No Egg Italian Meatball Recipe (2024)

Published: by Lyndsey Piccolino · This post may contain affiliate links

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These are the BEST juicy eggless meatballs you will find! These egg-free meatballs are so easy to make. Simple ingredients like ground beef or turkey, olive oil, cheese, Italian seasoning, fresh herbs, and no egg. Quick to make in less than 25 minutes!

No Egg Italian Meatball Recipe (1)
Jump to:
  • Why You Should Make These Juicy Meatballs
  • Ingredients for Making Perfect Meatballs
  • How to Make Meatballs Without Egg
  • How to Serve Italian Meatballs
  • Expert Tips for Making Perfect Eggless Meatballs
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Other Homemade Meatballs You'll Love!

Why You Should Make These Juicy Meatballs

These are the top 5 reasons to make these simple meatballs without eggs:

  • Juicy, flavorful, delicious, and tender meatballs with simple ingredients and the perfect texture, even without eggs.
  • Egg allergy-friendly, gluten-free, made without breadcrumbs, no milk, and no yogurt. Low-carb and keto-friendly.
  • This is the perfect beginner recipe for babies or toddlers. It is kid-friendly with no eggs, no onion, and a smooth texture - perfect for the whole family!
  • Quick and easy to make when you run out of eggs - done in 25 minutes with no hand mixing and no need for a food processor.
  • Eggless meatballs can be baked in the oven, instant pot, or slow cooker.

Ingredients for Making Perfect Meatballs

Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.

No Egg Italian Meatball Recipe (2)

Italian eggless meatballs can be made with lean ground beef, ground chicken, ground pork, chicken sausage, or turkey.

Oat flour or oatmeal will work in the place of a cup of breadcrumbs if you are adding breadcrumbs.

Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, or whichever all-purpose seasoning blend you prefer.

Salt and fresh garlic flavor the meatballs, while parsley imparts a fresh quality. Black pepper may be added for additional spice, but is not necessary

What Can I Use Instead of Egg to Bind 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.

Almond flour works with the olive oil to keep the meatballs together. You can substitute fresh breadcrumbs if desired.

How to Make Meatballs Without Egg

Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.

Step 1

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Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl to create the meatball mixture.

Step 2

No Egg Italian Meatball Recipe (4)

Use your hands to gently incorporate all of the ingredients. You do not want to over-mix as this will lead to hard, tough meatballs.

Step 3

No Egg Italian Meatball Recipe (5)

Use a cookie scoop to scoop out a ball of meat from the meat mixture. Use the size scoop that you want for the size of the meatball you want.

Generally, I try to make mine the size of a golf ball. Alternatively, if you only have a large scoop you can divide a large scoop in half to make two smaller balls.

Step 4

No Egg Italian Meatball Recipe (6)

Place meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake according to recipe time and size (see the recipe card.)

How to Serve Italian Meatballs

There are many different ways to serve eggless meatballs.

Heat the meatballs in tomato sauce at a low simmer for about 5 minutes. Then, serve them with your favorite sauce - our family loves them with traditional marinara sauce along with pasta.

Zucchini noodles, zucchini rolls, or spaghetti squash noodles are a great way to enjoy these traditional meatballs while still keeping the recipe low-carb.

A meatball sub, an Italian quesadilla, or a toasty sandwich are great ways to enjoy leftover turkey meatballs.

For a simple and easy weeknight meal your whole family will love, try serving these eggless meatballs with a veggie side dish like garlic green beans and roasted red potatoes.

Expert Tips for Making Perfect Eggless Meatballs

  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Reheating: Reheat leftovers on the stovetop in sauce, in the oven at 350 F, or in the microwave until heated through.
  • Make Ahead: This recipe is great for meal prep! Make the meatball mixture up to two days in advance and bake in the oven when ready.
  • Freezer: Assemble and freeze uncooked meatballs on a baking sheet. Once frozen, store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. They can be cooked straight from frozen, allowing an extra few minutes per side during baking.

Recipe FAQs

What can replace eggs in meatballs?

Although there are many options for making meatballs with no eggs, my favorite is olive oil because of the flavor and moisture it imparts. You can also try buttermilk, plain yogurt, or cheese.

Some may argue whether eggs are necessary for meatballs and I tend to believe that they are not essential. My eggless meatballs with turkey have no egg and are very tasty and juicy.

How long does it take to cook meatballs at 400 F?

Depending on the size, meatballs take anywhere from 5 minutes per side to 12 minutes per side. For this homemade meatball recipe, they are considered small (golf ball-sized) and only take 5 minutes per side.

If baking at 350F they will take anywhere from 7-14 minutes per side. They will be considered done when an instant-read thermometer reads 165F when inserted.

No Egg Italian Meatball Recipe (7)

Other Homemade Meatballs You'll Love!

  • Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
  • Best Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs Recipe (Gluten-Free)
  • Easy One-Pot Swedish Meatballs Recipe (Dairy-Free)
  • Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs

If you've made this recipe, would you please leave a star rating and comment below on the recipe card? If you wantmore simple + delicious eats, please subscribe to mynewsletterand follow along onFacebook,Pinterest,andInstagram for the latest updates.

No Egg Italian Meatball Recipe (12)

Print Pin

5 from 9 votes

Eggless Meatballs Recipe (Juicy & Tender!)

These are the BEST juicy eggless meatballs you will find. Easy to make with no egg and other simple ingredients like ground beef or turkey, olive oil, cheese and seasoning. Gluten and grain free! On your table in less than 25 minutes!

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes minutes

Total Time 22 minutes minutes

Servings 25 meatballs

Calories 248kcal

Author Lyndsey

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground turkey beef, sausage or chicken also fine
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese
  • cup almond flour
  • ¼ cup parsley chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  • Combine all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.

    1 pound ground turkey, ½ cup parmesan cheese, ⅓ cup almond flour, ¼ cup parsley, 4 cloves garlic, ¾ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • Use your hands to gently incorporate all of the ingredients. You do not want to over-mix as this will lead to hard, tough meatballs.

  • Use a cookie scoop to scoop out a ball of meat. Use the size scoop that you want for the size of the meatball you want. Alternatively, if you only have a large scoop you can divide a large scoop in half to make two smaller balls.

  • Place meatballs on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake. For small meatballs bake at 350F for 6 minutes per side. For medium ones bake 8-10 minutes per side and for large meatballs bake at 12 minutes per side.

  • Be sure to temp with an instant read thermometer to 165F.

Notes

Store cooked leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheat leftovers on the stovetop in sauce, in the oven at 350 F, or in the microwave until heated through.

The recipe can be assembled ahead of time, up to 2 days in advance, and then baked in the oven when ready.

To freeze uncooked, combine and shape the meatballs. Then, freeze the meatballs on a baking sheet. Once frozen, store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. They can be cooked straight from frozen allowing an extra few minutes per side during baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 5meatballs | Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 2.9g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 16.3g

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @MommaFitLyndsey or tag #mommafitlyndsey!

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About Lyndsey Piccolino

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Xavier D

    Hello! Can I make this without parmesan cheese? I'm trying to look for a base meatball recipe that doesn't require eggs nor dairy (challenge impossible). Sorry for weird late night comment, plotting my grocery list for later in the morning, lol.

    Reply

    • Lyndsey

      I think so! I just like the cheese for the flavor but you could omit it.

      Reply

  2. Kate

    What if you don't have oatmeal OR almond flour?
    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Lyndsey

      you could try breadcrumbs! I've only used almond flour personally.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

No Egg Italian Meatball Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What to do if you don't have an egg 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.

What can I bind meatballs with instead of 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.

Can I use mayo instead of 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.

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.

What can I use to bind if I don't have an egg? ›

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 I use if I don't have an egg for a recipe? ›

WHAT TO USE INSTEAD OF EGGS WHEN BAKING
  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.

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

One of the most common substitutes is breadcrumbs, but sometimes the breadcrumbs can fall off when the burgers are cooking if there are too many or they are too dry. Other popular substitutions for eggs include cornstarch, flour, ketchup, porridge oats, cracker crumbs, and ground flaxseed.

What do vegans use to bind instead of eggs? ›

Ground flax seeds

One of the most popular egg substitutes in vegan baking is a flax egg. This is made by combining ground (not whole) flax seeds with water and leaving to sit for 15 minutes until the mixture becomes thick, almost the same consistency as a regular egg.

What can you use as a binder if you don t have eggs for meatloaf? ›

Arrowroot Powder. Arrowroot powder serves as a gluten-free thickening agent and binder in meatloaf recipes. Mix 2 tablespoons of arrowroot powder with 3 tablespoons of water to replace each egg and achieve a well-bound and tender texture in your meatloaf.

Is egg necessary in meatballs? ›

If you know about meatballs you know that just about every homemade meatball recipe calls for eggs as a binding agent. After making a lot of meatball recipes, I think that the best egg substitute for meatballs is ricotta cheese. By using a good quality ricotta cheese you can have the perfect eggless meatballs.

What can I substitute if I run out of eggs? ›

When you're baking and run out of eggs
  • 1 egg = 2 tablespoons water + 2 teaspoons baking powder + 1 teaspoon vegetable oil.
  • 1 egg = 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana.
  • 1 egg = 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds and 3 tablespoons of water.
  • 1 egg = 3 tablespoons aquafaba.

How much mayo to substitute for eggs? ›

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.

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

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. This will result in a softer-textured meatball, but it does work.

How to stop meatballs from falling apart? ›

Your job is to massage or knead the meat, after you've added your seasonings. This helps release more protein into the mix that will then harden to create a matrix that will hold the meatballs together.

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 you use instead of egg to coat meat? ›

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.

Can you substitute oil for eggs in meatballs? ›

Here, you'll find swaps that work for breads, cookies, meatballs, and so much more. For recipes that use eggs as a binder or for moisture, substitutes like applesauce or oil can do the trick. If the eggs act as a leavening agent, try a combination of vinegar and baking powder.

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