Dairy-Free Recipes: 11 Dishes to Try at Home

Cooks use many dairy-free alternatives to replace dairy products in recipes; here are a few of the most common:

1. 1. Milk alternatives: Cow’s milk and goat’s milk are common dairy-based liquid ingredients in the kitchen; popular dairy-free substitutions include plant-based milks like coconut milk, oat milk, and soy milk, and nut milks like walnut milk, almond milk, macadamia nut milk, cashew milk, and hazelnut milk.
2. 2. Butter alternatives: Butter made of churned cow’s milk is a popular cooking fat, but common dairy-free alternatives include coconut oil, vegan butter, olive oil, vegetable oil, or vegetable shortening, depending on the desired texture of the final product.
3. 3. Cheese alternatives: Cheese made of cow’s milk, sheep’s milk, or goat’s milk is a typical dairy ingredient in many recipes. Dairy-free substitutions include nut cheeses (like almond milk cheese and cashew cheese) and nutritional yeast.

Some recipes are naturally dairy-free, while others use dairy-free substitutes for common dairy ingredients. Here are some recipes for dairy-free meals, desserts, and snacks:

1. 1. Almond milk ice cream: A dairy-free frozen dessert made of almond milk, sugar, and a form of fat, almond milk ice cream is a dairy-free treat. For the fat, some recipes call for a custard base made from egg yolks, which boosts the creamy texture typically provided by milk fat in ice creams made from dairy, like traditional vanilla ice cream. This almond milk ice cream achieves that creaminess using refined coconut oil, which offers fat without a discernible coconut flavor or an animal product. For another nut milk dessert recipe, try coconut milk ice cream.
2. 2. Beef stew: Made with olive oil instead of butter, this naturally dairy-free meal is a great non-dairy comfort food. Make this beef stew a day ahead of time for an even better flavor since resting allows the flavors to meld and intensify.
3. 3. Chicken stir-fry: Stir-frying is an Asian technique that involves cooking vegetables and proteins, like chicken breast, over high heat in a wok. It is a flavorful option for quick, dairy-free dinners if you don’t have time to meal plan. Here’s an easy recipe for chicken stir-fry.
4. 4. Hummus: A Middle Eastern dish made of simple ingredients—chickpeas, tahini (sesame paste), olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic—hummus is naturally dairy-free and great with vegetables or Mediterranean flatbreads. You can make a traditional chickpea hummus or try different protein bases for this side dish, like this recipe for black bean hummus.
5. 5. Lentil soup: Lentils are a small, oval-shaped member of the legume family. Incredibly rich in protein and nutritious, lentil are a dairy- and gluten-free meal prep star. You can cook lentils on the stovetop or in a slow cooker or pressure cooker. This easy lentil soup is a great weeknight dinner.
6. 6. Mushroom tacos: Tacos are a traditional Mexican dish made with different types of seasonings and fillings—such as chicken, beef, fish, or vegetables like red peppers—inside a crispy corn or soft flour tortilla. To make these mushroom tacos, grill or sauté your mushrooms along with your choice of seasonings (like cumin) and toppings and wrap everything in a warm tortilla. Top them with cilantro and a tangy slice of lime for an extra flavorful bite.
7. 7. Quinoa: Quinoa is an ancient grain in the amaranth family with hundreds of different cultivated varieties to its name. The grain has roots in the Peruvian Andes and goes back more than 5,000 years. Quinoa is simple on its own and can be a perfect base for all kinds of spices, proteins, and vegetables.
8. 8. Ratatouille: This summer vegetable dish uses silky fresh tomato sauce as a foundation for onions, zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, bell peppers, garlic, and fresh herbs like marjoram, basil, bay leaf, and thyme. Ratatouille combines the best savory summertime flavors stewed down at the height of their season. It’s also naturally gluten-free and vegan.
9. 9. Roasted sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes are versatile root vegetables that make flavorful dairy-free side dishes. Make simple oven-roasted sweet potatoes, or you can try roasting other vegetables like butternut squash or Brussels sprouts. Other recipes for sweet potato include sweet mashed potatoes, sweet potato salad, or this za’atar sweet potato french fries recipe, which is crunchy side with burgers.
10. 10. Vegan chocolate chip cookies: For an egg- and dairy-free variation on traditional chocolate chip cookies, try this recipe for vegan chocolate chip cookies. It features coconut oil, white and brown sugar, dairy-free chocolate chips, plant-based milk, applesauce, all-purpose flour, and baking soda. You can swap the eggs back in for a dairy-free vegetarian option.
11. 11. Vegan corn chowder: Corn chowder is a soup usually consisting of cream, potatoes, corn, and spices. Vegan corn chowder retains the plant-based ingredients in regular corn chowder but replaces the creamy ingredients with vegan, dairy-free substitutes like coconut milk or soy milk.

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