Vegan Recipes Using Coconut Milk

Ever found yourself staring at a lone can of coconut milk in your pantry, wondering what to do with it? We’ve all been there! This roundup of vegan recipes with coconut milk is here to help, featuring a curated list of our top plant-based dishes that we’ve personally developed and tested to perfection in our very own kitchen. With a full feast of savory to sweet coconut milk recipes, you’re sure to find a few that you’re going to love!

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Coconut milk is one of the most versatile ingredients in a plant-based kitchen—it can add creaminess to curries, richness to soups, and even work its magic in fluffy vegan quiches and dairy-free risottos. 

Unlike other roundup posts that cram in a bunch of recipes without testing them first, every suggestion on this list has been made and perfected in our small Northeast Philly kitchen. 

Meaning: We can personally (and enthusiastically) vouch for each one!

From breakfasts that are definitely not boring to decadent dessert recipes, these are accessible, delicious dairy free versions of foods you already know and love…all utilizing the magic of a can of coconut milk!

Whether you’re craving something traditional like a curry or something unexpected like a creamy risotto, there’s a coconut milk recipe here for you!

Why You’ll Love These Easy Coconut Milk Recipes

• Innovative – You’ll love the dairy free take on so many beloved classic recipes
• Accessible – These are easy, accessible recipes we have vigorously tested and developed in our own kitchen and can personally vouch for each and every one.
• Delicious – We don’t just put any old recipe out there and call it a day. These amazing recipes will all have you coming back for more, even if you’re not a fan of the taste of coconut!

Tips for Cooking with Coconut Milk

Choosing the right coconut milk for cooking can be daunting, and picking the wrong one can completely throw off a recipe. With so many brands and varieties on the market, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. 

Some stores only carry specific brands, and they’re definitely not all the same. The right coconut milk can add incredible depth, creaminess, and flavor, while the wrong one can leave your dish too runny, too oily, or with an overpowering aftertaste. 

Here are our best tips for picking the perfect coconut milk for cooking (and the recipes below!):

First, look for unsweetened coconut milk with only one ingredient – coconut! And MAYBE water. If it has gums or fillers listed among the ingredients, set it aside. Brands that add gums or fillers can affect the texture and flavor of your dish, sometimes making it slightly gummy or loaded with strong coconut flavor. Sticking to pure coconut milk ensures the best flavor and performance in your recipe.

Again, coconut milk textures and flavors can be so different from brand to brand. If you don’t like one brand, try another until you find the one you do like. Then stock up on it! 

Also, light coconut milk is basically just watered down regular coconut milk, so it’s better just to get regular and water it down if needed. Plus, then you have remaining coconut milk to make more of these great recipes!

Our Top Vegan Recipes Using Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can add richness, creaminess, and depth of flavor to both sweet and savory dishes. Whether you’re making a cozy soup, a luscious dessert, or a creamy pasta sauce, it’s a fantastic dairy-free option.

That said, not every recipe below was originally written with coconut milk as the primary ingredient. Some call for vegan heavy cream or “high-fat plant milk,” but in all these cases, coconut milk works just as well—sometimes even better! 

Breakfast Recipes Using Coconut Milk

Vegan Quiche – The epitome of perfect brunch food, this vegan JUST Egg quiche turns any occasion into a special occasion. Filled with plant-based egg and packed with vegan cheese, spinach, mushrooms, and more, it’s baked to fluffy perfection that vegans and nonvegans alike are sure to love! While the original recipe calls for a plant-based heavy cream, we’ve tested it with canned coconut milk, and it works beautifully—giving the quiche a rich, creamy texture without overpowering the flavor.

Vegan Breakfast Casserole – Eggless and dairy-free, taste-tested and omni-approved, this vegan sausage, pepper, and JUST Egg casserole is sure to please everyone at breakfast, brunch, or any potluck gathering. And did I mention the tater tot crust? The original recipe calls for a plant-based heavy cream, but we’ve tested it with canned coconut milk, and it works perfectly—adding a creamy texture while letting all the savory flavors shine.

Vegan Lemon Ricotta Pancakes – These vegan lemon ricotta pancakes are light and fluffy with just a touch of sweetness balanced by a sprightly lemon flavor. These plant-based pancakes are an exquisite option for a weekend breakfast or brunch, or even when you’re craving breakfast for dinner. And they freeze remarkably well! The original recipe calls for a high-fat plant milk like cashew milk, but we’ve also tested it with canned coconut milk, and it works beautifully—adding richness while keeping the pancakes soft and tender.

Coconut Milk Soup Recipes

Zoodle Ramen – I swore I hated zoodles too, but you have to try this vegan zoodle ramen recipe! It’s cozy veggie ramen noodle soup that features a creamy green curry broth that packs a robust flavor. And it’s made right in your mason jar, so there’s no mess to clean up. Make them ahead of time and keep them in the fridge for a quick meal.

Creamy Tomato Soup – This dairy-free cream of tomato soup is freezer-friendly, perfect for meal prep, and has a rich, creamy texture you have to taste to believe. This simple blended soup is an easy and healthy vegetarian dinner or make-ahead lunch that can be made from either fresh or canned tomatoes and other simple ingredients. The original recipe calls for a plant-based heavy cream, but we’ve tested it with canned coconut milk, and it adds a luscious, velvety richness without that overpowering coconut taste.

Curried Pumpkin Soup – This vegan version of my mom’s pumpkin soup is a savory and easy one-pot plant-based meal. Make it on the stove or in the slow cooker with canned or fresh pumpkin and just a few kitchen staples. The original recipe calls for a plant-based milk, but we love it with canned coconut milk specifically. It adds a deliciously creamy texture with a hint of natural sweetness that complements the warm spices beautifully.

Dinners & Mains

Avocado Pesto Barley Risotto – A slightly different take on classic risotto, this Avocado Pesto Barley Risotto is a quick and easy recipe that is the perfect healthy plant-based lunch or dinner option! Serve this easy vegan risotto with our Lemon Pepper Tofu Cutlets for a perfect main course.

Slow Cooker Vegan Chicken Curry – This simple and delicious vegan chicken curry recipe is easily made in your slow cooker. We use meaty soy curls for the vegan chicken with a delightful blend of peppers, garlic, ginger, spices, and creamy coconut milk. Just place all the ingredients in your crockpot and let it cook until dinner time!

Vegan Chik’n and Dumplings – Creamy soup swimming with fluffy dumplings. What’s not to love?! This recipe makes a creamy, dairy-free veggie and soy curl stew topped with pillowy dumplings that will take you back! The original recipe calls for a high-fat plant milk to make the dumplings, but we’ve also tested it with canned coconut milk with beautiful results! 

Creamy Vegan Pasta alla Vodka  – This flavorful vegan Pasta alla Vodka uses a smoky sun-dried tomato “pancetta” sauce for an out-of-this-world taste you won’t believe. It’s a simple, one-pot recipe perfect for a dinner party, date night, or just when you’re in need of a cozy meal. The original recipe calls for oat cream, but we’ve tested it with canned coconut milk too, and it works deliciously.

Vegan Crab Cakes – These vegan crab cakes will have you doing double-takes! Made with hearts of palm for the perfect flaky texture, they’re delicious over creamy vegan pasta, on a sandwich (or sliders!), or served with air fryer potato wedges. The original recipe calls for vegan heavy cream, but coconut milk is a great option also. It keeps the crab cakes rich and not dry!

Coconut Milk Desserts

Vegan Whipped Cream –  5-ingredients, easy to make, freezer-friendly, and stays stable outside the fridge. This vegan whipped cream topping is a dairy-free Cool Whip copycat and a delicious take on classic coconut whipped cream recipes. A fantastic addition to sundaes, pancakes, or a big bowl of fresh strawberries! Or just eat it with a spoon.

White Chocolate Fudge -This Vegan White Chocolate Fudge is the dessert of your dairy free dreams! This decadent and delightful vegan fudge recipe only uses 6 ingredients and takes about 15 minutes of active time to make. You’ll be shocked how rich and creamy this fudge becomes (and NO coconut taste!).

Vegan Chinese Restaurant-Style Doughnuts – These vegan doughnuts are our homage to those soft yet dense, always delicious holeless doughnuts you get from your local Chinese take-out. They’re fluffy, deep-fried balls of dough coated in sugar that taste like a carnival in your mouth. They’re not exactly on the list of top health foods, but wow they’re good.

More Vegan Recipe Collections You’ll Love

• 24 Vegan Recipes with Peppers
• 17 Recipes with Silken Tofu
• 12 Epic Vegan Pizza Ideas
• 19 Best Vegan Soup Recipes

We hope these recipes give you some inspiration to whip up a culinary masterpiece with that can of coconut milk you’ve been staring at the past year!

And we’d love to know what you think! Feel free to leave any questions in the comments or let us know which coconut milk recipe we should try next!