It’s been a monumental year for vegan eats. Between Taco Bell’s debut of the highly anticipated vegan Crunchwrap, Kraft’s iconic blue-box mac and cheese going vegan with the help of NotCo, and even Hershey’s roll out of plant-based treats—restaurants and the food industry have further propelled veganism into the mainstream in 2023.
But beyond the sweets and restaurant dishes, people turned to home cooking even amid rising food costs, according to findings from Kroger’s 2023 Food Trends Report. As the cost of groceries increased, consumers tapped into their culinary creativity to save money and satiate their appetites in the comfort of their own kitchens. And VegNews readers weren’t left wanting when it comes to tasty and tantalizing plant-based recipes.
Before we wrap up 2023, we’re taking one last look back at the top 23 recipes VegNews readers kept coming back to all year long (we’re completely fixated with the gnocchi soup, and you will be, too). We can’t wait to see what’s on the menu in 2024!
Table of Contents
1 Two-Step Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad Sandwiches
We like to keep it simple around here, and it appears so do our readers! So there’s no surprise this go-to, fish-less tuna salad recipe earned top billing in 2023.
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Amy Lanza
2 Vegan No-Bake Chocolate Espresso Caramel Bars
Between iced lattes and espresso-infused treats, caffeine has long been a staple in our diets. But this year, VegNews readers opted for these buzzy, chocolatey bites for a much needed pick-me-up.
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Sam Turnbull
3 Vegan Creamy Italian Gnocchi Soup
VegNews readers proved soup season is year-round with this simple Italian gnocchi soup rounding out the year’s top three recipes.
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4 Vegan Copycat Wendy’s Chocolate Frosty
It’s time to revisit the tradition of dipping hot French fries in a cold chocolate Frosty. The best part? You don’t have to jump in the car for a taste of this classic pairing.
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5 Vegan Sticky Sweet Char Siu Tofu
Need to win over a tofu skeptic? We’ve got a recipe for you! A rich, sweet, and savory sauce made from a blend of fresh ginger, garlic, hoisin sauce, and spices coats pan-fried tofu for a delicious vegan dish high in protein.
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6 VegNews Vegan Magic Cookie Bars
There’s a reason our Magic Cookie Bars went viral in 2020. Layers of graham crackers, walnuts, chocolate chips, and shredded coconut make these bars an instant classic, and VegNews readers agree. After falling off the year’s top recipes in 2022, these bars have reclaimed their place in readers’ hearts.
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The Stanford Inn
7 Easy, 4-Step Vegan Portabello Benedict
This unique take on eggs Benedict from Northern California’s The Stanford Inn swaps out chicken eggs for umami-rich portabello mushrooms. Sunday brunch just got a major upgrade.
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Hannah Kaminsky
8 The Best Vegan Macaroni and Cheese You’ll Ever Make
This signature VegNews recipe has long been a reader favorite (making our top recipe list many years in a row), and there’s a good reason why. This vegetable-based cheese sauce achieves that classic mac taste and texture without any of the dairy.
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Danielle Keith
9 Vegan Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
A healthful alternative to the Panera favorite, this creamy, cheesy, comforting, plant-based broccoli cheddar soup is even more delicious. Why wait for Panera to veganize more of its classic dishes when you can simply DIY it?
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Hannah Sunderani
10 Vegan Crunchwrap Supreme With Gooey Cashew Queso
Taco Bell may have debuted its first vegan Crunchwrap earlier this year, but while we wait for the chain to add the coveted item to its permanent menu, we’re making our own.
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Francesca Bonadonna
11 Easy, Crispy Vegan Tofu Popcorn Chicken
If you haven’t quite found the frozen nugget for you yet, why not try this golden-brown homemade version? Extra-firm tofu serves as the meaty substitute for these crispy, golden nuggets.
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Danielle Keith
12 Creamy Vegan Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese
VegNews readers couldn’t stop veganizing Panera’s classic offerings. Modeled after the chain’s white cheddar mac and cheese, this cashew-based version has all the same creaminess and comfort.
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13 Vegan Maple-Glazed Tofu Musubi
Sweet meets savory in this vegan reimagining of Hawaiian Spam musubi. Tender slices of maple-glazed tofu Spam sit atop seasoned rice, all wrapped in a delicate sheet of Nori for the ultimate snack.
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Sarah Nevins
14 Root Vegetable Vegan Bowls With Creamy Peanut Sauce
Repeat after us: simplicity is key! With that in mind, this roasted root vegetable dish is an easy weekday staple or meal prep dish that you can enjoy every day of the week. The star of the dish? Its salty and savory peanut sauce.
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Eat the Rainbow
15 Crispy, Golden, Baked Vegan Chickpea Nuggets
What’s the secret to these extra crispy chickpea nuggets? The bite-sized morsels owe their satisfying crunch to a unique cornflake-panko coating. Bring on the dipping sauces!
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Sara Kidd
16 Vegan Persian Pistachio-Rose Love Cake
The story behind this classic pistachio-rose confection tells of a Persian woman who wanted to make a prince fall in love with her, so she created a cake laced with a love spell, and thus, this delicate, mesmerizing bake was born.
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Kayla Cappiello
17 Vegan Salted Chocolate and Banana Bread Blondies
A cross between banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, and classic blondies, this beloved treat proves three desserts are better than one.
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Cinnamon Snail
18 Vegan Bourbon Hazelnut Pancakes With Cardamom Butter
Gussy up your breakfast platters with these golden stacks topped off with bourbon-infused hazelnuts and cardamom brown butter. One taste of these pancakes and you’ll never go back to the days of basic flapjacks.
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Luce Hosier
19 Easy Vegan Garlicky Miso-Butter Sheet Pan Smashed Potatoes
Garlic and miso have long been kitchen staples, and don’t even get us started on how much we love potatoes. So it’s no surprise these crispy, oven roasted tots scored major points with VegNews readers.
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Oliver Barth
20 Vegan Garlicky Butter Bean Soup With Greens
This warming soup is our go-to bowl of cozy for a reason: immune-boosting garlic, anti-inflammatory black pepper, and satiating, protein-packed beans make this easy meal delicious and healthful.
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Sam Turnbull
21 Garlicky Vegan Tuscan Bean Pasta With Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Protein-packed white beans add an extra layer of creaminess to this garlicky pasta while sundried tomatoes add a juicy burst of umami.
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22 Vegan Korean Bulgogi Mushrooms
King oyster mushrooms had a huge year, taking TikTok and Instagram by storm. The king oyster mushrooms in this vegan bulgogi dish are packed full of flavor from a perfectly balanced, sweet-and-spicy sauce.
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Luke Albert
23 Vegan Roasted Lemony Broccoli Rigatoni
Brighten up pasta night with this vibrant, lemony rigatoni fit for any date night. Dried chili flakes and aromatic garlic balance out the notes of lemon in this dish guaranteed to become your new go-to.
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