Looking for vegetarian-friendly brands you can trust at the grocery store? This guide covers the main options across meat alternatives, plant-based dairy, eggs, pantry staples, frozen meals, snacks, and broth. Organized by category. We flag where individual product lines contain egg or dairy, so you know what you’re getting whether you eat lacto-ovo vegetarian or fully vegan.
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Not sure what separates vegetarian from vegan? Our vegetarian glossary breaks it down in plain terms. Looking for what to eat when you go out? The best vegetarian food guide covers top picks across cuisines. For chain restaurants specifically, the restaurant listing covers hundreds of US chains.
A Quick Note on Labels
Throughout this guide, “vegetarian” means no meat, poultry, or seafood. Eggs and dairy are fine. “Vegan” means no animal products at all, including eggs, dairy, and honey. Most vegetarian-friendly brands now label their packaging clearly, but individual product lines within the same brand can differ. If you see a flag below, check the label on that specific item before you buy.
Top Vegetarian-Friendly Brands for Meat Alternatives
These brands make products designed to replace meat in your meals. All are free of actual meat, poultry, and seafood. Whether individual items are also vegan depends on the brand and the product line.
Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat makes plant-based burgers, ground meat, sausages, and chicken products from pea protein. All Beyond Meat retail products are vegan. They’re widely available at major grocery stores and online. Check price on Amazon
Impossible Foods
Impossible makes burgers, ground meat, sausages, and nuggets from soy protein and a plant-derived iron compound called heme. All retail Impossible products are vegan. You’ll find them at most large grocery chains. Check price on Amazon
MorningStar Farms
MorningStar Farms has one of the widest selections in the category: veggie burgers, chik’n patties, sausage links, veggie bacon, crumbles, and more. All MorningStar products are vegetarian. Many are not vegan. Several items, including most of their burgers, breakfast patties, and chik’n products, contain egg whites or dairy. If vegan is your requirement, read the ingredient list on each product individually. Check price on Amazon
Gardein
Gardein makes plant-based chicken, beef, fish, and pork alternatives from soy and wheat protein. Most Gardein products are vegan, but a handful contain egg white, so check the label if you’re avoiding eggs. Their Crispy Tenders and Beefless Ground are popular picks. Check price on Amazon
Quorn
Quorn makes products from mycoprotein, a protein derived from a naturally occurring fungus. Most Quorn products contain egg white as a binder, making them vegetarian but not vegan. Quorn does sell a clearly labeled vegan product line, but the majority of their range is lacto-ovo vegetarian only. Always check the label if you’re avoiding eggs. Check price on Amazon
Tofurky
Tofurky makes deli slices, sausages, roasts, and tempeh from soy and wheat protein. Most Tofurky products are vegan. Their tempeh is a high-protein pantry staple, and their deli slices are widely used as a sandwich alternative to deli meat. Check price on Amazon
Field Roast
Field Roast makes sausages, deli slices, roasts, and Chao cheese from grain and vegetable protein. Most Field Roast products are vegan. Their Smoked Apple Sage sausages and Chao cheese slices are among the most popular items in the line. Check price on Amazon
Plant-Based Dairy Brands
These brands make dairy-free milk, yogurt, cream, butter, and cheese. All products listed here are vegan unless noted otherwise.
Oatly
Oatly makes oat-based milk, cream, ice cream, and yogurt. All Oatly products are vegan. Their Barista Edition oat milk froths well for coffee and is now the default plant milk at many coffee shops. Check price on Amazon
Silk
Silk makes plant-based milks, creamers, and yogurt alternatives from soy, almond, oat, and coconut. All Silk plant-based products are vegan. Their soy milk is one of the highest-protein options in the plant milk category. Check price on Amazon
Califia Farms
Califia Farms makes almond milk, oat milk, creamers, and cold-brew coffee drinks. All their plant-based dairy products are vegan. Their Barista Blend oat and almond milks are popular for coffee, smoothies, and baking. Check price on Amazon
Violife
Violife makes dairy-free cheese, butter, cream cheese, and parmesan. All products are vegan and also free of nuts, gluten, and soy. A good option if you’re managing multiple dietary restrictions alongside your vegetarian or vegan diet. Check price on Amazon
Miyoko’s Creamery
Miyoko’s makes cultured, nut-based butter, cream cheese, mozzarella, and hard cheeses. All products are vegan. Their European-Style Cultured Vegan Butter is widely used as a direct substitute for dairy butter in cooking and baking. Check price on Amazon
So Delicious
So Delicious makes dairy-free ice cream, yogurt alternatives, and creamers from coconut, almond, oat, and cashew bases. All products are vegan. Their coconut milk ice cream is one of the most widely available dairy-free ice cream options in US grocery stores. Check price on Amazon
Egg Alternatives
JUST Egg
JUST Egg is a liquid egg replacement made from mung bean protein. It scrambles and folds like egg and the whole product is vegan. You’ll find it in the refrigerated section at most larger grocery stores. They also make a folded egg product designed for breakfast sandwiches and meal prep. Check price on Amazon
Pantry and Sauces
These brands cover vegetarian staples: pasta sauce, mac and cheese, canned soups, and condiments. A few words of caution: “natural flavors” on a label can sometimes include animal-derived ingredients, and canned goods that seem vegetarian may use chicken stock as a base. The brands below are reliable, but check labels on anything new.
Annie’s Homegrown
Annie’s makes organic mac and cheese, pasta, salad dressings, and condiments. Most Annie’s products are vegetarian, but many contain dairy and are not vegan. Their dressings and mustards tend to be vegan-friendly, but check labels on a product-by-product basis. Check price on Amazon
Amy’s Kitchen
Amy’s Kitchen was founded in 1987 specifically to make vegetarian convenience food. Their range spans canned soups, pasta sauces, chili, and refried beans, plus an extensive line of frozen burritos, pizzas, pot pies, and bowls. All Amy’s products are vegetarian, many are clearly labeled vegan, and the packaging is explicit about it. Their lentil soup, black bean soup, and frozen burritos are reliable vegan options. Check price on Amazon
Muir Glen
Muir Glen makes USDA certified organic canned tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and pasta sauces. All Muir Glen products are vegan. A dependable pantry staple for vegetarian pasta, soup, and chili. Check price on Amazon
Frozen Meals
These brands make frozen meals built for vegetarians. Amy’s Kitchen (covered above) is the most comprehensive frozen option, but these two are worth adding to your rotation.
Dr. Praeger’s
Dr. Praeger’s makes veggie burgers, veggie bowls, and vegetable-based frozen foods. Most products are vegan. Their California Veggie Burger is a popular pick in the frozen aisle. Check price on Amazon
Tattooed Chef
Tattooed Chef makes plant-based frozen bowls, pizzas, and entrees, including cauliflower mac and cheese and plant-based grain bowls. Most products are vegan. Check price on Amazon
Snacks
Snacks are where animal products hide most easily: dairy powder in chip seasonings, gelatin in gummies, honey in granola. These brands are reliable starting points, though always confirm on flavored varieties.
Enjoy Life Foods
Enjoy Life makes chocolate chips, cookies, granola bars, and snack bars free of the top 14 allergens, including all common dairy and egg ingredients. All products are vegan. A good choice if you’re managing food allergies alongside a plant-based diet. Check price on Amazon
Mary’s Gone Crackers
Mary’s Gone Crackers makes organic whole grain crackers and pretzels from brown rice, seeds, and quinoa. All products are vegan and gluten-free. Their Original crackers and Super Seed Crackers are the most widely carried varieties. Check price on Amazon
Beanfields
Beanfields makes bean and rice chips with more protein and fiber than a standard corn chip. Most flavors are vegan. Some flavored varieties contain dairy, so check the label on seasoned varieties before assuming they’re vegan. Check price on Amazon
Vegetable Broth and Bouillon
Broth is an easy place to pick up hidden animal products, especially from concentrates labeled with vague “natural flavor.” These three brands offer reliable vegetarian and vegan options.
Better Than Bouillon
Better Than Bouillon makes concentrated paste-style soup bases. Their Seasoned Vegetable Base, Vegetarian No Chicken Base, and Vegetarian No Beef Base are all vegan. The standard Chicken Base and Beef Base contain real meat, so stick to the “Vegetarian” and “No” labeled varieties when shopping for vegetarian brands in this line. Check price on Amazon
Pacific Foods
Pacific Foods makes organic vegetable broth and soups in ready-to-use cartons. Their vegetable broth is vegan and available at most US grocery stores. A good pantry staple if you prefer a ready-to-pour carton over a paste concentrate. Check price on Amazon
Imagine Foods
Imagine Foods makes organic vegetable broth and a No-Chicken Broth, both vegan. Available at natural food stores and online. A solid option when you want organic, vegan broth for soups, grains, or sauces. Check price on Amazon
Where to Go from Here
If you’re building a vegetarian kitchen from scratch, start with a few reliable staples: one plant-based protein you like, one or two dairy swaps, and a good broth. These vegetarian-friendly brands cover all of that and are available at most major grocery chains. From there, you can expand into specialty items online.
For restaurant options, our restaurant listing covers what’s vegetarian at hundreds of US chains. The best vegetarian food guide rounds up top picks across different food categories. And if you’re still getting familiar with the basics, the vegetarian glossary is worth bookmarking.
