Aldi's Vegan Italian Meatballs Are Turning Heads

As long-time vegans and vegetarians know, many vegan meat substitutes often leave a lot to be desired in the taste department. But vegetarians won't have to eat unsatisfactory, flavorless meatball alternatives anymore, thanks to Aldi. Their Zesty Italian Meatless Meatballs are vegan, nut-free, and totally delicious, according to most Aldi shoppers, and a 16-ounce bag at Aldi costs under five bucks, per Instacart. They're just the latest in a growing line of vegetarian and vegan-friendly Aldi products.

Reddit user u/lilmissmartypants posted the vegan find to the popular r/Aldi subreddit, singing the praises of the meatless meatballs. "Tried these tonight and they were really good. My meat-eating boyfriend said they were the best tasting frozen meatballs he's ever had, and they're vegan! Definitely a must-try, if you haven't already," she wrote. 

That's right, these vegan meatballs have received perhaps the highest praise any vegan product can get: the approval of meat-eaters, including one who responded "Love these. Not vegetarian or vegan at all, just think they taste better than most frozen actual meatballs." 

Vegans and vegetarians were also excited to find a great-tasting meat substitute to add to their repertoire. "I've tried them all and these are my favorite ones," one user commented on r/Aldi.

These frozen meatballs are already fully cooked and simply need to be heated before serving, which means they can be plated and ready to be enjoyed in just a few minutes. They are a versatile ingredient and can be added to a number of dishes, including pasta, sandwiches, and even salads. "We're endeavoring to reduce our meat consumption and these are super tasty! They're a little soft, but we crumbled them into a red sauce and they made for a great bolognese," one commenter suggested on the original Reddit thread. 

As per Instacart, each meatless meatball is made up of soy protein and seasoned with a number of spices, including garlic, onion, mustard powder, basil, oregano, and parsley. In addition to flavor, they also pack 16 grams of protein, only 180 calories, and 1 gram of trans fat into a serving of six meatballs. So if you're trying to cut down on red meat consumption, eat a little healthier, or simply want to mix up your dinner menu, Aldi's meatless vegan meatballs are definitely worth the purchase.