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Dairy-Free

“Cheesy” Vegan Enchiladas

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overhead image of vegan enchiladas in a baking dish

Wholesome and comforting vegan enchiladas! Stuffed with mushrooms, black beans, an easy homemade enchilada sauce, and finished off with creamy vegan queso. It doesn’t get any cozier or more delicious than these “cheesy” vegan enchiladas!

close-up image of vegan enchiladas in a baking dish

What You’ll Need To Make Vegan Enchiladas

Tomato Paste – The key to a rich and creamy enchilada sauce is tomato paste. The concentrated flavor in tomato paste gives our sauce an extra tangy and intense taste.

Vegetable Broth – Most homemade enchilada sauces are made with chicken broth, but to keep ours plant-based, we use vegetable broth instead. Vegetable broth contributes an additional hint of flavor to this already super flavorful recipe. If you don’t have vegetable broth, you can use two cups of water in its place.

Mushrooms – Finely chopped mushrooms provide our vegan enchiladas with a “meaty” texture! I personally love mushrooms, and add them to many of my vegan recipes. They’re a healthy, delicious, and versatile source of plant-based protein. However, if you don’t enjoy mushrooms, you can use 1/2 cup of cooked lentils instead.

Black Beans – Our other source of protein is a can of drained and rinsed black beans! They, similar to mushrooms, give this meatless dinner recipe a heartier texture.

Tortillas – Feel free to use any tortillas you’d like! Corn tortillas or flour tortillas are the standard, but grain-free tortillas taste delicious as well. Though regardless of the type of tortillas you use, make sure they’re no larger than 8-inches. This way, once rolled they’ll fit perfectly in a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Vegan Cashew Queso – The secret ingredient to our “cheesy” vegan enchiladas is half a cup of my vegan cashew queso! It’s super quick and easy to take, coming together in under 10 minutes. While highly recommended, you can make this recipe without the vegan queso if you’d prefer.

overhead image of vegan enchiladas in a baking dish with cilantro and limes on the side

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Gluten-Free: For gluten-free enchiladas, use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas. Also, be sure the corn starch you’re using in the enchilada sauce is also gluten-free.

Make it Paleo: These vegan enchiladas are very easily made paleo as well! To do this, replace the corn starch with arrowroot starch and black beans with diced, then roasted sweet potatoes. Also, use your favorite paleo tortillas, such as Siete Almond Flour Tortillas for rolling your enchiladas.

Add Cheese: If not vegan or dairy-free, finish this dinner recipe off with a sprinkling of your favorite shredded cheese right before baking!

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“Cheesy” Vegan Enchiladas

Wholesome and comforting vegan enchiladas! Stuffed with mushrooms, black beans, an easy homemade enchilada sauce, and finished off with creamy vegan queso. It doesn’t get any cozier or more delicious than these “cheesy” vegan enchiladas!
Print Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

For the enchilada sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 2 cups vegetable broth

For the filling:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the enchiladas:

  • 8 8-inch tortillas
  • 1/2 cup vegan cashew queso, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
  • Make the enchilada sauce by whisking together olive oil and corn starch in a large skillet over medium heat, until starch has fully dissolved.
  • Add in the chili powder, cumin, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder, cook for 2 minutes.
  • Pour in apple cider vinegar, tomato paste, and vegetable broth, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes or until sauce has thickened.
  • Prepare the filling by heating olive oil in a separate large skillet over medium heat. Add in mushrooms, bell pepper, and yellow onion, cook for 3-5 minutes or until veggies are tender.
  • Add in black beans, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and ½ cup of enchilada sauce you made earlier. Stir and cook for 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
  • Roll enchiladas by placing ¼ cup of filling mixture in the center of each tortilla, ten rolling tortilla around filling to seal. Repeat this process until all 8 tortillas are stuffed and rolled.
  • Spoon half homemade enchilada sauce into the bottom of a large baking dish. Then, place all 8 enchiladas on top of sauce with the seam side facing down.
  • Top with remaining enchilada sauce, then vegan cashew cheese if using. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal

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30 Minutes or Less

Creamy Mushroom Pasta (Vegan and Gluten-Free!)

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mushroom pasta on a plate

The easiest mushroom pasta – requiring only 7 ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes! Perfectly creamy and comforting, yet entirely vegan and gluten-free. Defying all odds with this easy, next-level-DELICIOUS mushroom pasta recipe!

overhead image of mushroom pasta on a plate with fresh sage on the side

What You’ll Need To Make Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Pasta – All pasta shapes and sizes are welcome here. I used my all-time favorite Jovial Brown Rice Gluten-Free Tagliatelle, but really any pasta will work. Spaghetti, penne, bow-ties, etc – anything and everything will taste delicious! And for a grain-free option, you can swap the pasta for zucchini noodles.

Butter – I used Myoko’s Cultured Vegan Butter in my mushroom pasta, but you can use any type of butter you’d like. Though if you’re like me and looking to keep this dinner recipe vegan or dairy-free, I highly recommend the Myoko’s butter. It’s made from simple, good-for-you ingredients, and tastes just like the real thing!

Mushrooms – I’m starting to feel like a broken record here, but again, any and all mushrooms will taste great in this dish! I picked up a mushroom variety pack from my local grocery store to keep things exciting.

Garlic – All my fellow garlic fiends, go ahead and add a few extra cloves! I love how well the garlic shines through in this super simple meal. It adds this savory, salty bite that’s seriously so good.

Shallot – Either a shallot or half of a small yellow onion will work. Whichever option you take, be sure to finely chop it before cooking. If left too large, it could get in the way of the carefully curated textures in this dish.

mushroom pasta being lifted off a plate with a fork

Tips and Tricks

  • Don’t forget to reserve pasta water! Pasta water has the perfect amount of starch in it, which will help to thicken the sauce. If forgotten, you can use either regular water or vegetable broth in its place, but risk a thin sauce that won’t lock in as much flavor.
  • Get started on the mushrooms as soon as the pasta starts cooking. The pasta will take anywhere from 7 to 12 minutes to cook, which is exactly the amount of time you’ll need to make the sauce. Therefore, time everything perfectly by having both components going at the same time!
  • This mushroom pasta is best served immediately after cooking! However, if you ever need to reheat pasta, add a little bit of broth or water to freshen it up. I recommend reheating this mushroom pasta over the stove with 1/4-1/2 cup of vegetable broth, stirring frequently until warm throughout!
overhead image of mushroom pasta on a plate with white wine on the side

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan: Take my vegan option and use vegan butter instead of regular butter.

Make it Gluten-Free: For gluten-free mushroom pasta, simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta.

Paleo/Grain-Free Option: Make this a paleo pasta recipe by substituting the regular pasta with zucchini noodles, and the butter for olive oil, avocado oil, or ghee!

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Creamy Mushroom Pasta (Vegan and Gluten-Free!)

The easiest mushroom pasta – requiring only 7 ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes! Perfectly creamy and comforting, yet entirely vegan and gluten-free. Defying all odds with this easy, next-level-DELICIOUS mushroom pasta recipe!
Print Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pasta, uncooked
  • 4 tablespoons butter, separated (I used vegan butter)
  • 7 ounces mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped

Instructions

  • Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente.
  • While pasta cooks, melt two tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms to skillet and cook until mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Sprinkle mushroom with salt and pepper, then add in garlic and shallots. Cook for about 2 minutes or until very fragrant.
  • Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain pasta and transfer to the skillet. Add in remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and about ½ cup of that reserved pasta water.
  • Reduce heat to low, and simmer until a nice sauce forms and coats the pasta. Continue adding remaining reserved pasta water if pasta begins to dry out. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal

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Breakfast

Double Chocolate Chia Pudding

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two cups chocolate chia pudding

Ultra decadent, yet healthy double chocolate chia pudding! Whip together this easy breakfast or snack in no time at all. Top this rich and extra chocolatey treat off with fresh berries, whipped cream, or what the heck – even more chocolate!

chocolate chia pudding in cups with whipped cream and chopped chocolate on top

What You’ll Need To Make This Double Chocolate Chia Pudding

  • Non-Dairy Milk – Use any non-dairy milk you’d like! I used the Elmhurst Almond Milk since it’s what I had on-hand, and I love their simple ingredients (literally just almonds and water). Though whichever non-dairy milk you use, make sure it’s completely unsweetened. The maple syrup in this plant-based recipe yields all the sweetness we need.

  • Maple Syrup – This unrefined sweetener is slightly lower on the glycemic index than white sugar, meaning it’s less likely to cause that awful sugar spike, then crash. I absolutely love maple syrup, and use it whenever possible! It’s super versatile, perfectly sweet, and has this caramel-y flavor that is to-die-for. However, if you don’t have maple syrup, you can use honey or date syrup in its place.

  • Cocoa Powder – Unsweetened cocoa powder, that is! While most cocoa powders are unsweetened, there are a select few on grocery store shelves that have sugar in them. So learn from my mistakes here, and don’t accidentally throw the sweetened kind into your cart. Ghirardelli and Hershey both make very good unsweetened cocoa powders. And if you want to make this vegan recipe even healthier, then use cacao powder instead. Cacao is less processed than cocoa, and is chock-full of vitamins and minerals.

  • Chia Seeds – These tiny black seeds are the star of our double chocolate chia pudding recipe! Chia seeds are a superfood (for reasons I’ll get into in the next section), are gluten-free, and can be found at most grocery stores. Though if you can’t find chia seeds at your local grocery store, try a health store or vitamin shop instead. Also, Amazon sells pounds of them!
spoon scooping chocolate chia pudding out of a cup

Are Chia Seeds Healthy?

Yes, chia seeds are super duper healthy! They’re loaded with all sorts of nutrients, such as:

  • Iron – increases energy and focus.
  • Manganese – essential for bone health and development.
  • Phosphorus – repairs damaged muscle and bones.
  • Selenium – protects against cell damage and infection.
  • Magnesium – boosts heart health and helps regulate blood pressure.
  • Calcium – vital to building and maintaining strong bones.

They’re also a great source of plant-based protein, fiber, and healthy fats!

Toppings/Add-Ins

  • Protein Powder
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Fresh Berries
  • Sliced Banana
  • Peanut Butter
  • Hemp Seeds
  • Chopped Nuts
  • Granola
5 from 1 vote

Double Chocolate Chia Pudding

Ultra decadent, yet healthy double chocolate chia pudding! Whip together this easy breakfast or snack in no time at all. Top this rich and extra chocolatey treat off with fresh berries, whipped cream, or what the heck – even more chocolate!
Print Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups non-dairy milk
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup chia seeds
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

Instructions

  • Whisk together the milk, maple syrup, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl.
  • Add in chia seeds and chocolate chips, stir once to combine, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
  • Once thick, remove from the fridge and give chia pudding a stir before serving.

Notes

  • Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

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    30 Minutes or Less

    Thai Fried Rice with Chicken

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    thai fried rice in a bowl.

    A wholesome and delicious Thai chicken fried rice, ready in under 20 minutes! This healthy one-pan dinner is bursting with flavor. Fresh, savory, hearty, and oh-so satisfying – who doesn’t love a good fried rice?!

    Thai fried rice in a pan with fresh thai basil on top

    What You’ll Need To Make This Thai Fried Rice

    Chicken – Either chicken, shrimp, beef, pork, or tofu will taste amazing in this Thai-inspired recipe. Or, you can easily omit the protein altogether. I chose chicken since it’s a crowd-favorite. But for other proteins, simply slice them into small strips or cubes, then season and cook them just as you would the chicken. For shrimp, beef, and pork adjust the cook time until they’re cooked through. Then, for tofu, simply cook until golden brown and crispy.

    Cooked White Rice – The key here is cooked and cooled rice. Leftover rice works especially well since it’s dryer, meaning it’ll cook up even crispier. However, if you don’t have leftover rice, simply make a batch of rice and then leave it to cool, uncovered, for as long as possible before using it in this stir-fry. The less moisture present in your cooked rice, the better. And while white rice tastes the best in this recipe, feel free to use brown rice instead.

    Oyster Sauce – What is oyster sauce, you ask?? It’s a thick brown sauce comprised of oyster juices, sugar, and salt. It’s sweet, with a hint of savory, and doesn’t at all taste like oysters in my opinion. Oyster sauce works to balance out the intensely savory flavors of this Thai fried rice.

    Thai fried rice in a serving bowl with a fork and a spoon

    Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Paleo/Grain-Free: For a paleo meal, use cauliflower rice in place of the cooked white rice in this recipe. Also, replace the soy sauce with coconut aminos and the oyster sauce with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup.

    Make it Gluten-Free: Most of this dish is already gluten-free, though to guarantee it’s gluten-free, replace the soy sauce with tamari. Tamari is the gluten-free equivalent to soy sauce and tastes exactly the same!

    Make it Vegan: For a vegan Thai fried rice, replace the chicken with cubed extra-firm tofu, and leave out the eggs. Also, replace the oyster sauce with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.

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    Thai Fried Rice with Chicken

    A wholesome and delicious Thai chicken fried rice, ready in under 20 minutes! This healthy one-pan dinner is loaded with flavor. Fresh, savory, hearty, and oh-so satisfying – who doesn’t love a good fried rice?!
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings

    Ingredients

    • 2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced
    • salt and pepper, to taste
    • 3 tablespoons avocado oil
    • 1/2 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
    • 3 garlic cloves, minced
    • 3 green onions, chopped (white and green parts separated)
    • 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
    • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
    • 3 cups cooked white rice, see Notes

    For the sauce:

    • 3 tablespoons soy sauce, use tamari for gluten-free
    • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, see Notes
    • 1-2 teaspoons hot sauce or chili paste

    Instructions

    • Season sliced chicken with salt and pepper on all sides.
    • Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add in chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
    • Add ginger, garlic, white part of green onion, and carrots to the skillet. Cook for about 3 minutes, tossing frequently, until carrots are tender.
    • Push veggies to one side of the skillet and pour whisked eggs into the other side. Gently scramble eggs until fully cooked, then combine with the veggies.
    • Add rice to skillet and mix together all sauce ingredients in a small bowl, then pour sauce into skillet as well.
    • Cook for about 2 minutes or until everything is coated in sauce, then stir in green part of green onions and cooked chicken, serve warm.

    Notes

  • Rice: You can use brown rice, white rice, or even cauliflower rice in this recipe.
  • Oyster Sauce: If you can’t find oyster sauce, you can use hoisin sauce or brown sugar in its place.

    • Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

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    30 Minutes or Less

    Quick and Easy Kale Caesar Salad

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    dressing being poured over kale caesar salad

    This kale caesar salad is bursting with fresh flavor! It’s hearty and super satisfying, but won’t leave you feeling weighed down. Fuel up on this healthy and delicious restaurant-quality salad for lunch or dinner!

    caesar dressing being poured over a kale caesar salad

    What You’ll Need

    Kale – Duh! It wouldn’t be a kale caesar salad without it. There’s a pretty large variety of kale out there, and really any kind will work in this recipe. I used curly kale, but dino kale tastes just as good. To prepare your kale for this dish, start by removing the thickest part of the stem located at the base of each leaf. Once that’s gone, lay all kale leaves down on a cutting board horizontally and run your knife through them. Keep your cuts about 1 to 2-inches apart, anything bigger may become difficult to chew!

    Romaine – Crunchy romaine adds the perfect, fresh bite to this healthy salad recipe! Since romaine is made up of mostly water, it’s softer and easier to chew than fibrous kale. I experimented with both a romaine and non-romaine version of this recipe, and adding in romaine is definitely the way to go! However, if you don’t have any romaine lettuce on-hand, feel free to make this salad without it.

    Croutons – This kale caesar salad is allllll about a good crunch. We stop at literally nothing to add as much crunch to it as possible. Personally, I don’t think any caesar salad is complete without at least a few croutons – they’re arguably the best part! You can use store-bought croutons, but I included a note below this recipe on how to make your own homemade croutons. It’s actually super quick, easy, and that much more delicious.

    Anchovy Filets – Guys, I don’t wanna hear it! Anchovies have such a bed rep, but they actually work wonders in many recipes. Also, if you think you “hate” anchovies, but enjoy caesar salads on a regular basis, then think again! Most caesar dressings contain some form of anchovies, or at least all the really good ones do. And don’t worry, 3-4 anchovy filets won’t make our dressing taste at all fishy. They simply add a delicious, briny touch that’s truly unmatched! Therefore, don’t make this recipe without them.

    kale caesar salad being lifted out of a serving bowl

    Add Protein

    Turn this easy salad recipe into a complete meal by topping it with cooked chicken, shrimp, salmon, or some crispy chickpeas!

    What Makes This Kale Caesar Salad So Healthy?

    Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet! I mean, it’s a literal superfood, so it’s full of:

    • Vitamin A – strengthens immune system.
    • Vitamin K – necessary to prevent blood clotting.
    • Folate – great for brain development.
    • Potassium – aids nerve and muscle function.
    • Vitamin C – prevents chronic diseases.
    • Calcium – builds strong bones.
    • Zinc – strengthens immune system and metabolism.

    Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free croutons instead!

    Make it Dairy-Free: Either omit the parmesan cheese, or use nutritional yeast or your favorite non-dairy parmesan cheese in its place.

    Vegan Option: Make this a vegan kale caesar salad by replacing the parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast, the mayonnaise with vegan mayonnaise, and the anchovy filets with a teaspoon of capers.

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    Kale Caesar Salad

    This kale caesar salad is bursting with fresh flavor! It’s hearty and super satisfying, but won’t leave you feeling weighed down. Fuel up on this healthy and delicious restaurant-quality salad for lunch or dinner!
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings

    Ingredients

    For the salad:

    • 1 bunch kale, stems removed and chopped
    • 4 cups romaine, chopped
    • 1 cup croutons, see Notes for homemade croutons
    • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese shreds, optional

    For the dressing:

    • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
    • 3-4 anchovy filets
    • 2 garlic cloves, peeled
    • 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Add all salad ingredients to a large bowl.
    • Add all dressing ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and combined.
    • Drizzle dressing over salad, toss to coat, then serve.

    Notes

  • Homemade Croutons: Slice thick, crusty bread (such as French bread) into 1-inch cubes. Place cubed bread on a baking sheet and drizzle with about a tablespoon of olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt and black pepper. Bake croutons at 350° Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

    • Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

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