and heat until they are hot.
- Serve on top of the cooked spaghetti and grate some cashews on top to make it look like parmesan cheese or use vegan parmesan cheese
Notes
These vegan meatballs are delicate. If you are serving them with spaghetti and sauce, make sure to add them to the plate last. If you cook them in the sauce they will fall apart
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Entree
- Cuisine: Kosher / Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 meatballs
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 0.7
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 8.3
- Saturated Fat: 0.7
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 13
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 0
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