Vegetarian Ground Beef Substitutes

Ground beef is great; whether used as an ingredient to flavor foods like burgers or as the star of the show in meatball recipes, it will undoubtedly provide a rich meaty taste to whatever you have on hand.

Everyone like ground beef. Hold that idea; practically everyone like ground beef, with the exception of vegetarians, people who cannot consume red meat due to medical difficulties, and Hindus.

If you are a vegetarian, you are probably used to replacing meat in your diet, and ground beef is no different. You may simply replace ground beef in your recipe with any of these alternatives and obtain a comparable meat flavor.

This page discusses what ground beef is, how to use it in recipes, and the best vegetarian replacements for ground beef.

Ground BeefNutrition Facts

What is Ground Beef?

Ground beef (also known as minced beef or beef mince) is a kind of meat that has been coarsely diced using a knife or a meat grinder. These meats are often trims or meats linked to bones; no organs of any kind are included.

Ground beef is particularly popular in the United States, accounting for 60% of total beef consumption.

Ground beef comes in four varieties that you may get at a grocery store or butcher shop: ground sirloin, ground round, ground chuck, and regular ground beef. Each of these types solely includes meat from that particular cow cut.

Uses of Ground Beef in Recipes

Ground beef may be used in a variety of dishes, it is a cheaper alternative for meat, and it is quick and simple to prepare, hence it is often used as a meat option in many fast food recipes.

It is often used as a flavoring agent in hamburgers, spaghetti bolognese, sausages, and cottage pies. It may also be found in meatballs, meatloaves, sloppy joes, tacos, and other Midwestern dishes.

Ground beef may also be used as a meat substitute. As previously indicated, you may grill, smoke, boil, or fry it exactly like conventional meat. Feel free to experiment with various ways to cook ground beef.

Here are several recipes that require ground beef.

• Beef Stroganoff Burgers
• Moroccan Meatball Soup
• Beef Picadillo Enchiladas
• Beef and Black Bean Tacodiles
• Classic Beef Sliders
• Mashed Potato-Stuffed Meatloaf
• Hamburger Stroganoff Skillet
• Bacon Cheeseburger Crescent Ring
• Beef Taco Salad
• Handheld Meat Pies
• Mushroom and Provolone Meatloaf
• Calzones with Beef, Mushrooms, and Spinach Made in Bulk
• Patty Melts
• Thai Basil Beef with Coconut Rice
• Greek-Style Stuffed Peppers

Vegetarian Ground Beef Substitutes 

Most Americans consume ground beef on a regular basis. Who doesn’t like the rich, delectable flavor of beef? It’s ideal for when you need something fast and tasty. Still, if you adopt a vegetarian diet, you would avoid eating beef or any other food that involves animal killing.

You may, however, achieve a flavor similar to beef without actually incorporating meat in your diet. You are, indeed, a vegetarian.

Tofu

Tofu, also known as bean curd, is prepared by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the coagulated milk into solid white blocks of various textures. It is high in protein and is used to replace beef in many vegetarian dishes.

To make tofu into ground beef, buy a firm-textured tofu block, freeze for approximately 24 hours, thaw, and squeeze excess water out with a paper towel. After that, crumble the tofu block, season with your preferred spices, bake until golden brown, and use it as a straight substitute for ground beef in your recipe.

Lentils

Lentil is a kind of edible legume that has lens-shaped seeds. Lentils, according to numerous sources, make an excellent vegetarian ground beef alternative. The only thing to be concerned about is that lentils contain more moisture than ground beef, so to compensate, lower the amounts of other liquid components in your dish and do not allow the lentils to completely simmer.

This meat replacement may be used in meat pies, burgers, casseroles, soups, and any other dish you have on hand.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms have always been a wonderful vegetarian replacement for meat, so why not shred some mushrooms? The wonderful thing about mushrooms is that they still have that juicy texture and rich umami taste that you get from meat.

I prefer portobello mushrooms for the best results.

Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP)

This has to be one of the greatest plant-based vegetarian meats on the market. Textured vegetable protein (also known as textured soy protein) is a deflated soy flour product obtained following the extraction of soybean oil.

You’d still receive a lot of protein from TVP since it has a fair quantity of protein that can rival that of some meats.

If you already have this, make the switch immediately and enjoy your meals guilt-free.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the different types of vegetarians?

There are seven forms of vegetarianism: lacto vegetarianism, ovo vegetarianism, ovo-lacto vegetarianism, pescetarianism, flexitarianism, pollotarianism, and fruitarianism, and vegans, who do not eat any animal byproduct.

What are the health benefits of a vegetarian diet?

A vegetarian diet has many health advantages, including reduced blood pressure and a decreased risk of hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Is ground beef part of a keto diet?

Because 1oz of ground beef has no carbohydrates, it is ideal for anyone on a ketogenic diet. So, if you’re following a keto diet, you may add this inexpensive meat to your grocery list.

Conclusion 

Ground beef is so delicious that it has become a must-have item in many restaurants and a staple in many Americans’ diets; however, if you are a vegetarian, there is no need to avoid recipes that call for ground beef because you can still get amazing results with these substitutes.