• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Wendy Polisi
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Healthy Living
    • Essential Oils
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookies Policy
    • Terms of Service and Conditions
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Lifestyle
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Diet » Gluten Free Recipes

    Quinoa Meatballs with Creamy Tomato Sauce

    5 from 1 vote
    Posted April 4, 2016 (last updated November 26, 2018) by Wendy Polisi

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly

    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These Smokey Quinoa Meatballs with Creamy Tomato Sauce are a fun spin on an old favorite. Gluten Free & Vegetarian with a Vegan Option.

    Smokey Quinoa
    Spaghetti and Meatballs is one of those dishes that most everyone loves.

    But what if you could get all of the yummy comfort minus the meat?

    Instead, how about we use quinoa and beans? We will throw in sun-dried tomatoes, sunflower seeds, and lots of herbs and finish it off with a creamy, garlicky tomato sauce.

    Smokey Quinoa

    A great family meal that you can feel good about serving.

    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Smokey Quinoa "Meatballs" with Creamy Tomato Sauce

    These Smokey Quinoa "Meatballs" with Creamy Tomato Sauce are a fun spin on an old favorite. Gluten Free & Vegetarian with a Vegan Option.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time45 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Gluten Free, Healthy, Quinoa
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 522kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi

    Ingredients

    • Sauce
    • 28 ounces diced tomatoes
    • ¼ cup olive oil reduce to 2 tablespoons if you are limiting oil
    • 6 – 10 cloves garlic minced (more or less to taste)
    • 1 tablespoon dried basil or ¼ cup fresh chopped basil
    • ¾ teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
    • ½ cup cream cheese – dairy or non-dairy
    • Meatballs
    • 1 egg OR 1 chia egg 1 tablespoon chia seeds plus 3 tablespoons water
    • 1 large onion chopped fine
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • 1 cup cooked quinoa
    • 1 cup garbanzo beans
    • ½ cup finely chopped sun dried tomatoes rehydrated
    • ½ cup sunflower seeds
    • ¼ cup fresh parsley or 1 Tablespoon dried
    • ¼ cup fresh basil or 1 Tablespoon dried
    • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
    • 2 teaspoons gluten free tamari
    • 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
    • 16 ounces quinoa pasta spaghetti

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
    • Heat a large saucepan to medium heat. Add tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, basil, sea salt and black pepper. Simmer partially covered for 25 minutes. Add cream cheese and cook until melted, stirring occasionally.
    • Meanwhile, If using chia egg in place of egg, combine chia seeds with 3 tablespoons warm water. Set aside. (Skip this step if you are using an egg.)
    • Spray a large skillet with 1 tablespoon olive oil and heat to medium. Add onion and cook for 12 to 14 minutes, until tender. Add garlic and cook for one minute longer. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
    • Place quinoa, garbanzo beans, sun dried tomatoes, sunflower seeds in your food processor. Pulse until well combined. (Do not over process, you want some of the texture from the sunflower seeds and sundried tomatoes to remain.)
    • Transfer to a bowl and stir in onion mixture, parsley, basil, oregano, garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil, soy sauce, liquid smoke and (chia) egg.
    • Using a teaspoon measure, shape into small balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush with remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Bake for 10 minutes. Turn balls and bake for 10 more minutes.
    • Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, and divide between eight serving bowls. Top with Meatballs and sauce.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 522kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 391mg | Potassium: 650mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 605IU | Vitamin C: 16.7mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 3.7mg

    If You Like This Recipe You May Also Like:

    • Creamy Tomato Sauce

    Filed Under:

    Gluten Free RecipesMain Dish RecipesPasta RecipesQuinoa Recipes

    More recipes you may enjoy

    • Square photo of two ramekins with a quinoa egg bake in them.
      Quinoa Egg Bake
    • Square close up photo of a halved slow cooker french dip with a small dish of jus next to it.
      Slow Cooker French Dip
    • Square close up photo of chocolate chip quinoa cookies on burlap.
      Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies - Flourless Vegan Cookies
    • Square photo of a white bowl with tomato quinoa pilaf sitting on a white cloth napkin.
      Tomato Quinoa Pilaf

    About Wendy Polisi

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Rating




    1. Shannon Graham

      October 10, 2017 at 10:31 pm

      5 stars
      I haven't made meatballs in so long. These look delish!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Favorites

    • Close up photo of a spoonful of Spanish Cauliflower Rice resting in a bowl of keto rice.
      25-Minute Spanish Cauliflower Rice
    • Close up photo of a bread machine dinner roll on a cooling rack with other rolls behind it.
      Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
    • Square side photo of gluten free vegetarian lasagna.
      Gluten Free Vegetarian Lasagna
    • Square overhead photo of an aqua bowl with tahini pastas garnished with scallions and sesame seeds.
      Tahini Pasta
    • Square close up photo of a crispy quinoa salad with pomegranate and sweet potato.
      Crispy Quinoa Salad with Pomegranate and Sweet Potato
    • Square close up photo of a thai chicken salad on a white plate.
      Thai Chicken Salad Recipe

    Family, Food and Fun!

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

    More about me →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Terms of Service
    • About
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.