The Best Vegan Meatball Sliders
Here are the best vegan meatball sliders and the only recipe you’ll ever need. They are the perfect 4th of July sliders and just take the celebration to a whole new level.
These festive, delicious, and fun vegan sliders are delicious with a little marinara sauce and a dollop of vegan pesto.
For other delicious vegan celebration snacks, check out my zucchini sticks and these vegan tacos!
Why you’ll love these vegan meatball sliders
- The perfect texture: Vital wheat gluten delivers a satisfyingly meaty texture to the vegan meatballs. It ensures a delightful bite that mimics the traditional slider experience.
- Allergen-friendly: Vegan meatball sliders are free from common allergens like dairy and eggs. This makes them great for anyone with allergies or dietary restrictions.
- Customizable: You can experiment with different spices, herbs, and sauces to tailor the flavor to your liking. Change them up each time you serve them or create your signature flavor.
Ingredients and substitution notes
- Vital wheat gluten: Vital wheat gluten is a key component that gives the vegan meatballs structure and a chewy texture. It is a high-protein wheat flour, so make sure not to substitute it with regular flour.
- Nutritional yeast: I love adding this for its savory, cheesy flavor.
- Dried ground mushroom powder: This brings out the umami flavor, giving the vegan meatballs a rich and savory taste.
- Walnuts: Walnuts add a hearty and nutty flavor to the meatballs and a slight crunch.
- Panko breadcrumbs: These help bind the ingredients together and add a light, crispy texture to the exterior of the meatballs. Choose a vegan version to keep the recipe plant-based.
- Flour: This serves as an additional binder in the meatball mixture.
- Sage: This provides a warm, earthy flavor, complementing other herbs and spices. It adds a touch of depth to the overall taste of the meatballs.
- Cayenne: Adjust the quantity according to your spice preference, balancing it with the other flavors.
- Basil: This herb adds a lovely, fresh, and sweet flavor.
- Tofu: I love to use tofu to add moisture to the meatball mixture and extra protein content.
- Bragg Liquid Aminos: This is basically a soy sauce alternative. It adds the savory and salty taste to the meatballs.
- Oil: This adds moisture to the meatball mixture and helps with browning during cooking.
- Garlic cloves: For a robust and aromatic flavor. Ensure it is finely minced or crushed.
- Onions: For a sweet and savory base flavor.
Top tips for making vegan meatball sliders
- Flavorful binders: Enhance the flavor and binding properties of your meatballs with ingredients like panko breadcrumbs and nutritional yeast.
- Season well: Don’t skimp on seasoning. Use a variety of herbs, spices, and condiments to infuse your vegan meatballs with rich and robust flavors.
- Use an ice cream scoop: Use an ice cream scoop to ensure uniform-sized meatballs. This ensures even cooking and makes assembling sliders easier.
- Create a flavorful sauce: Make a delicious sauce to coat the meatballs or serve on the sliders. This could be a marinara sauce, vegan pesto, or any other sauce that complements your chosen flavors.
- Garnish with fresh herbs: Finish your sliders with fresh herbs like parsley or basil.
How to store vegan meatballs
If you’ve fully cooked the meatballs, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Fully cooked meatballs can be stored in the freezer for longer periods. Place them in a single layer on a tray until frozen, then transfer to a sealed container or zip-top bag. Label with the date for easy tracking.
Serving suggestions
Accompany your vegan meatball sliders with sides like sweet potato fries or a side salad.
I recommend setting up a toppings bar with vegan cheese, sliced avocado, and various sauces, allowing everyone to personalize their sliders.
4th of July is right around the corner and these vegan meatball sliders take the celebration to another level. They are so festive, delicious, and fun. Add some vegan pesto and marinara sauce to the mix, and you are practically guaranteed a happy, successful holiday meal.
Vegan Meatball Sliders
Description
Here are the best vegan meatball sliders and the only recipe you’ll ever need. They are the perfect 4th of July sliders and just take the celebration to a whole new level.
Ingredients
- 1 cup vital wheat gluten
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons dried ground mushroom powder
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 teaspoon sage
- 1/16 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/2 teaspoon basil
- 1/2 cup tofu
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 tablespoons Braggs Liquid Aminos
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 3 large garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup chopped onions
Broth ingredients:
- 8 cups water
- 1/3 cup Bragg Liquid Aminos
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients together.
- In a food processor or blender, blend all the wet ingredients together.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir until combined.
- Knead the dough for a couple of minutes by hand to make sure everything is incorporated
- Prepare the broth
Broth:
- When the broth comes to a rolling boil, do a consistency test
- Shape the dough into little meatballs
- Add the meatballs, cover with lid, reduce heat to medium until the meatballs float, stir gently, reduce the heat to low.
- On low, gently boil the meatballs for 60 minutes
- Turn off the heat.
- Let meatballs cool in broth.
- Sear meatballs in a pan with a little olive oil and Braggs Liquid Aminos.
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