18 most popular vegan recipes of 2018 (2024)

And just like that, 2018 is coming to a close.

I’m taking a look back at my 18 most popular vegan recipes from the year.

18 most popular vegan recipes of 2018 (1)

5 can be made in the air fryer, 3 feature jackfruit, 2 are soups, and 1 is a co*cktail.

Fried artichoke hearts

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Coming in at the top spot on my list of popular vegan recipes are fried artichoke hearts made in the air fryer.

This recipe takes briny jarred artichoke hearts and turns them into crispy finger food, perfect for dunking.

Serve them with garlic and lemon aioli.

Vegan chili dog

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When you need something cozy & filling, look no further than a vegan chili dog.

This smoky meatless dog is topped with three bean chili, a sprinkling of non-dairy cheese, pickles, and grainy mustard.

Vegan BBQ Soy Curls

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Smoky sweet and crispy around the edges, here’s some barbecue you can really sink your teeth into.

These vegan BBQ Soy Curls can be made in the air fryer or skillet.

I like to add them to a bowl with vegan potato salad and easy collard greens.

Or they’re also divine piled onto a bun as a hearty vegan BBQ sandwich.

Vegan potsticker soup

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I always have a bag of potstickers or gyoza in the freezer.

(They’re one of my longtime favorite vegan Trader Joe’s products.)

Potstickers are an easy side dish for stir-fry, or a tasty no-fuss snack.

But when you want to stretch them out into a soothing, full meal, use them for vegan potsticker soup.

This soup is loaded with onions, garlic, kale, and carrots.

Vegan burrito bowl

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This vegan burrito bowl gives a tantalizing mix of flavors – spicy lentils, black beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo.

It’s great for a hearty weeknight meal or filling lunch.

Air fryer bagel pizza

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Feel like a kid again when you make air fryer bagel pizzas.

Add your favorite toppings to a sliced bagel, pop it in the air fryer, and lunch is ready in just ten minutes!

Vegan chili cheese dip

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This vegan cheese dip is a terrific way to repurpose that leftover chili in the refrigerator. Add it to the mix with seitan chorizo, and creamy cashew queso.

Serve it with chips, and watch it disappear.

Baba ganoush

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Baba ganoush is a lot like hummus, but made with eggplant instead of chickpeas.

Usually making baba ganoush requires a lot of time cooking the eggplant in the oven or grill.

But homemade baba ganoush just got a whole lot faster by using the air fryer.

Smoky, garlicky air fryer eggplant dip is ready to serve in just 25 minutes.

I like to serve it with homemade pita chips and sliced vegetables for dipping.

By the way, I also include oven directions if you don’t have an air fryer amongst your kitchen accessories.

Corn cakes

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If popcorn & pancakes got together, they would taste like these vegan corn cakes.

Naturally gluten-free, they make a delicious addition to breakfast or brunch.

Serve them on their own or with a vegan tofu scramble on the side.

Cranberry mimosa

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I served this cranberry mimosa at our Friendsgiving last year, but it would fit well with any winter holiday celebration.

It’s made with just three ingredients and is impossible to mess up.

Creamy tomato soup

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Through my late teens and early twenties, grilled cheese and creamy vegan tomato soup was a regular lunchtime occurrence.

After I stopped eating dairy, that mainstay got the shove.

But no longer!

These days, I prefer to make my soup from scratch. It gets extra depth and body from sun-dried tomatoes and cashew cream.

Serve with a toasted non-dairy grilled cheese on the side for dipping, or pop in a handful of homemade vegan croutons.

Chicken-style vegan pot pie

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This chicken-style vegan pot pie is a revamp from my mini vegetable pot pie recipe.

The original version was for personal-sized pot pies with a homemade crust and chickpeas as the protein-packed star.

This new version uses frozen pie crusts as a time saver, and seitan instead of beans.

The rest of the filling is made with potatoes, carrots, celery, peas, and a cashew cream sauce.

Taquitos with jackfruit

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These vegan taquitos are made with jackfruit carnitas – seasoned with spices, onions, garlic, and red wine.

They can be made in the air fryer or oven.

Serve them with guacamole, salsa, or cashew queso for dipping.

Walking tacos

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Vegan walking tacos are a potluck & party favorite.

They’re made by piling lentil taco meat onto Fritos-style corn chips, along with tomatoes, lettuce, non-dairy cheese, and guacamole.

A serious crowd pleaser for adults & kids alike!

French dip sandwich

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Of all the recipes I made in 2018, this vegan French dip sandwich is my favorite.

Savory, wine infused jackfruit is piled onto ciabatta and topped with sautéed onions and horseradish mayo.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a French dip without a full-bodied au jus for dunking.

Pesto rice

18 most popular vegan recipes of 2018 (17)

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For vegan pesto rice, I like to use pre-cooked frozen brown rice.

Simply warm the rice and toss it with cilantro basil pesto.

Then use it as a side dish.

Or make it the base of a bowl with roasted chickpeas, artichoke hearts, and olives.

Breakfast sandwich

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This vegan breakfast sandwich is great for a meal on the go.

Or jump back in bed and enjoy it in your PJ’s.

Jackfruit carnitas tacos

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Finishing the list of popular vegan recipes are these savory jackfruit carnitas tacos.

The jackfruit is infused with the flavors of red wine, cumin, ancho chili powder, and coriander.

Then the jackfruit carnitas are piled into crisp corn shells with lettuce, tomatoes, and guacamole.

So good!

18 most popular vegan recipes of 2018 (2024)

FAQs

What do vegans eat for breakfast lunch and dinner? ›

Sample meal plan
  • Breakfast: tempeh bacon with sautéed mushrooms, avocado, and wilted arugula.
  • Lunch: whole-grain pasta with lentil “meatballs” and a side salad.
  • Dinner: cauliflower and chickpea tacos with guacamole and pico de gallo.
  • Snacks: air-popped popcorn, kale chips, and trail mix.
Apr 4, 2019

What does a vegan eat on a typical day? ›

The vegan diet
  • eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.
  • base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates (choose wholegrain where possible)
  • have some fortified dairy alternatives, such as soya drinks and yoghurts (choose lower-fat and lower-sugar options)

What would be a typical vegan meal? ›

  • 1 Stuffed Black Bean Sweet Potatoes With Sour Cream and Guacamole. ...
  • 2 Root Vegetable Bowls With Peanut Sauce. ...
  • 3 Two-Step Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad Sandwiches. ...
  • 4 3-Step Vegan Diner-Style Pancakes. ...
  • 5 Vegan Banana Oatmeal Porridge. ...
  • 6 Easy Vegan French Bread Pizza. ...
  • 7 Easy Vegan Tofu Egg Salad.

Are Oreos vegan? ›

Many vegans refer to Oreos as “accidentally vegan,” meaning they don't contain animal products — but they weren't created to be a specifically vegan treat. Oreos do not contain milk, eggs, or any other animal-derived products, so they are technically vegan in that sense.

Is Peanut Butter vegan? ›

The bottom line. Most types of peanut butter are free of animal products and can be enjoyed as part of a vegan diet. However, some varieties are made in facilities that also process animal products or contain refined sugar that was produced using bone char or non-vegan ingredients like honey or fish oil.

Can vegans eat potatoes? ›

You might be wondering, are potatoes vegan? The answer is, yes, potatoes are a plant and therefore vegans can eat potatoes. In fact, potatoes, a starchy, nutrient-rich vegetable, make a great part of a vegan food diet because they're plant-based.

Do vegans eat cheese? ›

Vegans do not eat cheese or any other dairy products because they are derived from animals. Dairy products involve the exploitation of animals for their milk, and so cheese made from animal milk is not considered part of a vegan diet. this includes cheeses made from sheep and goat's milk.

Can vegans eat rice? ›

Yes, absolutely! Rice is a common grain in all cooking and has a significant place in the plant-based world too. Some rice dishes may not be suitable for vegans though, so if you're eating out or following a recipe make sure there are no meat, fish or other animal products being used before you tuck in!

Do vegans drink coffee? ›

If you are a coffee lover, you're in luck: Coffee is naturally vegan. The processes of harvesting and roasting coffee beans do not involve the use of animals. Because coffee beans come directly from the Coffea plant, you can rest assured your cup of joe in the morning is plant-based.

What does 100% vegan eat? ›

Vegans don't eat meat or dairy products like eggs and cheese. Instead, vegans eat either plants themselves (such as leafy greens like spinach and lettuce), products that plants produce (fruits, seeds, nuts, and legumes), or products that are derived from plants (such as olive oil and tofu).

What not to eat when going vegan? ›

Bottom Line: Vegans avoid eating animal flesh and animal by-products. These include meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs and foods made by bees.

What vegan food fills you up? ›

Rich sources of protein for vegans include foods such as soybeans, pulses, and some nuts and seeds. Oats, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and fruit are all good sources of fiber. Including more filling foods in the diet can decrease the amount that a person eats or how often they consume food.

Can vegans drink alcohol? ›

Yes, they absolutely can. To be clear, alcohol itself is 100% vegan-friendly. It's what gets added to it that can cause issues for those on a plant-based diet. And, unfortunately, these additional animal-derived ingredients always escape the labels, making it difficult to know what you're actually consuming.

What is the best meat for vegans? ›

The 10 best vegan meat alternatives
  • Meat alternatives are growing in popularity. More and more consumers are questioning the consumption of meat and the effects that our diets have on animals, the environment, and our health. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Soya protein. ...
  • Tempeh. ...
  • Seitan/wheat protein. ...
  • Lupin protein. ...
  • Green spelt. ...
  • Oat flakes.
Oct 10, 2023

What do vegans tend to lack? ›

Intake and status of vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium and bone turnover markers were generally lower in plant-based dietary patterns compared to meat-eaters. Vegans had the lowest vitamin B12, calcium and iodine intake, and also lower iodine status and lower bone mineral density.

What is 100% vegan food? ›

A product is vegan if it does not contain any animal extracts or animal by-products in the product or manufacturing process. It also means that the product hasn't been tested on animals. To be sure, look for the Vegan Trademark.

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