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Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

Vegan TVP Meatballs

Published: Apr 15, 2022 · Modified: Mar 8, 2023 by Bianca · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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Vegan TVP Meatballs
Vegan TVP Meatballs with Spaghetti

These high-protein vegan Meatballs are made with TVP (short for Textured Vegetable Protein, also known as soy protein or soy granule). They are flavorful, easy to make, and freezer-friendly!

Vegan TVP Meatballs with Spaghetti

May I present to you, the best vegan meatballs! They are high in protein, super flavorful, quick & easy to make, and freezer-friendly. They are perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or with creamy gravy.

Most vegan meatball recipes use beans (often kidney beans), which results in almost creamy, doughy, 'are-these-baked-enough?'-meatballs. This isn't the case with these TVP meatballs. The texture is spot on.

What is TVP?

TVP stands for Textured Vegetable Protein, often also called soy meat, soya chunks/granule/slices. It is made out of defatted soy flour, which is extruded into shapes (such as granules, flakes, chunks, slices, strips, nuggets,…).

For these vegan meatballs, we are using the smallest kind: granules.

I love TVP because

  • it can be stored at room-temperature – like forever,
  • it is high in protein, low in fat,
  • it is inexpensive,
  • it expands when cooked, so it doesn’t need much space in the pantry
  • and it’s versatile!
soy granule
soy granule

Soy Granule is the KEY INGREDIENT in these meatballs. It's very easy to work with. First, we're re-hydrating the granule with water (and lots of spices, herbs, soy sauce, and liquid smoke to make it tasty). Then we can use it just like ground meat.

TVP (soy protein, soy granule) is gluten-free, so you can make these meatballs gluten-free by using gluten-free breadcrumbs or oat flour as the binding ingredient.

Vegan TVP Meatballs in tomato sauce
Vegan Meatballs in tomato sauce (simply made with diced tomatoes, salt, and dried oregano and basil).
Vegan TVP Meatballs in bowl
inside of Vegan TVP Meatballs
These vegan meatballs are crispy on the outside, and moist on the inside. Just perfect!

How to make Vegan TVP Meatballs

You can find the whole recipe below in the box, but I want to share with you the ingredients and basic steps first to give you an overview!

The ingredients

You will need:

  • soy granule / TVP
  • yellow onion
  • garlic cloves
  • bread crumbs
  • fresh parsley
  • spices: sweet paprika, smoked paprika, dried thyme, salt, soy sauce, liquid smoke - don't worry if you're missing an item or two, you can play around with the spices.

The basic steps

hydrated soy granule in pan
Step 1: To rehydrate the soy granule, add it to a pan. Add water and spices (soy sauce, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, salt, liquid smoke, thyme). Give it a good mix. Cook it over medium to low heat until it has soaked up all the liquid. Then transfer it into a bowl.
onion, garlic and parsley in a pan
Step 2: Cook the chopped onion and minced garlic until translucent. Add chopped parsley. Then add it to the bowl with the soy granule.
soy granule, onion, garlic, parsley, breadcrumbs in bowl
Step 3: Add bread crumbs.
shaping TVP meatballs
Step 4: Let it cool off a bit until it's cold enough to handle. Then shape meatballs. For equally sized meatballs, use an ice cream scoop.
TVP meatballs before baking
Step 5: Add the meatballs onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Spray them with oil.
TVP meatballs after baking
Step 6: Bake them at 400°F/200°C for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and slightly crispy outside.
Vegan TVP Meatballs with Spaghetti
Then you can add them to spaghetti, make meatballs sandwiches, or have them with creamy gravy (Swedish style).
Vegan TVP Meatballs with Spaghetti
Vegan TVP Meatballs
These vegan meatballs are freezer-friendly! Just put them in a container or ziplock bag and freeze them. Then when you're ready to eat them, let them thaw, cook them in hot tomato sauce, re-bake, pan-fry or microwave them.

Looking for more recipes with TVP?

  • TVP – What is it? How to use it? +10 Recipes!
  • Vegan Bacon Bits (made with TVP)
  • ‘Meaty’ Vegan Chili con TVP
  • Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese

Love it? Rate it!

I hope you enjoy these vegan TVP meatballs as much as I do! Let me know if you give them a try!

If you don’t want to miss out on new recipes, sign up for my weekly newsletter, join me on Instagram and Facebook.

Cheers, Bianca

Vegan TVP Meatballs with Spaghetti

Vegan TVP Meatballs

Bianca Haun | Elephantastic Vegan
These high-protein vegan Meatballs are made with TVP (short for Textured Vegetable Protein, also known as soy protein or soy granule). They are flavorful, easy to make, and freezer-friendly!
4.70 from 13 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Basics, Main Course
Cuisine American, Swedish
Servings 12 meatballs
Calories 58 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup soy granule
  • ¾ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon paprika powder
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika powder
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • ⅓ cup parsley chopped
  • ⅓ cup breadcrumbs

Instructions
 

  • To rehydrate the soy granule, add it to a pan. Add water and spices (soy sauce, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, salt, liquid smoke, thyme). Give it a good mix. Cook it over medium to low heat until it has soaked up all the liquid. Then transfer it into a bowl.
    I am using very fine granule so it takes only a minute until it has soaked up the liquid, it may take a bit longer when your granule is bigger.
  • In a pan with olive oil over medium to high heat, cook the chopped onion and minced garlic until translucent and slightly brown. Then add the chopped parsley. Give it a quick mix. Then add it to the bowl with the soy granule.
  • To the soy granule and onion-garlic-parsley, add the breadcrumbs.
  • Let it cool off a bit until it’s cold enough to handle. Then shape the meatballs. For equally sized meatballs, use an ice cream scoop.
  • Add the meatballs onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Spray them with oil.
  • Bake them at 400°F/200°C for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and slightly crispy outside.
  • Done! Serve them with spaghetti, in meatball sandwiches, or whatever you have planned. Or store them in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze them.

Nutrition

Calories: 58kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 5gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 200mgPotassium: 42mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 183IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @elephantasticvegan or tag #elephantasticvegan!
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Comments

    4.70 from 13 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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  1. Laura says

    September 16, 2024 at 10:51 pm

    I’m having a hard time with them sticking together. Any suggestions? Thanks!

    Reply

Welcome!

I’m Bianca. On my blog, you’ll find easy & delicious vegan recipes. I create 'meaty', 'fishy', and 'cheesy' recipes because I like to blow minds.

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