How to Make Vegan Ground Beef (Easy & Budget-Friendly)

It seems like there are way too many fake meats out there with a laundry list of ingredients. Well, we’re here to show you how to make vegan ground beef using simple, plant-based ingredients.

Let’s do this!

A Serious Tofu Addiction

We love the fact that there are so many vegan alternatives to foods like meat, cheese, or ice-cream. While we think this is awesome, why not create a similar product that tastes better and is cheaper.

We. Love. Tofu. If we can find a way, we will add it to just about everything. It takes on the flavor of any marinade or seasoning so well, and packs a ton of protein into any dish. What’s not to love?

We often hear people say tofu is bland, but that’s because it wasn’t made the right way. If you’re not already a tofu addict, we guarantee you will be after you make this vegan ground beef recipe.

Key Ingredients of Vegan Ground Beef

There are tons of variations to this recipe, but some our must-have ingredients include:

• Tofu: this makes the perfect base for a vegan ground beef recipe. It’s not only low in calories, but contains a high amount of plant-based protein. Tofu contains 11 grams of protein per 100 calorie serving, while ground beef only has just under 9 grams. How crazy is that?

• Liquid aminos: this ingredient is a staple in our household. It really helps give the tofu grounds some color and adds a nice salty flavor.

• Nutritional yeast: also referred to as “nooch”, this ingredient will give your tofu grounds that umami flavor. Nooch also contains all 9 amino acids, and is a great source of B vitamins for vegetarians and vegans, especially if it’s fortified.

• Liquid smoke: made from condensing the smoke of wood, this ingredient gives a natural smoky flavor (obviously). Just be careful not to go overboard with liquid smoke, as it can be very overpowering.

How to Make Vegan Ground Beef

The best part about this recipe is how simple it is to put together. First, mix the marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Then, crumble in the tofu with your hands and mix it all together.

Now listen up, this next part is critical. Make sure to spread the tofu out evenly on a parchment-lined pan. You don’t want to have too much overlap otherwise they won’t crisp up enough.

Bake it at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes, but keep a close watch towards the end. This will ensure you don’t burn the small pieces into ash.

How to Store Vegan Ground Beef

This recipe will keep well for 4-5 days in the fridge.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This vegan ground beef is so easy and versatile. We know you’ll love it. It’s:

• Smoky
• Chewy
• Protein-packed
• Savoury

If you make this recipe, don’t forget to leave a comment, rate it, and tag us on Instagram with #brokebankvegan. Happy eating!

Meals Ideas to Use Vegan Ground Beef In

• Vegan Sweet Potato Chili
• Sweet Potato Bean Enchiladas
• Veggie burritos or tacos
• A topping for ramen bowls

Vegan Ground Beef

5 from 2 votes

Recipe by Broke Bank Vegan Course: SnacksCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

1

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cook time

30

minutes

Calories

635

kcal

Cost per recipe

$3.18

USD

Cost per serving

$3.18

USD

Total time

35

minutes

In less than 40 minutes, you will have a versatile plant-based ground beef replacement that you can easily add to any of your favorite dishes. Or just eat it on it’s own!

Ingredients

• 1 pack extra firm tofu, crumbled ($1.42 USD)

• 1 tbsp avocado oil ($0.19 USD)

• 3 tbsp liquid aminos ($0.54 USD)

• 1 tbsp rice vinegar ($0.11 USD)

• 3-4 shakes liquid smoke ($0.04 USD)

• 2 tsp garlic powder ($0.04 USD)

• 1 tsp oregano ($0.04 USD)

• 3 tbsp nutritional yeast ($0.74 USD)

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika ($0.05 USD)

• sea salt to taste ($0.01 USD)

Directions

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a large baking pan with parchment paper.
• Add the oil, liquid aminos, rice vinegar, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, and nutritional yeast to a large bowl. Mix until well combined.
• Drain and press the tofu brick, then crumble with your hands directly into the bowl of marinade.
• Spread the tofu crumbles evenly across your pan, and bake on 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until they turn a golden brown color.

Tips

• Remember to spread the tofu out evenly with no overlap on a parchment-lined pan for optimal cooking.

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