50 Fast & Healthy Vegan Dinner Recipes (2024)

Looking for a quick and delicious dinner fix? Here's no less than 50 healthy vegan dinner recipes. Each of these dishes can be on the table in under an hour...and most of them in less than 30 minutes!

50 Fast & Healthy Vegan Dinner Recipes (1)

Every year around this time I get a lot of new visitors to this site. January is my busiest month! And I'm guessing that lots of my new visitors are people staring out on vegan or vegetarian diets, and quite possibly trying to eat healthier in the new year. (I know I certainly am!)

And I know from experience that nothing can make you run for the hills when trying a new way of eating faster than a bunch of over-complicated recipes that take forever to prepare.

Vegan recipes have a reputation for being a bit involved, especially healthy vegan dinner recipes, and I'll admit, some of them are. I might have even shared a super complex vegan dinner or two on this site.

That's why I decided to pull together some of my favorite fast, easy and healthy vegan dinner ideas, both from this blog, and around the web. No need to spend all day in the kitchen! And no need to fall off the healthy diet wagon! Each of these healthy vegan meals is healthy enough to keep you in line with your resolutions and can be on the table in under 60 minutes — in fact, most of them take less than 30!

Jump to:
  • Stir-Fries
  • Pasta
  • Curries
  • Salads
  • Veggie Burgers

Stir-Fries

Stir-fries are my go-to when I've got little time for cooking. Veggies cook up super fast over high heat, then get doused in sauce, so you end up with a meal that's healthy, loaded with flavor, and can literally be ready in minutes.

Tofu Stir-Fry with Garlic Sauce

Rainbow Peanut Butter Stir-Fry

Vegan Pepper Steak

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Vegan Pad Thai

Pasta

Pasta dinners have a reputation for being simple and easy, but that's not always the case with vegan pastas. Soaking cashews (a step you'll see in lots of creamy vegan pasta recipes) can take upwards of 8 hours! And if you're like me, you inevitably forget to throw them in some water at the beginning of the day.

These recipes all fall under the category of easy and healthy vegan dinners — they all take a half hour or less to make, from start to finish!

Vegan Pasta Primavera

Loaded Creamy Vegan Pesto Pasta

Penne Arrabbiata

15 Minute Coconut Green Pasta - Simple Vegan Blog

One Pot Alfredo Penne Pasta - Jessica in the Kitchen

Sandwiches & Wraps

Super satisfying, delicious, and customizable, there's lots to be said for sandwiches for dinner! The best part: sandwiches are about as easy as it gets. Here are a few of my favorite easy and healthy vegan sandwich recipes.

To make life even easier, prep the fillings in advance, and then just heat (if necessary) and assemble when you're ready to eat.

Vegan Tuna Salad Sandwiches

Ginger Sesame Tempeh Lettuce Wraps

Vegan Sloppy Joes

Blackened Tempeh Sandwiches

Maple Buffalo Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches

Vegan Egg Salad Sandwiches

Portobello Mushroom Hot Dogs

Ginger Peanut Tofu Wraps - Hello Veggie

Curries

Curries always feel so rich and indulgent! But they're also loaded with veggies and, often, healthy plant-protein. Which is why curries make awesome healthy vegan dinners. But they're also super easy too, often cook up in one pot, and the leftovers can't be beat.

Thai Red Curry with Tofu and Eggplant

Sweet Potato Caribbean Curry

Coconut Milk Vegan Vegetable Korma

Butternut Squash Curry

Peanut Butter Chickpea Curry - Easy Cheesy Vegetarian

Easy Chickpea and Spinach Indian Curry - Eat Good 4 Life

Mushroom Masala and Fenugreek - Cook Republic

Salads

Don't let the prospect of salad night make you sad! In my house we love salad night, because we only eat salads that are loaded with veggies, super flavorful dressings, and hearty vegan protein sources...you know, the kinds of salads that can totally stand alone as a vegan meal!

Vegan Cobb Salad

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Avocado Corn Salad

Vegan Greek Salad

Sweet Potato, Lentil and Kale Salad with Chipotle Lime Dressing - Hey Nutrition Lady

Crunchy Thai Kale Salad - Minimalist Baker

Kale and Butternut Squash Salad with Indian Spiced Croutons - Floating Kitchen

Sesame Kale Glow Bowl - The Glowing Fridge

Lebanese Chopped Salad with Chickpeas - The Lemon Bowl

Winter Quinoa Salad with Butternut Squash - She Likes Food

Power Salad with Chia Lemon Dressing - Two Peas and Their Pod

Veggie Burgers

Most veggie burger recipes require two steps: (1) mix up a bunch of ingredients in a bowl or food processor, and (2) shape into patties and bake or pan-fry. Once you've got this simple process down, you'll want to make veggie burgers every night. I certainly do!

One trick I've learned to make life easier: after step 1, just cook as many burgers as you'll be eating that night. Transfer the rest of the mixture from your food processor into a storage container and chill it in the fridge. The next day, take it out, shape more patties and cook them up. It'll be just like you made a fresh batch of burgers from scratch.

Buffalo Chickpea Quiona Burgers

Maple Dijon Portobello Burgers

Barbecue Chickpea Burgers

Balsamic Beet Burgers

Vegan Meatloaf Burgers

"Beefy" Black Bean Walnut Burgers

Chickpea Sweet Potato Peanut Burgers - Vegan Richa

Spicy Bean Burgers - Veggie Inspired

Butternut Squash Apple Burgers - Veggies Don't Bite

Like this post? If so, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter. And please stop back and leave me a review and rating if you make any of the recipes!

50 Fast & Healthy Vegan Dinner Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What vegan meal can I eat everyday? ›

For a healthy vegan diet: eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates (choose wholegrain where possible)

Is a vegan diet actually healthy? ›

While studies have shown that a vegan diet (VD) may be associated with improved health outcomes [6,7], the negative health repercussions of these food preferences, on the other hand, are rarely highlighted, and veganism may be associated with negative health effects due to nutritional deficiencies.

What vegans should eat to lose weight? ›

Tips for losing weight on a vegan diet

Focus on Whole Foods: Encourage individuals to prioritize whole, unprocessed plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

What not to eat when going vegan? ›

Vegans don't eat any foods made from animals, including:
  • Beef, pork, lamb, and other red meat.
  • Chicken, duck, and other poultry.
  • Fish or shellfish such as crabs, clams, and mussels.
  • Eggs.
  • Cheese.
  • Butter.
  • Milk, cream, ice cream, and other dairy products.
  • Mayonnaise (because it includes egg yolks)
Nov 3, 2023

What is the most eaten vegan food? ›

Most vegan diets include beans in at least one meal per day, including lentils, chickpeas, black beans, pinto beans and many more. Many vegans consume soy-based proteins such as tofu and tempeh; their mild flavor makes them a great substitute for meat in stir-fries, soups and stews.

What do vegans eat for protein? ›

For protein & iron, vegans can eat:
  • Beans. Beans, such as kidney beans, soybeans, pinto, black beans, and navy beans are a rich source of protein. ...
  • Legumes. ...
  • Tofu & Tempeh. ...
  • Green Peas. ...
  • Whole Grains. ...
  • Nuts & Seeds. ...
  • Fruits & Vegetables. ...
  • Lentil Soup Recipe.
May 11, 2023

What is a balanced vegan meal? ›

A healthy vegan diet should contain a variety of whole grains, proteins, healthy fats, and fruits and vegetables. Foods like nuts, seeds, legumes, soy products, and nutritional yeast can all help boost your protein intake throughout the day.

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.

Is Peanut Butter vegan? ›

The bottom line. Most types of peanut butter are free of animal products and can be enjoyed as part of a vegan diet. However, some varieties are made in facilities that also process animal products or contain refined sugar that was produced using bone char or non-vegan ingredients like honey or fish oil.

What is the healthiest plant-based food? ›

Fats in olive oil, olives, nuts and nut butters, seeds, and avocados are particularly healthy choices. Cook a vegetarian meal at least one night a week. Build these meals around beans, whole grains, and vegetables. Include whole grains for breakfast.

Why I stopped being vegan? ›

One of the primary reasons people quit veganism is health concerns. While veganism can be a healthy and sustainable diet when done correctly. Some individuals may experience inadequate nutrition and deficiencies due to a lack of knowledge about plant-based sources of essential nutrients.

How do vegans get B12? ›

Because vegans avoid all animal-derived products, they may rely on vitamin B-12 fortified foods, such as certain breakfast cereals and nutritional yeast. Plant foods do not produce vitamin B-12, so it is vital that vegans find alternative sources of vitamin B12 to remain in the best health.

Why is butter not vegan? ›

Traditional butter is made with churned milk or cream, which usually comes from cows (but it can also come from other animals like goats), and that's why it's not vegan. Many people also use margarine, which is similar to butter in texture and color, but it's usually made with plant-based fat instead of animal fat.

Is a 100% vegan diet healthy? ›

A vegan diet is well-rounded, with plenty of vitamin content. It also boasts an array of fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients - making it one of the best diets in terms of nutrition.

Can vegans eat tofu everyday? ›

"For the vast majority of people, it should be reasonable to incorporate tofu in their daily diet without any issues," Sun said. He and his family eat "probably three servings per week," Sun said. He likes using soft tofu in soups and firm tofu – frozen and cut up – in a traditional Chinese hot pot.

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