Vegan Meatloaf
on Jun 18, 2023
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I call this Vegan Meatloaf recipe a “meat lovers” vegan meatloaf, because it’s hearty, savory, and comforting just like the beef and turkey meatloaf recipes I grew up with. This one is vegan, but you’d never know it. In fact, after one bite, my boyfriend turned to me and said “Let’s add this to the rotation.” Which is his way of saying, I want to have this often, please!
We’re big fans of this vegan version of a comfort-food classic, and I know you and your family will love it too!
How to Make Vegan Meatloaf
A homemade vegan meatloaf recipe is not that different than the traditional recipe you may already be familiar with. The process is simple:
Combine vegan ground meat, breadcrumbs, onions, carrots, and spices in a bowl along with vegan Worcestershire sauce and one flax egg to bind it all together.
Mix it up, bake, the glaze with a sweet and tangy ketchup glaze for an extra layer of flavor and an irresistible shine.
Ingredients to make vegan meatloaf
- Vegan ground, such as Beyond Meat
- Onions
- Carrots
- Garlic
- Breadcrumbs
- Ground Flax Seed
- Dried Rosemary
- Vegan Worcestershire sauce
- Ketchup
- Fresh Parsley
What’s the secret to making great homemade meatloaf?
Make your own breadcrumbs! In a pinch, the store-bought kind will work, but I like making my own with day old bread. Simply rip up the bread into a food processor or veggie chopper like this one. Pulse a few times and ta-daa! You have breadcrumbs!
Don’t over mix! It’s tempting to want to press the meatloaf mixture down into the pan. To be honest, there’s something fun about smoothing out the top and making it “perfect” but that’s actually not what you want! Press the meatloaf mixture into the pan firmly, but don’t over do. If the meatloaf is too compact, it will be dense when it’s finished baking.
Glaze the top! I think a Ketchup and Worcestershire sauce glaze is the best part of meatloaf. It adds lots of flavor and pretty pop of color as well. The shiny, savory top is my favorite bite, and I often find myself saying that part for last!
If ketchup isn’t your thing, this vegan “beef” gravy works well with meatloaf and gives a meat ‘n potatoes vibe to the meal. It’s easy to make and even better when paired with these vegan mashed potatoes!
Tip: This recipe makes enough for two meatloaves, or eight servings. Serve with mashed potatoes and a green veggie or salad.
Vegan Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 2 tbsp water
- 24 oz vegan ground meat, such as Beyond Meat
- 1 cup finley diced yellow onion, about 1 large yellow onion
- 1 large carrot, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 handful chopped fresh parsley
- 4-5 thick slices of sourdough bread, or roughly 2 cups up fresh breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
- 2 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
Glaze
- 6 tbsp ketchup
- 6 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
Prep
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Then remove the crust from the bread and rip the inside of the bread into small pieces. Place the bread pieces in a food processor and pulse a few times to create breadcrumbs. You'll need about 2 cups. Then transfer the breadcrumbs to a cookie sheet and set a set a timer for 5 minutes.
- Bake for 5-7 minutes and then set aside to cool.
- Next, make a flax egg by mixing together the ground flax seeds and water. Stir and set aside to thicken.
- Next, finely chop the onions, carrots, and parsley. Crush the garlic and place all of the veggies and parsley in a large mixing bowl.
Mix
- Add the vegan meat, breadcrumbs, salt, rosemary, and vegan Worcestershire sauce to the bowl with veggies. Then add the thickened flax egg and use clean hands to mix well.
Bake
- Divide the meatloaf mixture between two 9x4in loaf pans and press firmly but not so hard that it's tough and compact, or the meatloaf will be too dense when it's done baking. Bake for 20 minutes.
- In the meantime, make the glaze by mixing together the ketchup and vegan Worcestershire sauce. Brush half of the glaze on top of each meatloaf and bake for anther 25-30 minutes.
Finishing Touches
- Remove the meatloaves from the oven and brush on the remaining glaze. Sprinkle with more parsley and serve!
Thank you so much for creating this recipe, you nailed it! We will definitely be making this again.