- Recipes
Kristin Appenbrink
Kristin Appenbrink
Kristin is the co-founder of Part Time Vegan and Silent Book Club. As a former editor at Real Simple, she is compulsively organized and loves solving people's problems. She has a weakness for desserts, especially ice cream.
updated Nov 28, 2023
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If you’ve been a lifelong omnivore, going vegan probably seems really intimidating. And don’t get us wrong: it’s a real change, to be sure. But it’s also a do-able one, as long as you have solid recipes to rely on. If you find yourself deciding that a vegan way of eating is for you, these 20 meat-free and dairy-free recipes are an excellent place to start. With them, we think you’ll find that going vegan is actually a lot easier than you think.
Vegan Recipes
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Beet Pesto Pasta
A gorgeous pasta dish that's easy to make.
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Vegan Sushi Rice Bowls
This recipe is a fresh and filling all-veggie meal with a base of sushi rice. The best part? That avocado flower, hands-down.
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The World's Easiest Cookies
You just need four ingredients and a little elbow grease to make macaron-flavored cookies that are crisp on the edges and chewy in the center.
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Green Pea and Chickpea Falafel
Falafel is one of those amazing vegan main dishes that doesn’t feel like you’re missing out on anything.
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Vegan Stir-Fried Garlic Tofu and Eggplant
If you’re going to go vegan, it’s important to master the art of the stir-fry. This version makes great use of Asian eggplant. Just be sure you’re using vegan oyster sauce in the recipe.
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Vegan Queso Dip
Vegan queso sounds like an oxymoron, right? But this creamy dip is as close to the real deal as you can get without having any dairy. We dare you to serve it at your next party without telling anyone it’s vegan.
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Vegan Creamy Curried Cauliflower Soup
The creamy texture of this soup comes from coconut milk and puréed cauliflower, which has been cooked with onions, garlic, and plenty of spices. The only thing left to decide is which toppings you want to use.
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Vegan Amaranth Bowl with Garam Masala Butternut Squash
Yes, it’s incredibly easy to make a grain bowl vegan, but that doesn’t mean they are always exciting. It takes a little extra effort to play around with flavor combinations, but the results — like this garam masala squash version — are totally worth it.
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Brown Sugar-Coconut Glazed Rutabaga Salad
Rutabagas are experiencing a bit of a resurgence, and this salad is a perfect example of why they are finally getting their due. It’s simple, fresh, and guaranteed to please vegans and non-vegans alike.
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Cashew–Cardamom Chia Pudding
We’re big fans of chia seeds here at The Kitchn — especially for vegan recipes. They add a nice variety of textures to smoothies and puddings like this cashew-cardamom version. Just remember that you’ll want to make this in advance, as the chia seeds need a solid eight hours in the fridge to plump up to their full potential.
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Butter Beans in Tahini Sauce over Lemony Millet
This dish is packed with protein, thanks to the butter beans and the millet — no small feat for a vegan main! Give this recipe a try when you’re tired of quinoa.
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Skip the regular baked potato in favor of this baked sweet potato. Top it with sautéed rainbow chard, coconut chips, and pomegranate arils for an incredibly colorful and delicious dish.
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Avodilla
Vegan snacks can sometimes be harder to come up with than you might think. This riff on the quesadilla is made with avocado slices, lavash, and maple syrup for a perfectly sweet-salty combination.
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Carrot Tahini Salad with Spiced Chickpeas
Tahini is a great ingredient in the vegan repertoire. It’s the perfect stand-in when you want something creamy without the cream. Add in the fact that this slaw-like salad is topped with spiced chickpeas, and you have a total winner.
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Quinoa Kimchi Bowl with Miso Mushrooms and Crispy Broccoli
How do you make a quinoa bowl less mundane? By adding a little bit of Asian-inspired flavor. The kimchi and miso sautéed mushrooms add that fermented umami taste that we’re always craving.
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Vegan Chocolate-Almond Chia Pudding
We couldn’t resist including one more chia pudding recipe on the list — and this chocolate one does not disappoint. If you’re a bit weirded out by chia seeds, this recipe blends them so the texture is closer to regular chocolate pudding.
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Barley Salad with Figs and Tarragon-Lemon Dressing
Barley isn’t just for winter soups and pilafs. It gets a fresh makeover here, thanks to crisp chunks of apple and celery. The herbed citrus dressing helps quite a bit, too.
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Vegan Chili
Red lentils and a duo of beans makes this vegan chili super meaty, and a slew of pantry ingredients impart a ultra-deep, rich flavor.
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Vegan Sweet Potato Chowder
This hearty veggie chowder is laced with warm spices and even better on the second day.
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Ultimate Vegan Mac and Cheese
This vegan mac and cheese is made with sweet potatoes, coconut milk, and nutritional yeast for the finest plant-based comfort food.
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Healthy Living
Recipe Roundup
vegan
vegetarian
