The publication covered the ethics, aesthetics, and cultural significance of meat, and is more akin to an art journal than a usual food and drink magazine.

Published quarterly, it was founded in 2006 by Sasha Wizansky and Amy Standen, who (in addition to both being former vegetarians) met while working at Salon.com.

[1] In addition to the magazine itself, Meatpaper has organized events, such as a series of seminars on raising domestic rabbits for food.

[2] In 2007, it was named among the best magazines of the year by Library Journal, which called it "unique, brash, and provocative".

[1][9] Issues have included topics such as an interview with the creator of the meat dress of Lady Gaga,[9] and a discussion of beef heart by famously offal-loving chef Chris Cosentino.