From vegoutmag.com
By Avery White
Comfort food isn’t about ingredients. It’s about emotion. It’s the taste of familiarity and the memories we attach to meals shared with people we care about
When most people think of vegan food, they picture smoothie bowls, salads, or something involving kale. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good salad as much as anyone, but there’s another side to plant-based eating that doesn’t get enough credit.
Vegan food can be rich, hearty, and deeply comforting. It can remind you of childhood dinners, cosy Sunday afternoons, and family gatherings filled with laughter.
Comfort food isn’t about meat or dairy. It’s about warmth, familiarity, and how a meal makes you feel. And the truth is, you don’t have to give up nostalgia when you give up animal products.
Here are eight vegan meals that prove plant-based food can be every bit as soul-satisfying as the comfort classics we grew up with.
1) Creamy mushroom stroganoff
There’s something about a creamy pasta dish that instantly feels like a hug. Stroganoff, traditionally made with beef and sour cream, is one of those meals that people assume can’t be replicated without dairy.
But trust me, it can.
Swap out the meat for hearty cremini or portobello mushrooms, and use cashew cream or coconut milk for that rich texture. Add garlic, onions, smoked paprika, and a splash of tamari for depth. The result is velvety, savoury, and every bit as cosy as the original.
I make a version of this on cold evenings, usually while listening to an old jazz playlist. It fills the kitchen with the kind of aroma that makes you slow down and just appreciate being home.
2) Lentil shepherd’s pie
Few dishes scream comfort quite like shepherd’s pie. Growing up, it was one of those meals that always meant leftovers for days and full stomachs all around.
A vegan version replaces the ground meat with lentils, mushrooms, or even finely chopped walnuts. Combine them with carrots, peas, and onions in a flavourful gravy made from vegetable broth, tomato paste, and herbs.
Then top it with creamy mashed potatoes made with plant-based butter and a splash of oat milk.
When it comes out of the oven, bubbling around the edges, it tastes like home. This is the kind of dish that satisfies everyone at the table, vegan or not.
3) Mac and cheese
I can already hear the sceptics. “Vegan mac and cheese? It’s not the same.”
I used to think that too, until I found a recipe that changed my mind. Instead of dairy, the creamy base comes from soaked cashews, nutritional yeast, and a little lemon juice. Some people use blended potatoes and carrots for a more traditional colour and texture.
It’s rich, cheesy in flavour, and wonderfully indulgent. I love adding a sprinkle of breadcrumbs on top and baking it until golden. Pair it with a green salad or some roasted broccoli, and you’ve got a plate of pure nostalgia.
Mac and cheese isn’t about the ingredients. It’s about that creamy, carby comfort that reminds you everything’s going to be okay.
4) Vegan pot roast
There’s something deeply satisfying about the slow-cooked flavour of a traditional pot roast. The good news is you don’t need beef to achieve it.
Chunky vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and onions cooked in a rich broth with soy sauce, tomato paste, and herbs can deliver the same depth. Add chunks of seitan or tempeh for protein and texture, then let everything simmer until it’s tender and full of flavour.
The smell alone will transport you back to family dinners where time seemed to slow down. It’s hearty, nourishing, and exactly what you want on a chilly Sunday afternoon.
5) Biscuits and gravy
Southern-style comfort food might seem impossible to veganize, but it’s surprisingly easy once you get the hang of it.
For the biscuits, use vegan butter and plant-based milk to get that perfect flaky texture. For the gravy, a simple roux with flour, vegetable broth, and oat milk makes a great base.
Add crumbled vegan sausage, black pepper, and a touch of thyme, and you’ve got the same creamy, peppery magic that makes this dish so beloved.
When I first went vegan, this was the meal that made me stop missing the old way of eating. It’s indulgent, filling, and perfect for a slow weekend morning.
6) Chili with cornbread
You know that feeling when you walk in from the cold and smell something hearty simmering on the stove? That’s chili.
A vegan version can be even better than the meat-based kind. Use beans, lentils, and vegetables as your base, and load up on spices like cumin, paprika, and chili powder. The key is to let it cook low and slow so the flavours meld together.
Serve it with a side of golden vegan cornbread made with a bit of maple syrup for sweetness. It’s simple, inexpensive, and unbelievably satisfying.
This is one of those meals that reminds you how good it feels to take care of yourself with real, nourishing food.
7) Jackfruit pulled “pork” sandwiches
If you’ve never cooked with jackfruit, it’s time. When shredded and seasoned right, it mimics pulled pork in a way that surprises even the most sceptical eaters.
Cook the jackfruit with BBQ sauce, smoked paprika, onions, and garlic until it’s tender and slightly caramelized. Pile it onto a toasted bun with some coleslaw, and you’ve got a sandwich that tastes like summer gatherings and backyard barbecues.
When I first tried this at a vegan festival, I remember thinking, “If this existed when I was younger, I’d have gone vegan sooner.” It’s smoky, tangy, and messy in the best possible way.
8) Vegan lasagne
Lasagne is the definition of comfort food. Layers of noodles, sauce, and creamy filling all baked together into bubbly perfection.
A plant-based version swaps out the cheese for cashew ricotta or tofu blended with lemon juice, garlic, and nutritional yeast. Add layers of spinach, zucchini, and marinara, then bake it until golden and fragrant.
This dish hits all the right notes: cosy, hearty, and deeply nostalgic. It’s a meal that brings people together, no matter their diet.
Sometimes when I make this, I think about my grandmother’s lasagne from years ago. Hers wasn’t vegan, but the feeling it gave me was the same. Comfort, love, and home.
Final thoughts
Comfort food isn’t about ingredients. It’s about emotion. It’s the taste of familiarity and the memories we attach to meals shared with people we care about.
When people say vegan food can’t be comforting, I think they’re picturing restriction. But the truth is, vegan comfort food is about abundance. It’s about discovering new ways to nourish yourself while honouring old favourites.
The best part is you can enjoy these meals knowing they’re better for your health, the planet, and the animals, without losing the joy of a warm, hearty plate in front of you.
So the next time you crave something nostalgic, don’t reach for what you used to eat. Reach for what you can reinvent. Because comfort isn’t found in what’s traditional. It’s found in what feels like home.
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