Easy Vegan Chorizo Recipe (Gluten Free)

Name: Easy Vegan Chorizo Recipe (Gluten Free)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: ¾ cup walnuts (, soaked overnight); 1 ½ cup cooked chickpeas (, about 1 can rinsed and drained); ¾ cup sun dried tomatoes (, not in oil, dry or in water (see note)); 4-5 tsp cumin (, adjust for your preference); 4-5 tsp smoked paprika (, adjust for your preference); 2-3 tsp onion powder (, adjust for your preference); 2-3 tsp apple cider vinegar (, adjust for your preference); 1 ¼ tsp oregano; 1 teaspoon garlic powder (, or 4 fresh cloves); ¾ tsp ground black pepper; ½ - 1 tsp sea salt (, optional and adjust depending on how salty your sun dried tomatoes are); ½ tsp chipotle seasoning (, optional for added spice)

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Spice up your meals with this easy vegan chorizo recipe! Made with simple, healthy ingredients, it's also gluten free and tastes incredible.

This plant-based version of chorizo is perfect for tacos, burritos, or scrambled eggs. It's packed with flavor and done in 20 minutes.

Grey plate with three vegan chorizo tacos topped with cabbage, avocado and salsa

This post was originally published on July 20, 2020.

I love having meal parts I can use in a variety of ways. Much like my homemade vegan taco meat, this vegan chorizo is so versatile! Bring down the spice to make it fully family friendly.

Ingredients

There's a lot of vegetarian chorizo options out there, whether it be store bought or homemade, and they all have different bases.

My vegan chorizo uses walnuts that have been soaked as a base, much like my walnut taco meat, and is loaded up with Mexican spices. You can then sauté it to get that crispy on the edge texture.

Here are all the ingredients for this vegan chorizo recipe that contribute to both the flavor and texture:

Walnuts
Sun dried tomatoes
Chickpeas
Garlic
Mexican spices

Five bowls with ingredients to make a vegan chorizo crumble on a wooden surface

How to Make Vegan Chorizo

This chorizo substitute is simple to make in no time! Here's what to do:

Pulse ingredients in a food processor until crumbled.
Sauté in a pan if you want to warm it up.
Serve and enjoy!

Top view of a food processor with vegan chorizo crumbles in it

Wooden spoon sautéing vegan chorizo crumbles in a pan

Toppings

Our favorite thing to make with this plant based chorizo is tacos! Pick your favorite tortillas and load them up with all sorts of toppings like these:

Vegan Sour Cream
Simple Guacamole or Fully Loaded Guacamole
Salsa
Mexican Coleslaw
Vegan Queso Blanco
Black Beans
Citrus Cream or Salsa
Lettuce
Onions
Tomatoes
Cilantro

Five bowls on a wooden surface filled with ingredients for chorizo tacos

More Uses for Vegan Chorizo

You can really use this in anything! Obviously we love it in tacos, but it's also great in:

What to Serve With Chorizo Recipes

Pair whatever vegan chorizo creation you make with any of the following plant based sides for a delicious feast:

Preparation Tips

Dry the sun dried tomatoes well before using them.
If you don’t use chipotle seasoning and still want the touch of smoky flavor, you can sub smoked paprika.
To make this more or less spicy, adjust the amount of Chipotle seasoning. You can even add cayenne if you really want to amp it up!
To prep this ahead of time, make sure to soak the walnuts and pre-measure out the other ingredients. Then day of all you need to do is pulse and heat if you want!

Storage and Reheating Tips

This vegan chorizo recipe stores in the fridge in an air tight container for about a week.
You can freeze this as well.
- I like to place a sheet of plastic wrap right over the top to help avoid freezer burn. It should touch the chorizo.
- Then store in an air tight container until ready to use. It will last many months.
To reheat, simple defrost to room temp then sauté in a pan with a drizzle of oil or broth if oil free.

Common Questions

What is vegan chorizo made of?

There are a number of bases for plant based chorizo including walnuts and chickpeas, soy, pea protein, tofu, or tempeh.

Is soy chorizo healthier than regular chorizo?

Most vegan chorizo recipes will be lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol than pork chorizo. Plus, when using plant based ingredients you add in more healthy nutrients!

Can you eat soy chorizo raw?

It depends on the product or recipe. This particular recipe does not need to be heated before eating. However, many store bought options, such as soy chorizo, need to be cooked before enjoying.

What does chorizo taste like?

Chorizo is savory and a little spicy with a hint of sweetness. It's flavored of paprika, garlic, cumin, and peppers.

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