30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (2024)

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (1)

There are so many reasons to start eating more vegan meals, it's hard to count. Forgetting all the research that shows eating less meat is great for your health, good for the environment, and of course better for the animals, one of our favorite reasons: It's so tasty! Whether you're experimenting with dairy-free #MeatlessMondays, trying it for a month, or are hosting a vegan friend for dinner, chances are you're in the market for a few recipes that can show off the sheer variety of flavors in the vegetable kingdom while still keeping things relatively easy, and keeping you from feeling hungry minutes after a meal.

Well, fret not. These vegan recipes have it all. They're not only super quick and straightforward to make, but they're chock-full of flavor. And what's best is that most of them rely on ingredients you're likely to find at your local grocery store or farmers market. From a grain-filled chili, crunchy roast-carrot tacos, and a hearty, gluten-free noodle bowl to stuffed eggplants, savory veggie burgers, and, of course, stews and salads galore, these dishes are surefire ways to keep your family happy and well-fed.

Though, if you're all feeling a little peckish afterwards, you can always cap the meal off with one of these vegan dessert recipes. And if you're looking to cut meat out of other meals, here are some vegan breakfast recipes. We even have vegan camping meals to keep you going on the trail.

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1

Vegetarian Chili with Grains and Beans

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (3)

This slow-cooker chili is as filling as its meatier mainstay because of its hearty helping of high-protein wheat berries and kidney beans. Skip the cheese and sour cream—or use substitutes—to keep it vegan.

Get the recipe.

SHOP VEGAN CHEDDAR

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2

Carrot and Black Bean Crispy Tacos

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (5)

Try as you might, you simply cannot do better than the crispy yellow corn shells straight from the box. Do not overthink this.

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3

Bulgur and Cashew Stuffed Eggplant

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (7)

There's no meat or dairy, but plenty of sweet and spicy flavors in this heart-healthy meal.

Get the recipe.

SHOP BAKING SHEETS

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4

Roasted Butternut Squash with Cider Vinaigrette

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (9)

A homemade vinaigrette with apple cider, whole-grain mustard, and red wine vinegar makes butternut squash even better.

Get the recipe.

SHOP SHEET PANS

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5

Green Salad With Roasted Carrots

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (11)

Whole-roasted rainbow carrots make this delicious green salad both beautiful and filling. To keep it vegan, skip the dressing, or use dairy-free ingredient substitutions.

Get the recipe.

SHOP DAIRY FREE SOUR CREAM

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6

Farro-and-Acorn Squash Salad

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (13)

This hearty grain and winter squash dish is delicious warm, but tastes arguably even better after it's had a day for the flavors to marinate. Skip the blue cheese and add a little nutritional yeast instead.

Get the recipe.

SHOP NUTRITIONAL YEAST

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7

Vegan Gluten-Free Noodle Bowl

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (15)

This combo of rapini and soba noodles from Sarah Yates of A House in the Hills has it all: It's simple, spicy, packed with flavor, and hearty enough to keep you going.

Get the recipe.

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8

Steamed Wild Rice with Toasted Hazelnut Butter

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (17)

This protein-rich combo of nuts and wild grains makes a good side dish or a hearty main all on its own. Pair with a salad for a full meal. One note: Vegan substitutes won't "brown" the way butter does, so you can skip that step, but the toasted hazelnuts will impart plenty of rich, nutty flavor.

Get the recipe.

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9

Pearl Couscous With Leeks and Peas

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (19)

Delicious served warm or at room temperature, this colorful dish can be prepped up to four hours in advance.

Get the recipe.

SHOP COUSCOUS

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10

Chopped Salad

Packed with crunchy greens and hearty chickpeas, this salad can be a meal all on its own

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11

Wild Rice-and-Cider-Cranberry Pilaf

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (23)

Make this savory-sweet dish whenever you're feeling a yearning for the fall.

Get the recipe.

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12

Lentil Stew with Butternut Squash

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (25)

Rich in vitamins A and C, butternut squash adds a subtle sweetness to this hearty, slow-cooker lentil stew.

Get the recipe.

SHOP SLOW COOKERS

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13

Savory Pumpkin Soup with Spice Shake

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (27)

This puréed soup is quite delicious as-is, but don't sleep on the spice shake! It's good enough you may find yourself putting it on other things.

Get the recipe.

SHOP SHAKERS

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14

Sweet Pea and Avocado Soup

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (29)

This chilled soup is made extra easy by relying on a bag of frozen peas.

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15

Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (31)

Skip the red sauce and opt for hearty sweet potatoes, a bright pesto, and toasty pine nuts. To keep it vegan, skip the cheese in the pesto, and sub in nutritional yeast.

Get the recipe.

SHOP NUTRITIONAL YEAST

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16

Farro-and-Tomato Salad with Crispy Capers

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (33)

Crispy capers add an amazing amount of flavor, and are well worth learning. Top this tomato-filled salad with fresh flat-leaf parsley.

Get the recipe.

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17

Roasted Red Cabbage-and-Collard Green Slaw

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (35)

This bright and beautiful slaw is mixed with a mouthwatering sweet and spicy sauce.

Get the recipe.

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18

Charred Corn Salad

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (37)

Skip the queso fresco—or use a substitute, such as the homemade one from Curious Chickpea.

Get the recipe.

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19

Vegetable Kebabs with Lemon-Scallion Vinaigrette

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (39)

Fresh mint takes grilled vegetables to the next level.

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20

Coriander-Maple Glazed Carrots

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (41)

This stunning dish gets a burst of citrusy flavor from lime zest.

Get the recipe.

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (2024)

FAQs

What is a typical vegan meal? ›

  • 1 Stuffed Black Bean Sweet Potatoes With Sour Cream and Guacamole. ...
  • 2 Root Vegetable Bowls With Peanut Sauce. ...
  • 3 Two-Step Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad Sandwiches. ...
  • 4 3-Step Vegan Diner-Style Pancakes. ...
  • 5 Vegan Banana Oatmeal Porridge. ...
  • 6 Easy Vegan French Bread Pizza. ...
  • 7 Easy Vegan Tofu Egg Salad.

What is a good dinner that everyone would like? ›

27 Quick And Easy Dinners Your Whole Family Will Love
  • One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta. tasty.co. ...
  • Garlic Broccoli Shrimp Stir-Fry. tasty.co. ...
  • 3-Ingredient Teriyaki Chicken. tasty.co. ...
  • Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa. ...
  • Taco Soup. ...
  • One-Pot Chicken and Mushroom Pasta. ...
  • One-Pan Garlic Butter Salmon. ...
  • 20-Minute Beef and Broccoli Noodle Stir-Fry.
Oct 25, 2023

What is the most eaten vegan food? ›

Most vegan diets include beans in at least one meal per day, including lentils, chickpeas, black beans, pinto beans and many more. Many vegans consume soy-based proteins such as tofu and tempeh; their mild flavor makes them a great substitute for meat in stir-fries, soups and stews.

What vegan meal can I eat everyday? ›

For a healthy vegan diet: eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates (choose wholegrain where possible)

What food is surprisingly vegan? ›

18 Snacks and Foods You Didn't Know Were Vegan
  • Sriracha Mayo. I'm just as surprised as you are that Flying Goose's brilliant sriracha mayo is completely plant-based. ...
  • Hackney Gelato Dark Chocolate Sorbetto. ...
  • Lotus Biscoff Spread. ...
  • Lindt Excellence 70% Dark Chocolate. ...
  • Ritz Crackers. ...
  • Jacob's Cream Crackers. ...
  • Oreos. ...
  • Twiglets.
Jan 11, 2023

How do I make my vegan meal plan for beginners? ›

Try to incorporate protein foods, like peanut butter, beans, lentils, tofu, seitan and nuts, into most of your meals to stay satisfied in-between meals. If trying the vegan diet seems intimidating, consider the flexitarian diet by including a few meatless days a week to start and go from there.

What is 100% vegan food? ›

A product is vegan if it does not contain any animal extracts or animal by-products in the product or manufacturing process. It also means that the product hasn't been tested on animals. To be sure, look for the Vegan Trademark.

What to cook for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

What to eat when nothing sounds good: 25 balanced meal ideas
  • Ham or turkey & cheese sandwich with a side of fruit.
  • Rotisserie chicken with frozen microwaveable rice and veggies.
  • “Adult Lunchable”: cheese, crackers, deli meat, raw fruits or veggies with dip.
  • Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets on top of a salad.
Jan 11, 2023

What to cook when you have almost nothing? ›

15 Delicious Things to Throw Together When You're Pressed for Food Options
  1. Buttery, gooey grilled cheese. ...
  2. PB&J because duh. ...
  3. Tuna melt tostadas. ...
  4. Pancakes! ...
  5. Scrambled eggs. ...
  6. Waffles. ...
  7. A Hagrid-size bowl of cereal. ...
  8. Spaghetti carbonara.
Apr 28, 2020

What to make when you have no time to cook? ›

13 Emergency Dinners for When You Don't Have Time to Cook
  1. 01 of 14. Broiled Tilapia Parmesan. ...
  2. 02 of 14. Asian Beef with Snow Peas. ...
  3. 03 of 14. Vegetarian Chickpea Tacos. ...
  4. 04 of 14. Sicilian Spaghetti. ...
  5. 05 of 14. Waffle Pizzas. ...
  6. 06 of 14. Shrimp and Peanut Butter Noodles. ...
  7. 07 of 14. Mexi-Chicken Avocado Cups. ...
  8. 08 of 14.
Jul 26, 2021

What food does everyone love? ›

America's Favorite Foods: The 50 Most Popular Foods in America
  • Cheese quesadilla.
  • Sweet potato fries. ...
  • Hummus. ...
  • Pizza margherita. Mizina/Getty Images. ...
  • Chili. Janna Danilova/Getty Images. ...
  • Seaweed salad. Liudmila Chernetska/Getty Images. ...
  • Nachos. VeselovaElena/Getty Images. ...
  • Sesame chicken. VeselovaElena/Getty Images. ...
Mar 11, 2024

What is Americans favorite dinner? ›

1 Mashed potatoes86% 2 French Fries86% 3 Hamburgers85% 4 Cheeseburger83%

Can vegans eat pasta? ›

Most packaged pasta—including spaghetti, rotini, and any other type—is 100 percent vegan. To know for sure, simply check the ingredients on your package! Sometimes, you might see “egg” listed as an ingredient in “fresh” pastas, so avoid those—but generally, pasta contains no animal-derived ingredients.

What do vegans eat besides meat? ›

Some good vegetarian sources of protein include:
  • legumes (such as beans, peas and lentils)
  • nuts and seeds.
  • soy products (including soy beverages, tempeh and tofu)
  • whole (cereal) grains (such as oats and barley)
  • pseudo-cereals (such as quinoa and amaranth)

Are Oreos vegan? ›

Many vegans refer to Oreos as “accidentally vegan,” meaning they don't contain animal products — but they weren't created to be a specifically vegan treat. Oreos do not contain milk, eggs, or any other animal-derived products, so they are technically vegan in that sense.

What do vegans eat for protein? ›

For protein & iron, vegans can eat:
  • Beans. Beans, such as kidney beans, soybeans, pinto, black beans, and navy beans are a rich source of protein. ...
  • Legumes. ...
  • Tofu & Tempeh. ...
  • Green Peas. ...
  • Whole Grains. ...
  • Nuts & Seeds. ...
  • Fruits & Vegetables. ...
  • Lentil Soup Recipe.
May 11, 2023

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