28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (2024)

Whether you're vegan, vegetarian or just want to try something new, you don't have to live a life without mac and cheese.

Hannah LoewentheilPublished on April 15, 2017
28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (2)

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

1. Vegan Mac and Cheese

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (3)

Delicious Everyday / Via deliciouseveryday.com

This cheeseless sauce is made of cauliflower, butternut squash, potato and cashews. Plus, the whole dish comes together in 30 minutes. Get the recipe.

2. Spring Vegetable Pot Pie

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (4)

Minimalist Baker

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (5)

Thanks to almond milk, this biscuit topping is so flakey and the veggie filling is so creamy you won't believe there's no dairy involved. Get the recipe.

3. Vegan Carrot Bacon

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (6)

Yumsome / Via yumsome.com

Maple syrup, tahini, liquid smoke and coconut aminos give this veggie side dish the salty-sweet, smoky taste of cured meat. Get the recipe.

4. Loaded Sweet Potato Nachos

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (7)

Nutritional Foodie

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (8)

Start with roasted sweet potato, add this miracle dairy-free cheese sauce and end with your favorite nacho toppings. Get the recipe.

5. Mushroom Stroganoff

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (9)

Natural Girl Modern World / Via naturalgirlmodernworld.com

No beef here, just lots and lots of savory cremini mushrooms. Vegetable broth and almond milk add an element of richness to the whole dish. Get the recipe.

6. Vegan Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (10)

7. White Bean and Mushroom "Meatball" Subs

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (11)

Sobremesa

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (12)

Mix white beans and mushrooms with garlic, onion, breadcrumbs and some spices, and bake them for half an hour. Toss 'em in a submarine roll with marinara, and you won't miss the meat. Get the recipe.

8. Green Goddess Pizza

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (13)

Well and Full / Via wellandfull.com

Swap marinara sauce for cashew cheese and pesto. But let's face it, the carbs are the best part, anyway. Get the recipe.

9. Carrot Pigs in a Blanket

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (14)

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell / Via purewow.com

All your guests will be talking about this creative (and insanely simple) party app. Just make sure to buy or make vegan pizza dough. Get the recipe.

10. Bang Bang Broccoli

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (15)

Rabbit and Wolves / Via rabbitandwolves.com

This battered, lightly fried and spicy broccoli is the answer for anyone who doesn't love eating vegetables. Get the recipe.

11. Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (16)

Emilie Eats

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (17)

Emilie Eats

This crispy, baked cauliflower gets a serious kick from hot buffalo sauce. Then, it's cooling avocado cilantro sauce to the rescue. Get the recipe.

12. Vegan Lasagna

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (18)

Eat Within Your Means / Via eatwithinyourmeans.com

Layers of savory cashew cream and spinach "ricotta" take the place of cheese in this easy weeknight dinner. You can whip up both of these dairy-free fillings in your food processor in about 10 minutes. Get the recipe.

13. Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (19)

Lands and Flavors / Via landsandflavors.com

Cashews, nutritional yeast, white miso and flour form the base of this creamless yet rich pasta sauce. Get the recipe.

14. Crispy Avocado Tacos

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (20)

What's Cooking Good Looking / Via whatscookinggoodlooking.com

You can never have to many meat-free taco options. These baked and breaded avocados are crispy on the outside but creamy on the inside. Top them with smashed white beans and sriracha and call it a fiesta.

15. Popcorn Tofu Nuggets

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (21)

Under a Lemon Tree

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (22)

Why should you have to choose between honey dijon, chipotle ketchup and Sriracha mayo? Pair these guys with not one, but THREE easy vegan dipping sauces. Get the recipe.

16. Vegan Pad Thai

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (23)

Lazy Cat Kitchen / Via lazycatkitchen.com

Put down the takeout menu. Tamarind paste, tamari, soy sauce, maple syrup and lime make the secret sauce in this fancy Thai stir-fry. Get the recipe.

17. BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (24)

Minimalist Baker

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (25)

If you've never heard of jackfruit, it's a miracle produce that, when prepared properly, has a very similar texture to meat. Toss it with BBQ seasoning and sauce and you just might be convinced you're chowing down on pulled pork. Get the recipe.

18. Biscuits and Mushroom Gravy

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (26)

Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

Making these 3-ingredient coconut oil biscuits for breakfast pretty much guarantees a great day. Get the recipe.

19. Spaghetti and Lentil Bolognese

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (27)

Lazy Cat Kitchen / Via lazycatkitchen.com

This ain't your grandma's spaghetti, but it's protein-packed with a sauce made of sun-dried tomatoes, walnuts and lentils. Get the recipe.

20. Mediterranean Chickpea Burgers

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (28)

Catching Seeds / Via catchingseeds.com

Imagine that falafel and a Big Mac had a baby. Get the recipe.

21. Moroccan Shepherd's Pie with Sweet Potato

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (29)

Our Four Forks / Via ourfourforks.com

Substitute lamb or beef for chickpeas and mash the sweet potatoes with a non-dairy milk to make this hearty meal vegan-friendly. Get the recipe.

22. General Tso's Cauliflower

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (30)

The Woks of Life / Via thewoksoflife.com

Golden-brown, sweet-and-spicy and totally vegetarian, this Asian-inspired dish takes less than an hour to whip up from scratch. Get the recipe.

23. Vegan Spinach Dip

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (31)

No Recipes / Via norecipes.com

Serve this to a crowd...or hoard it for yourself. Get the recipe.

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (32)

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

24. Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (33)

Via sprinkledwithjules.com

Make these for dessert...then keep some leftovers for tomorrow's breakfast. Get the recipe.

25. Birthday Cake Ice Cream Sandwiches

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (34)

Rabbit and Wolves / Via rabbitandwolves.com

Vegan butter sugar cookies + coconut cream ice cream = bliss. Get the recipe.

26. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (35)

http://www.blissfulbasil.com/5-minute-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough/

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (36)

http://www.blissfulbasil.com/5-minute-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough/

Let's be honest, the best part about baking cookies is eating the raw dough. Next time, save yourself the hassle with this five-minute eggless treat. Get the recipe.

27. Lemon Blueberry Pistachio Cupcakes

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (37)

Ambitious Kitchen / Via ambitiouskitchen.com

Vegan buttercream exists, people, and it's a miracle for satisfying any dairy-free sweet tooth. Get the recipe.

28. Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (38)

My California Roots / Via mycaliforniaroots.com

Got 20 minutes? Bake these easy-easy cookies. Get the recipe.

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    28 Comfort Food Recipes With No Meat Or Dairy (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the ultimate comfort food? ›

    Truly comfort food at its finest, chicken pot pie represents the addictive marriage of a flaky, buttery crust with diced chicken, onions, carrots, and peas in a creamy sauce. While it's a dish that you can easily find pre-made in almost any grocery freezer aisle, we strongly believe that making your own is worth it.

    What to eat when you can't have meat? ›

    5 Protein-Packed Foods for Healthy, Meatless Meals
    • Eggs. Eggs are a great source of protein. ...
    • Tree Nuts. Tree nuts include walnuts, almonds and pecans — don't confuse them with peanuts, which are legumes. ...
    • Legumes. Legumes include a range of beans and peas such as black beans, chickpeas and lentils. ...
    • Soy. ...
    • Yogurt.

    How to cook without meat? ›

    Use beans/lentils in place of meat in recipes. Tacos, soup, lentil loaf, pasta with lentils or pasta made of beans with or without lentils, bean salad on a bun or in a wrap, bean burgers…. Tofu is also a good protein, though not as cheap as dry beans. Buy extra firm, freeze, thaw, press for the best texture.

    What is America's number one comfort food? ›

    In actuality, Americans' favorite comfort food is ... Pizza!

    What does lack of meat do to your body? ›

    You may feel tired and weak if you cut meat out of your diet. That's because you're missing an important source of protein and iron, both of which give you energy. The body absorbs more iron from meat than other foods, but it's not your only choice.

    What does not eating meat do for your body? ›

    Cutting back on meat and eating a predominantly plant-based diet may help with weight management, protect against heart disease and certain cancers, and support a healthy gut. Eating less meat in favor of plants may also have beneficial environmental impacts.

    What can I replace meat with in a meal? ›

    If getting enough protein is a concern, there are ways to make it up. Beans and legumes are some of the best plant-based protein sources. They're also a good source of fiber, and they provide that sensation of fullness that comes from eating meat. Nuts and seeds, along with their butters, also provide protein.

    How do you lose weight if you don't like meat? ›

    Several strategies can help promote weight loss on a vegetarian diet, including: Filling half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables. Choosing high-fiber veggies, such as broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, leafy greens, and mushrooms, can help you stay full and decrease calorie intake.

    Can you grow without eating meat? ›

    Even Arnold Schwarzenegger — the godfather of muscle and strength — is now advising people to “just chill it with the meat”, acknowledging that there is no reason why eating a plant-based diet should pose any barriers to getting big and strong, and that doing so may even offer some significant advantages.

    What is the best comfort food of all time? ›

    Our 20 all-time favorite comfort foods
    • 1 of 20. Chicken noodle soup. Joshua Resnick / shutterstock.com. ...
    • 2 of 20. Chicken pot pie. Charles Brutlag / shutterstock.com. ...
    • 3 of 20. Chicken tenders. ...
    • 4 of 20. Chili. ...
    • 5 of 20. Chocolate chip cookies. ...
    • 6 of 20. Cinnamon buns. ...
    • 7 of 20. Cornbread. ...
    • 8 of 20. Fries.
    Mar 18, 2024

    What is a comfort food when you are not feeling well? ›

    Maybe one of the more surprising foods on our list, bananas are feel-good foods for many symptoms. You may have heard a healthcare provider (or maybe even Mom) talk about the BRAT diet. That's short for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast—all carbohydrate-rich, easy-to-stomach, and easy-to-digest foods.

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