Q. How do you make a Sausage Roll?
Which is the best non stick frying pan for your vegan sausages?
Not an in-depth look, but a couple of quick recommendations. After all, you need the best non stick frying pan to cook those lovely sausages in…and if your current non stick frying pan surface is scratched or damaged, you should be thinking about a replacement anyway.
For more eco-friendly models, have a look at either the impressive Earth Pan from Lakeland, or this Prestige Eco version.
Alternatively, if your budget is a bit tight, try this Kitchen King pan instead.
How have I selected the Best Vegan Sausages?
I have taken all the factors listed below into account. So, to appear in my favourites list they have to tick at least some, if not all of these boxes!
- Flavour – they’ve got to be tasty
- Vegan, totally plant-based, cruelty-free – obviously!
- Healthy nutritional profile
- Packaging
- Price
- Ethical brand
Here are the Best Vegan Sausages Brands
On your mobile? See this review on your desktop or tablet for the full details.
Pros
- Very tasty and crisp and brown well!
- High in pea protein and fibre
- Low in saturated fat
- Now a B-Corp company
Cons
- Plastic packaging
‘THIS’ Isn’t Pork Sausages
These 100% plant-based sausages really are fab. They are also remarkably like meat sausages so not for the faint-hearted perhaps. Using pea protein as the base, they are high in protein and fibre and are waayyyy lower than the average pork sausage in saturated fat – 80% lower according to ‘THIS’.
When it comes to making bangers and mash with gravy, these are absolutely my go-to vegan sausages. They have a great flavour and crisp up and brown really, really nicely in the frying pan.
Top tip – prick them with a fork to stop them spitting when you cook them.
A totally plant-based company, but still packaging in plastic unfortunately.
Pros
- Cardboard packaging
- Pretty good nutritional content (except fat – see con)
- Good flavour and hold together well in all dishes
- Soy and pea protein with oyster mushrooms
Cons
- Higher in fat than some
Moving Mountains
These very tasty sausages use a combination of soy and pea protein together with oyster mushrooms.
With a pretty good nutritional profile, the only factor you may want to consider is that they are higher in fat than many of the other vegan sausages on offer.
A vegan company, and packaged in cardboard which is great. They can also be cooked in the oven which can be really helpful.
Without doubt, these make a great toad in the hole using a vegan yorkshire pudding batter. Other than that, a great all-rounder.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Reasonably good nutritional content
- Taste like the brand’s meat version
Cons
- Plastic packaging
- Not a vegan company
Richmond Meat-Free Sausages
I really like these sausages and meat-eaters I have cooked them for assure me they taste incredibly similar to Richmond’s meat sausages.
These are largely soya-based and are not gluten-free, but surprisingly, their nutritional profile gives ‘This’ sausages a little bit of a run for their money.
These sausages fare well in a full fry-up and in pastry sausage rolls. But my favourite way of serving these sausages is in a hot ciabatta roll with Naturli vegan block or Flora plant b*tter and brown sauce. Not much more I can say really other than, try it…
Obviously this is not a vegan company and they also use plastic packaging, but that’s why they lose a bit on my rating.
Pros
- Very high in protein (Pea)
- Gluten and soya free
- Really big, and very tasty
Cons
- Tend to be pricier
- Plastic packaging
Beyond Meat’s Beyond Sausage
These pea protein based sausages are gluten and soy free and pack a whopping great protein-filled punch! They are BIG too, but they don’t compromise on flavour. As mentioned, they have a good level of protein, and saturated fat is mid-range; lower than some, higher than others.
They brown really nicely – just make sure because of their size that they are hot all the way through. Great in a sub roll with all the trimmings – ketchup, pickles, mustard…
Normally the priciest in this list. But they are good, and look out for special offers!
Pros
- High in protein (Pea) and low in saturated fat
- Cardboard packaging
- Good value for money
- Vegan
Cons
- Go for newer brands if you want that meatier flavour
Linda McCartney’s Vegetarian Sausages
These pea protein based sausages have a reassuringly short list of ingredients and are also a pretty healthy option, being high in protein and low in saturated fat. Although the name of the sausages suggests they are vegetarian, they are in fact vegan (although this is not true of all Linda McCartney foods, so check the labels).
I am very fond of Linda McCartney Foods in general – her cookbook saved my life when my children were little with its vegeburger stew and meatless loaf recipes (you can buy Linda McCartney’s Family Kitchen Cookbook here – I’d recommend it). But it’s not just nostalgia, these sausages are consistently good, whichever flavour you buy. Packaged in cardboard too.
These are a great all-rounder, good for a big breakfast or in a sausage sandwich, and they are very tasty with mash and gravy. I always keep a pack in my freezer.
Pros
- Very tasty
- Frozen – good as a back up
- Good value for money
- Cook in the oven
Cons
- Plastic packaging
- Higher in fat, lower in protein
M&S Plant Kitchen 8 Vegan Bangers
These soya protein based sausages are delicious and fast becoming a favourite in the Vegan Mum household, although if you are concerned about fat levels and protein, these may not be your first choice.
However, if it’s a tasty vegan banger you’re after, then these fit the bill.
Handy to have as a back up because they’re frozen (although packaged in plastic). And they cook in the oven.
A good all rounder, I have cooked these for breakfast and in my vegan sausage traybake recipe – both very successful and popular.
Pros
- High in protein
- Gluten free
- Good value for money
Cons
- Texture could be better, and plastic packaging too
- Don’t brown as well as some
Meatless Farm Plant-Based Sausages
These pea protein based sausages are gluten free as well as being high in protein. They have a calculator on their site that shows you the positive change you can make switching from meat to a Meatless Farm product. It has some great recipes too so head over to The Meatless Farm Co website to see more.
These are pretty popular although not everyone likes the texture and many other vegan sausage brands get more crispy when you cook them. I think that makes these good though for wrapping in pastry to make vegan sausage rolls. They’re also tasty in a toasted sandwich with some mustard and ketchup!
Pros
- High in protein
- Reassuring ingredients list – no hidden nasties
- Good for German-themed dishes with pickles
Cons
- Plastic packaging and more expensive than most
Taifun Grill Sausages
These tofu-based sausages are a reliable source of protein and although the overall fat content is quite high, the level of saturated fat is pretty good. The ingredients list is reassuring too – no unidentifiable additives.
They are packaged in plastic, like many (but not all) of the vegan sausages on the market.
These vegan sausages remain relatively pale when cooked and also don’t have the more meaty flavour of many other alternatives. I don’t see that as a negative, but it means I tend to use them in recipes where that is not important.
Try these for breakfast, or – a particular favourite – in a long white bread roll with a generous pile of sauerkraut and some mustard – heaven.
Pros
- Very good value for money
- Paper packaging
- Stored dry so a handy storecupboard ingredient
Cons
- Not to everyone’s taste
Suma Vegan Sausage Mix
Maybe it’s because I was born in the age of Cranks, one of only a few vegetarian restaurants that really existed back in the dark ages (in London’s Soho). Anyway, I have an inexplicable fondness for what was then seen as hippy food, the Sosmix sausage.
Feeling nostalgic? You can still buy the original Sosmix from an excellent vegan online retailer, Alternative Stores – see below. Suma (a c0-operative) do a good vegan sausage mix too.
Just mix with water, shape into sausages and fry. You can add other flavourings if you like – garlic powder, onion granules, finely chopped mushrooms, bit of nutritional yeast. Heaven…
Good for pastry sausage rolls, or a fry up breakfast with plenty of tomato ketchup
Here are the Best Vegan Chorizo Sausage Brands
Pros
- Good value for money
- Very tasty
- Great in Spanish style dishes
Cons
- Plastic packaging
M&S Plant Kitchen No Chorizo Puppies
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Gluten-free, these are mushroom and soya protein based. They are higher in fibre, and lower in protein than ‘This’, but are great for recipes that uses paprika or have a Spanish theme. Pretty good on the barbecue too.
I think these Chorizo style vegan sausages are so clever. They have a firm texture and taste delicious, particularly in my Vegan Sausage Traybake recipe.
Guilty pleasure? Rolling a cooked no chorizo puppy in a rubbishy slice of buttered white bread with the crusts removed. Just don’t blame me if you get addicted…
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Very tasty
- Great in Spanish style dishes
Cons
- Plastic packaging
Waitrose PlantLiving Spanish Style No Chorizo Whirls
Another mushroom-based offering including roasted red peppers too, and they’re very good. They have a lovely smoky paprika flavour and fare well under the grill and when fried. I haven’t tried it, but would imagine they’d barbecue nicely too.
I have tried freezing these and they were ok, but are a bit squishy when thawed so I’d recommend that you eat them fresh.
These are my favourites for my Vegan Paella recipe, just make sure you brown them first in the pan (and remove the bamboo skewer!) When serving, you can make sure that everyone gets a whole ‘whirl’ on their dish. Delicious…
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Very nutritious and tasty too
- Great in Spanish style dishes
Cons
- They don’t work in all recipes and I didn’t enjoy them cold in leftovers
Heura Plant-Based Chorizo Sausages
Using soya protein and extra-virgin olive oil, these vegan chorizo sausages pack an impressive nutritional punch. They have a real chorizo-like flavour – as a company born in Barcelona in Spain, they know their stuff, obviously!
The Heura website is well worth a visit if you’re interested in food activism too. My only concern is the packaging, although they are at pains to say that it is the most eco-friendly option.
Serve these up with some sweet potato wedges, they’re delicious. I really like them. They go well in my Vegan Sausage Traybake recipe too and as you may have noticed, I’m a bit of a bread fiend and I reckon a good bread roll would also be a welcome accompaniment.
I did try them in my Vegan Paella recipe but I don’t think the recipe works for them and they went a bit soggy.
FAQs
Yes, there are lots of good vegan sausages, that are obviously also vegetarian by default! But with so many vegan sausages on the market, it’s difficult to know which ones to buy.
So, I’ve put together this handy guide to some of the best brands of vegan/vegetarian sausages out there. If you think I’ve missed any real gems, please just get in touch to let me know. I can count past 12…
Some do and some don’t!
In my opinion, newer sausages on the market tend to taste ‘meatier’, like This Isn’t Pork Sausages, or the M&S Plant Kitchen Bangers.
The Richmond Meat-Free taste very similar to their meat equivalents, whilst I find that the Linda McCartney range and the Taifun Sausages are less meat-like.
That’s not to say whether tasting meaty is good or bad, it just depends on what you’re looking for. I know some people find the alternatives that taste very meat-like a bit off-putting.
In comparison to meat-based sausages, vegan sausages are generally a more healthy option.
To answer this question more fully, I compared the nutritional profile of the vegan sausages in my list to 10 similar meat-based sausages, based on the following factors:
- Calories
- Fat
- Saturated Fat
- Protein
- Salt
I found that in the majority of those I looked at, vegan sausages were lower in calories, fat and salt, with broadly similar protein levels.
However, as with any processed food, even though the nutritional profile of vegan sausages is healthier than their meat counterparts, you should still make these a treat rather than a daily staple.
But it’s good to know that the vegan choice is the better one for your health (as if that was ever in question!)
Using the methodology described below, the healthiest vegan sausages in my list, scoring 5/5 were:
- Linda McCartney
- Heura
Close runners up, scoring 4/5 were:
- This Isn’t Pork Sausages
- M&S Plant Kitchen No Chorizo Pups
- Waitrose No Chorizo Whirls
Scoring 3/5 were:
- Richmond Meat-Free
- Moving Mountains
- Meatless Farms
Scoring 2/5 were:
- Beyond Meat
- Taifun Tofu sausages
Sadly, the M&S Plant Kitchen Bangers scored only 1/5, being high in calories and fat, but low in protein.
Methodology used to score:
Looking at the key nutrients below, you want the first 4 to be low and the protein to be high:
- fat
- saturated fat
- salt
- calories
- protein
Applying these factors to the sausages in my list, I scored each one out of 5, deducting 1 point for each negative factor.
Therefore, the higher the score, the healthier they are.
Please note that this is in comparison to each other and not scored against an ideal nutritional profile.
Not overly scientific, but I hope it’s helpful.
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