Need some new plant-based recipe ideas to reinvigorate your diet? We’ve got you covered with this comprehensive list of simple vegan meals, snacks, and dessert ideas that are perfect for any time of day.
The Vegan Fridge
Fresh fruit, vegetables, and produce are the most versatile items to keep your fridge stocked with. They are also often the healthiest, and are can be very budget-friendly. In-season whole foods usually contain even more nutrients, are extra affordable, and better for the planet.
Other useful ingredients to keep in your fridge include plant-based milk, butter, and cheese. All three are versatile and perfect for those in the process of switching animal products for vegan ones.
Plant-based milk, in particular, is extremely useful for a wide range of applications. It can be used in breakfast dishes such as porridge, as well as in sweet dishes and desserts, or baked goods like cookies and cakes.
Tofu is both versatile and nutritious and always a good ingredient to have at the ready in your fridge. Preparation drastically alters the flavor and texture of tofu, which means it can be easily adapted to suit almost any recipe. It can also be extremely budget-friendly and is often found in world or international food stores.
Vegan Pantry Essentials
Whole foods like grains, nuts, and seeds are all good foods to stock your pantry with. Tinned and dried legumes and pulses are full of fiber, protein, and other nutrients and are easy to store. Dried red lentils, in particular, are cheap, quick, and very easy to cook.
Other tinned goods such as coconut milk, tomatoes, and passata are all versatile and used in many of the recipes included below. Keeping some stock, salt, herbs, and spices on hand is always worth doing, and some particularly versatile flavors are paprika, mixed curry powder, and pepper. Nutritional yeast, or “nooch,” is a nutritious and plant-based staple and can be used for cooking or added directly to the finished meal for flavor.
Coconut oil is a useful ingredient in vegan cooking and is often used instead of butter or ghee. It’s perfect for curries and stews, as well as baking and desserts. Refined and unrefined coconut oils are slightly different and have different flavors and benefits. Refined oil is often more affordable, but is less likely to have such a strong scent. While virgin coconut oil has a lighter, more coconutty flavor.
Vital wheat gluten flour can be used to create seitan, a plant-based meat of varying texture, type, and flavor. While seitan requires some initial preparation, it is amongst the most versatile of vegan meats and wheat gluten flour can be kept in the cupboard for some time.
Vegan Recipe Tips
Preparing food in bulk is always an easy way to save on preparation. Many people choose to prepare meals ahead of time, and plant-based dishes like curries can be stored in the freezer effectively. Legumes and grains are particularly good for bulk cooking, freezing, then adding to meals as and when required.
For many people — especially those new to flexitarian or vegan eating — directly substituting animal products with vegan alternatives is an easy way to update recipes. For example, plant-based meat is now widely available and comes in many varieties. Soya mince, dried soya chunks, and sausages, in particular, are available at very affordable prices from major supermarkets.
If you don’t want to rely on vegan meat too much, making simple substitutions with plant-based alternatives such as vegetables and whole foods is just as straightforward. Mushrooms, in particular, can be “meaty” and versatile, and in one recipe included here are used as an alternative to beef. Jackfruit is a particularly popular alternative to pulled pork and is often enjoyed meat-eaters, flexitarians, and vegans.
Keeping things simple and sticking to straightforward recipes makes a big difference in preparing food. Because of this, we have included dishes below that have been praised for their simplicity. Even those that require time to cook down, refrigerate, or prove, enable the cook to leave the kitchen after minimal set-up time. Each recipe contains some useful and versatile vegan recipe tips and many use ingredients or substitutions mentioned above.
Easy Vegan Recipes
These recipes have been selected because they are budget-friendly, straightforward meals with minimal preparation time. Some simple snack and dessert recipes can keep you full between meals and help with cravings if you are new to plant-based eating. The breakfast foods are perfect for first thing in the morning, but they are also delicious as snacks or main meals.
For filling and healthy meals in general, keeping things simple is helpful once again. One-pot dishes like curries and stews can be extremely nutrient-dense without compromising ease of preparation. Multi-purpose pressure cookers and slow cookers are perfect for this and allow people to prepare the ingredients, leave the food to cook during the day and return to a ready-to-eat meal.
Easy Vegan Slow-Cooking
Crock-Pots and slow cookers are increasing in popularity again thanks to the cult following of products such as the Instant Pot – a multi-purpose pressure cooker that can also be used as a slow cooker. These tools are ideal for making healthy meals with minimal preparation time.
1. Tuscan Bean Soup
This Italian-style white bean soup is incredibly budget-friendly and is a high-protein, nutrient-dense meal. It’s loaded with greens, vegetables, and herbs. The use of a slow or pressure cooker means that dried beans are extra easy to prepare and makes for a tender texture.
Check it out here.
2. Mushroom Pot Roast
This hearty portabello mushroom pot roast recipe can be made using a slow cooker, Instant Pot pressure cooker, or adapted for the stovetop. The recipe includes garlic gravy, pearl onions, and potatoes. It is 100 percent vegan and gluten-free.
Check it out here.
3. Squash Hotpot
With fluffy dumplings, squash, and spinach this simple hotpot is nutritious and budget-friendly. According to the creator of the recipe, “this dish is perfect for batch cooking, just divide it up into individual portions and you will always have warming stew at your fingertips.”
Check it out here.
4. BBQ Chickpea Sloppy-Joes
This “tangy” BBQ chickpea sloppy joe recipe is filling and easy to make. The “meaty” chickpea-and-lentil base can be prepared and left to thicken in a slow cooker. As the author says: “Dump some stuff in the slow cooker, cook it all day, come home and toast up some buns and serve it up.”
Check it out here.
5. Bourbon Maple Baked Beans
These beans require very little preparation and can be left to slow cook for up to 16 hours. “The flavors of bourbon, maple syrup, brown sugar, molasses, BBQ sauce and more intensify and concentrate over time, and the resulting beans have incredible depth of flavor.”
Check it out here.
6. Sweet and Sour Tempeh
This high-protein, tempeh dish is best served over steamed rice. The minimal sauce is mostly fresh pineapple and crushed ginger – with no added sugar. Slow cooking for seven to nine hours helps to marinate the tempeh in the sweet and sour flavors.
Check it out here.
Easy Vegan One-Pot Meals
Slow cookers are extremely useful, but you don’t need to have one in order to prepare hearty one-pot dishes. The recipes below show a variety of different approaches to simple and nutrient-dense meals. From curries to stews, there are a variety of different approaches to suit all tastes and preferences.
7. Coconut and Greens Curry
“In just one pot, it packs SO much of the good stuff for a healthy vegan diet – like beneficial garlic and onion, high-fiber lentils, whole-grain brown rice, and antioxidant-rich green leafy vegetables,” says the author. This curry is high protein and quick to make.
Check it out here.
8. Red Lentil Dhal
This lentil-based dhal is another high protein curry. Red lentils are one of the most affordable plant-based proteins and are both easy to cook and long-lasting. According to this recipe, the meal “can be enjoyed on its own or with rice, quinoa, poppadoms or steamed greens.“
Check it out here.
9. Sundried Tomato Linguine
“A quick, heart-warming meal that’s sure to satisfy,” says the recipe. This dish is made with rich passata, olives, al-dente pasta, and sundried tomatoes. The recipe takes only 15 minutes to assemble and contains more than 13 grams of protein per serving.
Check it out here.
10. “Breakfast” Potatoes
These crispy breakfast potatoes can be prepared and cooked in just 40 minutes. All the ingredients are chopped, seasoned, mixed, and tossed straight into the oven. The mixture is flavored with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and maple syrup. These fried potatoes are just as good at any time of day.
Check it out here.
11. Singaporean Chow Mein
This vegetable-heavy vegan chow mein is perfect for when you want a budget-friendly, healthy version of a takeaway. The dish takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and can be easily adapted to suit the ingredients you have available.
Check it out here.
12. Red Thai Curry
The recipe for this red Thai curry makes a meal that is “quick, easy, and yet still full of wonderful flavor,” according to the author. It’s hearty, full of vegetables, and perfect for whenever. “This curry is comfort in a bowl, and the one-pan method makes it simple.”
Check it out here.
Easy Vegan Breakfast Foods
These breakfast foods are perfect for any time of day. If you’re starting your morning — or fighting a mid-afternoon slump — these recipes are sure to hit the spot. From savory to sweet, all of these dishes are simple to put together and uniquely flavored.
13. Sweet Potato Bowl
“This quick vegan breakfast bowl takes me less than 5 minutes to throw together in the morning,” says the author of the recipe. It’s made with sweet potato, raisins, nut butter, blueberries, nuts, and seeds. It’s high in protein and makes a good meal at any time of day.
Check it out here.
14. Easy Vegan Biscuits
These fluffy biscuits are similar to British scones but lighter and made without eggs. This recipe only takes 15 minutes to cook and makes approximately 15 biscuits. “These fantastic little fluffy delights are so good when still warm from the oven,” says the author.
Check it out here.
15. Caramelized Banana Oatmeal
Caramelized banana oatmeal is sweet, creamy, and easy to throw together as breakfast, lunch, or a snack. The recipe is high in protein, potassium, and vitamin B6. The author says: “This easy vegan banana oatmeal will warm you up.”
Check it out here.
16. Blueberry Pancakes
These American-style blueberry pancakes are made with bananas in place of eggs. The result is a tall stack of thick, filling pancakes. This recipe is “SUPER simple to make” and easily adaptable with more syrup, toppings, or fillings.
Check it out here.
17. Truffled Mushrooms On Toast
Truffled mushrooms on toast are a real treat but also really simple to make. “This gorgeous and super delicious toast is for those of you who love anything mushroom and anything truffle,” says the recipe creator.
Check it out here.
18. Chickpea Frittata
This high-protein, chickpea frittata is a perfect replacement for an egg-based frittata. Swapping eggs for chickpea flour is an easy way to make any omelet-style meal, and this recipe is easy to customize with whatever vegetables you have available.
Check it out here.
Easy Vegan Snacks
Quick and healthy snacks make it easier to save money and avoid less nutritious alternatives. Here are some simple ideas to keep you full between meals, including sweet but healthy cakes and nutritious and savory dips.
19. Cashew Protein Cake Balls
These cake-batter flavor protein balls are nutritious and quick to make. “Energy balls are often rich in plant-based protein and fiber,” says the recipe. “Plus, they often have lots of healthy fats to keep you full for longer. They’re the perfect healthy, on-the-go snack!”
Check it out here.
20. Power Greens Hummus
This greens-heavy hummus is full of protein and vitamins. Home-made hummus is often more flavorful than store-bought, and it’s super quick to make. Hummus can be used as a healthy alternative to sauces like mayo or ketchup that can be high in saturated fat or sugar.
Check it out here.
21. Strawberry Crumble Bars
These strawberry crumble bars are nutritious enough that they make a good breakfast on-the-go as well as a snack. Made with nutritious ingredients, sugar-free jam, and whole grains, these bars are gluten-free and “absolutely delicious.”
Check it out here.
22. Walnut Pâté
A simple recipe for plant-based pâté that is perfect as a starter or a snack. This walnut-based pâté requires some preparation time to pre-soak the walnuts and firm the pâté in the fridge. Walnuts are high in protein, iron, and calcium, and contain healthy omega-3 fats.
Check it out here.
23. Broad Bean Salad
According to this recipe, broad bean salad — known in Egypt as foul — is “eaten for breakfast and sometimes for lunch or dinner by millions of Egyptians every day.” Typically it is eaten with flatbread called baladi and tahini dressing.
Check it out here.
Easy Vegan Treats
These are some dessert recipes that won’t take hours to prepare or break the bank. We’ve included a variety of different dishes to cover any cravings – from a batch of sweet snack bars to a pie that can serve 12 guests.
24. Toffee Almond Bars
These healthy toffee-almond bars are made with hemp seeds, goji berries, and almonds. Goji berries contain vitamins A and C and are widely believed to support a healthy immune system. According to the author “the combination of almond and hemp seeds and a little chocolate is a powerhouse of nutrients.”
Check it out here.
25. Key Lime Pie
This health-conscious key-lime pie is made with a nut and seed-based crust. The filling is tofu and cashew-based “custard” flavored heavily with limes. This recipe is a good source of calcium, protein, and the only added sugar is in the form of maple syrup.
Check it out here.
26. Blueberry Tiramisu
This blueberry tiramisu recipe is really simple to assemble and only uses natural sugars. It features cashew cream, plant-based milk, vegan margarine, and coconut oil. These tiramisu pots are packed with blueberries and easily adaptable.
Check it out here.
27. Chocolate-Blackberry Ice Cream Sandwiches
These desserts taste like the ice cream sandwiches they are named after even though they’re made from healthy, nutritious ingredients. “The base resembles the soft chocolate cookie on a typical ice cream sandwich and the melted chocolate topping is typical of ice cream sandwich too! In reality, this is just a mostly raw vegan slice,” says the recipe.
Check it out here.
