76 BEST vegan recipes, easy and perfect for beginners! Simple dinners and sides to get you started, including burgers, pizza, pasta, potatoes, enchiladas and more! Kid and meat eater approved.

square image with text box for 76 vegan recipes

Are you new to a vegan diet, or just trying to include more plant based meals in your routine? I’ve rounded up 76 of the best vegan dinner recipes (along with a few side dishes).

Cutting out animal products may seem restrictive at first, but soon you will discover the abundance of vegan cooking, and you will never be bored of food again! These vegan recipes are:

  • Incredibly tasty & full of flavor
  • Kid & meat eater approved
  • Familiar – The food you love made vegan, like burgers, pasta, mashed potatoes, BBQ, nachos, enchiladas, tacos, pot pie and more!
  • Simple and uncomplicated – Because why make things harder than they need to be?
  • Budget friendly with accessible ingredients – Shop at nearly any grocery store!

If you are new to the vegan lifestyle, make sure to also check out Best Vegan Desserts, 10 Tips for Going Vegan and Vegan Grocery List.

Vegan Recipes

I’ve broken up the recipes into seven categories: Pasta, Take-Out Favorites, Soup/Stew/Chili, Comfort Food, Sandwiches/Burgers, Mexican-Inspired and Sides. The recipes are linked in the text below each photo collage.

12 photo collage of pasta dishes

Pasta

Who doesn’t love noodles? Indulge in a plate of pasta, no dairy, meat or eggs needed! Gluten free options for nearly every recipe. My personal favorite are the stuffed shells.

  1. Best Vegan Lasagna
  2. The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese
  3. Vegan Alfredo Sauce
  4. Vegan Stuffed Jumbo Shells
  5. Baked Mac and Cheese
  6. Favorite Vegan Bolognese
  7. Creamy Vegan Carbonara
  8. Vegan Baked Ziti
  9. Easy Vegan Meatballs and Spaghetti
  10. The Best Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
  11. Simple Vegan Pesto
  12. Teriyaki Noodles
collage of 12 take out vegan recipes

Take-out favorites

Skip the take-out and cook at home instead with any of these mouthwatering dishes! Save money and have dinner on the table in no time at all.

  1. Peanut Tofu with Coconut Rice
  2. Vegan Butter Chicken
  3. 30 Minute Pad Thai
  4. Orange Tofu
  5. Thai Green Curry
  6. Crispy Sesame Tofu
  7. Vegan Tikka Masala
  8. Vegetable Korma
  9. Easy Vegan Falafel
  10. Chickpea Curry
  11. Quick and Easy Red Lentil Dahl
  12. Vegan Thai Red Curry
12 photo collage of vegan soup and stews

Soup/Stew/Chili

There is something so comforting about a bowl of warm soup or chili in the winter, but I like to enjoy it year round. Great for meal prep – make some on Sunday and have leftovers for several days!

  1. Vegan Stew
  2. Ultimate Vegan Chili
  3. Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup
  4. Vegan Broccoli Cheese Soup
  5. Lentil Soup
  6. Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili
  7. Easy Vegan Potato Soup
  8. Vegan Tomato Soup
  9. Super Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Kale Soup
  10. Black Bean Soup
  11. Vegan Corn Chowder
  12. Vegan Minestrone Soup
12 photo collage of vegan comfort food recipes

Comfort food favorites

Satisfying, stick-to-your-ribs favorites made vegan! This kind of comfort food is better for you, plus no animals were harmed in the making. I make the Biscuit Topped Pot Pie almost weekly!

  1. Biscuit Topped Chickpea Pot Pie
  2. Vegan Pot Pie
  3. The Best Vegan Meatloaf
  4. Vegan Ham
  5. Vegan Turkey
  6. Vegan Chicken
  7. Vegan “Chicken” Nuggets
  8. Vegan Pizza
  9. Vegan Jambalaya
  10. Lentil Loaf
  11. Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
  12. Broccoli Rice Casserole
8 collage of vegan burgers and sandwiches

Burgers & sandwiches

Perfect for lunch or dinner, you will love these burgers and sandwiches! You must try my Best Veggie Burger, they are always a hit with everyone plus they can be grilled.

  1. Best Veggie Burger
  2. BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork
  3. Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger
  4. Chickpea Burger
  5. Vegan Tuna Sandwich
  6. Vegan Chicken Salad
  7. Vegan Egg Salad
  8. Vegan BLT
8 photo collage of vegan recipes, mexican recipes.

Vegan Mexican-inspired recipes

It’s no secret that I love Mexican-inspired food, and while my recipes may not be authentic, they are irresistible and simple to make! You might want to whip up a batch of Vegan Queso or Nacho Cheese to go with any of the following recipes.

  1. Sour Cream Enchiladas
  2. Best Vegan Enchiladas
  3. Best Vegan Taco Meat
  4. Jackfruit Buffalo Quesadillas
  5. Ultimate Vegan Nachos
  6. Mexican Rice and Beans
  7. Jackfruit Carnitas
  8. Sheet Pan Cauliflower Fajitas
collage of side dishes

Sides & bread

Sometimes a side dish is necessary to complete a meal, and I have many to choose from. These are some of the best vegan side dishes on my site, but you can find even more here. The scalloped potatoes are a total crowd pleaser!

  1. Best Dang Vegan Mashed Potatoes
  2. Vegan Dinner Rolls
  3. Vegan Collard Greens
  4. Vegan Cheese Grits
  5. Vegan Naan
  6. Marinated Tofu
  7. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
  8. Best Vegan Baked Beans
  9. Easy Vegan Gravy
  10. Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
  11. Vegan Cornbread
  12. Vegan Caesar Salad

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Comments

  1. I love all your recipes. I cooked in food service (mostly meat) but now I’m vegetarian. When looking for a recipe I always go to your site first.

  2. Your list is great, My husband and I eat vegetarian food twice per month, I will definitely follow some of them. Thank you for sharing.

  3. These were great and super easy, Thank you for the collection of recipes they are a blessing especially for someone who eats the same meals in rotation.

    1. You are so welcome! I love easy and delicious, and love to share the same with others! Thank you for sharing your review!

  4. The Vegan Banana Cream Pie is incredible!
    So easy to make and OMG Goooooood!!
    I highly recommend ??
    ย Nora Cooks recipes ย are delicious and almost all relatively easy to prepare!

    1. Hi JoeAnne. I’m glad you love the pie! Thank you very much for using my recipes! I appreciate you taking the time to share your wonderful comments. Thank you!

  5. Hi Nora,
    This is a fabulous collection whether one is a vegan newbie or an old hand! Thank you for putting it together. I made the jackfruit quesadillas yesterday, and they were a big hit. I put some leftover quesadilla filling on baked potatoes today.
    I have a big recipe collection from quite a few very well known vegan recipe developers, but you are consistently my go-to for delicious, uncomplicated, foolproof meals. I have SO many of your recipes on heavy rotation. Please keep up the great work!

    1. Hi LeeAnn. I appreciate you and your encouraging and positive comments! Thank you so much for sharing, and for using my recipes! Happy cooking!

  6. Hi Nora,
    I’m so excited to try many of these recipes. I’m a beginner at this and miss the old favorites. With these recipes, I’ll be able to have a lot of the comfort foods that I have missed.
    Thank you so much for helping to improve our health.
    Jill Hammond

    1. Hi Jill. Thank you for using my recipes! I’m glad this recipe collection is going to be helpful to you. Thank you, and have fun!

  7. Great piece of content. I can bookmark this and try these out throughout the 2021 without making any other search!

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