Ahhh, football season—that fun time of the year dedicated to chili and buffalo chicken dip. But let’s be honest, attending a tailgate as a vegan is essentially taking the same risk as walking onto the football field in the middle of a play.
But actually, there are a ton of incredible vegan game day recipes that even meat lovers will go wild over. We teamed up with our friends at BUSH’S® Beans to bring ’em to ya.
1. Asada Mushroom Tacos With Lime Smashed Avocado
You won’t miss the meat (or the cheese) in these tacos. Portobello mushrooms get marinated in chipotle, orange juice, and garlic so they basically taste like carne asada, then get topped with smashed avocado, Maldon sea salt, and a fresh pineapple salsa.
2. BUSH’S® Backyard Black Bean Burgers
It’s not game day without burgers, and this black bean version won’t last more than five minutes. BUSH’S® Black Beans get dressed up with a dash of salsa, cumin, garlic salt, and cornmeal (for a crumbly texture and slightly sweet flavor). Grill the patties then top with your favorite vegan toppings and dig in. Take that, meat.
3. Mini Crispy Eggplant Pizzas
Did someone say vegan and gluten-free pizza? Yep, these babies are like the eggplant Parm of your dreams, but vegan. And mini! We love that these pizzas are small enough that you can keep your full focus on the game (instead of trying keep pizza sauce off your jersey).
4. Creamy Sweet Potato and Chickpea Dip
Ditch the onion dip and go for this option made from sweet potatoes and chickpeas. Why? Not only is it high in protein, potassium, and vitamin A, but it also tastes so good you’ll want to put it on everything. You might wanna double the recipe or it’ll be gone before the first touchdown.
5. Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches
Pulled pork who? In case you haven’t tried jackfruit, you should know that the starchy fruit mimics classic pulled pork while giving you way more nutrients (this recipe serves up 34 percent of your recommended daily value of vitamin C!). Once you’re done prepping your jackfruit, toss it in barbecue sauce and top with slaw. Is your mouth watering yet?
6. The Best Vegan Chili Ever
We promise this recipe lives up to its name. Crumbled tofu mixes with black and kidney beans in a spicy-sweet sauce made from chili powder, cumin, brown sugar, smoked paprika, and cayenne. So even if you’re vegan, you can have that classic chili and eat it too.
7. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Date Bread
Is there anything more satisfying than pumpkin and chocolate? The dates give this gluten-free, vegan bread a surge of natural sweetness (and fiber!), while the chocolate chips (double-check packaging to make sure your chips are vegan) offer an ooey-gooey bite. Slice up this loaf and watch it disappear.
