These recipes are for beginner vegans who need some help getting started. Make meals easy and stress free with these amazing options!
Eating vegan food does not have to be boring or tasteless. These 10 recipes are healthy homemade options that will leave you satisfied and happy!
This post was originally published on January 2, 2017.
Whether you are new to transitioning to a plant-based diet, trying out this whole Veganuary thing, have a New Years resolution to add more plants into your diet, or simply need life to be easy, these are for you!
While these 10 recipes are great for beginner vegans, they can be used by anyone needing to make things easy and simple.
If you are new here and looking for some support, have a ton of helpful information for starting a vegan diet, meal prepping veggies and so many amazing simple meals you'll wonder why you didn't start sooner!
Easy Vegan Recipes
This is a list of my favorite vegan recipes that are perfect for beginners because they are fairly simple yet are loaded with flavor! They also represent mainstream meals that show how plant-based foods are not boring!
Vegan Soup Recipes
Soups are probably the easiest recipes to make, and can be served as a complete meal, or along with other yummy dishes for a full dinner spread. Plus, you can make extra to store in the freezer for future easy dinners! All of these vegan soup recipes are sure to keep you warm, cozy, and full!
Vegan Mexican Recipes
Living in Southern California we eat a LOT of Mexican food. It's just so delicious and there's so much variety you can eat it every day without getting bored. Another great bonus is that it's so easy to make vegan Mexican food! Check out these recipes for the best vegan tacos, burritos, and more!
Vegan Burgers and Sandwiches
There is so much more in this world to sandwich between two pieces of bread than meat! Vegan sandwiches are excellent to take along for lunch, or to enjoy for a family friendly meal. And, vegan burger patties can be prepped ahead of time to keep on hand for quick and easy meals.
Vegan Recipes in Bowls
Some of the easiest recipes to make are ones where you throw a bunch of food in a bowl and call it a meal. OK, maybe that's over-simplified but you get the idea! All of the vegan bowl recipes can be prepped in advance if not completely, at least partially to keep dinner time super easy!
Vegan Pasta Recipes
Who doesn't love a heaping serving of pasta? It's comforting, delicious, family friendly, and makes great leftovers! If you're a beginner vegan, these pasta recipes are definitely a good place to start.
Basics for Vegan Dinners
When you're creating a plant-based dinner you want to make sure you're covering all your bases. Try to include a mix of the following:
- Greens
- Protein
- Carbohydrates
- Healthy Fats
Staples to have on hand
Keeping these ingredients in your kitchen as often as possible makes it easy to throw together last minute meals. Many of these foods are used commonly in plant-based recipes:
Pasta, beans, grains:
- Dried pasta of choice, gluten-free if needed
- Black beans
- Pinto Beans
- Chickpeas
- Brown Rice
- Quinoa
- Oats
Nuts and seeds:
- Cashews
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Flax seeds
- Hemp seeds
- Chia seeds
(Non) Dairy:
- Non-dairy milk- Silk Cashew Milk, almond milk, coconut milk, etc.
- Plain dairy-free yogurt
- Coconut cream
Spices and baking essentials:
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Basil
- Oregano
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Salt & pepper
- Vanilla extract
- Vegetable broth
- Brown rice flour
- Almond Flour
- Oat Flour
- Maple strup
Produce:
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Greens
- Garlic
- Peppers
- Mushrooms
- Zucchini
- Bananas
- Apples
- Berries
Common Questions
Start off by incorporating more plant-based recipes to your menu. They key is not not jump in too fast and overwhelm yourself. Ease into it as you feel more comfortable. Find vegan options you enjoy and work them into recipes. Make small, achievable habits, and overtime it will get easier and easier!
There are so many amazing options out there! From tacos, soups, salads, burgers and sandwiches, and more, you'll find that eating plant-based doesn't limit flavor. Create a meal that includes greens, protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
It certainly can be, but there are plenty of unhealthy vegan foods as well. Making your own homemade whole food plant based recipes is generally very healthy, especially when you make sure to work in all of the necessary nutrients. Some store-bought vegan options can be loaded with not-so-healthy ingredients so make sure to read the label.
More Vegan Guides
Looking for more help on starting your vegan lifestyle? Check out these helpful articles:
- Vegan Cheese Alternatives
- The Best Tasting Milk Alternatives
- Surprising Non Vegan Foods
- How to Meal Prep Vegetables
- Weekly Vegan Dinner Menu with Grocery List
- Easy Vegan Weekly Meal Plan
Dianne's Vegan Kitchen
Such a great collection of recipes! The tough part is deciding which one to make first!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Dianne!! So many to start with....maybe soup for the cold!
Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy
Happy new year sophia! Love seeing your top recipes from the year! Definitely trying to make january healthier after indulging over the holidays ha! These recipes of yours all sound delicious! Can't wait to see what the coming year has in store for you!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Anjali! Happy new year to you as well!
Meeta
Oh those Buffalo Chickpea Burgers look good. But I can very easily work on all 10 of the recipes here. 2016 very busy year for me. Here's to wishing 2017 rocks
veggiesdontbite
Thank you! I love buffalo sauce! Hope 2017 is great!
David Crowley
lots of great ideas here! Hard to know which I want to try first...maybe the ravioli.
veggiesdontbite
You'd love the ravioli! It's a weekly staple around here!
Platter Talk
I'm thinking your KOREAN CHICKPEAS, CARROTS & POTATOES OVER QUINOA is what will be hit first. Beautiful assortment of recipes!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks so much! That is one of my favorite dishes because it's so easy to prep ahead of time and just throw it in the crockpot in the morning!
Janie
What a beautiful (and tasty!) round up! Happy new year 🙂
Janie x
veggiesdontbite
Thank you!
Jovita @ Yummy Addiction
Wow, that's an awesome collection! I am adding zucchini ravioli to my to-make list 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Thank you! You will love the ravioli! It's so healthy but flavorful and delicious!
The Vegan 8
Everything looks incredible and so healthy! I'm drooling just wanting a bite of each dish you have on here. I think it's time to make some more bbq tahini sauce!
veggiesdontbite
BBQ Tahini seems to be the trend! LOL. Thanks friend! Cheers to a happy and healthy new year!
Linda @ Veganosity
So many yummy and easy recipes to choose from, I need to get cooking! Great goals too.
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Linda!
Mel |avirtualvegan.com
I'm quite happy to work my way through that list for the next 10 days! They all sound great but I will start with the zucchini ravioli. I've had my eye on that since you published it!
veggiesdontbite
You'll love the ravioli! It's so easy, we make it all the time! Happy New Year!
Jenn
I want them all. Hard to choose where to start. I've always been drawn to your photo of the raw zoodles though - so pretty and sounds so good. I've been all about my spiralizer lately. And you know how much I love that BBQ Tahini Sauce - I put that on everything! 🙂 Happy New Year!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Jenn! I need some more BBQ tahini too, haven't had it in a while!
Sarah
I am with you! Simplify and healthy! Loving all of these recipes—especially that Fakes soup you have at the very top! And also the giant burger with the onion rings—my fave!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Sarah! The soup is a family fave!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
Happy New Year! These all look fabulous, Sophia! I especially love your soups.
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Amy! Happy new year to you!
Becky Striepe
Happy new year! I want to eat alllll of this food!
veggiesdontbite
Happy new year Becky! Thank you!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Cheers to another year of fantastic recipe, Sophia!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Rebecca! Happy new year!