These Gluten-Free & Vegan Buffalo Chickpea Meatballs are the perfect party appetizer! They’re especially delicious when drizzled with some homemade vegan ranch dressing and topped with chopped scallions.
Rah! Rah! Rah! Sis, boom, bah!
For this year’s big game, I’m cheering for the best team in town…Team Chickpea!
That’s right! When you route for Team Chickpea, you’re sure to score a touchdown!
Chickpeas can do it all! These babies are game for anything…
EVEN meatless meatballs…
EVEN Buffalo wing inspired meatless meatballs. 🙂
These two-bite balls of Buffalo sauce bliss are similar to, yet somewhat different from my Buffalo Chickpea Burgers.
Of course, they both are made with chickpeas and Buffalo sauce…lol! 😉
They’re baked, not fried
Seriously though, in addition to slight variations in the ingredients, one of the main differences is that while the burgers are pan-fried, the meatballs are oven-baked.
How should they be dressed?
The meatballs are also much smaller than the burgers, which them the perfect party appetizer…especially when served drizzled with some delicious vegan ranch dressing. 🙂
A little heat paired with a little coolness…what’s not to love?
I just happened to create my own vegan ranch using the dry seasoning blend from my Ranch Chickpea Veggie Burgers.
And yes, I will be featuring the dressing on the blog very soon, so be sure to check back. 🙂
In addition to the ranch, I also topped my meatballs with some chopped scallions.
What about the Buffalo sauce?
Well, I’m not going to lie…I didn’t make it myself. Instead, I opted for Frank’s RedHot Buffalo sauce, which in case you weren’t sure, IS vegan.
I have been assured both via email and verbally that this sauce “doesn’t include animal or animal by-products” and that “the natural butter type flavor (listed within the ingredients) is made with natural ingredients derived from sources other than milk and butter.”
Furthermore, I was also told that the current formulations for Frank’s RedHot sauces in general “do not contain any animal derivatives or synthesized milk proteins.”
If you’d prefer another brand, I’d also recommend Tessemae.
So now that your taste buds are tantalized, let’s get on with the show…
Learn how to make them
To make these Gluten-Free & Vegan Buffalo Chickpea Meatballs, start by making a flax egg by using a fork to whisk together 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water. Cover and set aside. Next, preheat your oven to 400°F.
Then, roughly chop 2 medium carrots and 1/4 of a sweet onion, and measure 2 tablespoons of parsley leaves.
Add the carrot, onion and parsley mixture to a food processor, and pulse until finely chopped, but not pureed.
Next, heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add carrot mixture and kosher salt to taste, and cook on medium for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
While the carrot mixture is cooking, rinse out the food processor and set aside for future use. Also, drain and rinse your chickpeas and set aside.
When the carrot mixture is done, allow it to cool for 1-2 minutes, and then add it to the food processor along with chickpeas.
Process on low until everything is well combined but not pureed, scraping down the sides as needed.
Transfer chickpea mixture to a mixing bowl. Add gluten-free/vegan bread crumbs, nutritional yeast, flax egg, kosher salt and Buffalo sauce.
Mix thoroughly until ingredients are well-combined.
Use a small cookie scoop and scoop chickpea mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Then, use your hands to roll into rounded balls.
Bake for 15 minutes.
While the chickpea meatballs are in the oven, melt 2 tablespoons of vegan butter in a microwave-safe bowl or glass measuring cup. Then use a fork to whisk in 1/4 cup Buffalo sauce.
When the chickpea meatballs are done, remove from the oven and set the baking sheet on top of the stove or on a heat resistant surface or mat. Use a silicone pastry brush to baste each ball with the Buffalo sauce and butter mixture.
Return the tray of basted chickpea meatballs back into the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
Allow to cool for 1-2 minutes before removing balls from the baking sheet. Serve with desired toppings, such as additional Buffalo sauce, vegan ranch dressing and/or chopped scallions.
Team Chickpea FOR THE WIN!
So, what do you think? Let me know in the comments below. And if you make this recipe, tag @watchlearneat in your photos on Instagram. 🙂
If you like these Buffalo Chickpea Meatballs, you might also enjoy:
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Gluten-Free & Vegan Buffalo Chickpea Meatballs
These Gluten-Free & Vegan Buffalo Chickpea Meatballs are the perfect party appetizer! They're especially delicious when drizzled with some homemade vegan ranch dressing and topped with chopped scallions.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 3 tbsp water
- 2 medium carrots (peeled and roughly chopped)
- 1/3 cup roughly chopped sweet onion (approximately 1/4 of a Vidalia sweet onion)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley leaves
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt + more to taste
- 1 (15 oz.) can no salt added chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 2 tbsp gluten-free, vegan bread crumbs
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp vegan Buffalo sauce (I used Frank's RedHot brand)
- 2 tbsp vegan butter (I used Earth Balance buttery sticks)
Instructions
-
Use a fork to whisk together 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water in a small bowl to make the flax egg. Cover and set aside.
-
Preheat your oven to 400°F.
-
Blend carrots, onion and parsley in food processor on the pulse setting until finely chopped, but not pureed. You may have to stop to scrape down the sides.
-
Heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add carrot mixture and kosher salt to taste, and cook on medium for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. While the carrot mixture is cooking, rinse out the food processor and set aside for future use.
-
When the carrot mixture is done, allow it to cool for 1-2 minutes, and then add it to the food processor along with the chickpeas. Process on low until everything is well-combined but not pureed, scraping down the sides as needed.
-
Transfer chickpea mixture to a mixing bowl. Add bread crumbs, nutritional yeast, flax egg, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 tablespoon Buffalo sauce. Mix thoroughly until ingredients are well-combined.
-
Use a small cookie scoop and scoop chickpea mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Then, use your hands to roll into rounded balls. Bake for 15 minutes.
-
While the chickpea meatballs are in the oven, melt vegan butter in a microwave-safe bowl or glass measuring cup. Then use a fork to whisk in 1/4 cup Buffalo sauce.
-
When the chickpea meatballs are done, remove from the oven and set the baking sheet on top of the stove or on a heat resistant surface or mat. Use a silicone pastry brush to baste each ball with the Buffalo sauce-butter mixture.
-
Return the tray of basted chickpea meatballs back into the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
-
Allow to cool for 1-2 minutes before removing balls from the baking sheet. Serve with desired toppings, such as additional Buffalo sauce, vegan ranch dressing and/or chopped scallions.
Recipe Notes
I recommend a silicone pastry brush because it allows the sauce to just glide easily over each meatball. In addition, silicone brushes are vegan-friendly and dishwasher safe.
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Accuracy is not guaranteed. Information shown should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Please note the nutrition calculation for this recipe does not include kosher salt to taste or any toppings.
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I’m a meat eater but I’m so giving these a go! They look so delicious (and dangerously addictive). Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Chris! Hope you enjoy! 🙂
These are perfect for our family! I live with a meat eater and a vegetarian and we all love “Buffalo” type recipes. I’ll be making these for our little Super Bowl party and already see a lot of other recipes I want to try. 🙂
Thank you so much, Sally! I hope you all enjoy the meatballs! And hope you have a fun party! 🙂
Now this is my kind of meatball. I can’t wait to give these a go cause I’m all about the buffalo style. Perfect appetizer to add to game day or even for dinner. Looking for to the seeing the ranch dip.
Thanks Stephanie! Hope you enjoy! The ranch is coming soon! 🙂
These look and sound fabulous! Definitely adding these to our superbowl menu
Thanks Andrea! Hope you enjoy them! 🙂
Chickpeas are my jam! These look great!
Thanks so much, Mary! 🙂
They look great! I love the other chickpea items as well. I bet they are addicting… can’t just eat one!
Thanks so much, Denise! They sure are; we can’t stop eating them! 🙂
I love anything with buffalo sauce. This looks so presentable. Perfect for appetizers when you have a party. Not to mention healthy and nutritious.
Buffalo sauce rocks! Thanks Veena! 🙂
YES! These look like bite size balls of pure Vegan heaven. I’ve been on the hunt for new ways to use a giant bag of flaxseed I scored from Homegoods, so I’m glad I found this recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much, Krista! They are super delicious! Enjoy! 🙂
Buffalo snacks are my favorite. I made a buffalo chex mix last week and the whole family loved it. I can’t wait to share these with the family next!
Thanks Jessica! Hope you enjoy! Buffalo sauce is the bomb! 🙂
These look fantastic! I love that they are gluten-free, covered in buffalo sauce, and I wouldn’t even miss the meat because theres so much good flavor here!
Thanks so much, Jenni! 🙂
Super healthy and a great appetizer. I love just about anything with chick peas
Me too! Chickpeas rule! Thanks Nicole! 🙂
Even the carnivores in our family would chow these Buffalo meatballs down. They are huge Frank’s Hot Sauce fans and I even have to buy it in the oversized jars. Those delicious morsels will be gone way before the game starts. Hope you made enough!!
LOL 🙂 I am guilty of purchasing the giant bottle too! Thanks so much, Marisa! 🙂
Ahh I’m definitely team chickpea now ;D These look awesome…love the creativity behind this. Yum!
Woohoo! Team Chickpea rocks! Thank you Tammy! 🙂
Yummy! Love that these are gluten free and vegan :). Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks Daniela! 🙂
These little bits of goodness sure sound good! I love that they are gluten free & vegan too.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 🙂
Oh I love these, especially the fact that they are baked and not fried! We are always looking for more vegan fare to add to the weekly meal plan and these sound like they would fit the bill perfectly!
Thanks Donna! Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Wow, these meatballs surely look special, so delicious and flavorful. My kiddo is such a huge meatballs fan. I’m saving this recipe to give it a try. I’m sure he’s gonna love it.
Thanks Natalie! Hope he loves them! 🙂