You asked us:
We love this question so much because whether you’ve been vegan for two years or two weeks, cravings are no joke. Even the most diligent of vegan eaters crave a greasy slice of cheese pizza or handful of Cheetos every now and again.
But luckily, eating plant-based doesn’t mean you have to eat bland, cardboard-tasting food. Not even close! And if you ask us, the vegan versions are so yummy… we think they taste better than the animal-derived options.
Here are 15 vegan food swaps that are cruelty-free, and full of flavor to satisfy all your non-vegan cravings.
15 vegan food swaps to curb all your cravings
1. Lucky Charms → Morning O’s with vegan marshmallows
The day we found out Lucky Charms were made with gelatin was a sad one… that was until we discovered Everyday 365 Morning O’s. Add some vegan marshmallows into your bowl with some plant-based milk, and you’re good to go!
Other vegan cereals we love include: Barbara’s Peanut Butter Puffs, Life Cinnamon, and Grape Nuts.
2. Ice cream → Dairy-free ice cream
Vegan ice cream isn’t hard to come by anymore — thank you, Hakuna Banana, So Delicious, Nada Moo, Ben & Jerry’s (non-dairy flavors), and Van Leeuwen.
But if you’re craving ice cream and don’t want to make a trip to the store– satisfy your sweet tooth with this 2-ingredient recipe from Bowl of Delicious or this 5-ingredient recipe from Minimalist Baker. And if you’re a lover of toppings… Oreos, maple syrup, and mixed nuts are all vegan (woot, woot).
3. Pizza → Vegan pizza
Being vegan does NOT mean your pizza days have to be in the past. No way!
Here are three of our favorite vegan pizza recipes:
- My Favorite Vegan Pizza – Minimalist Baker
- Easy Vegan Veggie Pizza – Vegan Richa
- Vegan Caramelized Mushroom Pizza – Curious Chickpea
Or save yourself the prep and pick up a yummy vegan pizza like this one from Amy’s Kitchen.
4. Scrambled eggs → Scrambled tofu
Swap scrambled eggs with a tofu scramble. Tofu is packed with calcium, protein, and iron, plus it has an awesome crumbly consistency, which gives it that “scrambled” feel.
Or try Vegan Eggs from Follow Your Heart, which is a full egg replacer made with nutritional yeast, soy, and natural flavors.
5. Cheetos → Hippeas
Craving something cheesy and crunchy? Skip the Cheetos and reach for Hippeas instead.
They’re not only vegan, but also made with chickpeas — which will get you fiber, protein, and calcium.
6. Honey → Maple syrup
If you crave honey drizzled in your tea, stirred in smoothies, or topped on pancakes — try using maple syrup or agave instead. They both have a similar sticky consistency and sweet flavor, but don’t come from bees!
7. Sushi → Veggie sushi
No need to put down those chopsticks! Cucumber and avocado rolls, seaweed salads, and veggie sushi bowls are just some of the many vegan sushi options. Add get immune-system boosting probiotics with a cup of miso soup!
8. Meatballs → Lentil balls
We love this 6-ingredient recipe for lentil balls from Connoisseurus Veg. It’s vegan, easy to whip up, and delish in spaghetti dishes, a sandwich, or simply straight up.
9. Cheese → Dairy-free cheese
Don’t underestimate vegan cheese! Here are some of our favorite brands, depending on what kind of cheese you’re craving.
Soft cheese: Miyoko’s Vegan Mozzarella, Kite Hill Cream Cheese
Hard cheese: Violife Parmesan, Follow Your Heart Cheddar
Crumbled cheese: Violife Feta
Want to find out which plant-based cheese matches your personality? Take our quiz!
10. Hot dogs → Carrot dogs
While it’s fairly easy to come across vegan dogs like Smart Dogs, we’re partial to carrot dog recipes that are plant-based alternatives with a healthy veggie twist.
This recipe from Simple Vegan is made with lots of good-for-you ingredients. And you can pack in your probiotics by adding some sauerkraut on top.
11. Burgers → Vegan burgers
Impossible and Beyond burgers have really put vegan meat alternatives in the spotlight. And while we absolutely adore a juicy Impossible Burger, we also love making yummy vegan burgers from scratch at home.
Check out our fave recipes for plant-based burgers:
- Sweet Potato and Black Bean Veggie Burgers – Cookie & Kate
- Quinoa and White Bean Veggie Burgers – Simple Veganista
- Nutty Veggie Burgers – Dreena Burton
12. Steak → Portobello mushrooms
This one may sound like a stretch, but portobello mushrooms are awesome vegan swaps for chewy cravings!
Try this recipe from Sweet Simple Vegan made with portobello mushrooms, balsamic vinaigrette, and olive oil.
13. Chicken noodle soup → No-chicken noodle soup
Nothing gets us craving chicken noodle soup like a sick day. That’s why we always have Amy’s No Chicken Noodle Soup stocked in our pantry in case a cold creeps up on us.
Or vegan-ize your childhood favorite recipe with a vegan chicken stock powder from Mary’s Test Kitchen — it’s made with mostly nutritional yeast, salt, and garlic powder.
14. Buttery popcorn → “Nooch” popcorn
Coconut oil + nutritional yeast = popcorn magic. No animal-derived ingredients with all of the yumminess! Get the recipe from Gimme Some Oven, here.
15. Chicken wings → Cauliflower Buffalo Chick’n Wings
Yes, believe it or not, cauliflower can be spicy, tangy, and more delicious than chicken wings. Check out the BEST vegan Cauliflower Buffalo Chick’n Wings from the Wholesome Culture Cookbook.
Check out more of our favorite vegan recipes!
