Enjoy over 70 recipes that are free of dairy and soy! Below, you’ll find an abundance of recipes that suit your dietary needs.
You’ll find main dishes with Mexican and Mediterranean influences, delicious salads and side dishes, hearty soups and stews, satisfying breakfasts made without cow’s milk or butter, and dairy-free baked goods, like my favorite banana bread.
Some recipes require slight substitutions or omissions to be dairy- and soy-free. Check the recipe notes for details. Always read labels to make sure the recipe is suitable for your needs.
For even more recipes that meet your dietary criteria, use my recipe filters available here and on all category pages.
The Best Hummus
Learn how to make the best homemade hummus! It’s creamy, dreamy and light. This hummus recipe is easy to make—no peeling chickpeas or overnight soak required. Recipe yields about 2 cups.
My Favorite Chia Seed Pudding
This creamy chia seed pudding recipe tastes like a creamsicle! You’re going to love this healthy gluten-free treat—enjoy as a snack, dessert or breakfast. Recipe yields 1 serving; multiply as necessary or see recipe notes for how to make 4 servings all together.
Creamy Vegan Queso
The best vegan queso recipe—it’s incredibly creamy, yet made without any dairy or processed ingredients! This healthy dairy-free nacho cheese will satisfy the diehard cheese fans in your life, too. Recipe yields about 3 1/2 cups queso.
Best Tahini Sauce
Learn how to make ultra creamy tahini sauce! The best tahini sauce is ultra creamy, deliciously tangy and irresistible. This recipe is easy to make, too. You’ll just need a whisk! Recipe yields 1 to 1 1/4 cup; double if desired.
Best Red Salsa (Ready in 10 Minutes)
This incredible red salsa recipe offers fresh, authentic Mexican salsa flavor. It’s so easy to make, too—you’ll need only 6 ingredients and 10 minutes. Recipe yields 2 cups; double or triple the recipe for a crowd.
Caponata
Learn how to make homemade caponata with this recipe! This boldly flavored Sicilian appetizer or side dish is perfect for late summer meals. Recipe yields about 6 side servings.
Green Goddess Tahini Dip
Serve this green goddess tahini as a dip or drizzle it as a sauce! This delightful vegan dip is a great appetizer with crudités, crackers or pita wedges. Green goddess tahini livens up basic vegetables and makes any meal more exciting. Recipe yields a generous 1 cup.
Cashew Butter
Make creamy cashew butter at home! It’s easy in your food processor and much more affordable than store-bought. Recipe yields 1 3/4 cups.
Kalamata White Bean Dip
Whip up this white bean dip with Kalamata olives! It easy to make with pantry ingredients and tastes delicious. The sprinkle of fresh basil is optional. Recipe yields about 1 3/4 cups of dip.
The Ultimate Gazpacho
This gazpacho recipe is the best! It’s a refreshing chilled summer soup, perfect for your garden tomatoes and cucumber. Be sure to make it in advance so the soup can chill for at least 2 hours. Recipe yields 5 cups, enough for 4 servings.
How to Make Cauliflower Rice
Make perfect cauliflower rice with this recipe! This light side dish is low carb, vegan and gluten free, too. Recipe yields 4 side servings.
Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Learn how to make crispy, oven baked sweet potato fries! Tossed with olive oil and sea salt, sweet potato fries are an easy and healthy homemade snack or side dish. Recipe yields 4 side servings.
Quick Collard Greens
These collard greens are quickly cooked in olive oil and finished with a squeeze of lemon juice. You’re going to love these healthy, vegetarian collards! Recipe yields 2 side servings. To make multiples, simply repeat the ingredients and instructions below (cook each batch separately for best results).
Herbed Potato Salad (no mayo!)
This healthy potato salad recipe is full of fresh flavor. It’s mayo-free, easy to make, and sure to be a hit at your potluck! This salad is vegan, egg free and gluten free. Recipe yields 6 side servings.
Best Tabbouleh
Learn how to make delicious, authentic tabbouleh at home! This tabbouleh (also spelled tabouli) is even better than your favorite Lebanese restaurant’s. Recipe yields 6 servings (a little over 1 cup each).
Crispy Baked Tostones
Learn how to make crispy tostones (baked, not fried) with this foolproof recipe! Tostones, which are made with unripe green plantains, are deliciously savory and salty. Recipe yields 4 to 6 servings; you could likely double the recipe by using two baking sheets in the upper and lower thirds of the oven.
Ultra Crispy Baked Potato Wedges
Everyone loves these ultra crispy baked potato wedges! This recipe is easy and turns out perfectly every time. Make these potato wedges whenever the French fry craving strikes! Recipe yields 6 servings.
Perfect Roasted Potatoes
These golden roasted potatoes are the perfect side dish! The fresh herbs are optional, but quite nice. Recipe yields about 4 generous side servings (see note for multiplying the recipe).
Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup
Roasted red pepper and tomato soup to celebrate the end of summer heat. Make a giant batch to freeze for cooler weather! Recipe yields a lot of soup (about 12 cups), and leftovers freeze well.
Gaby’s Cucumber Salad
Gaby’s cucumber salad recipe is the best cucumber salad I’ve ever had! It’s made with crisp cucumber and creamy avocado tossed in a simple balsamic vinegar dressing. Recipe yields 4 servings.
Fresh Herbed Avocado Salad
This salad is for avocado lovers! Sliced avocado, tossed in a lime-honey dressing, covered in a super fresh mix of herbs, radishes and toasted pepitas. Recipe yields 4 generous or 6 smaller servings.
Fattoush Salad with Mint Dressing
This classic fattoush salad recipe will become your new favorite salad! It’s a versatile salad, and the perfect way to use up those random leftover raw vegetables (the amounts given here are flexible and you can add/substitute any veggies you’d like). Recipe yields 4 large or 6 to 8 side salads.
Lemon Vinaigrette
Homemade lemon vinaigrette is far superior to store-bought salad dressings! Fresh lemon shines in this simple recipe using quality ingredients. Recipe yields 3/4 cup.
Favorite Chickpea Salad
This chickpea salad recipe is the best! Keep this healthy chickpea salad in the fridge—it’s the perfect side salad, snack and meal component. It’s vegan and gluten free, too! Recipe yields 4 generous side salads or 6 medium.
Easy Tomato Salad
Extra tomatoes? Make this simple tomato salad recipe! It’s delicious, versatile and easy to make. This recipe features ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, soaked red onion, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Recipe yields 4 to 6 side salads using 1 3/4 pound tomatoes; you can cut the recipe in half by using either the cherry tomatoes or the pound of regular tomatoes.
Mediterranean Bean Salad
This Mediterranean-style bean salad recipe is delightfully crisp and satisfying. Its fresh flavors include kidney beans, chickpeas, lemon, garlic and leafy herbs. This healthy salad is vegan and gluten free, but mostly just delicious! Recipe yields about six 1-cup servings.
Butternut Squash Chipotle Chili with Avocado
Hearty, spicy and sweet vegetarian chili made with butternut squash and black beans. Top with creamy avocado for an easy meal that satisfies vegans, carnivores and gluten-free eaters alike. This recipe yields about 12 cups, enough for 4 to 6 bowls. This chili is very hearty, but feel free to add another can of tomatoes or more vegetable broth if you want to thin it out a bit. Double the recipe for a crowd.
Vegetarian Peanut Soup
This West African-inspired peanut soup recipe is a creamy and comforting, spicy vegan soup. Made with a simple combination of peanut butter, tomato paste and collard greens, this soup comes together quickly and would be a great weeknight meal. If you love spicy flavors like me, don’t hesitate to use liberal amounts of ginger and garlic.
Green Goddess Hummus Sandwich
This healthy hummus sandwich recipe features crisp cucumbers, tangy quick-pickled red onions and carrots, lettuce and herbed hummus! I’m partial to the homemade hummus and pickle combination below, but feel free to substitute your favorite store-bought hummus and pickles for a quick and easy lunch.
Roasted Butternut Squash Tacos
Colorful butternut squash tacos with crisp slaw, black beans and guacamole! These tacos are a simple weeknight meal and a great option for vegan and gluten-free eaters. Recipe yields about 8 tacos (4 servings).
Burrito-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Fresh sweet potato burrito bowls from The First Mess Cookbook! This is a fun, hearty dinner recipe that happens to be vegan and gluten free. Recipe yields 4 stuffed sweet potatoes, enough for 2 to 4 servings.
Hummus Quesadillas!
These quesadillas are made with hummus instead of cheese, and they are absolutely delicious! Hummus quesadillas are a healthy dairy-free and vegan meal. Recipe below makes one folded/half-moon quesadilla; multiply as necessary.
Amazing Vegan Mac and Cheese
This vegan mac and cheese recipe is incredibly creamy and remarkably cheese-like! You won’t believe how delicious dairy-free mac and cheese can be. Recipe yields 2 large or 4 modest servings.
Quick Dal Makhani
This dal makhani is rich, creamy and loaded with flavor. It’s also lighter and quicker to make than other recipes! Recipe yields 4 servings.
Vegetable Paella
The best vegetable paella recipe! It’s loaded with vegetables, chickpeas, and savory, smoky rice. This Spanish dish is perfect for serving at dinner parties, since it’s vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. Recipe yields 6 hearty servings.
Creamy Pumpkin Marinara
This pumpkin marinara recipe tastes like fall. It’s comforting like mac and cheese, but lighter and full of vegetables! Just add pasta. Recipe yields about 4 cups sauce (enough to generously coat 12 ounces/4 modest servings of pasta).
Sweet Potato, Kale and Chickpea Soup
This hearty and delicious soup is perfect for warming up. It’s an easy, nutritious, one-pot meal that makes great leftovers, too! Recipe yields 6 bowls of soup.
Pinto Posole
This hearty vegan posole is made with pinto beans instead of pork! This easy Mexican posole recipe is healthy, spicy and delicious. Leftovers taste even better the next day. Recipe yields 4 bowls.
Crispy Falafel
This homemade falafel recipe is absolutely delicious, and remarkably crispy! Be sure to allow 4 hours soaking time for the chickpeas, preferably overnight. Then, the falafel mixture is super easy to make in a food processor. Recipe yields 12 to 13 falafels (see notes on how to double).
Best Lentil Soup
This simple vegan lentil soup recipe comes together quickly with mostly pantry ingredients. Be sure to have your ingredients prepped and ready before you start cooking! Recipe yields four large bowls of soup, or six more modest servings.
Avocado Toast (Plus Tips & Variations)
Avocado toast is creamy, crisp and so satisfying. It’s a delicious and simple breakfast, snack or light meal! It’s best consumed immediately, since the avocado browns over time. Recipe as written yields 1 slice of basic avocado toast; multiply as necessary.
Homemade Vegetarian Chili
The smoky, complex flavor of this simple vegetarian chili comes from basic pantry ingredients, vegetables and spices! It makes great leftovers, too. Recipe yields 4 large or 6 moderate servings of chili.
Spicy Black Bean Soup
This healthy black bean soup recipe is easy to make with canned beans. Thanks to some basic aromatics and Cuban spices, it’s incredibly flavorful and delicious. This soup is naturally vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. The recipe yields quite a bit of soup (6 to 8 servings)—it is easily halved, or you can freeze the leftovers.
Ratatouille
Learn how to make the best French ratatouille with this foolproof recipe! The trick is to roast the vegetables, then add them to a simmering tomato sauce. Recipe yields 4 generous or 6 more modest servings.
Pasta e Fagioli (Italian Pasta and Beans)
Pasta e fagioli means “pasta and beans” in Italian—this recipe is much more than that! This hearty vegetarian stew is full of irresistible fresh flavor. It’s vegan, too, as long as you don’t top it with cheese. Recipe yields 6 bowls or 8 cups of soup.
Best Vegan Lasagna
Who knew vegan lasagna could be so delicious? This dairy-free lasagna recipe is easy to make with simple ingredients and tastes amazing. It’s the best! Recipe yields 8 servings.
Quick Chana Masala
Quick and easy chana masala recipe served over basmati rice. This spicy, hearty, chickpea-based Indian dish is vegan and gluten free. It makes great leftovers, too! Be sure to prep the ingredients in advance, as the recipe moves quickly. Recipe yields 4 bowls.
Fresh Black Bean Burrito Bowl
This homemade black bean burrito bowl recipe features cilantro-lime rice, tender black beans, pickled onions and fresh cilantro pesto! This healthy bowl makes great leftovers, too. It’s vegetarian (easily vegan) and gluten free. Recipe yields 4 hearty burrito bowls.
Pesto Pasta Salad
This pesto pasta salad recipe is bursting with fresh flavor. It’s light, healthy and easy to make. Perfect for picnics and potlucks! Recipe yields 6 to 8 side servings.
Cashew Milk
Cashew milk is creamy and refreshing, nutritious and easy to make. You shouldn’t need to strain the mixture after blending if you have a decent blender. That means less hassle and less waste! Recipe yields about 5 cups cashew milk.
Fresh Ginger Tea
Learn how to make fresh ginger tea at home! It’s so easy to make with this simple recipe. Ginger tea is warming, relaxing and soothing for upset stomachs. Recipe yields 1 cup; multiply as necessary.
Paloma Cocktail
This paloma recipe is bright, citrusy and refreshing (and not too sweet). Recipe yields 1 cocktail; you can multiply the ingredients and shake several cocktails at once.
Lemon, Rosemary and Olive Oil Shortbread
Light and crisp, sweet and savory shortbread made with olive oil instead of butter.
Monster Cookies
Truly the best monster cookie recipe! These peanut butter, oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies are perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Recipe yields 18 cookies.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Crispy Bars
These chocolate peanut butter crispy bars are like modern-day scotcheroos! This recipe is easy to make with wholesome pantry ingredients, and it’s naturally sweetened with honey instead of corn syrup. Keep in mind that these no-bake treats require 2 hours in the refrigerator to set. Recipe yields 16 small treats from one 8-inch square pan (or double the recipe to fill a 9 by 13-inch pan).
Coconut Macaroons
These coconut macaroons are the perfect sweet treat. They’re gluten free and subtly flavored with honey or maple syrup. Dip them in chocolate if you wish (I recommend it)! Recipe yields nearly 3 dozen small cookies (34 cookies, by my count).
Super Simple Vegan Pancakes
These easy vegan pancakes are my favorite basic pancakes! Who knew that eggless, whole grain pancakes could be so fluffy?! Feel free to throw in some add-ins like blueberries or chocolate chips, if you’re so inclined. Recipe yields 6 modestly-sized pancakes (perfect for 2 servings), so multiply as necessary.
My Favorite Chia Seed Pudding
This creamy chia seed pudding recipe tastes like a creamsicle! You’re going to love this healthy gluten-free treat—enjoy as a snack, dessert or breakfast. Recipe yields 1 serving; multiply as necessary or see recipe notes for how to make 4 servings all together.
Easy Gluten Free Oat Waffles
These light, crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside, gluten-free waffles are my favorite waffles! They’re heart healthy, too. This waffle recipe requires just one flour, oat flour, which you can easily make yourself (see note). Recipe yields 3 to 4 round, 7-inch Belgian waffles, or 6 small, square Belgian waffles (the size shown here).
Tropical Acai Bowl
Make your own creamy acai bowls at home! This acai bowl recipe is the best. You’ll need frozen fruit and acai packets, and fresh fruits, nuts or seeds for toppings. Acai bowls are easy, delicious and nutritious. Recipe yields 4 cups, enough for 2 large servings or 4 small.
Basic Blueberry Smoothie
Make this blueberry smoothie for breakfast! This smoothie recipe is creamy, luscious and so nutritious. You’ll need frozen blueberries and bananas, almond butter and almond milk. Recipe yields 2 servings (about 4 cups); you can easily halve or double the recipe.
Favorite Fried Eggs
Learn how to make the best fried eggs with this easy recipe! The trick is to cook them in hot olive oil so they develop irresistible lacy edges and lots of flavor. You can cook 1 to 2 eggs at a time in a skillet.
Easy No-Bake Granola Bars
This granola bar recipe is so easy and delicious! These wholesome granola bars are naturally sweetened, gluten free, and the perfect healthy snack. Recipe yields 16 bars.
Blender Oatmeal Pancakes
This oatmeal pancake recipe is super easy to make in the blender! These healthy pancakes are perfect for busy mornings. They’re whole grain and gluten-free. Recipe yields 12 pancakes, enough for 4 servings.
Muesli
This wholesome muesli recipe is quick, easy and delicious! Make a big batch and enjoy it for many breakfasts. Recipe yields 8 cups, enough for 16 servings.
Cashew Butter
Make creamy cashew butter at home! It’s easy in your food processor and much more affordable than store-bought. Recipe yields 1 3/4 cups.
Vegan Banana Nut Scones
Hearty banana pecan scones made with coconut oil and whole wheat flour.
Healthy Zucchini Bread
This fluffy zucchini bread recipe is made healthier with whole grains, honey (or maple syrup) and coconut oil instead of butter. It is easily made vegan and/or gluten free (see notes). Recipe yields 1 loaf.
The Very Best Granola
This delicious healthy granola recipe is naturally sweetened with maple syrup (or honey). It’s made with oats, coconut oil and your favorite nuts and fruit. Make it your own! Recipe yields about 8 cups granola, enough for about 16 half-cup servings.
Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
Easy, one bowl, healthier pumpkin muffins made with whole wheat grains and naturally sweetened! These pumpkin muffins are as light, fluffy and delicious as their coffee shop counterparts. Recipe yields 12 muffins.
Peanut Butter Oat Cookies
These peanut butter oatmeal cookies are 100% delicious. Plus, they’re gluten free and easy to make in just one bowl. Meet your new favorite peanut butter cookie recipe! Recipe yields about 27 cookies.
Healthy Banana Bread!
With this healthy banana bread recipe, you’re only a few simple ingredients away from the best banana bread ever! It’s made with whole wheat flour and naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup. You can easily make this banana bread vegan or gluten free—check the recipe notes for details. Recipe yields 1 loaf (about 10 slices).
How to Make Buttermilk
Make buttermilk for your baked goods with this 5-minute recipe. Simply combine your milk of choice and vinegar or lemon juice. You can easily make this buttermilk vegan/dairy free/nut free depending on your choice of milk. Recipe as written yields 1 cup buttermilk. The basic ratio is 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup milk; see post for alternate yields.
