19 Vegan Soul Food Recipes for Down-Home Comfort (2024)

Even though vegan soul food has become totally mainstreamed, there are still people who think that it consists of nibbling on salads like a rabbit. WRONG. With the help of ingredients like jackfruit and surprisingly convincing cheese, vegan cooking yields dishes that are just as comforting and indulgent as their carnivorous counterparts. Whether you're a Southerner who wants to work in some of your favorite classic recipes to your new lifestyle or you've just had a mad craving for killer mac and cheese, these 19 recipes will rock your world. Scroll on for drool-worthy dinner inspo.

Vegan Pot Pie With Cornbread Crust

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There's nothing more nostalgic than a warm and comforting pot pie. Use coconut milk to keep the vegan filling creamy and top with a fluffy cornbread crust that your spoon will sink right into. (via The Fitchen)

Vegan Peach Pie

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If you close your eyes and smell this peach pie, you almost feel like a kid again. Top a hefty slice with vanilla coconut milk ice cream if you really want to go all out. (via Happy Healthy Life)

Paleo Fried Pickles

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You'll be hard pressed to find a fried pickle crunchier than this one, vegan or not. Mix vegan mayo with chipotles to create a spicy dipping sauce to go alongside them. (via Wicked Spatula)

Vegan Fried Green Tomato Sandwich

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There's nothing more Southern than fried green tomatoes — and we don't mean the movie. The good thing for vegans is that they make a wonderful, hearty sandwich filling in the place of meat. (via Notions and Notations of a Novice Cook)

Vegan Mini Pecan Pie Recipe

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The next time you're assigned dessert at a family function, these mini pecan pies will steal the show. They're completely vegan, but everyone will swear that they're not. (via Yummy Mummy Kitchen)

Vegan Macaroni and Cheese

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Little did you know, you would crave the satisfaction of a blue box of mac and cheese as an adult. When that craving hits, this vegan macaroni will do the trick — and you'll eat a ton of veggies at the same time. (via The Green Forks)

Vegan Hoppin’ John

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Take part in the Southern tradition and serve this with a side of cornbread for a year of wealth and prosperity. (via Tori Avey)

Best Ever VeganSweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Crumble

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Is it a dessert or is it a side? Whichever you choose, this recipe for vegan sweet potato casserole is on point. (via Nutritional Foodie)

Vegan Gumbo

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If you thought vegan gumbo was impossible, think again. Using olive oil and flour still allows you to get that deep dark roux that's necessary for a good gumbo. Add in a mix of beans and okra and you'll be on the right track. (via Cilantro and Citronella)

Best Ever Vegan Baked Beans

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You definitely don't need meat products to achieve mouth-watering baked beans. Season with molasses, caramelized onions and bourbon for that rich flavor that tastes like they've been cooking all day. (via Connoisseurus Veg)

Black Eyed Pea Collard Rolls

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At the root of all soul food there are always collard greens. These rolls combine them with two other Southern favorites, BBQ sauce and black eyed peas. (via Vanilla and Bean)

Blackberry and Blueberry Cobbler

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When your dessert can double as your breakfast, that's a great day. These individual cobblers are filled to the brim with blackberries and blueberries and are covered with a sweet crispy almond topping. (via Bakerita)

Vegan Buttermilk Biscuits and Country Gravy

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This is one of those classic recipes that you need to have in your arsenal at all times. Fix the biscuits and gravy together for breakfast or use the separate recipes with other dishes. (via The Simple Veganista)

One-Pot Red Lentil Chili

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One bowl of this chili and you will be absolutely stuffed. Top with a sprinkle of vegan cheddar shreds, red onion and cilantro before you start scooping. (via Minimalist Baker)

Baked Popcorn Okra

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Soul food snacking wouldn't be the same without fried okra. Save the extra calories for dessert and bake the bites in a crisp chickpea flour coating instead. (via Vegan Richa)

Vegan Chicken and Waffles

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Anything fried and perched atop a waffle is a thing of beauty. Saturate this fried tofu with plenty of maple syrup and a sprinkle of sea salt to balance the sweetness. (via One Green Planet)

Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom Gravy

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As if scooping a big spoonful of mashed potatoes wasn't good enough, pour a ladle of mushroom gravy on top and you'll be in heaven. Try kicking up the flavor a notch by mixing in a buttery head of roasted garlic. (via Vegan Huggs)

Vegan Black Eyed Peas With Smokey Collards and Grits

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Who says all soul food is unhealthy? This bowl of grits, collards and black eyed peas is full of fiber, minerals and essential vitamins to keep you full and energized for hours. (via Vanilla and Bean)

Vegan Purple Sweet Potato Pie With Coconut Almond Crust

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If you can get your hands on purple potatoes, do so and immediately make this plum-colored sweet potato pie. Slice and serve with a dollop of vegan whipped cream for the perfect end to an epic soul food meal. (via The Endless Meal)

Follow us on Pinterest for more vegan soul food recipes and check out our online cooking classes for more inspo!

This post has been updated.

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Paige is a blogger, food writer and culinary master from Louisville, Ky. She's a newlywed who's obsessed with dogs and renovating her 117 year old home. When she's not working on her blog — My Modern Cookery — you can find her binge watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S with a triple shot latte in-hand.

19 Vegan Soul Food Recipes for Down-Home Comfort (2024)

FAQs

How to make vegan food satisfying? ›

I highly recommend having a mixture of grains, protein, and vegetables — it provides a great balance not only with flavor/bulk but also texture. Grains and legumes help keep the meal filling while the vegetables bring everything together.

How to be a frugal vegan? ›

Vegan on a budget
  1. tinned beans and dried pulses of various kinds.
  2. vegetables (particularly seasonal ones)
  3. potatoes.
  4. egg-free pasta and noodles.
  5. rice.
  6. bread (wholemeal is ideal from a health point of view)
  7. dried herbs and spices.
  8. seasonal fruit.

How do vegans accommodate at a dinner party? ›

Make sure you're aware of any allergies ahead of time, so you can prepare dishes suitable for your guests' needs. Speak to your guests a few weeks before the event, and where possible create dishes that are suitable for all, so you avoid having to create different recipes for each person.

What is the most filling vegan food? ›

Plant-based foods you can add to your meals to help improve satiety
  • Oats. ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Walnuts or Almonds. ...
  • Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • Avocado. ...
  • Brown rice or quinoa. ...
  • Dark Chocolate.

What snack foods can vegans eat? ›

Try These Popular Vegan Snacks (Chips, Cookies, and More)
  • Vegan Rob's Chips.
  • Rivalz Extra Chedda' Mac.
  • Outstanding Foods PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds.
  • Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars—Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate.
  • Trader Joe's Almond Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets.

Is Peanut Butter vegan? ›

As with many food items, in its simplest form, peanut butter should always be vegan. The vast majority of peanut butters you find in grocery stores will therefore be fully plant-based. Traditional peanut butter is made from peanuts and often a small amount of salt or oil.

What do vegans struggle to get? ›

Intake and status of vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium and bone turnover markers were generally lower in plant-based dietary patterns compared to meat-eaters. Vegans had the lowest vitamin B12, calcium and iodine intake, and also lower iodine status and lower bone mineral density.

Will I live longer if I become vegan? ›

Another study found a 12% lower risk, but while research published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition agreed that a vegan diet can lower rates of certain chronic diseases, it did not find evidence that veganism led to a longer life.

What do vegans eat for breakfast lunch and dinner? ›

Sample meal plan
  • Breakfast: tempeh bacon with sautéed mushrooms, avocado, and wilted arugula.
  • Lunch: whole-grain pasta with lentil “meatballs” and a side salad.
  • Dinner: cauliflower and chickpea tacos with guacamole and pico de gallo.
  • Snacks: air-popped popcorn, kale chips, and trail mix.
Apr 4, 2019

How to be vegan but occasionally eat meat? ›

It's based on the following principles:
  1. Eat mostly fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
  2. Focus on protein from plants instead of animals.
  3. Be flexible and incorporate meat and animal products from time to time.
  4. Eat the least processed, most natural forms of foods.
  5. Limit added sugar and sweets.
Jan 12, 2022

What do you serve a vegan guest? ›

The Vegan Guest: How to Feed a Vegan 101
  1. Earth Balance butter spread.
  2. almond, rice or soy milk (original or vanilla is a safe bet)
  3. hummus and guacamole.
  4. chopped veggies and mixed greens.
  5. fruit.
  6. mixed nuts.
  7. squash or sweet potatoes.
  8. soy, almond or coconut yogurt.

Why am I not feeling satisfied after eating vegan? ›

Because vegan diets are more nutrient dense than calorically dense (meaning, you eat many nutrient rich plant foods with lower amounts of calories per serving), it is normal to feel hungry more frequently than non-vegans or non-vegetarians. Here's the good news – eat more!

How do you not get bored on a plant-based diet? ›

Have a Variety of Meals. If you only have one recipe for eating, it can become boring and you'll be more likely to give up and fall back to those old habits and behaviors. But if you have several different recipes, you'll never get bored with your food choices and will have something different to eat every day.

Is it normal to feel hungry when vegan? ›

It might seem obvious, but "one of the reasons why you might feel hungrier when you transition to a vegan or plant-based diet is because you may not be eating enough calories and nutrients," explains Julie Barrette, a senior clinical dietician with Providence Mission Hospital.

What to do when craving meat vegan? ›

Focus on Texture

Foods like mushrooms, jackfruit, and eggplant, as well as plant-based proteins such as tempeh, seitan, and tofu are all great substitutes.

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