If you currently follow a vegan diet or if you’re trying to eat more plant-based meals, you may feel a bit overwhelmed or bored with your typical recipes. A vegan cookbook is an ideal tool to help make meals exciting, delicious, satisfying, and fun. The best vegan cookbooks use whole-food ingredients in their recipes and will match your cooking level.

Other factors you should consider when shopping for a vegan cookbook is the equipment needed to make the recipes and the author’s experience with plant-based eating. The latter is of great importance since those with more experience will have better and easier recipes than those without plant-based experience. We researched various vegan cookbooks with these features in mind.

Reviewed & Approved

“Oh She Glows for Dinner” is a great pick because it has options for daily, weekly, and even holiday dinners. If you’re big on budgeting, then we recommend “Plant-Based on a Budget.”

Here are the best vegan cookbooks, according to a dietitian.

“Oh She Glows for Dinner” is a handy cookbook that will never leave you wondering what you will be having for dinner. It’s written by Angela Liddon, who is known for her popular plant-based blog, Oh She Glows.

Oh She Glows for Dinner: Nourishing Plant-Based Meals to Keep You Glowing

In her book, you’ll find meal prep plans, weeknight one-pot recipes, favorite holiday and seasonal recipes, and inspired dinner recipes. There is also a handy index, which helps you look up recipes based on other dietary preferences such as gluten-free, nut-free, or freezer-friendly.

The recipes are easy to cook and made with whole-food ingredients that are easy to find in local stores. Reviewers love how the recipes are versatile and delicious and will prevent you from getting bored with what you’re eating. It’s a great option for both beginners and experienced cooks alike.

Price at time of publication: $35

Following a vegan diet might seem expensive and time-consuming, but Toni Okamoto is here to show you how to eat Plant Based on a Budget. The recipes in this book feature whole food, affordable ingredients, with plenty of easy substitutions to use what you have on hand. Each recipe in this book also takes only 30 minutes or less to prepare.

Plant-Based on a Budget: Delicious Vegan Recipes for Under $30 a Week, in Less Than 30 Minutes a Meal

Want some ideas about what recipes you’ll find in this book? Banana zucchini pancakes, peanut butter ramen stir fry, and real-deal chocolate chip cookies, to name just a few.

Price at time of publication: $22

If you’re new to veganism or just dipping your toes into a plant-based lifestyle, Gabriel Miller’s cookbook The Plant-Based Diet for Beginners is perfect for you. It’s specifically written for beginners to help you gain confidence in the kitchen and explore easy but delicious recipes. Each recipe in this book uses simple ingredients that you can find in your local grocery store and includes nutrition information and detailed instructions.

The Plant-Based Diet for Beginners: 75 Delicious, Healthy Whole Food Recipes

This book also has other beginner resources, including shopping lists, sample menus, and a guide to cooking grains and beans.

Price at time of publication: $17

Do you follow a plant-based diet but constantly crave your favorite non-vegan foods like cinnamon rolls or fried chicken? You need Jenné Claiborne’s cookbook in your life because she has vegan alternatives for just about every craving.

Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice, and Soul : A Cookbook

Raised in Atlanta, Jenné grew up eating Soul Food like biscuits, collards, and sweet potato pie. As a plant-based chef, she has spent years perfecting her delicious vegan versions of classic, comforting favorites. Her creative and flavorful recipes are paired with narratives about traditional soul food recipes, plus nutritional information about the ingredients.

Price at time of publication: $20

Want to replicate your favorite Indian recipes at home? Richa Hingle’s cookbook has you covered, with recipes like mango curry tofu, avocado naan, and tempeh tikka masala. When making your way through this cookbook, you will discover familiar tastes as well as new recipes and flavors to entice your taste buds.

Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen: Traditional and Creative Recipes for the Home Cook

The vegan recipes in this cookbook feature vegetables and pulses, like cauliflower, split peas, lentils, and tofu. Richa also provides substitution suggestions and replacement spices in case your pantry isn’t fully stocked with all the required ingredients.

Price at time of publication: $25

Brittany Berlin bakes up enticing vegan dessert recipes for her blog, The Banana Diaries, and her new cookbook. Her recipes prove that vegan desserts can be just as decadent as traditional recipes, even when they don’t have any butter, eggs, or dairy.

Baked with Love: Over 100 Allergy-Friendly Vegan Desserts

In addition to over 100 recipes, you’ll find tips and tricks for healthy baking, beautiful photography, and allergy-friendly options that are gluten-free, nut-free, and grain-free. The list of drool-worthy recipes is long, but some examples include s’mores brownies, red velvet cupcakes, and caramel-stuffed chocolate chip cookies.

If you’re a confident cook with plenty of complex plant-based recipes under your belt, you may want to consider Miyoko Schinner’s cookbook. For someone who has already mastered basic cooking techniques, you can branch out to learn how to make vegan versions of pantry staples from scratch.

The Homemade Vegan Pantry: The Art of Making Your Own Staples

In this cookbook, you’ll find simple recipes for handcrafted foods, such as homemade ice cream, pizza dough, French buttercreams, and pasta. Learn to love cooking from scratch and appreciate slow food and homemade ingredients with this cookbook.

Is your favorite part of traveling exploring new restaurants and enjoying different cuisines? Check out Mena Massoud’s cookbook, Evolving Vegan. This book features recipes and stories from plant-based eateries around North America, so you can take a trip around the continent without leaving your kitchen.

Evolving Vegan: Deliciously Diverse Recipes from North America’s Best Plant-Based Eateries―for Anyone Who Loves Food

Some featured recipes include Indian Tofu Curry from The Sudra in Portland, Oregan, Young Coconut Ceviche from Rosalinda in Toronto, and Boston Cream Pie-Cake from Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This book also has a personal twist, with authentic Egyptian recipes from Mena’s mother.

Price at time of publication: $30

What to Look for in Vegan Cookbooks

Author’s Experience with Vegan Cooking

For vegan cookbooks, it’s important that the author has experience eating a plant-based or plant-focused diet because they will know the ins and outs of vegan ingredients. An author who regularly makes plant-based recipes will know how to troubleshoot tricky recipes to make them perfectly doable for the home cook.

Final Verdict

For an excellent vegan cookbook that will boost your dinner (and leftover lunch) game, consider Angela Liddon’s Oh She Glows For Dinner.

Use of Whole Food Ingredients

Like with all eating styles, vegan diets can still be high in sodium, saturated fat, cholesterol, and refined sugars—if you rely more on convenience options than whole food ingredients. When choosing a vegan cookbook, take a look at the ingredients in the recipes. If most of the ingredients include nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes, you’ll be able to find plenty of nutritious recipes to support your health.

Experience Level

If you’re new to cooking, you may need a bit more guidance and explanation of cooking methods. If you’re more experienced, on the other hand, you may prefer a cookbook that’s light on advice and heavy on recipes. Also, consider the time each recipe requires. If you’re short on time or just prefer more uncomplicated recipes, many cookbooks offer simple, healthy dishes.

Equipment

Take a look at the kitchen tools you will need before investing in a cookbook. Many cookbooks feature quick, easy, and nutritious recipes that can be incredibly convenient—but only if you have the kitchen equipment needed.

What Experts Say

“Look for a cookbook with lots of variety, but be sure that it includes recipes that fit your life, not the other way around. Part of good health is minimizing stress, so make sure the recipes aren’t too complicated."—Beth Lipton, recipe developer and cookbook author

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What’s the difference between vegan and vegetarian cookbooks?
  • While vegetarian and vegan cookbooks both promote the use of plant-based ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, they differ because vegan cookbooks will not include honey, eggs, or any animal products.
  • How do I know if a cookbook fits my experience level?
  • Whether you’re a beginner or experienced chef, it’s important to browse through the recipe lists and directions before purchasing a cookbook to ensure it fits your experience, time, equipment on hand, and taste buds. Read through a few recipes to see if you feel confident that you can follow the directions to achieve the result. If it feels too challenging, select a book that specifies it is for beginners.

While vegetarian and vegan cookbooks both promote the use of plant-based ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, they differ because vegan cookbooks will not include honey, eggs, or any animal products.

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced chef, it’s important to browse through the recipe lists and directions before purchasing a cookbook to ensure it fits your experience, time, equipment on hand, and taste buds. Read through a few recipes to see if you feel confident that you can follow the directions to achieve the result. If it feels too challenging, select a book that specifies it is for beginners.

Why Trust Verywell Fit

As a registered dietitian, Alex Aldeborgh, MS, RD puts the same thoroughness and care into researching these recommendations as she would for herself or her clients. A passionate home cook herself, Alex assesses the content of cookbooks for creativity, feasibility, and variety.