Easy Vegan Meatloaf

Published:Jun 11, 2021· Modified: Oct 4, 2024 by Keri Bevan

This vegan meatloaf is comfort food at it's finest. It's gluten free and nut free, so everyone can enjoy it. Not only does it make a lovely midweek meal, it's also a wonderful entree for vegan and vegetarian Christmas or Thanksgiving menus.

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Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
🛒Ingredients
👨‍🍳How To Make The Perfect Vegan Meatloaf
Serving Suggestions
🙋Frequently Asked Questions
Craving More Easy Vegan Recipes?
📖 Recipe
Comments

If you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, chances are you've tried to make a vegan meatloaf. You've most likely had a version of this classic meat-free staple around the holidays. Nut loafs and lentil loafs are frequently the centerpiece of a vegan or vegetarian Christmas or Thanksgiving feast (and with good reason!)

I wanted to make a recipe that allows everyone, including allergy sufferers, to partake in an amazing holiday dinner. So, my lentil meatloaf recipe is free of nuts and other common allergens. Plus, it's gluten free! And, the good news is, that you can enjoy this ultimate comfort food anytime of the year.

The secret to the perfect vegan meatloaf is the perfect mix of dry and wet ingredients. I'll show you how to cook the lentils properly, so that your vegan meatloaf comes out with the perfect texture (not soggy!). Let's get started!

Top Tip: You might also enjoy my Vegan Mushroom Wellington recipe.

Reasons You'll Love This Recipe

This is a recipe that everyone can enjoy. Unlike lots of other vegan meatloafs that use nuts as their primary ingredient, this recipe is nut free.
Kids love this recipe. Sneak in some veggies with all those high fiber lentils.
Vegan meatloaf is the perfect centerpiece for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Serve with a side of winter roasted vegetables, and you've got the perfect holiday feast!
Got leftovers? Make a vegan meatloaf sandwich. They're so delicious!

🛒Ingredients

Flaxseed: Flaxseeds mixed with water make the perfect vegan egg replacer.
Dried Puy Lentils: Puy lentils cook faster than other lentil, yet they still retain a firm bite, which makes them the perfect lentil for this meatloaf.
Vegetable Stock: You can use a DIY vegetable stock, or a pre-packaged one.
Olive Oil: This whole recipe only contains one tablespoon of olive oil! We're using just a small amount to saute the base ingredients.
Onions, Carrots and Celery: I'm listing these three ingredients together as they're holy trinity of the flavor base of this vegan lentil meatloaf! In fact, this combination of ingredients has been used as a culinary flavor base for centuries. It's referred to by the French as mirepoix and by the Italians as soffritto.
Garlic: Garlic has a great depth of flavor and it tends to stretch all the flavors around it.
Sunflower Seeds: Sunflower seeds replace the nuts that you traditionally find in most vegetarian lentil loaf recipes. They add texture and flavor too!
Rolled Oats: Lentils plus oats = the perfect protein.
Rosemary: Earthy rosemary is the perfect herb for lentil loafs.
Cayenne Pepper: Don't worry, your lentil meatloaf won't be spicy. Cayenne adds a nice peppery note.
Mace: Rich and warm mace is like the toned down version of nutmeg.
Salt: Salt naturally enhances all the flavors.
Ketchup: We'll be using this to make a yummy sweet glaze for your vegan meatloaf.
Balsamic Vinegar: Balsamic Vinegar balances out the sweetness of the glaze.
Brown Sugar (or Maple Syrup): The best meatloaf sauces are a nice balance between sweet and tangy.
Onion Powder: Onion powder has such an unmissable funky flavor. I love it in this sauce!

👨‍🍳How To Make The Perfect Vegan Meatloaf

Firstly, combine your milled flaxseed with 6 tablespoons of water and set aside to thicken. We'll be using this later as a vegan egg replacer. Preheat your oven to 400 F (200 C).
Wash your lentils in a sieve, and put them in a medium size saucepan with 1 liter (4 cups) of vegetable stock.
Bring your lentils and stock to a hard boil, and then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Simmer them over low heat for about 20 minutes, or until all of the water is gone. It's important that the water has evaporated. If there's excess, drain it off, but aim to have most of the water removed in the boiling process. Cooking your lentils properly will ensure that your vegan meatloaf comes out with the perfect texture, not soggy or mushy.

Now, while the lentils are simmering away, begin chopping the onion, carrots and celery. You need to dice the veg finely, or your lentil loaf won't hold together properly. You can use a food processor or simply chop it with a sharp knife.
Heat your olive oil in a saute pan and add the onions, carrots and celery along with the garlic, rosemary, cayenne, mace and salt. Saute everything over low heat until the veg are nice and soft, about 5-8 minutes.

Vegan mealoaf filling in a black skillet.

Put your sunflower seeds into a heavy bottomed pan, and toast them over low heat. Move them around occasionally to ensure they don't burn. Remove them from the heat when they release their aroma and are a nice toasty brown. You can skip this step if you're short on time, but it does add a nice earthy flavor to your vegan lentil meatloaf.
Transfer your toasted sunflower seeds and rolled oats to a food processor. Pulse until you achieve a somewhat course meal. You want the mixture to be quite fine, but not so fine that it's sand-like.
When your lentils are done cooking, tip half of them into the pan with the sauteed vegetables. Keep the other half in the pan you cooked them in.
Next, Mash the mixture with a masher or a wooden spoon until the lentils are broken down and everything is well combined. Now, gently stir in the reserved whole lentils and the flaxseed egg replacer. Taste and adjust your seasoning to your preference.

vegan meatloaf in pan with ketchup topping and spoon.

Put everything into a loaf pan. This is the loaf pan I used. It's 22 cm x 11cm x 6cm. However, if you have a shallower, but wider loaf pan that's fine. You'll just need to reduce the cooking time by 8-10 minutes.
Pack the mixture into the pan firmly with the back of a spoon. It should be well compacted.
Mix the ketchup, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and onion powder together. Spread it over the top of the loaf.
Bake your lentil loaf in the oven for 40-50 minutes. Allow it to cool slightly before removing it from the pan.

Serving Suggestions

I love to serve this meatloaf with a side of macho peas
Serve leftovers on whole wheat bread with lettuce and tomatoes and a cold pasta salad on the side.
Take it to a potluck or BBQ with some healthy baked beans.
Make it a Thanksgiving vegan centerpiece with some vegan stuffing and a side of green bean casserole.
Instead of ketchup, top with my favorite BBQ sauce.
Cauliflower and potato mash would be a perfect side to this vegan lentil loaf.
Serve with a side of crispy sweet potato cubes or this creamy vegan sweet potato mash for all the fall vibes.
Vegan meatloaf is the perfect complement to this vegan sweet potato casserole.

Slices of vegan meatloaf on a plate with mashed potatoes.

🙋Frequently Asked Questions

Is this vegan meatloaf gluten free?

Absolutely. It's dairy, nut and gluten free!

Can you make vegan meatloaf ahead of time?

Yes, you can. Simply make the meatloaf and store it in the pan in the fridge. You can make it 1-2 days before you need it, which is perfect for the holidays. Store the sauce separately and add it before you put the meatloaf in the oven.

How do you store leftover lentil loaf?

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Alternatively, freeze the individual slices by lying them out on a parchment lined baking tray and flash freezing for 2 hours. Transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

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📖 Recipe