17 Delicious and Easy Vegan Dinners

Punjabi-Style Chole Chickpea Curry — The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Eating vegan doesn't have to be complicated or boring. There are plenty of plant-based dinners that you can whip up in less than half an hour, often using pantry ingredients or even leftovers. If you're short on time, get some inspiration from these meat-free, dairy-free, and egg-free recipes.

What Is Veganism?

01 of 17

Vegan Mushroom Bean Burger

The Spruce

Burgers are not only delicious comfort food, but they're also quick and easy. These vegan mushroom bean burgers don't skimp on flavor. Use vegan buns or lettuce wraps and your choice of toppings.
02 of 17

Vegetarian Chana Masala With Spinach

The Spruce / Emily Hawkes

Chana masala is a fragrant, hearty Indian dish that's vegan and gluten-free. With chickpeas, spinach, and flavorful spices, the dish takes less than half an hour to make. Pair with rice or vegan bread like naan.
03 of 17

Vegan Baked Korean BBQ Tofu

The Spruce

Cubed tofu soaks up tons of flavor from a simple homemade barbecue sauce before a quick trip in the oven. You can also make vegan baked tofu by adding a little water to your favorite Korean barbecue sauce.
04 of 17

Easy Vegan Nutritional Yeast Pasta

The Spruce Eats / Eric Kleinberg

Nutritional yeast is a magical healthy ingredient that has a cheesy flavor similar to Parmesan. It makes this easy vegan pasta dish extra special. Top with roasted or steamed vegetables or sautéed mushrooms if you like, or keep it simple.

Continue to 5 of 17 below.
05 of 17

Easy Vegan Dirty Rice and Collard Greens

The Spruce

Cajun and Creole cooking isn't typically vegan-friendly, but this dirty rice recipe has the flavors you're looking for without the meat. It's a complete one-dish meal, with beans, rice, and collard greens.
06 of 17

Vegan Yellow Thai Curry With Mixed Vegetables

The Spruce

If you have a few spices, coconut milk, and an assortment of veggies, you can throw together a tasty Thai curry in just 20 minutes. This recipe calls for potato, carrot, broccoli, and cauliflower, but a wide range of vegetables will work, too.
07 of 17

Vegan Indian Palak "Paneer" (Spinach and Tofu)

The Spruce Eats / Anastasiia Tretiak

Palak paneer is a traditional Indian dish that's usually made with a dense cheese called paneer coated in a creamy spinach sauce. This vegan version swaps the cheese for tofu for a similar texture.
08 of 17

Vegetarian Bean and Rice Burrito

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Burritos are easy to make vegan, quick to whip up, and totally customizable. Serve bean and rice burritos with different options for toppings like guacamole, salsa, and vegan cheese so that everyone can make and roll their own.

Continue to 9 of 17 below.
09 of 17

Punjabi-Style Chole Chickpea Curry

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

The trick to making this recipe as delicious as possible is to use whole herbs and spices and to use ones that are as fresh as possible. Serve this crowd-pleasing dish piping hot and accompanied by pooris or bhatooras, which are two different kinds of fried Indian bread.
10 of 17

Easy Vegan Ratatouille

The Spruce

Ratatouille is a French peasant dish full of summer vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper, and tomato. It's a simple recipe that's full of fresh flavor. Serve with crusty bread or over a grain.
11 of 17

Vegan Chickpea Veggie Burgers

The Spruce

If you have a can of chickpeas and some staple pantry ingredients, then you can make veggie burgers. Spice them up with toppings or serve on top of salad greens with a tahini dressing.
12 of 17

Vegan Broccoli and Tofu in Garlic Sauce

The Spruce

Tofu is ideal for a simple stir-fry with a flavorful sauce. Serve broccoli and tofu in garlic sauce with steamed white or brown rice, or swap for quinoa.

Continue to 13 of 17 below.
13 of 17

Vegan Lemon Pasta With Pine Nuts and Broccoli

Emily Hawkes / The Spruce

There's no cheese required for a satisfying one-bowl pasta dinner. Since there are only a few ingredients, use the best olive oil and fresh fruit juice when making lemon pasta. Pine nuts add toasty crunch and broccoli adds color, flavor, and nutrition.
14 of 17

Vegan Impossible Swedish "Meatballs"

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

Impossible Meat is so similar to actual beef that it's won over vegans and meat-eaters alike. Use the ground "meat" to make classic Swedish meatballs. Serve with crusty bread or egg noodles to soak up the sauce.
15 of 17

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili

The Spruce

With a mix of spices like cumin, chili powder, and cayenne pepper, this black bean and sweet potato chili is flavorful enough you won't miss the meat. Serve with cilantro, chopped green onions, and avocado for topping.
16 of 17

Vegan Mushroom Cream Sauce For Pasta

The Spruce

Just because you're on a vegan diet doesn't mean you can't enjoy a plate of creamy pasta. Made with vegan margarine and non-dairy milk, this cream sauce has a meaty flavor thanks to mushrooms.

Continue to 17 of 17 below.
17 of 17

Bok Choy and Shiitake Mushroom Stir Fry

The Spruce Eats / Anastasiia Tretiak

If you're having a busy day, whip up a delicious stir-fry in just 20 minutes flat. Bok choy and mushrooms are a nice mix of flavor and texture and are done cooking in the time it takes to steam rice.

12 Vegan Lunch Ideas