50 Vegan Versions Of Your Family's Favorite Dinner Recipes
No one can say no to our sweet & sour tofu.
When you hear the word “vegan”, what’s the first thing you think? If you think vegan food is boring, weird, or confusing, I’m here to tell you—you just haven’t been eating or cooking the right things! Eating vegan will open you up to new culinary experiences; the only difference is that they don’t rely wholly on meat or animal products to excite your palate. All it takes are a couple ingredient swaps and a few solid recipes to get you started, and soon you’ll have a whole roster of meals you’ll look forward to just as much (or even MORE) than more traditional fare. That’s where we come in—I’ve rounded up 50 of our top vegan dinners that you and your whole family will enjoy. Whether you’re just starting your vegan journey, or are just trying to eat more plants, there’s something here for everyone.
And those swaps I mentioned? I’m not even talking about harder-to-find vegan processed foods, though those are great (and a few recipes here do use them, like our creamy Tuscan vegan pasta). Instead, these recipes lean on alternative ingredients you’re probably already cooking with, like mushrooms, beans, and tofu. The first two really shine in recipes like our vegan mushroom pot pie, our vegan white bean chili, our polenta with wild mushroom ragu, or our coconut chickpea & sweet potato curry. Another great perk? They’re also super budget-friendly.
Let’s talk tofu. If you’re unfamiliar with it, it can be intimidating, but just think—at some point, cooking chicken seemed overwhelming and weird, and now I bet you’re a pro at it! The same goes for tofu: it’s mostly flavorless on its own (again, like raw chicken is), so it’s all about how you cook it. Make our tofu stir fry, our sweet & sour tofu, or our tofu katsu curry, and I bet you’ll soon be a soy convert.
Have any questions or concerns about how to cook vegan? I’ve got over 10 years experience cooking vegan for myself and others, so leave me a comment below, and I’ll do my best to answer!
Sesame Tofu & Broccoli
In this vegetarian version of a Chinese-American favorite, oven-baked tofu gets tossed in a savory, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce along with crisp-tender broccoli, then topped with toasty sesame seeds and scallions. With a side of white rice, you’re guaranteed a saucy, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.
Get the Sesame Tofu & Broccoli recipe.
Vegan White Bean Chili
Whether you’re full-time vegan or just love a plant-based moment, vegan chili is where it’s at. This flavor-packed vegan white bean chili has so much goodness going on and all of the fresh, crunchy toppings too.
Get the Vegan White Bean Chili recipe.
Creamy Tuscan Vegan Pasta
Far too often, we’ve tried vegan sauces that just don’t quite get the creaminess down right, so we decided to solve this problem outright with this instant classic: creamy Tuscan vegan pasta. This recipe takes a note from our classic creamy Tuscan chicken, but made vegan-friendly while still maintaining the creaminess you know and love.
Get the Creamy Tuscan Vegan Pasta recipe.
Vegan Pizza
Make your own pizza dough to really impress your plant-based friends. Top with whatever veggies you like, but don't skimp on the vegan ranch dressing—it's the best part!
Get the Vegan Pizza recipe.
Sweet & Sour Tofu
Sweet & sour sauce is a staple across Chinese-American restaurant menus—and for good reason. The combination of savory, tangy, and sweet flavors pairs well with virtually every protein, and especially tofu—because it’s mild in flavor, the sweet and sour sauce truly shines (even the tofu haters in your household will ask for seconds).
Get the Sweet & Sour Tofu recipe.
Vegan Mac & Cheese
Delicious vegan mac & cheese might sound like an oxymoron, but trust us, this cheese sauce is good enough to satiate the strongest dairy craving.
Get the Vegan Mac & Cheese recipe.
Creamy Tomato Vegan Pasta
This is THE vegan pasta you make for lifelong dairy lovers. Rich and creamy, with deep tomato flavor, it’s sure to have everyone digging back into the pot for another serving.
Get the Creamy Tomato Vegan Pasta recipe.
Vegan Seared "Scallops" with Succotash
Vegan Mushroom Pot Pie
When it's cold out, a steaming hot pot pie filled with creamy, flavorful gravy, sweet and tender veggies, and topped with a shatteringly flaky crust is EVERYTHING. Here, mushrooms replace meat and are every bit as satisfying as their meaty counterparts.
Get the Vegan Mushroom Pot Pie recipe.
Coconut Chickpea & Sweet Potato Curry
If you're craving a hearty and comforting dinner that's also vegan, look no further. This curry is bursting with flavors inspired by chana masala, and is so chock-full of flavor that you won't miss the meat. It's our tribute to the richness of Indian cuisine in every bite.
Chili Crisp Fried Tofu
Chili crisp is the MVP in the flavor bomb pantry, and it’s back to prove it again with this chili crisp fried tofu. Featuring a vibrant spicy-sweet sauce made with just four pantry ingredients (swap the honey for maple or agave if you're averse!), this crispy fried tofu is waiting to make your weeknight dinner a little more exciting.
Get the Chili Crisp Fried Tofu recipe.
Tempeh & Broccoli Rabe Orecchiette
This vegan spin on our orecchiette with sausage & broccoli rabe is packed with protein and flavor thanks to tempeh and a simple garlic-lemon sauce. It's simple enough for a weeknight dinner, but special enough to serve for date night too.
Vegan Ramen
This completely vegan version uses layers of umami-packed flavor to mimic the depth complexity of traditional ramen, and edamame for a protein boost. Feel free to swap in some of your favorite veggies, but don't skip the salty soy sauce balanced with sweet, tangy mirin. It helps round out this warm earthy, slurp-worthy noodle bowl.
Get the Vegan Ramen recipe.
Tofu Katsu Curry
This hearty Japanese curry comes complete with crispy sesame-panko-crusted tofu, tender vegetables, and a rich and flavorful curry sauce. For a quicker version, swap out the curry for some cold shredded green cabbage, along with some katsu sauce for dipping.
Get the Tofu Katsu Curry recipe.
Veggie Paella (Paella Verdura)
This veggie-packed paella comes together in under an hour, and, even better, most of the cooking happens in the oven. Briefly returning the skillet to the stovetop after baking is the key to achieving a crispy rice crust on the bottom, often referred to as socarrat (meaning “burnt” in Catalan).
Extra Lemony Seitan Piccata
Most piccata sauces use only lemon juice; we opt for whole pieces of the fruit to make use of every last bit of bright citrus flavor. After a simmer in a wine and broth jacuzzi, the lemon loses its sharp bitterness and becomes sweet and tender.
Get the Extra Lemony Seitan Piccata recipe.
Jerk Tofu Grain Bowls
This vegan recipe is a bit of a culinary road trip through some Jamaican staples: sweet plantains, aromatic rice and peas, and tofu in a jerk marinade. To add a touch of crunch, acidity, and color we top it all off with a simple red cabbage and carrot slaw that is just as delicious on its own as it is in the bowls (make extra and put it on everything).
Get the Jerk Tofu Grain Bowls recipe.
Chicken-Fried Mushrooms & Gravy
Meaty oyster mushrooms stand in for steak in our indulgent take on this Southern classic. Buttermilk is a must for fried chicken, so we made our own with almond milk and vinegar.
BBQ Pulled Mushrooms
We're loving the pulled mushroom trend at the moment. Chewy, sticky, and satisfyingly meaty without any of the meat, this recipe is so meaty we believe it could convince even the biggest of mushroom haters that these veggie heroes aren't so bad after all. Plus, they're fab for vegetarian BBQ guests.
Get the BBQ Pulled Mushrooms recipe.
