This post may include affiliate links; see our disclosure policy.
This vegetarian meatloaf is hearty and pleases even the most passionate meat eaters! This family favorite recipe with loads of 5 star reviews from readers. We’ve made it more times than we can count, and everyone always loves it.
Every now and then you come across a recipe that is a cut above the rest – one that makes everything you’ve made before pale in comparison. We present: our vegetarian meatloaf recipe!
This meatloaf is made entirely of nuts, rice, mushrooms, onions, herbs, and cheese. Somehow, it all melds into an appearance and texture just like a meatloaf—and it tastes amazing. As in, better than the meat version! It’s perfect for dinner parties, as a Thanksgiving main dish, or for Christmas dinner. My mom always requests this for family dinners, and she’s a huge meat lover—so that’s saying something.
The secrets to a meaty flavor and texture
This meatloaf is incredibly hearty, the perfect vegetarian recipe for meat lovers. My mom is a huge carnivore, and she absolutely adores this recipe! She even requests to make it every time that we come home for a visit. It’s kind of mind-boggling how tasty this vegetarian meatloaf turns out. You’d almost swear from the texture that it’s an actual meatloaf! Here are some of the secrets:
- Mushrooms: Once the meatloaf is cooked, you won’t know there are any mushrooms. But they are essential to the savory flavor and a chewy texture.
- Toasted nuts. Another secret is a mixture of cashews and walnuts that are toasted in the oven until golden and fragrant. Combined with the sautéed mushrooms, toasted nuts add a subtle meaty flavor to the dish and give this nut loaf some texture.
- Swiss cheese & cottage cheese: Swiss cheese brings a subtle meatiness and cottage cheese brings in the perfect texture complement.
Featured reader comments
It’s not just us! Here are a few real reader comments who gave this recipe a 5 star rating:
- “I had to tell you how fantastic this vegetarian meatloaf was! So flavorful and easy to make! Even my son, who loves his meat, loved it!” -Karin
- “This Vegetarian Meatloaf is Freaking AWESOME!! Worth the time to chop everything up. Definitely will make it again.” -Nora
Recipe overview
This vegetarian meatloaf recipe requires a bit of time to make, but the end result is totally worth it! To make this veggie meatloaf, here are the basic steps (or go to the full recipe below):
- Cook the rice: Cook the brown rice. Doing this in advance cuts down on prep time.
- Toast the nuts: Toast walnuts and cashews in the oven until golden brown.
- Sauté the onion and mushrooms: Sauté the veggies with herbs and spices.
- Mix: Combine the rice, nuts, and mushroom mixture with parsley, cottage cheese, Swiss cheese, eggs, salt, and pepper.
- Bake: Butter a loaf pan, line the bottom with parchment paper and butter again. Pour in the mixture and bake about 1 hour at 375°F or until golden brown. Allow to cool about 20 minutes before slicing.
Storing leftovers
This vegetarian meatloaf stores very well as leftovers! Here’s what to do:
- Refrigerate. Leftovers can be stored for a 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Freeze. This vegetarian meatloaf freezes perfectly! Slice it into pieces and place it in a sealable container in the freezer. Reheat the meatloaf in a 375°F oven.
Sides to pair with meatloaf
If you’re entertaining and looking for dinner party recipes, this vegetarian meatloaf is a fantastic fit for a dinner party. Our family makes it often over the holidays, as a vegetarian Thanksgiving recipe or for Christmas dinner. It always pleases meat eaters: even my meat and potatoes grandparents!
A few side dishes that work well with meatloaf are mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes, crispy Brussels sprouts, sauteed broccoli or broccolini, green beans almondine, roasted potatoes, or shaved Brussels sprout salad.
Dietary notes
This vegetarian meatloaf recipe is vegetarian and gluten free.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! You can either prepare it a day ahead and refrigerate before baking, or bake and freeze in slices. To reheat frozen slices, warm in a 375°F oven until heated through.
Yes, many commenters have successfully used cheddar, mozzarella, or Gruyere instead of Swiss cheese. The cottage cheese is important for texture but can be replaced with Greek yogurt.
Unfortunately, the nuts are essential to this recipe’s texture and structure. There’s currently no tested nut-free version.
Aim for a coarse chop, similar to the texture of panko breadcrumbs. Don’t grind them into a powder—some texture is good.
While the recipe calls for a mix of cremini and shiitake, many commenters have successfully used just cremini or button mushrooms. The mushrooms are essential to the recipe’s texture and flavor and can’t be omitted.
Vegetarian Meatloaf (Fan Favorite!)
This vegetarian meatloaf is hearty and pleases even the most passionate of meat eaters! It’s a family favorite dinner party recipe.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 8 to 10 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups cooked brown rice
- 1 ½ cups walnuts
- ½ cup cashews
- 1 yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 3 ounces shiitake mushrooms
- 3 ounces baby bella mushrooms (aka cremini)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 12 ounces Swiss cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the brown rice using Stovetop Brown Rice or Instant Pot Brown Rice. (You’ll need ½ cup dry rice to yield 1 ½ cups cooked; or you cook 1 cup dry rice and save the leftovers.)
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Place 1 ½ cup walnuts and ½ cup cashews on a baking sheet and toast for 8-10 minutes, until lightly browned. Allow to cool.
- Meanwhile, finely chop 1 onion and mince 3 cloves garlic. Clean and finely chop the mushrooms. Finely chop the 2 tablespoons fresh parsley. When the nuts have cooled, finely chop them with a knife or in a food processor.
- In a large skillet, heat about 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms, 1 teaspoon marjoram, 1 teaspoon thyme, and 1 teaspoon sage. Cook about 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are golden. Transfer to a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, lightly beat together 4 eggs.
- In the large bowl, combine the onion and mushroom mixture with the toasted walnuts and cashews, parsley, 1 ½ cups cooked rice, 1 cup cottage cheese, 12 ounces Swiss cheese, beaten eggs, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
- Butter a 9-inch loaf pan, line the bottom with parchment paper, and butter it again. Pour the mixture from the bowl into the pan.
- Bake 1 hour until golden brown. Let cool in pan for 20 minutes, then invert loaf and remove from pan. Slice into pieces and serve warm. Leftovers can be stored for a few day in the refrigerator or a few months in the freezer (cut into pieces). Reheat in a 375°F oven.
Notes
Adapted from Martha Stewart
I made this recipe years ago and it was yummy. Have you ever tried it as burgers? Wondering if you think burgers made from the same recipe would work for grilling. Thanks
I think it would be hard to firm up for grilling! You could definitely bake it and then do thick slices on the grill.
OMG! This meatless loaf is delicious! The only thing different I did was adding my homemade barbecue sauce on top and just a tad bit in the loaf.😋
Oh my word! This was such a “unique” recipe. I had my fingers crossed while it baked. It is SO SO good! I feel bad I ever doubted you. Your recipes are always excellent! I reduced the Swiss cheese by about 1/3 but no otter changed.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely wonderful recipe for the vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.
Thank you!
Would this work replacing the 4 eggs with plant based eggs?
I’m not sure, sorry!