These baked vegan lentil meatballs are tossed in a simple tomato sauce to create this delicious and comforting plant-based meal.
These meat-free lentil balls are healthy, oil-free, packed with protein, and easy to make. They are perfect for lunch or dinner. Enjoy them over mashed potatoes or cooked rice.
These vegan lentil meatballs are so hearty, satisfying and they have the meaty mouthfeel that meatballs should have! And are packed with healthy plant protein.
The recipe is plant-based (no eggs, dairy-free). This is one nutrient-dense meal prepared with only whole food ingredients and no oil.
And all that goodness is ready in just 30 mins!
Post Contents
Rich in Taste and Nutrition
The beauty of making tasty whole food, plant-based meals is that they are by definition superbly nutritious and slimming.
Those lentils and oats, they taste great but are also super-rich in fiber. And fiber keeps us full, it helps maintain a healthy gut microflora, slows the absorption of calories, plays a central role in the body detox processes, to say the least.
And together with the fiber come those healthy, complex carbs that are slow to digest, they provide clean-burning energy for longer. All-in-all, the perfect fuel for us.
Lentils are also protein-packed, rich in resistant starch and iron.
And don’t underestimate the tomato sauce. Cooked tomatoes are super-rich in the powerful antioxidant lycopene that cleanses the body so well!
Oats and lentils make a great nutritional base but all those aromatic herbs that make this dish taste so great… they are also nutritional powerhouses, containing so many antioxidants and immune-boosting phytonutrients. They make this meal nutritiously tasty!
To keep all the bases covered, I always add some ground flax seeds to make sure you get enough of those Omega-3 fats that fight inflammation and keep the brain healthy. Flax seeds also contain lignans, which much like the organosulfurs in garlic, boost the immune system.
How to make these Vegan Lentil Meatballs in Tomato Sauce?
This vegan meatballs recipe is simple, made with just a few staple ingredients. It requires only several simple steps.
Step 1: You need to cook the lentils. Place them in a pot with boiling water and cook for 15 mins. Don’t overcook them. Once they are ready, drain them.
Step 2: Put the onion in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the drained lentils, oats, and seasoning in the processor as well and pulse several times. I love to leave a little texture, so don’t puree them completely.
Step 3: Using your hands shape the mixture into balls and place them on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 12 mins.
Step 4: Meanwhile, prepare the tomato sauce. Put the chopped onion, garlic, and oregano in a pot with 2-3 tablespoons of water. Cook for 2 mins. Then, add the tomato sauce and the other ingredients. Let simmer until it thickens.
Step 5: Place the lentil meatballs into the sauce and serve them right away!
Another serving suggestion is to serve them over mashed potatoes or cooked rice.
Enjoy!
For the full recipe, measurements, and instructions please find the recipe card below.
Useful Tips
- If you are gluten-free, make these lentil meatballs using certified gluten-free oats.
- For the sauce, you can also use fresh tomatoes. Just chop or puree them and cook for longer until the sauce thickens enough.
- Store any leftover meatballs and sauce in the refrigerator separately or the balls will become mushy.
- I used brown lentils, however, red, yellow, or green lentils are also fine.
How to serve these Vegan Lentil Meatballs?
While these meat-free lentil meatballs bake, prepare this simple tomato sauce. You can serve them with almost everything like mashed potatoes, cooked rice, or quinoa.
You can also toss these healthy Lentil Meatballs in this creamy Quick Universal Cashew Sauce for a richer taste.
These Vegan Meatballs with Tomato Sauce are:
- Plant-based
- Whole food
- Oil-free
- Meat-free
- Plant protein-rich
- Hearty
- Flavorful
- Healthy
- Easy to make
- Perfect for a healthy lunch, dinner, meal prep.
For more whole food meatballs ideas, check the plant-based recipes below:
- Soft and Chewy White Bean Nuggets
- Sweet Potato Quinoa Burger Patties
- Easy & Healthy Spicy Cajun Balls
- Oriental Whole Wheat Nuggets
- Oats & Nuts Vegan Balls
If you give these Lentil Meatballs with Tomato Sauce a try, I’d love a comment and recipe rating below. Make sure to share a photo with us on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @wellnessdove. I would love to see your remakes!
Healthy Lentil Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
Lentil Meatballs
- 1 ¼ cup (230 g) lentils, dry
- ⅔ cup (70 g) quick oats
- 1 large onion
- ½ tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp turmeric
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Tomato Sauce
- 2 cups (480 ml) tomato sauce
- ½ onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed
- ½ tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
- ½ tsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Place the lentils in a pot with plenty of water and boil for 15 mins. (Try not to overcook it.)
- Preheat the oven to 400°F ( 200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Put the onion in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Then, add the drained cooked lentils, oats, and seasoning. Blend just for several mins until combined, but not pureed. I love to leave a little texture. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. The mixture should be soft but not very sticky.
- Shape the mixture into balls with your hands and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12 mins.
- Meanwhile, prepare the tomato sauce. Put the chopped onion, garlic, and oregano in a pot with 2-3 tablespoons of water. Cook for 2 mins.
- Then, add the tomato sauce and the other ingredients. Let simmer for 5-10 mins until it thickens.
- Place the lentil meatballs into the sauce and serve them right away. You can also enjoy them over mashed potatoes or cooked rice.
Notes
- You can add 2-3 tablespoons of water to the food processor to chop the lentil mixture easier.
- For the sauce, you can also use fresh tomatoes. Just chop or puree them and cook for longer until the sauce thickens enough.
- To make these lentil meatballs gluten-free, use certified gluten-free oats.
- Store any leftover meatballs and sauce in the refrigerator separately or the balls will become mushy.
They are quite easy to make. In the version with mashed potatoes, however, it becomes a little dry – you need a fresh salad!
Thanks Veni!
They are quite easy to make. In the version with mashed potatoes, however, it becomes a little dry – you need a fresh salad! Thanks Veni!