Quick Take

Want to try a plant-based diet for your health but worried you'll be eating nothing but salads? Or maybe you're hoping your meat loving spouse might get on the plant-based train with you, but they're skeptical of WFPB recipes? Well good news! Eating plant-based does NOT mean eating rabbit food...and the proof's in these these mouth-watering (and carnivore-approved!), plant-based takes on comfort food classics. 

9 Plant-Based Comfort Food Recipes for Meat Lovers 

1. Buffalo Cauliflower Wings 

Image and Recipe from Simple Vegan

Cauliflower is leveled up in this classic game day snack that's sure to please even the picky eaters in your family. Get the cauliflower wing recipe here. 

2. Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese 

Image and Recipe from Simple Vegan 

You can't get more comforting than a hot plate of vegan mac and cheese. This plant-based take on the kid-friendly favoriate uses protein-rich cashews in place of cheese for a creamy, dreamy vegan sauce.

3. Vegan Chickpea Curry 

Image and Recipe from Shane and Simple 

Chickpeas are a superstar in the plant-based world - high in protein and oh-so-versatile, making them a great swap for meat in many of your favorite dishes. Want to eat well but short on time? Rich and comforting, this chickpea curry is your new weeknight go-to — it requires just one pot and it's ready in 10 minutes. 

4. Vegan Lentil Bolognese 

Image and Recipe from Healthy Girl Kitchen 

You don't have to say goodbye to pasta night just because you're following a plant-based diet! Swap the meat for lentils with this super simple (and absolutely delicious) recipe for vegan bolognese and say hello to comfort food you can feel good about.

5. Oil-Free Cheesy Lasagna with Creamy Basil Sauce

Image and Recipe from Your Mom's Vegan 

This vegan lasagna is another one to add to your plant-based pasta night rotation. Meat free but flavor-FUL, the creamy basil sauce adds a whole new level to this classic comfort food. You won't miss the meat or cheese, promise!

6. Hearty Vegan Chili

Image and Recipe from The Vegan 8 

Need a (healthy) game day meal for your meat loving family? You can't go wrong with chili! And this hearty and flavorful oil-free vegan chili recipe is packed with beans, protein, and fiber, making it the perfect heart healthy alternative to traditional beef chili. 

7. Easy Vegan Pad Thai

Image and Recipe from From My Bowl

Moving away from Standard American fare doesn't mean you have forget about your favorite takeout dishes! This flavorful vegan Pad Thai recipe is quick to make, loaded with veggies, and fills you up without the oil or meat!

8. Vegan Sloppy Joes 

Image and Recipe from Nora Cooks

Trying to get your kids to eat more plant-based foods? Whip up these heavenly vegan Sloppy Joes. Smokey, naturally sweetened, and ready in under 30 minutes, they're the perfect dinner for your budding plant-based family.

9. Vegan Pulled "Pork"

Image and Recipe from Mamasezz 

There's nothing porky about this decadent albeit 100% WFPB recipe, which uses a secret, unusual ingredient to deliver the most comforting vegan pulled "pork" you've tasted since ditching meat. 

BONUS: Finally, A Vegan Meal Delivery Plan That Meal Lovers Will Actually Be Excited About

Heck yes you can get enough protein from plants! Case in point: the MamaSezz vegan meal delivery plan for meat lovers. Get plant-based takes on the familiar comfort foods you know and love, from Walnut Taco Meat to High Protein Vegan Burgers, all dishes in the MamaSezz Protein Bundle are high in protein (of course!), filled with fiber, whole food, oil-free — and beyond healthier than any store-bought meat alternatives. Here's to enjoying old favorites (with a healthy twist). Get started with your vegan meal delivery plan here.

 

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Rafaela Michailidou is a Vegan Lifestyle Coach, and a freelance health and wellness content writer, with a Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies.