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These easy vegan dinner recipes range from 20-minute stir-fries to cozy one-pot meals, listed with cook time for easy planning. Each plant-based dinner idea is filling, delicious, and packed with protein to keep you satisfied!
Finding great vegan dinner recipes can be hard. Vegan dinners should be hearty and satisfying, delicious enough to be fun to eat and filled with enough plant-based protein to keep you full all evening. Even though I’ve been eating vegan meals for years, it’s still hard to find those tried and true dinnertime hits.
After years of testing and tweaking, I’ve built a collection of my favorite vegan dinner ideas that are actual weeknight favorites in my kitchen. As a cookbook author with over a decade of experience, I’ve found all my most dependable recipes that are filling and delicious, and get rave reviews from my real-life family and my readers!
40 Easy Vegan Dinner Recipes
First up in my favorite vegan dinner recipes: this quick Vegan Curry! Coconut milk and curry powder make healthy vegetables taste like hearty comfort food. It’s an ode to the simplicity of plant-based ingredients and great seasoning.
Total time: 25 minutes
Craving comfort food without the dairy? Try this vegan mac and cheese! My version explodes with creamy decadence using only whole food ingredients like cashews, sweet potato, and canned artichokes to make a cheesy sauce that is just as satisfying as the real thing!
Total time: 30 minutes
This type of fast and easy meal has become exactly what I crave (don’t you want to just dive right into that bowl?). The tender tofu cubes and crisp broccoli florets get tossed in a savory sauce that’s both sweet and umami, making it a vegan dinner everyone will love.
Total time: 30 minutes
Here’s one of my most fun vegan dinner ideas: vegan crab cakes! Essentially a plant-based patty that tastes like a crab cake, these crispy, crave-worthy bites will wow eaters of any diet. Packed with hearts of palm, artichokes, and chickpeas, serve them up with tartar sauce for a filling vegan dinner recipe.
Total time: 30 minutes
Eggplant Parmesan is one of the world’s best meatless comfort foods: so why not try a dairy-free rendition? Try this vegan Eggplant Parmesan, with all the flavor of the real deal but totally plant-based! Tender eggplant slices are dipped and breaded, then baked until crispy and smothered in a tangy marinara sauce.
Total time: 1 hour
There’s just something about the cozy comfort of ginger-scented fried rice, right? Here’s a rendition that makes it into a vegan meal: try tofu fried rice! Chewy cubes of tofu nestle into fluffy, veggie-packed rice bursting with savory, garlicky flavor. Top it with a drizzle of hot sauce and serve it warm.
Total time: 30 minutes
Here’s a plant-based soup everyone around the table will love: vegan broccoli soup! This cozy bowl is lusciously creamy and bursting with flavor. But there is no cheddar cheese or vegan dairy substitutes: just simple ingredients! It’s a healthy and satisfying meal that readers tell me they love!
Total time: 35 minutes
Looking for a rock-star vegan recipe or plant based dinner idea? Try this crispy tofu bowl! Imagine, chunks of perfectly-seasoned meaty, savory crispy tofu paired with fluffy rice and fresh veggies. The best part? Cover it with a spicy mayo and sprinkle everything with crunchy fried onions! It makes a bowl that's an explosion of textures and flavors.
Total time: 40 minutes
On the lookout for vegan dinner ideas? Vegan Taco Salad to the rescue! This genius recipe comes to you by the magic of Walnut Taco Meat: a tasty way to make a plant-based version of ground beef. Turns out, walnuts, mushrooms and spices do a spot on job of simulating the savory goodness of meat crumbles.
Total time: 25 minutes
This delicious red lentil curry is packed with flavor and plant based protein, topped with a sparkling cilantro chutney that makes it shine! Serve with rice as a hearty vegan dinner.
Total time: 30 minutes
Cozy up to a bowl of these creamy, zingy peanut noodles! This is one of my favorite fresh, easy dinner recipes and it comes together in less than 30 minutes. The peanut butter sauce is lusciously creamy, bursting with flavor from soy sauce, fresh lime juice and honey or maple syrup. Mix it together with luscious noodle strands and crunchy veggies and top with loads of fresh cilantro and crunchy peanuts.
Total time: 25 minutes
This vegan protein is often overlooked but has massive flavor when cooked correctly. Marinating tempeh gives it bold savory flavor when cooked up with soy sauce, maple syrup, ginger and garlic. Give it a quick sear in a pan and it tastes deliciously meaty, great for serving with rice or in a bowl meal.
Total time: 1 hr 15 minutes (with marinading time)
Here’s a go-to when you need a plant based dinner that’s protein-packed: Vegan Meatballs! This recipe takes under 30 minutes to make, and it’s packed with protein! Even better: the flavor is outstanding. Serve with pasta and your favorite marinara sauce!
Total time: 30 minutes
Here’s an irresistibly delicious vegan dinner recipe: Falafel Salad! Make a batch of this easy baked falafel, then layer them with crunchy veggies and top with a creamy, zingy tahini dressing. Or, use purchased frozen falafel or even repurpose take-out leftovers.
Total time: 35 minutes
Need a fresh vegan dinner idea or crowd-pleasing appetizer? Try this lettuce wraps recipe! The punchy, savory filling is infused with hoisin, soy sauce and rice vinegar, mixing savory tofu with cashews and green onions.
Total Time: 25 minutes
Is cheese essential to that classic Italian baked pasta? Vegan lasagna is a thing, and it’s extremely tasty. In fact, this is my favorite lasagna recipe, period. You can make this huge pan on a budget, so it’s a healthy dinner recipe that’s affordable to all!
Total time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Hands up if you love cauliflower! This vegetable has star status among veggies these days. Make it into tacos, use it as a stand-in buffalo wings, or hide it in alfredo sauce. But here's a favorite way to make them into a vegan dinner recipe: this Cauliflower Stir Fry! Fry it until lightly charred and tender, then add bell peppers and a punchy stir fry sauce.
Total time: 25 minutes
Here’s a must-make vegan dinner recipe: this irresistible BBQ Tofu! Each bite has just the right chewy texture, bathed in a silky, sweet, savory sauce. You’ll want to keep eating it for days. This plate always disappears very quickly at my house! Serve with rice, or Southern-style sides like coleslaw and cornbread.
Total time: 20 minutes
There are lots of ways to make a vegan taco, but this one is my favorite. It’s filled with hearty, spiced walnut taco meat that tastes remarkably similar to the real thing. Add refried beans, your favorite classic toppings, and dollop with a creamy, spicy sauce.
Total time: 30 minutes
This vegan shepherd’s pie is cozy comfort food to the max! Imagine: a creamy gravy filled with tender vegetables, lentils and scented with fennel and sage. It’s topped with a fluffy layer of Yukon gold potatoes and fresh rosemary, then layered in a baking dish and baked until golden.
Total time: 1 hour
Something about all those tasty fillings snuggled cozily into a tortilla makes a burrito irresistible. This burrito is packed with flavor from Spanish rice (aka Mexican rice), seasoned black beans, peppers and onions, and mashed avocado.
Total time: 35 minutes, easy to make ahead
Looking for a delicious, filling vegan dinner recipe? This quick vegan chili is for you. It’s full of savory flavor starring beans, plant-based crumbles, and a hint of adobo sauce for complexity. Top it with plant based toppings: vegan sour cream and some pickled jalapenos.
Total time: 25 minutes
Try this Sweet Potato Curry! Tender sweet potatoes and bell peppers swim in a luscious broth of coconut milk and Thai curry paste, topped with fresh cilantro and crunchy peanuts. There’s so much flavor going on, you’ll want to take another bite before you’re finished savoring the first.
Total time: 35 minutes
Veggie wraps can be bland and boring, but this one is anything but. Fill a tortilla with savory chickpea salad, colorful veggies, and a tasty spread, and you’ve got a lunch that will make everyone jealous! Here’s how to build a veggie wrap that’s full of flavor.
What better to please a crowd than Sloppy Joes? These vegan Sloppy Joes recipe has a zingy lentil filling that tastes just as good as the meaty version. Put it on a toasted bun with some bread and butter pickles, and it's a vegan sandwich to remember.
Total time: 35 minutes
This recipe is one of my most crowd-pleasing plant based recipes. Tortillas are wrapped around a veggie filling oozing with flavor, and it’s all doused in a zesty homemade enchilada sauce. With the crunchy veggie topping, this dish looks and tastes incredible.
Total time: 30 minutes
Eating plant based dinner recipes doesn’t mean giving up the burger! Veggie burgers can be seriously satisfying, and that doesn’t mean processed meat substitutes. These vegan chickpea burgers are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, painted with BBQ sauce and served with shiitake bacon and spicy mayo.
Total time: 40 minutes
Here’s a vegan dinner recipe that takes just 30 minutes and results in so much flavor…you’ll put it on your regular rotation immediately. The brilliant red broth is flavored with coconut milk and red curry paste, with the zing of lime and a hint of spicy sweetness. The Thai-style flavors are the perfect way to introduce tofu to those wary of it.
Total time: 30 minutes
At it’s base, this simple vegan dinner recipe requires no cooking at all: layer a dollop of hummus with crunchy veggies and serve with pita wedges. It’s easily customizable and you can make it super basic or fancier with easy additions of ingredients. It takes just 5 minutes to make this Mediterranean-style meal that’s bursting with creamy, tangy, crunchy, fresh, and savory flavors.
Total time: 5 minutes
Everyone loves this meal, even meat eaters. It’s a great way to make a fun healthy dinner where no one notices there’s no meat! Roast up lots of veggies on a sheet pan with spices, and serve with refried beans and “guac-ish”.
Total time: 40 minutes
Here’s a fun way to infuse loads of veggies into your life: this tasty Tempeh Stir Fry! This mess of vibrant vegetables is just as tasty as it looks. It’s all smothered in a tangy, zingy vegan stir fry sauce that you’ll want to drizzle on just about everything.
This easy lentil soup recipe uses just 7 simple ingredients and costs pennies per serving, making it perfect for meal prep and weeknight dinners. This plant-based soup is hearty, satisfying, and delicious.
Total time: 50 minutes
In the mood for a vegan sheet pan dinner? Roasting your dinner on a baking sheet makes for an easy meal concept! This whole food plant based sheet pan dinner to load on the veggies. This recipe has 4 of our best vegetables to eat all at one time: and it’s seriously tasty, too.
Total time: 45 minutes
Here's a vegan dinner recipe to file under dinnertime basics: this Easy Rice Bowl! This 30 minute dinner features these easy black beans, a trick to make a bland can of beans taste amazing in 5 minutes. Pair it with rice, colorful veggies, and a creamy cilantro sauce.
Total time: 30 minutes
Jackfruit as a vegan substitute for pulled pork? Turns out this tropical fruit magically mimics pulled pork in a way we never dreamed. And one of the best ways to eat it? Jackfruit tacos: a fast and easy dinner recipe for weeknights. Vegan comfort food, at its finest.
Total time: 20 minutes
This Moroccan stew recipe is one of my top vegan dinner recipes because it's so flavorful, with a blend of Moroccan spices and full of nutrient rich vegetables like sweet potatoes, chickpeas, tomatoes and spinach. I like to serve it with quinoa for a delicious plant based dinner that’s also gluten free.
You’ve got avocado fries, breaded and baked in a hot oven until crispy, with a texture reminiscent of a fried fish taco. Then top that with spiced black beans, pico de gallo, and the refreshing crunch of romaine lettuce. Drizzle on a creamy lime and cilantro sauce, and it’s heaven on a plate. It tastes like restaurant tacos, but it’s easy to whip up in your kitchen.
Total time: 30 minutes
This simple combination of whole grain, veggies, protein and a sauce makes dinnertime delicious. This one is irresistibly good, pairing quinoa with tender roasted broccoli and cauliflower, crunchy raw veg, and finished off with a creamy pop of tahini sauce. Serve it in a shallow bowl and well, it’s swoon-worthy.
Total time: 35 minutes
Tofu is a healthy vegan protein that's great for incorporating into your meal prep repertoire. Want to fall in love with it? Come taste this tofu stir fry. It’s got the most flavor-packed stir fry sauce that works with any veggie, and the tofu is crisped on the outside and perfectly seasoned.
Total time: 35 minutes
Here’s a soup recipe that’s ultra cozy and deliciously hearty: Vegan Mushroom Soup! You won’t believe how creamy this is without the use of dairy! Just like our my favorite Wild Rice Soup, I've harnessed the magic of cashews to make a delightfully creamy base. Add to that spices, lots of veggies and whole grains, and it’s the perfect canvas to highlight deliciously savory mushrooms.
Total time: 40 minutes
Poke is a Hawaiian specialty, typically made with raw ahi tuna that’s marinated and then served with lots of veggies and tasty sauces. What if you don’t eat fish? Try vegan poke bowls! These tasty bowls are bursting with flavor, and they’ve got an unusual ingredient that gives the same texture and flavor as poke.
Total time: 40 minutes
Welcome to the tofu sandwich of your dreams! This vegan sandwich stars crispy breaded tofu, tangy Russian dressing, and crunchy pickles that create a flavor explosion everyone will love.
Total time: 30 minutes
Essential Tips for Protein-Packed Vegan Meals
The most important part of eating vegan dinner recipes: plant based protein is key for staying satiated and full. Recipes with meat and dairy naturally have lots of protein, but it’s not true for vegan dinners. Make sure to load them with plant based protein so you’re not hungry 1 hour later! Here are some top plant-based protein filled foods:
- Legumes: Lentils, Beans, Chickpeas, and Peas
- Whole Grains: Rice, Quinoa, Barley, Farro, Bulgur Wheat, and Millet (see How to Cook Whole Grains)
- Nuts & Seeds: Almonds, Cashews, Peanuts, Walnuts, Pecans, Hazelnuts, Pistachios, Pepitas (Pumpkin Seeds), Sesame Seeds, Sunflower Seeds
- Soy: Tofu, Tempeh (Stick to 2 to 4 servings per week)*
- Veggies: Some vegetables have protein, but in much lower amounts than the foods above. Some higher protein veggies are Corn, Broccoli, Asparagus, Brussels Sprouts, and Artichokes.
Choose Protein From Many Sources
When you’re eating lots of protein from plants, it’s important to get a wide variety of protein sources. The point isn’t just to eat a can of black beans every day! Per to Harvard School of Public Health, make sure to mix up your sources so no “essential” components of protein are missing. For more on plant based protein and lots of recipes, go to All About Plant Based Protein.
Is soy a healthy plant-based protein? Yes, in moderation! According to the Harvard TH Chan School of Nutrition, soy is a nutrient-dense source of protein that can safely be consumed several times a week. It’s likely to provide health benefits—especially when eaten as an alternative to red and processed meat.
Consider Vitamin B12
Lastly, make sure to consider vitamin B12 if you’re eating lots of vegan recipes. Dairy, eggs, and seafood have the Vitamin B12, which is important for avoiding anemia and does not occur naturally in plants. If you eat a fully vegan diet, you may need to add a supplement (specifically vitamin B12) to make sure you receive all the nutrients required. Consult your doctor for more.
More Vegan Recipes
- 50 Easy Vegan Recipes
- 15 Vegan Lunch Ideas
- 25 Vegan Breakfast Ideas or 21 Vegan Brunch Ideas
- 30 Tasty Vegan Side Dishes
- 30 Vegan Desserts
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