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Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf

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A hearty plant-based dinner idea that will satisfy even meat-eaters! A Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf that mimics the classic meatloaf with no meat, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free! Get all your protein and veggies in this healthy recipe!

Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 A hearty plant-based dinner idea that will satisfy even meat-eaters! A Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf that mimics the classic meatloaf with no meat, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free! Get all your protein and veggies in this healthy recipe!

With Thanksgiving approaching at the speed of light, meal preparation is already underway! Some of us like to plan the ultimate classic menu with all the trimmings, others like to go potluck or buffet style, and others enjoy trying new and modern dishes on their page long menu. I think we all try to create some dishes so everyone can have at least something they love. We all know food allergies and diet restrictions have made that very proteinate over the past few years.

Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 A hearty plant-based dinner idea that will satisfy even meat-eaters! A Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf that mimics the classic meatloaf with no meat, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free! Get all your protein and veggies in this healthy recipe!

It’s easy to have plenty of side dishes that fit our diet needs, but the main event can be a bit trickier. I don’t eat turkey and I’ve been known to just make some chicken for myself instead. Usually, I go for a vegan option on the holidays, though. I just like to change it up for at least one dish each year and usually, that’s the main event.

Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 A hearty plant-based dinner idea that will satisfy even meat-eaters! A Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf that mimics the classic meatloaf with no meat, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free! Get all your protein and veggies in this healthy recipe!

Last year I made this here cauliflower lentil loaf after many years of wanting to try the vegan loaf crave for myself. One of those things that took me so long to try and now I kick myself over not trying it sooner! I always hated that so many recipes were nut-based (so calorie dense and expensive!), soy-based (no tofu, please), or were non-vegan lentil loafs (eggs will not due!)

Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 A hearty plant-based dinner idea that will satisfy even meat-eaters! A Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf that mimics the classic meatloaf with no meat, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free! Get all your protein and veggies in this healthy recipe!

I knew I had 2 major components that would not let me down when making my first veggie-loaf. Legumes and cauliflower. A great dose of plant-based proteins plus all that veggie goodness (in addition to pepper and onion!) Veggie loaves are such a great option to get those plant-based skeptics to try! The never-fail goodness of lentils and cauliflower I knew would be a surefire way to make a “meaty” success!

Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 A hearty plant-based dinner idea that will satisfy even meat-eaters! A Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf that mimics the classic meatloaf with no meat, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free! Get all your protein and veggies in this healthy recipe!

When I brought this loaf with me to our family’s Thanksgiving feast, I was hoping everyone would try (I usually have to force them to branch out a little into foodie-world). They did and they loved it (just as much as me!) I even had to leave my grandparents some leftovers to savor in the coming days. Which, by the way, this cauliflower lentil loaf tastes great as leftovers! You could eat it cold, hot, mashed up and thrown in a sauce with some pasta. Endless!

Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 A hearty plant-based dinner idea that will satisfy even meat-eaters! A Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf that mimics the classic meatloaf with no meat, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free! Get all your protein and veggies in this healthy recipe!

Of course, you may have noticed that shiny red glaze on top! “Meatloaf” is NEVER complete without the red ketchup sauce! I made this ketchup glaze with just a hint of smokiness to really take this humble loaf over the top in a subtle way! So let’s get those blenders out and oven on! We have a Cauliflower Lentil Loaf to make!

Cauliflower Lentil Loaf

Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 A hearty plant-based dinner idea that will satisfy even meat-eaters! A Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf that mimics the classic meatloaf with no meat, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free! Get all your protein and veggies in this healthy recipe!

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Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

A hearty plant-based dinner idea that will satisfy even meat-eaters! A Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf that mimics the classic meatloaf with no meat, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free! Get all your protein and veggies in this healthy recipe!

  • Author: Rebecca Pytell
  • Cook Time: 45 mins
  • Total Time: 45 mins
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Main
  • Cuisine: American
Scale

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. To prep: Saute the chopped onion and pepper in a skillet on the stove for a few minutes to soften. Rice the cauliflower in a food processor until you have 3 crumbled cups. Squeeze the crumbles with a towel to release excess water. Cook the lentils according to package and let cool.
  3. In a large food processor combine all the ingredients for the loaf and process until combined (not smooth, just mixed well).
  4. Line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper and press in the loaf mixture into the pan and smooth out the top.
  5. In a small bowl, mix the ketchup and liquid smoke together and then spread it evenly over the top of the pressed loaf.
  6. Bake the loaf in the oven for 40-45 minutes.
  7. Let cool before slicing and serving.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1

 Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 A hearty plant-based dinner idea that will satisfy even meat-eaters! A Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf that mimics the classic meatloaf with no meat, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free! Get all your protein and veggies in this healthy recipe!

Doesn’t it look like a “meatloaf”? I actually never had much meatloaf growing up, but the few times I did, I loved it! I would always get it out at restaurants and you can bet my favorite part was ALL the ketchup sauce on top! I’m glad I can have “meatloaf” again! I’m pretty sure I may be one of the only people who wishes their mom had made meatloaf for family dinners 😛 I digress! We can loaf-on now! Make and take this to your next big family gathering and wow them all with this delectable, hearty, Vegan, Cauliflower Lentil Loaf!

So tell me:

+ Did you have meatloaf growing up? Did you like it?

+ Do you like to change up the main event or side dishes for a food/family holiday dinner?

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Comments

  5. Nikki Frank-Hamilton says

    I am officially you biggest fan! We love meatloaf, with our different diets it’s hard for us all to get on the same page. I have learned to make gluten free, vegetarian gravy, but the meatloaf escaped me for a vegetarian option. This is perfect! You always have the best solutions and creative recipes! Thanks!

    Reply

  12. kimmythevegan says

    Looks better than meatloaf to me! This sounds like a fantastic Thanksgiving main. I totally agree – sides are easy peasy, but I always struggle with mains. I love the sound of the smoky ketchup glaze too. Yum!

    Reply

      • Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says

        So true! I eat vegan, or at least vegetarian, much of the time (though my husband does not thrive on it). But I like to have a vegan dish everyone can enjoy when I have a vegan over for dinner. I don’t single them out and make them feel I’ve gone to a lot of trouble just for them.

        Reply

  21. Demeter | Beaming Baker says

    Congrats on creating an amazing vegan loaf that fit your needs perfectly. Love that this loaf is made with so many great ingredients, including my beloved cauliflower! If I could just have one slice… or three this Thanksgiving… 😉 Yum!

    Reply

  27. Bianca says

    Cauliflower & lentils look like the ideal base for the vegan meatloaf! Genius idea! I actually grew up without meatloaf as well, but we had something similar. Some kind of ground meat in patties… I guess that was the closest thing to meatloaf.

    Reply

  31. nadia says

    Love vegan ‘meat’ loaves. I made one last Christmas and I’m making it a tradition to create a different version every year! Love the idea of using lentils and cauliflower 😀

    Reply

  38. Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite says

    Love the addition of riced cauliflower! I use it in some of my burgers and it’s so awesome. Looks delicious! I never was a meatloaf fan, but I didn’t grow up with traditional american food. I feel like a veggie version is way more up my alley!

    Reply

  52. Mandy says

    Wow, Rebecca!!! This looks incredible!!! Meatloaf drenched in ketchup was a huge staple growing up 🙂 I love the ingredients you chose here – most contain nuts, rice, or oats, so this is a nice change! It looks so hearty and meaty…I had to do a double take when I first saw the pics! How awesome that your family loved it – when my gut is healed, I’m definitely making this. For now, I’ll just drool over these pics! Off to pin the recipe 🙂

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Haha, thank you, Mandy! Definitely much “roughage” in this loaf for the tummy, but super hearty and “fresh” tasting!

      Reply

  54. Sarah- A Whisk and Two Wands says

    Ok I’m really into this! I use to make meatloaf all the time. The hubby misses it and it was a tradition for dinner the day after an apple orchard and it’s been so many years since I’ve made it. Wasn’t a fan of nut loaves but I’m thinking this would be a good one, can’t wait to try it!

    Reply

  55. Kortney // Allergy Girl Eats says

    I was never a big meat loaf fan – hence becoming a vegetarian at 16. But now that I eat meat again I have been intrigued to try it. Something about so much ground meat puts me off. This on the other hand is something I can get behind! Yum!

    Reply

  59. Nico @ yumsome says

    I’ve never even seen meatloaf in real life, much less eaten it! And I’ve never had a lentil or nut roast either! This does look completely delicious though, and will definitely be made very soon.

    (By the way, what happened to the nutritional data? That’s a very large 1-person serving! LOL!)

    Reply

  64. Harriet Emily says

    Wowwww! This lentil loaf looks incredible Rebecca! So healthy and full of so many delicious flavours! I love love love the addition of cauliflower too. That’s such a great idea! I can’t wait to try this!

    Reply

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Meet Rebecca

Hey there, welcome to Strength and Sunshine! I’m Rebecca and I’m so glad you’re here! This is your go-to destination for delicious, fun, and (mostly) healthy gluten-free and allergy-free recipes, tips & tricks, advice, as well as celiac and food allergy coaching services!

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