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Lentil Loaf – Finances Bytes


Should you’re searching for a comfortable, plant-based predominant dish that’s each budget-friendly and filled with taste, this Lentil Loaf is a must-try! Made with easy pantry staples like lentils and breadcrumbs, it transforms right into a hearty, protein-rich loaf that even meat lovers will take pleasure in. I like the way it’s filled with savory umami taste from the sun-dried tomatoes and savory mushrooms, making every slice satisfying and comforting. This vegan lentil “meatloaf” is simple to make and is available in at beneath $1 per serving—good for a healthful, inexpensive dinner.

A slice of lentil loaf on a plate with peas and mashed potato.A slice of lentil loaf on a plate with peas and mashed potato.
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Hearty Lentil meatLoaf Recipe

This selfmade lentil loaf is my straightforward vegan tackle basic meatloaf. It’s filled with veggies like mushrooms, onions, and carrots, protein-rich lentils, and completed with a tangy, ketchup-based glaze. It jogs my memory of the basic consolation meals dinners I grew up with, simply completely plant-based! And I do know what you’re considering, however don’t fear…the feel is good. The mushrooms add loads of moisture, so it’s by no means dry, whereas the breadcrumbs and flaxseed assist bind all the things collectively and cease it from getting mushy.

Whether or not it’s a part of your weekly meal prep or your vacation unfold, this lentil meatloaf will assist stretch your funds with out skimping on taste.

  1. Course of your veggies small and to an analogous measurement. There’s a cause I roughly chop the carrots, mushrooms, and solar dried tomatoes earlier than including them to the meals processor. Doing this helps the veggies course of right down to an analogous measurement, that means there aren’t any massive chunks within the meatloaf combination that will in any other case trigger the loaf to collapse. The onion must also be diced very small.
  2. Make this vegan meatloaf gluten-free. By swapping in gluten-free breadcrumbs and utilizing gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos.
  3. Let it cool. I at all times let my loaf cool for about 10 minutes earlier than slicing to verify every slice holds collectively properly!
  4. Wish to strive a distinct glaze? Borrow the glaze from our turkey meatloaf recipe and use that as a substitute! It’s made with BBQ sauce and will probably be simply as scrumptious.

Lentil Loaf


Value $9.55 recipe / $0.95 serving

A comfortable vegan Lentil Loaf recipe filled with protein-rich lentils, veggies, and a sweet-savory glaze. Simple consolation meals made plant-based!

Overhead view of of a vegetarian lentil meatloaf with half cut into slices.Overhead view of of a vegetarian lentil meatloaf with half cut into slices.

  • Collect substances and preheat oven to 350℉.

  • Roughly chop mushrooms, carrots, and solar dried tomatoes to offer your meals processor a bit further assist and make sure that the contemporary substances are about the identical measurement as soon as processed.

  • First, course of the carrots till they’re shredded, with no items bigger than ¼ inch.

  • Put aside processed carrots and add the mushrooms to the empty meals processor. Pulse till crumbly and roughly the identical measurement because the carrots.

  • Add 1 Tbsp olive oil (or solar dried tomato oil, in case you have it!) to a sauté pan over medium warmth. Add the mushrooms, carrots, ½ a finely diced onion, salt, and pepper. Stir to mix and cook dinner over medium warmth whilst you put together the remainder of the substances, stirring often.

  • In the identical meals processor, add half the cooked lentils, garlic, solar dried tomatoes, and walnuts. Course of to mix.

  • You’ll discover the sauté pan is beginning to look fairly juicy! The mushrooms have begun to launch water, creating the proper quantity of moisture to maintain your lentil loaf good and juicy.

  • Add the remainder of the entire lentils, floor flaxmeal, 2 Tbsp ketchup, breadcrumbs, and 1 Tbsp soy sauce. Stir to mix.

  • Subsequent, add the solar dried tomato lentil combination from the meals processor and cook dinner, stirring usually, for one more 10-Quarter-hour over medium warmth. The combination will absorb all the juices from the mushrooms, and the flax will start to assist bind the lentils and veggies collectively, making a dough-like paste.

  • Take away the cooked lentil combination from the warmth and permit it to chill for 10 or so minutes so it’s straightforward to deal with. In the meantime, combine the ½ cup ketchup, brown sugar, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, and Dijon mustard collectively and put aside.

  • As soon as the lentil combination has cooled, type it right into a loaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet. My loaf was roughly 9.5” lengthy, 6” large, 1.5” tall. It is a hearty meal, and it feeds a crowd!

  • Utilizing a spoon or an elevated spatula, cowl the lentil loaf with the ready sauce, being cautious to flippantly cowl the edges, however taking particular care to ensure you don’t have any naked spots on prime.

  • Bake for 45 minutes. Take away from the oven and prime with minced parsley. Let it cool for 10 minutes or so earlier than slicing and serving!

See how we calculate recipe prices right here.


  • Meals Processor

  • Sauté Pan

  • Baking Sheet

  • Parchment Paper

*Use cooked entire brown/inexperienced lentils. You possibly can both use canned, precooked lentils or cook dinner your individual (keep away from overcooking as this could make them mushy!). Roughly, 1-1.5 cups of dried lentils will yield 3 cups of cooked lentils. 

Serving: 1sliceEnergy: 187kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 9gFats: 7gSodium: 734mgFiber: 7g

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the best way to make Lentil Loaf step-by-step photographs

The ingredients to make a lentil loaf.The ingredients to make a lentil loaf.

Collect your substances and preheat the oven to 350℉.

Chopped white mushrooms, carrots, and sun dried tomatoes on a wooden cutting board.Chopped white mushrooms, carrots, and sun dried tomatoes on a wooden cutting board.

Prep the veggies: Roughly chop 16 oz. white mushrooms, 2 massive carrots, and a couple of Tbsp solar dried tomatoes to an analogous measurement. This offers your meals processor a bit further assist and likewise ensures the veggies will probably be processed to be an analogous measurement.

Carrots in a food processor.Carrots in a food processor.

Add the chopped carrots to your meals processor. Course of the carrots till they’re shredded, with no items bigger than ¼ inch. Take away the shredded carrots from the meals processor and set them apart.

Mushrooms in a food processor.Mushrooms in a food processor.

Now add the mushrooms to the empty meals processor. Pulse till crumbly and roughly the identical measurement because the carrots.

Processed carrots, mushrooms and onion in a sauce pan.Processed carrots, mushrooms and onion in a sauce pan.

Sauté the veggies: Add 1 Tbsp olive oil (or sun-dried tomato oil, in case you have it!) to a sauté pan over medium warmth. Add the processed mushrooms and carrots, ½ a finely diced onion, 1½ tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Stir to mix and cook dinner over medium warmth whilst you put together the remainder of the substances, stirring often.

Garlic, lentils, walnuts, and sun dried tomatoes in a food processor.Garlic, lentils, walnuts, and sun dried tomatoes in a food processor.

Make the lentil combination: Add half the cooked lentils (1½ cups), 4 garlic cloves, chopped solar dried tomatoes, and ½ cup walnuts to your meals processor and course of till mixed.

Lentil meatloaf ingredients in a saute pan with a spatula.Lentil meatloaf ingredients in a saute pan with a spatula.

In the meantime, you’ll discover the sauté pan is beginning to look fairly juicy! The mushrooms could have launched their water, creating sufficient moisture to maintain your lentil loaf good and juicy.

Breadcrumbs, lentils, ketchup, flax, and soy sauce in saucepan.Breadcrumbs, lentils, ketchup, flax, and soy sauce in saucepan.

Add the remaining cooked lentils, 2 Tbsp floor flaxmeal, 2 Tbsp ketchup, ¼ cup breadcrumbs, and 1 Tbsp soy sauce to your sauté pan. Stir to mix with the opposite substances.

Lentil loaf ingredients in a saucepan.Lentil loaf ingredients in a saucepan.

Now add the solar dried tomato lentil combination from the meals processor and mix. Prepare dinner, stirring usually, for one more 10-Quarter-hour over medium warmth. The combination will absorb all the juices from the mushrooms, and the flax will start to assist bind the lentils and veggies collectively, making a dough-like paste.

After 10-Quarter-hour, take away the pan from the warmth. Let the combination cool for about 10 minutes till you may safely deal with it.

Dijon mustard, ketchup, soy sauce, and brown sugar being mixed together with a spoon in a bowl.Dijon mustard, ketchup, soy sauce, and brown sugar being mixed together with a spoon in a bowl.

Make the glaze: In the meantime, add ½ cup ketchup, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tsp Dijon mustard to a bowl and mix. Set this apart for now.

A shaped lentil loaf on a parchment lined baking sheet.A shaped lentil loaf on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Kind the lentil meatloaf: When the lentil combine has cooled, type it right into a loaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet. My loaf was roughly 9.5” lengthy, 6” large, and 1.5” tall.

A lentil meatloaf on a parchment lined baking sheet topped with glaze.A lentil meatloaf on a parchment lined baking sheet topped with glaze.

Add the glaze: Use a spoon (or elevated spatula) to cowl the loaf with the ketchup glaze. You should definitely flippantly cowl the edges and ensure you don’t have any naked spots on prime.

A finished lentil loaf on a parchment lined baking sheet after baking.A finished lentil loaf on a parchment lined baking sheet after baking.

Bake: Place the baking sheet within the oven and bake for 45 minutes. As soon as baked, take away it from the oven and prime with 2 Tbsp contemporary parsley. Let your lentil loaf cool for 10 minutes or so earlier than slicing and serving! Take pleasure in.

A slice of lentil loaf on a plate with peas and mashed potato with a fork taking some.Lentil Loaf – Finances Bytes

Serving Solutions

I wish to go basic with mashed potatoes and peas each time I make this lentil loaf—it’s my favourite approach to do a vegetarian “meat and potatoes” dinner. However it’s simply as good for the vacations if you happen to don’t eat meat or need to save a bit cash this yr. This vegan meatloaf will probably be proper at residence in your desk with inexperienced bean casserole, stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, and all of your favourite meat-free Thanksgiving and Christmas sides.

Storage & Reheating

Retailer any leftovers within the fridge for 3-4 days, both wrapped in plastic wrap or in an hermetic container. Reheat slices within the microwave or in a 350ºF oven till warmed by way of. It’s also possible to freeze this vegan loaf recipe (I wish to freeze particular person slices so that they thaw sooner) for as much as 3 months. Wrap the slices properly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. For one of the best outcomes, allow them to thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.

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