20 Dairy-Free Recipes So Good You Won't Be Wistful for Lactose

Whether you're looking for lactose-free or vegan options, these recipes are so flavor packed, you won't miss a thing.

Being Asian, I always considered myself fairly lucky not to have grown up lactose-intolerant. Heck, my first real paying job was scooping ice cream at Baskin-Robbins, and as a pastry chef, I loved coming up with new flavors of ice cream. Flash forward a few decades and I'm popping Lactaid tablets even before I start melting the cheese on my burger. Consequently, I'm always on the hunt for great dairy-free options that don't make me feel like I'm missing out on something.

It can be a real challenge to create dairy-free dishes that satisfy on all fronts—particularly when it comes to classics and comfort foods like pasta carbonara, Philly cheesesteak, cream of mushroom soup, chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate mousse. But many of our recipes make innovative use of avocado, cauliflower, olive oil, and almond milk to replicate the flavor and texture of dairy-based favorites such as creamed spinach. So, whatever dairy-free recipes you're looking for—entrees, sides, snacks, or desserts—we've got you covered.

Cheese-Free Sweet Potato "Quesadillas"

While you can make a tasty quesadilla with any number of dairy-free cheeses, we happen to think that mashed roasted sweet potatoes seasoned with cilantro, pickled jalapeños, and scallions make a perfectly delicious swap for the "queso" part of the equation. What's not to like when that bright orange filling is encased in a crispy, puffy flour tortilla?

Get Recipe: Cheese-Free Sweet Potato "Quesadillas"

Fully Loaded Vegan Baked Potato Soup

Roasted cauliflower, roasted cashews, chipotle chiles, and paprika blended with potato give this soup its "cheesy" look, flavor, and creamy texture. It comes fully loaded with vegan sour cream, scallions, and crispy vegan bacon (a.k.a. smoked mushroom) for a hearty, satisfying one-bowl meal.

Get Recipe: Fully Loaded Vegan Baked Potato Soup

Vegan Lasagna alla Bolognese

A vital component of a classic lasagna alla Bolognese is the creamy béchamel sauce which, I would argue, is what pulls the whole thing together. Daniel convincingly captures the richness and essence of a true béchamel in non-dairy form by infusing almond milk with aromatics for maximum flavor. Now whether you go full-vegan or just use the creamy dairy-free béchamel in your lasagna is entirely up to you.

Get Recipe: Vegan Lasagna alla Bolognese

Vegan Carbonara Pasta

Carbonara pasta is another tough one to nail without the requisite Pecorino Romano. Here, Daniel uses sauerkraut brine for the lactic tang, while nutritional yeast and miso paste provide the umami that real aged cheese brings to the dish,

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Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup With Crispy Shiitake Chips

What's a cream of mushroom soup without the cream, you say? Well, Kenji devised a 100% dairy-free rendition that's every bit as luxurious and satisfying as the butter- and cream-laden version—and more intensely mushroomy to boot!

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Rhode Island Clam Chowder With White Wine and Bacon

This Rhode Island version of the classic soup is perhaps the clammiest of all the chowders on this side of the Atlantic. Unlike the heavier cream-based chowders, this one features a light, bright broth and a touch of white wine that really lets the clam flavor shine through.

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Vegan Cauliflower-Creamed Spinach

In this recipe, replacing the dairy with cauliflower purée intensifies the flavor and brightness of the spinach, without sacrificing the creamy texture.

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Chilled Carrots With Tahini-Ginger Dressing

Buttered carrots are fine as a side dish. But these glossy chilled carrots with tahini-ginger dressing are an upgrade—especially on a summer table. You can serve them anytime, though!

Get Recipe: Chilled Carrots With Tahini-Ginger Dressing

The Best Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce

The mark of a superior vegan nacho cheese sauce—any dairy-free cheese sauce, for that matter—is nailing the rich, full mouthfeel and gooey, creamy texture. Kenji achieves this by blending cashews and Russet potato with almond milk, then building layers of flavor to get the perfect level of tangy, salty nacho spice.

Get Recipe: The Best Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce

Vegan Philly Cheesesteak

Meaty yuba sheets (tofu skin) smothered in a rich mushroom broth, roasted trumpet mushrooms, and caramelized onions provide the ideal stand-in for grilled sliced steak. However, it's the gooey dairy-free cheese sauce that clinches it. Sohla dials back on the spice of Kenji's vegan nacho sauce by using tomato paste and nutritional yeast in place of chipotles, jalapeños, and hot sauce for more of that Cheez Whiz vibe.

Get Recipe: Vegan Philly Cheesesteak

Dried Olive and Miso Shake (The Best Vegan Parmesan Substitute)

If you're looking for something to take the place of grated Parmesan (or Pecorino Romano), then this deeply savory, slightly tangy mix of dried olive, miso paste, and lemon zest will be the sprinkle-on-anything condiment of your dreams.

Get Recipe: Dried Olive and Miso Shake (The Best Vegan Parmesan Substitute)

Dairy-Free Chocolate Cake

This supremely dark chocolate cake is one to keep in your baking repertoire. Olive oil keeps it super moist and dairy-free. It's so easy and quick to make that you can whip one up for a weeknight dessert—whether you have company or you're dining solo.

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Chè Chuối (Vietnamese Banana, Tapioca, and Coconut Milk Dessert)

This rich, creamy coconut milk-based soup is ideal for when you're craving a not-too-sweet snack or dessert to cap off your meal. Serve it warm or hot with sliced pisang awak bananas or ripe sweetened plantains and crushed roasted peanuts for a delightful dairy-free treat.

Get Recipe: Chè Chuối (Vietnamese Banana, Tapioca, and Coconut Milk Dessert)

Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies

A mild buttery olive oil is an excellent fat to use in a dairy-free chocolate chip cookie—which also makes it vegan and pantry-friendly. Crispy along the edges and chewy in the center with pops of gooey chocolate, these might become a new favorite to put on your dessert rotation.

Get Recipe: Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies

Vegan Avocado Lime Ice Cream

Avocado and lime in guacamole is a match made in heaven, but it's even more miraculous in dairy-free ice cream. That's because when you combine the fatty and buttery texture of avocado with the bright tang of lime, you get an ice cream that's just as rich and smooth as the egg- and cream-based variety.

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Plum Sorbet

The key to making a sorbet that's as luscious as ice cream is choosing fruits that have body and texture—like plums. Using a mix of varieties will give you a more complex flavor profile.

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Avocado Chocolate Mousse

Avocado is the secret ingredient to making super creamy, velvety smooth dairy-free chocolate mousse. A little oat milk and agave syrup aids in blending and adds some sweetness.

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Boozy Piña Colada Popsicles

Dessert cocktail on a stick? Yes, please! Here, unsweetened coconut cream provides thickness and body, while fresh pineapple adds bright tropical flavor and acidity. A splash of rum brings everything together with a little hit boozy spice.

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Coquito Smoothie

Who wouldn't want to start their day with a smoothie full of holiday vibes? This dairy-free drink, inspired by the Puerto Rican punch coquito, is a blend of coconut milk (from a carton, not a can), frozen bananas, and maple syrup. Add a sprinkling of nutmeg for an eggnog flavor.

Get Recipe: Coquito Smoothie

DIY Rice Milk

Making your own rice milk from scratch allows you to flavor it however you like—try cocoa, cinnamon, or nutmeg. Plus, you can save a little money.

Get Recipe: DIY Rice Milk

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