This hearty vegan meatloaf is made from a base of seasoned chickpeas, veggies and savory seasonings, all topped with a flavorful maple glaze. It's not quite a classic meatloaf. It's better.
I had a hard time figuring out what to include in this vegan meatloaf recipe? Why is that, you ask? Well, it's been a loooooooong time since I had authentic meatloaf. In fact, I never even ate it that often as a kid.
But I got so many requests for a killer vegan loaf over the years that I decided to just have at it. Since I had no idea where to start, I did what any vegan cook would do.
I used chickpeas.
As luck would have it, chickpea loaf is pretty awesome. Chickpeas are hearty and substantial, so they're perfect for taking the place of meat in a dish like this, particularly when blended up with all kinds of savory seasonings and veggies. Our loaf gets topped with a lightly smoky tomato maple glaze and everything comes together to create the most delicious of vegan comfort food flavor bombs.
I had to ask my husband if it tasted anything like normal meatloaf. He assured me that it was delicious, and about as much like traditional meatloaf as one of my veggie burgers is to a regular old burger. Perfect!
Jump to:
Ingredients You'll Need
- Chickpeas. The recipe calls for canned chickpeas, but you're welcome to cook them yourself. Try this method and make sure you've got about 3 ¾ cups of cooked chickpeas for the loaf.
- Onion.
- Celery.
- Carrots.
- Garlic.
- Panko breadcrumbs. Regular breadcrumbs work too — just check the ingredients to ensure they're vegan.
- Non-dairy milk. Look for varieties that are unflavored and unsweetened. Soy milk, almond milk and oat milk are all great options. Canned coconut milk is the only variety that I'd avoid using.
- Vegan Worcestershire sauce. Most brands of Worcestershire sauce contain anvhovy paste, so be careful here. Annie's, Edward & Sons and Whole Foods are all anchovy-free. You can also use homemade vegan Worcestershire sauce.
- Soy sauce. Gluten-free tamari or liquid aminos can be substituted if needed.
- Olive oil. This adds some moisture to the loaf. Leave this out for an oil-free version.
- Ground flaxseeds. Look for these in the natural foods section of your store.
- Tomato paste.
- Liquid smoke. Look for this near where the barbecue sauce is sold at your supermarket. I know not everyone is a fan of liquid smoke, so feel free to leave it out if that's you. You could also substitute some smoked paprika.
- Salt & pepper.
- Maple syrup.
- Apple cider vinegar.
- Paprika.
Tip: For an alternative to the maple glaze, try topping your vegan meatloaf with my vegan gravy. It'll give it a whole new flavor profile!
How It's Made
The following is a detailed photo tutorial on how to make this dish. Scroll all the way down if you'd like to skip right to the recipe!
- Place the ingredients for the loaf into a food processor bowl. This includes the chickpeas, diced onion, carrots and celery, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, oil, flaxseed, tomato paste, liquid smoke, and black pepper.
Tip: If you have a very large food processor you can add everything at once. Otherwise you'll need to work in batches. I'm using an 11 cup model in the photos, and it's filled to capacity.
- Pulse everything in the food processor. Whatever you do, don't let it start running and walk away. Your mixture will turn to mush and you'll end up with a sad, mushy vegan meatloaf.
- Every so often you'll want to stop the machine, open the lid, and use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and redistribute the ingredients.
- Taste-test the mixture at this point and season it with some salt if you'd like. Feel free to adjust any other seasonings to your liking.
Tip: Make sure you don't overblend the mixture. Keep some texture and chunks of chickpeas and veggies.
- Lightly oil the inside of a loaf pan and line it with a strip of parchment paper to make your vegan meatloaf easier to remove when it's done baking.
- Transfer the chickpea mixture to the loaf pan. Press it in and smooth out the top with a spatula. Pop the loaf into the oven.
- Mix up the glaze by stirring together tomato paste, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce and paprika while your loaf bakes.
- After about 30 minutes, take the loaf out of the oven and cover the top with the glaze, then return it to the oven to finish baking.
Tip: I've made this loaf using a few different pans and had the best luck with a 9-inch glass Pyrex pan.
- Let your vegan meatloaf cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving it.
Tip: This loaf firms up as it sits, so consider making it well in advance if you'd like it to be really sturdy.
Leftovers & Storage
Vegan meatloaf will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 4 days, or in the freezer for about 3 months.
Leftovers can be heated in the microwave or popped in the oven for a few minutes. Oh, and they make an awesome sandwich!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Just use gluten-free vegan breadcrumbs, or substitute rolled oats. You'll also need to use gluten-free tamari in place of soy sauce, and make sure you're Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free (Edward & Sons is).
Yes! I've heard from a lot of readers who did this with success. I skip the step to save time and because I find the loaf delicious without it.
You can! Just chop your veggies up very finely, and mash the chickpeas with a fork or potato masher.
Traditional, savory vegan side dishes go great with veggie loaf! Try vegan mashed potatoes and gravy, vegan green bean casserole, wild rice pilaf, and/or vegan cornbread.
More Vegan Comfort Food Recipes
Like this recipe? If so, please stop back and leave me a review and rating below if you try it! Also be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter for more recipes like this one!
Classic Vegan Meatloaf
This hearty vegan meatloaf is made from a base of seasoned chickpeas, veggies and savory seasonings, all topped with a flavorful maple glaze. It's not quite a classic meatloaf. It's better.
Ingredients
For the Chickpea Meatloaf
- 2 (14 ounce or 400 gram) cans chickpeas, (or 3 ⅓ cups cooked chickpeas) drained and rinsed
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 medium celery stalks, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup unflavored soy or almond milk
- 3 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional)
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Maple Glaze
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly oil a 9 inch loaf pan and arrange a strip of parchment paper width-wise along the center, with just a bit hanging over the sides.
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Working in batches if needed, place all the meatloaf ingredients except for salt into food processor bowl and pulse until the chickpeas are broken up and the ingredients are well mixed, stopping to scrape down the sides of bowl as needed. Do not overblend. If you're working in batches, transfer each batch to a large mixing bowl when complete and then mix by hand.
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Taste-test the mixture and season it with salt to taste.
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Press the mixture into prepared loaf pan and bake 30 minutes.
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While meatloaf bakes, stir the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl.
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Remove the loaf from the oven after 30 minutes and spoon glaze overtop of the loaf.
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Return the loaf to the oven and bake it another 20-25 minutes.
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Remove the loaf from the oven and allow it to cool at least 10 minutes before cutting. (See Note.)
Recipe Notes
The longer this sits, the firmer it gets. If it initially feels a bit soft for your liking, let it sit for a few minutes or it a cook it day in advance and reheat on the day of serving.
Angela says
Bean Loaves are often firmer when the
- flax seed meal is mixed with water and placed in the fridge for at least 15 min
- oats are used - 1/2 amount whole & 1/2 amount ground (i.e vitamix)
- beans - 1/2 amount whole & 1/2 amount blended
I have yet to try this rec how, and it looks amazing. Thank you Alissa for the recipe & you all for the great variation suggestions!
Alissa Saenz says
Thanks for the tips Angela!
Mattt says
Oats instead of what?
Alissa Saenz says
Oats usually work as a sub for panko breadcrumbs in recipes like this.
Marianne says
This was really delicious. My first Vegan meatloaf that did not crumble. Beautiful. I think the only difference would be not to add the liquid smoke. I also mixed the topping with a little brown sugar and a bit more vinegar. Excellent. Thank you, this is a keeper.
Alissa Saenz says
Glad you enjoyed it!!
Olivia says
I just made this and it was wonderful! I didn't have flax so I subbed one egg (I'm veg not vegan) for the milk and flax and it retained its shape perfectly. I am so happy to have this in my recipe box! Seriously, 5 stars!
Alissa Saenz says
Thanks so much Olivia!! I'm glad it was a hit!
Norton Spencer says
Thank you 🙏🏾.! I’m a vegetarian as well
Sonya says
OMG this is delicious! I JUST made it and I couldn't wait for it to firm up before eating it. I can't wait to taste it tomorrow once it has set and cooled in the fridge. Thank-you so much for this recipe.
Alissa Saenz says
I'm so glad you like it!! Thanks Sonya! Enjoy!
Tamar Noel says
I'm on a Daniel fast which is basically a vegan diet and I have been craving some comfort food. I tasted the mixture and got so excited., but it turned out mushy. The "burnt" parts had the texture of meat which was awesome. I had to cook it longer as the carrots were still raw. I will definitely make this again and let it sit over night and sauté the carrots as others suggested. I can't wait to tweek it and get it right.
Alissa Saenz says
Sorry this didn't work out for you! I hope it turns out better with your tweaks!
Logan Wainscott says
If I don’t have liquid smoke will this alter the taste too much?
Alissa Saenz says
I think it will still taste good without it! You could also sub smoked paprika or smoked sea salt if you have one of those on hand. :)
Beth says
I've tried browning mushrooms in place of liquid smoke and found it yummy. I plan to try that with this recipe.
Alissa Saenz says
I'll have to give that a try!
Patrick says
Great tasting but it wasn't a meatloaf. The entire thing fell apart. Basically became just like a cauliflower rice. Even after a day in the fridge when cutting. Slice it just crumbles.
Alissa Saenz says
Sorry to hear that! The only thing I can think of is that maybe your chickpeas were dry. Were they canned or did you cook them yourself?
Niki says
We’re in job layoff mode and I have a ton of canned chickpeas so This is currently in my oven now but we’re not normally vegan. I also didn’t put flax seed in it (never used in any recipe) and I was out of Worcestershire sauce so hoping it turns out yummy!! already have glaze prepared too so crossing fingers it tastes as good as everyone said. Will update later😁
Alissa Saenz says
I hope it works out and you enjoy it!!
Linda says
Just made this today. It was wonderful!! I let it set for awhile and it firmed up nicely. The flavor is excellent!!! I will be making this again!! Thank you for a wonderful recipe!!
Alissa Saenz says
Yay!! I'm so glad you like it!!
Marcia says
I made this last night and it turned out wonderful! I don't have a food processor so I just used a potato masher on the chickpeas, then added the rest of the chopped veggies. I also added about 3 or 4 TBSP of the aquafaba from the chickpeas. It sliced up perfectly right out of the oven. I will be making this often. Thank you!!
Alissa Saenz says
Yay!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Marcia!
Diane says
I think the idea of using he aquafaba or some veg broth in place of the oil is what I'm going to do since I am oil free...thanks for that idea!
Candice says
I made this recipe last night. I did not have flax seed so I substituted with egg. I also used powdered milk instead of soy milk as I had no plain alternative milk and used about 1/3 cup water with 2 tbls bbq since since I did not liquid smoke. So its not vegan, but its delicious! I cooked down the carrot, onion, garlic and celery before I added it to the mix. I also lightly pan fried the chickpeas with some fake chicken seasoning from Natural Grocers to dry them out before blending them up. I was worried it looked a bit dry when I put in the oven, but it came out a wonderful consistency. Great for lunch at my desk with a side of mixed sweet/russet potato mash with corn.
Alissa Saenz says
That sounds like some successful improvisation! I'm really glad you enjoyed it!
Sarah S says
Help! I’m making this now and didn’t realize I only have whole flax seeds. Is there anything I can sub the flax seeds for?
Alissa Saenz says
Oh no! Do you have a coffee grinder? You could try grinding them up yourself. Otherwise, you could leave them out - the loaf would be extra crumbly though.
Diane says
I didn't have the flax seeds either, I thought I did, but couldn't find them. I substituted Chia seeds and it worked very well.
Alissa Saenz says
I'm glad it worked out!
Ms_rach says
It would be nice if this had quantities by volume for the vegetables. I guessed what “2 celery stalks” etc look like and my loaf cane out soft and mushy.
Flavor is ok, but could use some herbs.
The glaze is excellent,
Karla says
Made this today, with changes, and we loved it. These were my changes: 1 can chickpeas + 1 can black beans, sauteed veggies, oats for bread crumbs, 2T Worcestershire, 1T olive oil (the veggies were also coked in OO), nixed liquid smoke but added chipotle chili pepper, onion powder, salt, and additional pepper. I only processed the canned beans and mixed it all together; I did this in the morning because of the note that it holds together better the longer it sits. Anyhoo... spread it in a 13x9" pan. After baking 20 minutes, I spread some BBQ sauce on top and let it go for 5-10 more minutes. Will definitely make it again, play around with the flavors.
Ria says
Thanks for the tips.
Troy says
I followed this recipe to the letter, with the exception of substituting oats for bread crumbs. I expected it to be wet, but it was a sloppy mess. It firmed up to a more meatloaf-like texture after several hours on the counter, but "ready to eat in 10 minutes, or possibly four hours" is not an acceptable recipe. There's a lot of contained water in the ingredients, so it's going to provide uneven results.
The texture's not my main complaint, though. I did not expect this to taste anything like traditional meatloaf, but this is very bland with strong notes of liquid smoke and celery. The glaze is nice, but the flavoring overall is weird and bad. Other commenters seem to like it, I'm not sure what they're tasting.
A chickea-based meatloaf is a great concept, but I'm not going to waste any more time or good vegetables by cooking this again.
Kathy says
Wow! I’m surprised you gave it 2 stars with the problems you ran into! Personally, I loved it. Even raw it was flavourful! 😀. 5 star rating from us!
Alissa Saenz says
I'm glad you like it!! Thanks Kathy!
Ann says
Wow. That's very negative. Could have said it didn't work for you, full stop.
Great to read the 99% positives & I'm looking forward to trying this recipe😊
Kate says
The point of reviews is to leave just that - a review. I have yet to try this but I appreciate the person's honesty.
Eddie Stahl says
I followed the recipe to the letter, including the flax seed and it was just mush, even after letting it sit for 20 minutes. It did have great flavor but after spending all of that time prepping I was disappointed that it did not set like I expected and the picture showed. I'm giving it 3 stars because the flavor is there but it was not a loaf, it was a bowl of mush.
Debby says
Outstanding..best vegetarian meatloaf I've made, thank you!
Alissa Saenz says
Yay!! Glad you like it!
Ellen Lederman says
Loved this, both the texture and taste. And the glaze is the proverbial cherry on top! Yum! Easy to make too, Like you I never loved meat loaf---ground beef always tasted kind of funky to me. The only meat loaf I ever liked wqs the one that was popular in the sixties and seventies---you are probably too young to know this one. It used canned tomato soup as the glaze and had green beans cooked in the middle of the loaf. So in homage to this, served the meat loaf with green beans on the side and roasted cauliflower mash with leek gravy. And three more portions left, one for later next week and two frozen (six portions in all---for the two of us). I checked other vegan recipes besides yours, but I wasn't sure about beans or mushrooms or oats or wlanuts---I knew I could count on you!
Alissa Saenz says
Oh wow! Now I want to hunt down a recipe for meatloaf with canned tomato soup and green beans and veganize that! I'm so glad you enjoyed this, and that sounds like a delicious meal!! Thanks Ellen!
Alexis says
I don’t usually leave comments on blogs, but seeing as I have been faithful to this recipe for the last two years now, I’d say it’s time to pay my respects to its creator.
Honestly, my standard for meatloaf is pretty high. My grandmother made an absolutely amazing load with a maple glaze when I was a kid. When I went vegan I started getting the most intense craving for meatloaf. After much searching, I stumbled upon this recipe. T’s aboslutely perfect.
I make this at least once a month, and have made it from my friends and family. It really is such a wonderful, sweet and savory dish.
One thing I did begin to do differently is making a double batch of the maple topping. When I am loading my loaf pan, half way through, I add a nice layer of sauce before topping it off with more “loaf” and then glazing the top as normal. My family is quite saucy and loves it!
Thank you for this awesome recipe. It is a family favorite that I plan on passing down to my children!
Alissa Saenz says
I'm so happy to hear you and your family have been enjoying this! A double batch of the sauce is a great idea. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment Alexis!!
laura ismail says
So exciting making this!!!! I need to be apart of all your recipes! I am making this with cauliflower mashed potatoes!
Alissa Saenz says
Sounds like a delicious meal!! I hope you enjoy it!
Martha Wright says
Can this meatloaf be made ahead and put in the refrigerator or freezer and then be reheated when needed?
Alissa Saenz says
Yup! I've actually got one in the fridge and another stashed away in the freezer for Thanksgiving right now. :) I usually just microwave the individual slices, but you can also reheat it in the oven.
Angela says
question: does the oil go into the loaf or is it used to oil the baking pan? Thank you, Angela
Alissa Saenz says
The 2 tablespoons called for in the recipe go into the loaf, but be sure to also oil the pan. :)
Wendy says
Amazingly easy and excellent tasting chickpea loaf. We absolutely love this recipe. Makes great sandwiches the next day. Thank you for this fabulous recipe
Alissa Saenz says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! We love using the leftovers for sandwiches too!
Denise says
I’m cutting way back on oil. Can the oil be omitted or substituted ?
Alissa Saenz says
You could leave it out if you prefer. :)
Angel says
We have made this before and it was delicious! It is much better the second day after firming up. I am wondering what the reheating instructions would be in the oven? I was thinking of leaving the glaze off until reheating.
Alissa Saenz says
Glad you enjoyed it!! You could definitely leave the glaze off until you reheat it! I've reheated it at 375° for 15-20 minutes. That should also be just the right amount of time for the glaze to set. :)
Jo says
Is the loaf baked, cooled then frozen? Or frozen before glazed and baked?
Alissa Saenz says
I've always baked, cooled and frozen them, but I think you should be just fine to freeze it before baking too. :)
Corinne says
Thank you for this recipe. I made it last year for thanksgiving for my daughter without the onion and garlic because she is sensitive to it. Will be making it again this year because she asked for it. We all like it and is great in sandwiches.
Alissa Saenz says
I'm so glad it was a hit! My husband and I love this in sandwiches too!
Tina L. says
I just made a half recipe and put it in two mini foil pans - 4"x6". It was good!! I didn't have and celery, so I left it out (and probably will next time too). I processed the carrot and onion very finely in my little Ninja and pressed it into the pan very firmly. Held together great and tasted great! I was worried about it holding together, and should not have been, but I put a tablespoonful of the chickpea liquid on top of each pan before baking. I'll bet if you left off the glaze it would be good with a mushroom gravy or adding a little Italian seasoning and glazing it with spaghetti sauce might work too. But it's tasty just the way it is! I'll be making it again!
Alissa Saenz says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I did make this with mushroom gravy once, so I can confirm that it's delicious that way too! :)
Donna says
Love, love LOVE this dish! It's my go to. I did not like meatloaf as a carnivore, but this recipie has made it a favourite as a herbivore! I always make enough to freeze too. Thanks for keeping me and my family fed 🤗
Alissa Saenz says
I'm so glad you and your family are enjoying it!!
Peggy says
I am excited to try this recipe for Thanksgiving. Has anyone made this without the oil? Should I sub something else so it's not dry or will it be ok without it? I'm not sure of the oil's purpose in the recipe. Thanks!
Alissa Saenz says
I think it will work just fine without the oil. :) It adds moisture, but it's not critical! Enjoy!
Kimberly stone says
Can I substitute the carrot with sweet potato?
Alissa Saenz says
I think so, but you might want to pre-roast the sweet potato to soften it up. Sweet potatoes take a bit longer than carrots to cook and I'd be nervous that you'd end up with undercooked sweet potato in your loaf.
Judy says
I made this in the afternoon today and it turned out perfectly. My mom made meatloaf every week when I was growing up and I loved it topped with ketchup. I used your sauce but I did add ketchup when it was on my plate!
Alissa Saenz says
I'm so glad you liked it! Thank Judy!
Connie says
Well, I made this almost to the T, but didn't use liquid smoke. Turned out great! Consistency was good, I thought I might have blended it too much in the food processor, but it turned out all right. So hearty! My food processor was not big enough so I halved the recipe and did it in two batches before putting it in the pan to bake. Maybe next time I will use smoked paprika instead of the liquid smoke! This was really good, I will definitely make it again!
Thanks for the recipe!
Alissa Saenz says
Awesome!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I think smoked paprika would be a great addition. :)
Denise Perry says
I have made this loaf about three times now. I use brown sugar instead of maple syrup and smoked paprika rather than the liquid smoke. We all Love this recipe. Thank you
Alissa Saenz says
I'm so glad you're enjoying it! Thanks so much Denise!
Amanda says
I made this recipe last year and my husband and I absolutely loved It! I'm not sure why some people are ending up with such a mushy outcome (over pulsing in the food processor?) but it's unfortunate they aren't able to enjoy this for how truly excellent it is. I'm wanting to make this again but do something different - I want to make this in a muffin tray so I essentially have meatloaf muffins. :) Any idea on how long to cook it and what temperature? I'm also wondering if I should half the recipe for one tray... Any suggestions? I remember just dying over the glaze so I'm definitely making extra this time around!!
Alissa Saenz says
Yay!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I'd lower the temperature a bit for muffins - 350° should do it! I'm not sure about the cook time, but it will almost certainly be less. I'd start checking them at about 20 minutes. I've been meaning to try this as muffins myself forever, so if I have a chance I'll definitely share my results!
BEC says
I made this recipe and cooked the chickpeas myself from scratch. But it turned out a bit dry although the flavours were great - can i add a bit more water milk or liquid to make it a bit more moist???
Alissa Saenz says
Yup! I find chickpeas cooked from scratch are usually a bit more dry than canned. I think a couple of tablespoons of water should do it. Glad you thought it was tasty!!
Ruth says
I do not have a food procesor, Ca I use the blender?
Alissa Saenz says
It might work, but I'd recommend doing it in lots of small batches to ensure that everything gets blended up!
Ruth says
Thank You Alissa, The small batches , works very well and my loaf was delicious.
Alissa Saenz says
I'm glad to hear it!
Kim says
Made this at Thanksgiving and all the vegans and non vegans loved it. Making it again for Christmas dinner with sons girlfriend. I used smoked paprika for the sauce which made a nice difference.
Alissa Saenz says
I'm so glad it was a hit! Thanks Kim!
Tenchis says
Perfecto!! Muchas gracias por la receta, a toda mi familia le gustó mucho.
Alissa Saenz says
I'm so glad it was a hit! Thank you so much!
Vicki says
This was too mushy in the middle but the top crusty part with the glaze was delicious. I think it needs more cook time. I did sauté the onions, carrots and celery before mixing together. Perhaps substituting some oatmeal for the Pandora would help.
Alissa Saenz says
Sorry to hear that! If you try it with oats I'd grind them up in a food processor or use oat flour. They suck up more water that way.
Brook Lauro says
Hi
The loaf tasted good but it did not hold together. It fell apart. I think an egg would help this recipe.
Alissa Saenz says
I'm sorry to hear that! All my recipes are vegan, so no eggs here. The flax should act as an egg substitute, so increasing the amount of that might help!
Wendy says
This recipe is just awesome. We probably make this every six weeks. Reheats wonderful and is good cold in a sandwich. This recipe and the cauliflower meat sauce and your lentil meatballs are just amazing!!
Alissa Saenz says
Thank you so much Wendy! I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Rose says
Is it okay to mix it the day prior then bake the following day or does it affect how it turns out?
Alissa Saenz says
It works just fine! :)
Michelle says
I wonder if this could be made with another type of bean. I may try it with cannelllini beans. My son can’t have chickpeas.
Alissa Saenz says
I think it would work with cannellini beans. Lentils would be another good choice. Just make sure they're not too soft - cook them yourself instead of using canned if possible. Enjoy!!
Jan says
I made it tonight and it wasn't a success. I made it exactly according to the recipe except I used ordinary breadcrumps instead of the Panko, and real Worcester. It was still very soft coming out of the oven, without any kind of nice crust, and I could just spoon it onto the plate like a pile of mush
The flavour was weird. I don't think the liquid smoke works at all.
So I'm still looking for a vegetarian meatloaf recipe that really works.
Alissa Saenz says
I'm sorry to hear that!
Julie Dechaineux says
I made this for my vegan teenage granddaughter and it was fantastic......I am new to vegan cooking being an avid carnivore but after tasting this have decided that I will certainly cook it again.
Alissa Saenz says
I'm so happy to hear that! Thanks so much Julie!
Lora says
Love this dish! Am about to make it again. Does it freeze well?
Alissa Saenz says
It freezes great - I have one in the freezer right now. :) So glad you're enjoying it!
Denise Kendrick says
This is the third time I have made this. I used egg instead of the flaxseed and I used 2% milk. The first two times it was perfect. We love it! Right now it is back in the oven. I am hoping it will firm a little . It is soup. I really can’t figure what went wrong. Hoping I can save it. I gave it 4 stars because we really it.
Jenny says
This was perfect! I mixed the ground flax seed and milk and let it sit in the fridge while I put everything else together.. I put the veggies in the bottom of the food processor and chickpeas on top and let it run for a few seconds before just pulsing the mix until it was evenly chunky. I stirred in the milk/flax seed mix after. Baked it exactly as directed and after letting it cool 10 minutes it held together when I sliced it. Also used smoked paprika in the glaze and home made hempseed milk instead of soy. Absolutely in love, thank you for another amazing recipe!
Alissa Saenz says
That's so great to hear! Thanks so much Jenny - glad you enjoyed it!
Pat says
Made this as is and turned out perfect. Nice and easy! Cheers!
Alissa Saenz says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Pat!
v says
tasted great but didnt firm up at all. mine was more of a dry chunky stew
Alissa Saenz says
Sorry to hear that! Make sure to drain the chickpeas well and be careful not to overblend the mixture in the food processor - usually it's one of those two things if it turns out mushy.
Justus says
I’m about to make this recipe but the name is just not right. Why are you calling it a meatloaf when there is no meat in it. I saved the recipe as vegan loaf instead.
Alissa Saenz says
You're totally welcome to call it whatever you like! :) I call it that because it's based off of/inspired by traditional meatloaf. Also, I do some research before writing my recipes and there are lots of people searching for "vegan meatloaf," and very few looking for "chickpea loaf" or "vegan loaf" of anything similar.