23 Vegan Soul Food Ideas That Will Hit the Spot in 2024
The term vegan soul food might sound like an oxymoron, as your mind probably jumps to creamy mac & cheese, juicy fried chicken and buttery biscuits but after one bite you’ll be convinced.
Thanks in part to some creative thinking and cooking methods to give veggies a meatier taste and feel, you won’t even miss the meat. There are tons of workarounds to get that same creamy flavor from dairy using softened and blended nuts, for example.
Nutritional yeast will be your new best friend, and it’s particularly loved for the unmistakable cheesy flavor it imparts, sans dairy. Bon Appetit discusses all you need to know about nature’s Cheeto dust as it’s lovingly called.
You aren’t the first and you certainly won’t be the last vegan who still wants to enjoy those soulful, summer BBQ dishes that are typically made with lots of bacon, cheese and butter. But these vegan soul food recipes are so good that you’ll even have your omnivorous friends thinking about making the switch.
Jump to Section
Delicious Vegan Soul Food Ideas
1. Fried Green Tomatoes
This classic and delicious vegan soul food idea is naturally vegetable-based. Crispy and just the right amount of sweet and acidic, they are wonderful as an appetizer or side dish. After salting and blotting each slice of green tomato with a paper towel, coat it in Panko breadcrumbs or cracker meal before frying or air frying.
Don’t forget to get some dairy-free mayonnaise to mix up a tangy remoulade sauce for dipping.
2. Chicken and Waffles
Chicken and waffles always hits the spot for a weekend brunch or dinner idea, but did you know this can be a vegan soul food idea too? Sweet Potato Soul’s recipe calls for twice-fried oyster mushrooms in place of chicken on top of fluffy dairy and egg-free waffles.
Drizzle it with hot sauce or maple syrup and enjoy for a vegan-friendly version of a classic New Orleans food.
3. Air Fried Crispy Cajun Okra
Cajun flavors can be synonymous with soul food, and okra is a popular ingredient in Southern cooking. Sometimes used as a thickener in soups or eaten raw or pickled, these polarizing veggies turn wonderfully crispy in the air fryer.
It’s not necessarily a swap for chicken fingers, but cajun spiced okra fried to golden perfection does make a great vegan soul food idea.
4. Hoppin’ John
A few meat-free swaps transform a beloved recipe into a delicious vegan soul food idea. Made with either black-eyed peas or red field peas, you’ll want to use some high-quality meatless bacon and sausage to impart that signature smoky flavor and a meaty texture to this dish.
Whip up this flavorful rice and bean dish to get a complete protein source at the cookout.
5. Peach Cobbler
If you’re looking for delicious vegan soul food ideas for a summer cookout, you can’t forget about dessert. This seasonal peach cobbler is an easy and crowd-pleasing sweet treat that uses a bit of vegan butter and nut milk for the cobbler crust.
Substitute any fruit you like (or whatever is in season) and top it with dairy-free ice cream or whipped topping.
6. Tempeh BBQ Sandwich with Coleslaw
This vegan soul food idea is much faster than the traditional version made with slow-cooked pork while still capturing all those sweet and savory flavors you love. Tempeh or jackfruit are the perfect texture to mix up with barbecue sauce and some sautéed mushrooms for a sloppy joe-adjacent mixture.
Scoop it onto a soft bun of your choice and top with a sweet pineapple and purple cabbage slaw for the ideal marriage of soft and crunchy, sweet and savory.
7. Southern Okra and Bean Stew
Ideal for family dinner or weekly meal prep, this delicious vegan soul food idea is packed with nutrient-dense veggies and lots of Southern flavor.
Crunchy okra blends with brown rice, beans and a velvety tomato broth along with onion, bell peppers and garlic. Hot sauce, chili powder and bay leaves make for a comforting concoction.
8. Mac and Cheese
Even if you steer clear of animal products, you can still enjoy this comforting vegan soul food idea. A feat of modern (food) engineering makes it possible for you to enjoy a dreamy, creamy and oh-so-cheesy bowl of mac and cheese without any dairy.
Soaked cashews and some nutritional yeast do the bulk of the work, but a dash of turmeric is essential for nailing that classic orange shade.
9. Butter Beans
This classic vegan soul food recipe makes a great side dish, but it’s so delicious you might just want to eat a bowl full on its own.
You’ll need butter beans (aka large dried lima beans) along with veggie broth cubes, liquid smoke and some dairy-free butter. Garlic, parsley, thyme and a dash of liquid smoke impart a mouthwatering flavor profile on this simple dish.
10. Spicy Collard Slaw
This delicious vegan soul food idea puts a fresh spin on collard greens with a little help from some tropical fruits. Julienned collard greens make a nice base for a slaw, along with some bell peppers and red onion.
Orange wedges are always a great addition, but tropical fruits like mango or pineapple work well too. Coat with orange juice, hot sauce and some nutritional yeast and enjoy chilled.
11. Smoked Tempeh Ribs
Instead of slow-cooked pork ribs, try a new vegan soul food idea that puts strips of tempeh on the backyard smoker until the edges are crispy. Before placing them on the smoker, give them a spritz of apple juice or apple cider vinegar to help your dry rub stick.
Cook them until crispy on the edges then paint them in your favorite BBQ sauce.
12. Tofu Burnt Ends
Cubes of frozen tofu are easily transformed into one of the tastiest and coolest vegan soul food ideas: burnt ends. Freezing your tofu until solid is essential to get that dense, meaty texture that you’re after.
You will then thaw them and drain the water thoroughly before slicing them into one-inch thick cubes. Pat them dry with paper towels until they are bone dry.
Then, put them in a large Ziploc bag with a little apple juice and shake to coat. Add in some dry rub, shake it up again before baking, then grilling and brushing with BBQ sauce throughout.
Comforting Vegan Soul Food Ideas
13. Grits and Greens
Capture the same rich, buttery flavor of grits and sautéed greens with a dairy-free version. This comforting vegan soul food idea uses dairy-free cheese and butter, plus a sprinkle of nutritional yeast to bring that classic flavor profile to life.
Looking to make this more of a meal than a side dish? Top it with crispy cajun-spiced tofu.
14. Jackfruit Jambalaya
There are a ton of really impressive (and delicious) meatless meat options out there, but jackfruit is a naturally occurring fruit that apparently has a taste and texture that rivals pulled pork.
Make this comforting vegan soul food idea that has all the same flavors of jambalaya you love but with jackfruit instead of andouille sausage or crawfish. It’s loaded with meaty kidney beans in a velvety tomato broth that will warm you from the inside out. Sounds like the makings of a perfect birthday dinner in New Orleans!
15. Candied Yams
It only takes a few simple swaps to make this comforting vegan soul food idea out of a classic holiday side dish and a popular vegetarian Thanksgiving recipe.
Find yourself some vegan marshmallows for that signature candied top and use dairy-free butter for the yam base. It’s okay to have a heavy hand with the spices here and feel free to add some toasted pecans for extra crunch.
16. Banana Pudding Parfaits
This creamy Southern dessert is a soul food classic, but the traditional recipe uses all sorts of dairy and gelatin. Try out a vegan soul food version that uses nut milk and cornstarch for the pudding base plus some softened nuts, blended to a creamy whipped topping.
Ripe bananas and a crunchy oat streusel topping make for an ideal combination of flavors and textures.
17. Vegan Cornbread
Cornbread is a classic soul food side dish, ideal for soaking up any bits of leftover flavor on your plate. There are so many comforting vegan soul food versions that leave out the eggs, butter or milk and still produce a light, fluffy cake.
Bake it up into a loaf pan or individual muffins and watch it dwindle as people enjoy, not even realizing it’s made without animal products.
18. Pimento Cheesy Mac
Pimento cheese is a true Southern staple, and at the heart of this vegan soul food idea, with a little twist. Mashed chickpeas add a creaminess to your base and pack plenty of flavor thanks to pimento peppers, garlic powder, nutritional yeast and cayenne.
Save some of your pasta water to whisk into the base along with nut milk and you’ll be amazed how you don’t even miss the dairy.
19. Cornmeal Crusted Sweet Potato Wedges
These spicy cornmeal-crusted sweet potato wedges are the comforting vegan food idea you didn’t know you needed. Bursting with soulful Southern flavors, you’ll start by seasoning your cornmeal with plenty of paprika, cayenne pepper and nutritional yeast.
An air fryer makes quick work of turning your wedges crispy, and a tangy homemade dipping sauce from egg-free mayonnaise makes it complete.
20. “Buttermilk” Biscuits and Gravy
A popular and truly comforting breakfast food, this version becomes a vegan soul food idea with a few swaps. Vegan butter and cashew milk with a squeeze of lemon bring your biscuits together while some meat-free sausage and cashew milk become a creamy and savory gravy, thickened with a flour roux.
This is always such a treat, it makes a great start to your holiday weekend as a Thanksgiving breakfast idea or Christmas day brunch.
21. Mushroom Pot Pie
This creamy vegan soul food idea utilizes mushrooms for a meaty feeling in place of the typical chicken or beef. Nut milk adds creaminess, while a vegan puff pastry makes a delectable crust or dipping tool.
It’s loaded with all your favorite veggies like celery, pearl onions, peas and carrots. One of the best comfort foods on a cool night.
22. Air Fryer Hush Puppies
There’s not much to swap out for this vegan soul food idea, and thanks to the air fryer you’ll have soft yet crispy hush puppies in 15 minutes or so. Flaxseed and water replace egg while non-dairy milk is the easiest swap for cream.
You can make yours sweet or spicy by adding honey, jalapenos or even shreds of vegan cheese to your cornmeal balls.
23. “Chicken” and Dumplings
A popular cream-based soup gets a vegan soul food makeover. You can use seitan or your favorite meat-free chicken in this stew.
All your favorite stew veggies will be right at home here, and the spooned-in dumpling batter is made up of soy milk, vegan butter and flour (plus a few seasonings).
Vegan Soul Food FAQs
Is Vegan Soul Food Healthy?
Yes and no. It’s definitely still possible to get adequate protein-eating vegan meals, so long as you are making the effort to combine foods like rice and beans or grains and seeds to get a “complete” protein source. This isn’t as bio-available as animal-based protein sources, meaning the body can’t utilize it as easily, but it still counts.
On the upside, chances are you are getting a decent amount of fiber in your diet, which is important for your overall health. Including a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and grains is necessary to cultivate optimal gut health.
Eating these vegan soul food ideas, or any vegan food for that matter that utilizes meatless meat or dairy-free milk, cheese or butter, is a matter of good and bad. On the one hand, these meatless meats have little to no fat compared to animal-based versions. Studies are unclear on how much of these fats is good or safe, and possible benefits or risks.
However, what you aren’t consuming in fat you are consuming in nutrient-barren oils and fillers to mimic the taste and texture. The age-old question here really comes down to is: is it healthier to eat a fatty piece of bacon or healthier to eat an artificial piece of “bacon” that’s made purely out of hydrogenated oils and processed ingredients?
What Vegan Foods Fight Depression?
Animal products like lean red meat and eggs contain pre-cursors to neurotransmitters that are vital for your mood and overall health. But vegetables can play a role too, and there are some vegan foods that help to fight depression.
Aim to consume a lot of leafy greens (for more reason than one) along with seeds like pumpkin or sunflower. Mushrooms, peas and watercress can be mood-boosting as well.
If you’re looking for a particular benefit from a certain food or group of foods, it’s important to do some research on how much of that food you need to consume, and how often, to reap a benefit.
Does Gordon Ramsey Serve Vegan Food?
Chef Ramsey has been an outspoken meat-eater himself and he specializes in meat-based dishes. However, at his many restaurants, he does offer a small handful of vegetarian or vegan-friendly dishes.
If you’ve ever had elevated vegan cuisine, like what they serve at the top vegan restaurants in NYC, then you know just because there aren't animal products doesn’t mean you lose anything in terms of flavor or even texture. Vegan Indian food is pretty easy to make or find, but vegan soul food or vegan Chinese food might sound new to you.
It’s so much fun to experiment in the kitchen and you’ll be amazed at some of the swaps and workarounds that great the same amazing flavors and textures as animal-based bites. Some of these delicious vegan soul food recipes will fool even the most omnivorous of friends.
For even more delicious food ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
