23 Plant-Based Recipes That Definitely Do Not Taste Like Diet Food
Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to compromise on flavor. While diet or plant-based foods sometimes get a bad rap for being bland and unsatisfying, there are plenty of nutritious recipes out there that are anything but boring. In fact, when made with the right healthy ingredients and spices, these plant-based meals can be downright delicious!
Whether you are trying to eat healthier or want to reduce your intake of dairy or meat for other reasons, these dupes will have you convinced that plant-based recipes aren’t diet food.
Vegan White Bean, Kale and Sausage Pasta
A quick and delicious dinner! Vegan sausage, kale, and white bean pasta. Perfect for weeknight dinners.
Impossible Chili (The Best Meaty Vegan Chili)
If you love meaty chili, you’ll love this Impossible meat chili recipe. Made with impossible ground meat, beans, plenty of spices, and a few secret ingredients for the best vegan chili!
Vegan Lentil Tacos
Vegan Lentil Tacos! These are the BEST swap for ground meat tacos with the same amount of protein and half the fat!
Blackened Tofu Tacos with Pineapple Slaw
Crispy blackened tofu tucked into warm tortillas and topped with a simple pineapple slaw. If you like fish tacos, the you’ll love this blackened tofu version. Perfect for an easy dinner or entertaining! A must-try taco.
Pasta alla Norma (Eggplant Pasta)
Pasta alla Norma is a Sicilian pasta recipe featuring tender roasted eggplant, homemade tomato sauce and ricotta salata. A healthier take on the traditional fried eggplant version.Â
Cashew Tofu Stir Fry
What do I love most about this cashew tofu stir fry? Is it the sticky, kinda sweet, kinda savory sauce that covers every morsel of tofu and cashews? Could it be the sticky white rice that perfectly cools down the lightly spiced sauce? If you are new to tofu, then you’ve gotta try this recipe. It will show you how incredibly delicious tofu can be!
Baked Vegan Tofu Nuggets (with copycat Chick-fil-A sauce)
What kind of mom would I be if I didn’t have a recipe for killer nuggets? Both my kids go nuts for nuggets, especially when served with plenty of ketchup and this copycat Chick-fil-A sauce for dipping. If you are looking for a copycat version of crispy tofu nuggets, then these are it.
Glazed Vegan Donuts
Vegan donuts can be made as either vanilla or chocolate cake donuts, then covered in a homemade glaze. Whether you call them donuts or doughnuts, you are going to love these baked cake vegan donuts!
Mediterranean Pasta with Artichokes
This Mediterranean Pasta is perfect for busy weeknights. Make a quick sauce using jarred artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, and broth then toss with whole wheat linguine and fresh herbs. If you’re looking for an incredible plant-based pasta recipe, you’ve gotta try this one.
Creamy Vegan Gnocchi Soup
Creamy gnocchi soup with vegan sausage and kale. This simple and healthy vegan gnocchi soup is delicious and perfect for chilly evenings. You are going to be shocked at how incredible this recipe is– layers of flavor and texture, it’s a must try.
Vegan Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich
We love these meaty pulled jackfruit-style sandwiches with plenty of BBQ sauce and grilled pineapple on top, but they are also great with coleslaw and pickles.Â
Easy Vegan Drunken Noodles Recipe (Pad Kee Mao)
Have you ever had drunken noodles, or Pad Kee Mao, before? These easy vegan drunken noodles are one of our favorite weeknight meals, inspired by the Thai take-out shop we used to live a few blocks from in Sacramento.
Vegan White Bean Meatballs with Mojo Sauce
There is so much flavor and texture packed into this bowl– tender walnut and white bean meatballs, chewy white rice, crispy plantain chips, and melt-in-your-mouth charred onions all drizzled in the slurp-able garlicky, citrusy mojo sauce.
Copycat Chipotle Tofu Sofritas Recipe (Vegan)
If you’ve tried Chipotle’s sofritas tofu before, then you’ve gotta try this copycat version. Braised tofu in a spicy adobo sauce with pinto beans and spices, this recipe is delicious! Vegan and easily gluten-free.
Crispy Vegan Tacos with Queso Dipping Sauce
Stuffed with a meaty, spiced filling and quickly pan-fried (or cooked in the air fryer!) and served with a simple cashew queso dipping sauce, this is one recipe that you will turn to over and over again.Â
Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
The perfect plant-based main dish for the holiday table, while also being cozy and easy enough to make for weeknight dinner. It’s one recipe that I come back to over and over again this time of year and it’s always a crowd pleaser. If you’re looking for a recipe to feed a crowd, this is a must!
Kale Pasta with Butternut Squash and Pecan Parmesan
Kale Pasta with Butternut Squash and Pecan Parmesan. The perfect vegan Fall pasta. Roasted squash, garlicky kale tossed with pasta, and homemade pecan parmesan.
Mushroom Fajitas with Queso Blanco Sauce
Restaurant-worthy fajitas made with portobello mushrooms, peppers and onions! If you love fajitas, then you’ve gotta try these portobello fajitas. Served with a creamy queso blanco sauce.
The Best Vegan Lasagna
The best vegan lasagna! Layers of homemade cauliflower cashew ricotta with roasted eggplant, zucchini, and mushrooms. Just as rich and delicious as the classic recipe, a must-try for everyone!Â
Pumpkin Bolognese
The BEST vegan bolognese with mushrooms and a creamy pumpkin dairy-free sauce. A must for fall and winter. You have to save this one, your friends will never believe it’s meat-free!
The Best Vegan Cornbread
Incredibly moist, tender vegan cornbread. The best! You’ll never believe that this cornbread is dairy-free and egg-free.
Tempeh Bacon
The best Tempeh Bacon Recipe! Smoky, slightly sweet, crispy bacon made from tempeh. My guess is that if you aren’t a full-on vegetarian or plant-based eater, then the idea of making bacon out of tempeh might seem a little foreign but you’ve gotta try it. Â
Sesame Noodles
Can be served hot or cold. Enjoy as a side dish or add in additional veggies or cooked protein for a simple dinner.