These Vegan Swedish Meatballs are so meaty, that you might just fool a meat eater! Delicious homemade seitan meatballs are covered in a rich and creamy gravy for the ultimate comfort food. These taste better than IKEA's!
The secret to getting the meatiest texture to these meatballs is to use vital wheat gluten. Vital wheat gluten is a flour made from the protein in wheat, and it's what gives bread its bouncy stretchy texture, and what makes pizza dough chewy. Using it in combination with lentils, walnuts, onions, garlic, and seasonings including the signature hint of allspice and nutmeg, makes for the meatiest most delicious Swedish-style meatballs. Delicious even before you add the gravy!
Vital wheat gluten is very high in protein making it great for athletic people. One vegan Swedish meatball (without the gravy) is just 68 calories and contains 8 grams protein, 4 grams carbs, and 2 grams fat!!
The meatballs can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days or they can be frozen. When ready to enjoy them, let them defrost (if needed), then fry them up in a skillet, and whisk up the simple gravy. Serve vegan Swedish meatballs over garlic mashed potatoes, or enjoy them on rice or on noodles.
How to Make Vegan Swedish Meatballs from scratch:
To a food processor add the lentils, onion, walnuts, and garlic and pulse until you reach a slightly crumbly paste-like texture. Add the vital wheat gluten, water, soy sauce, parsley, pepper, allspice, and nutmeg and pulse, stopping to scrape the sides as needed until combined into a crumbly dough.
Pinch off some of the dough and roll into a vegan meatball about the size of a golf ball and set aside on a plate or dish. Repeat until all the dough is used up and you have made about 18 meatballs.
Add several inches of water to a large pot with a steamer basket and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the meatballs to the steamer basket, cover and steam for 25 - 30 minutes. Once the steaming is done, you can either prepare them right away (see below), or allow them to cool completely and store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze them for later. *Note, I always find seitan has the best texture if chilled in the fridge overnight, but it is still great freshly made.
To serve the meatballs and make the gravy:
In a large skillet or non-stick frying pan, heat the light oil over medium-high heat. Fry the meatballs until golden brown and heated through, 5 - 10 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the pan and set them aside on a plate.
Return the pan to the heat and add the vegan butter. Once melted, whisk in the flour to make a paste. Cook the flour paste while whisking, then pour in the broth and the cream and mix. Bring to a simmer and cook until the gravy begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Return the meatballs to the pan with the gravy, and heat through for another minute or two. Serve the vegan Swedish meatballs hot on mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.
These vegan Swedish meatballs are...
- incredibly meaty saucy delicious
- great for making ahead and freezing
- better than Ikea.
More vegan seitan recipes to try:
The Best Vegan Turkey Roast
Vegan Italian Seitan Meatballs
Vegan Seitan Tenders (vegan chicken breast)
Vegan Seitan Steak
If you try this recipe let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.
Vegan Swedish Meatballs
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 cup cooked lentils, (I used canned)
- ½ yellow onion, quartered
- ½ cup walnuts
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
- 1 ¼ cup vital wheat gluten, (there is no substitution for this)
- 6 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
For the Gravy:
- 1 tablespoon light oil, (canola or vegetable oil) for frying
- 3 tablespoons vegan butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups vegan "beefless" broth or mushroom broth
- ½ cup vegan culinary cream, (or sub cashew cream or full-fat coconut milk)
Instructions
- To a food processor add the lentils, onion, walnuts, and garlic and pulse until you reach a slightly crumbly paste-like texture. Add the vital wheat gluten, water, soy sauce, parsley, pepper, allspice, and nutmeg and pulse, stopping to scrape the sides as needed until combined into a crumbly dough.
- Pinch off some of the dough and roll into a vegan meatball about the size of a golf ball and set aside on a plate or dish. Repeat until all the dough is used up and you have made about 18 meatballs.
- Add several inches of water to a large pot with a steamer basket and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the meatballs to the steamer basket, cover and steam for 25 - 30 minutes. Once the steaming is done, you can either prepare them right away (see below), or allow them to cool completely and store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze them for later. *Note, I always find seitan has the best texture if chilled in the fridge overnight, but it is still great freshly made.
To serve the meatballs and make the gravy:
- In a large skillet or non-stick frying pan, heat the light oil over medium-high heat. Fry the meatballs until golden brown and heated through, 5 - 10 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the pan and set them aside on a plate.
- Return the pan to the heat and add the vegan butter. Once melted, whisk in the flour to make a paste. Cook the flour paste while whisking, then pour in the broth and the cream and mix. Bring to a simmer and cook until the gravy begins to thicken, about 5 minutes.
- Return to the meatballs to the pan with the gravy, and heat through for another minute or two. Serve hot on mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.
Notes
Nutrition
More vegan meat recipes you might enjoy...
Mette says
The seitan balls has good taste and texture. Very nice.
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
We're so glad you enjoyed!
Julie says
Absolutely the BEST Swedish meatball recipe I've ever made. I have always been obsessed with this dish. I've made many different versions since going vegan. They were all tasty, but this one wins first prize! The texture is everything I want in a vegan meatball. Thank you SO much!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Wonderful! We're so glad to hear it!
Jari Lydén says
The Darling Wife has not eaten meat for over 30 years. (Remarcable achievement as she looks like 25) She does still crave some meat dishes. When I saw the banana peel bacon I started to laugh and decided to take a closer look. Lucky us!
This meal tasted, felt and looked almost like the real thing. (well, being a Finn I have some reservation re anything Swedish)
Thank you very, very much Sam for an excellent recipe.
Now I'm off to boast to my friends on instagram and then checking the chicken recipe for the butter chicken.
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Yay! We're so glad you enjoyed it!
Rae says
Hi - do you have nutrition data for the lentil balls, without sauce?
Thank you
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Rae, no I do not, but you could use a program such as My Fitness Pal to calculate any nutrition you are interested in. Hope that helps!
Véronique says
The texture of these balls is amazing! I find they miss some seasoning though... I added fresh herbs and doubled the onion and garlic ratio. The gravy is also so yum! I will double the amount next time
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Glad you find the best way to spice it up for your taste preferences, Véronique!
Elaine Tsai says
I’m a recent convert to the WFPB style of eating so eating meat is very much in my recent past and I was very skeptical of eating “fake meats” and I didn’t have a good experience trying to make Seitan but after I read the reviews, I thought I’d give it a go. They are surprisingly delicious! I followed the recipe exactly as written and my picky self gives them 2 thumbs up!
Sam Turnbull says
Amazing! So happy you love it! I have a ton more seitan recipes you might want to try as well. 🙂
Sue says
This recipe looks amazing and I can't wait to try it however I was wondering if I could use all purpose flour instead of the Vital Wheat Gluten?
Sam Turnbull says
Unfortunately this recipe cannot be made gluten-free.
Rebecca Bolduc says
I love this recipe! I used sprouted lentils and it was great!
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoyed!
Jo Dufay says
I'm not a big fan of 'meat replacements', and in general not keen on the texture of Seitan based foods. However, other people I feed really want to have something 'meat-like' in their diets. This recipe may have converted me to join them! The meatballs are so tender. I added a little bit of oregano, thyme and sage, to take them back to the taste I remember (having been a vegetarian since 1972, this is a looooong distant memory!). These will absolutely become a staple in my household. Next time I will make double batch and freeze half.
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you love them Jo!!
Peggy Does Cake says
Sam, I've made lots of your recipes and I've yet to try something we didn't like. But these meatballs... holy smokes, these things are next level. I made these yesterday, for a special occasion meal, and though we don't typically use butter or oil, I figured we could splurge a little at home instead of splurging a LOT by going out, so I indulged and made them as written. We served them over lightly buttered egg(less) noodles with a side of steamed vegetables and it was just fantastic. We were blown away. We've been WFPB for 6 years and these may be the best thing I've made since converting! The gravy tastes like the country style cream sauce a famous old restaurant here serves. I haven't had that in 25+ years and never expected to taste anything quite like it again in my lifetime. This is so much like real meat that it's almost confusing to eat as a vegan, and the flavors are spot on for Swedish meatballs. This would be the ultimate meal to make for impressing meat eaters. I can't wait to make it for my omni extended family and friends. And you were right about letting the meatballs rest overnight. I cooked one in a skillet after steaming it as a test, and though it was pretty good, it was nothing compared to how they were the next night: heavy and meaty with a great bite, yet so tender. Just wow. I think this would make a fantastic hamburger steak, too. I will 100% be trying that very soon. If I could give this more stars I would. You, my dear, are a marvel.
Sam Turnbull says
Aww wow!! Thank you so much Peggy for this amazing review!! You totally made my day. 🙂
Bonnie G says
What type of lentils? Split lentils get mushy like pea soup. French lentils are firm and stay intact and round. What consistency do I need to use?
Sam Turnbull says
I used canned browned lentils, but really any kind of lentil should work well. Enjoy!
Jen says
Could these be made in the Instant Pot?
Sam Turnbull says
Yes, I believe so, but I do not have exact timing. Enjoy!
Jaskulek-Kobes Christine says
Jen, I used my instant pot on steam for 15 minutes Seemed to work
Jen says
Thank you!
Zach says
If I don't have beefless broth can I use vegetable broth? I was thinking I could maybe add a splash of soy sauce and vegan worcestershire to give it a bit more flavor.
Sam Turnbull says
Yep any vegetable broth will work, but I think adding the splash of soy and vegan Worcestershire will definitely help with the flavor. Enjoy!
Jess says
Made this for dinner tonight! Definitely a keeper recipe. One of the easiest seitan recipes ever!
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! So happy to hear that! Glad you enjoyed Jess!
Annelies says
Dear Sam, our 15-year old daughter made these meatballs last night, and they are seriously the best we have ever eaten (even when we still ate meat about 10 years ago). They are so tender and juicy, and the sauce just tops it all off. What an amazing recipe!
One of our younger sons, whose palate can be a little hard to please, kept saying they were the most delicious he had ever eaten (and coming from him, that's a top review!).
Thank you for sharing this recipe, it will be first on the menu when we have guests over next.
Keep up your wonderful work!
Lots of love, Annelies
Sam Turnbull says
Aww wow!! What a wonderful review, thank you so much for sharing 🙂
joe says
Made these last night, Soooooooo Delicious! thank you Sam 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!! So happy you loved them 🙂
Sandra says
I really want to try this but i am allergic to walnuts. Do you know if there is another seed or nut that would work?
Sam Turnbull says
Yes! Pecans, cashews, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds should all work well. Enjoy!
Cindy says
can the nut/seed be omitted completely?
Sam Turnbull says
Yes
Kathryn Miller says
Dear Sam,
What brand of vegan cream do you use? Oatley does one, but wanted to see what you use. These look delish and will be making them!
Thanks for another great recipe❤️
Sam Turnbull says
Here in Canada I like the Earth's Own brand 🙂
Christine says
I did not have vegan cream so I blended a cup of cashews with water to a cream consistency and used that. T
PAM says
Sounds delish. However I don't use oil or butter. What could I use if anything to replace the butter in the. roux.
thanks
Sam Turnbull says
Instead, I would make a cornstarch slurry and whisk that into the broth and cream. Enjoy!