Y’all are going to love these best southern vegan recipes that are inspired by enjoying real southern comfort food with a down-home feeling and a healthy twist.
WHAT IS VEGAN SOUTHERN FOOD?
Southern food is a reflection of many different cultures and influenced by their family history. Southern dishes are foods we love all across this country. It’s comfort with a hint of indulgence. Big breakfast served with a side of grits and cheese, spicy soups and stews, and plenty of fried foods. Vegetables consist of, fried green tomatoes, okra, blackeyed peas, and collards. My favorite part southern scratch biscuits and cornbread. Top this all off with desserts, like cobblers, pies, and banana pudding.
WHAT ARE EASY SUBSTITUTES FOR VEGAN SOUTHERN FOOD?
Fried chicken: Substitute the chicken for batter fried cauliflower. After all the best part is the outside crunchy layer anyway.
Mac and cheese: A good substitute for that cheesy flavor is adding a healthy amount of nutritional yeast which lends a deep cheesy flavor.
Pulled pork BBQ: instead of pork use pulled jackfruit
Cornbread: substitute the egg for applesauce
Mashed potato: try my Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes
Biscuits and gravy: substitute the buttermilk for almond milk with a little vinegar. Substitute coconut oil for lard.
Creamy grits: substitute milk for almond milk and a little coconut cream for the butter. Add nutritional yeast for the cheesy flavor.
Collards: No ham hock but smoked paprika, soy sauce, tomato, and garlic for a deep, rich, savory flavor.
SOUTHERN VEGAN APPETIZERS
Boiled Peanut Hummus
Y'all are going to love this Boiled Peanut Hummus! A smooth, nutty flavor with a punch of lemon and garlic makes this a southern hummus boiled peanut recipe you will make again and again.
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Canned Boiled Peanuts
Canned boiled peanuts are a salty southern treat that are easy to can. If you are from the south you know that summer brings boiled peanut stands, selling warm salty goodness in a paper bag. Canning your own at home is easy and makes for a great snack all year long.
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SALADS
Black Eyed Pea Salad
Enjoy black eyed pea salad as a salad, salsa, or a side dish. It’s vegan, delicious, and packed with nutrition. Eat for good luck in the new year!
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Grilled Apricot and Okra Summer Kale Salad — Chickpea & Herb
The best way to use all of that gorgeous summer produce might be this grilled fruit and veggie salad loaded with stone fruit, corn, and okra.
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SOUPS
Vegan Black-Eyed Pea Soup
Kick off the New Year the right way with this hearty and flavorful smoky black-eyed pea and collard green soup!
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Vegan Jambalaya | The Stingy Vegan
Vegan jambalaya is full of spice, flavour and a great one-pot meal. Beans and mushrooms stand in for a totally plant-based, gluten-free and oil-free meal.
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Vegan Gumbo | Cilantro and Citronella
This vegan gumbo recipe is hearty, savory, filling and warming. With a mix of beans, mushrooms and okra, this vegetarian gumbo is cheap to make and full of flavour.
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SANDWICHES
Amazing Vegan Tortas with BBQ Seitan Ribs | Yum Vegan Blog
Busting with flavors, textures, and colors, this delicious vegan sandwich is our take on a Mexican torta. Stuffed with amazing seitan, refried beans, avocado, salsa and more, this sandwich will satisfy any cravings for a filling, meaty sandwich. Try out these vegan tortas and you’ll keep coming bac…
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Vegan Buffalo Chicken Sandwich | BBQ Buffalo Cauliflower Sandwich
This vegan buffalo chicken sandwich is crispy and delicious. It is made possible with the humble cauliflower. Packed with the right amount of spice, flavour and crunch, this buffalo cauliflower sandwich is one for the favourites.
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VEGAN SOUTHERN CORNBREAD AND BISCUITS
30 Minute Vegan Cornbread
Super moist, and lightly sweet (with no refined sugar), this vegan cornbread is my all time favorite! Perfect every time!
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Vegan Sweet Potato Biscuits
Soft, sweet and buttery homemade Vegan Sweet Potato Biscuits. Quick and easy to make and perfectly tall, flaky and tender. Comfort food at it’s best!
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Dairy-Free Biscuits (Vegan Friendly)
These light dairy free biscuits are crisp on the outside, and moist and fluffy on the inside. Serve with your favorite jam, and a pat of vegan butter. Perfect for your breakfast sandwiches or as a side dish for your holiday meal!
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Sweet Skillet Cornbread Recipe
This Sweet Skillet Cornbread Recipe will have them running to the dinner table. It’s moist on the inside with a crispy & buttery outside.
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Vegan Cornbread Muffins Recipe | TheBellyRulesTheMind
These Vegan Cornbread muffins are moist, delicious, healthy and fluffy. It is healthy and contains NO preservatives or refined sugar here. This recipe is very easy to make them from scratch and are an excellent addition for brunches, lunch boxes, picnics and parties too!
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SOUTHERN VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE
Silky Vegan Mac and Cheese • Happy Kitchen
Silky and cheesy Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipe: Delicious vegan take on an ultimate comfort food classic, packed with veggies and made in just 30 minutes!
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Vegan Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese | Eat With Clarity
Easy, cheesy, but entirely dairy free, this sweet potato vegan mac and cheese is sure to be a family favorite. It’s rich, creamy gluten free!
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Vegan Mac And Cheese | Easy Instant Pot Recipe
A comforting classic, this vegan version of homemade mac and cheese tastes just like mama used to make, minus the milk and cheese!
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Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese
Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese – the epitome of comfort food! Loaded with rich, cheesy and buttery goodness that’ll have you coming back for seconds.
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SOUTHERN VEGETABLES
Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes
Olive Oil mashed potatoes are smooth, creamy with a hint of Tuscan herbs, and so rich no one will miss the dairy.
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Vegan fried green tomatoes in the air fryer or stove
The only thing that could make vegan fried green tomatoes more inviting are these 3 words – potato chip crusted. They can be made in an air fryer or skillet.
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Easy collard greens – tender & garlicky
This is my go-to recipe for vegan collard greens. These easy collard greens have a richness about them and a melt-in-your-mouth quality. Vegan & gluten-free side dish.
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Vegetarian Black Eyed Peas Recipe – Hoppin’ John – The Picky Eater
This vegetarian black eyed peas recipe for Hoppin’ John is a healthy and meatless version of the southern classic. It’s a complete meal in one pan!
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Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potatoes – Southern & Modern
Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potatoes are the perfect addition to a harvest bowl and are amazing as a standalone side. Easy to adjust the spice.
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Easy Baked Okra
This is a simple, flavorful, and easy, Baked Okra recipe. Seasoned with paprika, salt, and a pinch of cayenne, this okra makes a great snack or side dish.
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Authentic Vegan Red Beans & Rice | Eat With Clarity
These vegan red beans and rice are a plant-based version of the Louisiana classic, but still with just as much flavor as the traditional dish.
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Instant Pot Brandy Glazed Carrots | Recipes From A Pantry
Instant Pot Carrots are a quick, easy and flavorful side dish. Make these carrots Instant pot for busy weeknight dinners and your special holiday meals.
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Roasted Cajun Okra
A 20 minute side dish recipe of Roasted Cajun Okra. Add this to your vegetable side dish rotation! Plus read my tips on how to make okra not slimy!
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Fried Green Tomatoes – Vegan Recipe – This Wife Cooks
Fried Green Tomatoes ~ The Southern classic made with all plant-based ingredients. Cajun seasoning adds a Louisiana-style kick!
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Vegan Squash Casserole
Vegan squash casserole is made with seasonal yellow squash, a creamy sauce and a classic buttery cracker topping! This is a great side dish any time of the year.
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Sauteed Greens and Onions Recipe
While I love authentic soul food, a lot of it is often too heavy for me. These sauteed greens are the perfect healthy soul food recipe. The hearty winter greens are sauteed with intensely flavorful onions, garlic, and bacon. It’s fast, simple, and immensely satisfying.
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ROASTED SWEET POTATOES – Cook with Kushi
Roasted Sweet Potatoes are simple to make yet so delicious & addictive vegan gluten free side dish that is cripsy on the outside, soft delicate on inside
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Smothered Okra and Tomatoes
Call it smothered or stewed, make this non-slimy version of a Southern favorite! Ready in 35-minutes and full of vitamins and nutrients!
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DOWN-HOME SOUTHERN DESSERTS
Easy Peach Cobbler
Who doesn’t love a warm peach cobbler right from the oven? An easy peach cobbler makes it even better. This peach cobbler won’t require you to even pull out your mixer. Just a good old …
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Gluten-Free Vegan Pecan Pie
This Gluten-Free Vegan Pecan Pie has a crispy, buttery crust, a fudgy, gooey filling and is loaded with toasty pecans. Refined sugar free.
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Vegan Sweet Potato Pie (Gluten-Free)
This Vegan Sweet Potato Pie is super creamy, warmly spiced, and has a flaky, crispy crust. Gluten-free and refined sugar free.
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Gluten-Free Vegan Peach Cobbler
This Gluten-Free Vegan Peach Cobbler is the best comforting dessert: think sticky, jammy peaches under a soft, “buttery” topping! Refined sugar free.
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Vegan Peaches & Cream | Nourish Me Wild
This Vegan Peaches and Cream is a healthier twist on the classic! Its with delicious dairy-free Cashew Cream and naturally sweetened with Maple Syrup…
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GRITS
Vegan Cheesy Grits Breakfast Bowl with Crispy Chickpeas
This Vegan Cheesy Grits Breakfast Bowl with Crispy Chickpeas and garlicky collard greens couldn’t be any more cozy and delicious.
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Savory Southern Vegan Grits – Vegetarian South
Savory Southern Vegan Grits are amazing because they are very filling and work equally well for breakfast or dinner.
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Cornmeal Porridge – A Blissful Vegan Breakfast (Quick and Gluten-Free)
First-time cornmeal porridge conversations tend to go something like this, at least in my experience. ‘Hmm, that’s… interesting.’. Followed by: ‘That’s quite nice actually, I’m starting to enjoy this. I like the way the sweet and savoury mix in naturally together’. And finished with: ’Ar that was de…
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NEED MORE VEGAN SOUTHERN FOOD?
Southern Vegan
Mississippi Vegan: Stories from a Southern Boy’s Heart
Sweet Potato Soul
Vegan Soul Food Cookbook: Plant-Based, No-Fuss Southern Favorites
MORE RECIPE IDEAS
36 Exotic Asian Fruits With Recipes You Need To Try
For easy entertaining ideas be sure and visit my VEGAN FOOD BAR IDEAS
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