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Hello! I’m Anjali. I’m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

Vegan Meatloaf

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This classic vegan meatloaf, loaded with walnuts, lentils, carrots, shallots, and savory spices for a blend of flavors that’s sure to impress. Topped with a slightly sweet tomato glaze, it’s the perfect vegan or vegetarian entree. The leftovers make great lunches too!

vegan lentil meatloaf / vegan lentil loaf with tomato glaze served on a white plate

This vegan meatloaf is one of my favorite hearty vegetarian recipes to make for dinner! It also happens to be vegan, making it if you have dairy-free or vegan guests. 

Classic meatloafs traditionally include ground beef, but this healthy version is packed with protein, healthy fats, and flavor. This is the best vegan meatloaf recipe, and it doesn’t contain any Impossible burger or store bought vegan meat.

My protein-packed vegan meatloaf is super easy to make and most of the ingredients needed are things you can find in your pantry — which makes it even easier. The best part is, this vegan lentil meatloaf is so delicious that no one will miss the meat in this dish at all!

Using lentils instead of meat does wonders for this dish. I wasn’t sure if lentils would be a satisfying enough substitution for meat, but it turns out that the texture of this meatloaf is reminiscent of the classic recipe! Lentils and walnuts make this loaf super savory, hearty and satisfying. When paired with mashed potatoes and roasted veggies, it’s comfort food at its best!

If this is your first time trying any vegan cooking, you will love this approachable and simple recipe. You’ll also be hooked on plant based cooking after you try my healthy vegan meatloaf!

I guarantee you will love this simple lentil loaf recipe. It’s the perfect main dish for a family meal, or for feeding a crowd. And with only 20 minutes of prep time (and 40 minutes of cooking time), you’re not going to be spending hours in the kitchen making this walnut lentil loaf. It’s also easily made gluten-free, and kid-friendly too! Win win for everyone!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why You’ll Love This Vegan Meatloaf

  • Simple Wholesome Ingredients: Traditional meatloaf recipes can be high in fat and less-than-healthy ingredients. Every ingredient in this vegan recipe is one you can find nutritional value in so you can feel good about feeding this vegan meatloaf to your family. This is also a budget-friendly dish and it’s great for meal prep!
  • Family Friendly: Kids and adults alike (even non-vegans/vegetarians!) will love this vegan lentil loaf. It’s flavorful, meaty, delicious, and satisfying!
  • Perfect For The Holidays: This recipe for vegan meatloaf is a showstopper! It’s perfect to serve at a family gathering for a holiday (like Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving) or a special occasion. It’s also easy enough to prep in 20 minutes (and do other things while it bakes!) to serve any night.
  • Delicious Leftovers: The leftovers of this easy vegetarian meatloaf are delicious even days later. Serve it up in a meatloaf sandwich or as is for an easy and satisfying lunch.

Latest Recipe Video!

🥘 Ingredients

You might already have most of the ingredients for this wholesome vegan lentil loaf (no animal products!). If not, these simple ingredients can be found at your local grocery store. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for nutritional information.

Ingredients for easy vegan meatloaf recipe made with lentils and walnuts on a white background.
  • Red Onion, Garlic, Shallots, And Garlic: The onion (red onion or yellow onion is fine), garlic, and shallots are aromatics that add a lot of delicious flavor to this recipe. The carrots also add some earthiness and a slightly sweet flavor (plus extra nutrients!) to this vegan meatless meatloaf.
  • Dry Lentils: Any type (or color) lentils will work. However, red lentils tend to cook up to be more mushy while brown lentils and green lentils remain more tender and hold their shape. If you want to use a combination of lentils, that’s fine, but remember that the red lentils cook faster, so either add them near the end of the lentil cooking process or just use green and brown lentils.
  • Walnuts: I chose walnuts for this lentil nut loaf because it blends well with the lentils and provides stability and extra protein. Optional: You can toast these in the oven until golden brown for a more robust flavor. 
  • Breadcrumbs: I love homemade whole wheat bread crumbs, but any you have on hand is fine. Just like with traditional meatloaf, the breadcrumbs help hold everything together and absorb excess moisture – this keeps you from ending up with a mushy lentil loaf!
  • Flaxseed Egg: To make this vegan, I substituted egg with 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed meal and 2 ½ to 3 tablespoons water. Ground flax seeds also add some healthy fats to this easy vegan meatloaf!
  • Sauces And Spices: This is where the magic happens. You can customize to your liking, but the combo used in this no meat meatloaf is deliciously savory — and a tad umami — as is. The olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce (or coconut aminos or vegan Worcestershire) blend is on point, and the smoked paprika really enhances the more “usual” spices like thyme, oregano, sea salt, and black pepper which gives this great recipe a rich flavor. Feel free to experiment with Italian seasoning, nutritional yeast, or other spices.
  • Tomato Glaze Ingredients: You’ll find tomato paste, balsamic vinegar (or apple cider vinegar), sweet paprika (or liquid smoke), maple syrup (or brown sugar) and salt in this vegan meatloaf glaze. This slightly sweet glaze is downright addictive!

🍲 Ingredient Substitutions

  • Garlic: I highly recommend sticking to fresh garlic cloves for this vegan meatloaf recipe. That said, don’t not make it if you don’t have it on hand. Simply replace with a heaping tablespoon of pre-packaged minced garlic or 2 teaspoons of garlic powder.
  • Carrots: You could substitute another veggie like bell pepper (these cook up quicker) but if you use a water-filled vegetable like zucchini or mushrooms, make sure you cook out the extra liquid so you don’t end up with a soggy vegan loaf.
  • Lentils: You can also use canned beans (if you have dry beans, you’ll need to cook these first) and skip the lentil cooking part of the instructions (you can also use canned or lentils — Trader Joe’s also sells pre-cooked lentils in their prepared foods section).
  • Walnuts: If there’s a walnut allergy, other nuts like pecans, cashews, or almonds will work. For general nut allergies, raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas) or sunflower seeds will work!
  • Breadcrumbs: Regular breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs are also fine (use gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed). Garbanzo bean flour (besan), quick oats, or oat flour can also be used.
  • Flaxseed: Chia seeds are a great substitute for flaxseed (use the same seed to water ratio). Note that flaxseed must be ground to gel properly, whereas chia seeds can be left whole. If you can only find whole flaxseed, you can grind it in a spice grinder or coffee grinder.
  • Tomato Glaze: If you don’t want to make the glaze from scratch, you can also use barbecue sauce (try my homemade vegan bbq sauce!) or even cranberry sauce on top of the lentil loaf.

🔪 How To Make Vegan Meatloaf

This healthy vegan meatloaf with lentils and walnuts comes together in only 20 minutes of prep with simple steps and minimal effort! Here is how to make my vegan lentil loaf:

For The Vegan Meatloaf

Preheat Oven, Prepare Baking Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F / 180 C and line a standard loaf pan (or a smaller baking dish) with parchment paper and set aside. 

Cook The Lentils If Not Using Canned/Prepared: To cook dried lentils, you’ll use a ratio of 1 cup lentils to 3 cups of water and simply bring everything to a boil, then simmer on the stovetop in a small pot until tender, stirring occasionally. For reference, 1 cup dried lentils turns into 2 ½ cups cooked (what this recipe calls for). Keep in mind that red lentils cook much faster than green or brown lentils. Do not salt the lentils until they are done cooking, as this can make them tough. While the lentils are cooking you can prepare the vegetables.

Cooked brown lentils on a white dish.

Chop The Veggies & Cook: Dice garlic cloves, onion and carrot into very small pieces. Chop the shallot and set that aside. Sauté garlic in a heated large skillet or pan with olive oil over medium heat until fragrant. Then add onion and carrot and sauté, stirring frequently) for 4-5 minutes or until onion is translucent.

onions and carrots sauteeing in a pan

Add The Shallot: Add the chopped shallot to the cooked veggies. Cook for two more minutes stirring frequently.

other veggies and spices added to pan

Make The Flaxseed Egg: Mix the ground flaxseed and water (do not use hot water) in a small bowl and let sit at room temperature for at least 5 minutes (you can do this while you blend the lentil loaf mixture – see the next two steps below).

wet ingredients mixed in a bowl

Add To A Large Bowl: Place the cooked vegetables in a large mixing bowl and add 2 cups of cooked lentils (leaving ½ cup of lentils aside). 

Blend The Mixture: Using an immersion blender, process the vegetables until they form a smooth paste. Then add the walnuts and blend again. This can be done with a food processor, countertop blender, or even a potato masher as well.

walnuts added to veggie mixture pureed in a bowl

Add Seasonings And Binder: Add all the spices, the rest of the lentils, breadcrumbs, flaxseed egg, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and salt and stir to combine.

lentils and breadcrumbs added to veggie mixture

Add To Loaf Pan: Transfer the meatloaf mixture to the prepared loaf pan and press with a spoon to get a compact loaf, ensuring the top of the vegan loaf is flat and even.

lentil loaf added to baking pan lined with parchment paper

Make The Vegan Meatloaf Glaze

Whisk Together Glaze Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the glaze ingredients. (Skip this step if using barbecue sauce or another prepared sauce.)

Add The Glaze: Using a spoon, add the glaze on top of the meatloaf. Use the back of the spoon to spread the glaze evenly to all edges of the lentil loaf.

tomato sauce added to lentil loaf

Bake The Vegan Meatloaf

Bake 40 Minutes: Put the whole loaf in the oven and bake for 40 minutes in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F / 180 C, or until golden brown on the edges. 

Rest The Meatloaf: Let the vegan meatloaf sit in the pan for 10 minutes. This will help it slice better.

Remove From Pan: Grasp the edges of the parchment paper and carefully transfer the cooked vegan meatloaf to a wire rack. To make sure the slices cut nicely, let it rest for another 10 minutes.

Vegan lentil loaf with tomato glaze, sliced and served on a white plate.

Slice The Meatloaf & Serve: Carefully move the loaf to a cutting board or serving platter. Use a sharp knife to cut the vegan meatloaf into individual slices for serving. This recipe is best enjoyed immediately, though it tastes great the next day too! Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Vegan lentil meatloaf with tomato glaze, sliced and served on a white plate.

💭 Expert Tips

  • Don’t Overcook The Lentils: If the lentils get mushy, you may need more breadcrumbs to help this vegan meatloaf stay firm. Try not to overcook them.
  • Reduce Excess Moisture: If there’s too much moisture in the cooked veggies, drain them or blot with a paper towel before adding to the bowl. This will help avoid a mushy vegan meatloaf.
  • Drain Lentils: Similarly, if your cooked lentils have leftover cooking liquid or you’re using canned lentils, you will need to thoroughly drain them first for best results. 
  • Too Wet? If the veggie meatloaf mixture feels too wet, add a bit more breadcrumbs.
  • Too Dry? If the lentil walnut meatloaf mixture feels too dry or crumbly or won’t come together, you can add a little bit of olive oil or soy sauce. You can add an extra flaxseed egg too if you want, but make sure to give it 5-10 minutes to set up before adding it to the mixture.
  • No Loaf Pan: If you don’t have a loaf pan, you can line a baking sheet with parchment paper and form the loaf with your hands.

📖 Variations

  • Vegan Meatloaf Muffins: You can make my vegan lentil loaf into individual muffins using a muffin tin! Bake for half the time. These freeze great, making meal prep and portion control easier. Plus they’re cute!
  • Mini Meatloaves: Similarly, you can buy mini loaf pans and make smaller vegan meatloafs. I would also recommend baking these for half the time. The edges should be golden brown when the lentil loaf is cooked.
  • Beyond Meat Meatloaf: Use two packages of Beyond Meat ground meat (or another similar brand of plant based ground meat) and the same flavorings/binders I used in my vegan meatloaf recipe below. You may need to adjust the ratio of dry and wet ingredients. The mixture should be firm and moist but not mushy or too soft. If you can pinch a bit between your fingers and it stays together, then it’s probably going to work well. You can also use cooked, crumbled tempeh instead of Beyond Meat to make a tempeh meatlof.
  • Chickpea Meatloaf: Replace the lentils with an equal amount of cooked chickpeas to make this veggie loaf recipe with chickpeas instead of lentils!
  • Vegan Meatballs: This recipe for lentil meatloaf also makes great meatballs! Use a large cookie scoop and roll the balls between your hands (if it’s too moist, add some more breadcrumbs and mix). Cook in a large skillet with a little olive oil and turn until golden brown OR bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F / 180 C on a lined baking tray for around 20-30 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through and golden brown (I recommend flipping the meatballs halfway through).

🍽 Serving Suggestions

This vegan meatloaf is the perfect main dish! Here are a few of my favorite sides to serve it with:

If serving for Thanksgiving, try it with my healthy sweet potato casserole and cornbread gluten-free stuffing! You could also try a green bean casserole on the side.

🙌 Dietary Adaptations

This recipe is already vegan, vegetarian and dairy-free! See below for two other dietary modifications

  • Gluten-Free Lentil Loaf: Use certified gluten-free breadcrumbs in place of the regular breadcrumbs and swap the soy sauce for certified gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos. You can also use coarsely ground gluten free oats or gluten free oat flour instead of breadcrumbs to make a lentil oat walnut loaf.
  • Nut-Free Option: You can try using pumpkin seeds instead of walnuts in the lentil loaf mixture!

⏲️ Meal Prep / Make Ahead Instructions

This has become one of my favorite vegan meal prep meals. You can do this two ways:

  • Option 1: Batch cook the lentil loaf ingredients ahead of time, then store until ready to assemble. For instance, you can cook up a large batch of lentils and store in an airtight container; and then chop and saute all your vegetables and store them in a separate airtight container. You can also make the tomato glaze and store it in a third airtight container. Doing it this way, you can easily double the recipe if needed. You can do this up to 3 days in advance, and then combine the ingredients and bake on the day of.
  • Option 2: Make the entire lentil and walnut loaf the day before. With this option, you would cook and assemble as you normally would but leave off the tomato glaze. Place in the loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap, and store in the refrigerator. When ready to cook, let your vegan meatloaf sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then top with the glaze and bake.

🫙 Storage Directions

Here is how to store and keep this vegan meatloaf:

  • Refrigerating: Let any leftover lentil meatloaf cool completely, then slice the remaining loaf. Transfer to an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for about 5 days.
  • To Freeze: This vegan meatloaf’s meaty texture holds up in the freezer nicely. Follow the same directions as if you were refrigerating it, but instead just place it in the freezer. You can use a freezer bag or a freezer safe vacuum sealed container. It will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • Reheating: To reheat, place a slice of vegan meatloaf on a plate and microwave, or you can reheat on a baking sheet in the oven or toaster oven.

🥪 How To Use Leftovers

  • In A Meatloaf Sandwich: Use leftover lentil loaf slices in place of deli meat in sandwiches. Pair with whole grain bread, fresh tomatoes, baby spinach and a dollop of mustard.
  • In a Salad: Crumble up the loaf and use it for added protein in green salads!

❓Recipe FAQs

WHAT IS VEGAN MEATLOAF MADE OF?

My healthy vegan meatloaf is made up of simple and wholesome ingredients like lentils, walnuts, carrots, onion, shallots, garlic, spices, and other seasonings. This is a plant based meatloaf you can feel good about serving your family.

SHOULD I USE DRY OR PRE-COOKED LENTILS?

Depends on how much time you have! I prefer the budget-friendly option of cooking dried lentils from scratch, but canned lentils or even the steamed “ready to eat” lentils work as well.

To cook dried lentils, you’ll use a ratio of 1 cup lentils to 3 cups of water and simply bring to a boil, then simmer on the stovetop until tender. For reference, ½ cup of dried lentils equals 1 heaping cup cooked, and 1 cup dried lentils turns into 2.5 cups cooked.

But if you’re short on time, you can totally just pop open a can of lentils and call it a day. This vegan lentil loaf recipe can handle it! Just be sure to drain thoroughly and use paper towels to pat dry. You want the lentils as dry as possible before adding to the loaf.

HOW LONG DO LENTILS TAKE TO COOK?

Fortunately, lentils are nothing like dried beans when it comes to how long they take to cook. You can go from dried lentils to tender, recipe-ready in about 20 minutes.

Some lentil varieties need to be soaked before cooking, so be sure to check instructions on the package.

If you are using split lentils, it’ll be even faster — about 7 minutes. If you cook lentils yourself, make sure to add the salt after cooking. Adding salt during the simmering stage can result in tough lentils.

The key is: cook your lentils until barely tender. Trust me, you do NOT want overly soft lentils for this vegan meatloaf recipe. The only thing worse than a mushy lentil loaf is a soggy one.

WHAT INGREDIENT KEEPS MEATLOAF FROM FALLING APART?

The flaxseed egg (made from ground flaxseed) and water (let it gel for 5-10 minutes until it is a thick gloopy paste) is the binder in this vegan meatloaf recipe. But a good vegan or vegetarian meatloaf recipe will use multiple ingredients to keep the loaf together such as a mixture of wet ingredients (like the flax egg, olive oil, and soy sauce) and dry ingredients (like the breadcrumbs and spices) to help everything stay together and make a firm loaf.

WHY IS MY LENTIL MEATLOAF MUSHY?

Lentils that have cooked too long retain excess moisture, and too much moisture is the cause of soggy lentil loaf.

I honestly haven’t had that problem with this easy lentil meatloaf recipe, and I think that’s thanks to the bread crumbs and walnut combination. This easy vegan lentil loaf recipe gives you the best texture that’s sturdy and holds together really well. It’s tender and a tad juicy without being mushy!

If for whatever reason, you still struggle with a soggy loaf, try reducing the excess water in your flax egg from 3 tablespoons to just 2 tablespoons next time. In fact, if you’re using canned lentils, you may want to go ahead and do this from the start.

Vegan meatloaf (vegan lentil loaf) with tomato glaze, sliced and served on a white plate.

🌱 More Vegan Recipes!

Love this vegan entree recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating 🌟 in the recipe below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page!

You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious, healthy, family-friendly food, and if you have any questions, I’m here to help!

📋 Recipe Card

🎥 Watch How to Make It

https://youtu.be/3E1cFuVIvYc
Vegan meatloaf with tomato glaze, sliced and served on a white plate.
Print Recipe
5 from 18 votes

Vegan Meatloaf

This classic vegan meatloaf, loaded with walnuts, lentils, carrots, shallots, and savory spices for a blend of flavors that’s sure to impress. Topped with a slightly sweet tomato glaze, it’s the perfect vegan or vegetarian entree. The leftovers make great lunches too!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Vegan
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 10 slices
Calories: 180kcal
Author: Anjali Shah

Ingredients

For the Lentil Meatloaf

For The Tomato Glaze

Instructions

  • Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Chop garlic cloves, onion and carrot in very small pieces.
  • Sauté garlic and 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan over medium heat until fragrant. Then add onion and carrot and sauté for 4-5 minutes or until onion is translucent.
  • Chop shallots and add it to the other vegetables. Cook for two more minutes.
  • Place the cooked vegetables in a big bowl and add 2 cups of the cooked lentils. Using a hand blender, puree the vegetable/lentil mixture until it forms a smooth paste. Then add walnuts and blend again. This can be done with a food processor as well.
  • Add all the spices, the rest of the lentils, breadcrumbs, the flaxseed egg, 1 tbsp olive oil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and salt and stir to combine.
  • Transfer the mixture to the prepared loaf pan, pressing with a spoon to get a compact loaf.
  • For the glaze, whisk all the ingredients together and spread it with a spoon over the top of the loaf.
  • Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees F, or until golden brown on the edges.

Notes

  • Make sure your lentils aren’t wet when you combine them with the rest of the ingredients! That will result in a soggy meatloaf!
  • If you don’t have a food processor or hand blender, you can chop the walnuts fine with a chef”s knife and use a potato masher to mash the lentils with the other ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  • When blending the ingredients for the lentil loaf, blend until the ingredients are still slightly chunky – you don’t want it to be fully pureed.
  • Feel free to make extra glaze! It’s fun to use as a dipping sauce for the meatloaf once it comes out of the oven (this is especially fun for kids!)
  • If you want to add some heat, try adding some cayenne, crushed red pepper, or chipotle chili powder into the lentil mixture before baking.
  • Feel free to use pre-steamed or canned lentils instead of dry to save time.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 644.5mg | Potassium: 371mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5.5g

30 responses to “Vegan Meatloaf”

  1. The texture and flavor were incredible, and I couldn’t believe it wasn’t real meat. It’s a perfect alternative for anyone looking for a delicious and cruelty-free option.5 stars

  2. I love cooking with lentils and to turn them into a “meatloaf” is so so smart! This is absolutely delicious and better than traditional meatloaf in my opinion. Thanks for the great recipe!5 stars

  3. Really enjoyed the flavours in this meatloaf and felt really full afterwards. Great for feeding a crowd too.5 stars

  4. Really good, I need better kitchen tools to mush it but it was delicious. Trying to go vegetarian lately and this was a great tasting substitute for real meatloaf! the flavors tasted just like it! I substituted raw Cashews for the Walnuts, as I am allergic to walnuts. Will make again.5 stars

  5. This looks like beef meat loaf! I love it! And I love lentils so I think this is a brilliant way to have a hearty, healthy veggie fest. Thanks for this!5 stars

  6. I am always looking for new ways to eat more lentils and this looks delicious. Total comfort food too.5 stars

  7. I love the bold flavours in this meatloaf , along with the crunch of walnuts too. So satisfying.5 stars

  8. Meatloaf is actually one of my favorite things to “veganize” and this recipe is so good! So much hearty texture and flavor you’d never guess the meat is missing!

  9. That looks lush! I make something similar with lentils and veggie haggis. They are such a satisfying and tasty meal.5 stars

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