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These easy vegan recipes for beginners make eating a whole food plant-based diet fun, healthy, and most importantly: delicious!
When we first started eating vegan food years ago, it seemed daunting. But we quickly realized: vegan recipes can be some of the most creative and delicious out there! Fast forward to today, and we’ve devoted our lives to inspiring people (you!) how to eat lots of vegetables in delicious ways. Our forte? Veggie-packed recipes that are tasty, healthy, and pretty simple to make. You have 3 chances per day to eat plant based meals. Why not start now? Here are all our best easy vegan recipes for tasty breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
Want to browse by type? Try Vegan Dinner Recipes, Vegan Breakfast Ideas, Easy Vegan Lunch Ideas, Vegan Snacks, or Vegan Desserts Everyone Will Love.
And now…our best easy vegan recipes!
These vegan cauliflower tacos are a fan favorite! The filling stars our crispy breaded cauliflower (baked, not fried), which are reminiscent of the texture of fish tacos. Add to that refried beans and silky Yum Yum Sauce and they’re all about one thing: big flavor! Scroll down for the recipe.
Your noodles are destined for greatness with this vegan pasta alfredo! The impossibly creamy sauce is a healthy spin on the traditionally rich pasta. It’s made with nutrient-dense cauliflower and protein-packed cashews instead of dairy. Said one reader: “YUM! I love it! It’s super easy to make. I made it again 2 days later!” Also try: Vegan Pesto Pasta.
Here's the ultimate vegan chili recipe! Everyone loves chili, and it's the perfect way to make vegetables taste delicious. It’s hard to find someone who will turn this one down! It’s full of savory flavor starring beans, quinoa, and a hint of adobo sauce for complexity. Top it with our vegan sour cream and some pickled jalapenos and well: it’s out of this world good. Serve with Vegan Cornbread.
Here's one of the easiest vegan recipes around: the Hummus Bowl! This simple concept 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.
Also try: 10 Easy Vegan Bowls
This vegan chickpea curry hits all the checkboxes for plant based dinner perfection. It’s full of plant based protein, so it will keep you full for hours. Packed with chickpeas, spinach, ginger, and curry powder, and it takes only 20 minutes to make. Serve with basmati rice or vegan naan.
Here’s a cozy bowl that’s so hearty and satisfying, you’ll never want to put your spoon down. Try this Smoky Bean Soup! Make room in your heart for this recipe, because this one dazzles. Kidney beans and navy beans float in a savory, smoky broth of fire roasted tomatoes that has just the right glossy texture. It uses canned beans, but it tastes like it’s been simmering all day. Each silky, smoky spoonful is a bit of heaven
Another at the top of our easy vegan recipes, this Chickpea Salad Sandwich! It's a fan favorite: essentially a chicken salad sandwich using chickpeas, it's made of mashed chickpeas, celery, green onion, a little mayo, and a pop of lemon. We served this one up with hummus spread on both sides of the bread, and it added an extra dimension. Also try: Simple Chickpea Salad
There’s no such thing as too many easy dinner ideas. So let us present our new favorite: these incredible vegan fajitas! 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,” a super fast version of guacamole.
This vegan Moroccan stew is cozy, hearty and full of flavor. It's warm spiced with cumin, coriander and cinnamon, and the chickpeas are simmered with tomatoes and chickpeas. Serve with side quinoa or couscous and a dollop of cashew cream, and it's an extraordinarily tasty meal.
If there’s a vegan recipe that always satisfies, it’s a great lentil soup. Lentils are one of nature’s wonders: they’re full of protein, shelf stable for years, inexpensive, and make for some of the most satisfying filling meals. Try this simple Red Lentil Soup! It’s deliciously hearty, featuring aromatic vegetables, lemon and a hint of smoked paprika.
Here’s a vegan recipe that’s just as satisfying as a margherita pizza (we think). 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.
Try this lettuce wraps recipe! We’ll admit, the concept doesn’t always sound, well…satiating. But these lettuce wraps are next level! The punchy, savory filling is infused with hoisin, soy sauce and rice vinegar, mixing savory tofu with cashews and green onions. Throw it into tender leaf of crunchy green lettuce with a few more colorful veggies, and it’s to die for!
Need dinnertime inspiration? Cozy up to a bowl of these creamy, zingy peanut noodles! This is one of our 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.
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!
Here’s a go-to when you need a vegan recipe 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!
These vegan Sloppy Joes have 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 WOW! You’re going to love this one (promise). A fantastic plant-based meal for people who are on the fence about veggies, they're crowd pleasing and have a cozy, comforting vibe! Serve easy vinegar coleslaw (or use our best creamy coleslaw with vegan mayo).
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.
Welcome to…your new favorite vegan dinner. Well, at least it’s ours! 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.
This vegan broccoli soup is impossibly creamy, whole food plant based (WFPB), and tastes like the coziest bowl of comfort. And it’s 100% made of veggies! This one tastes like an elevated version of broccoli cheese soup, and makes for a filling vegan meal.
These vegan enchiladas are a huge crowd pleaser! Tortillas are wrapped around a veggie filling of black beans and guacamole, and it’s all doused in a zesty homemade enchilada sauce. With the crunchy veggie topping, this dish looks simply incredible. And it tastes even better than it looks!
This vegan White Bean Soup recipe is full of humble ingredients and huge flavor! It’s a new favorite over here, especially now that soup season has arrived. Tender white beans float in the cozy broth with soft potatoes and leafy kale. Lemon zest lends brightness and tarragon brings an herby nuance. The best part? It’s made of 100% vegetables and tastes like a dream.
It can be hard to find a dinner idea that works for everyone, and here’s one we fall back on time and time again: the Loaded Baked Potato! Mix and match any variety of baked potato toppings and you’ve got a delicious dinner that works for almost any diet. For vegan, top with black beans, pico de gallo and Vegan Nacho Cheese for a tasty meal.
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.
Veggie burgers can be seriously satisfying, and that doesn’t mean processed meat substitutes. These easy vegan chickpea burgers are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a hint of nuance from smoked paprika. Painted with BBQ sauce and served with vegan bacon and spicy mayo, they’re darn tasty.
Loaded sweet potatoes is one of our favorite easy vegan recipes: and you won’t believe the flavor in these! They’re the perfect blend of sweet and savory. The spicy pico de gallo is the perfect complement to the light sweetness of the potato. Topped with creamy cilantro sauce made out of a secret vegan ingredient (cashews!), it’s a little bit of heaven.
Try this crispy Baked Tofu! You won’t be able to resist sneaking bites off the pan with this one. It’s irresistibly savory and seasoned to perfection, with a satisfying crunch to each bite. Serve with rice and Simple Sauteed Broccoli for a complete meal.
Also try: Crispy Tofu
Here’s a fun trick for making a plant-based substitute for ground beef: try this Vegan Ground Beef! This recipe is a great homemade option and you won't believe the flavor. It’s perfect for making crumbles to stuff into a zucchini or pepper, for a taco filling or on a salad.
If you have the time and want to impress, this vegan shepherd's pie recipe is where it's at! Imagine: a creamy gravy filled with tender vegetables, lentils and scented with fennel and sage. Then a fluffy layer of Yukon gold potatoes, topped with fresh rosemary. It’s layered together in a baking dish and then baked until golden.
This one takes a little time to bake, but it's 100% worth it. Just WOW! Alex and I eat dairy, but we agree: this is our favorite lasagna, period. No matter how you eat, this vegan lasagna will be a hit. It's smothered in a zesty marinara sauce, layered with spinach, mushrooms, and our secret ingredient: hummus! Top with a sprinkling of "Parmesan" and it will please everyone at the table...we guarantee it.
Here’s a must-make vegan 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. Serve with rice, or Southern-style sides like coleslaw and vegan cornbread.
This easy sheet pan dinner is full of colorful vegetables and loaded with flavor! It's a plant-based dinner that roasts up everything on a sheet pan at once: lots of good-for-you veggies and chickpeas for plant based protein. Throw it all in the oven while you cook rice or quinoa. Top with a dollop of hummus, vegan sour cream, or another vegan sauce. Dinnertime win!
These crispy avocado tacos are destined to be your new favorite vegan recipe! You’ve got avocado fries, breaded and baked in a hot oven until crispy. 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.
Here’s a way to make vegan eating mega-delicious: Vegan Tacos! There are lots of ways to make a vegan taco, but this one is our 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.
Minestrone soup is a vegan Italian recipe designed for using up any veggies you had on hand. This classic soup is full of chunky vegetables, white beans, and pasta in a tomato-y broth. Serve it with basil pesto (or vegan pesto) and it’s called Minestrone alla genovese. In Italian this means “minestrone soup from Genoa,” the capital of the region of Liguria Italy where all the great pesto comes from!
Another favorite in our easy vegan recipes: wild rice soup! This soup is creamy and comforting, with white beans, carrots, mushrooms and wild rice. It’s naturally creamy using cashews blended with some of the body of the soup. It makes for a filling and satisfying dinner that rounds out our list of easy vegan recipes. Try either Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup or Stovetop Wild Rice Soup.
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. Try this Tofu Curry recipe! 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.
In just 30 minutes, you've got a fresh bowl of delicious vegetables and seasoned quinoa that’s smothered in a tangy lemon tahini sauce. If you’re just starting to eat plant based recipes or have been eating them for years, this one's a truly tasty way to eat your veggies.
Looking for fresh and healthy vegan dinner ideas? Try this Mediterranean Bowl, bursting with colorful veggies! It’s a simple “meal in a bowl” that stars spiced roasted vegetables, seasoned with an irresistible mix of cumin, coriander, garlic and a hint of cinnamon. Add to that quinoa or couscous, fresh cucumber and tomato, and top it all off with a creamy lemon tahini sauce.
Here’s a tasty dip that surprised us with its irresistibly creamy flavor: Black Bean Hummus! This spin on the traditional Mediterranean chickpea dip might sound fun, but here’s the thing. It tastes even better than it sounds! Black beans, lime, tahini and a bit of smoked paprika make creamy dip magic.
Easy vegan recipes include breakfast inspiration, too! This Homemade Acai Bowl is a tangy purple smoothie made of acai berries and tropical fruit, topped with vibrant toppings of all kinds. Acai pulp can be found in the frozen section in most groceries or online. It’s absolutely worth finding some if you can; the flavor is unique and it makes for a special treat.
Also try: Acai Smoothie
Here’s a make ahead vegan breakfast that fits in the palm of your hand: these Healthy Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies! Yes, it’s magic: oats, nut butter, applesauce, and maple syrup transform into cookies that you can eat for breakfast. There’s none of those traditional cookie ingredients: no flour, no butter, no oil, and no refined sugar. How is it possible? You’ve got to taste.
Here’s a vegan banana muffins recipe that will make everyone say, “Wow!” They’re fluffy and just sweet enough, with the perfect banana flavor. Even better, a streusel topping gives every bite a little crunch and extra touch of sweet. You’d really never know these are a vegan baked good. Also try: Vegan Banana Bread
Try these Vegan Banana Pancakes! These babies are fast, easy and so delicious: and leftovers make for great snacks, slathered in nut butter with a hint of maple syrup. This plant-based pancake recipe is so easy to make using simple ingredients: no need for any egg substitutes! We tried them out on family and they couldn’t stop raving.
Want to liven up your breakfast game? Try Breakfast Quinoa! This alternative to oatmeal is just as satisfying. Critics of quinoa find it bitter or bland, but this way to prepare it is anything but! Cook it with milk, maple syrup and cinnamon, then load it up with toppings like fresh berries, coconut and nut butter.
Here's a fantastic vegan breakfast recipe: a tofu scramble! You'll be surprised how much it has the flavor and texture of scrambled eggs! It's a healthy, savory vegan breakfast that takes only 10 minutes to whip up. If you'd like, serve it with a veggie saute on the side: red onion, peppers and greens cooked until tender.
This breakfast sandwich is a fun savory option with a unique filling that you’ll love! It takes just 5 minutes to whip up a savory chickpea pancake that surprisingly has a similar flavor and texture to scrambled eggs. Pile it high on a toasted sourdough muffin with tomato and avocado and it’s so satisfying: and totally plant-based!
Here’s the ideal healthy vegan breakfast recipe, easy and full of irresistible flavor. In fact, we’re head over heels for it: Banana baked oatmeal! This incredible recipe is wholesome and filling, and it’s made with good-for-you ingredients: mostly oats and bananas. Serve it for guests or even better, make up a big pan and eat off of it all week! You can cut it into “bars” for quick snacks, too.
Here’s a vegan smoothie for when you’ve got a chocolate craving: the Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie! Because what’s more fun than chocolate covered strawberries, in drinkable form? This tasty recipe features strawberries, banana, almond butter and cocoa powder, blended up into a lusciously creamy puree. Its rich, fruity flavor made it an instant hit over here, and we gobbled it up like it was a milkshake.
If we’re talking easy vegan recipes, this one is probably the easiest breakfast you’ll ever make. Promise. Toast the oats in coconut oil to bring out their flavor, then add water and cinnamon and wait for a few minutes. It’s a genius life hack that makes for simple mornings. Top with almond butter, peanut butter or cashew butter for a filling breakfast (and add vegan strawberry jam if you like).
Easy vegan recipes have got to include treats, right? If a no bake cookie and a peanut butter cup had a baby, it would be these bliss bites! This one is a vegan recipe we recommend to everyone: not just beginners. It’s our most popular recipe to date! One trick: make the “mini” version using a mini muffin tin to keep the portion size smaller: then you can eat more of them!
Vegan protein: making recipes to stay full!
One important part to eating vegan recipes is this: make sure you get enough plant based protein to stay satiated and full! Protein from legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy is important for balancing a diet that has no meat or dairy. And it will keep you full for hours! All of the recipes above focus on making sure there is a good amount of vegan protein. Here are the best sources of vegan protein in your diet:
- 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.
Between meals: vegan snack recipes!
And between meals to make sure you’re staying full: focus on vegan snack recipes! We have lots of ideas for vegan snacking:
- Best Plant Based & Vegan Snacks Here’s a collection of all of our favorite vegan snack recipes, from bars to dips.
- Vegan Snack Bars This homemade energy bar recipe is the perfect wholesome snack! It’s naturally vegan, featuring oats, chia seeds, and pecans.
- Crispy Roasted Chickpeas Like a healthy potato chip! The chickpeas are mixed with cumin, garlic powder, and black pepper and roasted until crispy.
More vegan recipes
Looking for vegan recipes in a specific category? Try these ideas:
- Start the day with 20 Vegan Breakfast Ideas
- Pack some 15 Easy Vegan Lunch Ideas
- Opt for 20 Vegan Snacks
- Make 25 Easy Vegan Dinner Recipes or 10 Easy Vegan Bowls
- Fill your sweet tooth with 20 Vegan Desserts Everyone Will Love
50 Easy Vegan Recipes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 (8 tacos total) 1x
Description
These cauliflower tacos with breaded cauliflower, refried beans and silky Yum Yum sauce are all about one thing: big flavor!
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Crispy Breaded Cauliflower
- 15-ounce can vegetarian refried beans (or Easy Refried Black Beans or Homemade Refried Beans)
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 2 cups red cabbage, shredded
- 2 limes (1 for the cabbage & 1 to serve)
- 3 tablespoons Yum Yum Sauce (using vegan mayo, or substitute Chipotle Sauce)
- 8 corn tortillas
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the Crispy Breaded Cauliflower (about 40 minutes total; use the remaining time to complete the steps below.)
- If using purchased refried beans, mix with ½ teaspoon cumin and a pinch or two kosher salt to taste. (Or, you can make our Refried Black Beans but for this recipe we preferred using storebought so we could focus on the cauliflower!)
- Thinly slice the cabbage, enough for 2 cups. Mix it with 2 tablespoons lime juice and a pinch or two of salt. Allow it to stand at room temperature until serving.
- Make the Yum Yum Sauce.
- Warm the tortillas, or char them by placing them on grates above an open gas flame on medium heat for a few seconds per side, flipping with tongs, until they are slightly blackened and warm.
- Chop the cilantro for a garnish.
- To serve, place refried beans in a tortilla, top with cabbage, breaded cauliflower, Yum Yum sauce, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges to spritz prior to serving. (If you have leftover cauliflower, you can reheat them in a 350F oven for 10 minutes, flipping once.)
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Vegan
Keywords: Vegan Recipes, Easy Vegan Recipes for Beginners
Looking for more recipes?
Outside of these easy vegan recipes, here are a few more collections of dinner recipes:
- 10 Romantic Dinner Recipes
- Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Lives
- Easy Healthy Dinner Recipes
- Best Vegan Dinner Recipes
- Best Healthy Dinner Recipes
- Easy Dinner Recipes for Family
- Best Gluten Free Dinner Recipes
- Easy Dinner Recipes for Two
- 10 Filling Plant Based Recipes Perfect for Dinner
- What Should I Make for Dinner?
Loaded Quinoa Tacos shouldn’t have feta cheese on them if it is a vegan recipe.
Everything else was really inspiring, thank you.
Actually it could be vegan feta, because there are vegan cheeses heck you can even make vegan cheeses yourself.
oh my goodnes…I’m getting on the vegan train and found this list of recipes…I believe I can get my husband to eat 80% of them! thank you!
I like all vegan food with recepie
Your vegetarian list is great, My husband and I eat vegetarian food twice per month, I will definitely follow some of them. Thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
I love your vegetarian recipes. The recipes would be easier to make if you posted the Imperial and metric conversions.