Plant-Based Ground Beef Recipe (2024)

The sky's the limit with this totally vegan ground beef substitute!

Plant-Based Ground Beef Recipe (1)

Get ready, because your life is about to change for the better. Once you make this vegan ground beef recipe, there’s no stopping you. The sky’s the limit! Just like that, you can swap in this quinoa “beef” for any recipe that calls for traditional ground beef. We’ll show you how in just a minute,but for now let’s just take a minute and really let it sink in.

Vegan ground beef. That sounds like endless possibilities to me!

First of all, let’s take a look at how we got here. I started my journey towards vegan ground beef like so many others: with meatless Monday. Because it was such a great challenge,it really helped to expand my cooking in such a great way. It was also a perfect way to fill at least one day of the week with lots of produce, and it made me feel better, too!

I started with tofu and tempeh (both being really natural meat replacements), and then I went from there. As I continued, I found myself wanting more, but most of all, I wanted something that had the texture of ground beef.

Then it hit me – quinoa has a delicate and crumbly texture, kind of similar to ground beef or turkey, so all I needed to do to transform it into a valid substitute was tomake it a little bit stickier. I baked it with some chopped walnuts, tomato paste, and nutritional yeast and voila – vegan ground beef was born!

How to Use Vegan Ground Beef

Plant-Based Ground Beef Recipe (2)

You can use this ground beef substitute any way you use normally cooked ground beef or turkey. Just add it to your favorite casserole dishes, wrap it up in a tortilla to make tacos or burritos, or have some fun with Asian-style lettuce cups. It’s so versatile and neutral tasting, and it will pick up other spices and flavors really nicely.

All you need to do is change up the flavor profile a little bit to customize it to your needs. For example, we’ve suggested adding salsa, garlic powder, chili powder, and cumin for Mexican dishes. This will give the vegan ground beef that taco-seasoning characteristic we all know and love, but that’s not all. We also suggested a way to make it taste more Italian-style by adding marinara, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. This is perfect for lasagna or pasta casserole dishes.

Really, all you need to do is put some thought into the flavor profile of the cuisine you’re cooking. Then, spice the vegan ground beef up appropriately, and then you can enjoy! Sesame oil, ginger, and green onion would be great additions to Asian cuisine, whereas coriander, cardamom, and turmeric would be perfect for Moroccan-style dishes.

If you can’t think of where to get started, let us help! Here are 10 ideas off the top of our head, but if nothing sounds like it will hit the spot, let us know in the comments and we’d love to give you more suggestions!

Vegan Meat Ideas:

Plant-Based Ground Beef Recipe (3)

  • Tacos
  • Spaghetti Vegan Meat Sauce
  • Enchiladas
  • Burritos
  • Taquitos
  • Lasagna Filling
  • Asian Lettuce Cups
  • Tortilla Wraps
  • Chili
  • Casseroles

And now, without further ado, the recipe itself. We can’t wait to hear how this turned out for you, so let us know below!

4.81 from 26 votes

Plant-Based Ground Beef Recipe

This healthy, tasty, and versatile Vegan Beef recipe is perfect for a plethora of dishes.

Review Recipe PIN RECIPE Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Yield 10 people

Serving Size 0.5 cup

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American

Author Gale Compton

Plant-Based Ground Beef Recipe (4)

Review Recipe PIN RECIPE Print Recipe

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Vegan Meat Base

  • 1 cup quinoa rinsed
  • 2 cups vegetable broth low-sodium
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt more or less to taste
  • 1 cup walnuts raw, finely diced
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast

Mexican Dishes

  • 1/2 cup salsa no sugar added
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin

Italian Dishes

  • 1/2 cup marinara sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano or Italian seasoning

Instructions

  • Add quinoa, broth, salt, and pepper to a medium pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat to a low-boil and cook until the broth is absorbed, 12-15 minutes. Turn off the burner, cover the pot and allow to set 5 minutes.

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

  • Add all other ingredients to the quinoa, stir to combine. Evenly spread on a large parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes, stir, evenly spread on the sheet and continue baking 15 minutes.

  • Remove sheet and enjoy in your favorite Mexican or Italian dishes. Vegan meat keeps in the fridge for up to 1 week or can be frozen for later use.

Notes

Please note that sprouted quinoa only takes 1 1/2 cups broth. Follow the directions on the package if unsure how much liquid to add or how long to cook.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 163mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g |

SmartPoints (Freestyle): 2

Keywords dairy-free, Diabetic-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Low-Carb, Plant-Based, Vegan, Vegetarian

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Plant-Based Ground Beef Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is plant-based ground beef made of? ›

The foundational elements in plant-based meat are a protein of some sort (like tofu, tempeh, or soy), plant oils (like sunflower or canola oil), and a vegan binding agent (like gluten, aquafaba, or beans.)

How do you cook beyond beef plant-based ground? ›

Cook product thoroughly. Do not consume raw. Heat non-stick pan over medium-high heat, add Beyond Mince. Cook for 5-8 minutes, breaking up to desired crumble size and stirring frequently.

Is meatless ground beef good for you? ›

Many newer plant-based meat products are similar in calories and protein to animal-based protein sources. But they could potentially be lower in calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and vitamin B12 and higher in sodium and fat after being prepared.

How much TVP equals 1 lb of meat? ›

To replace 1 lb of ground meat: use 1/3 lb of TVP and 1 1/3 cups of boiling water or broth. Place dry TVP in a bowl and pour boiling water or broth over the granules. Stir and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Use as directed in your recipe.

Is plant-based beef healthier? ›

New research shows that although plant-based meat products are generally healthier than meat equivalents, they can be higher in sugar and are often lacking important nutrients found in real meat.

What makes plant-based burgers taste like meat? ›

Umami is what gives savoury dishes that meaty, brothy taste – typically found as MSG. Some manufacturers will use what you might call an “umami bomb” to give plant-based applications the hearty, meaty taste consumers want from traditional meat.

What holds plant-based meat together? ›

Common binders used in plant-based meat include soy protein isolate, methylcellulose, carrageenan, and modified starches. Overall, these binders improve the thickening, gelation, and textural properties of end products. Methylcellulose is an especially common binder.

What is the best way to cook plant-based burgers? ›

Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until just smoking. Place 4 patties in skillet and weight with prepared pot. Cook until well browned on first side, about 1 minute. Remove pot, flip patties, and cook until just cooked through on second side, about 15 seconds.

Can Beyond Meat go bad? ›

Just like animal-derived meat, you should keep Beyond Beef® at refrigerated temperature until you cook it on the stovetop, griddle, or grill. Use within 3 days of opening if purchased frozen, thaw in fridge, and use within 10 days. If kept frozen, use by date printed on pack.

What are the disadvantages of plant-based meat? ›

As some plant-based meat and mock meat products are created to replicate animal meat, they may undergo more processing. This leads to a high content of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar.

What are the cons of Beyond beef? ›

Unfortunately, even though an alternative to beef is better for the environment, it may not necessarily be better for your health. The Beyond Meat burger has 18 ingredients, the Impossible Burger has 21. Both are highly processed and contain several additives and inflammatory oils.

Does TVP taste like ground beef? ›

TVP in its plain form is tasteless, like plain tofu. I use a double or triple strength bouillon, or more recently, water seasoned with Vegeta seasoning found here on Amazon. Add some oil and a little sugar when you season it, for a better meat substitute experience.

Is TVP cheaper than meat? ›

TVP is primarily used as a meat substitute due to its very low cost at less than a third the price of ground beef and, when cooked together, will help retain more nutrients from the meat by absorbing juices normally lost.

How to make TVP taste good? ›

Rehydrate: Since TVP comes dehydrated, the first step will always be to rehydrate it in hot water or vegetable broth. For this recipe, regular veggie broth works fine, but if you have beef-style vegan bouillon cubes, they will boost the umami factor a lot!

What are the ingredients in plant-based beef burgers? ›

Water, Pea Protein*, Avocado Oil, Natural Flavors, Rice Protein, Lentil Protein, 2% or less of Methylcellulose, Potato Starch, Pea Starch, Potassium Lactate (to preserve freshness), Faba Bean Protein, Apple Extract, Pomegranate Concentrate, Potassium Salt, Spice, Vinegar, Vegetable Juice Color (with Beet).

Is plant-based meat artificial meat? ›

There are two types of artificial meat: “plant-based meat (PBM),” which is made mainly from vegetable proteins such as soybeans, peas and mushrooms, and “cultured meat,” which is made by culturing stem cells from animals such as cattle.

Does plant-based mean no meat? ›

The diet consists primarily of food made of plants: fruits and vegetables in addition to nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes. A plant-based diet is not a vegetarian or vegan diet; you can eat poultry, beef, eggs, fish, and dairy products, however most of your nutrient intake is coming from plant-based food sources.

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