Celebrate National Meatball Day With These 14 Healthy(ish) Meatball Recipes
While you'll see some meaty recipes here, you'll also find plenty that are meat-free and thus perfect for anyone practicing animal-food abstinence. Experimenting with different sauces, meats, and even bread types will allow you to make any of the following recipes fit into your nutritional plan.
Beanballs With Marinara Sauce
This dish delivers the comforting, classic flavors of traditional Italian meatballs, while replacing meat with kidney beans for protein.
Beef Meatballs With Roasted Garlic Tomato Sauce
"The key to these meatballs is their simplicity," says Picnic LA executive chef Alex Resnick. "Use only the highest quality ingredients to let their flavors shine." These meatballs utilize grass-fed beef which is undoubtedly a high quality ingredient.
Click here for the Beef Meatballs With Roasted Garlic Tomato Sauce recipe.
Buca di Beppo’s Famous Meatball Recipe
This meatball recipe is about as traditional as it gets. Protein-rich ground chuck and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese will leave you feeling full and satisfied after enjoying this dish.
Caprese Meatballs
These light, simple Caprese Meatballs are a perfect appetizer or snack for any and all upcoming spring and summer occasions.
Garlic Dill Meatballs
Meat-lovers unite: These Garlic Dill Meatballs are simple to make and consist of two protein sources. With both chicken and pork, these could possibly be renamed "vegans' bane."
Click here for the Garlic Dill Meatballs recipe from Atkins.
Meatball Bites With 3 Dipping Sauces
You may be hesitant to try a breaded meatball with dipping sauces yourself, but we assure you that these will be a hit with your children. Try healthier sauces if these ones don't fit into your dietary plan.
Click here for the Meatball Bites With 3 Dipping Sauces recipe.
Meatball Street Tacos
These Meatball Street Tacos incorporate turkey, which is a great source of lean protein, making this dish both filling and healthy.
Meatball Vegetable Soup
This recipe is for a quick and easy soup that is made in less than 30 minutes with help from a few frozen ingredients. With vegetables and beans in the mix, you'll be getting many nutritionally sound foods in by eating a bowl of Meatball Vegetable Soup.
Mexican Tofu Meatballs With Mango Sauce
If you're looking for healthy meatballs without the meat, look no further than these Mexican Tofu Meatballs With Mango Sauce.
Click here for the Mexican Tofu Meatballs With Mango Sauce recipe.
One Pot Meatball Orzo & Broccoli Rabe Casserole
This casserole benefits from the inclusion of broccoli rabe, one of the healthiest leafy green vegetables out there. Don't be afraid to cut back on the called-for heavier ingredients to lighten this one up.
Click here for the One Pot Meatball Orzo & Broccoli Rabe Casserole recipe.
Quorn Meatless Meatballs With Spicy Couscous
The taste of North Africa comes to life in this meat-free, low-fat dish. The combination of meat-free meatballs and spicy couscous is enough to bring any dinner party to life in a healthy way.
Click here for the Quorn Meatless Meatballs With Spicy Couscous recipe.
Tuna Pops!
These Tuna Pops! are fish meatballs on a stick. Sound gross? Trust us: They're not, and they benefit from protein-rich tuna. Nix the cheese to make them more healthy and less healthy(ish).
Vegetarian Italian Meatballs
Tired of not being able to enjoy meatballs with your pasta because you don't eat meat? Look to these meat-free meatballs as a healthy alternative.
The Vitamin Shoppe Mighty Mini Meatballs With Oats
Oats, spinach, and grass-fed beef are combined to make these some of the healthiest meatballs out there.
Click here for The Vitamin Shoppe's Mighty Mini Meatballs With Oats recipe.