Description
These Mozzarella Stuffed Vegetarian Meatball Bites are a delicious Italian-inspired appetizer featuring savory lentil-based meatballs stuffed with gooey mozzarella cheese. Perfectly seasoned and baked to golden perfection, they make a crowd-pleasing meatless party food served alongside marinara sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Mixture
- 1 1/2 cups cooked lentils or 1 15-ounce can lentils, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if desired)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast for vegan option
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg or flax egg for vegan option
Filling
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
Cooking
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Make Meatball Mixture: In a food processor, pulse the cooked lentils, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast), chopped onion, minced garlic, dried Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and egg (or flax egg) until the mixture holds together but still retains some texture for a hearty bite.
- Form Meatballs with Mozzarella Filling: Take a small portion of the lentil mixture and flatten it in your hand. Place a cube of mozzarella cheese in the center, then carefully shape the mixture around the cheese, forming a ball that completely encloses the cheese. Repeat this process with the remaining mixture and mozzarella cubes.
- Prepare Meatballs for Baking: Place the formed meatballs onto the prepared baking sheet. Lightly brush each meatball with olive oil to promote browning and a crispy exterior.
- Bake the Meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they turn golden and feel firm to the touch.
- Optional Broiling: For extra crispiness, you can broil the meatballs for an additional 2 minutes at the end of the baking time, watching closely to avoid burning.
- Serve: Serve the warm mozzarella stuffed vegetarian meatball bites with marinara sauce for dipping. Enjoy as a delicious appetizer or party snack.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, broil the meatballs for an additional 2 minutes at the end of baking.
- These meatball bites can be made ahead and frozen. To cook from frozen, bake at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute mozzarella with vegan cheese and Parmesan with nutritional yeast.
