Vegetarian Meatloaf

This juicy, flavorful vegetarian meatloaf recipe uses plant-based crumbles.

By
Katie Morford, MS, RD
Katie Morford
Katie Morford, MS, RD
Katie is a culinary dietitian with a master's degree in clinical nutrition. She has 25 years of experience as a recipe developer, writer, and teacher.
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Updated May 06, 2024
Katie Morford
Vegetarian Meatloaf on a Plate with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

I’m a meatloaf lover if ever there was one. It was among the rotation of down-home dishes my mom was famous for when I was growing up. Paired with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli, meatloaf was always a favorite childhood dinner. 

Because I eat a largely plant-based diet these days, I miss that meatloaf, so I set out to make a recipe to mimic my mom’s (minus the meat). Vegetarian meatloaf is exactly that: a tender, soul-satisfying, juicy meatloaf that will fool many a meatloaf lover.

Vegetarian Meatloaf on a Plate with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

How To Make a Meatless Meatloaf

This recipe uses the same method and many of the same ingredients that made my mom’s meatloaf so good: onions, garlic, herbs, ketchup, lots of black pepper, and breadcrumbs. I’ve made 3 changes to her recipe that make it entirely meatless and a little easier on the cook:

  1. Finely chop all the vegetables and herbs in the food processor. This makes the prep work go quickly.
  2. Swap in a plant-based “meat” for the ground beef.
  3. Include a half pound of mushrooms. They add an extra kick of umami and plenty of moisture. 

Using Meatless Meat

I tested this recipe using the two most commonly available vegetarian ground beef brands: Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods (I wrote a whole article about them which you can find here). 

Both stack up similarly in terms of texture and nutrient profile and I found they worked equally well in the recipe. You could even use a combination of the two. I imagine there are other products out there and certainly more coming down the pipeline, but these brands are proven to work in this meatloaf recipe. 

Vegetarian Meatloaf in a Baking Pan

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

How Does Vegetarian Meatloaf Compare?

This vegetarian meatloaf looks just like its meaty twin. Seeing the finished dish in a loaf pan with a tangy glaze on top, you’d never guess it was meatless. As for flavor, the onions, garlic, herbs, and vegetables really deliver. Plus, the fat in both Beyond and Impossible grounds lend a richness very similar to regular meatloaf. 

Vegetarian meatloaf is a bit more crumbly than standard meatloaf. I find it best to cut slices straight from the loaf pan. 

Storing and Reheating 

Store any leftover meatloaf in a covered container or wrap with foil and store in the fridge where it will keep for about 3 days. Enjoy it cold on a meatloaf sandwich or reheat in a 350°F oven or in the microwave just until warmed through. The time will vary depending on the size of the slice. 

You can also freeze the meatloaf for up to 3 months. Let cool completely, then wrap thoroughly in plastic followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating. 

Vegetarian Meatloaf on a Plate with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Vegetarian Comfort Food For the Whole Family

Vegetarian Meatloaf

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 75 mins
Total Time 95 mins
Servings 6 servings

For a 100% vegetarian meatloaf, use vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, sub in soy sauce, or leave it out.

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Ingredients

For the meatloaf:

  • 1 large carrot, cut into 5 pieces

  • 1 large yellow onion, peeled and quartered

  • 1/2 pound white button or cremini mushrooms

  • 3 large cloves garlic, peeled

  • 1 packed cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 1/2 pounds Beyond Meat or Impossible Foods ground beef

  • 1 1/3 cups panko breadcrumbs

  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 1 egg

For the glaze:

  • 1/4 cup ketchup

  • 1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Finely chop the vegetables:

    Put the carrot, onion, mushrooms, garlic, and parsley in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse to chop the vegetables into a tiny dice that looks a little like confetti (about 30 pulses). Stop and scrape down the sides as needed.

    Vegetables Finely Chopped in a Food Processor for Vegetarian Meatloaf Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
  3. Cook the vegetables:

    Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped vegetables, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until the juices of the vegetables release and cook off, about 8 minutes. The mixture should look slightly moist but not wet and the pan should be dry. 

    Chopped Vegetables Cooked over a Stove in a Pan

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
  4. Form the meatloaf:

    Transfer the cooked vegetables to a large bowl and let cool slightly. Add the vegetarian meat, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, panko breadcrumbs, tomato paste, and egg. Use your hands to mix the ingredients thoroughly until everything is evenly distributed.

    Cooked Vegetables and Beyond Meat Mixed Together in a Bowl

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
  5. Bake the meatloaf:

    Transfer the mixture to a 1-pound (9x5-inch) loaf pan and press it gently to fill out the pan. Bake until the meatloaf is firm to the touch, about 50 minutes.

    Vegetarian Meatloaf Added to a Loaf Pan

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
    Vegetarian Meatloaf (Cooked) Next to Bowl with Sauce

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
  6. Add the glaze and finish cooking:

    In a small bowl, stir together the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce. Use the back of a spoon to spread it evenly over the top of the meatloaf. Return the meatloaf to the oven and bake to finish cooking the meatloaf and darken the glaze, another 15 minutes.

    Let the meatloaf cool for about 15 minutes. Serve by cutting slices directly from the pan—it’s a bit more crumbly than conventional meatloaf. 

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    Vegetarian Meatloaf Sauce Whisked Together in a Bowl

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
    Vegetarian Meatloaf Topped with Sauce

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
468 Calories
23g Fat
28g Carbs
36g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 468
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 30%
Saturated Fat 9g 43%
Cholesterol 130mg 43%
Sodium 681mg 30%
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 36g
Vitamin C 18mg 89%
Calcium 108mg 8%
Iron 5mg 30%
Potassium 791mg 17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.