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!

4.80 from 25 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

How to cook plant-based beef? ›

Plant-based meat cooked to medium-rare (125 degrees) is mushy and pasty. On the flip side, cooking plant-based meat until well done (160 degrees) yields meat with an unpleasantly bouncy, chewy texture. We found medium doneness (130 to 135 degrees) to be the sweet spot for tender, juicy meat.

Can I make my own plant-based meat? ›

Make easy, delicious vegan ground beef using textured vegetable protein mixed with tomato paste and seasonings. Alternatively, make a black bean burger using black beans, eggs, bell peppers, onion, garlic, and bread crumbs. You can also make meatless chicken with wheat gluten and chickpeas.

Is plant-based ground beef healthy? ›

Plant-based meats can be a healthy part of a balanced diet if you enjoy them in the right way. Consuming plant-based meats in moderation along with fruits, veggies and other nutrient-dense foods can profoundly support your health.

How to cook beyond beef ground? ›

Heat non-stick pan over medium-high heat, add Beyond Beef. Cook about 5-8 minutes, breaking up to desired crumble size and stirring frequently. If adding sauce, simmer for up to 30 minutes. Mix dry and wet ingredients per your favorite recipe.

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

Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Coat the bottom of the skillet with oil and cook the patties for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until well-charred and cooked through. Remove from the heat, brush with Worcestershire sauce, and serve with desired fixings.

How do you know when plant-based beef is cooked? ›

If its a potato based patty, look for a crust on top that is browned, and being able to poke it should have steam rise out of it. Its rather simple to tell when its done. For soy patties, its slightly harder - my rule of thumb has always been to wait for the grill marks to appear on it, and then wait about 5 minutes.

How to create plant-based meat? ›

How Do They Make It Resemble Meat?
  1. Extract proteins from raw materials.
  2. Use heat through an “extrusion” process to structure/texturize the proteins. ...
  3. Add additional coloring, flavor, and aroma agents.
  4. Treat the product for microbial contamination.
  5. Package and ship off to grocery stores.
Oct 4, 2022

How to make plant-based meat taste like real 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 is the disadvantage of plant-based meat? ›

Con #1: Plant-based meat can be more heavily processed than animal 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 three of the most famous plant-based meat brands? ›

Top 10 Plant-based Meat Companies : growing sustainable, plant-based food industry
  • Impossible Foods. Impossible Foods Inc. ...
  • Gardein™ ...
  • Beyond Meat. ...
  • Quorn Foods. ...
  • Maple Leaf Foods Inc. ...
  • Amy's Kitchen. ...
  • Morningstar Farms. ...
  • Sunfed Meats.

Can you make burgers from Beyond ground beef? ›

beyond beef is great for a burger of course, but I will totally use it for some. quick and easy recipes. like why not crumble and cook some up. and then add some red sauce.

Is there B12 in Beyond Meat? ›

"The newest version is packed with vitamins and minerals, most notably providing 20% of the daily value for iron and 100% of the daily value for vitamin B12, which are two nutrients of concern for vegans and vegetarians," says the Good Housekeeping Institute's Nutrition Lab Director, Stefani Sassos, RDN.

Does Beyond Meat taste like beef? ›

Short answer is no, it does not taste like beef. The beyond patty has a different texture as well as a subtle difference in taste profile. Whether it is cooked on the same surface as meat products or separate can also change the taste but not by too much.

Does plant-based meat need to be cooked? ›

Plant-based burgers should be cooked until reaching an internal temperature of 160ºF as measured with a digital thermometer.

How long to cook plant-based beef? ›

Heat non-stick pan over medium-high heat, add Beyond Beef. Cook about 5-8 minutes, breaking up to desired crumble size and stirring frequently. If adding sauce, simmer for up to 30 minutes. Mix dry and wet ingredients per your favorite recipe.

How do they make plant-based meat taste like real meat? ›

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. However, they're just adding a high level of non-declarable MSG source to the product to give it more intense flavour, versus an authentic taste experience.

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