Opinion Vegan Aussie classics: The best plant-based pies & vegan sausage rolls

Ketchup bottle? Check! Prepared to sacrifice your outfit and anything else in the vicinity to a shower of pastry crumbs? Check! You’re officially ready for the ultimate showdown of plant-based pies and sausage rolls!

Browsing the shelves these days, you’ll find a tasty plant-based version of just about everything you could think of — even quintessential Aussie classics like meat pies and sausage rolls.

There’s just one problem… If anything, there are too many options to choose from!

In the name of crowning the best vegan versions of these nostalgic Aussie staples, we made the extremely noble sacrifice of taste-testing every plant-based pastry available — assessing each one against sophisticated criteria like nostalgia levels, crispiness, chunkiness, flavour profile, and meatiness.

And now, we have our champions 🙏

Without further ado, here is our definitive ranking of the tastiest plant-based meat pies and sausage rolls:

Plant-based Pies

YAY! Foods has seriously raised the bar with their plant-based pies. Featuring Creamy Mushroom, Peppersteak, and Spag Bol with Bechamel, their range puts a fun spin on some humble Aussie classics.

Peppersteak: If this is YAY!’s answer to the traditional Aussie pie, then our answer is a resounding YES! With a peppery kick, lashings of caramelised onion, and a thick, rich gravy, it’s a crowd-favourite for a reason.

Creamy Mushroom: If you’re more of a mushroom pie person, this rich and creamy number is for you. Packed with savoury mushroom gravy and wrapped in gloriously flaky pastry, it’s proper comfort food that proves you don’t need meat for a seriously satisfying pie.

Spag Bol with Bechamel: Spaghetti Bolognese in a pie? We’re listening. YAY! has somehow turned one of Australia’s most beloved comfort-food dinners into a flaky, portable pastry, complete with a creamy béchamel. It’s unconventional, sure, but also undeniably tasty.

All available on the YAY! Foods website & at select stockists.

Cheesy Cauliflower: If you’re looking for something a little different to the classic meat-and-gravy situation, Nature’s Kitchen has come through with this cheesy cauliflower pie. A rich, creamy plant-based cheese and cauliflower filling, tucked inside a crisp golden pastry, sprinkled with chives for good measure. Comfort food at its finest.

Hearty Mushroom & Lentil: Packed with caramelised mushroom, carrot and lentil filling encased in golden pastry, this veggie-based pie is hearty and full of flavour. We’re not picking favourites from the Nature’s Kitchen range, but… this one’s a strong contender.

Available at Coles.

Smith & Deli have long been a go-to for plant-based comfort food, and their rotating range of pastries is no exception. With various vegan pies on offer, there’s plenty to choose from if you’re after a flaky, filling feed that’s seriously satisfying. And now that they’re delivering outside of Victoria, even more of Australia can get in on the action!

Available from Smith & Deli, online and in-store. Home delivery across Victoria, NSW, Adelaide, and Canberra (orders close every Monday for same-week delivery).

(P.S. Want 15% off your next Smith & Deli order? Claim your voucher here!)

If you’re looking for variety, this is where things get seriously funky. This all-vegan Aussie pie brand has a huge line-up of handmade savoury pies, inspired by flavours from around the world.

Their range includes Funky Chunky, No Wurry Curry, Spicy Thai, Eezy Chic’n Cheezy, Mexican Magic, G’Day Satay, Rustic Bolognese, Butterish Chic’n, Nepalese Lamb Style Curry, Tuscan Mushroom, and Moroccan Bean Tagine.

They also offer gluten-free versions of select varieties, so there’s something for pretty much every need, taste, or preference.

Available online or from Vegan Grocery Store & select stockists.

Lentil Cottage Pie: While technically a cottage pie rather than a traditional Aussie meat pie, we’re willing to make an exception for this cosy little number. Hearty lentils, carrots, and swede come together in a rich vegetable gravy, topped with sweet potato and carrot mash — the kind of comforting, home-style meal that makes you want to put your feet up and watch the footy.

Available online and from the Vegan Grocery Store.

Vegan Sausage Rolls

We had zero hesitation locking this one in at first place. Fry’s Family Food Co. know what they’re doing! We’d go so far as to say that their succulent plant-based sausage filling is the most satisfying on the market.

Available at Coles & Woolworths.

This is YAY!’s number one seller for good reason. Lovingly made with whole foods and natural ingredients, they’ve somehow achieved a meaty filling — with just the right blend of herbs and spices — that tastes just like that nostalgic sausage roll from your childhood dreams.

Available on the YAY! Foods website & at select stockists.

These sausage rolls are packed with pea protein, but they’re so hearty and flavourful that you’d never know that was the main ingredient! With pastries like these, The Why Meat Co. is proving that the last thing plant-based options have to taste like is plants.

Available at Woolworths.

Ol’ reliable veg food brand Linda McCartney’s has come through again with its vegan-friendly sausage roll. The point of difference here is the Cumberland sausage-style filling — yum!

Available at Woolworths.

Smith & Deli’s sausage rolls are another excellent option for when you’re after that classic flaky pastry-and-savoury-filling combo. Their range consistently rotates, so there’s always something new worth checking out – and with the Smith & Deli pastry empire now expanding, even more vegan foodies can get in on the action!

Available from Smith & Deli online and in-store. Home delivery across Victoria, NSW, Adelaide, and Canberra (orders close every Monday for same-week delivery).

Fresh from the bakery & on-the-go

If you’re after something hot, fresh and ready to eat, there are some excellent plant-based pastry options hiding at chain bakeries, fast-food spots, and nation-wide convenience stores:

Pie Face have multiple vegan-friendly options, offering a Vegan Thai Curry Pie and Vegan Sausage Roll. So, whether you’re after a classic or something a little more fragrant, there’s a pastry pit stop for everyone.

Available at Pie Face stores nationwide.

Need a pastry fix on the go? 7-Eleven offers a plant-based “No Sausage Roll” and pastie when you need something hot, quick, and super convenient.

Available at participating 7-Eleven stores.

Victoria’s much-loved bakery chain has joined the plant-based pastry party with its Plant-Based Aussie Pie and Sausage Rolls. Both are flaky, meaty, and made fresh rather than from frozen, giving you that classic Aussie bakery experience.

Available at Ferguson Plarres Bakehouses stores across Victoria.

There you have it!

And what a mouth-watering leaderboard it is 🏆

We highly recommend doing your own taste test to find your personal favourites, but you really can’t go wrong with any of these products. They’re all incredible plant-based twists on Aussie tradition — proving that you can have your pie and eat it too!

So, grab the tomato sauce, crank up the oven and get ready for some seriously good plant-based pastry. 🥧

Or if you’re keen to try making your own vegan pies or sausage rolls from scratch, try this French Lentil Pot Pie, Butter Tofu Pot Pie, or these classic Herbed Mushroom & Lentil Sausage Rolls.

Want to discover even more plant-based products? Check out the VegKit Shopping Guide for loads of vegan-friendly options to look out for next time you’re at the shops. Or, if you’re planning a Grand Final gathering, our Footy Food Guide has the foodies and footy fans covered.