While countless plant-based meat brands have filled store shelves with plenty of burger, meatball and sausage alternatives, there remains an enormous white space for animal-free “whole-cut” products, such as ribs, steaks and chops. The Boneless Butcher, a plant-based brand located in Dallas, TX, is helping to fill this gap with a handcrafted line of Texas-style vegan BBQ meats.
“Good barbecue is mostly judged by the texture, so that became my main focus when developing our products”
Founded in 2021 by self-taught chef and entrepreneur Crystal Gomez, The Boneless Butcher sells its packaged products at retail stores in several states, including select Whole Foods Markets in Texas. Using seitan, a wheat-based protein, Gomez tells VegNews she learned how to create a dense, satisfying texture that replicates the experience of eating real BBQ, which, she notes, is largely driven by the texture.
“Good barbecue is mostly judged by the texture, so that became my main focus when developing our products,” shared Gomez. “My family and friends, the majority of whom are meat eaters, were recruited to try several test batches of each product to ensure they measured up.”
The right sauce
To complement the meats, Boneless Butcher chose the local, woman-owned brand Austin’s Own as its signature sauce. The Boneless Butcher’s range includes three handcrafted products: Boneless Ribz, Vegan Steaks, and Smokehouse Chop – a soy-free plant-based protein. According to the brand, its products are primarily seitan-based with minimal soy ingredients, and provide 24-36 grams of protein per serving.
Gomez says she was inspired to adopt a plant-based diet after viewing the documentary “What the Health” and spent time perfecting her BBQ recipes during the 2020 pandemic.
Making progress
Looking ahead, Gomez reveals she hopes one day to open the first brick-and-mortar plant-based butcher shop in Dallas, and sell meats by the pound at a deli-style counter.
“[M]y goal has always been to cater not only to the vegan and vegetarian communities, but also to inspire others and add more plant-based products to their diets,” shared Gomez. “I look forward to the day when we can go all in on this dream of making vegan options even more prominent and accessible in Dallas.”
