Many vegans have had to deal with the classic question: “Well don’t you miss [insert meat here]?” More often than not, this will be bacon. People often think that when you stop eating meat, you have to give up hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, and other meaty dishes. But, that just isn’t true! There are so many meaty vegan recipes out there (including bacon)! There’s also a bunch of meat substitutes that you can buy in-store or even make yourself! As a vegan, you can enjoy delicious, hearty, and flavorful meals without cruelty! Looking for your vegan meat fix?
Try one of these 15 meaty vegan recipes from our Food Monster App on Labor Day to show off how delicious plant-based meats can be! Or make them for yourself when you’re craving something hearty!
1. Sloppy Joes
Source: Sloppy Joes
We were thrilled to find a vegan version of this family favorite. These Sloppy Joes by Adam Merrin and Ryan Alvarez are amazing! What made sloppy joes so appealing growing up? Perhaps it was the tangy sauce, with a sweetness that felt indulgent and almost dessert-like. Maybe it was the silly name, or that they were just so messy and fun to eat. Whatever it was, they were so good that you couldn’t help eating more than one.
2. Sausage Rolls
Source: Sausage Rolls
Say hello to everyone’s favorite party food, the sausage roll..but in this case, the vegan sausage roll. Holly Jade‘s delicious Sausage Rolls are vegan, gluten-free, taste divine, and packed full of flavor.
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3. Creamy Mushroom Stroganoff
Source: Creamy Mushroom Stroganoff
This Creamy Mushroom Stroganoff by Julie Zimmer can be served with pasta or rice of choice. However, for an even more nutritious and complete meal, try substituting the pasta or rice with cooked red quinoa and lentils mixed. It’s delicious.
4. Walnut Taco Meat
Source: Walnut Taco Meat
100% raw, gluten-free tacos! Is it everything you ever dreamed of? The Walnut Taco Meat by Christa Clark is made from a walnut base and is incredible! Put it on tortillas with homemade salsa, cashew sour cream, and guacamole! You can also make an entirely raw meal by serving the vegan taco meat on leaves of cabbage or lettuce. It’s sure to make taco night the best night of the week!
5. Tempeh Meatballs
Source: Tempeh Meatballs
These Tempeh Meatballs by Lisa Dawn Angerame are so tasty! Maybe one of the best vegan meatball recipes. Seriously. Eat them on pasta, in sandwiches, or on their own. You won’t be able to get enough.
6. Grilled Seitan Kebabs With Creole Coconut Sauce
![Grilled Seitan Kebabs With Creole Coconut Sauce [Vegan]](https://i0.wp.com/www.onegreenplanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/kabob.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
Source: Grilled Seitan Kebabs With Creole Coconut Sauce
Josephine Watmore‘s recipe for Grilled Seitan Kebabs With Creole Coconut Sauce uses delicious homemade seitan. It’s a pretty long process and not ideal if you have a very busy life, but if you have the time it’s an interesting process. You can just as well use store-bought seitan for this recipe or your favorite homemade simmered seitan recipe. Oh and this is grilled in the English sense … so broiled to all of you in the States!
7. Soy Burger With Homemade Bun
Source: Soy Burger With Homemade Bun
For an evening in, make this delicious Soy Burger With Homemade Bun by Valentina Chiappa. Complete the grilled onion sandwich with tomato, lettuce, and guacamole sauce.
8. Chickpea ‘Meat’ Sauce Over Pasta Shells
Source: Chickpea ‘Meat’ Sauce Over Pasta Shells
Annie Oliverio‘s recipe for Chickpea ‘Meat’ Sauce Over Pasta Shells is the next best thing to simmered all-day pasta sauce. You’ll have all your family and friends guessing how you managed to juggle your day while making such a fabulous meaty sauce – hey, we won’t tell them it was super easy if you don’t!
9. Oyster Mushroom Po’ Boy
Source: Oyster Mushroom Po’ Boy
A Po’Boy is a traditional Louisiana sandwich. It’s made by putting meat on a baguette and then adding different toppings and sauce. This vegan Po’ Boy is sure to hit the spot for even the most critical of eaters. It’s full of flavor and complimentary textures. Tender, meaty oyster mushrooms make the perfect meat substitution in this classic dish. Then it’s got a delicious vegan Thousand Island sauce, crisp romaine lettuce, dill pickles, and tomatoes. This Oyster Mushroom Po’ Boy by Hot For Food is perfect for lunch, dinner, or a comforting midnight meal!
10. Fried “Chicken” and Gravy
Source: Fried “Chicken” and Gravy
Tofu is such a versatile ingredient that when prepared in different ways, also yields very different tastes and textures. Taste for yourself in this Fried “Chicken” and Gravy by Jessica Uy!
11. Buffalo Seitan ‘Wings’
Source: Buffalo Seitan ‘Wings’
You can’t have a party without vegan buffalo wings! These Buffalo Seitan ‘Wings’ by Melanie Sorrentino are perfectly spicy and sure to be the star of the show. Cauliflower wings are fun, but these vegan buffalo wings are made from seitan, which gives them a meaty texture. Frying them gives the wings a beautifully crispy skin that you can drench in as much or as little spicy Buffalo sauce as your heart desires. Pair these vegan seitan buffalo wings with fresh celery and dairy-free blue cheese dip! Everyone at the party will be obsessed with your vegan buffalo wings!
12. Lentil Loaf With Smoked Paprika Glaze
Source: Lentil Loaf With Smoked Paprika Glaze
Flavorful, tender, and moist without being sticky. The smoked paprika glaze adds a nice touch, too. This Lentil Loaf With Smoked Paprika Glaze by Lee Khatchadourian-Reese is fantastic!
13. Meat-Free Haute Dogs
Source: Meat-Free Haute Dogs
Casual comfort food at its best — the iconic hot dog has been transformed into a healthy sausage link of deliciousness using plant-based ingredients: the Haute dog! These Meat-Free Haute Dogs by VEGANIZE IT! are made from tofu, wheat protein, and oat flour seasoned with a blend of savory spices to make them taste just like the American classic. Serve with mustard, ketchup, and plenty of relish.
14. Seitan Steak and Mushroom Pie
Source: Seitan Steak and Mushroom Pie
This Seitan Steak and Mushroom Pie by Jenny Marie is perfect for a Sunday dinner, or just as a comforting any-night meal to warm you up when it’s cold outside. They pair perfectly with creamy mashed potatoes, green vegetables, and lashings of rich gravy.
15. Jackfruit Quesadilla
Source: Jackfruit Quesadilla
Jackfruit is an incredible meat substitute! It’s a tropical fruit that can grow quite large. The flesh and seeds are edible. It’s a sweet fruit when it matures but when it’s green, jackfruit can be used in savory dishes where its fibrous texture makes it a good meat substitute. Try this Jackfruit Quesadilla by Lydia Filgueras!
Easy Ways to Help the Planet:
- Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
- Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
- Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
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- Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!
