Chef John's Meatless Meatballs

Chef John's Meatless Meatballs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound fresh white mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 1 ounce very finely shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, packed
  • 2 eggs, divided
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • 1 pinch dried oregano
  • 3 cups pasta sauce
  • 1 tablespoon very finely shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, or to taste


  1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms to the hot oil, sprinkle with salt, and cook and stir until liquid from mushrooms has evaporated. Stir butter into mushrooms, reduce heat to medium, and cook and stir mushrooms until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
  2. Stir onion into mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until onion is translucent, 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and stir garlic into mushroom mixture until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a mixing bowl.
  3. Mix oats into mushroom mixture until thoroughly combined. Gently stir 1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into mixture. Add bread crumbs, 1/4 cup parsley, and 1 egg; season with salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and oregano. Mix together with a fork until crumbly. Stir in remaining 1 egg. Mixture should hold together when pressed.
  4. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours. For best flavor and texture, refrigerate overnight.
  5. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
  6. Form mixture into small meatballs using a 2-tablespoon scoop. Roll meatballs lightly between your hands until smooth, if desired; arrange meatballs on prepared baking sheet.
  7. Bake in the preheated oven until meatballs are lightly golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
  8. Bring pasta sauce to a boil in a large saucepan; reduce heat to low. Gently stir meatballs into sauce until coated. Simmer meatballs in sauce until cooked through, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with 1 tablespoon Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and 1 tablespoon parsley.

03/13/2017
Chef John's Meatless Meatballs, recipe PT15M PT1H 5 455 calories

Comment on this content
rosemary and goat cheese crostini with walnuts and honey
rosemary and goat cheese crostini with walnuts and honey
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).Place baguette..
4.1
7717
ginger beer
ginger beer
Finely shred ginger into a bowl. Zest lemons and add zest to..
3.9
5893
black bean avocado hazelnut mocha cake
black bean avocado hazelnut mocha cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-i..
4.4
4786
asparagus summer soup
asparagus summer soup
Cut asparagus stalks into 1-inch pieces; reserve tips in a b..
3.4
4603
caribbean sangria
caribbean sangria
Place orange slices, peach slices, lemon slices, and lime sl..
4.2
4754
smoked paprika chicken, kale, and bean stew
smoked paprika chicken, kale, and bean stew
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chicken ..
4
4847
japanese-mexican fusion quesadillas
japanese-mexican fusion quesadillas
Combine soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and garlic in a large bowl..
2.9
5803
vegan oven-fried zucchini sticks
vegan oven-fried zucchini sticks
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread olive ..
2.2
5267
flourless triple chocolate cookies
flourless triple chocolate cookies
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray 2 bakin..
3.4
5126
Chef John's talian Meatballs
Chef John's talian Meatballs
Cover a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cookin..
5
1380
Chef John's Ricotta Meatballs
Chef John's Ricotta Meatballs
Saute onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over med..
829
Chef John's Swedish Meatballs
Chef John's Swedish Meatballs
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium hea..
1574
meatless meatballs
meatless meatballs
Combine mozzarella cheese, eggs, cracker crumbs, pecans, oni..
607
Chef John's Coq Au Vin
Chef John's Coq Au Vin
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).Season chicken..
1911
Chef John's Shepherd's Pie
Chef John's Shepherd's Pie
Place cubed potatoes and garlic in a large pot with enough w..
1721
chef john's lasagna
chef john's lasagna
Place sausage and ground beef into a large saucepan over med..
2157