35+ Easy Vegan Recipes (with no ‘weird’ ingredients!)
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As you can probably tell from the name of my website, I am not a vegan – but I do absolutely love vegan food. I adore all kinds of vegetables, grains, tasty sauces, crispy tofu, beans and lentils… there is so much to love about vegan recipes. It’s not all rabbit food!
However, I do also feel that vegan food can feel a little alien sometimes. When a recipe contains all kinds of ingredients that I’ve never even heard of, which will almost certainly require a trip to a specialist health food shop, that totally puts me off.
So today I’m sharing a collection of my favourite easy vegan recipes that are all super straightforward.
❤️ Why You’ll Love These Recipes
These recipes are all:
- super straightforward and easy to make.
- packed with familiar ingredients – nothing ‘weird’ or hard to find.
- completely and utterly delicious!
- just as hearty and satisfying as any non-vegan meal you’ve ever had.
Let’s jump straight into the recipes!
🥙 Easy Vegan Recipes
In case you need a reminder, vegan food contains absolutely nothing that originates from an animal. That obviously means no meat or fish, but it also means these meals contain no dairy (cheese, milk, yogurt, etc.), and no eggs.
Since I am not actually a vegan myself, you may see the occasional mention of a non-vegan ingredient in some of these recipes (for example, I might say that soup can be ‘served with a swirl of yogurt, if desired’) – but the main part of each of these recipes is vegan. Similarly, I might suggest that you can use regular milk or plant-based milk in a recipe – but all of these recipes will all work just as well without any animal products, or by using vegan alternatives.
🍛 Vegan Curries
Pulses work beautifully in a vegan curry, as they soak up any flavour you cook them with. Make sure you add plenty of spices and fresh herbs, and your curry will be seriously tasty, without the need for any meat or cheese!
Easy Tarka Dal (Vegan Red Lentil Curry)
Tarka dal is the ultimate simple lentil curry – just a few aromatic spices can transform a few lentils into a creamy, richly flavourful dish!
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Get the recipe here!
Easy Falafel Curry
This falafel curry is a brilliant way to serve falafel, coated in a creamy, spicy sauce – it makes such a hearty, filling curry! Perfect served over rice or with naan bread for dipping.
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Vegan katsu curry
This vegan katsu curry is a tasty version of the popular Japanese dish, made with crispy breaded tofu and an aromatic curry sauce.
Total time: 45 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Creamy roasted carrot dal
This creamy roasted carrot dal ticks all the boxes – it’s simple and cheap to make, but has so much flavour!
Total time: 35 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Get the recipe here!
Sweet potato and lentil Thai curry
This is a hearty and comforting sweet potato and lentil Thai curry that's full of flavour and goodness! And it's so easy to make too.
Total time: 25 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Melt-In-Your-Mouth Eggplant Curry
This easy vegetarian eggplant curry seriously melts in your mouth! With lentils and fresh vegetables, it's the ideal feel-good comfort food.
Total time: 55 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
🍲 Vegan Stews and Casseroles
Vegan food often doesn’t follow the typical ‘meat and two veg’ structure – often, ingredients are mixed together into some kind of stew or casserole, rather than served separately. And as these vegan casserole recipes show, they can be unbelievably hearty and comforting!
Mushroom Bourguignon
This mushroom bourguignon is the ultimate hearty, comforting vegan stew (and it's also surprisingly low calorie!).
Total time: 1 hour
Servings: 4 people
Get the recipe here!
One pot vegan jambalaya
This one pot vegan jambalaya is an easy dinner that only needs one pan! It’s packed with spicy rice, beans and veggies – healthy and delicious.
Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Caribbean Sweet Potato Stew
This vegan sweet potato stew is inspired by Caribbean flavours, and is the perfect feel-good comfort food. Packed with goodness!
Total time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6
Get the recipe here!
Rustic Vegan Cassoulet with Herby Dumplings
This vegan cassoulet is a super flavourful version of the classic French dish – perfect topped with herby dumplings! Such hearty comfort food.
Total time: 1 hour
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Roasted vegetable ratatouille with chickpeas
This roasted vegetable ratatouille is a tasty and healthy meal packed with fresh veggies! Plus, it’s almost entirely hands-off.
Total time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Vegetarian savoury mince
A hearty, wintery dinner – homemade vegetarian mince cooked in a thick, rich gravy with vegetables.
Total time: 35 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Vegan Tomato and Black Bean Stew
A super easy vegan black bean stew, with a rich tomato sauce and beautiful spices. This is such a versatile recipe!
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Easy mushroom and black bean chilli
This mushroom and black bean chilli is perfect for students or anyone cooking for one – it’s easy to make, with only a few ingredients, and makes two perfect portions. Simple and tasty!
Total time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Get the recipe here!
🍝 Vegan Pasta Recipes
For me, pasta and cheese go hand in hand – but a vegan pasta dish can work just as well. Aim for a rich sauce with plenty of flavour, and you won’t miss the cheese.
Slow Cooker Lentil Bolognese
This easy slow cooker lentil bolognese is a hearty, warming vegan meal that cooks itself! It's the perfect vegetarian comfort food.
Total time: 4 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 5 people
Get the recipe here!
Slow cooker ratatouille
This slow cooker ratatouille is insanely rich and flavourful, and works beautifully as a standalone stew, or on pasta. Plus, it's made with 100% vegetables!
Total time: 3 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Creamy Tofu Pasta
How to make an easy, creamy tofu pasta sauce – it's vegetarian / vegan, full of protein and totally luxurious!
Total time: 20 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Walnut and Bean Bolognese
This walnut and bean bolognese is an easy veggie version of spaghetti bolognese, made only with store cupboard ingredients!
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
🍜 Vegan Soup Recipes
Vegan soup is so easy to make, using almost any kind of vegetable you have on hand. If you do like your soups to be a little creamy, coconut milk or silken tofu both work really well!
Vegan Corn Chowder (with Coconut Milk)
This creamy vegan corn chowder recipe is made with coconut milk, which makes it extra luxurious and extra delicious!
Total time: 45 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Vegan Taco Soup (with Crispy Tortilla Strips)
This vegan taco soup uses simple ingredients, but is packed with flavour – and some crispy tortilla strips give that crunchy taco vibe!
Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Vegan cream of mushroom soup
This vegan cream of mushroom soup is made with a secret ingredient that makes it unbelievably rich and creamy – but still totally vegan!
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 bowls
Get the recipe here!
Veggie-Packed Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
A hearty, healthy slow cooker black bean soup that's packed with vegetables, and only takes a few minutes to prepare!
Total time: 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Seriously Easy Red Lentil Soup
A seriously easy red lentil soup recipe that can use whatever vegetables you have in the fridge to make a delicious, smooth, creamy soup.
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 5 people
Get the recipe here!
Quick Red Thai Curry Noodle Soup
Get dinner on the table in just 15 minutes with this quick and easy red Thai curry noodle soup! You'll need just 4 ingredients for this seriously flavourful dinner.
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
🥗 Vegan Salads and Stir Fries
For me, veganism is all about celebrating vegetables in all their forms – and there’s nothing more veg-friendly than a salad or stir fry! Aim for a nice variety of vegetables to bring as many different flavours and textures into your meals as you can.
Crispy Rice and Tofu Salad
A tasty crispy rice and tofu salad, with spicy roasted rice and crumbled tofu, along with fresh veggies and a creamy tahini dressing.
Total time: 55 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Get the recipe here!
Sticky teriyaki tofu
This sticky teriyaki tofu is my favourite tofu recipe ever – so easy to make, but such an incredible flavour! This dish will convert any tofu hater.
Total time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Get the recipe here!
Peanut and Sesame Noodles
These simple peanut and sesame noodles are the perfect Asian-style side dish or main meal, with an irresistibly silky peanut sauce.
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Get the recipe here!
Creamy Cowboy Caviar (with Avocado Dressing)
This creamy cowboy caviar is an irresistible version of a simple bean salad, with fresh flavours and a creamy avocado dressing.
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Get the recipe here!
Easy Chickpea Stir Fry
This protein-packed chickpea stir fry is a quick and easy vegetarian dinner that's full of flavour! On the table in just 20 minutes.
Total time: 20 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Get the recipe here!
Easy Peanut Butter Tofu
This easy, creamy peanut butter tofu is a rich and satisfying vegetarian dinner, with over 30g of protein per serving!
Total time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Get the recipe here!
🧆 Other Vegan Recipes
Not all recipes can be categorised nicely, so here’s anything else that didn’t fit!
Air Fryer Cauliflower Steaks
These air fryer cauliflower steaks are marinated in a tasty spice mix, and served with a zesty dressing. Such a delicious side dish.
Total time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Get the recipe here!
Blackened Tofu Steaks
These blackened tofu steaks are marinated and coated in an aromatic blend of spices, then cooked until they become rich and smoky.
Total time: 20 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Get the recipe here!
Black bean and walnut tacos
These black bean and walnut tacos are quick and easy to make, with a simple homemade vegetarian taco 'meat' and plenty of extra toppings!
Total time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 tacos
Get the recipe here!
Black bean and lentil vegetarian koftas
These tasty vegetarian koftas couldn't be easier to make, with no pre-cooking required! Plus, they can be served in all sorts of different ways.
Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Get the recipe here!
Spicy roasted chickpea wraps
These spicy roasted chickpea wraps are full of crispy chickpeas, crunchy salad, and garlicky sauce – an easy, tasty vegetarian lunch idea!
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2 wraps
Get the recipe here!
Lemon and Black Pepper Chickpeas
These lemon and black pepper chickpeas are the perfect lunch – they're incredibly tasty, full of goodness, and take just minutes to make!
Total time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Get the recipe here!
Easy Vegan Lentil Loaf
An easy vegan lentil loaf that couldn't be simpler to make, and ends up moist and full of flavour! Perfect for Christmas or Thanksgiving.
Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Get the recipe here!
Sun-dried tomato hummus
This sun-dried tomato hummus takes just minutes to make, with only a few ingredients, and it tastes so much better than shop-bought hummus!
Total time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Get the recipe here!
🧾 Top Tips for a Tasty Vegan Meal
- It’s easy to get big flavour into vegan food, and to really elevate something simple into something amazing. Think fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, vegan dressings and sauces, and plenty of spice.
- Depending on what you’re making, roasting vegetables can be a great way to start. Roasted veg are generally a lot tastier and more irresistible than vegetables cooked in other ways – so a roasted vegetable salad, for example, is a great choice!
- Although I don’t think it’s helpful to assume that all vegetarian / vegan food is lacking in protein, it is a good idea to be mindful of including vegetarian protein sources in most meals. Tofu, beans, lentils, chickpeas… there are heaps of options.
- It helps to step outside of the ‘meat and two veg’ mindset when cooking a vegetarian or vegan meal, which don’t always follow this design. Often vegan meals are more of an ‘everything mixed together’ kind of meal – think meals that use pasta or other grains, mashed potato bowls, big salads of stir fries… just throw in whatever you fancy!
Wow! I literally just pinned almost every single one of these recipes. I’ve been in such desperate need of some inspiration. Thank you! Can’t wait to give some of these a try :)
I am putting it ou there that Thai-style corn and potato cakes is my number one from this list.