Chicken and waffles. Cornbread. Mac and cheese. Biscuits and gravy. You can rarely go wrong with soul food and these vegan Southern food recipes are proof of that.
Although these dishes can be found in restaurants across the country, they have strong ties to the antebellum American South. Many soul food recipes can be traced back to enslaved West Africans living on plantations, award-winning author and food scholar Adrian Miller explained to First We Feast.
Enslaved people were allotted limited amounts of food daily, so they supplemented using farming knowledge passed down from West Africa, newly learned from European slavers, and from Native Americans living in the area. This cuisine set the tone for what would become soul food as we know it today.
These 23 Vegan Southern Food Recipes Bring the Comfort
1. Vegan Chicken and Waffles
It’s always a good time for vegan chicken and waffles. This sweet and savory recipe combines dairy-free buttermilk fried chicken made from oyster mushrooms with fluffy whole wheat waffles.
Check it out here.
2. Vegan Macaroni and Cheese
Many vegan mac and cheese recipes use cashews for the sauce, but this nut-free recipe uses carrots, potatoes, and nutritional yeast instead. Sprinkle on some extra nutritional yeast and some bread crumbs before baking for a crunchy top.
Check it out here.
3. Vegan Buttermilk Biscuits and Gravy
This classic breakfast food is ready in just 35 minutes. Use dairy-free milk like cashew, soy, or oat for the flakiest dairy-free biscuits.
Check it out here.
4. Vegan BBQ Ribs
These meat-free ribs are made by smoking tempeh over hickory wood chips, then slathering them in barbecue sauce, and cooking them until they’re crispy around the edges.
Check it out here.
5. Vegan Corn Pudding
A classic Southern side, made vegan thanks to dairy-free milk. This vegan corn pudding gets crispy around the edges when it bakes, just like good corn pudding should.
Check it out here.
6. Cajun Soy Curls and Grits
These grits are creamy and spicy thanks to cashew cream and jalapeño. They’re topped off with Cajun-spiced vegan chicken made from soy curls.
Check it out here.
7. Vegan Breakfast Casserole
Breakfast casseroles are actually for any time of day. This tofu scramble breakfast casserole is packed with tater tots (you could also use hash browns) and vegan cheese.
Check it out here.
8. Vegan Buttermilk Cornbread
Cornbread is the perfect companion to any Southern meal. This gluten-free cornbread is fluffy thanks to dairy-free buttermilk, which you can make by combining apple cider vinegar with vegan milk.
Check it out here.
9. Vegan Chicken and Dumplings
Tender, rosemary-infused dumplings meets plant-based chicken and savory gravy in this hearty Southern stew.
Check it out here.
10. Vegan Pulled Pork
If you love (or loved) pulled pork, then jackfruit is your new best friend. This subtropical fruit has a neutral flavor and meaty texture that pulls apart when cooked in sauces.
Check it out here.
11. Vegan Potato Salad
Every Southern barbecue needs a good potato salad. This dish includes a recipe for homemade oil-free vegan mayonnaise.
Check it out here.
12. Vegan Gumbo
This smoky meat-free gumbo is packed with flavor thanks to vegan Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, and plenty of spices.
Check it out here.
13. Vegan Pimento
Traditional pimento spread is made from cheese, mayonnaise, and pimentos. This dairy-free version is made from raw cashews.
Check it out here.
14. Vegan Jambalaya
Popular in Cajun cooking, jambalaya is a dish of multicultural origin, drawing influence from West African, French, Spanish, and Native American cuisine. This dish consists of tomato-y rice mixed with white beans and the “holy trinity” of Cajun cooking—celery, bell peppers, and onions.
Check it out here.
15. Vegan Sweet Potato Waffles
Pro-tip for these vegan sweet potato waffles: make a few extra to reheat the next day. Try these with plant-based fried chicken, a pat of dairy-free butter, with maple syrup, or all of the aforementioned.
Check it out here.
16. Vegan Country-Fried Steak
This meatless country-fried steak is made from seitan, a plant-based meat made from vital wheat gluten. Don’t forget to serve it with mashed potatoes.
Check it out here.
17. Vegan Fried Okra
You don’t need eggs or buttermilk to make crispy fried okra. The best part is, it’s ready in 15 minutes.
Check it out here.
18. Vegan Hash Brown Casserole
This easy-to-make vegan hash brown casserole is crisp, creamy, and will please all the family.
Get the recipe here.
19. Vegan Red Beans and Rice
Red beans and rice is a classic Southern dish where kidney beans simmer in a medley of the Cajun holy trinity. It’s traditionally served with meat, but you can swap it with vegan sausage or seitan.
Check it out here.
20. Vegan Fried Chicken
This crispy vegan Southern-fried chicken is made from chickpeas, tofu, and seitan, giving it a unique texture that mimics the real thing.
Get the recipe here.
21. Vegan Collard Greens
Collard greens take a little longer to cook than other greens, but they’re well worth the wait. These greens are tender and perfect for serving with meat-free barbecue ribs and mashed potatoes.
Check it out here.
22. Vegan Peach Cobbler
This vegan peach cobbler features gooey, maple-sweetened peaches topped with a gluten-free crumble. Serve with dairy-free ice cream or coconut cream.
Check it out here.
23. Vegan Key Lime Pie
Key lime pie is an iconic dessert that originated in the Florida Keys. This light and tangy dessert features an oat-based crust, a silken tofu-based filling, and is topped with aquafaba meringue.
Check it out here.