This post is brought to you by Beyond Meat. All opinions are my own.
These Vegan Spaghetti and Meatballs are something the whole family will love - even the carnivores. Easy to make and packed with nutrition.
I'm always up for a good challenge. So when Beyond Meat asked me if I would like to participate in their Future of Protein blind test for my family I figured why not.
You may remember Beyond Meat from this post. In case you missed it, let me bring you up to speed.
Beyond Meat is on a mission to create The Future of Protein. They make chicken strips, chicken tenders, meatballs, burgers and beef crumbles made strictly from plants. They are non-GMO, soy free and gluten free, and designed to allow families to eat what they love while staying plant based.
Although I'm not vegan or even vegetarian, I try to eat plant-based several days a week. The trend of plant protein consumption is rising. Elite athletes like Eric Bledsoe (Point Guard for the Phoenix Suns) and April Ross (Olympic Silver Medalist in Beach Volleyball) have joined as early adopters in support of the brand. Ethan Brown, Beyond Meat CEO, explains it best:
What I love about the campaign is that our athlete partners intuitively understand the benefits of plant-based proteins and so effectively communicate -- by example -- these benefits to families and children."
The goal of the campaign is to counter misconceptions that plant protein requires a sacrifice in taste or is nutritionally inferior.
I knew from my prior post that Beyond Meat was good. But good doesn't mean that I had confidence that I could get even one of my crazy-picky kids to even try it. I decided to try the meatballs and make one of my middle son's favorite dishes: Spaghetti & Meatballs. On this time, it would be Vegan Spaghetti and Meatballs.
Christian, my resident spaghetti, and meatball lover, was up first to try it.
( Skye was there too but she was having a toddler moment and refused to sit at the table long enough for me to get a photo.) I was a little nervous that he wouldn't even test it, but as you can see he didn't even seem to miss the meat. Score!
Have you ever made Vegan Spaghetti and Meatballs?
Vegan Spaghetti & Meatballs
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Beyond Beef Meatballs
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 28 oz Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 8 ounces Quinoa Spaghetti
Instructions
- Spray a skillet with oil and add meatballs. Cook over medium heat until brown, about 3 - 5 minutes. Remove from skillet.
- Spray a saucepan with oil and add onion. Cook for 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add meatballs, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, sea salt and black pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes, until the flavors combine.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions.
- Drain pasta. Transfer to serving plates and spoon spaghetti and meatballs on top.
Nutrition
Emily @ Zen & Spice
Sounds great! I've use "meat" crumbles in chili and pasta sauce and you really can't tell the difference. Great for meatless mondays!
Wendy Polisi
Exactly! Love the crumbles too.
Rebecca P.
I've always wanted to try beyond meat! Yum!
Wendy Polisi
It is really good!
spabettie
I LOVE Beyond Meat. we have the beef crumbles for a quick taco night every so often... hey, it is Taco Tuesday! 😉
Alisa Fleming
Wow, this looks SO amazing - I seriously can't believe it isn't meat! What a fabulous event, too.
Wendy Polisi
Thanks so much!
Alex @ DelishKnowledge
Yum! I don't eat meat and I am always looking for other alternatives, I've had the beyond meat strips but excited to try these meatballs!
Wendy Polisi
Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
janet
We cannot get this in Canada ... our meat substitutes are horrifying ,,,,,
Wendy Polisi
Hopefully it will get there soon - it is good stuff!
Caroline's 4th
Really? I clicked expecting to find an actual recipe for vegan 'meatballs', not something I'd have to purchase. I usually enjoy reading and often making your recipes but this one is deceptive.
Wendy Polisi
I am sorry that you feel that way. Given that the company name is in the URL and post title I'm not really sure why you do. There are plenty of meatball recipes on the website.
Caroline's 4th
I have never heard of the prepared and frozen products called 'Beyond Meat' and always make my own from scratch (that's why the prospect of a homemade dinner sounded good), and I obviously didn't look at the URL before, during, or after reading the recipe (really, who does?). My intentions weren't to disrespect you or the recipe; I merely thought the recipe title was a touch deceptive. Maybe you could've put the registered mark (circle surrounding an R) to let us uneducated readers know the ingredient was manufactured. I'll look further for scratch recipes.