Going vegan means overhauling your pantry just a little bit — with delicious vegan staples. It’s easier than ever, with plenty of vegan versions of the foods you already know and love.
Below are some of our go-to pantry staples that we just have to have at all times, including delicious ingredients like “nooch” that might be hard for a new vegan to find in the store.
Ready to shop?
Better Than Bouillon No Beef Base
Just add a tablespoon of this “beef” base to water to make a rich and flavorful meat-free broth for soups and stews. Each jar makes 38 cups of broth–a little goes a long way.
Vegenaise
This egg- and dairy-free mayo from Follow Your Heart makes a tasty vegan sandwich (or any recipe calling for mayo) even better. It’s like traditional mayo but without the animal cruelty and cholesterol.
Liquid Smoke
Did you know liquid smoke is a secret ingredient to lots of mock meat dishes? Just a tiny dash brings a meaty, smokey flavor to your dish. Try it with coconut bacon.
Daiya Deluxe Cheeze Sauce
Did you know you can buy just the cheeze sauce from Daiya’s signature mac n’ cheese? Make sure to stock up on this to use with pasta, veggies, nachos and more.
Butler Soy Curls
Rehydrated soy curls have a texture just like chicken or pork, and they’ll take on the flavor of whatever you use for seasoning (maybe with some of that No-Beef Base?) to emulate your old favorite dishes without the animals.
Textured Vegetable Protein
Like soy curls, textured vegetable protein (TVP) is a protein-packed dehydrated meat replacement. Just treat it as you would ground beef for a crumbly, juicy addition to tacos or pasta sauce. Add broth and seasoning.
Follow Your Heart VeganEgg
This egg replacer is perfect for baking, cooking or whipping up some scrambled “eggs.” Just mix the powder with water and you’re ready to go.
Dandies Vegan Marshmallows
Marshmallows are one of those things you don’t know you want until you’re really craving them. That’s why it’s good to grab some Dandies to have on hand, as conventional marshmallows are often made with animal-derived gelatin.
Biscoff Cookie Butter
Need we say more? Everyone with a sweet tooth needs a jar of this creamy cookie spread on hand. Nobody is too old for a cookie butter sandwich.
Louisville Vegan Jerky
Perfect for snacking on or for replacing bacon on a BLT. Fake Meats has a huge selection of vegan jerky to try–this is just one option.
Nutritional Yeast
Last but certainly not least: Vegan gold. For a slightly nutty, cheesy flavor, sprinkle over, well, anything, or use these B12-fortified flakes to make homemade cheese sauce.
Stuart McDonald is a Communications Manager at Animal Outlook, a national non-profit animal protection organization based in Washington, DC. She is passionate about making an ethical lifestyle easy and accessible for all and collaborating across social movements to create a kinder world. She writes about everything vegan: from plant-based eating to activism to legislation. Read her work on TryVeg.com and AnimalOutlook.org.