Being vegan doesn’t have to stop you from sampling delicious, hearty meatloaf just like mom used to make- except cruelty-free. These easy vegan meatloaf recipes will knock your socks off and satisfy even the pickiest omnivores. Try these great breakfast recipes or tasty desserts if you’re craving more vegan deliciousness.
1. The Best Vegan Meatloaf by Nora Cooks
Nora Cooks’ Best Vegan Meatloaf really does live up to its name, and it tastes just like the real deal. Although we love a good lentil loaf, this one uses a surprising combination of chickpeas and vegetables to get the consistency spot on and give you a hearty loaf with a lot of heft and weight.
In addition to tasting amazing, it also looks really good, and you can customize the glaze to fit your taste and style. One of the biggest keys to making this meatloaf shine is getting the vegetables right. You’ll want to saute the onion thoroughly to get it sweet and semi-carmalized before adding in the rest of the ingredients.
Another great way to ensure meatloaf nirvana is to make sure that your chickpeas are totally incorporated and thoroughly mashed. A big piece of chickpea can mess up the consistency, so put your chickpeas through a potato ricer or hand-mash them well.
Since you can use already-soft canned chickpeas, you can do this in a matter of minutes. Then, all you have to do is cook your meatloaf for half an hour, add the glaze, cook for a few minutes more and serve piping hot.
2. Best Vegan Plant-Based Meatloaf With Lentils by Kathy’s Vegan Kitchen
This lentil meatloaf is hearty and delicious, and you can pair it with any number of side dishes from Kathy’s Vegan Kitchen. Eat it for dinner, or make a vegan meatloaf sandwich to enjoy any time of the day.
Despite the fact that this meatloaf tastes fantastic, it’s also very healthy for you. One of the biggest things that this meatloaf has going for it is that it’s never dry. Tender lentils keep it tasting delicious and have the right consistency.
Although you can use any kind of lentils you want, red lentils tend to mash up better than other varieties. You can also add in virtually any vegetables that you have in your refrigerator, making this meatloaf an excellent way to use up old veggies. In addition, it’s high in fiber, good for you, and extremely simple to put together for a weekend dinner.
Dry lentils work perfectly well in this recipe, but get canned ones if you want to shave off time and a few steps. Plus, you can use a little bit of the liquid from the can to make your meatloaf even that much more sumptuous.
3. Vegan Meatloaf by Detoxista
Detoxista’s spin on vegan meatloaf is a comfort food classic without any of the guilt. As with many of the top vegan meatloaves on our list, it uses lentils for a creamy, dense consistency. Detoxista also recommends that you put in plenty of walnuts for crunch and flavor. There’s a whole galaxy of different things going on in this meatloaf, and all of them are totally tasty.
In addition to your lentils and walnuts, this hearty dinner is also full of garlic, carrot, celery, and onion, giving you a taste of some of the familiar flavors that you get in standard meatloaves. To bind it all together, Detoxista suggests that you use flax seeds. The seeds stand in for egg and keep the meatloaf feeling and tasting consistent all the way through.
Although you can use the lentils of your choice, red lentils work reasonably well for meatloaves. Also, it’s a good idea to use canned lentils rather than dry ones. You’ll save time and have your meatloaf on the table in a flash.
Finally, make sure that you incorporate all of the ingredients, including the rolled oats and nuts, together entirely unless you want larger chunks of veggies in your meatloaf. Detoxista’s version of the humble meatloaf will please anyone, vegan or not.
4. Impossible Burger Meatloaf by Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen
Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen takes a few shortcuts and makes inventive use of Impossible Burger “meat” in this clever recipe that’s as close to a traditional meat-based meatloaf as you get with vegetables. Impossible Burger is a godsend for vegans and vegetarians because it allows us to savor all of the flavors we’ve been missing while still eating cruelty-free, but why limit it to the bun?
Although Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen’s original recipe uses Impossible Burger “meat,” you can also use “Beyond Burger” if you’d like. Just make sure that you start with a ground beef substitute as the base of your meatloaf. As with standard meatloaves, you’ll need plenty of breadcrumbs or ground oats. Again, what you use to bind the meatloaf all comes down to preference.
Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen relies on comforting standard flavors like Worcestershire sauce and ketchup to make the meatloaf as homestyle as possible. Although you can buy vegan Worcestershire sauce at the store, you can also make it at home.
Some garlic powder, salt, pepper, and parsley is all that you need to round off the meal. Make sure that you make extra glaze, as it’s delicious, and you might want to dip the meatloaf into it.
5. Vegan Lentil Nut “Meatloaf” by the Minimalist Baker
Thanks to hearty vegetables like mushrooms and sweet potatoes, this lentil and nut meatloaf contains tons of fiber and nutrients. Of course, if you don’t like mushrooms, you can always sub in extra lentils or a little bit more sweet potato for that significant heft. As with some of the best vegan meatloaves on our list, this one has a traditional taste, thanks to Worcestershire and ketchup.
You can use breadcrumbs or ground oats to bind it together, too, making the consistency dense and chewy. The Minimalist Baker stays true to its name with a very basic glaze that lets the meatloaf itself shine. They also give you the option to choose which nuts you want, suggesting pecans and walnuts but ultimately leaving it up to you.
One of the key ways to take this meatloaf to the next level is to toast your nuts. The flavor will be deep, rich, and play nicely with the lentils. As for spices, the Minimalist Baker suggests fresh thyme, salt, and pepper. It’s a classic but straightforward combination that tastes just like your grandmother’s famous meatloaf.
6. The Ultimate Vegetable Lentil Loaf by The Simple Veganista
With a name like “The Ultimate Vegetable Lentil Loaf,” this dish has a lot to live up to, and fortunately, it does. The Simple Veganista’s spin on meatloaf is hearty and full of spice, but you can make it in no time.
It also freezes well, and you can use leftover meatloaf for sandwiches. Make a little bit extra for vegan meatballs if you’d prefer. These freeze well too, and the garlicky flavor of the loaf goes perfectly with tomato sauce.
Lentils are the base of this ultimate veggie meatloaf. The Simple Veganista suggests brown lentils, although you can use virtually any variety that you have on hand. Save some time and effort by getting canned lentils instead of boiling your own. A great thing about this recipe is its versatility. You can use pretty much any vegetables that you have on hand and make it spicier with red bell pepper or even hotter peppers if you want.
Zucchini goes well in the vegetable lentil loaf as it’s easily mashed and has a nice, neutral flavor. You can also add garlic to taste. Fresh garlic works best, although you can use garlic flakes in a pinch. Flax stands in for egg in this recipe, binding everything together as in a standard meatloaf. Even non-vegan guests won’t be able to tell the difference.
7. Homemade Vegan Meatloaf Made With Lentils & Oats by Shane and Simple
Shane and Simple really hits the right notes with his vegan meatloaf featuring oats and lentils. The thing that really makes this meatloaf a star is a focus on meaty flavors and textures, making it ideal for newer vegans and mixed gatherings of vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores. Shane and Simple relies on southern flavors to give this meatloaf a serious kick.
Tried-and-true combinations like celery and two types of pepper make it taste like something you would have eaten as a child. The cooked lentils and oats provide the bulk of the meatloaf.
Make sure that you mix them together as well as possible so that there are no large pieces of oat or a single lentil floating around in the mix. The idea is to have it as consistent as you can, to mimic the taste and feel of meatloaf.
Flax seeds stand in for eggs here and do a phenomenal job of binding everything together. Since flax seeds are super valuable for any kitchen, it’s a good idea to have them on hand for plenty of vegan recipes.
Store them in an airtight container, and they will keep for months. For spices, Shane and Simple uses marjoram, sage, and parsley, as well as Dijon mustard for a bit of kick. It’s a delightful combination that’s just perfectly spicy and savory.
8. Vegan Meatloaf With Gravy by A Virtual Vegan
If you’re cooking a vegan meatloaf, you’ll want it to be rich and savory. There’s nothing worse than dry, flavorless meatloaf. Unfortunately, it’s all too common to have this consistency if you don’t have meat. A Virtual Vegan solves this problem by adding in plenty of liquid-dense mushrooms for a savory and moist meatloaf that can stand up to any traditional variety.
Mushrooms are the star of this meatloaf, although they’re not overpowering. Even if you don’t like mushrooms, you might care for this rendition because they’re so thoroughly incorporated into the meatloaf itself.
If you’re serving mushroom skeptics, or you don’t like the vegetable yourself, make sure that you thoroughly combine everything together in your food processor. That way, the mushroom flavor will blend in with garlic and onions and be less overpowering.
A rich mushroom gravy binds the whole dish together. Serve this tasty meatloaf with whipped mashed potatoes for a comprehensive and delicious dinner.
You can also top your mashed potatoes with a bit of vegan butter or olive oil and some of the mushroom gravy. It’s easy enough to make on a weeknight but tasty enough to serve as part of your Sunday dinner.
9. Easy Vegetarian Meatloaf Loaf by The Spruce Eats
The Spruce Eats is an excellent source for vegetarian and vegan recipes, and this simple meatloaf is a great example of what they have to offer. As with many of the top meatloaves on our list, The Spruce Eats does it right by ensuring that the loaf itself is moist and flavorful. It’s also a good option for larger groups because, unlike some of the others on our list, this meatloaf has no nuts in it.
Instead, it’s made of vegan “ground beef,” vegetables, garlic, and oatmeal. Taste-wise, it’s probably one of the more conventionally-flavored items on our list. Although the recipe calls for one green pepper and one red one, you can swap in other types if you’d like. You can also adjust the spice levels to taste and even sprinkle a little bit of fresh herbs into the mix too.
The rich flavor of this meatloaf is complimented nicely by a complex glaze. Brown sugar, mustard, and ketchup give it a tangy and slightly-sweet edge that’s just heavenly. It’s a good idea to make a little bit of extra glaze in case people want to drizzle it on the inside of their meatloaf. For seriously delicious comfort food that’s cruelty-free, this meatloaf is it.
10. Easy Vegan Meatloaf With Lentils And Chickpeas by She Likes Food
While some vegan meatloaves have lentils or chickpeas, this simple recipe has both for a fiber-rich twist on a classic favorite. It’s versatile, great for company dinners, and freezes nicely. It’s also a fantastic cold-weather food that’s great for leftovers too.
It’s also a good alternative for people who don’t like mushrooms but still want an excellent, hearty, vegan meatloaf.
As with all of the recipes on our list, make sure that you combine the chickpeas and lentils thoroughly so that you don’t have large chunks of either.
The slight difference in consistency between the two works well for this meatloaf, binding it together and keeping it nice and moist. Although you can pair it with virtually anything, She Likes Food suggests mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.
11. Vegan Lentil Meatloaf Muffins by Veggies Save The Day
Veggies do indeed save the day in this delicious recipe that puts a fun spin on meatloaf by serving it in muffin form. Meatloaf muffins have more surface area than traditional meatloaf, making them crunchier and suitable for people who like those burnt edges.
They’re also portion-controlled and great for outdoor parties or barbecues where you have limited access to utensils.
These muffins come with a classic ketchup glaze with a slight twist. Balsamic vinegar ups the sweetness level a touch and makes them all that more sophisticated. You can use pretty much any different type of lentil that you want; just make sure that they are properly cooked through and fully mashed. Canned lentils save you time and effort.
Serve these petite and tasty muffins with mashed potatoes and the roasted vegetables of your choice for a beautiful meal.
Easy Vegan Meatloaf Recipes, Final Thoughts
If you’re vegan, you can have a tasty, traditional meatloaf and eat it too with these recipes that feature lentils, chickpeas, and faux ground beef. So why not give your family a treat, and try one for dinner tonight? You’ll be surprised by how simple and easy vegan meatloaf can be.