Beyond Meat Italian Meatballs: 18g Protein, Labelgrade B (76/100)
B 76 / 100 — Beyond's pre-rolled plant-based meatball alternative. Leaner than Beyond Burger on saturated fat (2g vs 5g per serving) because it uses less coconut oil. 18g protein per 3 oz hits real-meatball numbers. Same elevated sodium pattern as the rest of the Beyond family — 360mg per serving.
🛒 Buy on Amazon →The short answer
Beyond Meat Italian Meatballs deliver 18 g of protein per 3 oz (85 g) serving — about 5 meatballs — for 200 calories (USDA FDC 1869600). That’s roughly 21 g of protein per 100 g, a hair denser than typical beef meatballs, and it comes from pea protein isolate rather than meat. They earn a Labelgrade B (76/100). The headline is what isn’t here: at just 2 g of saturated fat per serving, this is the leanest product in Beyond’s lineup, well under the burger’s and brat’s 5 g. The drag on the grade is the same one that follows every Beyond product — 360 mg of sodium, seasoned in at the factory. Best use: drop them, frozen, into a pasta sauce or sub where you want plant-based protein without re-writing the recipe.
Why the B
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | B+ | 82 / 100 | 21 g per 100 g — denser than most beef meatballs. Pea protein isolate covers all nine essential amino acids |
| Ingredient quality | B- | 70 / 100 | 23 items, all food-recognizable, but carrageenan, methylcellulose, maltodextrin and palm oil are on the panel. No artificial colors or flavors |
| Saturated fat | A- | 85 / 100 | 2 g per serving — the lowest in the Beyond family, because the meatball skips the coconut oil the burger and brat rely on |
| Sodium | D | 53 / 100 | 360 mg per serving (~423 mg per 100 g) — the one real weakness, and the reason this isn’t a B+ |
| Sugar | A+ | 100 / 100 | 0 g — correct for a savory product |
| Fiber | C- | 55 / 100 | 3 g per serving — modest, from the pea-protein base |
The grade is an honest split: the food itself is lean and protein-dense, but the sodium load is graded harshly because it’s high enough to matter once you eat a real portion. Nothing about the score is hidden — a single dimension (sodium) costs this product its shot at the A range.
The saturated-fat story is the real headline
If you’ve read Beyond’s other labels, the surprise here is the fat. The Beyond Burger and Beyond Brat both carry 5 g of saturated fat per serving, almost all of it from refined coconut oil that gives them a beefy, marbled bite. This meatball takes a different route: its fats are expeller-pressed canola, palm, and sunflower oil, with no coconut oil at all. The result is 2 g of saturated fat — less than half — which is why it’s the only Beyond product in our set to clear an A-grade on that dimension. For anyone choosing a plant-based meat specifically to cut saturated fat, the meatball, not the burger, is the one that actually delivers on that promise.
Where it sits in the Beyond family
| Product | Protein /100 g | Saturated fat | Sodium /100 g | Labelgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond Italian Meatballs (this product) | 21 g | 2.4 g | ~423 mg | B (76) |
| Beyond Burger patty | 18 g | 4.4 g | ~345 mg | B- (74) |
| Beyond Brat (sausage) | 21 g | 6.6 g | ~658 mg | C+ (69) |
(Per-100-g figures derived from each product’s own label; full breakdowns on their pages.) The meatball matches the brat for densest protein and beats every sibling on saturated fat. The brat is the saltiest of the three — a sausage trait — and the burger sits in the middle on both fat and sodium. The meatball ends up with the highest Labelgrade of the three precisely because it pairs that top-of-family leanness with a sodium number that, while a D, is still the lowest per-100-g of the group.
vs. real beef meatballs
The trade is straightforward. A pea-protein meatball gives you zero cholesterol (frontmatter: 0 mg) and slightly more protein per gram than beef, at comparable calories. Beef gives you a five-to-seven-ingredient meatball against this 23-item panel, and naturally low sodium before anyone salts it — Beyond’s 360 mg is seasoned in at manufacture, so you can’t dial it back at the stove the way you can with plain ground beef. If the goal is cutting cholesterol and animal fat, the meatball wins; if it’s the shortest possible ingredient list, ground beef and a little salt still wins.
Who it’s for
Reach for these when you want a drop-in plant-based meatball for spaghetti, a sub, or a baked Italian dish and you don’t want a calorie or saturated-fat penalty versus the animal version — on both counts this beats Beyond’s own burger and brat. The shopper who should pass is anyone on a low-sodium plan: at 360 mg a serving and climbing fast across a real portion, the salt is the one number this product can’t talk its way out of.
Ingredients
Water, pea protein isolate, expeller-pressed canola oil, palm oil, carrageenan, yeast extract, methylcellulose, garlic powder, maltodextrin, potassium bicarbonate, spices, potassium chloride, onion powder, sorbitol, calcium chloride, tomato powder, caramel color, tapioca starch, salt, natural flavoring, calcium sulfate, sunflower oil, sugars. (Verbatim from the USDA Branded Foods entry, FDC 1869600.)
Where to buy
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 3 oz (85 g) — ~5 meatballs
852629004248See how this fits your day — protein calculator · macro calculator
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (3 oz (85 g) — ~5 meatballs) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 200 |
| Protein | 18g |
| Total Fat | 12g |
| Saturated Fat | 2g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 6g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3g |
| Total Sugars | 0g |
| Added Sugars | 0g |
| Sodium | 360mg |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Calcium | 100mg |
| Iron | 0.7mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Beyond Meat Italian Meatballs (9 oz (255 g) — 12-meatball pack) · UPC 852629004248. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.
How this fits each diet
Each score is computed from the same USDA nutrition + ingredient data, against the published rules of each diet. They tell you "does this food fit this diet" — not whether the diet is right for you.
contains no listed animal products
contains no listed meat or fish
no wheat, barley, rye, or malt detected in USDA ingredient list
Frequently Asked Questions
How much protein is in Beyond Meat Italian Meatballs?
18 g per 3 oz (85 g) serving — roughly 5 meatballs — for 200 calories (USDA FDC 1869600). That works out to about 21 g per 100 g, so on a per-gram basis these are slightly denser than typical beef meatballs. The protein is pea protein isolate, the same base Beyond uses in its burger and sausage.
How many meatballs are in a serving, and how many in the pack?
About 5 meatballs make up the 3 oz (85 g) serving. The 9 oz (255 g) package holds 12 pre-rolled meatballs — roughly 2.4 servings. They cook from frozen: skillet over medium-low to medium for 7–8 minutes turning often, or oven-baked at 375°F for 12–13 minutes turning once.
Why is this the leanest Beyond product on saturated fat?
Just 2 g of saturated fat per serving, versus 5 g in both Beyond Burger and Beyond Brat. The burger and brat rely on coconut oil for a beefy, juicy bite; the meatball formula leans on canola, palm, and sunflower oils instead, which cuts the saturated fat by more than half. That's why this is the only Beyond product in our set to earn an A- on the saturated-fat dimension.
Why does it have palm oil?
Palm oil is one of three fats here (with canola and sunflower). A meatball has to hold a round shape through skillet or oven heat, and palm's higher melting point helps it keep that structure where a softer oil would let it slump. The amount is small. Sustainability-minded shoppers should note Beyond does not label this palm oil as RSPO-certified.
What actually makes it 'Italian-style'?
The seasoning, not the base. The pea-protein mix is shared across Beyond's line; what's stacked on top here is garlic powder, onion powder, tomato powder, and a spice blend (the Italian-herb notes). Caramel color does the browning work, and tapioca starch plus methylcellulose bind the meatball so it doesn't fall apart in sauce.
How does it compare to Beyond Burger and Beyond Brat?
Per 100 g: Italian Meatballs 21 g protein / 2.4 g sat fat / ~423 mg sodium (Labelgrade B, 76); Beyond Burger 18 g / 4.4 g / ~345 mg (B-, 74); Beyond Brat 21 g / 6.6 g / ~658 mg (C+, 69). The meatballs are the leanest on saturated fat and tie the brat for densest protein. The brat is the saltiest, as sausage tends to be.
Is it keto-friendly?
6 g total carbs minus 3 g fiber leaves 3 g net carbs per serving, under the usual 5 g keto threshold. By calories it runs about 54% fat / 36% protein / 12% carb — workable, but pair it with a low-sugar sauce rather than sweet jarred marinara, which can add more carbs than the meatballs themselves.
How much does the sodium add up?
360 mg per 5-meatball serving is about 16% of the 2,300 mg daily limit, and at ~423 mg per 100 g it's the dimension dragging the grade down to a D. A full meatball-sub or pasta plate (10 meatballs plus sauce and bread) clears 1,200 mg fast. Fine for general use; not the pick for a DASH or low-sodium plan.