If you are craving the deliciousness of meatballs in tomato sauce but want a tasty vegan option, consider making our vegan chickpea meatballs with spinach in spicy tomato sauce. The perfect solution to this classic meal, our recipe hits all the right notes of comfort and taste.
The texture and flavor of these vegetarian meatballs are on point, and you can serve it in the spicy tomato sauce, over noodles, or even on sub buns for a filling and nutritious meal.
Why You'll Love This Vegan Meatballs Recipe
Chickpeas are high in protein, and when ground in the food processor they provide a meaty texture for meatless meatballs. They have a fairly mild flavor on their own, so they are the perfect vehicle to soak up all the other flavors in the mixture as well as the sauce.
They are gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, and super versatile! See below for our serving suggestions.
Chickpea Meatballs Recipe Ingredients
- Frozen Chopped Spinach. Fresh spinach will not bond as nicely.
- Chickpeas. Also known as garbanzo beans, used canned chickpeas. Remember to drain and rinse before making this recipe.
- Chickpea Flour. Add even more protein with garbanzo bean flour, we use it as a binder to hold the spinach balls together.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil. EVOO adds needed fat and flavor.
- Garlic Powder.
- Salt and Pepper.
- Lemon Juice. Brighten everything up with lemon juice.
Spicy Tomato Sauce Recipe Ingredients
- Crushed Tomatoes.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- Onion.
- Garlic.
- Spices. Salt, black pepper, Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes
How to Make Chickpea Meatballs
Making these meatless meatballs is super easy. This is one of the easiest vegan weeknight meals you could make!
- Step 1: Add all the ingredients to a food processor and process it until it forms a dough.
- Step 2: Refrigerate the mixture briefly to help it firm up and hold its shape for baking.
- Step 3: Form the dough into spinach balls and bake them for twenty minutes.
- Step 4: Cool, and serve with our spicy tomato sauce.
Substitutions and Variations
- Add spices to change up the flavors! Italian seasoning or fresh parsley are both good choices.
- Try add-ins. Chopped mushrooms, fennel seeds, black beans, oats, brown rice, ground flaxseed, panko breadcrumbs, soy sauce, and even potatoes add flavor, or fill out vegan meatballs in a pinch.
- A small amount of vegan parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast adds a nice cheesy flavor.
- If you don't have time to make your own tomato sauce use your favorite marinara sauce and add Aleppo pepper or hot red pepper flakes for heat.
Helpful Recipe Tips for Success
- If you don't have a food processor, combine everything in a large mixing bowl using your hands or a potato masher.
- Squeeze the thawed spinach by hand to remove plenty of excess water. The more you can remove the better.
- Chickpea flour works as an excellent binder for these meatballs. Make sure you have removed all of the excess moisture from the spinach that you can.
- Do not skip the step of refrigerating the meatball dough.
How to Serve Vegan Chickpea Meatballs
- Serve veggie meatballs over pasta, zucchini noodles, or spaghetti squash with our spicy tomato sauce or your favorite jarred variety. Add them to a sub sandwich with marinara and provolone.
- Chop them into quarters and toss into a salad, a wrap, or add to a pizza or flatbread. Add them to a baked potato as a savory topping.
- Serve with mushroom gravy like Swedish meatballs.
- Add a crisp green salad to round out the meal.
Switch things up a bit and try one of these other savory sauces:
Storage, Reheating, and Make Ahead Tips
- You have several great options for meal prep with these vegan chickpea meatballs to make your busy weeknights easier.
- Shape the meatballs, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover them with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Store cooked meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze in a single layer and then transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge and then microwave in 30-second increments to heat through or heat on the stove over medium heat in a pot with sauce.
Other Great Meatless Meatball Recipes
- Lentil Meatballs in Tahini and Turmeric Sauce
- Quinoa Cauliflower Meatballs in Coconut Turmeric Sauce
- Spaghetti and Vegan Meatballs
- Eggplant Meatballs in Pomegranate Sauce
- Veggie Meatballs in Pumpkin Sauce
- Sweet Potato Meatballs
- Italian Eggplant Meatballs
- Quinoa Meatballs in Mango Coconut Sauce
If you enjoyed this recipe, it would help us tremendously if you left us a star rating in the comments below or on the recipe card. Do you have any questions about the recipe? Do you need a swap for any of the ingredients? We are here to help, just leave us a question in the comments below.
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Chickpea Meatballs With Spinach In Spicy Tomato Sauce
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 20 spinach balls 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
If you are craving the deliciousness of meatballs in tomato sauce but want a tasty vegan option, consider making our vegan chickpea meatballs with spinach in spicy tomato sauce. The perfect solution to this classic meal, our recipe hits all the right notes of comfort and taste.
Ingredients
For the spinach veggie meatballs
- 1 lb frozen chopped spinach, thawed
- 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed (15 ounces)
- ⅓ cup chickpea flour
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
For the spicy tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 6 cloves of garlic, grated
- 1 large can of crushed tomatoes (28 ounces)
- ¼- ½ teaspoon salt to taste
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼-½ teaspoon Aleppo pepper or Red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
- Squeeze as much water as possible from the thawed spinach.
- In a food processor add all the veggie meatball ingredients and process until it creates a soft dough. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- In the meantime make the spicy tomato sauce.
- In a large skillet, sautée onion and garlic in olive oil on medium-low heat for 6-7 minutes, until the onion is translucent. Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, and Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes.
- Cook covered on high for 3-5 minutes. Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Scoop 1 ½ tablespoon of spinach dough and form balls. Place them on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Let the spinach balls cool completely before removing them from the baking sheet
- Place spinach veggie balls on the tomato sauce and serve. Over rice, quinoa, or pasta.
Notes
- If you don't have time to make your own tomato sauce use your favorite marinara sauce and add Aleppo pepper or hot red pepper flakes for heat.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Refrigeration time: 15
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Vegan main
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 spinach balls with sauce
- Calories: 228
- Sugar: 6.6 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 10.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27.3 g
- Fiber: 8.1 g
- Protein: 9.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Amy @ What Jew Wanna Eat
I love the addition of raisins and pine nuts! Sweet and spicy and healthy- these are calling my name!
Vicky & Ruth
We love the combo of sweet and spicy!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com
These spinach balls with pine nuts sounds like a win win! you gave me a chuckle from reiterating that people were asking you for sauerkraut, bread crumbs and pasta sauce before a snow storm!
Here's hoping we start thawing out soon
Vicky & Ruth
Who knows, maybe Dr. Oz spoke a bout sauerkraut 🙂
Aimee / Wallflower Girl
What an interesting recipe, I'm so intrigued to try it - it looks great!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank Aimee!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs
These look fantastic! I never get decent vegetarian meatballs, and I'm dying to try this recipe. It sounds great with the pine nuts addition, I love those 🙂
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you Consuelo, we love the combination of raisins and pine nuts with the spinach.
Hindy
This looks amazing! I love vegan meatballs! Do these hold together well?
Vicky & Ruth
They are very delicate so handle them with care. Place them in tomato sauce and reheat them gently. One of our readers told us that she added chia seeds to the spinach. I will check with her how that came out.
Kumar's Kitchen
what a beautiful and delicious vegan dish...a winner,thanks for sharing 🙂
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed the recipe.
jc
Delicious vegan food is one reason why the number of vegans has doubled in less than 3 years.
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Chanie@BusyInBrooklyn
I love the idea of meatballs without meat in them. I'm surprised they held together so well without egg and breadcrumbs!
Vicky & Ruth
We have to confess that they are delicate, but we were surprised as well. We were even able to reheat them and they kept their shape!
Jamie Geller
looks good - you girls love pine nuts - luckily so do I.
Vicky & Ruth
We do love pine nuts, we only wish there were a little more affordable!
stephanie
i love this idea! meatballs are my favorite, but spinach balls sound like a great alternative.
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you, it is a great vegetarian alternative!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic
Definitely nothing wrong with being a little different, especially if it looks this delicious! 🙂
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you Bianca, thank you for stoping by and leaving a comment even when you are on vacation. Enjoy your trip!
Melissa {lilmisscakes}
This is such a smart idea! I love the idea of spicy sauce, yum.
Tamar Genger
YUMMY, these looks so great!! I really can't understand the Sauerkraut thing though either, what does that say about the people in your community?
Vicky & Ruth
Thanks. Not quite sure about the Sauerkraut….
Amanda
yum! I'd love to try these with kale, collards, and parsley!
Vicky & Ruth
That's a great idea, let us know if you do and how you like the "meatballs"
Kelly
Wow, I love this idea of vegan meatballs! I love spinach and tomatoes and they sound awesome both ways 🙂 What a tasty and healthy dish!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you Kelly!
Alison@AliBabka
The additional pine nuts and raisins add so much! Awesome recipe!
Vicky & Ruth
We agree, they really make this dish.
Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes
Wow these look good! You're on a roll with the vegan/paleo recipes!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you Jessica. We are having fun creating vegan pale recipes!
Ashley
Oh my gosh I always crack up when everyone freaks before a snow storm - my personal favorite is when you see someone buying like 5 things of milk - do you really need all that for one storm??? And these spinach meatballs look delicious - spinach is a favorite of mine so I know I would love these!
Vicky & Ruth
Yep, people are funny! We love spinach as well!
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens
I am so, so excited about this recipe! It's just stunning, so healthy and looks absolutely scrumptious! Love the addition of pine nuts and raisins, plus the fresh, bright lemon zest! Yum! Totally pinning ASAP! Oh - and I think that's so funny about the sauerkraut! I love sauerkraut, but it sure isn't the first thing I'd grab in a snowstorm!! 😀
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you so much Shelley, so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Mumsedso
I had some thawed spinach that I lost interest in a few nights ago so this really caught my eye. It was amazing, even without the spicy sauce. I didn't have raisins on hand for my very last minute attempt, so I used dried cranberries - wow. Really great!
Vicky & Ruth
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!
Ruchama Burrell
This sounds lovely. I am a big fan of frozen chopped spinach as an ingredient. However, pine nuts are very expensive and depending on their origin can cause an unpleasant reaction involving stinging sensation/and or swelling of lips. We stopped buying them years ago. Would ground walnuts of almonds work as well, either raw or toasted?
Vicky and Ruth
Yes, you can buy other nuts.
marcy
love this recipe can't wait to try it, I will fry don't use the oven.
Vicky and Ruth
Thank you Marcy, i am sure they will be delicious fried!
Judi
can I use regular flour as opposed to chick pea flour?
Vicky and Ruth
Yes, absolutely!