25 Oil-Free Vegan Recipes (2024)

Oil-Free | Vegan Recipes

ByKarissaApril 3, 2023

Discover new ideas in thiscompilation of oil-free vegan recipes! This diet can be full of incredibly delicious food if you find the right dishes.

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I have many readers (and you!) that prefer to eat mostly vegan and oil-free. Having restrictive dietary needs can seem overwhelming, especially when you still want to eat incredibly delicious food. Good news – there are still plenty of dishes you can eat, and this list includes the best of the best recipes sorted into categories.

Below, you’ll find recipes like vegan stuffed shells, stir fry, corn chowder, homemade “sausage” patties, and more.

Breakfast

Vegan Breakfast Sausage Patties

4.25 from 85 votes

These vegan sausage patties have those traditional breakfast flavors, like sage and thyme, but are totally plant-based! Oil-free and packed with protein.

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Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

5 from 1 vote

Whip up this vegan carrot cake overnight oats recipe for a convenient and nutritious breakfast. Packed with wholesome ingredients like nuts and shredded carrots, it's the perfect way to start your day!

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Tofu Scramble

5 from 38 votes

Vegan tofu scramble made with extra firm tofu and seasonings like nutritional yeast, Kala Namak salt, and paprika. You can add your favorite veggies for some added nutritional benefit and tastiness.

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Maple Pecan Overnight Oats

4.69 from 19 votes

Overnight oats are a super easy and quick way to meal prep for breakfast!

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Lunch

Hummus Wraps

5 from 5 votes

Breaded Cauliflower Tacos with Chili Lime Cream Sauce

5 from 1 vote

These healthy vegan tacos are stuffed with oil-free breaded cauliflower and a zesty chili lime cabbage slaw. This is a super fun recipe using an air fryer!

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Vegan Chickpea Teriyaki Meal Prep Bowls

4.92 from 24 votes

This recipe for Chickpea Teriyaki bowls with crunchy broccoli and savory soy sauce is a quick, easy and healthy idea for vegan meal prep.

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BBQ Tempeh Sandwich

4.41 from 5 votes

Meatless BBQ tempeh sandwiches are easy to make, satisfying, and nutritious!

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Dinner

Vegan Stuffed Shells

5 from 6 votes

Vegan stuffed shells with tofu and cashew ricotta are lighter, healthier and cheaper––not to mention tastier––than other stuffed shell recipes!

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Chickpea Noodle Soup

4.65 from 14 votes

This recipe for chickpea noodle soup is a vegan twist on chicken noodle soup – and it’s BETTER. Just pure veggie deliciousness here. This soup is healthy, but comforting and hearty.

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Roasted Glazed Tofu

4.92 from 24 votes

This 5-ingredient glazed tofu roast is the perfect vegan alternative to a traditional ham roast.

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Instant Pot Corn Chowder

4.54 from 26 votes

This Instant Pot Corn Chowder is a favorite dinner recipe in our house because it’s so easy! I love Instant Pot recipes because I don’t have to hover over a hot stove. Just throw all the ingredients together, let the pot do its thing, and unveil DELICIOUS corn chowder when the timer goes off. Yum. Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free. Oil-free option.

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Vegan Broccoli Alfredo

4.75 from 24 votes

Creamy vegan alfredo served with roasted, cajun-spiced broccoli.

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Roasted Cauliflower and Lentil Soup

4.24 from 21 votes

This healthy vegan Roasted Cauliflower and Lentil Soup recipe is delicious & comforting without all the calories!

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Vegan Slow Cooker Chili

Easy vegan slow cooker chili made with quinoa and enchilada sauce.

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Instant Pot Vegan Butter Chicken

This vegan butter chicken is made with soycurls and chickpeas right in the Instant Pot!

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Chickpea Stir Fry

This oil-free vegan stir fry is made with chickpeas, veggies, and a delicious homemade sauce.

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Sides

Air Fryer Fries

4.72 from 35 votes

Have no guilt digging into these healthy air fryer fries! I LOVE these smothered in vegan nacho cheese sauce or gravy.

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Vegan Scalloped Potatoes

4.80 from 120 votes

Great as a side dish (or a main meal, let's be real) these homemade vegan scalloped potatoes are "cheesy" and delicious.

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Healthy Green Bean Casserole

4.56 from 18 votes

Creamy non-dairy sauce, green beans, and a baked onion topping come together to make this delicious healthy green bean casserole!

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Garlic Roasted Potatoes

4.82 from 11 votes

Crispy, easy-to-make garlic roasted potatoes. Perfect as a side dish for any meal.

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Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms

5 from 7 votes

This healthy vegan stuffed mushrooms recipe makes for a fantastic appetizer, especially for the holiday season! Quinoa, sundried tomatoes, pecans…yum.

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Snacks

Oil-Free Hummus

4.66 from 20 votes

Simple, vegan hummus made with aquafabainstead of olive oil.

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Vegan Nacho Cheese

4.76 from 41 votes

Cheesy, creamy, a little spicy, full of flavor – this vegan nacho cheese is delicious and healthy.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls

5 from 3 votes

Protein balls made with chocolate and peanut butter. No protein powder necessary! This recipe is vegan and naturally sweetened with medjool dates.

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Trying to go vegan? Sign up for our (FREE) Vegan Beginner’s Guide!

If you try one of these oil-free vegan recipes, leave a comment or tag me on Instagram @karissasvegankitchen!

FAQs

What do vegans cook with instead of oil? ›

It's very easy to bake oil-free. I've done it for years and am very confident with it and know very well how each nut or fruit will perform. Instead of oil, I use fruit purees, veggies, dairy-free yogurt, nut butters, almond flour or other nuts, sometimes coconut butter.

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What can I cook without oil? ›

Oven-baked and roasted dishes can be incredibly flavorful without the need for oil. Roast your favorite vegetables, marinated with herbs and spices, for a crispy and savory side dish. Explore zero-oil baking recipes, from savory muffins to guilt-free sweets.

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How do you cook without butter or oil? ›

Cooking

Steam vegetables or saute in a liquid like water or broth.
Use broth, soy sauce, or vinegar to add flavor during the cooking process.
Utilize seasonings and herbs for flavor.
Use an air fryer or a silicone mat in the oven for baked/fried preparations.
Invest in a good non-stick pan.

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Jun 30, 2022

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Why do vegans avoid oils? ›

The oil, on the other hand, is a liquid with a higher concentration of fat and calories, and zero protein and fibre. This combination makes it very easy to consume in excess.

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Why do vegans not like oil? ›

The short answer is: oil is a processed food full of fat and calories and not much else. We all agree that sugar is a processed food, full of “empty calories.” Well, so is oil. Actually, oil has more empty calories than sugar.

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Can I survive without cooking oil? ›

Eating food without oil can make one lose weight, feel exhausted and unwell because they are missing out on important nutrients required by the body, which is fat.

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How do you make food taste good without oil? ›

Sautéing allows the natural sugars to release and intensify. The nice thing about sautéing in water or broth is that you end up tasting more of the food instead of the oil. If you are roasting or baking vegetables, you also do not need to use oil.

Is it healthier to cook without oil? ›

Meanwhile, oil-free cooking offers many potential health benefits, from lowering calorie intake to strengthening your heart. Additionally, cooking without oil can simply make your dishes taste more authentic, fresh and delicious. Let's look at some considerable health benefits of oil-free cooking below.

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What is frying without oil called? ›

Technically, frying without oil is often referred to as "baking" or "roasting." Frying typically involves submerging food in hot oil, while baking or roasting uses dry heat in an oven.

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Can you fry eggs without oil? ›

Yes, you can use water to cook eggs. If you're frying or scrambling them, start by heating a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add a small amount of water, then crack the eggs into the pan and proceed to cook them as desired. The water helps create steam and prevents sticking.

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What is a healthy alternative for vegetable oil? ›

Vegetable oil substitutes include olive oil, walnut oil, flaxseed oil, and more. There are plenty of alternatives to vegetable oil. According to the American Heart Association (AHA) , the healthiest oils are low in trans, saturated, and partially hydrogenated fats and high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

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What is a vegan substitute for butter or oil? ›

What are good vegan butter substitutes? In baking, you can use vegan butter, applesauce, dairy-free yogurt, coconut oil, coconut butter, olive oil, nut butter, mashed banana and mashed avocado. In cooking, you can use olive oil, coconut oil, vegetable stock, or avocado oil to replace butter.

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What do vegans use an air fryer for? ›

Air fryers can also make it easier to follow a vegan diet, offering a failsafe way to cook staples like tofu, cauliflower, and potatoes to perfection. Below, we've rounded up 10 mouth-watering recipes that prove plant-based cooking needn't be complicated or boring.

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What oil can I use on plant-based diet? ›

Most vegetable oils are vegan, these include canola, olive, coconut, and sunflower oils. Some oils like canola oil can be highly processed so do try to go for the less processed and healthier oils like virgin olive oil or coconut oil.

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What can a vegan take instead of fish oil? ›

Algae oil, made from microalgae, like Nannochloropsis or Schizochytrium, is one of the best vegan sources of both EPA and DHA. It is also considered an ecologically sustainable form of Omega-3s.

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25 Oil-Free Vegan Recipes (2024)

Breakfast

Vegan Breakfast Sausage Patties

Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

Tofu Scramble

Maple Pecan Overnight Oats

Lunch

Hummus Wraps

Breaded Cauliflower Tacos with Chili Lime Cream Sauce

Vegan Chickpea Teriyaki Meal Prep Bowls

BBQ Tempeh Sandwich

Dinner

Vegan Stuffed Shells

Chickpea Noodle Soup

Roasted Glazed Tofu

Instant Pot Corn Chowder

Vegan Broccoli Alfredo

Roasted Cauliflower and Lentil Soup

Vegan Slow Cooker Chili

Instant Pot Vegan Butter Chicken

Chickpea Stir Fry

Sides

Air Fryer Fries

Vegan Scalloped Potatoes

Healthy Green Bean Casserole

Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms

Snacks

Oil-Free Hummus

Vegan Nacho Cheese

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls

FAQs

What do vegans cook with instead of oil? ›

What is a healthy alternative for vegetable oil? ›

References