Whether you’re new to veganism or a seasoned pro, these surprising foods that are not vegan are likely to shock you!
One caveat: This post is not meant to incite fear mongering or to cause any discouragement. It’s simply to help with anyone interested in veganism and to highlight common foods that may contain non-vegan items. Veganism is not about perfection, and so accidentally consuming these products does not make you non-vegan. I hope this is a helpful post!
When I became a vegan, there was a lot that I expected—no cheese, no dairy, no eggs, and no meat. But no Altoids ?! That was news to me!
In fact, there’s a surprising number of everyday foods that contain animal by-products, which means they’re not suitable for vegan diets. If you’re a vegan for ethical reasons, it’s important to know what these foods are so you can avoid them.
Below, I list some of the most surprising foods that are not vegan, along with some vegan-friendly substitutes to try.
Altoids
These little breath mints contain gelatin, a protein derived from animal collagen. Don’t worry, though, there are plenty of vegan-friendly breath mints out there—just look for ones that don’t contain any gelatin or other animal-derived ingredients.
Marshmallows
Most marshmallows contain gelatin and are definitely not vegan. Luckily, there are some tasty vegan marshmallow brands on the market these days—try Dandies or Sweet & Sara in your next mug of hot chocolate for a delicious vegan treat!
Gummy Candy
Gummy bears and other gummy candies are also made with gelatin. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying your favourite gummy candy—there are some amazing vegan-friendly options out there! I recommend Surf Sweets and Yum Earth, which are gelatin-free gummies.
Beer and Wine
Yep, you read that right. Beer and wine are often made with animal-derived ingredients like isinglass (made from fish bladders) or casein (a dairy protein). It’s not always easy to determine which beers and wines are made with animal ingredients by reading the labels, but Barnivore is an awesome resource that allows you to check almost any brand by name.
Bread
Bread and other baked goods are usually vegan, but you should always read the label to make sure. Some breads—especially enriched breads like brioche or challah—contain eggs or dairy, so it’s best to double-check before you take a bite. Try my vegan Japanese milk bread if you love the taste and texture of enriched bread, but want to skip the dairy and eggs!
Sugar
Sugar may seem like a food that should be vegan, but many brands of sugar use bone char (a form of animal charcoal) for processing. To avoid this, look for brands of sugar that explicitly state they’re vegan-friendly or buy beet sugar, rather than cane, which is vegan by default. Using organic sugar also helps to ensure it is vegan-friendly.
French Fries
Okay, not all French fries, but some French fries are cooked in beef tallow or made with beef flavouring, like McDonald’s. To make sure you’re getting vegan-friendly fries, look for restaurants that use vegetable oil, or make your own vegan fries at home.
Store-Bought Pie Crust
Surprise! Store-bought pie crusts often contain lard or butter, so they’re not vegan. To ensure that your pies are vegan-friendly, look for brands that use vegetable oil instead of animal fat or make my vegan pie crust or gluten-free vegan pie crust .
Bagels
Some bagels contain eggs or honey, so look for brands that explicitly state they’re free of animal products. Another ingredient to look for is L-cysteine, which is sometimes used to make bagels soft and chewy and give them a longer shelf-life—this is derived from animal sources, so you’ll want to avoid it if you’re on a strict vegan diet.
Red Sodas (and Other Red Foods)
Surprisingly, many red-coloured foods are made with cochineal or carmine, which is an insect-derived dye. Look for brands that use vegetable-based dyes instead of animal-derived ones, and if you’re unsure, it’s best to pass and buy something that’s not bright red instead!
Pasta
Most pastas are vegan, but you should always check the label to be positive. Some brands of pasta, especially those sold fresh in the refrigerated section, use eggs as an ingredient. Dried pasta is more likely to be vegan, or you can try your hand at making your own fresh pasta at home.
Refried Beans
You’d think refried beans are a reliable vegan food, but many brands contain lard, or animal fat. To find vegan-friendly refried beans, look for brands that use vegetable oil instead of animal fat, like Amy’s. You can also make your own refried beans by cooking black beans or pinto beans in vegetable broth with a quartered onion and a few garlic cloves, then pureeing them and seasoning to taste.
Gum
Most gums are gelatin-free, so they’re suitable for vegans, but there are a few brands that add gelatin for some extra chewiness, like Trident. Look for brands that use natural plant extracts instead of animal-derived ingredients.
Non-Dairy Creamer
I mean, it says non-dairy right in the name—it’s got to be a vegan food, right?! Surprise! Non-dairy creamers can contain casein, which is a dairy protein. I like to use my vegan heavy cream substitute in my coffee, or try full-fat coconut milk.
Chocolate
Chocolate may seem like a vegan-friendly food, but many brands of chocolate contain milk or milk products—and yes, this includes dark chocolate. Read the label and be on the lookout for dairy ingredients. If you’re baking, Enjoy Life chocolate chips are vegan as well as dozens of other brands.
Worcestershire Sauce
Worcestershire sauce may contain anchovies, so it’s not vegan. To make sure your Worcestershire sauce is vegan-friendly, look for brands that don’t contain any fish or other animal products, like Amy’s.
Non-Dairy Yogurt
Surprisingly, many brands of non-dairy yogurt contain ingredients like casein or whey (both dairy proteins). To ensure your yogurt is vegan-friendly, read the ingredient list or look for the word vegan on the packaging. Kite Hill, Silk, Forager, and So Delicious are vegan, or you can make your own vegan yogurt at home.
Sprinkles
Sprinkles may seem like a vegan-friendly food, but many brands contain confectioner’s glaze—an ingredient that is made from beetle shells. Insect-derived food dye and gelatin may also be ingredients in sprinkles. To avoid this, look for brands of sprinkles that explicitly state that they’re vegan on the label.
Artificial Vanilla Flavour
Artificial vanilla flavour is usually made with castoreum, which is an extract from beavers’ glands. (Gross, right?!) To make sure your vanilla is vegan-friendly, buy pure vanilla extract, rather than the bottles of artificial vanilla flavouring. (The real stuff tastes better too!)
Cereal
Many cereals are vegan-friendly, but some brands contain honey, gelatin, animal-derived vitamin D3, or other animal products—and you might be surprised by which ones aren’t vegan! Even Frosted Mini Wheats are made with gelatin in the glaze. I love starting my day with homemade granola for breakfast instead of cereal, but if you go with store-bought, be sure to read the label carefully before making your purchase.
This vegan copycat Chik-Fil-A Cobb salad lets you enjoy the fast food favourite without the chicken! It has all the classic flavours you love, but with plant-based chicken strips, bacon, and cheese.
Cobb salad is a classic American dish that’s been around for nearly a century, but the most famous version might just be the one sold by Chik-Fil-A.
As you might guess, the Chik-Fil-A version isn’t exactly true to the classic recipe, although it does share many of the same elements—the hard-boiled eggs, tomato, and greens are all there, but traditional Cobb salad is made with turkey, while Chik-Fil-A’s version is made with chicken nuggets.
The Chik-Fil-A Cobb salad is also much easier to veganize.
My vegan copycat version swaps in plant-based chicken strips, bacon, and cheese, and replaces the hard-boiled egg with avocado—a much better option if you ask me! It’s all tied together with a zippy Dijon vinaigrette, which keeps things light and flavourful.
Why You’ll Love This Copycat Chik-Fil-A Cobb Salad
Here’s why you’re going to flip for this vegan Chik-Fil-A Cobb salad.
- Satisfying . This is a salad that eats like a meal! The vegan chicken strips and sliced avocado make this salad extra filling.
- Filled with texture. Juicy vegan chicken, creamy avocado, tangy tomatoes, and crisp lettuce make every bite of this salad a delight.
- Easy . This is a recipe that comes together super fast. Perfect for work lunches and busy weeknight dinners!
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Lettuce – Use romaine, butter, iceberg lettuce or a mix.
- Green onions
- Grape tomatoes – Or use quartered cherry tomatoes.
- Carrot – Buy a bag of shredded carrots to save yourself some prep time.
- Vegan cheese – I recommend shredded cheddar cheese from Daiya, So Delicious, Follow Your Heart, or Violife.
- Cucumber – English cucumbers are nice in a salad because the skin is thinner and the seeds are smaller.
- Vegan chicken strips – I recommend Beyond Chicken Strips, Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’n Tenders by Gardein, or Daring Original Plant Chicken Pieces.
- Vegan bacon or tempeh – Options include Benevolent Bacon by Sweet Earth, Smart Bacon Meatless Veggie Bacon Strips by Lightlife, and Treehouse Tempeh Smoky Maple Bacon by Tofurky.
- Avocado
Salad Dressing:
- Red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar – Use whichever one you prefer or have on hand.
- Fresh lemon juice – Don’t use bottled—fresh is best!
- Dijon mustard
- Salt
- Black pepper – Coarsely cracked black pepper will add some bite to your dressing.
- Garlic
- Dried oregano
- Olive oil
- Maple syrup or granulated sugar – These are optional, if you want your dressing more sweet and less tangy.
How to Make Chik-Fil-A Cobb Salad
Cook the vegan chicken and bacon according to the package instructions, then follow the steps below.
- Make the dressing . Add the salad dressing ingredients to a jar, seal it with a lid, and shake it until it emulsifies.
- Toss the salad . In a large bowl, toss together the lettuce, green onion, tomatoes, carrot, cheese, and cucumber.
- Assemble . Add the vegan chicken and bacon on top of the salad, followed by the avocado. Drizzle the salad dressing over the top, then serve as-is or toss to combine.
Tips for Success
This vegan Chik-Fil-A Cobb salad is simple, but these tips will help you make sure it turns out perfect!
- Don’t go overboard with the dressing . Just add enough to lightly coat the salad ingredients when you’re assembling the salad, and then serve the salad with additional dressing. This will keep it from getting soggy in the serving bowl!
- Toss carefully . If you opt to toss the salad a second time before serving, be careful not to break up the chicken and avocado too much.
- Store separately . Making your vegan Chik-Fil-A Cobb salad for meal prep? Store the rest of the salad separately from the chicken and dressing, and cut the avocado just before serving.
Variations
This vegan Chik-Fil-A Cobb salad can be customized to suit your tastes! Here are a few ideas:
- Add fresh or frozen corn to the salad for a little bit of sweetness.
- Swap the store-bought vegan chicken for my homemade vegan chicken .
- Try a different dressing, like my vegan ranch dressing or creamy vegan avocado dressing .
How to Store
Leftover vegan Chik-Fil-A Cobb salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat the chicken in the microwave, if desired, or eat it cold with the rest of the salad.
More Salad Recipes
- Vegan Greek Panzanella Salad
- Vegan Watermelon Feta Salad with Balsamic Reduction
- Greek Cucumber Salad
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Ingredients
- 1 large head of lettuce , rinsed and chopped* (can use romaine, butter, iceberg lettuce or a mix) (495 grams)
- 4 green onions , sliced (25 grams)
- 1 cup grape tomatoes , halved (150 grams)
- 1 cup shredded carrot , 165 grams
- 1 cup vegan cheese , shredded or cubed (120 grams) *see brand recommendations below
- ½ cucumber , sliced (150 grams)
- 1 (8-9 ounce) package vegan chicken strips , (breaded or unbreaded), cooked and chopped (approximately 275 grams) *see brand recommendations below
- 1 (5 – 7 ounce) package vegan bacon , or tempeh, cooked and chopped (approximately 165 grams) *see brand recommendations below
- 1 large avocado , sliced (200 grams)
Salad Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar , or balsamic vinegar (40 grams)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice , (14 grams)
- 1 ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard , (7.5 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon salt , (1 gram)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper , (1 gram)
- 1 garlic cloves , (minced (4 grams)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano , (1 gram)
- ⅓ cup olive oil , (210 grams)
- ½ teaspoon maple syrup or granulated sugar , optional (2.5 grams)
Instructions
- Add all salad dressing ingredients to a jar, seal it with a lid, and shake it several times to combine. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the lettuce, green onion, tomatoes, carrot, cheese, and cucumber and toss a few times to combine.
- Sprinkle the vegan chicken and bacon on top of the salad. Top with the avocado and drizzle the salad with the dressing. Toss once more if preferred or serve as is. Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Notes
*Lettuce: For this recipe, you can use romaine lettuce, butter lettuce, iceberg lettuce, or a combination of any of those.)
Vegan Cheese: Cheddar Style Shreds by Daiya Plant-Based Cheddar Style Shreds by So Delicious Finely Shredded Cheddar Cheese by Follow Your Heart Just Like Cheddar Shreds by Violife
Vegan Chicken: Beyond Chicken Strips by Beyond Meat Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’n Tenders by Gardein Original Plant Chicken Pieces by Daring
Vegan Bacon/Tempeh: Benevolent Bacon by Sweet Earth Smart Bacon Meatless Veggie Bacon Strips by Lightlife Treehouse Tempeh Smoky Maple Bacon by Tofurky
