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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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
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 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.
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.
Whether you stuff them into subs or pile them onto pasta, these savory, smoky vegan meatballs are guaranteed to be a hit.
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
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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!
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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!
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!
Vegan Recipes: Creamy Vegan Pasta
Ingredients
- Creamy vegan pasta sauce
- 2½ 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.
Is there egg in the pasta?
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.
Thanks for sharing the 85 best vegan recipes.
Please give me the instructions for making creamy began pasta sauce. I cant find quantities listed…just ingredients
Hi Becky, you can find our creamy vegan pasta recipe here: https://www.loveandlemons.com/vegan-pasta/
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!
I’m so glad you loved the recipe!
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!
Hi Max, if you click “Recipes” at the top of the page, you’ll go to our index: https://www.loveandlemons.com/recipes/
i guess im looking for a plain text list to print so we can make a menu plan.. cheers
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.
Thank you for all these wonderful recipes! Will be making this tonight!
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.
Love love the meals
Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!
These all look so delicious! And so many pasta options which are my favorite kind of dish!
Recipe fir creamy vegan sauce?
Hey you nice post
https://topfoodmane.blogspot.com/?m=1
What is trational yeast????
Nutritional yeast gives things a cheese-like flavor: https://www.bobsredmill.com/nutritional-yeast.html
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 🙂
Hi Gabi, I hope you enjoy them!
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
Really appreciate all the vegan recipes together in one place so I can bookmark and work my way through the list! Happy new Year!
I’m so glad it’s helpful! Happy New Year, Kate!
These recipes look fantastic. I’m a new vegan trying to keep it simple so I don’t give up from overload. Thans
Hi Julie, I hope you enjoy the recipes!
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.