In recent years, there has been a rapid growth in the number of people who follow a vegan lifestyle due to either ethical or medical motivations. Even those who eat meat are beginning to include meat-free days in their diets and experiment with more vegan options. Regardless of whether you are a long-standing vegan or simply someone who wants to try vegan alternatives, vegan cookbooks are a fantastic source of inspiration, so we have reviewed some of the best vegan cookbook options available now.
Our reviews look at the features of each vegan cookbook and to whom the book is best suited. We have also included a simple buying guide to help you choose and a comparison chart so you can compare our recommendations. Here are our reviews of the best vegan cookbooks.
Product Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Vegan Cookbook for You
To help you choose the best vegan cookbook for you, we have outlined the considerations you need to make in our product buying guide.
Best Vegan Cookbook: The Recipes and the Content of the Book
Not all vegan cookbooks are equal to everyone, as the contents will suit different people. Consider the following:
- Type of food: Not all vegan food is the same, and there are different types of veganism. You may have a preferred style, such as a passion for grilling or a preference for Asian dishes. Therefore, you should choose a book that suits your tastes and cooking style.
- A guide to veganism: Some cookbooks are for people who have lived a vegan lifestyle for many years, while others are for beginners. If you are new to the vegan lifestyle, then you may prefer a book that offers advice about adapting to the diet and making sure your nutritional needs are met, such as how to include vegan fats in your diet.
- Additional information: People do not always buy cookbooks only for recipes. They also buy vegan cookbooks for additional information, such as nutritional information and cooking tips.
- How many recipes are there in the book? You may prefer to buy a vegan cookbook that contains a wide range of recipes to give you lots of options and ideas.
- Are the recipes easy to understand? Unless you are an experienced cook, then you will probably prefer recipes that are easy and clear to understand. Look out for step-by-step instructions and photographs that show the dish.
Best Vegan Cookbook: Value for Money
When buying any product, value for money is a concern. In relation to buying vegan cookbooks, consider the following points:
- A cheap vegan cookbook is not necessarily the best value for money, as it may lack the number of recipes or not have the same in-depth nutritional information or cooking tips as a more expensive book.
- Similarly, an expensive vegan cookbook does not necessarily mean it is better for you. If it does not have recipes that you want to make or offer the cooking advice you need, then it is not necessarily worth spending more.
- Both expensive and cheap vegan cookbooks have benefits, and they are only good value if they offer you information and recipes that you use.
- You may find some of the best deals by shopping online for vegan cookbooks at Amazon.
Note: We are part of the Amazon Affiliates program. If you purchase products via links from this review, we may make a small amount of money in commission.
Best Vegan Cookbook Comparison Chart
Our comparison chart allows you to compare some of the best vegan cookbooks at a glance if you do not have time to read the full reviews of the best vegan cookbooks.
| Book Title | Author/ Publisher | Number of Recipes or Pages | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOSH! | Henry Firth & Ian Theasby/ HQ | 140+ recipes | Best-selling vegan cookbook of all-time |
| Speedy BOSH!: Simple Recipes | Henry Firth & Ian Theasby/ HQ | 100+ recipes | Best for quick recipes |
| Broke Vegan | Saskia Sidey/ Hamlyn | 100+ recipes | Best for those on a budget |
| Deliciously Ella: The Plant-Based Cookbook | Ella Mills (nee Woodward)/ Yellow Kite | 288 pages | Best for offering recipes to suit al tastes |
| Happy Vegan: Easy Plant-Based Recipes to Make the Whole Family Happy | Fearne Cotton/ Seven Dials | 100+ recipes | Best for Family Meals |
| The Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook: Entertaining for Absolutely Every Occasion | Isa Chandra Moskowitz/ Little Brown and Company | 250+ recipes | Best for dinner party recipes |
| Charred: The Complete Guide to Vegetarian Grilling and Barbecue | Genevieve Taylor/ Quadrille Publishing | 70+ recipes | Best for BBQ fans |
| One Pot Vegan | Roxy Pope & Ben Pook/ Michael Joseph | 80 recipes | Best for busy people |
| The Original Planted-Based Vegan Cookbook | Anthony Thompson/ Independent | Recipes + 30-day vegan challenge | Best for healthy dishes |
| Vegan Junk Food: A Down & Dirty Cookbook | Zachary Bird/ Smith Street Books | 208 pages | Best for vegan junk food |
| Plants Only Kitchen | Gaz Oakley/ Quadrille Publishing | 70+ | Best for simple dishes |
| Dirty Vegan | Matt Pritchard/ Mitchell Beazley | 80+ | Best for flavoursome, healthy vegan recipes |
Reviews of the Best Vegan Cookbooks
To help you choose the best vegan cookbook for you, we have reviewed our 12 top picks. It is important to note that they are not listed in any particular order, as each will meet the needs and tastes of different people.
BOSH!: Simple Recipes
BOSCH! has become the best-selling vegan cookbook of all-time and inspired a new generation of vegans. The authors of this cookbook are Henry Firth and Ian Theasby, who are stars of ITV’s Living on the Veg’ and who have a following of more than 2.3 million fans online.
It is a fantastic book for both beginners and experienced vegans, as there are both useful information and creative ideas. BOSCH has received great critical acclaim, with critics describing the writers as the vegan world’s Jamie Olivers.
In the book, there are more than 140 plant-based recipes. These include hearty dinners, interesting breakfast ideas, crowd-pleasing dishes to serve at parties, and delicious desserts.
Speedy BOSH!
Speedy BOSH! Is the fourth in the BOSH! Series of vegan cookbooks. It is by the same authors, Henry Firth and Ian Theasby, and its publisher is also HQ.
The cookbook is all about making delicious vegan dishes that you can prepare in un under 30-minutes. Therefore, it is a great option for those who live a busy lifestyle and do not hours to spare each day for food preparation.
There are more than 100 recipes in this book, and it is divided into sections for different types of dishes. These include hearty meals, homemade versions of takeaway food, sharing platters, lighter options, sweets, drinks, and vegan breakfasts. At the beginning of the book, there are hacks for speedy cooking and tips for creating quick vegan feasts.
One of the plus points of this book’s recipes is that most of the ingredients are readily available from regular supermarkets and grocery stores. On the downside, some customers note that the recipes are hard to follow.
Broke Vegan
If you are a vegan on a limited budget, Broke Vegan is one of your best options. Unlike many cookbooks that require you to go out shopping and buy expensive ingredients to create dishes, this vegan cookbook is all about making tasty but cheap meals with everyday ingredients.
Saskia Sidey has created more than 100 vegan recipes that do not cost the earth to create. Despite the low cost of the dishes, they are all full of nutrients and flavour. Even customers who are cooking novices say that the budget-friendly vegan meals in this vegetarian cookbook are easy to make.
Deliciously Ella: The Plant-Based Cookbook
Ella Mills (nee Woodward) made waves in the food blogging world when she launched her vegan food blog ‘Deliciously Ella‘. She then launched her ‘Deliciously Ella’ cookbook, which became the fastest-selling vegan cookbook of all-time. Although she has since launched a further three cookbooks, many would argue that her first is still the best.
The vegan cookbook is divided into easy to understand sections, and there is something to suit all tastes. Customers say that the recipes are easy to follow, although some say their cooking times differed from those listed in the recipe. Some customers also noted that you need to buy expensive ingredients to create some of the recipes.
Happy Vegan: Easy Plant-Based Recipes to Make the Whole Family Happy
Happy Vegan is a compilation of interesting vegan recipes for all the family from television personality Fearne Cotton. The book is part of her Happy Place brand that promotes positive mental well-being and good physical health.
The recipes are easy to follow, and most of the ingredients are readily available. However, there are some ingredients that you may need to buy from specialist shops. There are plenty of tips and advice in the book, and the recipes are easy to adapt to suit your tastes.
There are conflicting views in reviews about some of the recipes’ originality and creativity, as some customers say they are nothing they haven’t seen before. On the other hand, others who have bought the book say that the recipes are creative, interesting, and exotic.
As this is a matter of opinion, you can make up your own mind. To help you decide, some examples of savoury recipes include lentil Bolognese, tomato dahl, spiced Indian potatoes, and broccoli katsu curry. Examples of sweet recipes are date and almond cake and no-bake cookies.
The Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook: Entertaining for Absolutely Every Occasion
Isa Chandra Moskowitz was the forerunner in post-punk vegan food long before anyone else wrote recipes in this style. The Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook: Entertaining for Absolutely Every Occasion is one of the best offerings from the vegan goddess.
There are more than 250 recipes in this book, with options for every occasion. Although the recipes are for entertaining guests and meeting the guests’ varied dietary requirements, you can also use the recipes for regular mealtimes throughout the year.
Moskowitz includes recipes to suit both vegan and gluten-free diets, and many of the options will even please meat lovers. Some examples of recipes include cheeseburger pizza, biscuits and gravy, cakes, cookies, and pies.
Customers love the extensive range of recipes and that they can use the dishes for both events and regular meals. The recipes are arranged in chapters of events, which some customers love. However, other customers found it difficult to find recipes using certain ingredients if they were not cooking for a particular celebration.
Charred: The Complete Guide to Vegetarian Grilling and Barbecue
If you are a vegan who also has a passion for grilling and barbecue, then Charred is the book for you. The author, Genevieve Taylor, is an expert in grilling, barbecuing, and cooking over open flames. Not only is she a food author, but she is also a food stylist, and she presents live-fire cookery demonstrations at food fairs.
The book aims to dispel the myth that cooking on a live fire is all about meat. More than 70 vegan recipes help you get the most flavour out of vegetables and plant-based products using grilling and barbecuing techniques.
According to customers, the recipes are easy to follow, and there are many that you can adapt to create using other cooking techniques for everyday meals.
One Pot Vegan
Many food trends have become more prominent in recent years; one is veganism, and another is one pot cooking. The first reflects an increased understanding of ethical, environmental, and health issues relating to food, while the latter reflects people’s increasingly busy lifestyles.
One Pot Vegan caters to both these trends. Roxy Pope has created 80 recipes that busy vegans can make in one pan. The meals are quick, easy to make, delicious, and use everyday ingredients. The descriptions are clear, the recipes are simple to follow, and the photographs are accurate representations of the end product.
The Original Planted-Based Vegan Cookbook
The Original Plant-Based Cookbook by Anthony Thompson is more than just a regular vegan cookbook. This book also gives you all the information you need to start a vegan lifestyle. Therefore, it is a good option for those making their first steps into veganism or considering making this lifestyle change.
Each of the book’s recipes has detailed nutritional information, and the ingredients are listed using both UK and US measurements. The step-by-step instructions are clear and easy to follow.
In addition to the recipes, there is a section of this vegan cookbook devoted to the 30-day challenge, which is a step you might like to take before deciding if the vegan lifestyle is for you.
Vegan Junk Food: A Down & Dirty Cookbook
While some people follow a vegan diet for the health benefits it offers, many people who become vegans do so for ethical reasons. Therefore, not every vegan is interested in eating healthy food seven days a week.
This cookbook caters to those who want to eat indulgent and delicious junk food occasionally, as all the recipes are junk food options for vegans. The author, Zachary Bird, has compiled some of his favourite recipes that you will not find in typical vegan cookbooks.
Customers love that the food is delicious and that the cookbook is different from many other offerings out there. They also love that the author is fun and humorous. However, some found a few of the recipes complicated to follow.
Plants-Only Kitchen
Gaz Oakley’s aim in Plants-Only Kitchen is to help people to adapt to a vegan lifestyle. His recipes are easy, simple, and designed for people to fit into their lifestyle. However, the dishes are also full of flavour despite being fuss-free.
One of the best aspects of this book is that it is accessible to everyone. There are no unusual ingredients, complicated cooking techniques, or need for elaborate equipment. Oakley has also included lots of tips and advice about veganism, which people who are new to this lifestyle will find particularly useful.
Furthermore, there is a flagging system with symbols that you may find useful, as it helps you to choose the best recipes for you on that day. Some of the flags include under 15-minutes of cooking time, suitable for meal prep, gluten-free, and high-protein.
Plants-Only Kitchen has received rave reviews from customers. Not only have they found the recipes easy to follow, but they also note that they find the information helpful. Many reviewers write comments about the fantastic photography in the book.
Dirty Vegan
Former Dirty Sanchez presenter Matt Pritchard is the author of this book, and he is also one of the leading personalities in vegan cookery television shows. His unconventional style is reflected in his innovative and creative approach to vegan cookery.
There are more than 80 vegan recipes in Dirty Vegan, and the focus is on cheap, easy, and healthy dishes that are packed with flavour. Some examples include vegan momos, bang-bang tofu, full vegan pile up, and chocolate, orange, and maple baklava.
Most customers who have bought this book say that the recipes are easy to follow, well presented, and use ingredients that are easy to buy. One negative comment is that some recipes include items intended to replace meat, and creating these elements can take time.
BONUS RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BEST VEGAN COOKBOOK: It is worth noting that Matt Pritchard released a sequel to this book called Dirty Vegan: Another Bite, which you may also wish to buy.
Best Vegan Cookbooks: FAQ
Why Should I Buy a Vegan Cookbook?
If you are just starting a vegan lifestyle, buying one or more vegan cookbooks will give you the information you need to enjoy a varied and healthy vegan diet. Even if you have followed a vegan diet for many years, getting a new vegan cookbook can give some inspiration for new meals or flavour combinations to try.
Is Having a Vegan Cookbook Better than Looking Up Recipes Online?
There are plenty of vegan recipes online, so you might wonder if there is any point in having a vegan cookbook. However, you need to input specific search terms on the Internet, so you must already know what you are looking for. On the other hand, a cookbook may introduce you to new ideas that you might not have searched for and offer you additional information.
Another reason to buy cookbooks is the different experience they offer to online searches. Some people prefer the feeling of grabbing a book off the shelf and flicking through to find inspiration.
Is It Worth Buying a Vegan Cookbook?
If you are new to a vegan lifestyle, then it is worth getting a couple of cookbooks for the inspiration and information they will give you. Having some vegan cookbooks to hand will help you to make sure you are eating a varied and balanced diet. It is also worth getting the best vegan cookbook if you enjoy cooking and love the creative experience of trying new dishes and processes.