Best Impossible Recipes Using Plant-Based Meat

Rich and meaty plant-based recipes, without the meat! All of these Impossible recipes taste incredible, and are perfect for new vegetarians or anyone who wants to cook with more plant-based meat alternatives.

As a Registered Dietitian, it may surprise you to know that I cook with plant-based meat alternatives often– but really, I have very few concerns about these products. The only downside is that they can be higher in sodium compared to other protein sources, like tofu and beans.

Otherwise, the nutrition evidence that we have so far about these products is pretty compelling, especially when it comes to cardiometabolic risk factors and especially if you are replacing saturated-fat rich meats, like ground beef, for these plant-based meat alternatives.

The SWAP-MEAT trial compared meat alternatives (from Beyond) with organic, grass-fed meat and found that while keeping all other dietary components similar, the plant products improved several cardiovascular disease risk factors, including TMAO, compared to the meat options.

All of the recipes below use one of my favorite meat alternative brands, Impossible, but know that you can use any brand you’d like. I’ve tested Beyond products in almost all of these recipes and they work great too.

Table of contents

Impossible Bolognese

Two White Bowls Filled With Wide, Ribbon-Like Pasta Topped With Vegan Bolognese Sauce And Grated Cheese. A Small Bowl Of Red Chili Paste With A Spoon Sits Nearby On A Light Surface, With Green Parsley Leaves As Garnish.

This impossible bolognese is one of my most requested meals from friends and family, and I recommend starting here if you are new to cooking with meat alternatives.

A rich and delicious Italian meat sauce made with Impossible meat. This Impossible Bolognese is a showstopper and a must-make; vegetarian or vegan!

Make the Recipe: Impossible Bolognese

Impossible Smash Burgers

A Hand Holding An Impossible Smash Burger With Lettuce, Tomato, Ground Beef, And Melted Cheddar Cheese In A Soft Bun.

Crowd-pleasing burgers! I make these almost weekly in the summer time, and topped with my burger sauce, juicy tomatoes and crisp lettuce, it’s hard to find another plant-based burger that rivals this.

These impossible smash burgers are a vegetarian (and easily vegan) take on classic smash burgers with all the fixings.

Make the Recipe: Impossible Smash Burgers

Turkish Doner Kebob

Two Halves Of A Turkish Doner Wrap Filled With Seasoned Ground Meat, Lettuce, And Tomato Are Placed On A White Plate, With A Blurred Background Of Lettuce And A Small Bowl Of Sauce.

No meat required to make the viral Turkish doner kebab wrap! Using a simple trick to bake the vegan doner kebab meat, with no special equipment required.

Make a quick mixture with Impossible meat, spices and a little dairy-free yogurt then bake in parchment paper until juicy and tender. Layer with a homemade white sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion and the doner meat. This one is SO good– you’d never know it’s vegan!

Make the Recipe: Turkish Vegan Doner Kebob

Impossible Sloppy Joes

Growing up in Wisconsin, it’s no surprise that my husband loves sloppy joes. And while I’ve made a few lentil based sloppy joes for him over the years, it’s hard to compare with a version made with Impossible meat for a nostalgic dinner take.

Brown the vegan ground beef, add homemade tomato sauce, and serve on soft buns with lots of pickles.

Make the Recipe: Impossible Sloppy Joe

Impossible Meatball Sandwiches with Broccoli Rabe

I took my favorite impossible meatballs (though you can use frozen prepared ones!) and placed them on a classic Italian sandwich. A crusty roll, sautéed broccoli rabe and melted provolone really complement saucy plant-based meatballs. Don’t skip the garlicky broccoli rabe, the slightly bitter vegetable adds such a nice contrast to the rich meatballs.

If you love meatballs, then you’ve gotta try these.

Make the Recipe: Impossible Meatball Sandwiches with Broccoli Rabe

Impossible Lasagna

Oh yeah– this impossible lasagna is just as rich and flavorful as any meat version. Here’s the secret for great lasagna, don’t use no-cook noodles! They become gummy as they cook and cooking the lasagna noodles first really doesn’t add that much time and the payoff is worth it.

I add spinach to my lasagna for an extra serving of veggies!

Make the Recipe: Impossible Lasagna

Impossible Chili (The Best Meaty Vegan Chili)

Another go-to recipe. I may have dozens of vegan chili recipes on my website, but for a classic, meaty chili, you’re going to want this recipe.

It’s such a good dupe– I’ve made it for dozens of meat eaters over the years, so much that someone almost always asks if I’ve started eating meat again! If you love meaty chili, you’ll love this Impossible meat chili recipe. Made with impossible ground meat, beans, plenty of spices, and a few secret ingredients for the best vegan chili!

Make the Recipe: Impossible Chili (The Best Meaty Vegan Chili)

Polenta Bowls with Impossible Meatballs

Those same delicious impossible meatballs, now in bowl form. This is such a great hearty winter meal. Polenta bowls topped with my plant-based meatballs and garlicky greens. It’s so cozy and comforting and a nice change of pace from spaghetti and meatballs.

Make the Recipe: Polenta Bowls with Impossible Meatballs

Impossible Meatballs

Sometimes you just want meatballs. These are a little more work than just sauteing the ready-prepared ones (my kids swear by the refrigerated Beyond meatballs!) but they stay true to my grandma’s recipe. Impossible meatballs! Vegan meatballs made with Impossible burger meat. Serve with marinara sauce over pasta or in meatball subs.

Make the Recipe: Impossible Meatballs

Vegan Kofta Meatballs with Cucumber Salad

A Pita Bread Garnished With Vegan Kofta Meatballs, Sliced Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, And Fresh Parsley Graces A Yellow Patterned Plate. The Background Is A Gray Textured Surface.

Vegan kofta meatballs! All the flavor of kofta in meatball form, served with a refreshing cucumber tomato salad. These are so uniquely spiced and delicious. Once you made the kofta meatballs, enjoy them here in a sandwich or as a plate with couscous and roasted vegetables.

Make the Recipe: Vegan Kofta Meatballs with Cucumber Salad