Best Air Fryer Vegan Recipes For Veganuary

It’s January, which means it’s also Veganuary - the month hundreds of thousands of people dedicate to trying out a plant-based diet.

There’s a common misconception that plant-based diets are pretty bland and consist of nothing more than leafy greens, but thankfully this couldn’t be further from the truth!

From tasty lentil dhal - which is naturally vegan and gluten-free - to baked miso tofu, plant-based meals are often packed full of flavour and texture. 

We’ve put together some of the best vegan recipes you can try out this Veganuary - and more specifically, the best air fryer vegan recipes to ensure minimal faff and speedy cooking times. 

Whether you’ve been vegan for some time now or you’re just giving it a go, here are some delicious air fryer vegan recipes that you can whip up in no time at all…

And don't forget, thanks to TOTUM Cashback, TOTUM members can earn cashback on all your lovely vegan ingredients when you shop at a range of supermarkets including Asda, Sainsbury's, M&S, Waitrose and Farmfoods!

Find out more and sign up to TOTUM Cashback here.

What is Veganuary?

‘Veganuary’ is an annual challenge which aims to encourage people to try following a vegan lifestyle for the month of January and beyond.

The non-profit organisation of the same name supports people and businesses ‘to move to a plant-based diet as a way of protecting the environment, preventing animal suffering, and improving the health of millions of people’.

The movement has become increasingly popular in recent years, with rising numbers of people opting to take part in Veganuary each January.

In 2022, Veganuary reported that more than 620,000 people took the pledge to try a vegan diet, and in 2023, 700,000 people from around the world signed up to take part, breaking all previous records - and this number doesn't even include everyone who took part without signing up on the Veganuary website!

How to do Veganuary 

Transitioning to a vegan diet means avoiding any foods that come from animals, including meat, dairy and eggs. Instead, you’ll want to focus on incorporating the following foods into your diet:

• Whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes

• Meat alternatives such as soy protein, tofu, tempeh and seitan

• Dairy alternatives such as oat, coconut, soy, almond and rice ‘milk’

• Carbs such as rice, quinoa, oats, potatoes, bread etc. 

• Fats such as avocado, nuts and chia seeds

You can officially sign up to the challenge here, where you’ll receive a downloadable ‘starter kit’ with useful information including top tips for easing the transition to a plant-based diet.

Remember, you can continue with your plant-based diet beyond January - this is just a great place to start!

Best Air Fryer Vegan Recipes

Popcorn Tofu

This one is certain to be a hit with fans of popcorn chicken who may be early on in their plant-based journey and looking for the ideal meat substitute. If you’re missing the mouthwatering, southern fried flavours of KFC, look no further than this easy vegan recipe from V Nutrition and Wellness that can be cooked in an air fryer in just 12 minutes. 

With minimal oil, these popcorn tofu nuggets make the perfect snack or can be transformed into a tasty meal by pairing with sweet potato fries and veg. 

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos 

Another incredible vegan recipe proving that plant-based meals are far from bland, these flavoursome tacos will blow your mind. 

You can choose whether to cook these in the oven or air fryer, but either way they’re delicious. 

If you fancy a crispier taco filling, opt for the air fryer and add a sauce of your choice. 

All you’ll need is the cauliflower florets, small tortillas, tomato paste, lime juice and some key spices. 

For the full recipe, visit Good Housekeeping. 

Sticky Miso Tofu 

Whether you’re cooking a family meal or prepping some work lunches, this baked tofu recipe is perfect for cooking in large batches and will keep in the fridge for up to five days.

You can easily pair it with some rice or noodles and veggies of your choice (you can’t go wrong with some wok-fried tenderstem broccoli, sugar snap peas and spring onion).

For the sticky miso tofu, you’ll need firm tofu, cornflour (to get that crispy coating), miso paste, garlic, ginger, maple syrup and rice vinegar.

For the full recipe, visit The Vegan Larder.

Crispy Reuben Rolls

If you’re a fan of the classic reuben sandwich, you’ll love these crispy reuben rolls which manage to emulate the flavours of this beloved sandwich without the use of sauerkraut or corned beef.

Instead, you can expect shredded jackfruit soaked in a vegan Thousand Island dressing, vegan Swiss cheese and dill pickles to give you these crispy vegan reuben rolls. 

With a cooking time of just 15 minutes and a handful of ingredients, this is the perfect mid-week vegan air fryer recipe and they’re guaranteed to go down a treat. 

For the full recipe, visit Spabettie. 

Vegan Brownies 

Last but by no means least are these mouthwatering vegan brownies. Yep, not only can you make delicious vegan dinners with your air fryer, you can also whip up vegan desserts. 

With no butter, eggs or milk required, these vegan brownies are delicious, fudgy and take just *six minutes* to make. 

You’ll just need essential pantry ingredients such as flour, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and chocolate chips - it doesn’t get much simpler than that!

You can find the full recipe here.

Now that you're equipped with these incredible vegan air fryer recipes, all you need to do is stock up on your ingredients, which as we've mentioned you can save money on by joining TOTUM Cashback!