Eggplant Meatballs

Eggplant Meatballs

“meatballs” for Meat-Free Monday

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 20m
Cook Time: 45m
Total Time: 1h 05m
Temp.: 375 °F
Servings: 6
Difficulty: Easy
4.9 (17 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For the meatballs

For the sauce:

Nutritional Information

337
Calories
11g
Fat
31mg
Cholesterol
722mg
Sodium
52g
Carbohydrate
13g
Protein
Eggplant Meatballs

Recipe Description

This Eggplant Meatballs recipe is one of my favorite meatless meals to make. I often think that eggplant has a slightly meaty texture anyway, so that got me thinking that it could be a good alternative to beef or pork when making spaghetti and meatballs.

To make these “meatballs”, start by cooking and cooling eggplant. Make the meatball recipe by mixing cooled eggplant with breadcrumbs, flour, Pecorino and Parmesan cheeses, an egg, basil, parsley, garlic and salt. Freeze for 10 minutes to solidify the mixture. Shape into meatballs and bake in the oven. As the balls bake, make a tomato sauce. Heat the meatballs in the sauce before serving. Do not leave them in the sauce for too long or they will fall apart. Serve with spaghetti.

To make the Eggplant Meatballs, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Eggplant Meatballs

Recipe Features

No specific features for this recipe

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Cook eggplant

    20 min
    Step 1 - Eggplant MeatballsStep 1 - Eggplant Meatballs

    Place one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet and add the chopped eggplant. Stir the contents of the pan around to coat the eggplant with oil. Add a splash of water and a pinch of salt. Stir well and cover. Simmer and stir occasionally for about 20 minutes until the eggplant is very soft. Transfer to a shallow bowl and leave to cool.

  2. 2

    Make meatball mixture

    10 min
    Step 2 - Eggplant MeatballsStep 2 - Eggplant Meatballs

    Once the eggplant has cooled, place it in a large bowl with 1 cup of Italian seasoned bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, ¼ cup of grated Pecorino, ⅓ cup of freshly grated Parmesan, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons each of chopped basil and parsley, 3 minced cloves of garlic, and a pinch of salt. Mix well. Cover the bowl and place it in the freezer for 10 minutes.

  3. 3

    Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet

    1 min
    Step 3 - Eggplant Meatballs

    Heat oven to 375 °F and grease a baking sheet with oil and line with parchment paper.

  4. 4

    Shape “meatballs”

    10 min
    Step 4 - Eggplant Meatballs

    Fill a bowl with water and use it to wet your hands as you roll the "meatballs". Brush the eggplant balls with a little olive oil and place them on the baking sheet.

  5. 5

    Cook “meatballs”

    20 min
    Step 5 - Eggplant Meatballs

    Place the meatballs in the oven and cook for 20 minutes.

  6. 6

    Prepare sauce

    20 min
    Step 6 - Eggplant MeatballsStep 6 - Eggplant Meatballs

    Place 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 4 smashed cloves of garlic in a large nonstick skillet. Sizzle for one minute, before adding the tomatoes with a splash of water. Add the basil, oregano, and a generous pinch of salt and bring it to a simmer for 20 minutes.

  7. 7

    Add “meatballs” to sauce

    5 min
    Step 7 - Eggplant MeatballsStep 7 - Eggplant Meatballs

    Add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer for about 4-5 more minutes. Do not cook for more than 5 minutes or they will fall apart in the sauce.

  8. 8

    Serve

    1 min
    Step 8 - Eggplant Meatballs

    Serve with spaghetti, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

These Eggplant Meatballs are such a delicious alternative to meaty meatballs. If you try this dish, please come back to leave a review below with your thoughts!

About the author

Jeff O'connor

Jeff is a 38-year-old bachelor who prefers not to waste his time on salads and light meals. He’s a true carnivore who knows how to enjoy food to the max! Jeff will tell you how to cook rich and filling meals from scratch, bringing some real meaty decadence to your kitchen. His recipes are sure to satisfy every meat lover!

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5 (17 reviews)
Vanessa
May 2, 2025
Verified

Superb meatless option!

Olive
February 25, 2025
Verified

So tasty, wow!

Nina
January 27, 2025
Verified

Tasty and fun!

Mimi
November 29, 2024
Verified

Deliciosos. Hice estas albóndigas de berenjena para una cena familiar y todos disfrutaron. La textura es tan buena y fácil de hacer. Mis hijos nunca supieron que eran vegetarianas. Definitivamente las haré de nuevo.

Unique
August 18, 2024
Verified

Superb! Simply delicious!

Jessie
July 7, 2024
Verified

OMG, these eggplant meatballs are a game changer! I made em for my friends and they couldn’t believe they were meatless. The texture is so on point! I usually struggle with cooking, but this recipe was super easy and totally impressed everyone. Can’t wait to make it again for my next dinner party.

Harrison Blake
June 12, 2024
Verified

Tried these meatballs last Sunday. Super easy and delish.

Katherine Smith
January 15, 2024
Verified

I tried the eggplant meatballs yesterday and they were simply great. I didn’t expect eggplant to taste so meaty. My husband loved them with spaghetti; they made for a delightful dinner. Will definitely make these again soon.

Leo
December 11, 2023
Verified

I tried the Eggplant Meatballs for a dinner party, and they were a hit. I love how eggplant can be so versatile. I prepared them earlier in the day and just heated them up with the sauce later. So easy and so yummy. Definitely making these again.

Benito
October 21, 2023
Verified

Increíble

Yasmin
May 5, 2023
Verified

I tried the Eggplant Meatballs for a family dinner and everyone loved them. The texture is superb, and they are very simple to make. Much better than I expected for a meatless meal.

Hélène
December 27, 2022
Verified

Simply great recipe

Jessica Turner
March 7, 2022
Verified

OMG, these Eggplant Meatballs are a game changer! I whipped them up for my fam last night, and they thought they were eating the real deal! So easy and delish. Eggplant repppresennttt! 🤩🍝

Maggie
July 20, 2021
Verified

Delicious! I made these eggplant meatballs for a family dinner, and everyone loved them. My kids couldn’t believe they were eating eggplant! It was a fun way to sneak in veggies. I will definitely make them again, maybe next week!

Gina
June 17, 2021
Verified

I tried these Eggplant Meatballs last weekend. I was hosting a small dinner for friends, and they were a hit. I love how the eggplant mimics meat textures, and it felt good to have a meatless option. They paired perfectly with my homemade tomato sauce. Definitely making these again soon.

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