Opinion Best plant-based ‘beef’ products in Australian stores

The vegan meat section keeps getting bigger! Keep an eye out for tasty plant-based beef strips, steaks, patties, & mince at your local supermarket.

Resolved to keep animals off your plate, but still find yourself craving a classically ‘meaty’ dish every now and again? You’re not alone 🧡

After all, most people who go vegan tend to make the switch for nutritional, environmental, or ethical reasons, not because they don’t enjoy the taste of meat. 

This is where plant-based meat products can come in handy. They make it super easy to recreate all the familiar textures and flavours you know, while still choosing wisely for your health, animals and the planet – and they can be a great stepping stone if you’re still getting used to eating more veg meals.

Thanks to skyrocketing demand, there are heaps of beef-inspired vegan meat products to choose from in stores and online these days, including burger patties, mince, sausages, strips, roasts, jerky, pastrami, pepperoni and even steak!

If you’re keen to sink your teeth into some plant-based beef but aren’t sure where to start, here are some of our favourite products on the market right now, and some inspiration for how to use them:

Plant-based beef burger patties

From brioche burger buns to plant-based bacon, melty vegan cheese, and egg-free mayo, there’s a vegan version of everything you need to build the ultimate plant-based burger – and that includes patties.

These beef-style patties might be 100% made from plants, but they also deliver 100% of the familiar meaty experience when it comes to sizzle, smell, texture, and taste.

• Beyond Plant-Based Patties (Coles)
• Birds Eye Plant-Based Burgers (Coles)
• Impossible Burger Patties (Woolworths)
• vEEF Plant-Based Premium Beef Burgers (Coles)
• Vegie Delights Smokey BBQ Burgers (Coles)
• V2 Plant-Protein Burgers (Woolworths)

Plant-based beef mince

Vegan mince is an absolute staple to have in the fridge if you want to make heartier meat-free meals. It’s perfect for making anything you can think of that would usually call for minced beef.

We’re talking all sorts of ol’ reliable comfort meals like bolognese, tacos, chilli con carne, meatballs, pies and sausage rolls, burritos, enchiladas, and shepherd’s pie… even a curveball recipe like this vegan mince tortilla wrap. You name it, vegan mince can do it! 

• Birds Eye Plant-Based Mince (Coles)
• Coles Nature’s Kitchen Italian Style Meat-Free Mince (Coles)
• Impossible Beef Mince (Woolworths)
• The Meet Co Beef-Free Mince (Woolworths) 
• Plantein Premium Plant-Based Mince (Woolworths)
• Protein Plate Plant-Based Beef-Free Mince (Woolworths) 
• V2 Plant-Protein Mince (Woolworths, Coles)

Plant-based beef sausages

Looking for something meaty to take centre stage in your big brekky, or to spice up your bowl of pan-fried gnocchi? Take your pick of these vegan sausages and prepare them however you fancy – they’re so deliciously simple that you really can’t go wrong.

Our favourite? A classic hotdog or sausage sizzle, of course 🌭

• Bean Supreme Parsley, Sage & Rosemary Sausages (Coles)
• Linda McCartney’s Vegetarian Sausages
• Nature’s Kitchen Smokey Sweet Potato & Black Bean Sausages (Coles)
• Unreal Co Beefy Brat (Woolworths)
• Vegie Delights Thick BBQ Sausages (Coles)
• Vegie Delights Vegie Sausages (Coles)
• V2 Plant-Protein Classic British Sausages (Woolworths)

Plant-based beef strips

Probably the most versatile of the bunch, vegan beef strips are a foolproof way of amping up throw-together stir-fries, stews, noodle dishes, wraps, and veggie bowls, as well as adding richness to cosy comfort meals like stroganoff, ’beef’ bourguignon, and Moroccan tagine.

There are quite a few brands to choose from these days, but these are some of the best:

• The Meet Co Beef-Free Strips (Woolworths)
• The Meet Co Plant-Based Strips (Coles)
• Protein Plate Plant-Based Beef-Free Strips (Woolworths)

 

Plant-based beef steaks

We know – we can’t quite believe it either! The fact that you can even buy vegan steak in stores is irrefutable proof that plant-based eating has well and truly gone mainstream. 

Try these babies marinated, seared, or dressed up with garlic and herbs, and served alongside some mashed potatoes or roast veggies. Or go straight for the jugular with a vegan steak sandwich 🤤

• Made With Plants Meat-Free Steaks (Woolworths)
• vEEF Plant-Based Beef Steak (Woolworths)

 

Plant-based roast beef

If you need ideas for an impressive vegan dinner date or festive meal, plant-based roast ‘beef’ is a mouthwatering place to start. (There are lots of other meaty vegan centrepieces to choose from too!)

Prepare your roast according to the packet instructions – usually baked in the oven or caramelised in a frying pan – and load the rest of your plate up with classic Sunday roast sides like green beans, crispy potatoes, and gravy.

• vEEF Plant-Based Beef Brisket (Woolworths)
• vEEF Plant-Based Roast Seitan (Woolworths)
• Vegie Delights Vegie Roast (Coles)

 

Plant-based beef pies & sausage rolls

Lovers of the iconic Aussie beef pie or sausage rolls, rejoice! Your snackish cravings are more than covered by this veritable smorgasbord of plant-based pastries. 

With a whopping 42% of Australians these days choosing to eat less meat or none at all, it’s little wonder so many brands have heeded the call for vegan versions of these beloved classics. 

Do a blind taste test to decide on your favourites, or make your own at home.

• Four ‘N Twenty Meat-Free Pie (Coles, Woolworths)
• Fry’s Family Food Co. Plant-Based Sausage Rolls (Woolworths, Coles)
• Fry’s Family Food Co. Steak-Style Pie (Coles, Woolworths)
• Linda McCartney’s Vegetarian Sausage Roll (Woolworths)
• Nature’s Kitchen Classic Meat-Free Pie (Coles)
• Pie Society Meatless Party Pies (Coles)
• Pie Society Meatless Classic Aussie Pies (Woolworths)
• Pie Society Meatless Classic Cottage Pies (Woolworths)
• Pie Society Plant-Based Party Pack (Woolworths, Coles)

Plant-based beef jerky

These tasty meat-free treats give you everything you could want from a mouthful of jerky. They’re satisfyingly chewy, salty, and spicy – and guaranteed to make you drool at first bite. 

• Plumpy’s Mock Beef Jerky (Asian Pantry)
• Noble Jerky Vegan Jerky (iHerb)
• Primal Strips Vegan Jerky (Vegan Perfection, Flora & Fauna, Health Tree)

Plant-based beef deli slices

Try these plant-based pepperoni and pastrami slices next time you’re making a toasted sandwich, pizza, or vegan antipasto platter – they’re ideal for adding extra savoury flavour and ‘meaty’ indulgence!

• Made With Plants Meat-Free Pepperoni (Woolworths)
• Plantitude Pastrami Style Slices (Woolworths)
• Suzy Spoon’s Vegan Pastrami (La Vida Vegan)

There’s more where that came from…

When it comes to vegan products, it’s impossible to make any list truly exhaustive – because new options are regularly appearing out of the blue!

Keep an eye on your supermarket shelves for new additions to the current range of vegan beef products, and be sure to have a dig around in the freezer section of your local health food store and Asian grocer for hidden gems too. 

Alternatively, you can get plant-based meats delivered to your door by shopping at one of these vegan-friendly online retailers.

And of course, there are plenty of beef-inspired dishes you can make using veggie ingredients at home, too.

With all these satisfying options for beefing up your plant-based cooking (while keeping sweet animals like cows off your plate), the only tricky part is deciding where to start

Keen to explore more meat-free options? We’ve also got lists of our favourite plant-based pork, chicken, and seafood alternatives for you to drool over.

Header image: © V2