Ricotta Meatballs (no-meat recipe)

These melt-in-your-mouth tender ricotta meatballs cooked in tomato sauce are so easy to make with a handful of ingredients. They make a wonderful meatless meal that’s full of flavor and delicious.

They’re also versatile, kid-friendly, and ready in about 30 minutes.

I’m sure some people would argue that these are not proper meatballs, and I agree: these are meatless ricotta meatballs! : )

Although I don’t label myself as a vegetarian, I love cooking and sharing meatless meals. I’m also for variations on recipes that taste good and create an easy way to cook with less meat.

And I’ve called this recipe ricotta meatballs because it turns a handful of simple ingredients into a nourishing family meal that’s perfect served as a main dish with vegetables, pasta or rice on the side.

Whipping up the ricotta mixture and shaping the balls is also easy and straightforward, so much so that the kids will enjoy making them as well as eating them!

Added bonus? These ricotta meatballs are cooked and coated in a simple yet delicious tomato sauce that make them extra soft and juicy.

What’s not to love?!

Make a double batch, they keep well in the fridge, and are great for packed lunch too. Enjoy!

List of the ingredients

• Whole milk ricotta
• Egg
• Breadcrumbs
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic
• Parsley
• Tomato passata (or canned crushed tomatoes)
• Olive oil
• Salt & pepper

How to make ricotta meatballs

(Note: this is a quick description, the full recipe is at the bottom of the page)

• Place the drained ricotta in a bowl with the egg, parsley, grated parmesan, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir all the ingredient with a spoon.
• Add the breadcrumbs and mix until well combined and easy to work with.
• Form the ricotta balls and place them on a large plate.

• Saute’ the garlic in olive oil until fragrant.
• Stir in the tomato sauce, water, shredded basil, salt and pepper.
• Add the ricotta meatballs to the skillet and cook gently for 15 minutes. Enjoy!

Recipe notes

Ingredients for delicious ricotta meatballs

The recipe uses minimal ingredients, but it’s important not to skip the flavor boosters:

Ricotta: for best flavor and texture use whole milk ricotta for this recipe and make sure you drain it first in order to remove excess water.

Egg: you need only one egg to bind all the ingredients in the ricotta mixture and to make the ricotta meatballs dense and spongy.

Parmesan: grated parmesan cheese adds flavor, but pecorino cheese is another good option instead of parmesan. Don’t skip the grated cheese.

Herbs: they add flavor. You can use fresh chopped basil in this recipe for its fresh aromatic notes. Alternatively, you can use 1/2 teaspoon of oregano.

Garlic: go easy on garlic, a small garlic clove will be enough without being overpowering.

Breadcrumbs: act as a binder, helping to hold the ricotta meatballs together absorbing the moisture. The mixture should be soft and easy to work with.

Tomato sauce: I make the tomato sauce using some olive oil, garlic, fresh basil, and tomato passata, also known as tomato puree (but not the same as tomato paste which is a concentrate). Tomato passata is sold in glass bottles and it’s smoother than crushed tomatoes. My fav brand is Mutti. However, canned crushed tomatoes, or even whole peeled tomatoes, work fine too.

Water: it makes the sauce thinner during the cooking and prevents the meatballs to stick to the bottom, but no worries, the final result won’t be a watery tomato sauce.

Salt & pepper: as usual, make sure you adjust the seasoning to taste.

Storage

You can store leftover ricotta meatballs with their tomato sauce in the fridge for about 3 days, and they’re freezable too.

This meatless recipe makes not only a delicious meal to enjoy at home, but it’s also great for meal prep to take to the office or to make a school packed lunch (my son loves them!).

How to serve ricotta meatballs

I usually serve these ricotta meatballs and tomato sauce over penne or spaghetti, but you can use any pasta, rice, or grains of your choice. They’re also delicious with crusty panini rolls, focaccia, or you can serve them as a main dish with mashed potatoes or vegetables!

More Ricotta Recipes for you!

This fresh Italian cheese works beautifully in both sweet and savoury recipes, from scrumptious quick pasta dishes to moist cakes, and more. Have a look at this inspiring collection of amazing ricotta recipes to see how to get the most of it. Just to name a few:

• Mushroom ricotta pasta
• Ricotta crostini with peas
• Lemon ricotta cake
• Easy cake with ricotta
• Herbed whipped ricotta
• Ricotta crostini

If you make these scrumptious ricotta meatballs, or you have a question, let me know by leaving a comment. I would love to hear from you! x

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