Vegan Ground Beef Crumbles

Name: Vegan Ground Beef Crumbles
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 240 Grams Vital Wheat Gluten (about 2 cups); 15 Grams Nutritional Yeast (about 1/4 cup); 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder; 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder; 1 Teaspoon Cumin; 1 Teaspoon Paprika; ¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper; ⅛ Teaspoon Cayenne; ⅛ Teaspoon Allspice; ¾ Cup Water; ¼ Cup Liquid Aminos; ¼ Cup Coconut Aminos; 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar

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Make these easy vegan ground beef crumbles, for a high-protein ground beef to use in any recipe. No boiling required and ready in 30 minutes!

A bowl of vegan ground beef crumbles with a spoon.

This recipe is very similar to my vegan seitan beef. In that recipe I use steak seasoning to really punch that steak flavor.

This beef crumble is meant to be a bit more neutral. Often when you are making dishes that call for ground beef, they have additional seasonings in the recipe. Think: tacos, chili, stuffed peppers, etc. So the flavor of these crumbles is a bit more neutral.

The other main difference between this recipe and my other beef recipe is the method to achieve the crumble texture. To achieve crumbles, mixing the ingredients only until just combined is key.

Why I love this Seitan Ground Beef

Dietary needs - this seitan ground beef is vegan/plant-based, dairy-free, oil-free, and sugar-free
Real foods - no fake meat here! This beef is made from entirely whole foods!
Savory beef-like flavor - often we associate steak seasoning with the taste of steak, so by using steak seasoning in the beef we can make our homemade beef taste like the animal
LOADED with protein - seitan is made from vital wheat gluten, which has a very high percentage of protein! So this beef has just as much (or even more) protein than actual beef (and none of the fat!)
Great vegan option for beef recipes - these crumbles are great for any recipe that might need a more neutral-tasting beef like tacos or chili

A bowl of vegan ground beef crumbles, with a spoon scooping some out.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Vital Wheat Gluten: the ingredient that packs all the protein! Vital wheat gluten is available in the baking aisle near other types of flour.
Nutritional Yeast: nutritional yeast is a spice that has a cheesy flavor. The beef don't taste cheesy but the nutritional yeast helps create a deeper flavor
Spices: onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, black pepper, cayenne, and allspice
Water: water helps create the right texture
Soy Sauce, Tamari, or Liquid Aminos: these add saltiness. I recommend using liquid aminos in this recipe if possible, but soy sauce or tamari will also work.
Coconut Aminos: coconut aminos add a slight sweetness to the seitan, which is more reminiscent of beef than the very savory liquid aminos
Apple Cider Vinegar: a bite of acid helps deepen the overall flavor

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2. In a large bowl, add all the ingredients. Mix using a fork until crumbles start to form. Do not over mix - the more you mix the more the mixture will clump together.

Vegan Ground Beef Crumbles step 2 - gently mix all the ingredients.

Step 3. Place on the prepared baking sheet and break up any large chunks.

Vegan Ground Beef Crumbles step 3 - spread onto the prepared pan.

Step 4. Bake 25-30 minutes until an internal temperature of 195°F is reached.

Vegan Ground Beef Crumbles step 4- bake.

Step 5. Let cool slightly. Then chop or tear any large pieces into ground beef sized pieces. Use in your favorite taco or ground beef recipe.

Vegan Ground Beef Crumbles step 5 - crumble into smaller pieces.

FAQ & Expert Tips

What is seitan?

Seitan is a meat substitute made from vital wheat gluten. Various seitan recipes can be made from vital wheat gluten by varying the spices and cooking method.

Vital wheat gluten basically a flour like substance that is primarily protein. This is what makes the beef so high in protein!

Use the weight measurements

I highly recommend using a kitchen scale for this recipe.

Vital wheat gluten is like a flour, so think of this almost like a baking recipe. You want to be as precise as possible for best results.

Is this beef gluten-free?

Seitan is made from vital wheat gluten, which is basically pure gluten. So no, this beef is not gluten free.

Storage

Store the crumbles in an air tight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Recipe Prayer

Thank you God for this protein-packed plant-based version of beef. Thank you for giving us the means to eat foods that fuel us, while also caring for creation. Amen.

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