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    Home > Vegan Mains

    35 Carnivore-Approved Vegan Recipes

    Updated: Dec 9, 2024 | Published: Jul 27, 2021 | by Amanda | 9 Comments

    Take the guess work out of vegan cooking with these 35 Carnivore-Approved Vegan Recipes. If you're new to a vegan diet, a vegan cooking for meat-lovers or just want to add more plants to your rotation, you can whip up vegan burgers, pastas, stews and even roasts with minimal fuss.

    These tasty recipes are perfect for vegans, meat-lovers and everyone in-between

    Four food images with text.

    This recipe roundup was originally posted June 5, 2020 and updated with new images, recipes and tips July 27, 2021.

    Jump to:
    • Tips to Creating Vegan Food Meat-Lovers Will Love
    • Vegan Food Myths
    • Meat-Lover Friendly Vegan Meals
    • Leave a Comment

    My family is not vegan. In fact I am the only vegan in my immediate circle. Yup, that's me; the girl guarding the hummus at the buffet table. Hi.

    Besides being the only vegan, I am also the cook around here so, to say I've gotten pretty good at feeding non-vegans vegan food is an understatement. I even wrote a cookbook about it.

    My little family has gone from completely carnivorous to eating an 80% vegan diet. That may not be your goal - maybe you just want to cook for your meat-loving Nana. Either way, I have some easy tips that will make eating vegan food easier for your meat-loving friends to digest.

    Tips to Creating Vegan Food Meat-Lovers Will Love

    • My first tip has nothing to do with cooking but I think it's important. Take the word "vegan" out of the dialogue. While I use the terms "vegan" and "plant-based" in my recipe names to make them easier to find, you can just call a mushroom burger, a "mushroom burger" rather than a vegan burger. A chickpea curry can just be that. While you and I may be super comfortable with "vegan", some may find it confronting. Let your cooking speak for itself.
    • Experiment with spices. Like "traditional" meat-based cooking, vegan recipes go from yum to mind-blowing with a few spices. Mushrooms love thyme, cauliflower has a thing for fresh herbs but also rocks a spicy Mexican rub. Meanwhile, did a roast vegetable ever look better than sprinkled with sea salt and rosemary?
    • Take a traditional recipe and veganise it. I use oyster mushrooms, jackfruit, lentils and tofu to substitute for meat and create texture and bulk with larger legumes like chickpeas and black beans. Get creative!
    • For the love of Moses, season your food! Flavour doesn't happen with a wish and prayer...season and taste as you cook.

    Vegan Food Myths

    Vegan Food Isn't Filling

    One of the most common myths about vegan meals is that they won’t fill you up. The truth is meals made with fibre-rich and nutritious ingredients - whether vegan or no - make you feel fuller for longer. Fibre-rich foods take longer to digest helping to keep you satisfied for longer.*

    You Can't Get Enough Protein From Vegan Food

    Tell that to a silverback gorilla!

    Protein is available in a plethora of plant-based sources including whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, tofu and even kale and broccoli. A study in to food consumption in America found that vegans get more than enough protein. 

    Most American adults eat about 100 grams of protein per day, or roughly twice the recommended amount. Even on a vegan diet people can easily get 60 to 80 grams of protein throughout the day from foods like beans, legumes, nuts, broccoli and whole grains." New York Times 

    *Mayo Clinic

    Vegan Food Has No Flavour

    Finally, I often hear that it's hard to get enough flavour into plant-based foods.

    Whaaaaaatt? No way. We've got 35 carnivore-approved vegan recipes here to put that myth to rest for good!

    Meat-Lover Friendly Vegan Meals

    A tray of roasted jackfruit on baking paper.

    I make this vegan shawarma for family and friends all the time. It's a winner! Wrapped in pita bread and drizzled with tahini sauce it's mouthwateringly good. Jackfruit is a great plant-based meat replacement while chickpeas add protein.

    A bowl of vegetable dumpling soup

    Load up on your vegetables with this warming and nutritious Vegetable Dumpling Soup from Karen at CraveVeggies.

    A bowl of vegan gnocchi with garlic and kale

     Mel's Creamy Vegan Gnocchi with Garlic and Kale? Get in to my belly. This bowl of yum is from A Virtual Vegan.

    A woman holding a bowl of pumpkin red lentil chilli

    A great addition to our carnivore-approved vegan meals list. I love a slow cooked meal and this Slow Cooker Pumpkin Red Lentil Chilli from Karen at Kitchen Treaty is hearty and loaded with flavour.

    A white bowl of chana masala

    What can I say, I love my legumes and I love my curry. Chana Masala from Marina at Yummy Mummy Kitchen.

    Two vegan Greek Gyros with tempeh on brown parchment

    Gyros! This had to go on our list of carnivore-approved vegan recipes. Loaded with protein-packed tempeh, this Vegan Greek Gyros with Tempeh from Sophia at Veggies Don't Bite is a delicious powerhouse.

    A white bowl of vegan garlic sriracha tofu yakisoba

    Oh, my goodness this Vegan Garlic Sriracha Tofu Yakisoba from Lauren at Rabbit and Wolves is so vibrant and wonderful.

    A bowl of chilli with cinnamon.

    Meat-lovers will love this full-bodied and rich vegan chilli made with mushrooms, beans and dark chocolate.

    Crispy cauliflower bites sitting on flour tortillas

    Super crispy and awesome, I am so excited to try these crispy baked cauliflower bites  from Jenn at Veggie Inspired.

    A white bowl full of vegan jambalaya

    I love this Vegan Jambalaya from Mel at The Stingy Vegan. Jambalya is such a versatile and comforting bowl.

    A close up overhead shot of vegan lentil cauliflower loaf on white paper

    Both carnivores and vegans will love Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf from Rebecca at Strength and Sunshine.

    A black bowl full of broad bean falafel with tahini dressing

    Amber from Quite Good Food has hit me in my sweet spot with her Broad Bean Falafel with Tahini Sauce . I am a bitch for the falafel.

    Two oven-baked celeraic cutlet burgers sitting on brown textured paper

    Oven-Baked Celeraic Cutlets? Yup. This bit of awesome is from Francesca at Seven Roses. While I'm at it, I'm going to go ahead and include Francesca's Vegan Holiday Roast because it looks and sounds fabulous.

    A vegan holiday roast sitting in a baking tray
    Vegan Holiday Roast from Francesca at Seven Roses
    A close up image of a vegan white pizza with pears and balsamic shallots on textured baking paper

    Everyone loves pizza and my vegan white pizza with pears and balsamic shallots is creamy, sweet and savoury all at the same time. 

    A saucepan full of vegan mushroom stroganoff with a wooden spoon

    My Mum used to make us Stronganoff all the time and now we can enjoy it again with this One Pot Vegan Mushroom Stronganoff from Caitlin at From My Bowl.

    A freshly baked vegan lasagne in a ceramic baking tray

    Beth's Best Damn Vegan Lasagna is sure to please the pickiest of carnivorous palates. Check out the recipe at Pass the Plants.

    A close up of vegan chicken noodle soup in a bowl.

    I made this Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup for my daughter's kindy class and they all loved it! Jackfruit gives it an authentic texture.

    A close up image of smoky-style meatless meatloaf cut in to slices

    This Smoky Southern-Style Meatless Meatloaf from Alex and Linda at Veganosity makes me want to lick my screen. Is that wrong? I am also including their Pulled BBQ Carrots because...it's carrots! These two recipe HAD to be on our list of carnivore-approved vegan meals, yes?

    A pulled BBQ carrot burger against a light blue background
    Pulled BBQ Carrots from Linda & Alex at Veganosity. These look a-mazing!
    Chunks of vegan feta on a wooden board

    Cheese lovers rejoice! This Vegan Feta from Terrence and Brittany from Plant Power Couple has your cheese craving sorted.

    Vegan tuna salad sitting on a white plate

    Vegan Tuna Salad from Valerie at Very Vegan Val. How cool is that? No fish were harmed in the making of this tuna salad!

    A vegan lentil burger with sauce sitting on a white board

    This Vegan Lentil Burger from Florian at Contentedness Cooking looks so lovely and fresh and very carnivore friendly.

    Chipotle Lentil Tasquitos on a wooden board

    My family are such big Mexican food fans, so I am excited to try these fantastic looking Chipotle Lentil Tasquitos from Steven at the Nut-Free Vegan to our carnivore-approved vegan recipes list.

    A close-up image of lentil cottage pie

    Warming, nutritious and gluten-free, this Lentil Cottage Pie from Trinity at Kind Earth ticks all the comfort food boxes.

    A pot full of butternut squash man n cheese on a concrete bench

    Mac N Cheese alert! This Luxe Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe from Alexandra from Occasionally Eggs is all the things we love about this comfort food and then some.

    A stacked vegan tempeh rueben sandwich with a steak knife

    As Sarah from My Darling Vegan says this Vegan Tempeh Reuben Sandwich is " tower of saucy, spicy, smoky, sauerkraut-filled goodness." Delicious. This tower of yum had to make our carnivore-approved vegan recipes list!

    A white bowl of tofu Tikka Masala and rice

    I believe you can never have too much of this Tofu Tikka Masala. Thank you Shannon from Yup, It's Vegan for this bowl of awesomeness.

    An overhead image of vegan biscuits and gravy with a cup of coffee

    Biscuits and Gravy, Baby! That's Vegan Biscuits and Gravy from Jackie at Vegan Yack Attack. Hello, breakfast.

    A hand holding a french dip sandwich

    A sandwich you dip in gravy? Sign me up. This French Dip Sandwich from Alissa at Connoisseurus Veg looks messily perfect.

    An overhead image of a pan of tofu butter Indian paneer

    This vibrant Indian Butter Tofu Paneer from Richa at Vegan Richa is so packed with flavour, I'm pretty much drooling on my own shirt. It happens.

    A large pot of chickpea dumplings with sweet potato gravy

    Oh, look at those lovely dumplings. I am definitely going to try Becca's Chickpea Dumplings in Sweet Potato Gravy - how awesome. Becca is from Amuse Your Bouche.

    A serving plate and a side plate with Sicilian Aubergine Caponata

    I love Sicilian Aubergine Caponata and this lighter vegetable-laden version from Andrea from The Petite Cook looks so damn good.

    A white bowl of Smothered Tofu "Chicken" on mash

    This Smothered Tofu 'Chicken' Recipe from Michelle at Healthier Kitchen looks like a big warm hug in a bowl.

    A large pot of vegan potato and jackfruit stew

    If you need to feed your little carnivores something that looks like meat, you can't go past this Vegan Potato Jackfruit Stew Recipe from Florentina at Veggie Society.

    So, there you have it. 35 carnivore-approved vegan meals and recipes. So, what are you waiting for?  Round up those meat-lovers, get in the kitchen and get cooking. Enjoy, x. 

    « Masala Curry with Red Lentils
    Smoke'n Chilli Sin Carne (Mushroom Chilli) »

    Comments

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    1. Den says

      July 07, 2020 at 2:32 pm

      I committed to a trial of being vegan for the month of July. This list of recipes will be a game-changer for my hubby, who is also doing his best. Thanks for some amazing looking recipes. I can't wait to try them.

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        July 07, 2020 at 5:58 pm

        Oh, Den, I am so happy you found some inspiration here. Feel free to contact me if you need anything during your vegan adventure. Enjoy! x

        Reply
    2. smartwriters.org/blog/in-search-of-proof-reading-s says

      August 12, 2018 at 9:55 am

      We can enjoy the taste of these dishes, cooked in the light of all vegan traditions. Such recipes will be very useful for everyone who adheres to a special diet.

      Reply
    3. francesca says

      August 01, 2018 at 7:11 am

      thanks so much for including 2 of my recipes. Love your site by the way Amanda ♥

      Reply
    4. Jenn says

      May 08, 2018 at 1:22 pm

      Wow, I am drooling! Everything looks so amazing! Thank you for including my Crispy Cauliflower Tacos!

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        May 09, 2018 at 4:06 am

        Thanks Jenn and thank you for allowing me to share your awesome food.

        Reply
    5. Linda from Veganosity says

      May 08, 2018 at 12:09 pm

      Thank you for including our Smoky Southern-Style Meatloaf and Pulled BBQ Carrots in this mouthwatering roundup.

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        May 08, 2018 at 12:10 pm

        You guys are so welcome. Those recipes are a-mazing! Thank you for letting me share them.

        Reply
    6. Linda from Veganosity says

      May 08, 2018 at 12:08 pm

      This is a mouthwatering roundup, and sure to please any omnivore. Thank you for including our Smoky Southern-Style Meatloaf and our Pulled BBQ Carrots. Sharing!

      Reply
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    Nice to Meet You!

    I'm Amanda and that's Scout with her eye on you.
    I believe you can make good food that's great tasting with simple, fuss-free ingredients. I will show you how to cook creatively even when you're on a budget or short on time.

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