These Vegan Barbecue Meatballs are a fun, healthy and delicious meal. Beans and oats and a few spices make these meatballs perfectly textured and a great vehicle for the homemade barbecue sauce. A vegan, soy-free, nut-free and gluten-free recipe.
You might also like these recipes for vegan air fryer meatballs, vegan harissa meatballs and vegan meatballs in mushroom sauce.
Around here, holiday movies are a big deal. I mean BIG, bigger than the holidays even. And I'm not talking about me. Desi is the holiday movie glutton who has binged on every Santa movie and every version of The Christmas Carol there is, including Hallmark versions (I think he deserves an award for enduring some of those without throwing the remote at the TV).
I can take holiday movies or leave them, but there are times when I find myself watching a holiday classic again and again. Make that one holiday classic that I watch again and again. It's a Wonderful Life.
There's something about the wonderful life of George Bailey that draws millions of us to the television set during the holidays each year, more than 70 years after it was first released. It's not hard to see why. At the time of year when feeling good is in season, how can you not love a movie that makes you reflect upon your own life and realize that maybe it was not such a colossal waste of time after all?
Besides, who can resist more than two hours of James Stewart? Not me.
As it does every year, the movie will air this weekend on network TV, and you can be sure we'll be front-row-center on our couch in our finest pajamas. With these amazing Vegan Barbecue Meatballs for company.
More vegan dinner recipes
- Instant Pot Spaghetti with "Meaty" Marinara
- Vegan Irish Stew
- Curried Chickpeas Bowl with Garlicky Chard
- Vegan Pull-Apart Pizza Buns
- Vegan Instant Pot Butter Chicken with Tofu
Recipe card
Vegan Barbecue Meatballs
Ingredients
For meatballs:
- 14 oz canned or cooked pinto beans (drained)
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sage
- Salt to taste
- 4 tablespoons avocado oil or any neutral oil (to fry meatballs. The meatballs will absorb very little oil if you fry at a temperature of 350 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit)
For barbecue sauce:
- 1 cup tomato ketchup
- ½ cup vegetable stock
- 2 tablespoon liquid smoke
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon molasses (optional)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Make meatballs:
- Place all of the meatball ingredients except the oil in the food processor and pulse a few times until the oats are broken down into small bits. The mixture should be evenly mixed and when you take a piece in your palms and roll into a ball, it should hold its shape.
- Divide the mixture into 20 1-inch meatballs.
- Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed fry pan or skillet. I used the Lagostina 10-inch fry pan for this.
- Place the meatballs in a single layer, without overlapping or overcrowding. Fry, turning over occasionally, until the meatballs are browned on all sides.
- Remove the meatballs to a plate lined with paper napkins and set aside.
Make the barbecue sauce:
- Place all of the ingredients for the barbecue sauce in a small saucepan. I used the Lagostina 1 ¾ quart saucepan for this.
- Bring to a boil, turn down the heat to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Turn off heat.
- Place the meatballs in a bowl or skillet and pour the barbecue sauce over them. Coat the meatballs thoroughly and serve.
Nutrition Information
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MollJ says
It is my family's tradition to watch A Christmas Story and eat all kinds of delicious appetizers on Christmas Eve. I always make my fav - vegan chicken fingers and stuffed mushrooms, vegan pigs in a blanket, salsa/dip, etc- but I think these meatballs may make an appearance next year!
Amishi Shah says
My favorite holiday movie would still be Home Alone - part I, and with a comforting bowl of bean chili with toppings, or plain ol' pizza!
Cheryl says
Believe it or not, I've never seen "It's A Wonderful Life" but my aunt watches it EVERY year. I just saw "A Christmas Story" a few years ago and that is now my go to Christmas night movie, although "The Santa Clause" is moving in. I love "Arthur Christmas", too. Snack-wise, it's caramel popcorn!
Picking up some pinto beans tomorrow so I can make these!
Loooooove the pans and am in desperate need! The handles are coming off of my old set that I purchased from Linens & Things with a lifetime guarantee. The store no longer exists so the guarantee is quite useless, but what can you do??
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Megan says
Can't wait to try this recipe! My favorite Christmas movie is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and I love making baked guacamole wontons for my movie nights!
Katie says
The past couple of years I've had a Star Wars marathon during the holidays - starting with the new release in theatre. Traditionally however, I watch Lethal Weapon and have crudites and hummus - simple and less of a mess when I inevitably spill.
PC says
Oh wait I did that comment wrong- Movie: Miracle on 34th Street and Elf. Favorite movie food on Christmas.. leftovers from dinner, reheated or at room temp.
PC says
Our tradition was to watch Miracle on 34th Street ( the orgininal ) but these days it has shifted to Elf. Maybe there is room for both.
Steph says
I make Wookiee cookies and watch Star Wars...don’t judge me!
Deborah English says
Prancer with popcorn and Coke Zero will do it for me.
Guru Karam says
My fave holiday movies are Holiday Inn and the Thin Man. Going to enjoy some pumpkin pie with one of them tonight. Happy Holidays! These look yummy!
Colleen Boudreau says
Pizza while watching Elf!
Chana says
Favorite holiday movie has to be the sound of music. Every year when it was on tv I was allowed to stay up late to watch it.
This recipe looks so good can't wait to try it!
Lydia Claire says
My favorite holiday movie is Home For The Holidays and for the food it's fun to look through the cookbook based on the same name but usually it's popcorn. =)
Lydia Claire says
My favorite holiday movie is Home For The Holidays and for the food it's fun to look through the cookbook based on the same name but usually it's popcorn. =)
Elena says
shared:
Elena says
I love pizza and my favorite movie is Home Alone.
Meg Rohan says
These may be the new favourite for movie night, tucked into fresh made tortilla. Ok, bit of salad. Not happy with the pan ($new), still searching for cookware that suits vegan.
Favourite movie...an old one, slow, black and white....Babette's Feast. (Ignore the actual food she makes, gross.) and sprouted hummous dip. With home made crackers.....
Kelly D says
My favorite Holiday Movie Night food is lasagna and favorite movie is Elf.
Christine Chevalier says
We love watching Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Marjorie Reynolds! We have a big bowl of popcorn between us and sing along with all the songs! I'm sharing this recipe on Facebook, Pinterest (as I do with most of your fabulous recipes!), and Twitter!!! This one will be great for our New Year's Open House!!!
paula rothman says
HOME ALONE AND PIZZA! AND SOME WINE OF COURSE.SHARED ON fb
Heather Sebastian says
My favorite holiday movie night food is chili and cornbread along with my most favorite holiday film It's a Wonderful Life!
Divya says
Nice recipe..do the meatballs bake well? I like to watch Elf with some popcorn and a La Croix!
Anonymous says
For a snack to eat while we watch a movie, I like mozerella sticks, but if it is a meal, I like a stew or chili on these cold winter nights. My favorite Christmas movie is Gremlins. I like horror movies and Gremlins is tame enough that my kids can enjoy it.
Vaishali says
Thanks. We love Gremlins too! Please be sure to leave a name when you comment.
Kayley says
I made some vegan chocolate chip gingerbread yesterday, and i think it would be a wonderful food for a christmas movie night! My family and I would probably be watching A Wonderful Life.
Susan Smerdel says
I love to watch A Christmas Carol (I love the Mr. Magoo version) with popcorn (lots of vegan butter if course) & hazelnut coffee!!!. The movie restores my faith in people.
kimberly says
Can you bake these meatballs instead of fry them, do you think? Love a movie called the Christmas wish, with Debbie Reynolds
Vaishali says
Hi Kimberly, Yes, absolutely. I haven't baked these so I didn't add those instructions, but they should hold very well in the oven. I'd spray a baking sheet with oil or line with parchment, and bake at 425 degrees for about 30 minutes or until golden-brown. Turn once or twice to ensure even browning.
Anonymous says
thank you - can't wait to try it...
Kimberly says
Forgot to say I posted it to Facebook - (not good with technology) posted it to a group Yosemite Vegans...
Tried the meatballs - really liked them - for me a good finger food for football
kimberly says
I forgot to say my favorite meal with the holiday movie...ginger peanut soup...and some yummy bread
Kimbely says
Also forgot to say I posted it on Facebook (Yosemite Vegans group). I made the meatballs and like them - very good for finger food for football...
Divya says
Awesome recipe , looks mouth watering. I am a person who uses steel pans too unless really needed like pan cakes etc. my fav movie is chrismas with Kranks. Beautiful movie about community. Fav meals are casseroles biryanis and cakes.
Divya says
Twitter and will follow
Lisa Hochstetler says
I love It's A Wonderful Life with a big bowl of popcorn.
Cynthia says
I love anything Bing Cosby. So my favorite xmas movie is The Bell's of Saint Mary. Love vegan nachos with a good movie. Will share on Facebook and will follow
Kristel Petty says
I love to watch Elf with popcorn and Dr. Pepper! I shared this post on Facebook. I followed on Twitter.
P. S. I am excited to try this recipe!!!!