Plant-based eating has come a long way, appealing to die-hard vegans and curious omnivores alike. With today’s options, the taste, texture, and variety might just have you doing a double-take at the ingredients label.
Our family gave a couple of Gardein’s plant-based products a try. This lineup offers a variety of meat-free items, including meatless chicken, beef, pork, and fish, catering to vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians alike. You’ll find these in the frozen aisle.
For this taste test, we chose two items: Gardein Meatless Meatballs and Seven-Grain “Chicken” Tenders. While these products skip the meat, they don’t skimp on protein. Each serving of three meatballs packs 15 grams of protein, while the tenders boast 18 grams per serving. Plus, they come with less fat than their meat-based counterparts and zero cholesterol.
Cooking Up the “Meatballs”
Preparing these meatballs is a breeze. You can cook them in a conventional or toaster oven, frypan, or microwave. We opted for the oven but ignored the package’s recommendation to simmer them in sauce during the last 15–20 minutes of cooking.
Out of the oven, the meatballs had a good texture but, understandably, lacked the juiciness of traditional beef or pork meatballs due to the absence of animal fat. However, pairing them with a tomato-based sauce (or better yet, simmering them in it) improves both flavour and moisture.
Seven-Grain “Chicken” Tenders
The seven-grain tenders, lightly seasoned, nailed the taste and texture of a classic chicken finger or nugget. My family gave these a thumbs-up, especially my vegetarian daughter! Perfect with plum sauce, these tenders are versatile enough to pair with almost any dip—think red pepper or guacamole. At just 250 calories per serving (five tenders), a bit of extra dip won’t tip the calorie scales too far.
Final Thoughts
Gardein’s plant-based offerings deliver on taste, texture, and protein, making them a solid choice for families with picky eaters. Whether you’re fully committed to a meat-free diet or just exploring plant-based options, these products are worth a spot in your freezer.
Until next time, happy eating!
— Neil
