Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

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Published: . Last Updated: by: Ginny McMeans

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The Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe is loaded with a great combination of chickpeas, mushrooms, and more. A super dinner for holidays and also for special weekends. You can serve it plain, with gravy, or with a multitude of sauces.

Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (1)

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Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe

Everybody needs a vegan meatloaf or two or three in their repertoire. One of the special differences with this meatloaf is that it has a mix of veggies that really pushes the flavors over the top.

Green split peas add so much flavor. It's like they're a miracle worker. Chickpeas and mushrooms add another texture, too. This is truly a unique meatloaf that is foolproof.

There's no chance of this meatloaf becoming mushy and you can be proud of all those beautiful slices.

I can just see this on a Thanksgiving table sitting alongside Vegan Sausage Stuffing, Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans, Apple Broccoli Salad and more.

Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (2)

Vegan Meatloaf Ingredients

  • Split Green Peas - becomes a flavor star.
  • Chickpeas - add texture and taste.
  • Rolled Oats - are a great binder add even more protein.
  • Bread Crumbs - is also used for binding. Use gluten-free if needed.
  • Onion - always adds sweetness when cooked.
  • Cremini Mushrooms - help to add that earthy flavor.
  • Carrot - has that little bit of healthy sweetness that is so good.
  • Raw Hemp Hearts - are just so dang good.
  • Ground Sage - is a favorite ingredient and it goes perfectly with the ingredients in this recipe.
  • Salt and Pepper - for added seasoning.
  • Tomato Paste - adds a richness to the easy vegan meatloaf recipe.
  • Vegan Worcestershire Sauce - has seven concentrated ingredients for that extra oomph.
  • Tamari - gives another twist to the flavors.
  • Vegan Mayonnaise - is the final addition and is a creamy binder.

Wow! As I was going through this list I realized how power-packed it is with protein. That wasn't my intention but what an absolute pleasant surprise.

If you slice this loaf into 8 slices each slice is 17 grams of protein!

A nice feature to this recipe is that you bake it with no sauce and you can add whatever topping you like when serving. Or just serve it on the side.

A rich gravy is usually my first choice. Especially if it's being served for Thanksgiving. I love gravy on potatoes and stuffing too so it just seems like a no brainer.

How To Make This Easy Vegan Meatloaf Recipe?

There are steps to take but they are all easy. You won't believe how nicely it comes together.

  1. Get out a large mixing bowl, a food processor and a baking sheet.
  2. Cut a piece of parchment paper and place inside the baking sheet. Set aside.
  3. Cook the dried split green peas. Drain and then spread out on a couple of paper towels to get more water off of the legumes.
  4. Heat a couple of tablespoons of water to a skillet and heat to boiling and add the onions, mushrooms, and carrots. Turn down the heat and sauté for 10 minutes.Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (3)
  5. Add the chickpeas and rolled oats to the food processor and pulse a few times to make pieces a bit smaller but not by much. Turn into the large bowl.
  6. To the large bowl add the cooked split peas, the mushroom mixture, bread crumbs, hemp hearts, sage, salt, and pepper.
  7. Mix well with a wooden spoon.
  8. Add the tomato paste, vegan Worcestershire sauce, tamari, and vegan mayonnaise. Mix well until well combined.Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (4)
  9. With your hands, press all of the ingredients into two balls. This is easier to transfer to the baking pan.
  10. Place on the parchment paper in the pan and press the two rounds next to each other, into each other. Pinch the seam together and start shaping into a loaf.
  11. The shaped loaf size is 8" x 5" x 1 ½"Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (5)
  12. Bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes until the loaf is golden brown.

If you have leftovers then that will give you another chance to change it up for another meal - like a sandwich.

How Do You Make Vegan Meatloaf Sandwiches?

There are a few different ways and each one is my favorite. No kidding - it just depends on how I feel that day. You can add lettuce and onion slices if you desire.

The traditional way is to take a sandwich size hoagie or submarine bun and lay it open. Have a warmed thick slice of 'meatloaf' and spoon on some warm marinara or spaghetti sauce.

It goes great on a hamburger bun too with barbecue sauce. I always like to warm my veggie loaf when I first put it on a sandwich. It can cool off but I like to start it warm.

Nice hearty sandwich bread with chipotle mayo. Lots of it.

Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (6)

Can You Freeze Vegan Meatloaf?

Heck yeah!

It is perfect for freezing if you have it around long enough.

Place any leftovers in a freezer-safe container. If I use freezer bags, I like to double bag.

It will be kept in the freezer for 6 months.

What Side Dish Goes with Vegan Meatloaf?

Mashed Potato Casserole goes with so many things.

For that perfect meatloaf with rich brown gravy, you have to have Scalloped Potatoes!

Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (7)

📋 Recipe

Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (8)

Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe

Ginny McMeans

Vegan Meatloaf with Chickpeas, Green Split Peas and Mushrooms is easy and works great for multiplemeals.

4.84 from 30 votes

Print Save

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Lunch, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 8 Slices

Calories 318 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup green split peas - cooked
  • 14 ounces chickpeas - canned and drained
  • 1 cups rolled oats
  • ½ cup bread crumbs - use gluten free if needed
  • 2 cups portobello mushrooms - diced small or pulse in the food processor a few times
  • ½ cup onion - onion, diced small or pulse in the food processor a few times
  • ½ cup carrots - diced small or pulse in the food processor a few times
  • 4 tablespoons raw hemp hearts
  • 1 teaspoon ground sage
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tamari
  • 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise

Instructions

  • Get out a large mixing bowl, a food processor and a baking sheet.

  • Cut a piece of parchment paper and place inside the baking sheet. Set aside.

  • Cook the dried split green peas. Drain and then spread out on a couple of paper towels to get more water off of the legumes.

  • Heat a couple of tablespoons of water in a skillet and heat to boiling and add the onions, mushrooms, and carrots. Turn down the heat and sauté for 10 minutes.

  • Add the chickpeas and rolled oats to the food processor and pulse a few times to make pieces a bit smaller but not by much. Turn into the large bowl.

  • To the large bowl add the cooked split peas, the mushroom mixture, bread crumbs, hemp hearts, sage, salt, and pepper.

  • Mix well with a wooden spoon.

  • Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, tamari, and vegan mayonnaise. Mix well until well combined.

  • With your hands, press all of the ingredients into two balls. This is easier to transfer to the baking pan.

  • Place on the parchment paper on the baking sheet and press the two rounds next to each other and then into each other. Pinch the seam together and start shaping into a loaf.

  • The shaped loaf size is 8" x 5" x 1 ½"

  • Bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes until the loaf is golden brown.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 318kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 17gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 590mgPotassium: 654mgFiber: 13gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1517IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 78mgIron: 5mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Elizabeth

    Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (13)
    Thank you for the delicious recipe. I served it with fried baby potatoes and salad.

  2. Kendra

    Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (14)
    I have not tried any of your recipes yet, but I’m super excited to do so! My family of 6 includes 1 vegan, 3 vegetarians, and 2 “carnivores 😂”..
    My husband is trying to cut out meat, and recently tried the Impossible Burgers, so I’m hoping these dishes will swing him over to our side!

  3. Ginny McMeans

    I hope so too Kendra! If you have any questions- please ask. 🙂

  4. Kathy Wardley

    Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (15)
    I passed this recipe onto a friend and it was pronounced the best ever Vegan recipe.
    I want to make it myself but cannot eat Mushrooms and also living in the UK we cannot get Hemp Heart nor Liquid Smoke.
    Please can you give alternatives Ginny?
    Thank you.
    Kathy.

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Best Vegan Meatloaf Recipe – Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

FAQs

Can you make meatloaf and freeze it? ›

Label ziptop bags with the contents, date, and cooking directions. Add uncooked meatloaf into the ziptop bag, seal and place in the freezer until ready to use.

What is a vegan egg substitute for meatloaf? ›

Chia seeds can be an excellent egg substitute for meatloaf, but they aren't your only option. You can also use ground flaxseeds, olive oil, oatmeal, or gelatin. For example, vegans will love Guy Fieri's egg substitute, which requires mixing a tablespoon of ground flaxseeds with 2.5 tablespoons of water.

What is impossible meatloaf made of? ›

Ingredients & substitutions for vegan meatloaf:

Impossible Burger: this is the vegan 'ground beef'. You can also use beyond meat, it was delicious too. Panko breadcrumbs and plant milk: mixed together this is the traditional way to add moisture to meatloaf. Sometimes onions are added but I felt they were not needed.

What is vegan meatloaf made of? ›

This Vegan Gluten-Free Meatloaf takes Meat-free Monday to a whole new delicious level! It's filled with so many healthy plant-based ingredients, such as lentils, mushrooms, chickpeas, onion, garlic, flax, oats, and seasonings, it's the best comforting, nourishing dinner everyone will enjoy!

Is it better to freeze meatloaf cooked or uncooked? ›

A: What a thoughtful gesture! Meatloaf can be frozen either fully cooked and cooled or raw ready to bake. Wrap each meatloaf tightly to prevent freezer burn or contamination from raw meat. Whichever method you use, be sure to defrost meat loaf thoroughly in refrigerator before baking or reheating.

Should frozen meatloaf be thawed before baking? ›

Yes, you can cook a meatloaf from frozen. At 350F (175C), it will take about 1.5 times the length of time it would take to cook a non-frozen meatloaf of the same size.

What is the best binder for meatloaf? ›

The most traditional meatloaf binder is probably torn up bread soaked in milk, but you can also use bread crumbs, Panko, dehydrated potato (instant mashed potatoes), or just about any other grain.

What do vegans use instead of eggs for baking? ›

In addition to acting as a binder (think custards and puddings), eggs can work as a leavener and provide structure to your baked goods.
  • Flaxseed Meal. Rich in omega-3s, fiber, and protein, flaxseed is a staple in any vegan pantry. ...
  • Aquafaba. ...
  • Banana. ...
  • Applesauce. ...
  • Chia Seeds. ...
  • Baking Powder and Oil. ...
  • Starches. ...
  • Tofu.
Aug 20, 2022

What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

To help your meatloaf stay together add things such as eggs, bread, crushed croutons, oatmeal, crackers, and breadcrumbs, these are all key ingredients that help meat stick together. I hope that this helps to answer your question. What are the secrets to a firm, sliceable meatloaf that slices and won't fall apart?

Why is Impossible meat not vegan? ›

While Impossible's proprietary plant-based heme is 100 percent free from animal-derived ingredients, it was tested on animals – at least once – in order to gain full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to be “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS.

What do vegans think of Impossible meat? ›

Animal Testing: Some vegans are concerned about the use of animal testing in the development of certain plant-based products, including the Impossible Burger. While the company has stated that they aim to reduce and eliminate animal testing, past involvement can still be a point of contention for some vegans.

Is Worcestershire sauce vegan? ›

Worcestershire sauce is something that is very handy to have on hand. Not only does it come up as an ingredient in many recipes, but it's also just really tasty to add to your meals. The only issue is that regular Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies or fish sauce, so it's not vegan.

What is vegan fake meat called? ›

A meat substitute, also called a meat analogue, approximates certain aesthetic qualities (primarily texture, flavor and appearance) or chemical characteristics of a specific meat. Substitutes are often based on soybeans (such as tofu and tempeh), gluten, or peas.

How long does vegan meatloaf last? ›

The most popular base ingredients in making vegan meatloaf are lentils, beans, quinoa, tofu, brown rice, and tempeh. How long does vegan meatloaf last? Store the loaf in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Or, freeze the meatloaf whole or in individual slices.

Can you freeze meatloaf mix with egg in it? ›

Yes, you can freeze meatloaf mix, which typically consists of ground meat, breadcrumbs, seasonings, and other ingredients.

How do you reheat a frozen cooked meatloaf? ›

Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the meatloaf in a baking dish and cover it with foil. Heat the meatloaf for 20-30 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).

Can you Premake meatloaf and put it in the fridge? ›

Meatloaf is a great make-ahead recipe that you can completely prepare and assemble ahead of time. Once assembled, simply wrap the prepared loaf in foil or plastic wrap and store it overnight in the fridge to bake the next day. You can also freeze assembled meatloaf.

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