Whether or not you’re new to plant-based / vegan food, there are likely a few of your old favourites you’d like to have vegan alternatives of, things that you miss. This is a big list of the best vegan alternatives for kitchen staples and other favourites like cheeses, spreads, dressings, and even bacon! (plus a whole lot more, keep reading!)
There’s a vegan alternative to almost every non vegan recipe out there (almost all!). Some are so close to the original, you may not even be able to tell the difference.
If you’re new to this wonderful way of eating, chances are, you have the same questions many had when they were just starting out:
- what are the best vegan substitutes?
- what can you substitute for cheese?
- what are some good dairy substitutes for vegans?
- what are some homemade vegan substitutes for meat?
I was once in your position, asking myself all the questions above, and more.
Today, years later, I still find myself looking for vegan substitutions that I haven’t tried before, which is why I’ve put together this list of the best vegan substitutes to make in your kitchen. So let’s get started!
Vegan Substitutes for Cheese
When I first stopped eating dairy there weren’t a lot of vegan cheeses in the grocery store or recipes to look up. Luckily, today, there are countless cheese substitutes for you to choose from (even substitutes for cottage cheese and feta cheese!) both in the stores and through the recipes below.
Vegan Mozzarella Cheese (pictured above) – from Vegan Huggs
Vegan Parmesan – From Delightful Adventures
Nut-Free Vegan Nacho Cheese Slices – from Vegan Richa
Vegan Blue Cheese – from Full of Plants
Walnut Parmesan – from Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen
Cashew Parmesan – from Where You Get Your Protein
Parmesan Cheese with Cashews, Pine Nuts, and Hemp Seeds – from Avocado Pesto
Cashew Camembert – from Spabettie
Baked Herbed Cashew Cheese – from Lettuce Liv
Feta Cheese (tofu based) – from VNutrition and Wellness
Yogurt Based Feta Cheese (yogurt based) – from Including Cake
Cashew Ricotta Cheese – from Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen
Cottage Cheese – from Vegan Family Recipes
Vegan Cheese Sauce Substitutes
As you saw above, there are so many delicious alternatives to dairy cheese, and when it comes to cheese sauces, your options are also wide open.
Queso Blanco Mexican White Cheese Dip – (pictured above) from Veggies Don’t Bite
Nacho Cheese – from Hot for Food
Vegan Queso – from The Urben Life
6-Ingredient Vegan Cheddar Sauce – from Veganosity
Vegan Cheese Sauce – from Happy Food Healthy Life
Vegan Cheese Spread Substitutes
From vegan cheese spread recipes good enough to bring with you to your next potluck, all the way to substitutes for cream cheese, you’ll find it all below.
Garlic Herb Vegan Almond Cheese Spread – (pictured above) from Delightful Adventures
Vegetable Almond Cheese Ball – from Delightful Adventures
Jalapeno Cashew Cheese Spread – from Cadry’s Kitchen
Veggie Cream Cheese Spread – from Veggie Inspired
Garlic Basil Vegan Ricotta Cheese – from Vegetarian Gastronomy
Cream Cheese with Cashews – From Vegan Heaven
Raw Garden Herb Spreadable Cheese – from Fork and Beans
Strawberry Cream Cheese – from The Vegan 8
Vegan Dairy Substitutes (Milks)
Making the switch to plant-based milk cannot be any easier, especially when you can make it yourself! Have a look through the recipes below where you’ll find a nice assortment of different vegan milks to make, there are even homemade vegan substitutes for evaporated milk and condensed milk!
Cashew Milk – from My Darling Vegan
Almond Milk – from Oh She Glows
Coconut Milk – from Homemade Zagat
Soy Milk – from Simple Vegan Blog
Oat Milk – from Simple Vegan Blog
Hemp Milk – from Trinity’s Conscious Kitchen
Condensed Milk – from Vegan in the Freezer
Evaporated Milk – from Vegan in the Freezer
Vegan Substitutes for Coffee Creamer
Coffee lovers may find themselves looking for a good vegan coffee creamer when they first switch over, but no need to worry, there are quite a few recipes you can make at home.
Sweetened Cashew Creamer – (pictured above) from Vegan in the Freezer
Almond Milk Coffee Creamer – from Kitchen Treaty
Irish Coffee Creamer – From Simple Seasonal
Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer – from Running with Spoons
Vegan Substitutes for Yogurt
Yogurt was one of the things I missed most when I switched over, but thankfully, now, vegan yogurts are just as creamy and delicious as their non-vegan counterparts.
Cashew Yogurt – (pictured above) from Beauty Food Blog
Instant Pot Soy Yogurt – from Glue & Glitter
Soy Yogurt – from Simple Vegan Blog
Raspberry Coconut Yogurt – from Vegan Huggs
2-Ingredient Coconut Yogurt – from Minimalist Baker
Homemade Vegan Greek Yogurt – from Catching Seeds
Super Thick Coconut Yogurt – from Oh She Glows
Vegan Substitutes for Whipped Cream
There’s nothing like topping a decadent dessert with a dollop of creamy whipped cream and just because you’re vegan, doesn’t mean you can’t! The following vegan whipped cream recipes are all easy to make, creamy, and perfect for topping any vegan dessert.
Vanilla Bean Coconut Whipped Cream – (pictured above) from Delightful Adventures
Sugar-Free Aquafaba Whipped Cream – from Happy Food Healthy Life
Cashew Cream – from Wholefully
Vegan Substitutes for Sour Cream
Nachos, taco pasta, enchiladas, chili mac…the list of dishes that are perfect with a touch of vegan sour cream can go on and on. Here are several different types you can make to complement your next dish.
Sour Cream (cashew based) – from Oh She Glows
Sour Cream (cashew and almond based) – from The Whole Serving
Sour Cream (soy milk based) – from Eat Within Your Means
Vegan Substitutes for Eggs
Note: There are many ways to substitute eggs in vegan cooking. The vegan egg substitutes listed below are best for baking, so read each post for full details. If you’re looking for a savoury vegan egg substitute recipe, see this Southwest Tofu Scramble. or these vegan breakfast burritos.
Flax Egg – (pictured above) from Delightful Adventures
Vegan Egg Wash for Baking – from Delightful Adventures
Chia Egg – from Food Renegade
Aquafaba – from Glue & Glitter
Vegan Spread Substitutes
From vegan substitutes for butter, mayonnaise, and jam, the recipes below have got you covered!
Vegan Butter – (pictured above) from A Virtual Vegan
Vegan Aioli – from Delightful Adventures
Easy Strawberry Chia Seed Refrigerator Jam – from Delightful Adventures
Aquafaba Garlicky Mayo – from Poppy and the Bees
Almond Mayonnaise – from Vegan in the Freezer
Roasted Garlic Truffle Aioli – from Vegetarian Gastronomy
Vegan Dip and Sauce Substitutes
Topping or dunking an already delicious dish in sauce can take that dish over the top. Here are some vegan sauce recipes you’re going to love.
Maple Caramel Sauce (pictured above) from Delightful Adventures
Oil-Free Gravy – from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen
Vegan Fish Sauce – from Yumsome
BBQ Sauce – from Cadry’s Kitchen
Spicy Peanut Sauce – from Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen
White Wine Alfredo Sauce – from Pasta Based
Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce – from Oh She Glows
Vegan Alternatives for Salad Dressings
It’s so easy to make a vegan salad dressing out of a few simple kitchen staples. These recipes will walk you through how to do just that!
Creamy Cumin Ranch Dressing – (pictured above) from Veggie Inspired
Ranch Dressing – from Vegan in the Freezer
Cashew Caesar Dressing – from Tasting Page
Five-Minute Thousand Island Dressing – from Vegan Video Pantry
Vegan Substitutes for Bacon
Many say that the reason they can’t go vegan is because of bacon. If you are (or were) one of these people, then you must try out these tasty vegan bacon recipes.
Carrot Bacon – (pictured above) from Yumsome
Portobello Mushroom Bacon – from Veganosity
Rice Paper Bacon – from Yup.. It’s Vegan
Eggplant Bacon – from Minimalist Baker
Coconut Bacon – from Jessica In the Kitchen
Cashew Bacon Bits – from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen
Chipotle Coconut Bacon – from Welcoming Kitchen
Miscellaneous Vegan Alternatives
These are the recipes that did not fit into any of the categories above, but I wanted to include them in case you’re looking for them, plus, they’re all delicious!
Pumpkin Spice Syrup – (pictured above) from Fried Dandelions
Veggie Broth Mix – from My Plant-Based Family
Vegan Royal Icing – from Happy Food Healthy Life
Lemon Curd and Blood Orange Curd – from Sunnyside Hanne
Seitan – from Connoisseurus Veg
Spicy Chorizo Sausage Crumbles – from Spabettie
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I hope you found a few recipes to make in the list above, I’ve made many and have not been disappointed yet! I plan on updating this list as I find (and make!) new recipes, so bookmark this page and refer back to it any time you need a vegan substitute for an old fave!
Are there any vegan alternatives you’ve been looking for but can’t find? Let me know in the comments! Or if you make any of them, tell me about it below, too!
