Have you wanted to go vegan, but the thought of not being able to enjoy your favorite foods holds you back?
Stop fretting!
Gone are the days when vegans and vegetarians rely on bland food because all they had to cook for their meals were vegetables and fruits.
The food culture has undergone a huge transformation in the past few years. In fact, the rise of veganism has given birth to an ever-expanding alternative-meat landscape and even fake meat options for non-meat-eaters.
However, if you’re new to the alt meat world, plenty of options can leave you confused. To make your grocery shopping a little easier, I have created a list of the best vegan meat crumbles brands.
The Best Vegan Meat Crumbles Brands
Amp up your vegan cooking game with plant-based meat alternatives from the following fake meat brands:
1. Lightlife
Operating in the vegan food industry for more than 40 years, Lightlife is one of the pioneers of plant-based foods. The brand offers two varieties of plant-based crumbles – Original and Mexican.
Made with soy protein, the alt-meat crumbles are non-GMO, free of saturated fat, but offer the same rich, hearty flavor that you get from ground beef. Each serving of these vegan beef crumbles offer 10 grams of protein.
Choose Original Smart Ground vegan crumbles if you want to experience the authentic beefy taste. But if you’re craving something with a little more bold flavors, go for the Mexican flavor.
When it comes to vegan meat alternatives, you can trust Lightlife to give you a perfect combination of taste and quality.
2. Gardein
Gardein is a comparatively new name in the vegan food industry. However, the company has established a name for itself and has gained a huge following with its extensive line of great-tasting plant-based products.
For vegans missing the rich, comforting flavor of ground beef, Gardein offers the Ultimate Beefless Ground made with soy protein. It not only tastes good but is also healthier. Gardein’s vegan meat crumbles’ serving contains only two grams of total fat, zero cholesterol, and less than one gram of total sugars.
Moreover, it packs a punch of plant proteins. One serving of Gardein’s fake meat provides 18 grams of protein along with 5 grams of dietary fiber and 10% of your recommended daily intake for iron.
Sounds like a great option? Wait, there’s more!
Gardein’s vegan meat is gluten-free, dairy-free, and kosher-certified. The easy availability of Gardein’s products makes the brand even more popular. You can easily find their plant-based products at almost every supermarket. It doesn’t get any better than this!
3. BOCA
Another plant-based food manufacturing company with over 40 years of experience, BOCA is a trusted name in the vegan community. The company was one of the first ones to make a frozen plant-based burger. It has been a leading choice for vegans for a long time, especially for health-conscious vegans.
If you’re looking for a healthy plant-based meat alternative, BOCA is a great option.
With 11 grams of proteins, zero fat, zero cholesterol, and only 60 calories per serving, BOCA’s Original Veggie Crumbles make a healthy vegan alternative to ground beef. What makes it an even better option is that the veggie crumbles are made with non-GMO soy, making it one of the cleanest vegan meat products.
The crumbles come in a re-sealable package, which makes its storage highly convenient.
4. Beyond Meat
If you have been a vegan for any length of time, you must be aware of the brand Beyond Meat. Founded in 2009, the brand has become a household name in the vegan community within a very short time.
The LA-based company offers two Beyond Beef Crumble varieties – Beefy and Feisty (for spice lovers). In addition to offering great taste, the company also caters to Beyond Meat dietary restrictions of vegans. Their plant-based crumbles are soy-free and gluten-free. They are also made of non-GMO and Kosher ingredients.
Made with pea protein, Beyond Meat’s vegan meat crumbles offer 14 grams of plant protein per serving and 25% of your daily recommended iron intake. Knowing how often people struggle to meet their recommended dietary allowance for iron on a plant-based diet, I consider it a great added advantage.
Kudos to Beyond Meat for being so thoughtful!
5. Noble Plate
Noble Plate may not be as big or as popular as the other vegan meat crumbles brands mentioned above. But, they offer one of the best and healthiest vegan meat crumbles.
Made with just one ingredient—peas that are sustainably grown within the US—its vegan crumbles are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO, low carb, and paleo-friendly. The fake meat crumbles offer a whopping 45 grams of protein per serving to further add to this. What’s not to love about them?
In view of the fact that the alternative meat crumbles are made with sustainably grown peas, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Noble Plate fully complies with the philosophy of veganism.
What Is the Best Plant-Based Crumbles Brand?
There isn’t a universal answer to this question. It may vary depending on your definition of the best brand and your criteria for determining a product’s quality.
But, if you’re looking for protein-packed vegan meat crumbles, Noble Plate is the clear winner. On the other hand, if iron content is your key determining factor, go for Beyond Meat’s crumbles. Meanwhile, BOCA’s veggie crumbles are the best choice for health-conscious vegans and those watching their weight, as these crumbles only have 60 calories per serving.
Overall, Gardein, Noble Meat, and Beyond Meat are the best options for people with gluten intolerance or those who avoid gluten for general health purposes. But if you happen to have a soy allergy, Beyond Meat and Noble Plate are the best vegan meat crumbles brands for you.
If you don’t have any other dietary restrictions aside from meat, you can choose any of these vegan beef crumbles to add a rich, hearty, beefy flavor to your meals. Add these vegan meat substitutes to your pasta, casseroles, chili, tacos, or any other meat dish to enjoy a similar taste without compromising on your dietary and ethical commitments.
Did you find this article helpful? Want to know about the best brands for other vegan meat products too? Check out my article Best Vegan Pepperoni Brands!
