5 Virtual Vegan Cooking Classes Worth Taking

Spice up your plant-based cooking and baking.

Health + Wellness
woman taking online cooking class
Marko Geber / DigitalVision / Getty Images

Whether you’ve been a strict vegan for years or you’re just testing the waters, it can be hard to come up with innovative meals that taste delicious without butter, cheese, or meat. You could certainly scroll through social media or search the depths of Google to find new recipes, but there’s something special about learning in a hands-on way. That’s where cooking classes come in.

These days, cooking classes, especially plant-based versions, are more available than ever, and you can find plenty of online courses. But which ones are worth your time (and money)? If you’re ready to get started on a culinary adventure, check out these top online vegan cooking classes, perfect for beginners and experts alike.

1. Food Future Institute

If you really want to wow your friends and family, you can pick up some new vegan cooking skills and recipes from the Food Future Institute. The school was founded by celebrity chef Matthew Kenney and offers two online tracks and will soon offer in-person classes in Venice, California.

Course Examples

For online courses, there are two options: the Home track or the Foundations track. Home, the newest track, is ideal for home cooks who want to learn some new skills and recipes in 12 modules taken at their own pace. The Foundations course includes 18 modules and offers more advanced techniques and recipes for professionals or highly skilled home cooks.

Cost

The Home course is $300, and the Foundations track is $350. The price includes lifetime access to the modules, which include instructional videos and recipes. The Foundation course also includes a Certificate of Completion.

Highlights

In Foundations, you can learn about fermented foods, laminated doughs, raw vegan foods, the science of pizza, and more. In the Home course, you’ll learn more than 100 new recipes, plus you can hone your knife skills, learn how to save time in the kitchen, and get a better understanding of stocking your pantry with essentials.

2. Cozymeal

Cozymeal is a company that offers virtual and in-person cooking classes for a variety of diet and culinary interests. You can filter vegan or vegetarian options per your preferences, and you’ll find a variety of rotating classes on everything from comfort food basics to desserts and more.

Course Examples

Do you miss your favorite comfort foods since pursuing a vegan lifestyle? There’s a course for that. Cozymeal offers an “Intro to Vegan Comfort Cooking” course featuring a ratatouille bowl with polenta and homemade pesto. Other courses include DIY vegan versions of fast food favorites, holiday recipes, meal prepped dishes, and more.

Cost

Most single-session virtual classes cost $29 to $39 per device. There are also some three-week series for $199.

Highlights

Online courses are fully interactive, so you can cook along with the chef and ask questions as you go. You’ll receive the menu and recipe in advance. Ingredients are not included, but Cozymeal does have a feature that lets you build your groceries, order them online, and have them delivered to your door in time for the class.

3. Forks Over Knives

Forks Over Knives started as a 2011 documentary and accompanying book about the benefits of plant-based diets. Since then, the organization has helped many people transition to vegan diets with many online resources, including a 90-day course for plant-based home cooks.

Course Examples

The 90-day course for home cooks teaches skills like how to properly use knifes or how to preserve vegetable pigments, plus over 100 recipes. For people who aren’t ready for the 90-day commitment, there’s also an Essentials Course, which includes 20 hours of educational materials for cooking foundations and 25 recipes. You can compare the two options here.

Cost

The 90-day course costs $349.99, but early birds can score 25% off. The Essentials Course is regularly $139.99, or $99.99 with the early bird discount.

Highlights

Participants will learn over 100 plant-based recipes as well as culinary skills and techniques from top chefs and educators. The course includes lifetime access, engagement with your teachers, quizzes to track your progress, and more. You’ll learn knife skills, how to cook healthier vegan recipes, and how to save time in the kitchen.

4. Happy Bellyfish

Interested in a variety of healthy food challenges to level up your kitchen skills and recipe repertoire? Then Happy Bellyfish is for you. This platform hosts courses in the form of challenges, so you can choose the challenge that speaks to you. Each week, you can choose from new 15- or 30-day challenges.

Course Examples

New Challenges start every Tuesday. You could take a course on vegan baking or specifically making vegan cakes. Maybe you want to take a course on fermenting, or you’re looking to do a 30-day refined sugar detox. All of the challenges are geared toward healthful eating habits.

Cost

The prices vary based on the challenge you choose, but costs typically range from $37 to $49 per course.

Highlights

Each course teaches unique skills and offers multiple recipes. As you complete your challenges, you’ll become eligible for prizes, so in addition to your newly learned skills and recipes, you could win some rewards, too.

5. Veecoco

If you’re looking for an extensive library of vegan recipes to learn, Veecoco is a great choice. There are more than 700 completely vegan courses to take, and you can even sign up for a free, seven-day trial to check it all out for yourself and get a better feel for the platform.

Course Examples

If you can dream it, you’ll probably find it on Veecoco. Whether you want to learn how to make artisanal vegan cheeses, craft recipes for a vegan brunch, learn about raw vegan foods, or whip up vegan chocolate desserts, you can do it on this platform.

Cost

Veecoco is free, no payment information required, for one week. From there, you can choose from two membership options: either pay for a full year upfront for $297, or pay month-to-month for $35 each month.

Highlights

If you’re hungry to take a lot of cooking classes, this membership-based platform is cost-effective. You get access to all courses with the cost of your membership. Courses include video lessons, personalized feedback, and even certificates to make your new skills official.

Editorial note: EcoWatch is not earning commission from this article.

Based in Los Angeles, Paige is a writer who is passionate about sustainability. Aside from writing for EcoWatch, Paige also writes for Insider, HomeAdvisor, Thrillist, EuroCheapo, Eat This, Not That!, and more. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University and holds a certificate in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She also specialized in sustainable agriculture while pursuing her undergraduate degree. When she’s not writing, Paige enjoys decorating her apartment, enjoying a cup of coffee and experimenting in the kitchen (with local, seasonal ingredients, of course!).

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