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

No Egg Italian Meatball Recipe (3)

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 @cookathomemomma or tag #cookathomemomma!

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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 can I use instead of egg in meatballs? ›

Thankfully, mashed potatoes work as an excellent egg substitute for meatballs. The function of egg in meatballs has very little to do with flavor and more to do with its binding properties, similar to why you might use breadcrumbs in meatloaf or burgers: to help everything hold together.

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.

What binds meatballs together? ›

Egg: A lot of meatball recipes add egg to the mince mixture because it helps to bind the balls together. Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs also help to bind your meatballs. If the mince mixture is quite wet, breadcrumbs will help soak up excess moisture so that the balls don't fall apart.

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

American meatballs are the biggest in size, with Italian and Swedish meatballs following on the depth chart. Italian meatballs call for seasonings like grated parmesan and oregano, while Swedish ones use seasonings like nutmeg and allspice. While it doesn't sound like a huge distinction, you'll notice it in the taste!

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.

Do you need eggs to bind meatballs? ›

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

What can I use as a binder instead of 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 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.

Can I skip eggs in a recipe? ›

Here's what you can use to substitute for eggs in baking and how.
  1. Avocado. ...
  2. Baking Powder and Oil. ...
  3. Mashed Banana. ...
  4. Nut Butters. ...
  5. Aquafaba. ...
  6. Chia Seeds. ...
  7. Flaxseed. ...
  8. Condensed Milk.

What is the secret to making tender meatballs? ›

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness. Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

Why do you put milk in meatballs? ›

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. Milk adds a certain level of moisture that helps produce perfectly tender meatballs.

Why won t my meatballs stay together? ›

But too much bread crumbs make them too loose, and not enough bread crumbs won't help them hold together either. Similar issues can be caused by eggs: Too many eggs, and the meatballs will be too soggy.

Is it better to fry or bake Italian meatballs? ›

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.

What are Sicilian meatballs made of? ›

Sicilian meatballs, on the other hand, are typically made from a combination of ground beef and ground pork, along with ingredients like garlic, onion, parsley, breadcrumbs, and sometimes even pine nuts and raisins. They are often served in a tomato sauce or a sweet and sour sauce made from vinegar and sugar.

What are traditional Italian meatballs made of? ›

Italian meatballs are made with 1/2 pork and 1/2 beef meat, bread, eggs, seasoned cheese, garlic, onion, parsley, salt, pepper, sometimes milk to make them soft.

What can you use instead of egg to bind? ›

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 you use instead of egg to bind breadcrumbs? ›

Here are some common egg substitutes for breading:
  • Milk or Buttermilk:Dip the meat in milk or buttermilk before coating it with the breading. This helps the breading adhere to the meat. ...
  • Yogurt:Plain yogurt can serve as a good substitute for eggs in breading. It provides moisture and helps the breading stick to the meat.
Nov 21, 2023

What can you use instead of egg to bind 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.

What can you substitute in place of eggs? ›

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

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