Homemade Vegan Stew & Casserole Recipes

When the weather cools and you crave something satisfying, few things hit the spot like homemade vegan stews or casseroles. These dishes fill your home with rich smells and offer all the familiar comfort but skip the animal products.

This carrot potato mushroom stew (Broke Bank Vegan) shows how the most basic cheap ingredients, can make a stellar filling meal. Beginning with the classic Italian combo of celery, onion and carrots, the stew then adds in baby potatoes, mushrooms, tomatoes and seasoning, along with good veggie stock.

Keep this recipe away from pets due to unsafe ingredients (garlic, onion, mushrooms). Read more on food safety for people and pets. 

Just bin alliums (onion family) scraps (along with citrus and rhubarbs) as acids could harm compost bin creatures. 

The flavour in this soup is amplified by adding two other ingredients. Tamari (like posh soy sauce) and balsamic vinegar (from Italy). Both are expensive. But if making your own food, you are saving money long-term.

As you can then base meals around cheap ingredients like potatoes, tinned beans and vegetables, and use a tiny amount of quality flavouring ingredients to make the dish.

Vegan stews and casseroles stand out for their variety and deep flavours. Without animal-derived ingredients, everything relies on the natural tastes of vegetables, beans, grains, and clever seasoning.

• Generous chunks of veg and pulses make the base.
• Plant-based proteins give body and keep you full.
• Rich sauces and stocks add bold taste.
• Aromatics and herbs lift the whole dish.

A Hearty Affordable Butter Bean Stew

This butter bean stew (Crowded Kitchen) is an ideal recipe to master, as it’s warm and filling, packed with protein and calcium, heaped with fresh vegetables and cheap to eat! Tinned butter beans are on sale everywhere, and with vegetables form a complete meal.

Ideal for cold autumn and winter nights, this is a filling meal on its own, or especially if served with good bread. Like all ‘bean stew’ recipes, you can just sub any canned beans leftover in the cupboard.

All you do for this recipe is fry onion and garlic in a pan, then add chopped vegetables (carrots, celery, peppers) along with herbs and spices, with tomato paste.

When the vegetables are cooked, just whisk in some flour to good veggie broth, then add this with the tinned drained beans to the post, and cook for around 30 minutes. Add your fresh spinach right at the end, with fresh parsley if wished. Salt to taste, and you’re done!

Butter beans, also known as lima beans, are a kitchen staple with their smooth texture and mild flavour. They’re great for adding to soups, stews, or salads. Rich in protein and fibre, they’re a good choice for those aiming to eat healthier.

Butter beans are versatile and can be mashed, baked, or thrown into a curry. Got a tin of these in your cupboard? Why not try making a creamy butter bean soup or add them to a veggie bake for something different? With their ability to soak up flavours, they’re a simple way to elevate any meal.

(Vegan) Cheese & Bacon Mash Casserole

This Vegan Cheese and Bacon Mash Casserole (Jessica in the Kitchen) is as near to comfort food heaven as you can get.

Made with a vegan creamy mash (along with garlic and onion powder), it’s mixed with breadcrumbs and grated vegan cheese, then baked in the oven until golden brown. Top with chopped onions and vegan bacon.

Don’t feed leftover mash to pets or wildfowl (due to salt and fat – which can smear on feathers, affecting waterproofing and insulation).

For mashed potato dog treats, just mash plain water with a little water (no butter, salt, onion, garlic etc – never use green potatoes.

To save on food waste, you can make your own breadcrumbs from leftover bread using this Doves Farm recipe.

Cut sliced bread into chunks, then pulse in a blender, and bake for around 10 minutes, then leave to cool on a tray. They should keep in an airtight tin or sterilised jar for a few weeks.

To sterilise a tin container, wash the tin with soap and water, then submerge in a pot of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Or preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and place the tin on a baking tray, not touching other items, and sterilize it for 10 minutes.

Authentic Recipe for (vegan) Irish Stew!

Irish stew (A Virtual Vegan) is a one-pot hearty meal that can be made on the stove, in a slow cooker or in an Instant Pot. Vegan-friendly Guinness (or use something local like Birmingham’s Stout Brummie) gives an incredibly rich, deep flavour to the gravy that is loaded with chunky, sweet, tender vegetables.

Make it with just the veg, or add some optional vegan “meat” or mushrooms to make it even more satisfying and flavourful!

A Vegan Stew Recipe (with dumplings)

These vegan dumplings (The Veg Space) are sure to impress your Eastern European guests (keep fresh dough away from pets).

Very easy to make by steam-cooking in a pot, serve with Kate’s Vegan Stew with Pearl Ale & Barley. She also has a nice recipe for a vegan sausage casserole.

A Comforting Pea, Potato & Carrot Stew

This pea, potato and carrot stew (Ela Vegan) is a quick and easy recipe, that is also comfort food delicious. This recipe has quite a few ingredients, but they are all easy to find and buy: carrots, potato, celery, garlic, herbs and coconut milk).

The creamy soup is also easy to make, and given extra flavour with good veggie stock. Season to taste, and blend half if you wish, for a creamier soup.