Recipe This | Vegan Veggie Balls In The Air Fryer (2024)

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Delicious Veggie Balls in the air fryer. But not just veggie balls these are my vegan veggie balls. Loaded with your favourite leftover vegetables and the best alternative to meatballs for vegans and vegetarians.

Recipe This | Vegan Veggie Balls In The Air Fryer (1)

My Veggie Balls is a delicious update for my vegan veggie balls.Cooked in the air fryer they offer a fantastic healthy alternative to theclassic meatloaf. It was published on recipethis.com in 2016 and we decided toupdate it with new info and new kitchen gadgets. We hope you enjoy our updatedversion.

Table of Contents

Veggie Balls

Once upon a time I was a vegetarian. YES really, says the food blogger thathas more recipes featuring meat than ones that are meat free. Between the agesof 10 and 15 I didn’t touch a single piece of meat.

I went meat free after seeing dead pigs hangingfrom the back of a butcher’s lorry and it made me feel sick. I didn’t eat muchmeat at the time because I just wasn’t that bothered for it. I would go toSunday lunch and would always swap the meat for the veggie bake with my dadbecause I loved my cheese too much. So, it wasn’t a big deal for me.

The only reason I stopped being aveggie was because eating out was such a nightmare. When you’re allergic tonuts and hate mushrooms you will have an issue. At every place they eitheroffer you a mushroom stroganoff or a nut roast.

After 5 years I returned to meatand it wasn’t until years later when I met my hubby chef Dominic that I startedeating meat regularly.

I still absolutely HATE smoked meat, meat with loads ofbones in it and whenever I have raw meat to chop up, I will call Dominic as Ihave a real phobia about touching it, which he finds hilarious.

But even though I do eat a lot ofmeat these days, I still have a big soft spot for vegetables and thevegetarian/vegan diet. I could never be a vegan because I love honey and dairyway too much, but I do like to enjoy veggie and vegan food whenever I can.

I would estimate that in theMilner house that we are vegetarian 40% of the time and vegan 15% of the time.

Vegan, vegetarian, love your vegetables, hidden vegetable mamas or love leftovers? Well this is for YOU because these veggie balls taste so good, that you will want them cooking in your air fryer forever and ever.

Veggie Balls =The BEST Ever Hidden Veggie Recipe

We alltalk about fooling our kids with hidden vegetables. How we can make vegetables tasteso good, that they don’t notice the veggie content.

Well theseveggie balls is that recipe!

Becausethe veggies are well seasoned and have the breadcrumbs and the deliciousoutside crisp, your kids won’t notice and will love it if you made the veggieballs for dinner.

Or you couldgo the extra mile like I do sometimes…..

The kidsleave the vegetables that you made them for dinner and eat everything else.They claim they hate vegetables. You take the vegetables make them into veggieballs and serve them for dinner in the air fryer the next night.

Not onlyare the veggie balls saving on any food waste, but you are also getting tomorrow’sdinner ready early thanks to some quick meal prep.

Veggie Balls ForToddlers

I should also mention that my veggie balls are perfect for toddlers. In fact the first time I made them was for Sofia when I was weaning her off breast milk and introducing her to vegetables.

She always looked with her eyes, therefore having cute veggie balls, made her forget she was eating vegetables.

How To Make VeggieBalls In The Air Fryer

Recipe This | Vegan Veggie Balls In The Air Fryer (3)

I love to make veggie balls in the air fryer using up whatever leftover vegetables I have in.

As long as they are not high in water content and will bind well together, then they will be cooked in the air fryer.

My favourite veggiesto use in my air fryer veggie balls are:

  • Sweet Potato
  • Cauliflower
  • Carrots
  • Butternut Squash
  • Parsnips
  • Swede/Rutabaga
  • Turnips
  • Broccoli
  • Leeks

The worst veggies touse in air fryer veggie balls are:

  • Pumpkin
  • Courgette/Zucchini

To make veggie balls in the air fryer, it is incredibly simple. You are adding seasonings and breadcrumbs to cooked vegetables and making them into veggie balls.

Think of it just like if you were making meaty balls, but with your favourite vegetables too.

Recipe This | Vegan Veggie Balls In The Air Fryer (4)

What To Eat WithVeggie Balls?

I love to eat my veggie balls with pasta. Layer your veggieballs over some just cooked spaghetti or serve it with linguine.

Or create a homemade dipping sauce and serve your veggieballs with a sauce as an evening snack.

Alternatively, you can place your veggie balls into yourkids packed lunch boxes for school the next day. Or you could take them withyou to work as a much healthier lunch.

Using A MeatballPress To Make Veggie Balls

I love my Meatball Press. I am sure you associate them with making meatballs, but they work for veggie balls too.

BUT only if you flour the meatball press first otherwise, they will stick too much and not come out evenly.

MORE Air Fryer VeggieRecipes

I LOVE cookingveggies in my air fryer and when I browse through my airfryer category, I am always surprised by how many we have.

Here are a few AirFryer Veggie Recipe Favourites:

  • Air Fryer Kale Chips
  • Air Fryer Zucchini Double Cheese Pizza
  • Air Fryer Garlic Mushrooms
  • Air Fryer Roasted Rutabaga
  • Air Fryer Roasted Peppers
Recipe This | Vegan Veggie Balls In The Air Fryer (5)

Recipe This | Vegan Veggie Balls In The Air Fryer (6)

Print Recipe

Vegan Veggie Balls In The Air Fryer

Delicious Veggie Balls in the air fryer. But not just veggie balls these are my vegan veggie balls. Loaded with your favourite leftover vegetables and the best alternative to meatballs for vegans and vegetarians.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time12 minutes mins

Total Time17 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Air Fryer

Servings: 4

Calories: 213kcal

Author: RecipeThis.com

Ingredients

Recipe Ingredients:

MetricImperial

Instructions

  • Place your cooked vegetables into a clean tea towel and squeeze out any excess water.

  • Place them in a mixing bowl and add the seasoning. Mix well and make into medium sized balls.

  • Place them in the fridge for 2 hours so that they have the chance to firm up a bit.

  • In a blender mix together your coconut and gluten free oats and whizz until it resembles rough flour. Pour into a bowl.

  • Roll the veggie balls in the mixture and then place them in the air fryer in the grill pan.

  • Cook for 10 minutes at 200c/400f. Roll over and cook for a further 2 minutes at the same temperature on the other side.

  • Serve.

Notes

You will know that you have squeezed out enough liquid because it will make a ball and will look like a giant dough ball.

I prefer to use Bob’s Red Mill and create gluten free flour, but if you prefer you can use regular breadcrumbs.

If your mixture is not sticking together enough then I recommend that you add some extra oats to stiffen it with. We actually started off with a lot less oats and many that fell apart, so we adjusted the recipe accordingly.

Nutrition

Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 528mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 6755IU | Vitamin C: 30.4mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 2.2mg

Nutrition InfoPlease Note: Nutrition values are our best estimate based on the software we use at Recipe This and are meant as a guide. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Recipe This | Vegan Veggie Balls In The Air Fryer (2024)

FAQs

Why are my vegetables not crispy from the air fryer? ›

Overcrowding the basket will cause the vegetables to steam, not brown. Only add as many as will fit in a single layer. Then, air fry the vegetables at 375°F for 10 to 15 minutes, or until tender and browned. Toss halfway through the cooking time so that they brown evenly.

Do you add water to air fryer for vegetables? ›

To get the very best crispy vegetables with creamy interiors, ATK's Healthy Air Fryer cookbook advises that a mixture of oil and water not only attains a satisfying crunch but also ensures vegetables such as broccoli and fennel don't dry out as they cook and crisp.

How to cook frozen plant-based meatballs? ›

Cooking Instructions

PAN FRY Heat oil in a non-stick pan on a medium heat. Add meatballs and cook 12-15 minutes, turning regularly. OVEN Pre-heat oven to 190°C/Fan 170°C/ Gas Mark 5. Place on a non-stick baking tray and cook for 12-15 minutes, turning regularly.

What food cannot be cooked in an airfryer? ›

7 Foods You Should Never Cook In Your Air Fryer
  • Wet Batters. Those beer-battered onion rings, fries, fish cutlets, plus tempura veggies and more are not well suited for a crisp in the air fryer. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

Why are people getting rid of air fryers? ›

Summary. In conclusion, while air fryers offer certain benefits such as reduced calorie intake and faster cooking times, they are not without their limitations. Size constraints, limited cooking options, and concerns about crispiness are driving some people to look for alternatives.

Why put water in bottom of air fryer? ›

A little water can also be helpful in avoiding burned grease at the bottom of your air fryer. Small amounts of water at the bottom of your air fryer can help catch any food drippings or food particles inside of the air fryer during the cooking process and prevent the formation of smoke.

Why are my frozen meatballs rubbery? ›

If the meatballs are packed together too tightly, they will cook up rubbery, chewy, and tough.

What's in Ikea plant balls? ›

Product details. The plant ball has the taste, texture and juicy bite of a meatball – but it's made with pea protein, oats, potatoes, onion and apple. Includes no animal ingredients, meaning a good choice for vegetarians and vegans.

What is in Ikea veggie balls? ›

Ingredients: Vegetable Balls – Chickpeas, green peas, carrots, red bell peppers, corn, kale, pea protein, onions, rapeseed oil, seasoning (salt, dried cane syrup, yeast extract, dried onion, spices [rubbed sage, lack pepper, bay leaves], dried carrot, dried parsley, natural extracts of black pepper, turmeric, pea ...

How do you keep vegetable meatballs from falling apart? ›

Roll your meatballs in flour

This is, hands down, one of the easiest ways I've discovered to prevent meatballs from falling apart when cooking.

Are vegetarian meatballs healthy? ›

And the good news is, meatless meatballs can taste just as delicious and are even healthier than their meaty counterparts.

What are Ikea meatballs made of horse meat? ›

“Based on the results of our mapping, we can confirm that the contents of the meatballs follow the Ikea recipe and contain only beef and pork from animals raised in the U.S. and Canada,” Ikea North America spokeswoman Mona Astra Liss said in a statement.

Why is my air fryer food not crispy? ›

Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.

Why are my air fryer veggies soggy? ›

Overfilling the basket

To be efficient, the food inside an air fryer needs space for the air to circulate and create a crisp outside. If there is too much food in the basket, the air fryer will steam the food.

Why aren't my roasted vegetables crispy? ›

The Oven Temp Is Too Low

But, they'll turn out soft and soggy instead of crispy and caramelized. The solution: Turn the oven temperature up to 400°F to 425°F.

Is it bad to air fry vegetables? ›

An air fryer is a healthier option than deep frying foods and can be an inventive way to fry not only meats and potatoes but other nutritious foods such as broccoli, yams, tofu, or eggs. Compared with deep-frying, using an air fryer can reduce the amount of fat, calories, and potentially harmful compounds in your food.

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