Free Vegan Recipe Books: 20+ e-Books, Websites, and Apps To Inspire You in The Kitchen
Vegan diets don't have the best reputation. In a world where meat has historically been considered the pinnacle of a well-rounded diet, veganism is often associated with restriction, flavorless vegetables, and a lack of protein.
But what if I told you that reputation is outdated and, put simply, untrue? Vegan diets can have as much – or more! – variety as diets featuring dairy, meat, and fish. They can also be simple, cheap, delicious, and healthy. And you won't find a more eco-friendly diet anywhere.
Don't believe me? Once you've reviewed our comprehensive list of free (yes, free) vegan recipe books, you'll have no choice but to accept that a vegan diet can, in fact, have it all. You'll find comfort food recipes, healthy fare, and samples from world-class chefs. Enjoy!
Great All Round Resources
Genuinely fantastic resources that cover all bases, whether you want access to high-quality recipes, a variety of cuisines, or you want a slice of education with your vegan pumpkin pie. It’s all here.
1. Veganuary
Veganuary is a nonprofit that aims to bring veganism to the masses. This organization works with top chefs and celebrities alike to bring both attention to their cause and delicious recipes to their followers. It's a great place to start if you're new to the vegan lifestyle.
When you sign up for its newsletter, Veganuary will throw in a vegan starter kit with dozens of recipes designed for the amateur vegan. There is also a celebrity cookbook, featuring recipes from personalities like Joanna Lumley, Beyoncé, and Pamela Anderson.
Free Plan: 2 vegan recipe e-books and a vegan starter kit when you sign up (plus access to all of their blog content).
Paid Plans: This is a charity, but feel free to donate!
2. My Darling Vegan
My Darling Vegan is one of the top vegan food blogs on the Internet – and for good reason. Author Sarah McMinn is a classically trained chef who has been practicing veganism for over 15 years. That's a lot of time to perfect her recipes.
She may be well-known for those recipes, but you'll find a whole lot more than that on her website. She generously offers resources that address many of the worries would-be vegans have, like how to replace dairy, how to get enough protein, and a guide to vegan kitchen staples. You can also find a comprehensive list of her cookbooks, such as The Clean Eating Vegan and 100 Vegan Baking Recipes.
Free Plan: Access to 9 vegan e-books and resources (inc. 4 cookbooks) when you sign up for free (plus blog content).
Paid Plans: Paid cookbooks and vegan products are available in the site’s shop.
3. ProVeg
Most people come to a BBQ to eat one thing and one thing only: meat. That’s why hosting a BBQ as a vegan can be stressful.
Well, there’s no need to worry. The leading food awareness organization ProVeg will supply you with 11 Plant-Based Recipes for the Perfect BBQ. That means your meat-free cookout will be a hit with the neighbors (yay!). ProVeg also has 2 other plant-based e-cookbooks available for free, plus an extensive recipe database.
Free Plan: 3 plant-based recipe e-books available when you sign up for free (plus blog content).
Paid Plans: Charitable donations are welcome.
Want more BBQ ideas? Instagram celebrity Joe Wicks’ Veggie BBQ: 10 brand-new Lean in 15 recipes is available free on Kindle.
4. TryVeg
TryVeg is a one-stop destination for budding vegans, offering recipes, tips, educational content, and even a podcast. TryVeg is a project funded by the US animal rights charity, Animal Outlook.
You can get your hands on the site’s Easy Vegan Recipes e-book, which features traditional American favorites like vegan meatloaf, creamy mac ‘n’ cheese, and chocolate chip cookies.
There's more. Run through the organization’s Vegan Starter Guide, or brush up on Eating Sustainably. There’s even a vegan guide for African Americans, which sprinkles in a few more recipes to boot. Check it out!
Free Plan: Access a vegan recipe e-book and educational resources when you sign up for free (plus blog content).
Paid Plans: Go ahead and donate if you love the resource!
5. BenBella’s Best of Plant-Based Eating
BenBella Books has published impressive green resources in the past, not least The China Study, a famous nutrition book that’s sold over 3 million copies.
BenBella has returned with a resource packed full of hand-picked recipes from brilliant plant-based cooks, not to mention articles written by leading scientists such as T. Colin Campbell.
The variety and value in this cookbook are fantastic. Buddha lentil burgers from HappyCow, fig and caramelized onion tarts from Heather Crosby, or why not try one of Tracy Russell’s wonderful green smoothies?
Now you can: the e-book version is free on Kindle and barnsandnoble.com. Check it out!
Free Plan: Extensive and varied cookbook now free on Kindle and barnsandnoble.com.
Paid Plans: N/A.
6. The Effective Vegan
The saying “nothing good in life ever comes free” is incorrect.
Why? Because you can get 3 full-length cookbooks from Chef Effect’s The Effective Vegan series for a grand total of $0.
“Good things come in threes.” That’s more like it.
I’m referring to 3 e-books in particular: Instant Pot Cookbook, Instant Pot Cookbook for 2, and Slow Cooker Cookbook for 4, all of which are free on Kindle.
Throughout 400+ pages, these books provide you with 200+ one-pot vegan recipes that are healthy, easy to follow, and delicious. But there’s so much more to make this a complete resource: tips, tricks, advice about one-pot and slow cooker cooking, vegan diet education, and pantry lists. This is a no-brainer!
Free Plan: 3 full-length vegan one-pot/slow cooker cookbooks ft. 200+ recipes, tips, and advice, free on Kindle.
Paid Plans: There are other cookbooks available from Chef Effect.
Quick, Cheap, & Easy
Resources are designed to make vegan life easier with recipes just about anyone could make.
7. People’s Potato
The People's Potato is a Montréal based soup kitchen dedicated to bringing healthy vegan meals to their community in need. This awesome organization takes the meat out of "meat and potatoes" and proves that feeding your community doesn't have to involve animal products.
But they're more than just a soup kitchen. They've got a community garden and 2 vegan cookbooks to their name, as well. Vegan on a Shoestring #1 and #2 include hundreds of recipes from current and former People's Potato cooks, all of which can be made for cheap. And the best part? They are both available online for free. No excuse not to get cooking.
Free Plan: 3 separate e-books packed with cheap and flavorful recipes.
Paid Plans: I’m sure People’s Potato would welcome any donations.
8. Vegan in the Freezer
Looking for easy, healthy meals that will keep well in the freezer? We've got you covered! Vegan in the Freezer is a blog devoted to bringing the vegan lifestyle to those of us with busy schedules.
Blog author Ligia Lugo is a mom, wife, and vegan influencer who creates and tests every single recipe herself. She's been featured in places like Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, and Yahoo for her novel approach to cooking for a family. Her site features product reviews, freezing tips, and a free vegan recipe e-book for all new subscribers.
Free Plan: Easy Vegan Dinner cookbook when you sign up for free (plus blog content).
Paid Plans: 2 additional cookbooks are available to buy.
9. Easy Tofu Cookbook
Tofu is a staple of the vegan kitchen and one of the most delicious meat-free alternatives. Tofu absorbs flavor like a sponge, making it a super-adaptable ingredient.
Chef Maggie Chow will show you just how adaptable (and easy) tofu can be in the Easy Tofu Cookbook: 50 Unique and Easy Tofu Recipes.
This is 173 pages all about tofu: from basic tofu dishes to recipes based on global cuisines. Thai coconut curry and lemongrass tofu, tofu burgers, Italian herb tofu soup, maple syrup, and hot sauce tofu bites. It’s a great book. Better still, it’s free on Kindle.
Free Plan: 50 varied and easy tofu recipes, plus tips about tofu cooking.
Paid Plans: Maggie Chow has other books available.
Want more tofu inspiration? Cauldron offers a selection of free e-cookbooks that use meatless products, including a free 30 recipe e-book supporting Veganuary.
10. My Goodness Kitchen
Like many of the innovative cooks featured on this list, Amanda of My Goodness Kitchen aims to bust the myth that vegan cooking is an expensive pain. The self-identified "time poor mom" specializes in fast and delicious meals for the family on busy weeknights.
On her site, you can find a myriad of quick recipes like kimchi salad with noodles or chickpea and spinach curry. She's even got your meat–heavy favorites without the meat (Reuben sandwich, anyone?). She's the author of Great Vegan Meals for the Carnivorous Family – but you can find dozens of recipes on her site if you're not quite ready to buy yet. And if that's not enough, she'll provide you with 2 free e-books stacked with even more delicious vegan recipes when you sign up for the site's newsletter.
Free Plan: 2 vegan e-books when you sign up for free (plus blog content).
Paid Plans: A paid cookbook is available.
11. Stonesoup
Stonesoup's Jules Clancy is a minimalist at heart. She's known for her "6 Ingredients, 20 Minutes" free app and cookbook. Jules is all about conserving time and ingredients without sacrificing flavor or health.
As you can probably guess, every recipe in the cookbook features 6 ingredients or fewer. For those of you concerned about what it will take to stock a vegan kitchen, Jules' cookbook is a great place to start. Although it's not entirely vegan, there are plenty of vegan and vegetarian recipes across the 100+ pages.
Free Plan: 100+ pages of simple, healthy recipes with endless variations (plus blog content).
Paid Plans: Stonesoup offers paid coaching and meal plans.
Comfort Food
Food that warms the soul to remind you of better days.
12. Elephantastic Vegan
Elephantastic Vegan isn’t the most well-known site on this list, but make no mistake, blogger and cookbook author Bianca offers an impressive pair of free cookbooks when you sign up for the site’s newsletter.
You’ll find loads of comfort dishes and not-so-healthy guilty pleasures on Elephantastic Vegan. The site's 2 free e-books, Everyday Vegan and Top 15 Recipes, inspire readers with a diverse range of cuisines. Quick and easy vegan spaghetti bolognese, banana bread pancakes, green falafel. It’s all available when you sign up!
Free Plan: 2 vegan recipe e-books and a regular newsletter when you sign up for free (plus blog content).
Paid Plans: 2 additional vegan cookbooks are available to buy if you like Bianca’s work.
13. The Korean Vegan
When Korean American lawyer Joanne Molinaro started posting videos to Tik-Tok to beat her boredom during the pandemic, she didn't expect that more than a few people would watch. But when a video of her cooking went viral, she made a habit of posting 60-second cooking videos regularly, eventually attracting a fan base of more than 5 million people across social media platforms.
Today, she's one of the most adored vegan chefs on social media with a New York Times best-selling cookbook on her resume. Take a tour of her website, and you'll find that her success is well-earned. She's a master of new takes on traditional Korean favorites and shows off the final products with professional-grade photography. Her cookbook, the Korean vegan cookbook, features over 80 plant-based recipes next to personal stories connecting each recipe to her own family history. It's comfort food meets memoir meets veganism – what's not to love?
Free Plan: Free e-book when you sign up (plus free blog content).
Paid Plans: You can order The Korean Vegan Cookbook on the website.
14. A Taste of One Pot: Three Ways
World-renowned vegan cook Rachel Ama is the proud author of a top vegan food blog, not to mention cookbooks that have sent shockwaves throughout the industry.
A taste of One Pot: Three Ways gives you a sample of vibrant and adaptable recipes from her famous publication. The food is inspired by her Caribbean and African roots: soulful, flavorful, and comforting. Get a taster for free on Kindle.
Free Plan: A handful of adaptable recipes.
Paid Plans: The full-length version of One Pot: Three Ways is available to buy.
15. Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake-Off Cookbook
On the other end of a free Google search, you can find veg.ca’s Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake-Off Cookbook. The vegan bake-off is an annual event hosted by the Toronto Vegetarian Association that pits hopeful vegan bakers against one another. You can discover some of the competition’s tastiest bakes in the above resource, such as peanut butter cookie dough truffles and vegan lemon doughnuts. Someone pinch me… I think I'm dreaming.
Free Plan: Top vegan baking recipes for free.
Paid Plans: N/A.
Nutrition and Healthy Living
Plant-based diets are scientifically proven to reduce your risk of certain diseases, like heart disease and some forms of cancer. There are also concerns that green eating can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Here are resources that promote a healthy diet and a happy life.
16. Wholly Nourished
A vegan diet is not just about the foods you eat. It’s about how food makes you feel, and the life you live beyond the kitchen that contributes to a wholesome, healthy existence. This is the philosophy of lifestyle guru and dietician Jaime — the author of Wholly Nourished.
You can learn more about WN’s approach to plant-based healthy living when you sign up for the site’s newsletter. You’ll receive a free plant-based recipes guide stuffed with dietician-approved meals that’ll make you feel on top of the world.
Free Plan: A plant-based cookbook, healthy living classes, and more when you sign up for free.
Paid Plans: WN offers paid meal plans, 1-on-1 coaching, and wellness courses.
17. Eat Green Get Lean
Perhaps the biggest stumbling block for those considering a vegan diet is the popular train of thought that “vegans don’t eat enough protein.” Acclaimed health and fitness author Michael Mathews is here to tell you that’s a misconception.
Eat Green Get Lean presents a list of 100 recipes that will help you cut fat while getting enough of that all-important muscle-building protein. A perfect option for plant-based athletes. For some reason, this excellent book can be found for free on Kindle and barnesandnoble.com. Still, I’m not complaining.
Free Plan: Eat Green Get Lean is free on Kindle and barnesandnoble.com.
Paid Plans: Mathews has plenty of other books available to buy.
18. Vegan Diet: 101 Recipes for Weight Loss
Some people may be looking at a vegan diet that can help them lose weight, rather than stack on extra muscle. That’s where Vegan Diet: 101 Recipes for Weight Loss can come in handy.
This is a fully-fledged weight loss cookbook that you can download free of charge on Kindle and barnesandnoble.com. The recipes are simple, offering easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions. It goes without saying the food is calorie-light and the sheer size of this resource compared to most free e-books is something to behold.
Free plan: The clues in the name: 101 Recipes for Weight Loss.
Paid plan: N/A.
Want more weight loss recipes? Read Daniel Doc’s 500+ Lean and Green Diet Recipes, now free on Kindle.
19. The Happy Pear
The Happy Pear, as featured on Netflix, ITV, and The Huffington Post, is a health-centric vegan business run by passionate vegans (and identical twins!) Steve and Dave Flynn.
These brothers have built their shared love of vegan food into a mega-site consisting of 40+ products, online courses, and a range of cookbooks, not to mention shops, cafes, a farm, and a roastery. It’s fair to say the two of them are doing something right.
The blog features loads of healthy, professional recipes from cuisines around the world. You can grab a slice of their success when you sign up, too, with the site’s Happy Shape Manual, which hands viewers a meal plan packed with 18 delicious plant-based recipes — all 100% free.
Free Plan: A cookbook and meal plan when you sign up for free (plus blog content).
Paid Plans: Foodstuffs, cookbooks, eLearning courses. You name it, they’ve got it.
20. 21 Day Vegan Kickstart
21 Day Vegan Kickstart is a fantastic resource from the acclaimed Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine. The program is designed to put you on the path to a healthy vegan lifestyle, and PCRM will provide you with a variety of content to make sure you’re doing it right.
You'll receive tips, advice, meal plans, and recipes, all from professional chefs, dietitians, and experts in vegan cuisine. These are delicious science-backed meals designed to make sure you're getting all of the nutrients you need and more. Oh yeah, it’s all consolidated in a mobile app, too.
Elsewhere, PCRM has a Vegan Starter Kit e-book that contains a few additional recipes. You're welcome.
Free Plan: 21 days worth of recipes, plus nutritional advice when you sign up for free.
Paid Plans: N/A.
21. A taste of Deliciously Ella: The Plant-based Cookbook
Ella Woodward is more than just a food blogger. This wildly successful Brit has an app, a bookshelf's worth of cookbooks, and her own restaurant. She's also the creator of hundreds of healthy, plant-based recipes.
Deliciously Ella Is for those of us who are going vegan to feel better in our bodies. You won't find French fries in Ella's hit cookbook "Deliciously Ella's Plant-based Cookbook." Instead, you'll find spiced peanut sweet potatoes or corn fritters with baked beans and avocado smash. I know what you're thinking – those don't sound healthy, they sound delicious! Deliciously Ella makes sure you get the best of both worlds.
Free Plan: A free sample of Ella’s cooking on Kindle.
Paid Plans: Upgrade to the full book or check out some of Ella’s other products.
App-Based Resources
Here are some recipe books you can find inside apps. Okay, they’re not e-books, but they are in a downloadable and easy-to-read format. Close enough.
22. One Green Planet
Not every vegan is here for the health benefits. Another great reason to give up meat and dairy is to honor the natural world. For the climate conscious vegan, One Green Planet is a great place to start.
A popular website for vegan recipes, One Green Planet isn't just a blog. It's also responsible for the Food Monster app, a phenomenal resource for hundreds of free vegan and plant-based recipes. Search across themes (like Christmas) and categories (like spicy) to find the perfect recipe for you. And if you're willing to part with some hard-earned cash, subscribers have access to over 12,000 recipes.
Free Plan: Hundreds of free recipes across varied categories (plus blog content).
Paid Plans: Access to the entire library of 12,000+ vegan and plant-based recipes.
23. Viva!
The Vegan Recipe Club app, the 7 Day Vegan, and the 30 Day Vegan app are 3 tremendous free resources from Viva! — one of the UK’s top vegan campaigning charities and proud creators of the popular Vegan Recipe Club blog.
You’ll be able to access Viva!’s wonderful recipes across all 3 channels.
7 Day Vegan will send you a week’s worth of mouth-watering recipes and meal plans, as well as shopping lists to help you prepare. V7 provides sign-ups with some helpful nutritional tips too, and the free 30 Day Vegan app will continue to support you on your path to a successful vegan diet.
If you crave choice — and indulgence — then the Vegan Recipe Club app is the virtual cookbook for you. Here you can discover 600+ vegan recipes across endless categories.
Free Plan: 7 Day Vegan meal plan and recipes, shopping lists, vegan tips when you sign up for free, 2 free recipe apps (plus blog content).
Paid Plans: Everything’s free in the name of charity. Donate to Viva! if you like…
The Bottom Line
Whether you're vegan for the climate, the animals, or the boost to your health, there's no question that a vegan lifestyle can be fun! Gone are the days when going vegan meant giving up all of your favorite foods.
And with a price tag of zero dollars, this comprehensive collection of vegan recipes from across the Internet is the perfect place to start. Experiment with complicated gourmet fare or play it safe with a meal designed to be easy and fast – either way, you'll find the perfect recipe here.