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.

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 in meatballs if I don't have eggs? ›

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 is the best binder for meatballs? ›

Breadcrumbs act as a filler and they also prevent the meatballs from becoming too dry by absorbing some of the meat juices released during cooking.

Can I substitute mayo for eggs in meatballs? ›

Substitute binders you can use instead of an egg

Being that mayonnaise is made of eggs, it also does a great job binding the meatballs as well as adding a creaminess to the texture. But if you're all out of fresh eggs or simply don't eat them, you and your meatballs are not out of luck.

What should I use 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.

Is egg necessary for 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.

What happens if you skip eggs in baking? ›

Whisk together water, oil, and baking powder.

This is a great substitute if you need to replace multiple eggs in a recipe, as it won't make the baked good too greasy or change its flavor profile (like some other substitutes). A simple combination of water, baking powder, and vegetable oil mimics eggs almost to a T.

Can I use oil instead of egg in 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.

Do I need a binder for meatballs? ›

You want them firm enough so they don't fall apart when cooking, while still keeping a tender, juicy texture. That is why it is key to use a binder or two.

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

After all of the Italian meatballs I've been making lately, I consider myself a meatball expert. A good rule of thumb is to bake meatballs for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit.

What not to do when making meatballs? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs
  1. Not seasoning the meat.
  2. Not adding any moisture to the meat.
  3. Over-mixing the meat.
  4. Not shaping the meatballs correctly.
  5. Not forming evenly-sized meatballs.
May 1, 2019

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.)

How much mayo replaces one egg? ›

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.

What can I use instead of egg in ground meat? ›

Chia seeds work as a great egg replacer.

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 you use instead of egg to bind meatloaf? ›

Potential Egg Substitutes
  1. Extra Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs are already found in most meatloaf recipes, but an extra ¼ cup of them can make up for the loss of one egg.
  2. Olive Oil: Olive oil is far runnier and, naturally, oilier than eggs, so you'll want to add one tablespoon at a time until the consistency seems right.
Jul 3, 2022

What can I use if I don't have eggs for breadcrumbs? ›

You could also try milk or yogurt. For heavier coatings (like panko or breadcrumbs), you might dust the fish with flour first. Once the floured fish is dipped in the butter or milk, it will get a little gummy and help the coating adhere better.

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