Opinion 25 ‘meaty’ vegan beef recipes that are easy & delicious

From ‘beef’ stroganoff to bourguignon, pot roasts and pastries – there’s a delicious vegan version of all your traditionally meaty favourites.

If you’re hankering for a classically ‘beefy’ comfort meal but still want to choose wisely for your health, animals, and the environment, there are heaps of easy plant-based dishes you can make at home to hit the spot! 

We’ve rounded up some of our tried-and-true favourites to get you started. 

Many of these recipes use versatile plant-based ingredients – like mushrooms, TVP, lentils, and soy curls – to recreate the flavour and texture of beef. 

But you can also do a 1:1 swap for a store-bought vegan beef product if that takes your fancy! You can find countless options in stores and online these days, including burger patties, sausages, mince, strips, steaks, and even entire roasts. 

Some beef-style stocks happen to be vegan-friendly too, and can help lend your dishes that signature ‘beefy’ flavour that’s tricky to put your finger on!

Check out these succulent, beef-inspired vegan recipes that are so yum, you won’t even notice they’re meat-free: 

1. Easy Mushroom Bourguignon 

This hearty, comforting stew is much easier to cook than it is to spell 😉 The recipe swaps beef out for mushrooms – but you could also use vegan beef strips if you prefer!

2. Rich Mushroom Stroganoff 

A classically ‘beefy’ dish like stroganoff is surprisingly easy to make plant-based! Just switch out the meat for button mushrooms, soy curls, or your favourite vegan beef product.

3. TVP Bolognese

TVP spaghetti Bolognese is ridiculously tasty and an ideal dish to serve to a mixed crowd at dinner parties. Amp it up with a dash of red wine and liquid smoke for extra depth of flavour. 

4. Crispy Chilli Stir-fry with ‘Beefy’ Soy Strips

Imagine sticky, saucy morsels of melt-in-your mouth beef – only 100% made of plants! This speedy stir-fry uses TVP strips and beef-style stock to create the illusion of meatiness. 

5. Lentil Shepherd’s Pie

Our veg take on shepherd’s pie is highly nutritious and deliciously light compared to its meaty counterpart. If you’d prefer to ‘beef’ it up, try using TVP or plant-based mince in place of lentils.

6. Easy TVP Tacos 

Is there any better last-minute dinner than tacos? These bad boys take only 15 minutes to whip up – and with TVP as the stand-in for beef mince, they’re nice and cheap too.

7. Herbed Mushroom & Lentil Sausage Rolls 

Another beef-inspired vegan recipe that your friends won’t believe is meat-free! Once these deliciously umami sausage rolls hit the snack table, they’ll be snapped up in seconds.

8. Rich Walnut Ragu

It’s no secret that you can create some amazing plant-based substitutes using nuts as the base – but a rich, meaty-tasting ragu made with walnuts?! This one has to be tasted to be believed. 

9. Classic Mushroom Wellington

Looking for something special to serve for a holiday main course? You can’t go wrong with this super satisfying portobello mushroom wellington … and a boat-load of vegan-friendly gravy.

10. ‘Leftover’ Vegetable Stir-fry

If you’ve got some vegan beef strips hanging out in the freezer and some veggies begging to be used up in the fridge, why not throw them all in the wok together for an easy, filling stir-fry?

11. Mushroom ‘Meatballs’ in Napolitana Sauce

This mighty, mushroom-based version of meatballs is everything you could ever want from a plant-based comfort meal – tasty, nutritious, and the perfect match for some vegan garlic bread.

12. Easy Moroccan Vegetable Tagine

Add some chunks of your favourite plant-based beef alternative to soak up all the warming flavours of this easy Moroccan tagine. It’s perfectly spiced, packed with wholesome veggies, and studded with sweet pops of apricot.

13. Mushroom Jerky

Chewy, savoury, and honestly kind of addictive, this shiitake mushroom jerky would be a great addition to any plant-based lunchbox. Add it to your must-try list of homemade vegan snacks!

14. Potato & Bean Stew with Spiced Almonds

Transform this recipe from a humble bean stew to a hearty ‘beef’ stew by tipping in a bag of your favourite plant-based meat pieces (with an extra cup of stock to keep it stew-ey). Then let them simmer in all that veggie goodness!

15. The Best Vegan Meatloaf 

Best served alongside creamy mashed potatoes and roast veg, this vegan meatloaf is easy to make, bursting with savoury flavour, and jam-packed with protein thanks to the chickpea base.

16. Mushroom & Kidney Bean Veggie Burger 

Craving a juicy burger? Swap out the beef for these mushroom-based patties instead – or if you’re short on time, try out one of the many amazing plant-based patties available in stores.

17. Slow Cooker Lentil Bolognese with Creamy Polenta

This rich and herby Bolognese is incredible on top of pasta, polenta, a baked potato, or even smushed into a toastie with some melty dairy-free cheese. Who knew lentils could be so meaty?

18. TVP & Gravy Pie 

Featuring the mince-like texture of TVP, this might just be the ultimate vegan version of the iconic Aussie beef pie – saucy, chunky indulgence wrapped up in a perfectly flaky crust.

19. Roast Vegetable Pasties

These golden roast veggie parcels are delightful to sink your teeth into. And if you feel like going for a meatier vibe, this would be the perfect filling to combine with your favourite plant-based mince.

20. Vegan Beef Seitan Roast 

Keen to try making your own vegan beef from scratch? This seitan recipe is well worth the effort – the result is a juicy, decadent roast that’s protein-packed and slices just like actual meat!

New to seitan? Learn more about it here!

21. Chimichurri Mushroom Steak Tacos

Beautiful in its simplicity, this veggie taco recipe uses a medley of fried mushrooms for the ‘meaty’ filling, upping the ante with a bright chimichurri sauce and quick-pickled red onion.

22. Double Potato, Mushroom & Lentil Pot Pies

These cosy pot pies give us beefy vibes already with their tender bites of mushroom, potato, and gravy – but if you fancy, you could always throw in some chunks of plant-based meat too. 

23. Vegan Beef Stew 

A veggie-laden ‘beef’ stew has got to be one of the best ways to pack your bowl with nourishing, whole-food ingredients. (Hot tip: You’ll need a vegan-friendly beef-style stock for this one.)

24. Spicy Lentil & Walnut Tacos

Mushrooms, lentils, and walnuts are this taco recipe’s trifecta! In combination, they create quite a filling ‘mince’ that’s super flavourful and with a remarkably similar texture to traditional taco meat.

25. Vegan ‘Beef’ Wellington

This plant-based impostor not only looks the part of a beef wellington, it tastes the part too! Serve it up as a Sunday roast or festive centrepiece and you’re guaranteed to impress.

There’s plenty of room for experimentation when it comes to creating meaty meat-free recipes, so don’t be afraid to tweak these dishes however suits your preference. 

If a recipe calls for vegan beef pieces, but you prefer the natural ‘meatiness’ of mushrooms, for example, just swap them out – and vice versa.

Half the fun of plant-based cooking is learning how to recreate all your old favourites in a way that appeals to you, whether that be by using a readily available meat substitute, or by relying solely on wholefood ingredients.

Whatever your tastes, hopefully this list serves as a drool-worthy reminder that there’s a vegan ‘beef’ recipe to suit any craving or occasion!

Still hungry for meal ideas? Check out our lists of vegan chicken, pork, and seafood recipes for even more meat-free inspiration.