A few months into 2025, something surprising started trending online: vegan cottage cheese.
No splashy celebrity endorsement. No multimillion-dollar brand launch. Just thousands of people typing the same quiet curiosity into the search bar: how to make vegan cottage cheese.
It wasn’t alone. Recipes like chickpea tuna salad, mug cakes made in a minute, and DIY oat milk are dominating Google’s vegan recipe searches this year. According to data pulled from Google Trends and culinary analytics platforms, 2025’s breakout food stars are simple, nostalgic, and plant-powered.
And they’re telling us something important—not just about what people are eating, but why.
So what’s really going on behind the rise of these searches? What do they say about the state of plant-based food—and what’s next?
Let’s dig in.
The top trending vegan recipes of 2025 (so far)
Google’s global search data highlights which plant-based recipes have experienced the biggest spikes in traffic this year. Here are the ten that stood out:
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Vegan cottage cheese
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Chickpea tuna salad
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Vegan mug cake
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Homemade oat milk
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Vegan TikTok ramen
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Tofu scramble
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Vegan protein balls
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Jackfruit pulled “pork”
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Cauliflower wings
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No-bake vegan cheesecake
It’s a comfort-forward list. But look again, and you’ll notice deeper themes: creative protein swaps, cost-saving solutions, recipes that require fewer than 10 ingredients and very little time.
There’s something undeniably democratic about it—plant-based eating made flexible, customizable, and deeply satisfying.
A quiet revolution: why these recipes matter now
1. Comfort food isn’t going anywhere—it’s just changing shape
There’s a reason why vegan mug cakes and ramen are getting so much attention. These dishes hit that sweet spot between nostalgia and immediacy. You’re not trying to impress anyone. You’re just trying to end your Tuesday night on a good note.
They’re also easy. You don’t need a Vitamix or obscure mushrooms flown in from Finland. Just a few pantry staples, a microwave, and the willingness to experiment.
Searches for “vegan comfort food” have steadily risen since early 2023, and now people aren’t just Googling what to make—they’re looking for how to make it fast.
Recipes like chickpea tuna salad and tofu scrambles tap into this, offering hearty textures and familiar flavors without requiring major technique.
2. People want more control over what goes into their food
There’s something quietly radical about the return of DIY oat milk, vegan cheese, and no-bake treats.
Making your own oat milk isn’t just a fun weekend project—it’s also a way to skip added oils, sweeteners, and plastic packaging.
And the best part? The learning curve is short. Making oat milk takes under 5 minutes. Vegan cottage cheese might take 10. That’s less time than it takes to figure out what half the ingredients are in a store-bought label.
When people search for recipes like “vegan feta from tofu” or “cashew cheesecake no bake,” they’re not just asking for instructions. They’re asking for agency.
3. The protein panic is over
Let’s talk about tofu, chickpeas, and protein balls. These aren’t just nutritious staples—they’re also a vibe shift.
For years, one of the biggest questions about plant-based eating was: “Where do you get your protein?” But in 2025, the data shows people aren’t worried. They’re curious, creative, and focused on performance.
Searches for “tofu scramble” and “vegan protein balls” have jumped over 40% since January, especially among users also browsing fitness-related content.
Chickpea tuna salad, for example, doesn’t try to replicate tuna down to the molecule. It mimics the texture and savory tang with lemon, nori, mustard, and celery—then lets chickpeas shine for their own nutritional power.
It’s not about pretending anymore. It’s about owning the plate.
Cultural crossover: how TikTok and Google are feeding each other
A big reason for these viral recipes? Social platforms.
Take vegan TikTok ramen. This one’s a perfect example of how recipe content travels from video feed to search bar. It started as a spicy noodle hack using instant ramen, garlic, soy sauce, and peanut butter.
Then, a few creators tweaked it to add tofu or bok choy. Others swapped peanut butter for tahini. Before long, “vegan TikTok ramen” was a top-trending phrase globally.
This crossover loop—watch → search → try → share—is shaping how vegan food moves through digital culture. And importantly, it’s flattening the learning curve. It’s less “become a chef overnight,” and more “steal this idea and make it yours.”
As a result, even beginner cooks are building confidence by stacking quick wins.
How you can try the trends at home
You don’t need fancy gear, a culinary background, or even a big kitchen. These recipes were designed by the internet for real life. Here’s how to bring them to life:
1. Vegan cottage cheese
Blend firm tofu with lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, and a pinch of salt. Optional: add fresh herbs or black pepper. Great with toast, in lasagna, or mixed into savory oats.
2. Chickpea tuna salad
Mash a can of chickpeas. Stir in vegan mayo, Dijon mustard, diced celery, lemon juice, and crumbled seaweed (like nori). Wrap it in lettuce leaves or pile it on crackers.
3. Vegan mug cake
In a mug, mix 3 tbsp flour, 2 tbsp cocoa, 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp plant milk, and ½ tsp baking powder. Microwave for 60–90 seconds. Add dark chocolate chips if you’re feeling fancy.
4. Homemade oat milk
Blend 1 cup rolled oats with 3 cups cold water. Strain through a nut milk bag or fine sieve. Add a pinch of salt and a drop of vanilla extract. Keep chilled and use within 5 days.
5. TikTok-style ramen
Boil noodles, drain, and toss with a sauce made of soy sauce, garlic, chili flakes, and 1 tbsp peanut butter. Optional: top with sesame seeds, scallions, or crispy tofu cubes.
6. Tofu scramble
Crumble tofu into a pan. Add turmeric, garlic powder, salt, and a splash of plant milk. Cook until warm. Add spinach or bell peppers for color and crunch.
7. Vegan protein balls
Blend oats, nut butter, dates, chia seeds, and a touch of vanilla or cinnamon. Roll into balls and chill. Perfect for post-yoga snack attacks.
8. Jackfruit pulled “pork”
Drain and rinse canned young jackfruit. Shred with a fork. Sauté with onions and garlic, then simmer in BBQ sauce. Roast in the oven until the edges crisp up.
9. Cauliflower wings
Dip florets in a batter of flour, non-dairy milk, garlic powder, and paprika. Bake until golden. Toss with buffalo sauce and serve with vegan ranch.
10. No-bake vegan cheesecake
Pulse dates and almonds into a crust. Blend soaked cashews with coconut cream, lemon juice, maple syrup, and vanilla. Pour over crust, freeze for 3–4 hours, then thaw before slicing.
The bigger picture: Plant-based food is becoming culture, not just cuisine
This year’s search trends tell a bigger story: the line between plant-based food and mainstream food is blurring.
The top recipes aren’t labeled “vegan-only.” They’re being embraced by flexitarians, curious omnivores, climate-conscious families, and food lovers who just want to try something new.
And that’s a good thing. It moves plant-based eating out of the “special occasion” zone and into weeknight dinners, lunchbox snacks, and midnight cravings.
According to Google’s trend analysts, people are no longer just “trying vegan.” They’re weaving it into how they live.
What might trend next?
Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, here’s what search data and social chatter are starting to hint at:
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Frozen banana “nice cream” with mix-ins like tahini, espresso, and tahini
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Vegan corn ribs as grill season kicks off
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Savory granolas with nuts, seeds, and umami spices
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Plant-based travel snacks like DIY trail mix, roasted chickpeas, and granola bars
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Herby sauces like vegan chimichurri, green goddess, and zhoug
The upshot? Plant-based recipes aren’t trending for their novelty. They’re trending because they work.
They’re easy, craveable, and most importantly—they feel like yours the minute you make them.
Final bites
So the next time you find yourself scrolling through recipe videos or typing “easy vegan snack” into Google at 9:42 p.m., just know this:
You’re part of a quiet revolution—one click, one chickpea, one mug cake at a time.
And if the most-searched recipes of the year are any clue, this revolution tastes really, really good.
