30 Vegan, Gluten-Free Recipes That Don’t Taste Like Cardboard
When you hear the words “vegan” and “gluten-free,” you might think “restrictive” or “diet food” instead of “delicious.” But hear us out: There are plenty of plant-based, grain-free recipes that don’t taste like you’re depriving yourself of anything.
But before we begin, let's make sure we're all on the same page. Vegan means no animal products of any kind; no meat, seafood, eggs, dairy or honey. And gluten-free means no grains that contain gluten, like wheat.
Whether you’re craving breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert, we’ve got you covered with these 30 vegan, gluten-free recipes. And don't worry, they're so delicious, even carnivores and carb-addicts will be totally on board.
RELATED: 15 Vegan Dinner Ideas Even Carnivores Will Love
1. Vegan & Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Ginger Tart
Dark chocolate is never a disappointment (and yes, if it doesn't contain milk, it's vegan). The addition of zingy ginger in this tart keeps every sweet bite intriguing.
2. Vegan Slow-Cooker Detox Coconut Soup
We're completely obsessed with this gluten-free noodle soup recipe. It’s easy, inexpensive and the leftovers hold up well for days in the fridge or months in the freezer (just leave out the noodles, then toss them into the broth and cook when you’re ready to eat).
3. Radicchio, Lentil and Apple Salad with Vegan Cashew Dressing
Hello, ranch? We need to break up. This cashew-based salad dressing is creamy, decadent and miraculously, totally vegan. We're going to put it on every salad we eat until the end of time.
4. Vegan Sriracha ‘Meatballs’ with Noodles and Grilled Vegetables
Rice noodles are a gluten-free vegan’s best friend. Add in some spiced tofu meatballs to the mix and you’ve made your new favorite dish. (Don't forget a healthy helping of hot sauce.)
5. Vegan Spaghetti Squash with Mushroom Marinara Sauce
Spaghetti squash, with its luscious golden strands and natural al dente texture, is a fantastic gluten-free substitute for traditional pasta. Serve it in its own natural bowl for an added fun touch.
6. Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Corn Chowder
Cornbread can easily be made gluten-free, and it’s just as easy to finish an entire pan of it while dipping it into this yummy soup. And because it features our favorite vegetable on earth (cauliflower, duh) we're keeping it in our regular rotation.
7. Vegan Chilaquiles with Red Sauce
This corn chip-based dish is equally fabulous for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Crumbled tofu subs in for the traditional fried egg topping and it’s an extremely worthy replacement.
8. Vegan Fiesta Taco Bowl
Eat your heart out, Chipotle. All of the corn, rice, quinoa and beans in this Mexican-inspired taco bowl fill it with protein and flavor, and the texture changes with every bite of vegan goodness.
9. Vegan Chili ‘Cheese’ Dip
Potatoes provide the starchy base for this queso-style dip, keeping all that spicy, gooey deliciousness totally gluten-free. Bring on the tortilla chips (just make sure they're made of corn).
10. Vegan Keto Everything Bagels
Ground flaxseed makes up the base of these gluten-free bagels. This makes them slightly more dense than traditional bagels, but they're 100 percent plant-based and so ready for your tofu cream cheese spread.
11. Instant Pot Vegan Pho
Traditional pho takes hours of cooking time. But thanks to the power of vegan ingredients (and an electric pressure cooker), this rice noodle soup can be yours in just over an hour. No Instant Pot? No problem. Just simmer the soup on your stove and you'll get the same satisfying results.
12. Vegan and Gluten-Free Apple Blackberry Crumble Tart
A combo of brown rice flour and almond flour give this tart a nice crunch. If only all gluten-free, vegan desserts could be this delicious.
13. Vegan Butternut Mac and ‘Cheese’ with Smoky Shiitake ‘Bacon’
This recipe tastes way too creamy to be vegan. Use chickpea macaroni or another gluten-free alternative, then grab a bowl and get cozy.
14. One Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Banana Bread
Ripe bananas, almond butter and a homemade flax egg (it’s easy, just combine flaxseed meal and water) ensure this loaf of banana bread is moist, gooey and sweet. And best of all, there's only one bowl to wash.
15. Vegan Gluten-Free Pizza Crust
It’s not delivery, it’s your very own gluten-free, plant-based pizza (which is a million times better, IMO). Choose any topping you like to adorn this almond flour-based crust.
16. Coconut Curry Chickpea Stew
Everyone is making chickpea stew these days, and there’s a good reason: It’s easy, über-satisfying and can be made with pantry ingredients like coconut milk and a can of garbanzo beans.
17. Curry Noodles with Broccoli Rabe and Purple Cabbage
Rice noodles and spicy sauce bring so many layers of flavor with just a few ingredients. If you don’t have broccoli rabe, regular broccoli (or really any cruciferous vegetable, like cauliflower) will work just fine.
18. Warm Sesame Noodle Salad
Takeout? We don’t know her. We crave this pasta-salad hybrid constantly, so we make this every single week.
19. 15-Minute Gazpacho with Cucumber, Red Pepper and Basil
Making your own soup doesn’t have to be complicated. Blend up the ingredients, add an Instagram-worthy garnish, ladle it into bowls and watch it disappear.
20. Homemade Vegan Twix Bars
You used to have a huge weakness for candy bars. But now that you’re vegan and gluten-free, Twix are off the menu, right? Fortunately, you are so wrong.
RELATED: How to Go Gluten-Free (Without Completely Giving Up Your Favorite Foods)
21. No-Bake, Gluten-Free Rose Petal Brownies
Normally, we don’t like to play favorites. But we’re pretty obsessed with these gorgeous no-bake, gluten-free rose petal brownies (psst—did we mention they’re vegan and sugar-free?).
22. Kelp Noodle and Zucchini Pad Thai
Traditionally found in Korean dishes, kelp noodles don’t need any cooking—just soaking—and taste a bit like al dente glass noodles. They’re gluten-free, paleo and rich in nutrients like iron, vitamin K, calcium and fiber.
23. Quick and Easy Red Curry Rice Noodle Bowls
A gluten free and vegan dinner from our friend Gena Hamshaw. (Don’t you dare skip the smoked tofu. It’s mandatory. Well, at least we think it is.)
24. The Best Gluten-Free, Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever
We’ve officially died and gone to cookie heaven. The only thing that would make this amazing dessert even better? A tall, frosty glass of oat milk.
25. Almond Flour Banana Pancakes
With only ten ingredients and 15 minutes of cooking time, we’re adding these tasty pancakes to our breakfast (and maybe lunch and dinner) rotation immediately.
26. Vegan Burrito Bowl
Pile this burrito bowl high with all of the veggie toppings your heart desires. Best of all: At your house, the guac is never extra.
27. Quick Chana Masala
This Indian dish is already vegan and gluten-free, so there are no substitutions or fake meat required. Serve this with a heaping scoop of basmati rice.
28. Toasted Oatmeal with Strawberry Chia Jam and Coconut Whipped Cream
We’re not exactly morning people, but if this gorgeous breakfast was waiting for us at the table, we wouldn’t even need an alarm clock.
29. Loaded Gluten-Free Cookie Bars
If you have kids (or just eat like one), stop whatever you’re doing immediately and make these incredible cookie bars. We won’t tell if you have thirds. And fourths.
30. Gluten-Free Churro Poppers
Head to the store for more ingredients, because you're going to need to make a double batch of these babies. Trust us.
RELATED: 18 Big-Batch Vegetarian Dinners That Serve the Whole Family
