Mini Meatballs Are Trending—But You Don’t Need Meat to Make Them

Mini meatballs are popular right now. A TikTok video from the popular account Pasta Grannies—where Italian grandmas showcase their traditional pasta-making skills—has racked up nearly 30,000 views with a tutorial on making mini meatballs.

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Meanwhile, TikToker Janelle Halil’s mini meatball sub video has surpassed 50,000 views. If you search the term “mini meatballs,” you’ll get pages of results showing you how to make everything from baked mini meatballs to Italian mini meatballs to cocktail meatballs (which are just mini meatballs on sticks, FYI). But what’s driving this bite-sized food trend? It’s probably to do with the nutrient of the moment: protein.

What are mini meatballs and why are they popular?

Mini meatballs are simply smaller, bite-sized versions of traditional meatballs. They can be made with a variety of ingredients, but like their larger counterparts, they’re often made with ground beef, onions, breadcrumbs, herbs, and sometimes eggs. But mini meatballs are versatile: in this video, TikToker Cailee Fischer also adds Parmesan cheese, shallots, and cranberry sauce into the mix, for example.

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According to Katie Serbinkski, MS, RDN, who runs the blog Mom to Mom Nutrition, for her, one of the biggest appeals of mini meatballs is their protein content. “Baked mini meatballs are a staple protein source that can be used in a variety of dishes, like spaghetti, pizza, soup, and sandwiches,” she writes. She adds that they are a “go-to protein source” for her family.

Diet and nutrition platform Livestrong also confirms that meatballs are a good source of protein. “Meatballs typically contain a high proportion of beef, and beef is a rich source of high-quality protein containing all of the essential amino acids, according to the Food and Drug Administration,” the publication notes. “Protein is essential for growth and development, boosts bone health, contributes to healthy gastrointestinal functioning, and assists with cell signaling.”

Are mini meatballs healthy?

There’s no doubt that mini meatballs are a source of protein. However, they also contain sodium and saturated fat, both of which can increase the risk of chronic disease. 

According to the American Heart Association, for example, saturated fat should be limited to only six percent of a person’s daily calories, which is about 13 grams per day (based on a daily intake of 2,000 calories). The Food and Drug Administration also notes that sodium should be less than 2,300mg per day, which is less than one teaspoon of salt. 

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Beef is also an example of red meat—regular intake of which has also been associated with a risk of chronic disease. For example, in 2024, breakthrough research published in the journal Cancer Discovery suggested that the iron in red meat is a risk factor for colon cancer. This is because it activates an enzyme called telomerase, which helps cancer cells grow in the colon.

Red meat has also been linked with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even conditions like endometriosis. 

However, meatballs—including the mini ones—don’t have to be made with meat at all. Instead, they can be made with nutrient-dense plant-based ingredients, like mushrooms, lentils, and beetroot, for example.

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Unlike meat, plant-based, whole foods are associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases. This is a key reason why, for the eighth year running, the US News & World Report just named the plant-heavy Mediterranean diet as the healthiest diet to follow. It is associated with everything from a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease to improved cognitive and gut health.

How to make plant-based mini meatballs

If you love mini meatballs but want to eat more plant-based foods, then vegan mini meatballs are the perfect solution. With the growing popularity of these bite-sized eats, you can find vegan mini meatballs recipes online, but you can also take any average-sized plant-based meatball recipe and lower the portion size to make it “mini.” For tasty meatball inspiration, check out seven of our favorite recipes below. To decrease the size, simply scoop out smaller amounts of the mixture before you roll them into balls.

Eat Figs Not Pigs

1Homemade SpaghettiOs with Mini Meatballs

This recipe from Eat Figs Not Pigs will show you how to make homemade SpaghettiOs with mini meatballs with ingredients like vegan sausage grounds and marinara. “Made in one pot and just about 30 minutes, it’s sure to be a family favorite,” says recipe developer Ashley Hankins.
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Monkey and Me Kitchen Adventures

2Vegan Cocktail Meatballs With Healthy Chili Sauce

These whole-food-based meatballs come together with ingredients like brown rice, pecans, black beans, flax meal, tamari, and tomato paste. “The vegan meatballs are super yummy with or without the sauce,” says recipe developer Robin Paone. “You could even make a mini meatball sub sandwich with them.  We scarfed down the first test batch like our lives depended on it.”
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Luke Albert

3Six-Ingredient Vegan Eggplant Meatballs

These easy-to-make vegan meatballs consist of simple ingredients like eggplant, onions, oregano, and white bread. They’re tasty on their own with marinara sauce, but they’re especially tasty with a generous helping of spaghetti.
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Kenden Alfond

4 Vegan Sweet and Sour Pineapple Meatballs

Meatballs are often served with a tomato-based sauce, but they are a versatile ingredient that can be served with many different flavors. These plant-based meatballs, for example, are made from an oat-lentil mixture and served with a zesty, tangy sweet and sour sauce.
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The Plant Based School

5 Tofu Meatballs

Tofu is a versatile plant-based ingredient. It can be everything from cheese to scramble to, you guessed it, meatballs. Find out how to transform the soy-based protein into delicious hearty meatballs in this recipe from The Plant Based School.
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Live Eat Learn

6Seitan Meatballs

Just like tofu, seitan is a great meaty base for meatballs. This recipe from Live Eat Learn combines the plant-based protein with chickpea flour, nutritional yeast, and Italian seasoning for the best texture and maximum flavor.
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Emilie Eats

7 Slow Cooker Vegan BBQ Meatballs

As aforementioned, meatballs are incredibly versatile. This recipe from Emilie Eats shows just how juicy and tender they can be when slow-cooked and paired with a smoky bbq sauce. It’s the perfect party appetizer.
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