Best Cookbooks for New Vegans

A few years back, I wrote a post on the Top 5 Cookbooks for Beginners. Each of those books is still as relevant today as they were back then. However, as veganism continues to become more and more mainstream, new creatives emerge and along with them, new vegan cookbooks!

You will certainly notice some overlap between these two lists. These books stand the test of time. These are the books that I go back to again and again. And again and again. The new additions have been a welcome breath of fresh air to my usual rotation, or simply books I’ve since discovered I use much more regularly that I did at the time of the original list.

1. Chloes’s Kitchen by Chloe Coscarelli

Authored by Cupcake Wars champ Chloe Coscarelli, Chloe’s Kitchen has been the most beloved cookbook in my kitchen since it’s debut in 2012 for good reason.

It’s so easy to cook from! None of the recipes are overly complicated, the ingredients are easily sourced, and they are all sooooooooo delicious. I truly mean it when I say that I have not made one recipe from this book that was bad or mediocre. Each and every recipe is unbelievably flavorful and satisfying.

This book is beyond perfect for a new vegan. The flavors are familiar and reminiscent of their non-vegan counterparts, making the transition to a vegan lifestyle easy. It also remains one of my go-to books for impressing meat eaters!

Standout Recipes: Double Double Drive-Thru Burgers, Best Ever Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Artichoke-Walnut Pesto Crostini, BBQ Pineapple Pizza, Mocha Almond Fudge Cake

2. Chloe Flavor by Chloe Coscarelli

In a way, this book is an extension of Chloe’s Kitchen. Released six years later, it’s just as incredible as her first book! Offering many easy-to-make salads, soups, appetizers, pastas, handhelds, and desserts, this book also boasts an impressive breakfast chapter and beverages for all occasions.

All of the pros of Chloe’s Kitchen ring true for this book as well- simple, inviting recipes with easily sourced ingredients. It’s absolutely perfect for quick weeknight dinners! Plus the FLAVOR! I was blown away the first time I made the Thai Red Curry and it tasted just like takeout.

Standout Recipes: Matcha Chocolate Chip Muffins, Avocado-Peach Bruschetta, Hawaiian Teriyaki Sliders, California Nachos, Thai Red Curry Bowl, Vegan Ramen Bowl, Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

3. The Blender Girl Smoothies by Tess Masters

Ok, I know you’re probably wondering why I included a book of only smoothies, but hear me out. I use this book every. Single. Day.

Each vegan has their own reason for switching to the lifestyle. My personal journey started with my health and your’s might also. Even after going vegan, I continued to struggle with digestive issues due to inconsistency and lack of variety and fiber in my diet.* I was a young college student still learning how to eat well and nourish my body. When I finally began mapping out my weekly meals, it included started each morning off with a smoothie. I saw years of digestive issues clear up! My body became “regular” for the first time EVER in my life. I absolutely credit fibrous smoothies in the morning for this change.

If your reason for going vegan involves healthy lifestyle changes, or you’re simply looking to included more fruits and veggies in your diet, this book is a great starting point.

It offers so much variety from fruity smoothies, to green smoothies, smoothies that taste like dessert (yes please!), and smoothies for the adventurous pallet. If you’re a smoothie newbie and your body is not yet familiar with a high fiber diet, I suggest starting with the “light and fruity” and “dessert” smoothies, working your way up to the “clean and green”, and then delving into the “exotic ride” smoothies. The fruity and dessert smoothies will be easy on your pallet, while still offering loads of nutritional value. The more accustomed your body gets to the fiber first thing in the morning, it’ll be much more prepared to tackle the greens and veggies found in the other recipes.

One of the best things about this book is that each recipe makes two 16oz smoothies- absolutely perfect for a couple! Or, you could use one as a meal replacement for breakfast and the other for an afternoon snack. Or, split four 8oz smoothies amongst the family to complement any vegan breakfast and add more fruits and veggies to your day.

Standout Recipes: Pear-licous Perfection, Blueberry Breakfast Tart, Vivid Vision, Berry-Beet Bliss, Strawberry Shortcake

*For more information on the benefits of fiber filled fruits and veggies I highly recommend checking out Fiber Fueled by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz and his OG interview on The Plant Proof Podcast (Ep. 17)

4. Vegan Asian: A Cookbook by Jeeca Uy

This book is just shy of five months old and it has already become one of my weekly go-tos!

I discovered Jeeca and her amazing blog, The Foodie Takes Flight, in early 2021 and it quickly became my obsession. I was working at a ramen and sushi restaurant that had several vegan options. Yet, I was naturally curious about the flavors of the non-vegan options. The restaurant offered a very popular chicken katsu ramen and I was always jealous that I couldn’t try it. The day I discovered Jeeca’s Instagram account and saw her recipe for tofu katsu and I knew I had struck gold!

Since the release of her book in August 2021, I have made something weekly from it. The ease of the recipes and mind-blowing flavors found in these pages make it a great book for new vegans! While some appetizers may require a bit more effort than your average weeknight recipe (totally worth it!), the vast majority are recipes suited for a speedy weeknight dinner. You may need to venture to your local Asian market for a few ingredients. However, I’ve personally been able to find everything needed to make these recipes at my usual supermarket. You’ll often be surprised at what you can find when you’re looking for it!

I also feel it is worth noting that my not-at-all-vegan husband has loved every single recipe we’re tried!

Standout Recipes: Char Siu Tofu Gua Baos, Thai Pineapple Fried Rice, Japanese Yakisoba, Chinese Lettuce Wraps, Korean Kimchi Pancakes (my fav!), Satay Tofu Sticks with Peanut Sauce

5. Isa Does It! by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

If you know, you know: Isa is the OG vegan cookbook queen! I gushed all about how much I value her recipes in my original best cookbooks list.

Like Chloe’s Kitchen, this book is one of the absolute best books for new and seasoned vegans alike. The sheer volume of recipes found on these pages make it a fantastic investment. It’s full of staple recipes that you’ll find yourself making regularly.

While it offers the classic chapters of soups, salads, and desserts, it also breaks down main dishes into several categories. Stir-fries, bowls, handhelds, pastas, stews, curries and so much more! Plus, it boasts an absolutely fantastic breakfast chapter! There is an insane amount of versatility to the basic proteins recipes as well. The Classic Baked Tofu and Steamed Chicky Seitan get made regularly in my house for various applications.

Standout Recipes: Dragon Noodle Salad, Cheddary Broccoli Soup, Dilly Stew with Rosemary Dumplings, Tofu-Mushroom Stroganoff, Curried Peanut Sauce Bowl, Carrot Cake Pancakes

6. Oh She Glows Everyday by Angela Liddon

This is hands down one of my absolute favorite cookbooks!

If you’re looking for a great vegan cookbook that packs flavor, but also isn’t loaded with oil and sugar, this is it. Angela’s approach to food very much echos my own: fresh, flavorful, and minimally processed. Which makes this book great for new vegans looking for recipes to support their health. It is full of smoothie recipes, savory breakfasts, snacks, hearty salads, soul warming soups, simple mains, and fantastic desserts. With the exception of the desserts, the recipes are all very produce forward. Very whole food, plant based.

Over the past few years, this book became my absolute favorite for lunchtime recipes! I could easily eat the Crowd-Pleasing Caesar Salad for lunch every single day. While pregnant this past year, I craved fresh foods all the time and that salad was consumed at least weekly.

Standout Recipes: Vanilla Super-Seed Granola with Coconut Chips, Tropical Overnight Oats, Crowd-Pleasing Caesar Salad, 6 Vegetable and “Cheese” Soup, Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

7. Vegan Yum by Megan Saad

Newer to my rotation, Vegan Yum is the perfect blend of healthy and indulgent- making it a great transition book for a new vegan!

The recipes are categorized by meaty, cheesy, savory, fresh, spicy, and sweet. They are mostly plant-based, including homemade vegan cheeses (!), but the book also contains recipes with vegan meat and cheese substitutes. I personally found vegan alternative products very helpful in my early vegan days, and now as an occasional indulgence or when cooking for meat eaters.

The recipes are very simple, yet have great complex flavors. The “fresh” chapter is absolutely perfect for meal prepped lunches! I also cannot say enough good things about the Epic Veggie Burgers. I had a massive aversion to lentils while I was pregnant. Yet, I know lentils contain a powerhouse of nutrients to support pregnancy (and health in general), and therefore important to keep in my diet. The Epic Veggie Burger was the only way I could stomach lentils at the time. It now remains one of my favorite recipes!

Standout Recipes: Meatball Gyros with Creamy Cashew Tzatziki, Spicy Breakfast Sausage Muffins (the maple-chipotle aioli is sinfully delicious!), Tomato Jam and Avocado Tartine, Hot Honey Cauliflower Wings

You can also try out Ashley’s recipes at her blog: Eat Figs, Not Pigs.

Standout Recipes: Cheddar-Jalapeño Biscuits & Chorizo Gravy, Southwest-Style Salad, Banh Mi-Style Meatball Sub, Chipotle Chick’n Penne Pasta, Orange-Glazed Crispy Tofu

It is my goal that this list is helpful to you on your vegan journey. Comment below which book you’re most excited to try!