Vegan Sausage Crumbles Guide
by Marly McMillen
Learn to make flavorful and healthy plant-based sausage crumbles using wholesome ingredients like TVP, sweet potatoes, quinoa, cauliflower, and more—perfect for any meal!
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I could have called this post How to Make Plant-Based Sausage Crumbles five ways, but I thought that might be too limiting…because you don’t have to limit this to five! In fact, I’ve shared some ideas below on additional plants you could use to enhance your crumbles.
In reality, it’s all about the spices. Once you get that right, you’re going to find a number of ways to create plant-based sausage crumbles.
What are Vegan Sausage Crumbles?
Vegan sausage crumbles are a plant-based alternative to ground sausage. They’re made from wholesome ingredients like TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein), tofu, lentils, or even cauliflower rice, seasoned to perfection with spices like fennel, sage, and garlic powder.
These crumbles are beloved for their:
- Versatility: Perfect in breakfast burritos, pastas, pizzas, and more.
- Health Benefits: Lower in fat and cholesterol than traditional sausage.
- Eco-Friendliness: A sustainable choice compared to meat-based options.
Ingredients
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
The magic is in the spices! Here’s a basic blend to get you started:
- Protein Base: Here you’ll use something like Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Cauliflower Rice, Cooked oats, or more. You can get creative and experiment with different plant-based ingredients.
- Olive Oil: I find cooking your protein base in a little bit of olive oil adds that savory texture and helps the seasonings adhere. You can substitute vegetable broth to make this oil-free.
- Soy Sauce: Adding a bit of soy sauce to the base gives this dish a hint of umami flavor, which we all love!
- Sesaonings: We’ll add sausage seasonings to make these plant-based sausage crumbles. You’ll want to stock your spices with things like fennel seeds, garlic powder, dehydrated onions, smoked paprika, sage, caraway seeds, and even red pepper flakes (optional for spice). Of course, feel free to add salt and pepper to taste.
How to Make Vegan Sausage Crumbles
- Choose Your Base: Start with your chosen ingredient (TVP, tofu, etc.) and prepare it according to the instructions (e.g., rehydrate TVP or press the tofu and then crumble it).
- Cook the Base: Whatever base you’ve chosen, cook it in a skillet with a little bit of olive oil and soy sauce.
- Season Generously: Mix your base with the sausage seasoning blend. Adjust the spices to taste.
- Cook for Texture: Sauté the mixture in a skillet over medium heat with a little oil until browned and crispy.
- Customize: Add extra flavors like soy sauce for umami or maple syrup for a touch of sweetness.
Vegan Sausage Seasoning
Want to make your own seasoning blend? Here’s a versatile combination of spices you can tweak to your taste:
Store Sausage Seasoning in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- smoked paprika
- garlic powder
- dehydrated onions
- fennel seeds (crushed)
- dried thyme
- dried sage
- crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
What Makes This Recipe Shine?
Making your own veggie crumbles is easier than you think and comes with some great benefits:
- Convenience: No last-minute trips to the store when you’re out.
- Control: Tailor the ingredients to your taste and dietary needs.
- Cost-Effective: Save money by using pantry staples like lentils or TVP.
- Customization: Reduce calories or create unprocessed, whole-food versions.
Types of Vegan Sausage Crumbles
You want the Best Vegan Sausage Crumbles, and this recipe will be your go-to for an easy, flavorful, and foolproof version of sausage crumbles. With a perfect balance of texture and seasoning, it’s ideal for any dish.
Here are some ways you can change up this recipe to serve it up perfectly for your next meal.
Vegan Italian Sausage Crumbles
Add 1 teaspoon of oregano and basil to pack your sausage seasoning with Italian flavors. This adds a bold, zesty flavor to pastas, pizzas, and casseroles.
TVP Sausage Crumbles
TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) is an affordable and convenient base that mimics the chewy texture of ground sausage. It’s also high in protein and easy to season.
Tofu Breakfast Sausage Crumbles
Perfect for a hearty breakfast, this variation uses crumbled tofu seasoned with sage, black pepper, and a touch of brown sugar for a slightly sweet and savory flavor.
Sweet Potato Sausage Crumbles
Wash and dry a sweet potato and chop it into evenly sized rice-sized pieces. (Use a food processor to pulse it into rice-size bits). Follow the recipe card instructions to cook and season the sweet potato pieces.
Veggie Sausage Crumbles
Get creative with ingredients like lentils, mushrooms, or jackfruit. These options add unique textures and flavors while keeping things plant-based and nutrient-packed.
Quinoa Sausage Crumbles
Prepare half a cup of quinoa according to instructions. Substitute this for the TVP in the recipe card below.
Cauliflower Rice Sausage Crumbles
Substitute cauliflower rice for TVP and follow the recipe as stated.
Steal-Cut Oats Sausage Crumbles
Prepare half a cup of steel-cut oats according to instructions. Drain any remaining fluid. Use the tender cooked oats in place of the TVP in the recipe.
Chickpea Sausage Crumbles
Substitute a 15-oz can of drained chickpeas for the TVP. Add it to a food processor and give it several quick pulses until the chickpeas are crumbly. Add the chickpea crumbles in place of the TVP in the recipe.
How to Use Plant-Based Sausage Crumbles
Here are some of my favorite ways to use sausage crumbles:
- Pizza Night: Sprinkle plant-based sausage crumbles on your next pizza
- Pasta Dishes: Use them in pasta recipes such as my Vegan Garlic Pasta
- Hearty Breakfasts: Sprinkle over Just Egg Omelets or simple Tofu Scrambles. Use them in Vegan Breakfast Burritos and freeze for quick reheating breakfast ideas.
- Meal Prep: Double this recipe and freeze it to add sausage flavor to any of your plant-based meals.
- Filling Salad Toppers: Sprinkle them over your next Vegan Caesar Salad.
- Potato Heaven: Add sausage crumbles to a Loaded Vegan Baked Potato.
- Snack Supreme: Sprinkle over Vegan Baked Nachos or loaded fries.
- Go-To Appetizer: Use these sausage crumbles to make some tasty Vegan Sausage Rolls. But be prepared to add a binder, like a flax egg to help the crumbly sausage texture stay together.
There are so many ways you can use plant-based sausage crumbles to add to your other recipes.
How NOT to use these veggie crumbles: Don’t expect them to hold their flavor or have a crumbly texture in soupy dishes like chili or stews. For that, you might want to go with a store-bought processed vegan sausage crumble.
More Vegan Sausage Recipes
If you love this recipe for making homemade vegan sausage crumbles, here are more recipes you’ll want to try:
Conclusion
Vegan sausage crumbles are a game-changer for anyone looking to add bold, savory flavors to their meals without using meat. Whether you’re making Italian sausage crumbles for pasta night or tofu crumbles for breakfast, these versatile recipes have you covered.
Give this recipe a try and let me know how you use your vegan sausage crumbles!
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TVP Sausage Crumbles
Ingredients
Protein Base
- 1 cup TVP (or base of your choice)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
Sausage Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dehydrated onions
- ¼ teaspoon fennel seeds (crushed)
- ½ teaspoon ground dried sage
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger (optional, see note)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ to 1 teaspoon salt
- A turn or two from a black pepper mill
Instructions
- Rehydrate TVP in hot water (following package instructions)
- Add olive oil to a skillet turn heat to medium and cook until the oil is shimmering. Add hydrated TVP and soy sauce and stir to coat.
- Add sausage seasonings and stir until the TVP is covered. Sauté the TVP until browned and crispy.
- Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 or 4 days until ready to use. This mixture can be frozen for up to 2 months.
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Notes
Base Options:
TVP is a great option for plant-based sausage crumbles. You can also follow this same recipe except substitute the TVP for any of these:- Ground chickpeas
- Cauliflower rice
- Cooked quinoa
- Cooked steal-cut oats
- Cooked minced potatoes and more.
Oil or Oil-Free
Adding a little bit of olive oil when combining with these plant-based ingredients will make the final product more palatable. If you prefer to cook without oil, substitute a bit of vegetable broth.Low-sodium
For a low sodium option, use low sodium soy sauce and substitute Morton’s Lite or No Salt in place of the salt in the seasoning mix.Nutrition
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
About the Author
Hi! I’m Marly McMillen. I’m the founding editor, author, recipe developer, vegan home chef, and food stylist behind Namely Marly. I’m so grateful to you and every member of my audience for your support and dedication. More about Namely Marly ›
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