Easy to make tofu meatballs with less than 10 ingredients. Bake or air-fry these and serve with your favorite sauce, glaze, and sides! Or enjoy just on their own. A delicious and nutritious meat alternative.
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💡 The recipe in a nutshell
- Vegan (dairy-free & no eggs)
- Easy-to-make
- Only 10 ingredients
- Bake, or air-fry
- Delicious and nutritious
- Versatile: enjoy on their own, with your favorite sauce or glaze
📋 Ingredients
Tofu: use firm or extra firm, and make sure to drain and press it before using. We recommend using a tofu press, as it is mess-free and easy. However, placing the tofu in between (paper) towels and a few heavy objects on top such as pans, plates or books works too.
Oat Flour: absorbs moisture, enhances flavor, helps bind the meatballs, and adds nutritional value!
Flax Egg: a great vegan egg substitute made with flax seed meal to help bind the meatballs together while adding nutrients such as omega-3s.
Tomato Ketchup or Paste: adds color, flavor, and texture.
Seasonings: since tofu is fairly neutral in flavor we need to give these meatballs the right flavor. Add miso paste, dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, nutritional yeast, onion, and garlic powder.
👩🏽🍳 How to make tofu meatballs
Making tofu meatballs from scratch is easy. Follow these simple steps:
- Drain and press tofu in advance. We recommend using a tofu press for it.
- Make the meatball mixture by adding all ingredients to a food processor, and pulse until well combined. (The mixture should easily form a ball when pressed together.)
- Shape meatballs by rolling them into your hands. Place on a baking sheet or in an air-fryer basket. Brush, or spray with oil.
- Bake or air-fry and enjoy on their own, with sauce, or glazed.
You can find a detailed printable recipe at the end of this article.
🥣 Serving ideas
You may ask yourself what to serve with tofu meatballs. Here are some of our favorite foods to pair them with:
- Vegan Carbonara
- Tomato Sauce
- Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Sauce
- Hummus Pasta Bake
- & other Pasta Dishes
- Hawaiian Vegan Meatball Sub
- With Salads
- Mashed Potato & Gravy
- Balsamic Glaze
- in Sticky Sauce
- With Polenta
💭 Common questions
How to store tofu meatballs? Store leftover meatballs in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
How to reheat tofu meatballs? Reheat tofu meatballs shortly in the oven, in a skillet or saucepan set over medium-low heat, or in the microwave.
Can you freeze tofu meatballs? Yes, you can freeze tofu meatballs. However, keep in mind that freezing tofu alters its texture so it may end up softer than before freezing. Store in a freezer-safe airtight container or bag for up to 3 months. Let balls thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Can I make tofu meatballs for meal prep? Yes, absolutely! This is an awesome recipe for meal prep. Store them pre-cooking, or cooked, in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 4 to 5 days. Keep away from sauce when storing long term, and add shortly before eating.
📖 Recipe
Tofu Meatballs (easy)
Equipment
- baking sheet and parchment
Ingredients
- 1 package of extra-firm Tofu, drained and pressed
- ½ cup oat flour
- 1 flax egg (1 tablespoon flax meal + 2 tablespoon water)
- 2 tablespoons ketchup, or tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons miso paste
- 1 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoons Italian seasoning mix
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon of each onion and garlic powder (you can add more and/or different seasonings if wished)
Instructions
- Drain and press tofu for at least 30 minutes, best overnight. In a small bow prepare a flax egg, by mixing ground flax and water. Set aside and let thicken for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Crumble tofu into a food processor, and pulse a couple of times. Then add all other ingredients, including flax egg, and pulse until combined and a thick paste has formed.
- Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out a ball. Wet your hands with cold water and shape them into a ball. Continue until no paste remains. Place the balls on a lined baking sheet, or in the basket/tray of an air fryer. Brush or spray lightly with oil.
- Bake the meatballs for 30 minutes at 400°F/205°C, or air fry for 20 minutes (flipping halfway through) at 425°F/220°C, until golden brunt and slightly crispy.
The provided nutritional information is an estimate. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
PS: Don't forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment on your experience - this helps improve my recipes and serves you with the best instructions, tips, and substitution ideas. Plus, I love hearing about your takes on my recipes! Tag me on Instagram @thesimplesprinkle to show me your pictures.
I live in NZ & have been told there is no such thing as gluten free oats so can you please suggest an alternative please?
Hi Lin, thank you for your comment! In many places, including New Zealand, oats themselves do not naturally contain gluten, but cross-contamination can occur during processing. Some brands specifically produce and label gluten-free oats, ensuring that they are processed in facilities that avoid contamination with gluten-containing grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.
So unless you have severe gluten allergies, you should be fine using oats without a special gluten-free certification! Additionally, health food stores or specialty stores that focus on dietary needs may have a selection of gluten-free oats or oat products. If you are looking for oat-specific alternatives you could try amaranth, some chia and/or flax seeds, coconut flour, or nut flour. However I personally have not tried the recipe with these substitutions.
I hope this helps! If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out. Thank you for reading my blog and trying my recipes - it means the world to me!
Best, Jacqui
chickpea flour can also replace oat flour
That’s a great point! Chickpea flour is an excellent substitute for oat flour. It’s high in protein and adds a nice nutty flavor to recipes. Plus, it works well in both sweet and savory dishes. Thanks for sharing that tip! If you have any other substitutions or experiences with the recipe, I’d love to hear them!
how much grams or oz is in a package of tofu? I buy tofu in bulk so adding the weight would help
These are SUPER delicious! I love the texture and combination of spices. I used this recipe to create meatball subs for dinner! Cant wait to air fry them next!
Hi Brittany, thank you so much for trying these out! I am so happy they turned out so well. I can't wait to see your next cooking stream!