85 Best Vegan Recipes

With everything from creamy pastas to burgers and beyond, these 85 vegan recipes will get you excited to cook (and eat!) plant-based meals at home.

Vegan recipes

Most days in our house, Jack and I eat vegan recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Of course, there are exceptions, but the food I most enjoy cooking and eating often happens to be plant-based. I love putting vegetables at the center my plate – not only is it good for my health and for the world, but it’s also downright delicious.

To kick off the New Year, I’ve rounded up my top 85 easy vegan recipes. This list includes everything from hearty vegan dinner recipes (think creamy pastas, veggie burgers, tacos, etc.) to vegan basics that can serve as starting points for improvising satisfying plant-based meals. Whether you’re a longtime vegan, considering a plant-based diet for the first time, or just want to eat more veggies, you’re sure to love one (or more) of these delicious vegan recipes!

Pasta & Pizza Vegan Recipes

Creamy Vegan Pasta Recipe

1. Creamy Broccoli Vegan Pasta

This luscious creamy vegan pasta will give any traditional mac and cheese a run for its money. Instead of containing dairy, the smooth, tangy sauce is a protein-packed blend of white beans, nutritional yeast, and lemon juice.

Vegan recipes

2. Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells

This recipe is an all-time Love and Lemons fan favorite, and for good reason. Even the biggest cheese lovers will fall for its bright, creamy spinach “ricotta,” caramelized cubes of butternut squash, and rich cashew cream sauce.

Vegan pasta recipes

3. Spaghetti Bolognese

You won’t miss the meat in this hearty vegan version of spaghetti bolognese! Walnuts and lentils pack it with protein, while sage, mushrooms, rosemary, and balsamic fill it with rich, savory flavor.

Vegan pasta recipes

4. Creamy Pasta Pomodoro

This easy vegan pasta is basically everything I want to eat for dinner any night of the week! An easy creamy tomato sauce (just cashews+marinara!) coats a 50/50 mix of fresh veggies and floppy rigatoni noodles.

Vegan pizza

5. Best Vegan Pizza

Who says you need cheese to make a crave-worthy pizza? This easy vegan pizza may be my all-time favorite! I top chewy homemade pizza dough with a lemony cashew cream sauce, a jumble of savory, spicy, crisp, and juicy veggies, and big handfuls of fresh basil.

6. Creamy Vegan Pasta Salad
7. Broccoli Pasta Salad
8. Creamy Shiitake & Kale Pasta
9. Creamy Pumpkin Penne

Taco & Tex Mex Vegan Recipes

Vegan jackfruit tacos

10. Jerk Spiced Vegan Tacos

Saucy jackfruit mimics jerk-spiced chicken in these hearty vegan tacos. Topped with a fresh mango, cucumber, and avocado salsa, they’re a fun, filling, and delicious vegan meal.

Vegan recipes

11. Veggie Fajitas

Smoky grilled mushrooms take the place of meat in these easy vegan fajitas. The fajita veggies take minutes to make, so you can get straight to the good part: loading them into tortillas with guacamole, tomatillo salsa, and pickled jalapeños for pop!

Vegan dinner recipes

12. Chipotle Cauliflower Nachos

There’s no cheese hiding in the oozy, gooey orange queso you see above. Instead, it’s a tangy, smoky blend of cauliflower, potatoes, and chipotles in adobo sauce. Add lots of tortilla chips, pineapple salsa, pico de gallo, and black beans into the mix, and you have absolute nacho heaven. We also love this vegan cheese recipe that’s super easy to make.

13. Portobello Steak Burrito Bowls
14. Stuffed Poblano Peppers
15. Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowl
16. Vegetarian Tacos with Avocado Tomatillo Sauce
17. Portobello Mushroom Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch

Vegan Burger & Sandwich Recipes

Best veggie burger

18. Best Veggie Burger

When I say that this is the best veggie burger, I mean it. Made with wholesome plant-based ingredients like mushrooms and walnuts and seasoned with tamari and smoked paprika, these patties are hearty, satisfying, and packed with smoky umami flavor.

Falafel

19. Easy Homemade Falafel

Falafel was the first food that showed me how flavorful vegan dinner recipes could be, and this crispy baked version is sure to do the same for you. Serve it with hummus, pickled red onions, and fresh veggies to really take it over the top.

Vegan recipes

20. BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches

This plant-based version of a classic BBQ sandwich is every bit as delicious as a traditional one! I simmer jackfruit with sautéed onions and a smoky chipotle BBQ sauce before piling it onto buns with a quick slaw and crunchy pickles.

Vegan dinner recipes

21. Vegan Meatballs

Whether you stuff them into subs or pile them onto pasta, these savory, smoky vegan meatballs are guaranteed to be a hit.

Vegan recipes

22. Tempeh BLT

If you’re thinking about switching to a plant-based diet, you don’t have to bid farewell to BLTs forever. Swap crispy marinated tempeh for the traditional “B,” and keep things simple by pairing it with the classic “L” and “T.” Otherwise, take your sandwich one step further and finish it with two creamy spreads, avocado, and (of course) extra veggies!

23. Egg Salad Sandwiches
24. Chickpea Salad Picnic Sandwiches
25. Black Bean Veggie Burger
26. Portobello Mushroom Burgers

Sushi & Noodle Vegan Recipes

Vegan recipes

27. Shiitake Maki Sushi

Who needs takeout when you can make delicious sushi at home? Savory roasted shiitake mushrooms and a vibrant carrot-ginger dipping sauce make this vegan sushi just as good as any you’d get at a restaurant.

Vegan pasta recipes

28. Sesame Soba Noodles

These super fresh soba noodles are the perfect make-ahead lunch. I love this version with watermelon radishes and snap peas, but the light, tangy sesame dressing pairs well all sorts of veggies. Feel free to swap in your seasonal favorites!

Vegan soup recipes

29. Easy Vegetarian Pho

Mushrooms, bok choy, and a richly spiced homemade broth round out this vegan version of traditional Vietnamese pho.

30. Avocado Cucumber Sushi
31. Sesame Orange Noodle Bowls
32. Spiralized Daikon Noodle Bowls
33. Bok Choy Stir Fry

Creamy Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews

Tomato soup

34. Creamy Tomato Soup with Vegan Grilled Cheese Croutons

There’s no reason that tomato soup shouldn’t be vegan-friendly! Instead of using dairy in this soup recipe, I blend in chickpeas to make it thick and creamy. It’s great on its own, but a big handful of toasty vegan grilled cheese croutons makes it completely irresistible.

Butternut squash soup

35. Butternut Squash Soup

I have this butternut squash soup recipe on repeat from the first day of fall until the last day of winter. It’s light, comforting, and easy to make, and fresh rosemary, sage, and ginger fill it with robust, cozy flavor.

Easy vegan dinner recipes

36. Cream of Mushroom Soup

This homemade cream of mushroom soup is too good to hide inside any casserole! Instead of nuts or dairy, its super creamy texture comes from blended cauliflower.

Lentil soup

37. Best Lentil Soup

You likely have all the ingredients to this creamy curried lentil soup in your pantry already. That’s good news for you, because it’s so warming, nourishing, and flavorful that you’ll want to try it ASAP.

Vegetable curry

38. Easy Coconut Curry

This curry is one of my go-to easy vegan recipes for busy weeknights. Chock full of fresh veggies and warming spices, it’s bright, nourishing, and comforting.

39. Many Veggie Soup
40. Vegetarian Chili
41. Creamy Asparagus Soup
42. Golden Turmeric Noodle Miso Soup
43. Roasted Red Pepper Soup
44. Wild Rice Soup
45. Oyster Mushroom Soup
46. Split Pea Corn Chowder
47. Broccoli Cheese Soup
48. Creamy Cauliflower Soup
49. Corn Chowder
50. Miso Soup

Substantial Salad Vegan Recipes

Easy vegan dinner recipes

51. Roasted Cauliflower Salad

This salad has everything: something briny, something bright, something nutty, something fresh. Whether you pack it for lunch or serve it as a dinner side dish, it’s a recipe you’re sure to love.

Broccoli salad

52. Best Broccoli Salad

Smoky roasted nuts take the place of bacon in this vegan riff on classic broccoli salad. It’s also naturally sweetened, as the lightly creamy, tangy dressing gets a pop of sweetness from maple syrup instead of sugar.

Kale salad

53. Kale Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing

This recipe will shatter any pre-conceived notion that kale salads are boring and bland. Loaded up with crunchy veggies, toasted pumpkin seeds, crispy chickpeas, avocado, and a vibrant carrot ginger dressing, it’s one of my favorite vegan dishes to make for lunch. It never fails to keep me full till dinnertime, and with all its colors, textures, and tastes, it’s fun to eat, too!

54. Healthy Taco Salad
55. Broccoli Pesto Quinoa Salad

Sharable Vegan Side Dish Recipes

Vegan recipes

56. Mashed Potatoes

Even mashed potato purists will fall for these fluffy, light vegan mashed potatoes! Roasted garlic infuses them with rich, nutty flavor, and a generous glug of olive oil gives them their crave-worthy creamy texture.

Easy vegan recipes

57. Creamed Spinach

Coconut milk takes the place of heavy cream in this fresh, delicious 15-minute side dish.

58. Roasted Potatoes
59. Rosemary Focaccia
60. Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Broccoli

Sauce & Dip Vegan Recipes

Vegan recipes

61. Tahini Sauces

If you’ve never tried tahini sauce, get ready to fall in love. Creamy, nutty, and lemony, there’s no limit on the ways to use it, especially when these 4 bold variations come into play!

Guacamole

62. Best Guacamole

Yep, it’s vegan. 🙂

63. Cashew Cream
64. Homemade Hummus
65. Vegan Seven Layer Dip
66. Vegan Pimento Cheese
67. Tomatillo Salsa Verde 

Vegetable Basics

Zucchini noodles

68. How to Make Zucchini Noodles

Zucchini noodles are such a fun way to add extra veggies to vegan pasta recipes! Try skipping regular noodles entirely, or use a 50/50 mix of zucchini noodles and pasta.

Spaghetti squash

69. How to Cook Spaghetti Squash 

Skip the spaghetti, and make spaghetti squash instead! Serve it on its own as a healthy vegan side dish, toss it with pesto and roasted veggies, or go the classic spaghetti route and top it with a big scoop of marinara sauce.

Cauliflower rice

70. How to Make Cauliflower Rice

Swapping cauliflower rice for regular rice is a great way to pack extra veggies into any stir fry, bowl, or curry dish. Fresh, light, and SUPER easy to make, it’ll become a staple in your kitchen!

Easy vegan recipes

71. Pickled Red Onions

Keep these quick and easy pickled onions on hand to add a bright pop of flavor to your favorite vegan recipes! They’re the perfect finishing touch for salads, bowls, tacos, and more.

Sweet potato fries

72. Sweet Potato Fries

Whether you serve them as a snack, an appetizer, or a side dish with your favorite sandwich, you’re guaranteed to love these crispy baked sweet potato fries. Chipotle sauce for dipping is optional, but highly recommended.

73. Roasted Butternut Squash
74. Roasted Red Peppers
75. Pickled Jalapeños
76. Roasted Cauliflower with Lemon Zest
77. Simple Roasted Beets
78. Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Grain & Legume Basics

Quinoa

79. How to Cook Quinoa

Not only is quinoa loaded with protein and other nutrients, but it’s delicious, too! Its yummy nutty flavor works well in everything from cookies to grain bowls, and it cooks in just 15 minutes!

Vegan recipes

80. Crispy Roasted Chickpeas

Warning: it’s hard to resist eating these crunchy, salty little guys straight out of the oven! If you can, enjoy them as a snack or top them onto vegan dinner recipes for extra protein.

81. How to Cook Farro
82. Cilantro Lime Rice
83. How to Cook Couscous
84. How to Cook Lentils
85. Baked Crispy Tofu

Looking for more vegan recipes?

Check out my healthy breakfast ideas, healthy lunch ideas best salad recipes, healthy meal prep ideas, easy dinner recipes, or favorite soups!

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Vegan Recipes: Creamy Vegan Pasta

rate this recipe:
5 from 55 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Serves 4
This creamy vegan pasta is the perfect weeknight meal and one of our favorite vegan recipes!

Ingredients

  • Creamy vegan pasta sauce
  • cups small shell pasta
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 5 cups broccoli florets, chopped stems, and leaves
  • ¼ cup toasted pine nuts
  • lemon wedges, for serving
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Make the sauce.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare the pasta according to the instructions on the package, cooking until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the chopped broccoli stems and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes or until tender. Add the broccoli florets and leaves and a splash of water or vegetable broth. Cover and turn off the heat. Allow the broccoli to steam for 2 to 3 minutes or until tender but still bright green. Add the pasta, then stir in ¾ of the sauce, adding more broth if the sauce is too dry.
  • Season to taste with more salt, pepper and lemon juice, as desired, and portion into bowls. Divide the remaining sauce onto each bowl. Top with the pine nuts and serve with lemon wedges on the side.

 

28 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. sam
    01.03.2024

    Is there egg in the pasta?

  2. NK
    07.11.2023

    Thanks, A lot. I just turned Vegan and I really wanted to know all about these vegan recipes. And wow, there are so many and look so delicious.

  3. James from fooddoz.com
    04.26.2023

    Thanks for sharing the 85 best vegan recipes.

  4. Becky
    01.25.2023

    Please give me the instructions for making creamy began pasta sauce. I cant find quantities listed…just ingredients

  5. Margaret
    01.05.2023

    5 stars
    I’m in the beginning of a 30 day vegan fast (actually it’s the Daniel Fast, but it basically comes down to being vegan and sober). I had used a recipe similar to the sauce as a kind of queso (it had a lot more spices) so I knew this would be good, but I had no idea HOW AMAZING THIS DISH IS!! Seriously, it’s wonderful. I know the author said not to compare it to a cream sauce, that it’s a healthy garlicy sauce good in its own right, but the mouth feels is incredible. This was a great way to use up way too much broccoli, and I topped it with sunflower feeds (not a fan of pine nuts). I’ll be making this again soon, as it was one of the best easy recipes I’ve had for my fast. Thank you!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      01.05.2023

      I’m so glad you loved the recipe!

  6. max
    06.18.2022

    any way to see like an “index” of the items in this collection of recipes and others too? basically a list index, single spacing? i want to use it as a checklist for the family to choose their favorites….cheers!

  7. Monica from Bestconsumerratings
    10.18.2021

    5 stars
    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.

  8. Vegan Cheese
    05.27.2021

    Thank you for all these wonderful recipes! Will be making this tonight!

  9. PortCityDeDe
    05.06.2021

    Do you have a cookbook or a PDF version of all your recipes to help me shop for and prepare recipes. It will also help me to prep and choose the right kitchen appliances.

  10. Melola
    04.04.2021

    Love love the meals

  11. Abigail @ OhMyVegan
    03.05.2021

    These all look so delicious! And so many pasta options which are my favorite kind of dish!

  12. Sandy
    01.06.2021

    Recipe fir creamy vegan sauce?

  13. Diane
    01.02.2021

    What is trational yeast????

  14. Gabi H from ecofoodstuff.com
    10.02.2020

    These recipes look AMAZING. I’ve recently gone vegetarian and am now working towards cutting out all animal products. Having all these delicious vegan recipes will make that transition so much easier! Can’t wait to try them 🙂

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      10.03.2020

      Hi Gabi, I hope you enjoy them!

  15. Sabrina from newkitchenlife.com
    01.04.2020

    thank you for putting all of these in one place, much appreciated, sweet potato fries are my downfall, in a good way, so will start there

  16. Kate S.
    01.03.2020

    Really appreciate all the vegan recipes together in one place so I can bookmark and work my way through the list! Happy new Year!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.03.2020

      I’m so glad it’s helpful! Happy New Year, Kate!

  17. Julie
    01.02.2020

    These recipes look fantastic. I’m a new vegan trying to keep it simple so I don’t give up from overload. Thans

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.03.2020

      Hi Julie, I hope you enjoy the recipes!

    • Ro
      01.02.2021

      You and I are in the same boat. I am trying the 30 day vegan challenge (Veganuary) and I’ve been researching for 2 days, how to make simple vegan snacks and dishes.

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.