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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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SHOP COUSCOUS

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10

Chopped Salad

30+ Vegan Dinner Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Meal (21)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 to make for dinner with barely any food? ›

11 dinner recipes for when your fridge is empty
  • Spaghetti in cherry tomato sauce. ...
  • Harissa chickpeas with silverbeet. ...
  • Bacon, mozzarella and baked bean jaffles. ...
  • Pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines) ...
  • Peas and broad beans with prosciutto. ...
  • Orecchiette with hot-smoked salmon, peas and beurre blanc sauce.

What can I serve to vegan guests? ›

Vegan dinner party recipes
  • Courgette curry. A star rating of 4.8 out of 5. ...
  • Beetroot & red onion tarte tatin. ...
  • Beetroot hummus party platter. ...
  • Italian-style roast cabbage wedges with tomato lentils. ...
  • App onlyWhole-roasted curried cauliflower & chickpeas. ...
  • Refried beans. ...
  • Vegan pie. ...
  • App onlyCreamy vegan wild mushroom risotto.

What can I cook for my vegan girlfriend? ›

Vegan meal for two recipes
  • Sticky noodles with homemade hoisin. ...
  • Pearled spelt salad with peas & gooseberries. ...
  • Grilled Mediterranean veg with bean mash. ...
  • Miso aubergine. ...
  • Marinated tofu. ...
  • Roasted cauli-broc bowl with tahini hummus. ...
  • Veggie noodles with sesame dressing. ...
  • Pumpkin, spinach & black bean dopiaza.

How to eat when you're broke? ›

You will want to purchase cheap foods that are filling! Oatmeal, rice, beans, bread, and other starches are filling and will keep you full until your next meal. Beans and rice are also super versatile foods, and you can take them and transform them into easy meals you will actually enjoy!

What do I serve my vegan friend for dinner? ›

Your houseguest would most likely be happy with oatmeal or granola with almond milk and fruit for breakfast, nut butters, hummus, salads with beans, fruits and vegetables, and nuts for lunch, and grilled or sautéed veggies with a whole grain like quinoa are for dinner.

Which foods are surprisingly vegan? ›

Top 10 surprising vegan foods
  • Crumpets. This might be an obvious one to some, but a quick poll with our vegan and dairy-free friends shows many mistakenly believe crumpets contained dairy. ...
  • Dark chocolate. Chocoholics assemble! ...
  • Cream crackers. ...
  • (Some) biscuits. ...
  • (Some) crisps. ...
  • Ice Cream. ...
  • Pasta. ...
  • Peanut butter.

What do vegans eat for protein? ›

Vegan sources of protein
  • Quinoa. When cooked, quinoa contains 4.38g of protein per 100g . ...
  • Oats. Raw oats contain a high amount of protein, with 13.2g per 100g . ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Mushrooms. ...
  • Lentils. ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Peanuts. ...
  • Chia seeds.

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.
Apr 11, 2024

What is a vegan menu? ›

A vegan diet includes only plant foods—fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, and seeds. People who follow a vegan diet don't eat any animal foods, including dairy, eggs, and honey.

Where do vegans get protein? ›

Some plant-based foods, such as soybean products, seitan, beans, and lentils contain high amounts of protein. You can also find protein in nuts, whole grains like quinoa and amaranth, and hemp seeds. People following a vegan diet may need to plan in order to reach their daily protein goals.

What to make for dinner with bare minimum? ›

  • 27 / 44. Parmesan Fish Sticks. I wanted a healthier approach to fish sticks and developed a baked tilapia with a slightly peppery bite. ...
  • 28 / 44. Ham & Swiss Stromboli. This is an excellent dish to take to someone for dinner. ...
  • 29 / 44. Shakshuka. Shakshuka is a dish of poached eggs with tomatoes, onion and cumin.
May 5, 2024

What to eat when your appetite is low? ›

Include a variety of fruit and vegetables in your diet. You can add extra calories and protein by adding butter, cheese or sauces to vegetables, or custard or cream to fruit. Aim to have starchy foods such as cereals, potatoes, bread and rice at every meal.

What to eat small dinner? ›

Other Small Meal and Snack Ideas

Try tuna, egg, chicken, tofu salad or hummus. Have a cup of a cream-based soup. Eggs (scrambled, hard-boiled) or an omelet with vegetables and cheese. Make a mashed potato bowl topped with soft vegetables and ground meats or beans with gravy and cheese.

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