• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Contact
  • About
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Soups
  • Salads
  • Sides
  • Sweets
  • Beverages
  • Condiments, Dips & Dressings

The Dairy-Free Menu

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Contact
  • About
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Soups
  • Salads
  • Sides
  • Sweets
  • Beverages
  • Condiments, Dips & Dressings
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Contact
    • About
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Sides
    • Sweets
    • Beverages
    • Condiments, Dips & Dressings
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Dinner

    Published: Jun 14, 2022 by Kayla · This post may contain affiliate links.

    The Best Wagyu Meatballs

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Need a delicious and versatile meatball recipe? Wagyu ground beef takes your classic meatball recipe to the next level. You can use them as an appetizer, served over your spaghetti or even for dipping. These are the best wagyu meatballs as they are tender, juicy and packed with flavor!

    Wagyu meatballs in a white bowl on top of a wooden cutting board. Surrounding the bowl there are red tomatoes on the vine, garlic cloves, marinara sauce and spilled bread crumbs in a black measuring cup.

    This recipe for homemade Wagyu meatballs is quick and easy to make. You only need a few ingredients to make this tasty dish.

    Jump to:
    • 📝Ingredients
    • 🔪Instructions
    • 🧊Storing
    • ✅Pro tips + food safety
    • ❓Frequently asked questions
    • 🍝Ways to serve
    • 📖 Recipe
    Ingredients to make the best wagyu meatballs.

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. I will never recommend a product I don't use or trust. Thank you for your support.

    📝Ingredients

    Wagyu ground beef

    Italian bread crumbs are not typically dairy free, so you'll need to read the ingredient list before purchasing bread crumbs. I use Aleia's brand. They are dairy and gluten free!

    Egg

    Worcestershire

    Garlic cloves

    Yellow onion not only makes the meatballs more flavorful, but it also makes them more moist and juicy since onions release water as they're cooked.

    Salt and pepper

    🔪Instructions

    Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Slice a medium yellow onion in half through the root and peel off the outer layer of skin. Discard the skin. Take about half of the onion and roughly chop it, until you get to the root end. You can discard the root. Place the chunks of onion into a food processor and pulse with 3 peeled garlic cloves until the onion and garlic are chopped finely.

    Crack an egg and whisk it lightly in a small bowl.

    In a large mixing bowl, mix all of the ingredients together. With clean hands, mix the meat until well combined but do not over mix.

    All ingredients in a clear glass mixing bowl before being combined together.

    Scoop out two tablespoons of meat and roll into a ball to form the meatball. Smooth out the cracks of the meatball with your fingers.

    Place the meatballs spaced out (at least 2 inches apart) on a pan lined with parchment paper.

    Sixteen raw wagyu meatballs on a pan lined with parchment paper.

    Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes or until your meat thermometer reads 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Wagyu meatballs in a white bowl on top of a wooden cutting board. One of the meatballs shows a bite taken out of it. Surrounding the bowl there are red tomatoes on the vine, a garlic clove and marinara sauce.

    🧊Storing

    Store these meatballs in an airtight container. They will last in the fridge for 3-4 days.

    You can also freeze the cooked meatballs. Just make sure to let them cool down before freezing. You can flash freeze them (this helps keep them from freezing together), meaning you place the meatballs spaced out in a single layer on a pan lined with parchment paper, and let them freeze individually. Once frozen, place them all together in a freezer safe ziplock bag. Squeeze out as much air as you can from the bag. They should last in the freezer for 3-4 months.

    ✅Pro tips + food safety

    • Don't over mix! Over mixing the meatballs will cause them to be more tough and not as juicy.
    • Coat your hands with oil to help keep them from cracking as you form them in your hands.
    • If you plan to serve the meatballs alone, or with a dipping sauce on the side, you can optionally brush some olive oil over the top of them to keep them from appearing dry before you serve them.
    • The USDA says that doneness and safety cannot be judged only by color, which is why it's important to use a meat thermometer when cooking ground beef. Ground beef is fully cooked at 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit. They also note that ground beef can still be pink inside after it's safely cooked due to a reaction between oven heat and myoglobin (a protein that stores oxygen in the muscle cell) which causes a pink color.
    • Always make sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water immediately after handling raw meat.

    ❓Frequently asked questions

    What are Wagyu meatballs?

    The term "Wagyu" refers to a Japanese cattle breed. "Wa" means Japanese and "gyu" means cow. Wagyu beef is so unique from other beef cattle in that it is highly marbled. Marbling just refers to the visible layer of fat found in the muscle, or meat. This makes the beef very tender and packed with flavor.

    Is Wagyu beef good for meatballs?

    Yes! Meatballs with Wagyu beef is perfect! It's fat content and flavor profile renders a juicy and umami-rich meatball.

    How to reheat frozen meatballs

    When using frozen meatballs, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. I like to lightly brush both sides of the meatball in extra virgin olive oil before baking. This way it keeps it juicy and doesn't dry out while in the oven. Bake the cooked, frozen meatballs for about 15 minutes, flipping halfway. Once the meatballs are warmed through, you can serve.

    Are these Wagyu meatballs gluten free?

    Yes. This recipe is gluten free as long as you use breadcrumbs that are also gluten free, as I've linked in this post. Additionally, some Worcestershire sauce companies do not have a certified gluten free label on them. However, they shouldn't be hard to find at your local store. As a rule of thumb, always check the labels of brands you wish to purchase.

    Can I make these into egg free meatballs?

    Yes. You can substitute the egg for 3 tablespoons of unsweetened plain dairy free yogurt. I like to use the So Delicious brand. You will also need to make sure your bread crumbs are egg free as well. Amazon has plant based bread crumbs you can purchase. Just make sure to read the labels anyway.

    Why do my meatballs have a pink tinge?

    Sometimes meatballs get a pink color after it's fully cooked due to the reaction between the ovens heat and the myoglobin (a protein that stores oxygen in the muscle cell) causing a pink color. Not eating pink meatballs is a general guideline to follow, however, your most accurate and safe bet is to use a thermometer. According to the USDA, ground beef is safe to consume at 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit.

    🍝Ways to serve

    • Spaghetti and wagyu meatballs
      • Using regular pasta or even zucchini noodles for a lower carb option
    • Wagyu meatball sub
    • Wagyu meatballs using grape jelly sauce
    • Wagyu meatballs with a side of tomato sauce marinara

    Before you go!

    If you enjoyed this recipe make sure to leave a review down below and let me know! You can also find me on instagram, Pinterest and Facebook by searching @thedairyfreemenu.

    📖 Recipe

    Wagyu meatballs in a white bowl on top of a wooden cutting board. Surrounding the bowl there are red tomatoes on the vine, garlic cloves, marinara sauce and spilled bread crumbs in a black measuring cup.

    The Best Wagyu Meatballs

    Kayla
    These wagyu meatballs are tender, juicy and packed with flavor! Wagyu ground beef takes your classic meatball recipe to the next level. You can use them as an appetizer, served over your spaghetti or even for dipping.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4
    Calories 459 kcal

    Equipment

    • Mini food processor
    • meat thermometer

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound Wagyu ground beef
    • ½ cup yellow onion minced finely in a food processor
    • 3 garlic cloves grated or minced finely
    • ½ cup dairy-free Italian bread crumbs
    • 1 egg lightly beaten
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire
    • 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon black ground pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 
    • Slice a medium yellow onion in half through the root and peel off the outer layer of skin. Discard the skin. Take about half of the onion and roughly chop it, until you get to the root end. You can discard the root. Place the chunks of onion into a food processor and pulse with 3 peeled garlic cloves until the onion and garlic are chopped finely. 
    • Crack an egg and whisk it lightly in a small bowl.
    • In a large mixing bowl, mix all of the ingredients together. With clean hands, mix the meat until well combined but do not over mix. 
    • Scoop out two tablespoons of meat and roll into a ball to form the meatball. Smooth out the cracks of the meatball with your fingers.
    • Place the meatballs spaced out (at least 2 inches) on a pan lined with parchment paper. 
    • Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes or until your meat thermometer reads 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Let cool and enjoy!

    Notes

    • If your meatballs look really cracked while you are forming them, coat your hands with a little bit of olive oil. This will help you to seal some of the cracks better.
    • If you plan to serve these meatballs alone and not covered in sauce, you can optionally brush some olive oil over them to keep them from appearing dry before you serve.
    • The USDA says that doneness and safety cannot be judged only by color, which is why it's important to use a meat thermometer when cooking ground beef. Ground beef is fully cooked at 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit. They also note that ground beef can still be pink inside after it's safely cooked due to a reaction between oven heat and myoglobin (a protein that stores oxygen in the muscle cell) which causes a pink color. Just make sure your meatballs are cooked at the appropriate temperature and all is well to eat.
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4meatballsCalories: 459kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 20gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 126mgSodium: 893mgPotassium: 109mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 63IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword wagyu ground beef meatballs, wagyu meatballs
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Note: Nutrition label is just an estimate. Amounts may vary.

    More Dinner

    • Air-fryer chicken thighs on a white plate.
      Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
    • Honey lemon pepper wings with carrots and celery.
      Honey Lemon Pepper Wings
    • Mongolian tofu in a white bowel.
      Mongolian Tofu
    • Honey garlic tofu in a white bowl with chopsticks.
      Honey Garlic Tofu
    Get the Brunch Pro Theme

    Reader Interactions

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Kayla Daniels.

    HEY THERE! I'M KAYLA.

    I make delicious food that just so happens to be dairy free. It's my goal to help make you excited about what you can eat! So here's a menu of options. Enjoy!

    More about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • Low-sodium pesto in a glass jar on a wooden cutting board.
      Low-Sodium Pesto
    • Sticky sesame chickpeas over white rice with broccoli, topped with green onions and red pepper flakes.
      Sticky Sesame Chickpeas
    • Pineapple Mango Habanero Salsa in a wooden bowl on top of a white plate with tortilla chips. Salsa shows yellow mangos and pineapples, with red bits of bell pepper and small bits of red onion and cilantro. The left of the photo shows the inside of half a lime with green cilantro next to it.
      Pineapple Mango Habanero Salsa
    • Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Quiche
      Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Quiche (Hash Brown Crust)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Service
    • Cookie Policy
    Privacy Settings

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 · The Dairy-Free Menu.