These vegan food truck recipes are perfect for when you really miss that guy who sells that dish you love right outside your office…
By Lora O’Brien
It’s official: food trucks are the new restaurants, especially at lunchtime. And that’s a great thing!
Whilst once we were stuck getting a boring sarnie at the corner sandwich shop, or were forced to commit crimes against the environment by getting a MegaCorp takeaway that involved binfuls of plastic forks, bags, containers, condiment packets and paper napkins we can now pick up tasty, fresh food from our local food truck.
Indeed, food trucks have become a downright trendy means of catering gourmet food to the masses. Alongside basic burgers and tacos, you now can find a whole array of more exotic offerings, from lobster rolls and fried chicken waffles to arepas and sushi burritos.
But what I really love about food trucks is that – due to customer demand, apparently – they’re getting healthier. There are more greens, more spices, and yep – more vegan foods on offer, too.
Not sure about that? Here, I’ve found over 30 popular vegan food truck recipes to prove it. Sure, you can seek these dishes out at many food trucks in most major cities, but why not save some money (and packaging) and make these at home?
30+ Vegan Food Truck Recipes For Lunch And Beyond
1. Overnight Oats
Do you often skip brekkie when you’re rushing to work in the morning? Quadruple the quantities for this oat dish on Sunday and you’ll have a healthy, tasty breakfast you can pack with you till Friday.
Get the recipe here.
2. The Best Vegan Chocolate Milkshake
Yeah, I know – it’s not the healthiest looking drink, right? But it’s probably the tastiest! And by making this chocolate milkshake vegan, it’s a teeny weeny bit better for you than the average milk-based one. Or at least that’s what I tell myself…
Get the recipe here.
3. Savoury Vegan Crepes
This is one of the lightest vegan food truck recipes, and is a street food fave in Paris, too. These savoury crepes can be filled with pretty much whatever you like, but the mushroom/spinach combo here is definitely a great, healthy option.
Get the recipe here.
4. Spinach Pesto Swiss Grilled ‘Cheese’
Sandwiches are pretty much the easiest thing to pack for lunch, and with this ooey, gooey ‘cheese’ recipe, I’d highly recommend wrapping it in some aluminium so you can heat it up in a toaster oven (not microwave, of course!) at work.
Get the recipe here.
5. Vegan Loaded Nacho Cheese Fries
What’s the only thing better than good, crispy French fries? Fries that are loaded with vegan nacho cheese and other goodies, of course!
Get the recipe here.
6. Fried ‘Goat Cheese’ Balls
This is a hot, gooey, savoury snack on its own. But to take these to the next level, add them to a mixed greens salad along with some candied pecans and balsamic vinegar. Gourmet salad heaven!
Get the recipe here.
7. Vegan Jerk Chickpea Wings with Sweet Mango Dip
Who knew chickpeas could be transformed into ‘wings’? All you need is some wheat gluten to help them get there. This isn’t the easiest recipe to make, but trust me, the results are well worth it.
Get the recipe here.
8. Vegan Poutine
Quick: think of a dish that’s uniquely Canadian! Maple syrup? Nooo, that’s not a dish. Nothing? Well, how about poutine? This calorific recipe is about as Canadian as it gets! It’s normally fries topped with gravy and cheese curds, but this vegan version is just as gooey, crispy, salty and and creamy.
Get the recipe here.
9. Vegan Lobster Rolls
Lobster food trucks seem to be trending – but who wants to eat some poor creature that is not only monogamous its whole life (like swans, y’know!), but that was also boiled alive? Not me, that’s for sure! So this vegan version of ‘lobster’ rolls is a great substitute. Hearts of Palm in a sauce have all the same flavour and texture as lobster rolls, but without the cruelty.
Get the recipe here.
10. Vegan Bacon Cheese Fries
Fries just never get tired, in my book! There are loads of foods you can pile on top of them (because, you know, potatoes literally go with anything) – but gooey vegan cheese and crispy vegan ‘bacon’ are possibly one of the yummiest French fry combos.
Get the recipe here.
11. Loaded Nacho Hot Dogs
Hotdogs are basically all about the texture and a slightly smoky, salty flavour. Since they’re usually made from god-only-knows-what disgusting leftover animal parts, they’re artificially flavoured with chemicals, and also depend on loads of toppings for some tastiness. If you like the idea of a healthy, vegan version of the hotdog, try this recipe! It uses grilled carrots as the ‘dog,’ and like its meaty counterpart, it’s loaded with delicious condiments.
Get the recipe here.
12. Deep Fried Pickles
If you’re thinking: WTH is this? Let me tell you: it’s hot. It’s salty. It’s crispy. And addictive. Sure, deep fried pickles may sound weird, but this may well be your new favourite thing – especially when they’re paired with a creamy dill dipping sauce. Trust me, try them!
Get the recipe here.
13. Vegan BBQ Sliders
Sliders were a huge food trend a few years ago, but they’re still popular today. This vegan version (made with jackfruit and soaked in a sweet, sticky sauce) is great not only for lunches, but to serve at parties, too.
Get the recipe here.
14. Jackfruit Burritos
Jackfruit sure is having a moment, and that’s a great thing! This vegan pork substitute has a nice, meaty texture, loads of nutrients, and is versatile and filling, too.
Get the recipe here.
15. ‘Chicken’ & Waffles
I don’t know about you, but this is one of the vegan food truck recipes I love most! Waffles make a hot and tasty substitute for bread, and fill my belly up beautifully on cold winter days. The ‘chicken’ here is made from seasoned oyster mushrooms. Surprise!
Get the recipe here.
16. ‘Fish’ Tacos
First it was tacos. Then it was fish tacos. And now….it’s all about the vegan ‘fish’ tacos! This recipe provides the info for making the ‘fish’ sticks, but if you want to save time, you can just buy them here.
Get the recipe here.
17. Vegan Doner Kebab
Ah yes – this recipe is a good reminder that food trucks aren’t just places you visit on your way to work or at lunch – they’re also a great hangout for when you’re on your way home after a big night out! I never thought doner kababs could go vegan, but this delicious and creative tofu-based recipe proves otherwise.
Get the recipe here.
18. Fully Loaded Vegan Nachos
Screw my New Year’s resolution to drop a few pounds – I want some of these hot, crunchy, spicy, easy-to-make, fully loaded vegan nachos, ad I want them now! And always, for that matter…
I’m not gonna lie – with their lashings of vegan cheese, guacamole and black beans, these vegan nachos are definitely one of the most fattening of all the vegan food truck recipes. But you can cut a few calories by sharing them!
Get the recipe here.
19. Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos
Vegan tacos have essentially existed forever in Mexico – they’re just basically refried bean tacos without the cheese. But jackfruit takes on an even meatier texture, more like chicken, while the guac maintains the traditional Mexican vibe.
Get the recipe here.
20. Vegan Teriyaki Sushi Burrito
You just know that when two of the world’s greatest food cultures – Japanese and Mexican – marry, they’re gonna have a beautiful baby. And this vegan teriyaki sushi burrito is it! It’s healthy, it’s filling, and you can make it a bit spicy if you like it like that!
Get the recipe here.
21. Vegan Vietnamese Banh Mi Sandwiches
Spicy and tasty, Vietnamese bahn mi sandwiches are trending in big cities right now. Normally made with chicken, this recipe features seared tofu, pickled daikon, carrots, cucumbers, and jalapeños instead.
Get the recipe here.
22. Gaz’s ‘Fish’ & Chips
This may be the one and only British food truck food that’s spread around the world! It’s now got a vegan makeover, subbing in beer-battered tofu instead of fish. Which is perfect: after all, the true test of a good ‘chippie’ (as we call them here in the UK) is how good their batter is!
Get the recipe here.
23. Vegan Waffle Sandwiches
If you’re gonna eat carbs, go large and eat waffles instead of bread! They’re hot, they’re filling, and they hold sandwich sauces perfectly, thanks to their little squares. You can either buy pre-made waffles, or use a waffle maker like this if you get totally addicted to them, like I am!
Get the recipe here.
24. The Ultimate Veggie Burger
Once upon a time, burgers were made of cows. And then vegan bloggers like Namely Marly came around with recipes like this, and taught the world you needn’t kill animals (or spend millions in a lab!) to create a chewy, delicious, meatily-textured burger.
Get the recipe here.
25. Black Bean and Plantain Arepas
With Venezuelans immigrating from their country en masse, arepas – a popular dish there – are becoming well known all over the world. If you’ve never had one before, it’s a bit like fried polenta stuffed with any number of yummy ingredients, like the black beans and plantain here.
Get the recipe here.
26. Vegan Meatball Sub
When hunger really strikes, there’s nothing quite as filling as a nice, hot, vegan meatball sub sandwich. This is super easy to pack for lunch, but I’d recommend taking some tomato sauce to heat up and add to your sarnie for some extra juicy goodness.
Get the recipe here.
27. Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Pizza is a perennial food truck favourite, but if you want to save on the carbs, why not try this much healthier cauliflower base? It’s much crispier (and tastier) than you think, and is easier to make than a flour based crust, too!
Get the recipe here.
28. Vegan Fried Ravioli
Sure, ravioli is delish. But frying it? Well, that’s a whole new level we’re taking pasta to, my friend! This looks hard to make, and fattening, too – but it’s super easy, thanks to the fact that you need to use packaged vegan ravioli, and it’s not that high in calories, thanks to the air fryer. If you’ve not got one yet….do! It’s a real game changer, as Cadry’s Kitchen, who supplied us with this gem of a recipe, knows.
Get the recipe here.
29. Vegan Falafel Wraps
Falafels come in all shapes and sizes, and can have a large variety of fillings. I personally like mine with pickles and loads of classic tahini, but since it’s a bit on the fattening side, I love this recipe, which features a lower-cal tomato based sauce.
Get the recipe here.
30. Vegan Beignets with Espresso Sauce
In case you weren’t aware, beignets is just a fancy word for donuts, basically. But not only is the title of this recipe pretty fancy – the espresso dipping sauce is, too!
Get the recipe here.
31. Waffle Pops
Have you noticed yet that waffles are hot this year? Not only can they be used as a bread substitute (which is often the case with this new trend), but they can be served as a sweet dessert on a stick that you can dip into a variety of sugary sauces. Yum!
Get the recipe here.
32. Vegan & Gluten Free Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ice cream was probably the world’s first ever food truck food, but this vegan and gluten free ice cream sandwich recipe proves that even a childhood classic can easily get a healthy makeover.
Get the recipe here.
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