Potluck Hit! These Vegetarian Meatballs Are The Bomb!

[@TechBearSeattle]

As a Quaker, I know potlucks: they are almost as important to us as the Peace Testimony. And being respectful of what others can and cannot eat is important too because you can't feed people with what they cannot eat. This looks wonderful, easy, apparently tasty, so I will definitely be giving this a try. Thanks for the recipe!

[@1One2Three5Eight13]

I always love vegan dishes for potlucks, especially when they're church ones, because they're not only vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, but halal (if I avoid alcohol) and suitable for people who are allergic to eggs or dairy. (I should look into gluten-free oats as well, because I know there's people who are gluten free at the church potlucks, who are why I have gf tamari).

[@VeretenoVids]

This vegetarian follower of yours is delighted to see some beanballs! It's nearly impossible to be able to meet every single person's dietary restrictions/needs/dislikes, etc. I try hard to make a variety of foods when I entertain, but I have one friend who is celiac and I am terrified of cross contamination, so I always buy her something because there's no way I could guarantee no cross-contamination.

[@vlmellody51]

Thanks for the video, Glen. I've been a vegetarian for nearly 40 years, and have always included eggs and dairy in my diet.

[@tahliae]

Not been 40 years for me, but same!

[@murlthomas2243]

That looks fantastic! My sister is plant based and I have been trying to convert for health reasons. You don’t know how much I appreciate you doing plant based meals! I know if they are from you they will be tasty!

[@AvivaHadas]

I'm vegetarian curious (I choose the vegetarian option at restaurants) so I appreciate this. Especially that it isn't trying to be meat.

[@rabidsamfan]

As someone who can’t eat carrots anymore, I appreciate recipes that accommodate other people’s limits more than I used to.

[@daltonidaho]

I'm not vegetarian but I'd still like to give these a try! They look tasty.

[@craigriddell1169]

Vegi-balls ! Would love to try the addition of chopped mushrooms for umami and meat like consistency. Exchange the cilantro and oregano for ginger and shredded carrots and make with a sweet and sour or honey garlic instead of Italian tomato sauce for pot luck finger food

[@daltonidaho]

Oooo, great ideas!

[@stellaz2595]

Mushrooms would be a great addition. I agree about taking out the cilantro, since I really dislike it.

[@liddybird3608]

Yes. Great ideas..

[@sarahnewton2267]

Brilliant!

[@allonszenfantsjones]

Ooh oh dear, I just had a shock of PTSD when you mentioned carrots. The absolute *worst* experience in my life making vegetarian food was "vegetarian chili" with shredded carrots. I served it to the kids, we looked at each other. I tossed it in the sink.😅

[@si7877]

Thanks for the vegetarian choice Glen! It was wonderful of you to think of the non-meat eaters at the potluck. Meatless meatballs is a great descriptive name for this delicious recipe.

[@alimac519]

As a vegetarian for 34 years, I like to refer to them veatballs. It's an nod to what is universally known as a "meatball," but the ve indicates vegetarian or veggie or vegetable. I look forward to giving this recipe a try.

[@RoundHouseDictator]

They may not be meatballs but they are neatballs

[@truepeacenik]

Oh, I like that. It’s not meat, it’s neat!

[@cherryllcooper679]

Very clever! I’d try them just for that name.

[@jptownley]

@GlenAndFriendsCooking Long time vegetarian, first time caller. Thanks for this one! Not Meat -> neat… neatloaf, neatballs, etc. We have aleays called them that. I bet it would be good with some mushroom gravy. Maybe with rice instead of pasta? I also prefer veg food that looks and tastes, like you know veggies. Would love to know how you manage to get the close ups / or a tour of your studio. I assume you’re shooting - or is Chicken(?) the cat running the jib cam? Thanks again!

[@brucetidwell7715]

WAY too cute!

[@jandmvideos9051]

How about Veggie Bites? Thanks for the recipe!

[@BlackoutCreature]

If you're interested in more vegetarian meatball recipes, there's a KZbin channel I check out called Spain on a Fork. The guy on there has a bunch of vegetarian meatball recipes using things like beans (mostly chickpeas), lentils, artichokes, mushrooms, etc., and, for the pescatarians, canned tuna.

[@itzel1735]

This reminds me of the crockpot meatballs that were at every gathering in the late 1970’s, sauced with a simple combo of grape jelly and chili sauce.

[@erinmccreery9781]

These are still wildly popular at my work potlucks. I would rather have these vegetarian meat balls honestly.

[@deirdrelewis1454]

I’m not vegetarian but I love vegetables. I also follow Spain on a fork and I find Albert’s recipes really good. I tend to use beans instead of chickpeas which work just as well. I like that his recipes are simple and cook quickly. I’m going to make these!

[@midhudsonmarketing6484]

Magic Nut Balls, Meatless Nut Balls, Oat-Nut Balls, Oat-Nut-Bean Balls ? I am a vegetarian and these really piqued my interest, big time! Sounded delicious and gave me lots of ideas for blending ingredients. Thank you so much,Glen! You two seemed to really like these! - Marilyn

[@i_am_blur]

As someone who has been vegetarian for 30 years, one might think I'd have an answer to most of Glen's questions - but, we vegetarians are a diverse lot and there is precious little consensus amongst us. We often confuse each other (and sometimes ourselves). 😂 I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian who doesn't eat meat because the thought of eating an animal disturbs me. Others are vegetarian due to medical reasons, a quest for a healthy lifestyle, environmental concerns, etc. Some of us love "real" tasting meat alternatives (like Impossible, Gardein, Quorn, etc) while others abhor the taste of meat and therefore delight in veggie-packed, vegetable-tasting alternatives like Glen made today. As for myself, I think calling these vegetable/vegetarian/veggie "meatballs" is perfectly fine. And since I'm not vegetarian for health reasons, I'd often opt for a meat-like, Impossible brand meatball slathered in a sugary Kansas City BBQ Sauce - but I'd be equally delighted by Glen's recipe. My best advice for anyone who has a need/desire to please a vegetarian is to ask a lot of questions or ask us to prepare for ourselves. To know one is NOT to know all. 😂

[@KennitaJohnson]

Great recipe! I don’t eat meat and I want to say: Vegetarian and especially vegans, stop trying to ‘fool’ meat eaters with ‘It tastes just like meat.’ It doesn’t. No one is fooled. Why can’t it just taste good? Side note: the bean water that you poured off the beans could be used to make aquafaba to replace the egg.

[@GlenAndFriendsCooking]

But then my cat would be upset... He wants the bean water.

[@cherylrosbak4092]

I don't know, there's an older Moosewood tofu shepherd's pie recipe that a lot of meat-eaters my sister served it to thought was veal.

[@gailjordan9250]

Great tip on the bean water. I'm not vegetarian, but I live with food insecurity and am focused on creating a better diet with a bean and whole grain focus. I usually don't have eggs, so knowing the bean water substitute is wonderful.

[@gailjordan9250]

​@@GlenAndFriendsCookingMy cats love beans, too.

[@i_am_blur]

​@@GlenAndFriendsCookingChicken deserves it. ❤️

[@cherylrosbak4092]

Those sound excellent. You could call them polpette, which covers more than just meatballs in Italian.

[@monicabelli9172]

Yes! I am Italian, I came here to say the same! Polpette can be made of almost anything!!!

[@brucetidwell7715]

"White Bean Polpette"

[@gabriellew6467]

Great - something vegetarian, thank you, this is delightful. Glen's veg wonders.? So many possibilities to ring the changes - add chopped mushrooms, use chickpeas instead of beans, use other nuts - cashews, almonds etc. Flavour with curry, serve with sweet-sour sauce .....

[@simoncleret]

Thank you for mentioning the cross-contamination issue with oats! It's a lot like peanut allergies where it only takes a few parts per million to make someone seriously sick!

[@icedragonaftermath]

These look good, might try a gyro version and maybe also some with some extra mushroom in them. "Veggie balls" or "veggie bites" sound like good names, though I am very tempted to use the terms "vegetaballs", "shmeatballs", and "impossiballs" just for fun.

[@connieknox7992]

LOL !! Love your fun names for this recipe.

[@MazTheMeh16]

Shmeatballs might not describe them best, but it's definitely the funniest 😭

[@joantrotter3005]

My foster sister makes a cherry based barbecue sauce for her black bean walnut loaf, which would work for what I'm calling Italian falafel.

[@jptownley]

@joantrotter3005 🤤❤🍒

[@Erin_Wilson_Studios]

I can't wait to try these! I really appreciate that you used easy to find ingredients.

[@Tycrome]

Its been a while since you a vegetarian/ vegan/ plant based dishes! I am plant based for health reasons, have been for years, but I still watch all your videos because I love learning from Glen’s cooking skills. Very happy to see more stuff I can and really want to eat haha. I found this channel from the vegan stock video.

[@skim9251]

As a person who struggles with food allergies, and keeps kosher, THANK YOU for the effort you put into making tasty recipes to accommodate specialty diets. You are a gem, Glen! Blessings to you and Julie!

[@naturalfps]

You know the G&F video is gonna be extra good if Glen opens with an, "Umm".

[@mikea77]

Thank you for sharing this recipe/method, Glen. I’m thinking of using canned Chickpeas and using the aqua faba from the can as the egg replacement. I’m always looking dairy free and ovo-vegetarian recipes/methods, due yo having a dairy allergy. Thanks, again.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Always looking for a plant-based meatball. I've tried a few, but I'm still looking, so I'll try this next time!

[@wendygervais8526]

Looks great. Hubby very sensitive to red meat I was waiting for this morning post so ended up with a hot milk cake in the oven lolol Thanks for all your great videos

[@lazy_dad]

thanks for this glen! it's always good to have the odd no meat recipe in the arsenal. greets from hamilton!

[@RonOhio]

After a vacation in 2013 I developed a skin problem. It took 5 years to figure out that I had become sensitive to pork, milk, and beef. So now I make bison stew and hamburgers, use flax milk in my cornbread, evaporated goat's milk in my pumpkin pie, make my tacos, meatloaf, and sloppy joes with ground turkey, and top my pizza with goat cheese. Fortunately it isn't a severe allergy, if I mess up, it's just a few weeks of itching and an unsightly rash. It certainly teaches you to be flexible.

[@1One2Three5Eight13]

Where do you find evaporated goat's milk?? I need that, as someone else with problems with conventional cow's milk! (My mom always used soy milk in pumpkin pie, and just turned it double strength by mixing soy milk from soy flour, but using soy milk instead of water to do so. But outside of pumpkin pie, where the flavour really works well, that's going to taste funny.)

[@emeraldkitty2415]

@@1One2Three5Eight13 look up "Meyenberg goat milk powder'

[@christinadean6448]

I dont eat red meat anymore, and sometimes I want spaghetti and meatballs. This recipe sounds great!! Thanks for sharing.

[@RumblestripDotNet]

A gluten free substitute for soy/tamari is coconut aminos. In my wife’s research for the AIP diet she found this and I have to say it’s quite good.

[@dheisey1014]

Hey glen, as an omnivore in 2025 we’ve been cutting down on meat consumption. Stuff like this is gold in helping me reduce. Bc yeah I can go get some impossible, but a solid solution I can whip up is always good.

[@jacquespoulemer]

Hi Greg, Over the years I've done a lot of cooking for others and I always accomodate any dietary restrictions they may have. And if someone new pops up I can tell them what ingredients are in the dish that they cannot consume. I like adding veggies to most traditional dishes and find it a fun challenge to make things with substitutions. I have a lot of trouble with veggie meatballs and burgers mine always fall apart. Thanks for the new recipe Jacques Mexico

[@maurac953]

These sound like a great addition to a Mediterranean diet where you want more beans and want to reduce meat intake. I've always used oatmeal in my turkey meatball recipe and this sounds like it serves a similar purpose. Thanks, Glen, for sharing this recipe! I'll be making it this weekend.

[@charliemacioci488]

I think a little glob of Marmite might add another layer of flavor. Then you can call them Mar-Balls.

[@tjs114]

Since you used White Beans/Navy Beans, you could simply call them Sundal Kofta since Kofta is basically Persian for pounded meat; but is known in most of the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent and SE Asia as a meatball; but in India and Pakistan it isn't uncommon for a vegetarian version to be made with simple qualifiers of what was used instead of meat- like Dal Aloo Kofta which is a lentil/pea and potato 'ball'. Navy beans are generically called Sundal, so Sundal Kofta. If you wanted to get more detailed it could be Sundal Akharot (walnut) Jaee (oats) Kofta.

[@asdisskagen6487]

Glen, the aquafaba (liquid in the chickpeas) can also be used as a substitute for egg in your meatballs. That is a common vegan replacement for eggs in baking.

[@GlenAndFriendsCooking]

My Cat has first dibs on the bean liquid, I don't get any.

[@cullumkille2372]

Thanks for the great videos!

[@1951kvk]

I make veggie meatballs from lentils and freeze them. Handy to have.

[@awesomesauce7535]

This would also be great when you want spaghetti and meatballs but don't have any meat on hand. Some one said veggie bites. That sounds pretty good. Better than what I was thinking of which was "mock meatballs "

[@ninabarlevypsy.d.6071]

Wondering if this would also work as a "meatloaf"?

[@shelleycoopersmith855]

I think I've seen "neatballs" elsewhere, a fun name for these. . Welcome to my wheelhouse, Glen; this recipe looks excellent!

[@timwauman]

Bohnenkugel. It is one way to say bean ball in German. Bohnenkugel.

[@Karenpayne47]

Love this.

[@Angie_P]

I vote for veggie balls. In Polish cuisine they use barley in a lot of their dishes that might be a good candidate to play with. Mushrooms could go well as a combination. Also lentils might be a good candidate.

[@truepeacenik]

For my fellow egg avoiders, the bean water from the can will bind (aquafaba!) as eggs do! Thank you, Glen, for an option that I don’t have to make so many adaptations. And I was looking for a kofta/protein ball option for an upcoming flight, so your timing is impeccable. Do enough of these and they will be in your expanded wheelhouse!

[@anna9072]

I was going to say something about that, but you beat me to it!

[@aedinius]

"I have one dietary restriction and I ignore it." Same.

[@jptownley]

That sent me. 😂

[@ellezee4017]

Loved this comment!!! It does intrigue me though. Ha!

[@jjudy5869]

I don't exactly ignore my dietary restriction, but I judically add that ingredient when no other will due.

[@GoingGreenMom]

​@@ellezee4017lol, ikr! I want to know what he is sensitive to.

[@simoncleret]

​@@GoingGreenMom probably lactose.

[@remjoleea5560]

I appreciate you not making any huge sweeping claims about dietary restrictions. I’m allergic to coconut which is one of the main ingredients that’s used to replace milk in almost any highly dietary restriction safe recipe you’ll find and it always bums me out to hear. It’s a way more niche one, but everyone has their own things they need / choose to avoid! Impossible to accommodate everyone unfortunately :/ + these look great!

[@seanlavoie2]

How about . . . Protein Rounds? Looks like a great recipe. I think it’s interesting to see what people can come up with that might make great food for everyone

[@Mark_Nadams]

Banzoat Balls that would be what I would call them garBANZO+OAT. Nice simple tom sauce. I love basil.

[@maggiep3263]

About 20 yrs ago, Gourmet magazine had a recipe for pecan stuffed mushrooms. I used to bring them for potlucks and people used to swear they contained meat. They weren't vegan but lacto vegetarian because it used butter and heavy cream.

[@tahliae]

Tried this with chickpeas since that’s what I had and added a dash of liquid smoke. Came out somewhere between a falafel and a meatball. Love it!

[@LadyMaltese]

I'm more of a "flexitarian" but am always happy to try a vegetarian dish. This looks delicious. Requesting the curry sauce recipe!!

[@happydaylike4342]

I make Walnut taco filling. Grind up the walnuts soy sause and seasoning garlic and onion. Pkace in a okane to heat add water if necessary. Put in corn tortillas with all the fixings. This would make a great meatloaf. I have a similar recipe by lisa Robertson ex QVC host and really good

[@NRajah]

Great recipe as long as you are not allergic to nuts.

[@lancegentle6430]

Good for you Glen! You're more accommodating than me. We've tried the popular meatless alternatives. Being a grilling/smoking meat person, the difference is immediately noticeable. No meatless products in our house.

[@bitslammer]

I like having recipes like this as an option as they often require no, or fewer, refrigerated items and can be made from pantry staples. I'd actually try and replace the egg just for that aspect.

[@CarinaHilbert]

These would also work with canned chickpeas. I used to make something similar when I was vegetarian ages ago for health reasons. For tree nut allergies, just leave the walnuts out, and bump up the oats and beans, maybe adding a tiny bit of oil.

[@jellyosbahr]

Made these yesterday. Utterly delicious! Used sage and rosemary as I have that coriander/cilantro soap glitch. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for a this new recipe. I’m a life long vegetarian and I really don’t like things to have a meaty texture, and these don’t.

[@jjudy5869]

Name suggestion: bean nuggets or a type of baked falafel. My logic: it doesn't have 'meat' in it, so it can't be a 'meatball'. With English walnuts in it, would it be a variation on the vegan/vegetarian nut loaf?

[@dinkburns6883]

I am 70 - opted not to have gall bladder removed (stones) and went vegetarian. That was 7 years ago. Worked for me. I will make these

[@lizsteilkie]

Thanks for learning more to teach us more I'm gf and appreciate you.

[@Rachel-rv8db]

I *love* the name "beanballs." It's so fun. Better than balls made with fish, that are called "fishballs." That's the one that disturbs me. But "beanballs" is really fun. Would love an update on how they went over at the potluck.

[@swc2019]

Beanballs sounds perfect!

[@creative-measure]

Another great video. I have only done with paneer now I have more options.

[@nickhastapee]

was waiting for someone to say bean balls, thank you Glen lmao

[@dineshreenaidoo5386]

This looks so delicious - I prefer meat alternatives due to the rising price of meat

[@llchapman1234]

It's nice to have non-meat options for a potluck. Thanks for branching out and experimenting.

[@valerieschluger]

Thank you 😊

[@HappyCat3096]

The local diner makes a veggie patty that includes oats and mushrooms. The mushrooms give it a wonderful umami flavor and texture. Better than a hamburger.

[@erinuber2881]

These look great! How about Unmeatballs for a name? Thanks for the great video!

[@jajwarehouse1]

With a little change in the spices and addition of some liquid smoke, and this is very similar to what I do for vegan sausage patties.

[@MooMoo-fw3kh]

Ooh nice surprise Glenn I didn't think you would put a vegetarian meat recipe since I know you are a big lover of the carnivore items

[@lellab.8179]

I always struggle when I have to talk in English about meatless "meatballs" as I don't know how else to call them. In Italian we simply call them (both with meat or without) "polpette" and the name has nothing to do with the ingredients. We have A LOT of meatless "polpette".

[@markstyles1246]

I guess we could consider a new word... but I have trouble thinking foodballs would catch on :-) .

[@simoncleret]

In French we call them "boulettes", meaning "small ball" (Yes, it's where the English word bullet is from).

[@SamClemens-id3cl]

As someone with many vegan-ish friends....this has what it take, good bones. No two of my friends has the same dietary preferences, but this seems easy to adapt & yummy.

[@joannesteven3553]

You could call them “neatballs” a la Laurel’s Kitchen which was a very popular vegetarian ‘bible’ of sorts, back in the ‘70s. Their recipe contained bulgar wheat or rice, a soy spread, cottage or grated Swiss cheese, bread crumbs and soy sauce. They were prepared and served just as you have done.

[@S.A.K-c6d]

I have a recipe for breadballs somewhere: water, egg, seasoning, Parmesan and Italian bread in small pieces/large crumbs. The ingredients were mixed well, formed into balls, then fried until well-browned. Then they could be simmered in a simple sauce like yours.

[@Crytical8494]

Thanks for this! I have some vegan friends that I enjoy trying to accommodate at our parties. Going to try this one (minus egg) for Super Bowl. I do notice in a lot of the recipes they make, they include mushrooms for a more “meaty” texture. It might be a good add in to this dish.

[@judithnaylor5671]

For my family, I prepare halal, gluten free, low fodmap, vegetarian, shellfish free and nut free. These thread that needle nicely! Thanks!

[@Your.Uncle.AngMoh]

YUMMO! you could fry off some curry powder in the pan with the onion that goes into the unmeatballs.

[@DurradonXylles]

Best name for them imho is "meatless meatball". It still sounds a bit weird, but at least it gets the point across as to what expect out of the dish. I think the best thing to do is embrace the "alternative" nature out of it, especially since you're not going to fool anyone with it.

[@kaizma88]

This gives me big ideas: add some chopped green pepper, mushrooms and shredded carrot to the onion and garlic mixture for added flavor. Maybe try lentils instead of beans, maybe the red ones...

[@Behold_I_am_Egg]

Whenever I make my own version of a veggie beany ball concoction like that, I refer to them as meatless balls. 😂 I like to add mashed beetroot into mine, so that they get a nice pinky color, and I enjoy the earthy flavor that they impart. :) I usually add some sort of vegetarian bullion and nutritional yeast and mushroom seasoning too, to make them extra savory. 😁 I like the more mustardy BBQ sauce/grape jelly-ish sauce for my meatless balls, but I think that's just because it was popular at the church potlucks I attended as a child. 😅 I love that sweet/tangy/smoky flavor combo! If you served them with a sweet sauce, you could call them sweetish meatish balls. 😂

[@Sine-gl9ly]

Been an ovo-lacto vegetarian for many years now, so thanks for this recipe; I'd use red lentils - one of the fastest-cooking pulses there is - rather than a can of besns. What would you serve this with? Pasta? Rice?

[@cathpeterson1944]

thats a yummy vegetarian version of meatballs

[@curtk8715]

reminds me of Amys frozen dinner that I think was called chicken fried steak. Wasn't a vegetarian but I did like that. This reminds me of that. reminds me of Falafel. Like the nuts idea- wondering if you added a little ground up mushroom into the meatball might be good. How about a Thai peanut sauce version?

[@annies2416]

Interesting recipe but I’d definitely make people aware there are nuts in them for those who are allergic. It’s not a food you normally expect them in. Loved Glen’s happiness with the taste.

[@RobotPorter]

They're really like a variation on falafel. So, in future you might try them with some middle eastern toppings. Or serve them both ways.

[@CapnBubbaa]

simple sauce= grape Jelly & Ketchup start out 50-50 and tweak ingredients ( jelly/ ketchup balance) to develop a taste like BBQ sauce.. works great with meatballs & Lil Smoky/sausage links.. great toothpick food

[@brendathorpe6179]

Classic yummy sauce!

[@t.c.2776]

MockBalls... LOL... Julie has a "tell" when she really likes something... she bobs her head "YES", like Glen does... it's cute when they both like something = Happy Dance... 😁

[@HitmanFortySeven1]

I'd call them "veggie balls" or "plant balls (veggie)" This gives me enough information. No matter what people believe how they view their own dietary restrictions; if you label them as "vegetarian" then everyone should be aware that it may contain, dairy and/or eggs (so not vegan).

[@Karenpayne47]

These sound great! Unfortunately walnuts are very expensive where I live…I see there is a substantial amount in the recipe. What could I substitute successfully?

[@junkman1561]

Thanks for the recipe! Been a vegetarian for over 30 years and though I have a homemade recipe for steak, never tried meatballs. Now I will try this. My understanding is a vegetarian will eat eggs, cheese, and milk, but a vegan does not. Or so that is how I look at it.

[@nancylindsay4255]

Beanballs! Glen finally came to it!

[@joeyhardin1288]

Thank you. Chick-pea canning water can be substituted for eggs.

[@scpvrr]

I like that you presented a meat substitute that isn’t laboratory developed.

[@amandahaynes2194]

I thought these would be a home friendly version of malai kofta, but I sort of partial to calling them beanballs now! They look great.

[@heideleskun1163]

Call them "veggie"balls. You can also use the powdered egg replacement that states Vegan. I've done that for egg allergies that works for vegan as well as my sister in love used unsweetened plain applesauce because her daughter was allergic to uncooked eggs in baking as well as cooked eggs. I was allergic to just cooked eggs.