After 21 Years, Gardein Is Still One of the Best Meatless Brands: The Ultimate Guide

Undeniably, there has never been more choice in the meat-free section of grocery stores. Every day, it feels like a new innovative, ultra-realistic form of vegan chicken, fish, or beef hits the shelves. But this boom has actually been building for a while—decades in fact. Before today’s plant protein giants, bleeding burgers, and modernized food tech, there was Gardein.

RELATED: 17 Vegan Fried Chicken Sandwiches That Are Better Than Chick-fil-A and Popeyes

Back in the 1980s, Canadian entrepreneur Yves Potvin created a veggie hot dog designed specifically to fill the gap in health food stores at the time. But, after hitting $1 million in sales, in the early aughts, he decided hot dogs weren’t his calling. He embarked on a new mission: making interesting and tasty meat-free entrées with a brand called Gardein.

Today, Gardein boasts one of the most diverse ranges of meaty vegan products in the plant-based industry. Seriously, there’s everything from turkey-style cutlets to crabless cakes. Much of its offering is frozen, but it also sells canned soups and chilis. Its whole range is designed to be as convenient as possible, but without losing that all-important taste and quality. 

Gardein’s best vegan meat products

Want to put it to the test yourself? Here are some of our favorite products from Gardein.

Gardein

1 Turk’y Cutlets

Perfect for the holiday season, Gardein has two stuffed Turk’y roasts. But if you’re not feeling festive, or you just don’t fancy a whole joint of plant-based meat, the brand also offers tasty breaded Turk’y Cutlets. Just like the regular meat version, these vegan cutlets are delicious with gravy and your favorite greens.
FIND IT HERE

Gardein

2 Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick’n

Fancy takeout? Why not stock up on Gardein’s Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick’n instead? It’s much quicker, just as delicious, and will save you dollars, too. Serve with your favorite takeout classics, like chow mein, fried rice, and spring rolls.
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Gardein

3 Sweet and Tangy Barbecue Wings

Gardein’s extensive range of plant-based Chick’n also includes boneless vegan wings, of course. Make sure you’re ready to make a mess because they come covered in sticky, smoky, sweet barbecue sauce (if you prefer buffalo sauce, that’s an option, too).
FIND IT HERE

Gardein

4 Spicy Plant-Based Breakfast Saus’ge

Breakfast sausage is a fast-food staple, but you don’t need to eat meat, or head down to the drive-thru, to enjoy an indulgent morning sandwich. Grab some of Gardein’s Spicy Plant-Based Breakfast Saus’ge, some vegan cheese, and English muffins for a tasty breakfast treat. If you’d rather enjoy your Saus’ge without spice, there’s a plain option, too.
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5 Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’n Tenders

These protein-packed Chick’n Tenders are ideal for popping in the air-fryer when you just want something quick, filling, and, of course, tasty. If you want the KFC experience (without, you know, the fast food or the chickens), serve with corn on the cob and fries. If you prefer your Chick’n in a burger, the brand also offers Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’n Filets, or if you are all about the bite-size pieces, try the Chick’n Nuggets.
FIND IT HERE

Gardein

6Nashville Hot Chick’n Tenders

If you prefer your vegan chicken with a serious kick of heat, grab Gardein’s Nashville Hot Chick’n Tenders. These juicy, plant-based tenders are breaded and fried to crispy perfection while paprika packs of fiery punch. 

Find it here

Gardein

7 Sweet and Sour P’rk Bites

Another reason to put the takeout menu down: Gardein’s Sweet and Sour P’rk Bites. They’re crispy yet tender, full of flavor, and to be honest, pretty addictive. Serve with stir-fried veggies for a delicious mid-week treat.
FIND IT HERE

Gardein

8 Mini Cr’b Cakes

If you’re a seafood-lover who prefers their meals animal-free, Gardein’s Mini Cr’b Cakes are guaranteed to become your new go-to every time you head to the grocery store. Just like regular crab cakes, they’re also a source of omega-3.
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9 F’sh Filets

Transport yourself all the way to England by enjoying these crispy F’sh Filets with chip shop-style fries and mushy peas. Don’t forget the salt, vinegar, and a squeeze of lemon over the fillets for extra tang!
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Gardein

10 Ultimate Plant-Based Meatball Marinara 

Let’s be honest, some days cooking is a joy, and other days it’s a chore, especially if you’re running low on time or energy. To save yourself the effort, stock up on Gardein’s Ultimate Plant-Based Meatball Marinara bowl, which also features rich tomato sauce, pasta, spinach, and onions. This is just one of many from Gardein’s bowl range, which also includes options like Italian Saus’ge & Pasta and Plant-Based B’ef and Broccoli.
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11 Plant-Based Chili No Beans

Most plant-based chilis contain beans, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you prefer your chili to taste extra meaty, then Gardein offers a canned chili made with just B’ef Crumbles, tomatoes, and spices.
FIND IT HERE

Gardein

12 Chick’n Florentino

A French classic, chicken Florentine is creamy, rich, and indulgent. But you don’t need to head to a restaurant or spend ages cooking to enjoy it, because Gardein’s Chick’n Florentino is ready to hit your skillet straight out of the packet.
FIND IT HERE

Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.