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50 Vegetarian Comfort Food Recipes That Will Warm You Right Up

pasta alla norma vegetarian comfort food recipes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

It’s officially hibernation weather, which means that comfort is at the absolute top of our dietary priorities. But, contrary to popular belief, that doesn’t mean we have to give up greens or healthy food entirely. Whether you’re a strict vegetarian or you just need a few more plant-based meals to make it through cheese-and-carbs season, here are 50 of our favorite vegetarian comfort food recipes—no meat required.

one pot mac and cheese vegetarian comfort food recipes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. One-Pot Mac and Cheese

So much better than the stuff from a box.

portobello pot roast vegetarian comfort food recipes
Gimme Some Oven

2. Portobello Pot Roast

Make it in a slow cooker, Instant Pot or on the stove.

vegetarian chili comfort food recipes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

3. Vegetarian Chili

It doesn’t get heartier than this sour cream-crowned main.

lentil sweet potato shepherd s pie vegetarian comfort food recipes
Minimalist Baker

4. Lentil Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Warm, cozy and super nutritious.

pasta alla norma vegetarian comfort food recipes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

5. Pasta Alla Norma

Just like Grandma used to make.

homemade cheddar pierogies vegetarian comfort food recipes
Half Baked Harvest

6. Homemade Cheddar Pierogies

Pasta? Check. Potatoes? Check. Cheese? You know it.

quiche with gluten free sweet potato crust vegetarian comfort food recipes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

7. Gluten-Free Quiche with Sweet Potato Crust

The crust is the rich egg filling's crispy soulmate.

southwest sweet potato tater tot hot dish vegetarian comfort food recipes
Pinch of Yum

8. Southwest Sweet Potato Tater Tot Hot Dish

If it’s covered in tots, you can count us in.

spaghetti squash and broccoli alfredo vegetarian comfort food recipes
Spoon Fork Bacon

9. Spaghetti Squash and Broccoli Alfredo

Bake it right in the squash for an easy and elegant presentation.

tomato soup in grilled cheese bread bowls vegetarian comfort food recipes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

10. Tomato Soup in Cheesy Bread Bowls

Guys, the topper is a grilled cheese sandwich...

chipotle black bean roasted veggie enchilada casserole vegetarian comfort food recipes
Ambitious Kitchen

11. Chipotle Black Bean Roasted Veggie Enchilada Casserole

We’ll take ours with a side of guac, thanks.

portobello mushrooms stuffed with barley risotto vegetarian comfort food recipes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

12. Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Barley Risotto

Pair them with veggie broth.

homemade spicy ramen with tofu vegetarian comfort food recipes
Pinch of Yum

13. Homemade Spicy Ramen with Tofu

Just the remedy for a cold and dreary night.

spinach mushroom lasagna vegetarian comfort food recipes
What’s Gaby Cooking

14. Spinach Mushroom Lasagna

So many layers of goodness.

tikka masala tofu and vegetables vegetarian comfort food recipes1
Oh My Veggies

15. Tikka Masala Tofu and Vegetables

Put down the phone and step away from the takeout menu.

sweet potato tacos vegetarian comfort food recipes
The Modern Proper

16. Sweet Potato Tacos

Consider next week's Taco Tuesday set.

cheesy roasted mushroom melts vegetarian comfort food recipes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

17. Cheesy Roasted Mushroom Melts

With not one, not two, but *three* different cheeses.

butternut squash noodles with creamy cashew alfredo vegetarian comfort food recipes
Inspiralized

18. Butternut Squash Noodles with Cashew Alfredo

Thanks, Coterie member Ali Maffucci.

the best vegan enchiladas vegetarian comfort food recipes
Gimme Some Oven

19. The Best Vegan Enchiladas

We never thought we’d say this, but we don’t even miss the cheese.

baking sheet quesadillas vegetarian comfort food recipes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

20. Baking Sheet Quesadillas

Fill with your favorite veggies for a complete meal.

best broccoli cheese soup vegetarian comfort food recipes
Averie Cooks

21. The Best Broccoli Cheese Soup

Eat your heart out, Panera Bread.

loaded sweet potato nachos vegtarian comfort food recipes
Two Peas and Their Pod

22. Loaded Sweet Potato Nachos

Just the thing for your Super Bowl Sunday party.

whole wheat spinach and artichoke pizza vegetarian comfort food recipes
Half Baked Harvest

23. Whole-Wheat Spinach and Artichoke Pizza

Everyone’s favorite dip meets golden-brown pizza crust.

quinoa chili vegetarin comfort food recipes
Damn Delicious

24. Quinoa Chili

Psst: This bowl is packed with protein.

chickpea and vegetable coconut curry vegetarian comfort food recipes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

25. Chickpea and Vegetable Coconut Curry

Make a double batch and freeze it for later.

vegetarian comfort food vegan spaghetti squash mushroom marinara sauce
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

26. Vegan Spaghetti Squash with Mushroom Marinara

Even Nonna would approve.

vegetarian comfort food cauliflower fried rice recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

27. Cauliflower Fried Rice

Some cold nights (and long days) just demand takeout.

vegetarian comfort food tofu banh mi recipe
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

28. Crispy Tofu Bánh Mì

You had us at sriracha mayonnaise.

vegetarian comfort food baked zucchini ziti spirals with mozzarella recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

29. Baked Zucchini ‘Ziti’ Spirals with Mozzarella

This pasta-free version is light enough that you’ll have room for seconds (and thirds).

vegetarian comfort food creamy gochjuang zoodles recipe 921
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

30. Creamy Gochujang Zoodles

Finished with a runny sunny-side-up egg and all the Parmesan.

vegetarian comfort food blackberry peach grilled cheese recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

31. Blackberry-Peach Grilled Cheese

Hi, summer. We’ve missed you so.

vegetarian comfort food roasted tomato soup recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

32. Roasted Tomato Soup

You can do so much better than the canned kind.

vegetarian comfort food black bean burger recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

33. Black Bean Burgers

Never be disappointed by a veggie burger again.

vegetarian comfort food soba noodles with peanut sauce recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

34. Soba Noodles with Peanut Sauce

There’s no bad day that creamy peanut butter can’t fix.

vegetarian comfort food spiralized winter vegetable gratin 921
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

35. Spiralized Winter Vegetable Gratin

Parsnips, sweet potatoes, butternut squash—we promise you won’t miss the pasta.

vegetarian comfort food sweet potato and black bean tacos with blue cheese crema recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

36. Sweet Potato-Black Bean Tacos with Blue Cheese Crema

Three boast nearly 20 grams of protein.

vegetarian comfort food vegetarian sushi cups recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

37. Vegetarian Sushi Cups

Meet your muffin tin’s latest magic trick.

vegetarian comfort food vegan kentucky fried chicken 921
Simon Smith/Vegan 100

38. Vegan Kentucky Fried Chick’n

Bet you didn’t expect this soul food classic. You can thank tofu and seitan.

vegetarian comfort food green bean galette recipe hero
Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Jake Cohen

39. Green Bean Casserole Galette

Come for the creamy herbed filling, stay for the fried shallots.

vegetarian comfort food sweet potato gnocchi herbed white wine sauce recipe
Half Baked Harvest

40. Sweet Potato Gnocchi in Herbed White Wine Sauce

BRB, starting our own herb garden.

vegetarian comfort food cauliflower sweet potato burgers recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

41. Cauliflower Sweet Potato Burgers

A far cry from the frozen hockey pucks you’re used to.

vegetarian comfort food creamy potatoes au gratin recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

42. The Best Potatoes au Gratin Ever

You say side, we say main event.

vegetarian comfort food butternut squash lasagna recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

43. Butternut Squash Lasagna

No red sauce here—just mozzarella, herbs and alllll the ricotta.

vegetarian comfort food creamed brussels sprouts recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

44. Creamed Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions

Behold, the mac and cheese of vegetables.

vegetarian comfort food creamy vegan lentil roasted vegetable bake recipe1
Nisha Vora

45. Vegan Lentil and Roasted Vegetable Bake

Where should we start, the cashew cream or the crispy pine nut topping?

vegetarian comfort food cauliflower plantain tacos lemony pesto dressing recipe
A New Way to Food

46. Cauliflower and Plantain Tacos with Lemony Pesto Dressing

Swap the cauliflower for broccoli or cabbage.

vegetarian comfort food vegan keto coconut curry recipe
Helene Dujardin/The Essential Vegan Keto Cookbook

47. Vegan Keto Coconut Curry

Warning: You might want to take a bath in the broth.

vegetarian comfort food cacio e pepe cauliflower 921
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

48. Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower

Eight ingredients + 20 minutes = cheesy, creamy heaven.

vegetarian comfort food vegan butternut mac and cheese smoky shiitake bacon recipe
Chloe Flavor

49. Vegan Butternut Mac and ‘Cheese’ with Shiitake ‘Bacon’

Roasted squash = the silkiest sauce ever.

vegetarian comfort food eggplant pizza recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

50. Eggplant Pizza

Ask your kids to assemble them and dinner will practically make itself.


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taryn pire

Food Editor

  • Contributes to PureWow's food vertical
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  • Studied English and writing at Ithaca College