21 Dairy Free Dinner Recipes That The Whole Family Will Love

“What’s for dinner?” – any other parents feel exhausted just hearing that question?! It’s a tough enough question for anyone, but if you’re new to dairy-free dinners (or are just getting tired of your few go-to meals), it can feel like an even bigger challenge. But I’m here to help! I’ve rounded up 21 of my favorite dinner recipes from right here on the blog, from creamy pastas and casseroles to cozy soups and chili. Some are naturally dairy free, and others use simple product swaps (like extra creamy oat milk for heavy cream) so you don’t miss a thing.

Quick Tips for Easier Dairy Free Dinners

• Go with a mix of new and tried-and-true. If you’re experimenting with new recipes in your meal plan, balance those out with other meals that you know are easy favorites. That way you’re not feeling overwhelmed having to try something new every night.
• Keep base ingredients on hand. Ingredients like dairy-free butter, extra creamy oat milk, and canned coconut milk can be very useful across a variety of dishes. It’s helpful to always have these on hand.
• Always check packaged foods. Because manufacturer formulations vary from company to company (and can often change even within the same company!) always double check packaged ingredients like taco seasoning, boxed baking mixes, bread, and more.
• Lean on naturally dairy free combos. Chili, braised meats, curries, and tacos often need no substitutes at all.
• Cook once, eat twice. Consider making a double batch of certain meals that you can freeze to pull out for a busy week. Chilis, soups, and stews are particularly great for this.
• Use my backup P/S/V method. When you don’t feel like making a complicated meal, this is an easy method. Build a plate with a simple grilled or roasted protein (like chicken, steak, etc), starch (like roasted potatoes, rice, beans, or pasta), and veggie (anything your heart desires!).

Alright, now that you’ve got those tips – let’s roll into some specific dairy free dinner recipes! (Quick disclaimer – always check ingredients on products and recipes!).

1. Dairy Free Chicken Broccoli Pot Pie with Biscuits

All the cozy comfort of pot pie, with a shortcut! Cooked chicken (rotisserie works great as long as it’s dairy-free) and broccoli bake in a creamy sauce made with oat milk, dairy-free butter, and dairy-free parmesan. It’s then topped with fluffy refrigerated biscuits. Ready in about 45 minutes and serves 6.

2. Dairy Free Enchiladas

Corn tortillas get stuffed with shredded chicken, black beans, red onion, and jalapeño, then smothered in green enchilada sauce. You won’t miss the cheese (but a drizzle of dairy-free queso is an easy add-on if you’d like). Makes about 10 enchiladas. Egg free, and gluten free as long as your sauce and tortillas are.

3. Dairy Free Creamy Mushroom Chicken Thighs

This one feels fancy but is totally weeknight-doable. Bone-in chicken thighs simmer in a creamy mushroom sauce with white wine, sage, and rosemary, made rich with dairy-free heavy cream. About 50 minutes, and it serves 6. Pair it with your favorite starch and veg for a balanced meal.

4. Dairy Free Fried Chicken

Yes, you can still have crispy fried chicken! The secret is a dairy-free “buttermilk” made with oat or almond milk, vinegar, and a splash of hot sauce.

5. Dairy Free Crockpot Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Pineapple

Toss jerk-seasoned chicken, sweet potatoes, pineapple, and golden raisins in the slow cooker and let it do the work. Naturally dairy free, so there’s nothing to swap! Serves 4. Keep in mind this is a spicy one, so you may want to skip it (or tame down the seasoning) if you have younger kids that aren’t a fan of heat.

6. Leftover Turkey Curry

A great way to use up holiday leftovers (or any cooked turkey). Sweet potato, carrots, and bell pepper simmer in a coconut milk curry sauce, served over rice. Done in 35 minutes and makes 4 to 6 servings. Gluten free and egg free.

7. Leftover Turkey Shakshuka

Another great option for leftover cooked turkey after Thanksgiving. You’ll cook eggs in a spiced tomato and pepper sauce with leftover turkey for a protein-packed breakfast-for-dinner. It’s naturally dairy free; just check any bread or pita you serve alongside.

8. Insanely Delicious Dairy Free Lasagna

This is a simple recipe but tastes amazing. It makes a lot, so great to prep ahead when you’ve got guests or want to have extra servings for later in the week. Note that the original recipe used a product called “fauxcotta”, a tofu-based ricotta swap that was pre-seasoned with Italian herbs. However, there are several other dairy-free ricotta products on the market these days that can be used instead; just add some Italian herbs for extra flavor.

9. Dairy Free Beef Stroganoff

A creamy, comforting classic in about 30 minutes! Ground beef, mushrooms, and egg noodles come together in a sauce made with dairy-free heavy cream and almond milk yogurt.

10. Dairy Free Hamburger Helper

All the nostalgia of the boxed version – but homemade and dairy-free! The key to this recipe is choosing a high-quality dairy-free cheese (not all taste great, as I’m sure you know!).

11. Dairy Free Tator Tot Casserole

Kids (and adults) will love this one! Ground beef and veggies bake in a creamy oat milk base, topped with crispy tator tots. You can optionally use dairy-free cheddar shreds in this recipe but it tastes great without them, too.

12. Dairy Free Walking Tacos

Taco night, but make it even more fun! Add seasoned beef and pinto beans right into single-serve chip bags with your favorite toppings. This is a great one to set up when your kiddos have friends over for the night; everyone can customize their taco bags and it seems to always be a hit in our house.

13. Burgers with Habanero Corn Salsa

Don’t worry – the spicy habanero is only in the salsa on top, so you can leave it off the kids’ burgers if they’re not a fan of spice (or you can skip it all together and just make a tomato corn salsa for topping). Be sure to double check that your buns are dairy-free.

14. Braised Beef Shanks with Carrots and White Beans

This is one of those slow Sunday dinners that makes the house smell great. You’ll braise beef shanks low and slow with carrots, white beans, white wine, and thyme until fall-apart tender. Keep in mind some wines are processed with casein (a milk protein), so choose a vegan wine if you need to.

15. Dairy Free Shrimp Pasta

Creamy lemon-garlic shrimp fettuccine in about 35 minutes! Dairy-free butter, dairy-free cream (or extra creamy oat milk), and dairy-free parmesan make it taste like a restaurant dish.

16. Dairy Free Spaghettios

A homemade take on the childhood classic, made with oat milk and dairy-free butter. It’s ready in about 15 minutes, so it’s perfect for those “I have no time” nights. Serves 4.

17. Dairy Free White Chicken Chili

Chicken, cannellini beans, and green chiles are combined in a lightly creamy broth that’s thickened with dairy-free cheddar shreds. Great for a chilly night.

18. Dairy Free Buffalo Chicken Chili

All the buffalo chicken flavor in chili form! This is a great one because it’s made with ground chicken, which is a very budget-friendly option. Naturally dairy-free in the base recipe with the option to purchase a dairy-free ranch to drizzle on top. One of my personal favorites.

19. Easy Dairy Free Potato Soup

Thick, creamy, and topped with bacon – what could be better?! Creamy oat milk gives this soup a velvety texture that tastes like the real deal. Great for winter!

20. Dairy Free Clam Chowder

A New England favorite made dairy free! Canned clams, potatoes, and bacon are highlighted in this creamy oat milk chowder. Makes 4 hearty servings in 45 minutes.

21. Dairy Free Broccoli Soup

A great nutrient-packed dish that uses up broccoli florets and stems. Nutritional yeast and Dijon give it a savory, cheesy flavor without any cheese.