Best Vegetarian Cookbooks

Updated October 2019
Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
America's Test Kitchen
The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook
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Most Comprehensive
Bottom Line

Minor quirks aside, this is a best-selling vegetarian cookbook with hundreds of chef-inspired recipes suitable for numerous types of meals, occasions, and cooks.

Pros

Packed with 700 recipes for making everything vegetarian, from soups to side dishes and snacks to main courses. Includes numerous gluten-free and vegan recipes. Instructions are detailed and easy to follow. Includes many color photos. Available in paperback, spiral-bound, and on Kindle.

Cons

A few of the recipes are elaborate, and many require eggs or cheese. The Kindle edition doesn't come with a table of contents.

Matt Frazier and Stepfanie Romine
The No Meat Athlete Cookbook
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For Active Vegetarians
Bottom Line

Award-winning vegetarian cookbook that has earned praise from athletes and professionals in the field for its healthful recipes that are geared toward meat-free active lifestyles.

Pros

Contains meatless recipes for every meal that are made with ingredients that fuel workouts, and includes recipes to make homemade sports drinks. Users brag about many of the dishes providing energy for working out and staying active. Available on Kindle and in paperback.

Cons

Some athletes may be surprised that the recipes don't come with detailed nutritional information that's key to their goals. Some recipes are complicated while others seem quite basic.

Deborah Madison
The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
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Fan-favorite
Bottom Line

A revised edition of a cookbook that has a fan-base of dedicated vegetarians who love the distinctive flavors and wide variety of the recipes inside.

Pros

This popular vegetarian cookbook has been updated and includes new recipes and vegan dishes along with classic favorites. Teaches techniques that bring out exceptional flavors in a variety of recipes, including vegetarian desserts. Comes in a hardcover edition plus is available on Kindle.

Cons

Quite a few of the recipes call for eggs, which won't appeal to strict vegetarians or vegans. If you have the original edition, you may find some of the contents repetitive.

Best Bang for the Buck
Heather Nicholds
The College Vegan Cookbook
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Budget-friendly Recipes
Bottom Line

An affordable vegetarian cookbook with recipes that can be made with inexpensive ingredients. The best value on our shortlist.

Pros

A good read for students as well as vegetarians on a budget, as it focuses on ingredients that are affordable and easily accessible. Recipes are easy to follow and prepare, yet healthful and delicious. Available in an inexpensive paperback version and also on Kindle.

Cons

Some of the recipes require oil, which some people avoid. Would be better if it had more photos of completed dishes.

Mark Bittman
How to Cook Everything Vegetarian
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Best for Beginners
Bottom Line

Numerous easy-to-follow recipes make this a suitable cookbook for novice vegetarians and cooks who only occasionally prepare meat-free meals.

Pros

A revised version of a popular vegetarian cookbook that contains modern recipes and vegan options. Author is an experienced writer on food topics. Book and the recipes in it are put together nicely and easy to follow. Kindle and hardcover options are available.

Cons

Many of the recipes are basic, and may not appeal to longtime vegetarians. Some mistakes/missing pages reported.

How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

18 Models Considered
6 Hours Researched
1 Experts Interviewed
213 Consumers Consulted
Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.

Whether you have been a vegetarian for years or are transitioning from a meat-based diet, sometimes it can be challenging to come up with ideas for tasty meatless dishes. The good news is that a vegetarian cookbook can give you recipe ideas that will make your plant-based diet easy and delicious. From classic favorites like chili and pizza that are made without meat to innovative concoctions, vegetarian cookbooks contain countless recipes for cooking with your favorite veggies. Whether you choose a hardback or paperback, a vegetarian cookbook makes a great companion for your kitchen. If you prefer to go the e-reader route, many top-sellers are available on Kindle, too.

The team that worked on this review
  • Jennifer
    Jennifer
    Writer
  • Melinda
    Melinda
    Web Producer
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America's Test Kitchen

The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook

America's Test Kitchen

The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook

Minor quirks aside, this is a best-selling vegetarian cookbook with hundreds of chef-inspired recipes suitable for numerous types of meals, occasions, and cooks.

$23
×

Matt Frazier and Stepfanie Romine

The No Meat Athlete Cookbook

Matt Frazier and Stepfanie Romine

The No Meat Athlete Cookbook

Award-winning vegetarian cookbook that has earned praise from athletes and professionals in the field for its healthful recipes that are geared toward meat-free active lifestyles.

$0
×

Deborah Madison

The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone

Deborah Madison

The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone

A revised edition of a cookbook that has a fan-base of dedicated vegetarians who love the distinctive flavors and wide variety of the recipes inside.
$27
×

Heather Nicholds

The College Vegan Cookbook

Heather Nicholds

The College Vegan Cookbook

An affordable vegetarian cookbook with recipes that can be made with inexpensive ingredients. The best value on our shortlist.

$11
×

Mark Bittman

How to Cook Everything Vegetarian

Mark Bittman

How to Cook Everything Vegetarian

Numerous easy-to-follow recipes make this a suitable cookbook for novice vegetarians and cooks who only occasionally prepare meat-free meals.

$24

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