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.

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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! See this post for more tips: How to Eat Plant-Based on a Budget.

I’ve included a brand new recipe for EASY Buffalo Jackfruit Quesadillas, so make sure to scroll to the bottom of this post (or use the Jump To Recipe button at the top of the page). They are cheesy, spicy and mouthwatering!

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.

photo of stack of jackfruit buffalo quesadillas

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.

  8. Vegan Baked Ziti
  9. Easy Vegan Meatballs and Spaghetti

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.

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!

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!

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.

  2. BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork
  4. Chickpea Burger

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 – RECIPE BELOW!
  6. Mexican Rice and Beans

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!

  5. Vegan Naan
  11. Vegan Cornbread
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76 Best Vegan Recipes + Buffalo Jackfruit Quesadillas

Servings: 6 large servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Author: Nora Taylor
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Buffalo Jackfruit Quesadillas are completely dairy free, cheesy, spicy and SO delicious! Easy recipe.
5 from 4 votes
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups raw cashews, soaked
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice (1-2 lemons squeezed)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 3/4 cup Frank's Buffalo Sauce, less if desired
  • 14 ounce can jackfruit, drained and rinsed
  • optional: 15-ounce can white beans or chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 6 large flour tortillas
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Soak the cashews: Heat up about 3 cups of water in a tea kettle or small pot. Pour the boiling hot water over the cashews and let them soak for 5 minutes. Drain them when ready to blend.
  • In a high powered blender such as a Vitamix, add the soaked, drained cashews, 1 cup of fresh water, lemon juice, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and buffalo sauce. Blend until very smooth, scraping the sides of the blender if needed.
  • Now add the drained jackfruit to the blender. Pulse a couple of times, but do not blend. You want to leave quite a bit of chunky texture! Fold in the beans if using.
  • Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add about 1- 1 1/2 cups of the mixture to a large tortilla, spread it out, then put the other tortilla on top. Spray some oil in the pan, and fry for a few minutes on each side until golden brown. You can also spread a bit vegan butter on each side of the tortilla, then fry. Enjoy immediately.

Notes

  1. Leftovers will keep for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Reheat in a toaster oven, air fryer or regular oven to make them crispy again.
  2. If you are sensitive to heat, add less buffalo sauce, perhaps only starting with 1/4 cup and adding more if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 6 serving, Calories: 395kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Sodium: 1200mg, Potassium: 412mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 79mg, Iron: 4mg

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