My friend Kathy Hester has released the 2nd edition of her popular book, The Vegan Slow Cooker! Where does she find the time? A couple months ago, she co-authored The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook, and earlier this year she released Vegan Cooking in Your Air Fryer (sample recipes include Battered Onion Rings and Plain Old Tots). Not to mention all of the other cookbooks she’s written in prior years! But today, we’re focusing on The Vegan Slow Cooker, and a sample recipe for Atomic Vegan Pecan Loaf.
This Vegan Pecan Loaf or “Meatloaf” is actually the cover recipe on The Vegan Slow Cooker, Revised and Expanded. It’s a perfect main for festive meals, like Christmas or New Year’s Eve, but it’s also a comforting any-night meal. The ingredient list is a little lengthy, but the preparation is easy. All you have to do is mix, and then let it slow cook.
Kathy says this recipe is a great way to use up leftover ingredients, but we think this vegan meatloaf is also great as leftovers! Enjoy it with sides, on a salad, or even in a sandwich.
And this is just one new recipes in The Vegan Slow Cooker, Revised and Expanded: Simply Set It and Go with 160 Recipes for Intensely Flavorful, Fuss-Free Fare Fresh from the Slow Cooker or Instant Pot®. Phew! Yes, it now has Instant Pot recipes too.
But you can go ahead and try out this vegan pecan loaf first. I guarantee you’ll be back for seconds …
Special Diet Notes: Vegan Pecan Loaf (aka Vegan Meatloaf)
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, optionally gluten-free, peanut-free, optionally soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian.
- 1 (15-ounce / 425-gram) can kidney beans, drained but reserve ¼ cup (60 mL) of the liquid (aquafaba)
- 1 cup (110 g) rolled oats, pulsed into flour (use certified gluten-free, if needed)
- ½ cup (55 g) pecans
- 1 medium portobello mushrooms with gills removed, minced
- 2 tablespoons (6 g) nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons (32 g) tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon marjoram
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground rosemary
- ½ cup (120 g) ketchup
- 3 tablespoons (45 g) brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) vegan Worcestershire sauce
- The night before: Mix all the loaf ingredients together (including the reserved aquafaba), and store the mixture in the refrigerator in an airtight container until the morning. Also mix together the ingredients for the topping, and store in a separate container in the refrigerator.
- In the morning: Oil the crock of your 4-quart slow cooker or line with parchment paper (for oil free). Pat the loaf mixture evenly into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 7 to 9 hours.
- About 30 to 45 minutes before serving: Spread the ketchup mixture over the top of the loaf.
Key Pantry Supplies: Vegan Pecan Loaf
More Vegan Recipes from Kathy Hester
Winter One-Pot Lentils and Rice
Battered Air Fryer Onion Rings
Sweet Potato Spice Frozen Latte
13 Comments
Does the cover stay on the whole time?
Yes, it is on the whole cook time.
Why are you saving the aquafaba from the can of kidney beans? It’s use is not mentioned in the recipe.
It’s one of the ingredients. Mix it in with the rest. I’ve added some clarity to her recipe.
would I be able to use oat flour instead of pulsing rolled oats; if not, can I pulse in a blender?
Yes and yes.
Would the pecan loaf work in an instapot…?
I believe Instapot’s have slow cooker modes, so that would work. If you are wanting to cook it faster, I’m guessing so, but I’ve never used an Instapot. You can also bake this in the oven. You just need to adjust the time accordingly.
I only have a large crockpot. Can this recipe be doubled and used in a 7 1/2 – 8 quart crock pot?
I believe that would work, but it might have to cool a little longer.
Thanks. I’ll try it and let you know!
This is one of our favorite recipes from the book. Thank you so much for always being such a huge support!
Of course! I can see why, it’s a marvelous recipe for just about any type of occasion!