Ultimate Guide to Gluten Free Meat Alternatives
The rise of plant-based eating, including through “Meat Free Monday”, means that there are now tons of meat alternatives on the market. People are becoming more aware of the impact of eating meat on climate change, and trying to make easy switches. Meat alternatives can be a great way to transition to more of a plant-based diet without feeling like you’re missing out. Even if you’re not veggie or vegan, they can be a nice change!
Most of the ‘fake meat’ products are soy or pea protein based, but there are also loads of veggie based products out there. Unfortunately for coeliacs/those who avoid gluten, a lot of the meat alternatives on the market contain wheat. So I decided to put together this guide packed full of all of the best gluten free meat alternatives! I have split it up into types of ‘meat’ product: sausages, mince, burgers, meatballs, chicken and breaded chicken/nuggets.
I’ve been gluten free for 7 years, but I have also now been vegetarian for 2 years. It definitely is a lot more tricky (but by no means impossible) to eat out when you’re vegetarian as well as gluten free, but one thing that isn’t any more difficult is eating at home. This is partly due to amazing vegetable based recipes, but in no small part also due to the amazing meat alternatives that are on the market today.
If you spot any that I’ve missed then leave a comment and let me know! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @the.gfg to stay up to date with all my posts.
Georgia x
Sausages, sausages and more sausages
Linda McCartney Lincolnshire Sausages
These are my personal favourites! They have a classic ‘sausage’ taste and make fantastic sausage rolls or toad in the hole. They also don’t have a casing which is plus for me. Be careful not to confuse these with the Linda McCartney ‘Vegetarian Sausages’ which are not gluten free or the ‘Red Onion and Rosemary’ sausages which are a ‘may contain’.
Price: £2
Linda McCartney Red Pepper and Chorizo Style Sausages
These are full of flavour and are perfect with mash or with chips. A good one for those of us who don’t like sausages that have that ‘sausage’ flavour, these are my boyfriend’s top choice. Again, don’t confuse with the Linda McCartney ‘Vegetarian Sausages’ or ‘Red Onion and Rosemary’ sausages.
Price: £2
Tesco Plant Kitchen Cumberland Sausages
These have a very convincing texture and can make a perfect sausage roll filling if you remove the casing. My only slight moan is that the casing doesn’t always stay stuck to the sausages.
Price: £2.20
Waitrose Mushroom and Leek Bangers
Great mushroom flavour and the perfect accompaniment to mash, veg and gravy. These came out last year as part of Waitrose’s new veggie and vegan range which is absolutely amazing and full of gluten free options (including arancini!).
Price: £2.99
Waitrose Italian Whirls
Something a bit different (you can see the whirl pictured above). These definitely taste of chorizo, are packed with Italian spices, and are perfect for summer. They go well with a potato salad or homemade wedges. Not for you if you’re not a fan of a smokey flavour.
Price: £2.99
Beyond Sausage
The Beyond Sausage is one of the latest products to come to the UK from Beyond Meat, the experts in scientifically engineering meat alternatives made from pea protein. You get two in a pack but they are absolutely huge and have a very realistic texture. The only downside is the price, which seems excessive for two sausages (however big).
Price: £5
Marks and Spencer Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Sausages
Great if you’re looking for a sausage that doesn’t taste meaty or just fancy something a bit different. I love these in the summer, they have a soft texture and a spicy kick. Not my first choice if you want sausage and mash, but would go well with a salad.
Price: £3
Sainsbury’s Shroomdogs
When Sainsbury’s brought out their Shroomdogs I saw them all over my Instagram feed, and there’s a reason. There are various tasty flavours (I like the caramelised onion) and the texture is fantastic too - perfect with mash potato! They also do a very convincing chorizo Shroomdog which works well chopped up with spicy pasta.
Price: £2.50
Quorn Top Dogs
If you’re looking for a convincing, fairground-esque hot dog then look no further. Quorn top dogs combine “I can’t believe it’s not meat” with “I can’t believe it’s gluten free” in these very realistic hot dogs.
Price: £2
Mince
Quorn mince
We get through so much Quorn mince. Other than the subtle difference in texture, I personally can’t tell the difference. It’s perfect to make chilli, lasagne or spag bol (as long as you add the crucial ingredient, red wine!).
Price: £2-3
Meatless Farm
Meatless Farm mince is a bit like marmite - people seem to love it or hate it. The texture is undoubtedly realistic and it really is clever that they’re managed to create such a meat-like mince. You’ll have to try it for yourself to find out whether you’re a fan!
Price: £3
Burgers
Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat burgers are the king of vegetarian burgers, and no one is knocking them off of their throne any time soon. They are so unbelievably realistic, but I would actually go as far as to say they are better than a beef burger. Loads of restaurants (including Honest Burgers) are now serving these, and a lot of my meat-eating friends choose them over the meaty version!
Price: £5
Tesco Plant Chef Meat Free Burgers
I am yet to try these new additions to Tesco, but the fact that they are made with pea protein gives me confidence as I find that these are usually the most convincing burgers. My only criticism is that, from a quick look at the ingredients, they seem to contain a large amount of palm oil.
Price: £1.50
‘Meatball’ alternatives
Sainsbury’s Shroomballs
The ball-shaped sibling of the Sainsbury’s Shroomdogs, these are just as full of flavour and have a great texture. You can’t go wrong with some of these in a pasta dish
Price: £2.50
Tesco Wicked Kitchen Amazeballs
These are one of the new arrivals in Tesco’s vegan range, Wicked Kitchen. They have a good texture (aside from being a little sticky when they’re uncooked and you’re trying to get them out of the packet!) and an even better flavour.
Price: £3
Tesco Plant Chef Meat Free Balls
I haven’t tried these yet, and they have mixed reviews on Tesco’s website, but they look great and very realistic! Plus, how incredible is it that we have so many gluten free veggie meatballs available in the supermarkets now!?
Price: £2
Linda McCartney Tomato and Basil Meatballs
A new kid on the block that has received rave reviews so far. As with the Linda McCartney sausages, make sure you’re picking up the right ones as the normal veggie 'meatballs’ are not gluten free.
Price: £2.50
IKEA Veggie Meatballs
For something a bit different, IKEA’s veggie balls are gluten free too! They’re not ‘meaty’ but I really like the flavour. You can order these in their cafe (make sure to check each branch’s processes on cross contamination if you’re coeliac) or pick them up in their shop to cook at home.
Price: £4
‘Chicken’ alternatives
Quorn Pieces
The OG of the fake chicken game, Quorn is definitely not the most realistic in texture or flavour, but we often have it for something different. It goes particularly well in stir fries or in fajitas.
Price: £3 (350g)
Oumph the Chunk
The first meat-like chicken alternative I tried, and it’s a good’un. Oumph make loads of meat alternatives including Oumph Kebab(!), but the Chunk is their classic chicken pieces alternative and it’s very realistic.
Price: £3.50
Like Chicken (and Like BBQ Chicken, Like Curry Chicken)
Another newbie in Tesco’s plant chef range, the Like range has tons of options including chicken, BBQ chicken and curry chicken. They are all gluten free (even the breaded options!) and realistic. I used the Like Chicken in a pot pie with gluten free Jus’Rol pastry and it was delicious.
Price: £3
Quorn Roast
We have a roast dinner with the Quorn roast every Sunday, and then often use the leftovers in curries or wraps. It isn’t particularly similar to Quorn pieces, and is one of the tastiest, most tender and most realistic meat alternatives!
‘Pulled pork’ alternatives
Pulled Oumph
Other than jackfruit, Pulled Oumph is the only gluten free pulled pork alternative that I’m aware of. It comes in BBQ seasoning and would be perfect in a burger bun (I’m thinking Genius brioche bun…mmm…).
Price: £3.50
Nuggets/Breaded ‘Chicken’ alternatives
Like Nuggets
The nugget version of Like Chicken (mentioned above). You wouldn’t know that these are gluten free or that they’re vegetarian! My one slight gripe is that you get 9 in a box, which is very awkwardly enough for one and a half portions.
Price: £3
Like Schnitzel
The Schnitzel version of the above. I doubt anyone would know this isn’t breaded chicken. It also makes a great base for an easy Katsu curry (I use Mob Kitchen’s recipe for the sauce).
Price: £3
Fry’s Rice Protein and Chia Nuggets
These have more of a crunchy outside and are equally convincing. There are a lot of good gf veggie nuggets out there!
Price: £2.50
Marks and Spencer Plant Kitchen Nuggets
Last but not least, M&S’ own brand plant kitchen nuggets use a gluten free crumb. These are my personal favourites and are the ideal childhood comfort food with some potato waffles and beans (mmm…I know what I’m having for dinner). However, they are on the pricey side!
Price: £6
