Best Online Vegan Cooking Classes for 2023
There’s no denying the health and environmental benefits of a plant-based or vegan diet, and given the rise of everything online, why not learn how to cook some healthy meals? Several online vegan cooking classes offer plant-based instruction, whether you’re looking for a certification, want to improve your vegan cooking skills, or you’re just learning how to go vegan, you’re in good hands.
So let’s get into 8 of the best.
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What are the best online vegan cooking classes for learning plant-based cuisine?
Best Overall: Veecoco
Veecoco
Started in 2016 by twin brothers Lukas and Samuel with just a few courses, Veecoco has exploded in growth over the last few years.
What I love about Veecoco’s online vegan cooking classes:
- Over 800 lessons and it seems to be growing every year.
- All courses are move-at-your-own-pace.
- Tons of courses on just about everything, like vegan pastries (including dairy-free and gluten free ingredients), different international cuisines such as Italian, German, North American, Japanese, Vietnamese, and more, raw food fundamentals, vegan brunches, foraging for wild herbs, vegan cheese, and desserts.
- Partnered with a non-profit organization in Thailand called Baan Unrak, that provides vegan/vegetarian meals to children who would otherwise go hungry. Each month that you are subscribed sends one meal to a child.
- Veecoco offers a FREE 7-day trial without giving a credit card. And you can explore everything with this free trial.
- Classes taught by various chefs so you know you’re getting someone who has really honed their skills in that area.
- Mobile app available.
- Unlimited access to classes.
Price options as of 2023:
- Free 7-day trial
- $39 per month (On special now for only $9/month)
- $297 per year
- $997 Lifetime
Veecoco Reviews (from TrustPilot):
“Veecoco has been absolutely amazing. I am thoroughly enjoying all of the courses you have to offer and even prepared fresh Gnocchi for my family last night! I’ve been vegan for a while but recently hit a wall with new recipes and this has really inspired me and taught me so much!” ~Vienna Stark
“Absolutely the best! Quick responses to questions and access to professional chefs! These guys deliver on their promises! The courses are easy to follow but I produce chef quality vegan cuisine! I needed something like this to help me keep my commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Nothing but recipes and teaching methods, no politics, LOL! I love Veecoco!” ~Kim Romero
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Best for Beginners: Brownble
Brownble
Husband-and-wife team, Kim and Carlos, started Brownble. Kim has been cooking since she was 15 years old, and she is a certified plant-based cook, so she knows a thing or two about high-quality vegan cooking. And her husband is an M.D.
I found her story, particularly about her childhood and mother’s battle with an illness, incredibly touching.
What I love about My Brownble online vegan cooking classes:
- They offer beginner and intermediate cooking classes.
- They have a comprehensive blog with articles on the social aspects of being vegan, the vegan lifestyle, diet and exercise, and traveling.
- Brownble offers a variety of courses, from how to go vegan, making vegan cheese, and even basics like cooking tofu.
- Several vegan cooking courses are offered for free.
- Courses offer a gluten-free section.
- 450 videos are available and they bring out new content every week.
- Mobile app available.
Price as of 2023:
- 7-day commitment-free trial.
- Individual classes range from $97-$119 (How to Go Vegan & Ultimate Vegan Cheese Course)
- Online Membership Program (Access to 450+ videos): $11.99 per month/$115 per year/$199 lifetime access
- Brownble Super Bundle (lifetime access to all of the above: how to go vegan, ultimate vegan cheese course, how to cook tofu, vegan breakfast and brunch recipes, 450+ videos: one-time payment of $329 OR 4 monthly payments of $87.
My Brownble Reviews (from their website):
“I have learned so much from you! I appreciate that you are not the usual vegan preacher but rather a very genuine, down-to-earth mentor. One that knows how difficult it may be to start a vegan lifestyle, a person that anyone can relate to because you too have struggled with food and with society’s stereotypes.” ~Helena
“Your posts are exactly where I am in life right now! Thanks again for your program and amazing posts!” ~Sarah
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Best for Budget: Cozymeal
Cozymeal
This website offers about 24 different cooking classes for vegan meals, though availability seems to vary.
They have awesome recipes and tutorials to add to your cooking repertoire, such as vegan comfort food, street food, African cuisine, Thai dishes, and so much more.
What I love about Cozymeal:
- Their online vegan cooking classes are crazy affordable.
- Can look at the menu and list of ingredients before signing up for the course.
- Each course focuses on one dish.
- They have a variety of ethnic and international cuisines.
- Features live, interactive classes so you get that in-person feel with on-the-spot instructor attention.
- Teachers are educated, professional chefs, some of them certified and plant-based nutrition.
- No limit to how many questions you can ask.
Price as of 2023:
$29, $39, $99, and up depending on the class
Cozymeal Reviews (from their website):
“Chef Stacy answered all questions and did a great job demonstrating. We very much enjoyed and look forward to taking another down the line.” ~Kyle (on Thai Favorites Made Vegan)
“Absolutely wonderful course, the food came out remarkable! I will definitely take more classes with Chef Stacy!” ~Michael (on Decadent Vegan Desserts)
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Best for Pro Chefs: Rouxbe
Rouxbe
Rouxbe (pronounced “Ruby”) was co-founded in 2005 by Joe Girard and Dawn Thomas. It was born out of a desire to create an online professional culinary school for home cooks and chefs.
Since then, it has grown into a vast platform that teaches not only the basics to beginners but more advanced techniques for those who want to take it next level and become professional chefs.
A quick heads-up: Rouxbe is not a fully vegan platform so keep that in mind when you’re checking out the courses.
What I love about Rouxbe:
- Fully accredited by Worldchefs, ACE (Academy of Culinary Education), and ACFEF (American Culinary Federation Education Foundation).
- The Plant-based Pro course was developed with the assistance of world-renowned chef Chad Sarno and is the most comprehensive plant-based course you can get.
- Rouxbe has a variety of courses you can access with a free 14-day trial.
- Convenient, lifetime access to courses.
- Facebook page to interact with other students.
- Instructor grading with feedback.
If you’re not interested in becoming a professional chef (or just want something more low-key) you can check out their other courses below.
Celebrate Plant Based: learn how to cook winter/holiday dishes like starters, salads, appetizers, entrees, and even desserts.
Introduction to Plant-based Cooking: If you’re a newbie, this online vegan cooking course will build your confidence by learning how to cook with plant-based ingredients. It focuses on fundamental essentials like choosing and handling a knife, steaming foods, convenient substitutions, and more.
Essential Vegan Desserts: In this delightful course, you’ll learn how to make traditional desserts with dairy and egg alternatives. The techniques and recipes taught come from the renowned “queen of vegan desserts,” Chef Fran Costigan.
Price as of 2023:
- Monthly Membership of 75+ lessons ($9.99/mo OR $79.99/yr)
- Celebrate Plant Based Class ($89)
- Intro to Plant Based Cooking Class ($299.99)
- Plant Based Pro Certification ($1,439.99)
- Essential Vegan Desserts ($399.99)
Discounts seem to be regularly offered, so be sure to check back.
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Best for “Artistic” Chefs: Food Future Institute
Food Future Institute
I absolutely love Food Future Institute & their statement that “we strive to preserve and protect the symbiotic interrelation between human consumption and the Earth that sustains it.”
FFI is headed by celebrity chef Matthew Kenney, and they really teach the home cook how to elevate plant-based foods and create stunningly beautiful dishes with quality ingredients.
Their desire is to focus on the symbiotic relationship between humans and the earth, which is pretty much at the root of how a lot of vegans think.
What I love about Food Future Institute’s online vegan cooking classes:
- Immersive, high-quality videos by expert chefs.
- Merges artistic design with elevated culinary skills.
- Focuses on delicious, healthy foods and plating with an artistic flair.
- Lifetime access to training.
- Gluten-free substitutes given.
- Live chat with the instructors available.
Matthew Kenney has written 12 cookbooks and is dubbed one of (if not the) FIRST world-renowned vegan chefs. Food and Wine Magazine recently titled him one of America’s Best New Chefs, so I firmly believe that the price tag that comes with the Food Future Institute course is well worth it. This can take your cooking skills to the next level and beyond.
Price as of 2023:
- Plant Based Home Cooking Course aka “FFI Home” ($300)
- Elevated Plant Based Cooking aka “FFI Foundations” ($350)
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Best for Youth: Tiny Green Chef
Tiny Green Chef
The school was founded by a mom named Azizi, who enlists the help of her delightful daughters, Kaja and Kamilla. I think this helps to engage other kids taking the class, and it likely adds to the entertainment value they get from the course.
This virtual cooking class is for any child who considers themself to be a budding plant-based chef or wants to learn how to have fun in the kitchen.
Azizi has been teaching her daughters kitchen stuff for ten years, so she’s well versed in the “teaching kids how to cook” department by implementing fun activities.
She believes the more you invite your children into the kitchen and engage them with their meal prep, the more empowered they will be to take control of their eating habits. Makes perfect sense!
What I love about Tiny Green Chef’s online vegan cooking class:
- Gets kids excited about cooking.
- Highly engaging and fun content to benefit even the most easily bored kid.
- Teaches children that eating healthy is fun and delicious.
- Demonstrates healthy preservation and processing techniques.
- Includes cool plant-based cooking hacks.
- Course includes fun but safe food science experiments.
- Gets kids connected with food using all 5 senses.
- Courses are designed to spark children’s natural creativity.
- Ingredients are allergy friendly (no soy, gluten, or other common allergens and ingredients).
- Is self-paced.
- Includes lifetime access to the cooking classes.
- Lessons are nice and short (under 30 minutes long).
- Perfect for any child over the age of 3 (with supervision for the younger ones of course).
Sale price 2023:
$99 (subject to change)
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Best for Gut Health Focus: Happy Pear
Happy Pear
Happy Pear was founded by twin brothers Dave and Steve. They have both been vegan for at least 15 years. And not only do they run this fabulous course, but they also own several cafes and a farm and have written and published four cookbooks.
They currently have 7 different online vegan cooking classes that aim to give you peak health, targeting different parts of the body like your skin, heart, gut, etc.
That’s why I included Healthy Pear here because, in their gut health course, you’ll learn about fermentation, which I find very interesting because it involves science, and I’m all about that 🥸
What I love about Happy Pear’s Gut Health Revolution:
- Learn about overall gut health, FODMAPs, causes of bloating and IBS, how the immune system is tied to the gut, and whether gluten should be avoided.
- Dr. Alan Desmond, a board-certified gastroenterologist and whole foods advocate, is consulted for the course.
- Includes over 200 recipes and meal plans for a healthy gut.
- All courses are self-paced.
- Mobile app available.
The only caveat to this course is that you are currently allowed 12 weeks to access the materials.
Price as of 2023:
~$127 (£150)
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Best for Udemy Users: Udemy Vegan Cooking Classes (4 stars & up)
Udemy
Udemy is one of my favorite websites for browsing affordable courses on just about any topic. But when it comes to the plant-based enthusiast, they really have a plethora of options for online vegan cooking classes.
What I love about Udemy:
- Can filter your results, from highlighting the most popular to avoiding those with the lowest star rating.
- Can choose classes down to the most granular level, like raw gluten-free vegan desserts, prepping the perfect veggie burger or the under 30-minute vegan meal.
- You’re able to read the reviews for each course on-site, simplifying your decision-making process.
- Platform offers courses that range from an hour long, all the way to ones that have 10+ hours of content.
- Mobile app available.
Price as of 2023:
$12.99 and up on average, but varies depending on the course.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Vegan Cooking Classes
Are online classes just as good as in-person?
There are so many benefits to online vegan cooking classes vs taking one in person.
You don’t have to drive anywhere, so you save on gas and time driving, making it a sustainable option. And online classes are typically cheaper.
You also can use your own cookware, and when you’re finished, you’ve got a meal that’s ready to eat.
A lot of people are also more comfortable learning from the sanctity of their own homes.
Most online vegan cooking classes can be taken at your own pace as well, alleviating the pressure to get done within a certain time frame.
Of course, there are obvious advantages to taking a cooking class in person, such as getting feedback from the instructor, meeting like-minded people in your area, and the overall benefit of experiencing some social interaction, something that’s missing from many people’s lives these days. But not all cities offer live instruction for cooking plant-based dishes, so online is the only way to go.
If you can take a class locally and you feel you would benefit from the social aspect as well as one-on-one attention, I recommend that over online instruction.
Is cooking vegan food harder than cooking meat dishes?
There’s a common misconception that cooking vegan is harder than cooking a meat dish, and this simply isn’t true. I started cooked vegan dishes over four years ago, and while I don’t cook as much as I used to, some of those dishes are a little more time-consuming, particularly when I first went vegan.
But that’s only because I was learning a new skill and it was vastly different from my “dump some sauce over a slab of meat and throw it in the oven for half an hour” way of cooking.
Cruelty-free, plant-based cooking involves going to the root of flavor and nutrition, learning how to infuse flavor into foods you may never have used before, and learning how to veganize common animal-based dishes like meat, cream sauces, and cheeses.
So there is a slight learning curve involved. But there’s no reason it has to be harder than cooking meat.
One of these online vegan cooking classes should get you well on your way to learning the basics and then some.
What does vegan cooking have to do with sustainability?
Vegan diets are much more sustainable and eco-friendly than animal-based diets for a number of reasons.
For one, factory farming is one of the leading causes of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. As a matter of fact, animal agriculture releases more greenhouse gases WORLDWIDE than ALL of the world’s transportation systems!
More than half of the water used in the United States, as well as 87% of our agricultural land available, is used for raising animals for food, not to mention the MILLIONS of acres of forests that have been cleared just to make room to grow the crops to feed them.
That’s right, guys. We are growing more crops to feed the steak and bacon that ultimately lands on our plates than we are growing to feed ourselves.
Secondly, factory-farmed animals release all kinds of toxic waste, bacteria, and hormones into our water system every time they pee and poop, and it can leach into our groundwater, as well as spill over to crops, ultimately leading to all those E. coli outbreaks we hear about.
And can I also say that this is no way for ANY sentient being to live? >>>>>
Lastly, I’d like to touch on the amount of disgusting environmental racism that exists in the state of North Carolina (I’m sure it’s in other places too).
Bladen County is a rural community of mostly black residents — outnumbered by the farmed pigs in the area. They’ve had it BAD over the years, dealing with pig manure LITERALLY being sprayed over the crops and spreading all over the community, leading to toxic air, diseases, illnesses, and extreme stress.
And it’s all courtesy of Smithfield and their evil legal loopholes. Uggh. I won’t get into all of it here, but if you want to read about how residents fought back, check out this article.
Online Vegan Cooking Classes – Some Final Thoughts
No matter what you want to learn, whether to learn how to cook simple dishes for yourself or your family, or you want to become a master chef who specializes in plant-based cooking, I hope that one of these online vegan cooking classes will give you what you need to meet your goals.
Are you a vegan or plant-based cook who offers online vegan cooking classes? Do you know of any others you can recommend? If so, please reach out and let me know.
Also, if you’re looking for some in-person vegan cooking classes, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Boston, Charlotte, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland offer quite a few. Click here to see a list.
And remember, as with any dietary changes, please talk with your doctor before making a major shift to the way you eat or exercise.
