Dairy-Free and Egg-Free Meatballs Recipe

This dairy free and egg free meatball recipe comes together with ground beef, finely chopped onion, and Italian seasoning. They're juicy, flavorful, and versatile! No milk, no cheese, no egg, no breadcrumbs.

Dairy-free and egg-free meatballs are a quick and easy delicious homemade meal. Both kid-friendly and husband-approved, you'll never buy meatballs from the store again. These allergy-friendly baked meatballs are sure to please everybody at the table.

If you love these homemade meatballs as much as we do, you definitely need to try my dairy free and egg free swedish meatballs and meatballs with rice!

Best Dairy Free and Egg Free Meatballs

Weeknight dinners don't have to be boring, time-consuming, or stressful. These allergy-friendly meatballs will please everybody in the family and are perfect for making ahead and freezing.

Years ago, I learned the hard way that most store-bought meatballs contain both dairy and egg, along with other non-allergy-friendly ingredients. Rather than giving up on meatball dinners, I made baked meatballs at home and simply left out the egg and cheese. To our surprise, they stayed together exceptionally well, stayed juicy, and tasted delicious!

Ingredient notes

Traditional meatballs use eggs as the binding agent. I've discovered a simple trick to making perfect eggless meatballs without even using an egg substitute!

• Ground beef: I recommend using a blend of 80% lean/20% fat ground beef. The fat adds flavor and moisture as it cooks.
• Onion: Very finely chopped or grated onion is the key to making juicy meatballs. Grating the onion with a box grater or using a food processor with the grating attachment allows the onion to release moisture. This gives the meatballs a tender texture with extra flavor.
• Worcestershire sauce: This optional ingredient adds a savory, tangy, and salty flavor to the meatballs mixture. Here is the worcestershire sauce I use. If gluten-free, make sure to use a GF worcestershire sauce or omit.
• Seasoning: I like to keep things simple with a mix of Italian seasoning made up of oregano, basil, thyme, parsley, and rosemary. Sometimes I'll also use garlic powder in place of fresh garlic or leave garlic out entirely. Just make sure to season with salt and black pepper to enhance all the other flavors.

I've got a handful of delicious dairy free and egg free ground beef recipes! A few reader favorites are deconstructed stuffed peppers, dairy free and egg free lasagna, dairy free sloppy joes, and meaty bolognese.

How to Make Dairy Free Meatballs

Over the years, this 30-minute eggless meatball recipe has become our go-to for easy weeknight meals. They're perfect over any pasta or zucchini noodles! In addition to spaghetti and meatballs, try them stuffed in meatball subs, sliced up on pizza or in calzones, or in soup.

To make these meatballs, simply mix together ground beef, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, and italian seasoning together in a large bowl. Once well combined, roll into equal-sized balls and place on a prepared baking sheet.

Bake for about 15 minutes then serve as an appetizer, over pasta of choice, or let cool completely then place in freezer for meal prepping.

Cooking tips

• Don't skip grating or finely chopping the onion, it makes a huge difference in the overall texture of the cooked meatball.
• Be mindful not to over-mix the meat mixture, this will ensure light meatballs that aren't tough and dense.
• Use a cookie scoop when forming the meatballs to keep them all the same size.
• For super fast and easy cleanup, line the baking sheet with parchment paper or foil coated with cooking spray.
• To make sure you don't overcook (or undercook) the meatballs, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. You're looking for 160°F!
• These meatballs freeze incredibly well so go ahead and make a double batch, your future self will thank you.

Allergy-Friendly Meatballs FAQ

Can I make meatballs without eggs, really? YES! I bet you won't even notice the difference. They're just as juicy and flavorful!

What should I serve as a side to my spaghetti and dairy free meatballs? Try my quick and easy bruschetta for an appetizer and crispy baked zucchini and squash on the side.

Can I use an egg replacer? You can, but you really don't have to (: I always recommend Bob's Red Mill egg replacer or a flax egg.

Is there a dairy free substitute for parmesan cheese? I really enjoy sprinkling Bragg Premium Nutritional Yeast Seasoning on dishes to give it a nutty cheesy flavor. Or try my homemade dairy-free parmesan!

Want more recommendations? Join my Dairy-Free & Egg-Free Recipes Facebook Group!

Can I make them in a non-stick pan instead of baking them? Sure! Instead of transferring the uncooked meatballs to a baking sheet, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook meatballs until golden and cooked through, flipping at least once. Depending on the size of your pan, you may have to work in batches.

How do I store meatballs? Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days.

How do I freeze meatballs? Once meatballs are cooled completely, transfer them to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Related recipes

Want more easy recipes? Check these out next:

• Dairy-Free & Egg-Free Cottage Pie, also known as shepherds pie, is comforting and great all year round. Flavorful meat, tender vegetables, and fluffy dairy free mashed potatoes... Sign me up!
• Dairy-Free and Egg-Free Biscuits and Sausage Gravy is the ultimate breakfast for dinner situation! It's made from scratch so you know it's full of love.
• Instant Pot Tamales are the only way I'll make tamales. Fill them with whatever your heart desires, cook for about 30 minutes, then enjoy.
• French Bread Pizza is nostalgic and fun for the whole family! Customize with your favorite toppings or what you have on hand. Cook in the oven or air fryer!
• Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free Spaghetti Squash Pizza Casserole is another family favorite! Roasted spaghetti squash tossed with marinara sauce and your favorite toppings, what more could you want?
• Dairy-Free Beef Stroganoff is filling and great for a weeknight meal! Enjoy over your favorite pasta noodles for a hearty meal.
• Dairy-Free Tater Tot Casserole is so easy to make ahead and enjoy throughout the week. It's ready in under an hour and always hits the spot.
• Dairy-Free Hamburger Helper is a homemade version of the comfort food classic. It's cooked in one pot and takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Dairy-Free and Egg-Free Meatballs Recipe

I hope you add my dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, paleo, and whole30-approved meatball recipe to your weekly dinner rotation. They bake up perfectly and freeze well for meal planning. If you try this recipe, please share a photo with me over on Instagram♡

Dairy-Free & Egg-Free Meatballs

Author: Jenna Urben

Dairy-Free and Egg-Free Meatballs are a quick and easy delicious homemade meal. Both kid-friendly and husband-approved, you'll never buy storebought meatballs again. These allergy-friendly baked meatballs are sure to please everybody at the table.

4.77 from 78 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Servings 12 meatballs

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 pound ground beef
• ½ small onion grated or finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce optional
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400 F.
• Mix everything together in a large bowl.
• Roll the seasoned meat into small round balls and place onto a prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cooked.
• Once cooked, remove from oven and enjoy!

Notes

Serve meatballs over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, in a sub, or with your favorite sauce!

Store meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop in your favorite sauce.

To freeze, let meatballs come to room temperature then store in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

The provided nutritional information is an estimate per meatball.

Nutrition

Calories: 99kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 7gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 226mgPotassium: 119mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 8IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment below and tag @theurbenlife on social!

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