These 35 easy vegan recipes for beginners are all you need to make satisfying meals your family will love! These are “normal” everyday meals that any beginner cook can make in 30 minutes or less.

The vegan pasta salad after all of the ingredients have been added.
Vegan Mediterranean Pasta

Whether you are going vegan or just want to incorporate more vegan meals into your weekly meal plan, it helps to have some great, easy recipes to choose from. I’ve found that most people just rotate through the same 10 meals or so, maybe throwing a new one in every once in a while.

If you have a handful of solid vegan meals that you can make quickly and easily, you will be able to eat a vegan diet without feeling deprived or stressed about what to make for dinner every night.

Find your family’s favorites

These are my family’s favorite quick and easy meals. These are the things I have made time and time again over the 26 years I’ve been vegan. They’re the simple weeknight meals that I make when I only have about 20-30 minutes to get dinner on the table. They are so easy that my teenage sons often prepare the meals too.

Pick a few from each category and try them out. You will soon have a list of easy vegan meals in your back pocket that you can make with very little time or effort.

Vegan cabbage and noodles made with tofu and wide noodles on a white plate.
Vegan Haluski

Easy vegan pasta dishes

Pasta is always a great choice for a quick, easy, plant-based meal with minimal fuss. Most of the following recipes take 20 minutes or less to make, and there are endless flavor combos, so you will never get bored. All of these sauces can be made gluten-free, so if you need a GF option, simply use gluten-free pasta.

  1. Silken Tofu Pasta
  2. Mediterranean Pasta
  3. Creamy Vegan Mushroom Pasta
  4. Broccoli Pasta
  5. Orzo with Spinach
  6. American Style Vegan Goulash
  7. Spicy Vegan Southwest Mac and Cheese
  8. Broccoli Alfredo
  9. Vegan “Beef” Stroganoff
  10. Vegan Haluski – Cabbage and Noodles
  11. Vegetarian Hakka Noodles
  12. Tomato Basil Pasta
  13. Vegan Bolognese with Hidden Veggies
  14. Vegan Alfredo Pasta
  15. Creamy Vegan Pesto Pasta

Asian-inspired dishes

A pot full of vegan red curry sauce with red peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, pineapple and basil.
Red Thai Curry
  1. Vegan Thai Red Curry
  2. Thai Green Curry with Tofu
  3. Thai Coconut Rice
  4. Easy Tofu Fried Rice
  5. Vegan Chop Suey
  6. Easy Vegan Ramen
  7. Coconut Curry Soup
  8. Sweet and Sour Tofu
  9. Teriyaki Noodles
  10. Tofu Lettuce Wraps
  11. Teriyaki Tofu
  12. Red Lentil Chickpea Curry
A close up of a skillet filled with onions, peppers, mushrooms, and soy curls cooked with fajita spices.
Vegan Fajitas

Mexican-inspired dishes

A Mexican-inspired main dish is always a hit in my house. They are easy to make and usually use simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand, like rice, beans, and salsa. You can eat them as tacos, burritos, or simple grain bowls, too.

  1. Vegan Fajitas
  2. TVP Tacos
  3. Vegan Loaded Nachos
  4. Tempeh Tacos
  5. Vegetarian Tostadas
  6. Shredded Tofu Tacos
  7. Roasted Cauliflower Tacos
  8. Vegan Mexican Quinoa Skillet

Sample weekly vegan dinner menu

Don’t forget to check out my vegan desserts or add a side dish or salads to any of the above to make it a more complete meal.

You can see all my 30-minute-or-less vegan recipes here. Sign up for my free ebook with a week of easy vegan recipes planned for you, along with a free printable shopping list.

📌 Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for new vegan recipes!

Let me know which recipe you’ve tried and what your favorites are! I’d love to hear from you!