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)

Peas and Crayons / Via peasandcrayons.com

Vegan cheese is the best thing since sliced bread...especially when it's melted between sliced bread. Get the recipe.

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? ›

    For instance, the flank steak with cheesy hash brown waffles will be an immediate favorite, along with the pierogi and meatball skillet, French bread pizzas, and creamy cauliflower soup. For Ree Drummond, chicken pot pie is the one comfort food that just can't be beat.

    What to cook for someone who doesn t like meat? ›

    Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers

    A combination of sweet potatoes, quinoa, and red lentils makes these meatless patties taste and feel similar to classic hamburgers. Serve them on buns with your favorite toppings.

    What can I cook when there is no meat? ›

    27 Delicious And Healthy Meals With No Meat
    1. Butternut Squash Chipotle Chili with Avocado. ...
    2. Easy Double Bean Burgers with Avocado Basil Cream. ...
    3. Stuffed Acorn Squash. ...
    4. Easy Chickpea Curry with Coconut Rice. ...
    5. Crispy Peanut Tofu & Cauliflower Rice Stir Fry. ...
    6. Sweet Potato Burrito Smothered in Avocado Salsa Verde.
    Sep 20, 2014

    What happens to your body when you cut out meat and dairy? ›

    Your blood cholesterol levels will plummet.

    Elevated blood cholesterol is a key risk factor for heart disease and strokes, two of the leading killers in the United States. Saturated fat—primarily found in meat, poultry, cheese, and other animal products—is a major driver of our blood cholesterol levels.

    Can you lose weight by not eating meat and dairy? ›

    A vegetarian diet can be lower in calories and saturated fat and higher in fiber, which can, in turn, lower your risk of diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. And while it can also help reduce your risk of obesity, it can be hard to lose weight if you make a few missteps.

    What is America's #1 comfort food? ›

    Become a Jetsetter
    • 1 Chicken and Waffles.
    • 2 Spaghetti and Meatballs.
    • 3 Chicken Fried Steak.
    • 4 Mac and Cheese.
    • 5 Hotdish.
    • 6 Chicago Deep Dish Pizza.
    • 7 Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup.
    • 8 Matzo Ball Soup.
    Mar 1, 2020

    What is southern comfort food? ›

    Some favorite Southern comfort recipes
    • Quick Hoppin' John Soup.
    • Brunswick Stew.
    • Ham with Redeye Gravy.
    • Great-Grandmother Steinbeck's Johnnycake (Cornbread)
    • Chicken and Dumplings IV.
    • Grandma Oma's Pickled Okra.
    • Southern Style Holiday Greens.
    • Oklahoma Cheese Grits.
    May 20, 2021

    What do you call someone who barely eats meat? ›

    flex·​i·​tar·​i·​an ˌflek-sə-ˈter-ē-ən. : one whose normally meatless diet occasionally includes meat or fish.

    What tastes like meat but is not meat? ›

    So, here are six great ideas for you to consider.
    • Jackfruit. Jackfruit is a tropical fruit native to south India. ...
    • Tofu. Tofu is one of the original meat substitutes. ...
    • Seitan. Known as “wheat meat,” seitan is made by filtering out the starch in wheat. ...
    • Textured Vegetable Protein. ...
    • Tempeh. ...
    • Beans.
    Dec 18, 2017

    What do you call someone who rarely eats meat? ›

    A flexitarian diet, also called a semi-vegetarian diet, is one that is centered on plant foods with limited or occasional inclusion of meat. For example, a flexitarian might eat meat only some days each week.

    What can I replace meat with in a meal? ›

    How to get protein without the meat
    1. Pulses. Pulses are an inexpensive protein choice, are high in fibre and a source of iron. ...
    2. Soya beans. ...
    3. Quinoa. ...
    4. Nuts. ...
    5. Seeds. ...
    6. Cereals and grains. ...
    7. Quorn™ ...
    8. Dairy.

    What can I eat for dinner instead of meat? ›

    Our 40 best Meat-free Meals
    • Orange tofu. Orange tofu is an easy vegetarian substitute for orange chicken. ...
    • Tofu pizzaiola. These easy tofu cutlets in marinara sauce are a simple yet tasty pan-fried recipe, ready in 20 minutes. ...
    • Lentil loaf. ...
    • Tofu Cacciatore. ...
    • Lentil chili. ...
    • Lemon tofu cutlets. ...
    • Vegetarian Meatballs. ...
    • Fried tofu.
    Mar 7, 2024

    Can you survive with no meat? ›

    Even though meats provide certain nutrients that plants don't, eating meat isn't necessary for your health or survival. With appropriate planning and supplements, plant-based diets can provide the nutrients your body needs.

    How can I get enough protein without meat or dairy? ›

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

    How can I gain weight without meat or dairy? ›

    Yes, you can gain weight healthily with plant-based foods by focusing on calorie-dense options like avocados, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains and plant-based protein sources like tofu and tempeh.

    How can I get protein if I don't eat dairy? ›

    Here are 10 dairy-free protein foods to start incorporating into your diet today.
    1. Seeds. For being such tiny foods, seeds pack a ton of protein per portion. ...
    2. Nuts. All types of nuts are full of protein and healthy fats, making them a fundamental source of plant-based protein. ...
    3. Fish. ...
    4. Poultry. ...
    5. Eggs. ...
    6. Quinoa. ...
    7. Beans. ...
    8. Soy.

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