The Best Vegan Lentil Meatloaf

Name: The Best Vegan Lentil Meatloaf
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 1 cup dried green lentils (sorted and rinsed or 2 1/2 cups cooked); 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed meal; 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil; 1 cup finely diced yellow onion; 1 cup finely diced celery; 3 garlic cloves (minced); 1 cup shredded carrot; 10 ounces baby bella mushrooms (minced (about 2 cups)); 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 teaspoon fennel seeds; 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast; 1 cup finely chopped toasted walnuts; 1 cup bread crumbs; 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (plus more to taste); 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (plus more to taste); Red chili flakes to taste; 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 3 tbsp organic ketchup

03.25.2021 / By Jenne / 36 Comments

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How do you make a delicious vegan meatloaf that has the perfect meaty texture and amazing plate-licking flavor? You use lentils. But lentils alone will create a mushy meatloaf, and that’s no good. The secret to that meaty texture is mushrooms and walnuts, plus loads of diced and sauteed vegetables. This is the only vegan lentil meatloaf recipe you will ever need!

This vegan lentil meatloaf is one of the best things since sliced bread 😉 When I was a personal chef it was a client favorite, and it even made its way into my cookbook. This is the perfect recipe if you are looking for a vegan entree. It’s great for the holidays––I always make it for Thanksgiving––but also great for a weeknight vegan dinner any time of year.

Of all the vegan meatloafs I’ve tried, this lentil meatloaf is the best. If you know my recipes, you know that I like to use wholesome ingredients, and very rarely use store-bought meat substitutes. For the most authentic meaty texture a vegan ground beef product like Sweet Earth, Beyond Meat, or Gardein would do. However, this lentil meatloaf is so much tastier and more satisfying.

How to make a vegan lentil meatloaf?

Step 1

To make this vegan meatloaf you start by sauteing minced onions, garlic, celery, and mushroom. Minced baby bella mushrooms are both juicy and meaty, and add flavor and a much appreciated succulence to the meatloaf.

Step 2

Add cooked green lentils to the vegetables, along with toasted minced walnuts, a flax “egg”, and breadcrumbs.

Minced walnuts are a must for this lentil meatloaf. If you’ve tried my lentil walnut taco “meat” recipe, then you already know how much flavor, savoriness, and texture walnuts add.

While traditional meatloaf uses an egg to bind the ingredients, a flax “egg” is perfect for my vegan meatloaf recipe. To make a flax egg you simply combine ground flaxseed with water, and let it sit. After about 5 minutes it will have thickened and turned gelatinous, and can replace an egg in most recipes.

Step 3

Once the meatloaf ingredients are combined you transfer it to a loaf pan lined with parchment. I like to make a quick glaze of balsamic vinegar and ketchup, and spread that over the loaf before it goes into the oven. Bake for 30 minutes!

Does this vegan meatloaf freeze well?

This recipe is perfect for meal prep days and freezing long term. It keeps well in the fridge for up to 7 days, and will stay delicious in the freezer for up to 3 months. Feel free to double this recipe and make another loaf for later.

I recommend freezing it after it has been baked. Slice it before freezing to make thawing easier. Lastly, make sure to store it in a freezer safe bag.

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What can I put in meatloaf instead of breadcrumbs?

If you are gluten intolerant, or just out of breadcrumbs, you can replace them with instant oats. If you only have old fashioned oats, give them a whirl in a blender to bread them up before adding. The texture isn’t the same as breadcrumbs, but it will still be delicious. Gluten-free breadcrumbs will also work.

What’s a good substitute for walnuts?

If you are allergic to walnuts, you can replace them with toasted sunflower seeds and/or pumpkin seeds. To achieve a meaty texture with these seeds, I recommend blending them in the food processor before adding to the recipe. The texture should be crumbly, but not a powder.

Have questions about the recipe? Please ask below. I hope you love it as much as I do. If you love lentils, or are looking for more reasons to love them, check out my roundup of amazing vegan lentil recipes!