Make Veganuary simple with these 45 plant-based dishes.
This handy line-up of Veganuary recipes includes breakfasts, sandwiches, salads, soups, snacks, and desserts.

Veganuary is a time when people resolve to eat vegan for the month of January. Hence, Vegan-uary.
Since Veganuary started in the UK back in 2014, it has only increased in popularity.
If you’ve decided that this is the year you want to give plant-based eating a whirl, here are some user-friendly and satisfying recipes that are sure to please.
This mouthwatering line-up includes breakfasts, soups, sandwiches, snacks, and more.
All of the recipes take 30 minutes or less. And most don’t require any special kitchen gadgets.
With 45 delicious Veganuary recipes, you’re sure to find dishes that will satisfy every craving.
(Want even more help getting started with a vegan lifestyle? Check out my book, Living Vegan For Dummies!)
In this post:
Breakfasts
Breakfast sandwiches, roasted potatoes, and cozy chickpea scrambles are easy vegan meals for beginners.
They’re also a great reason to look forward to getting up.
Chickpea scramble
A chickpea scramble offers a hearty start to the day. It’s protein dense, inexpensive, and quick to prepare.
Serve with toast or hashbrowns.
Tofu scramble
Tofu scramble is packed with peppers, onions, garlic, and kale.
Finish this savory breakfast with avocado, toast, and a splash of hot sauce.
Breakfast potatoes
Oven roasted breakfast potatoes with onions and peppers are cozy enough for weekends but hands-off enough for Mondays.
They’re a cinch to make in the oven or air fryer.
Eggy tofu
Grits
Vegan grits are so cozy & warming.
Enjoy them on their own with a dollop of vegan butter. Or use them as the base of a bowl with BBQ jackfruit & collard greens.
Toasted breakfast sandwich
You’ve got to love the ease & portability of a toasted breakfast sandwich.
Filled with eggy tofu, seitan bacon, and non-dairy cheese, it’s the perfect meal for on-the-go.
Peanut butter banana oatmeal
Peanut butter banana oatmeal is a great cold weather breakfast. It warms you up from the inside out.
Plus, the flavors of banana & peanut butter were made for each other.
Breakfast quesadilla
This breakfast quesadilla has the flavors of a Denver omelet. But it’s totally plant-based!
Finish with a dollop of salsa & guacamole.
Vegan egg mcmuffin
This vegan egg mcmuffin is sure to satisfy any fast food cravings.
It’s made with eggy tofu, seitan ham, and vegan cheese on a toasted English muffin.
Peanut butter banana quesadilla
Peanut butter and banana quesadillas are a cinch to make, and a terrific breakfast-on-the-go.
With melty peanut butter and gooey banana, they’re a hit with adults and kids alike!
Smoothies
Get in those fruits & veggies by way of deliciously drinkable smoothies.
Smoothies make nice light breakfasts, snacks, or post workout refreshments.
Cherry smoothie
This cherry smoothie is positively packed with cherry flavor.
Add a leaf of kale or collards for an extra boost of nutrients.
Blueberry smoothie
This blueberry banana smoothie is made with just five ingredients: blueberries, bananas, spinach, chia seeds, and cashew milk.
It’s so refreshing & delicious!
Peanut butter banana smoothie
This peanut butter banana smoothie is gloriously creamy, salty, nutty, and sweet.
It could be breakfast. Or it could almost be dessert!
Salads
These nourishing salads are substantive enough to be a full meal on their own.
Black bean taco salad
A taco salad is so delicious, you can eat the dishes!
The baked tortilla bowl is filled with spicy black beans, guacamole, and salad greens.
If you like, toss the salad greens in tangy onion & garlic salad dressing.
Cold peanut noodle salad
Cold peanut noodle salad is popping with the flavors of peanut butter, tamari, and brown rice vinegar.
With plenty of crisp, cool vegetables & a handful of nuts, you get a complete meal in one bowl.
Israeli couscous salad
Israeli couscous salad is loaded with flavor from artichokes, olives, basil, and garlic.
It works as a side dish with baked tofu or roasted chickpeas.
But it can also stand alone as a hot or cold lunch.
Vegan chef salad
You’ll feel like you’re in an old school diner with this vegan chef salad.
There are rows of seitan chicken, tomato, cucumber, vegan cheddar, and avocado.
Finish it off with a generous drizzling of vegan ranch dressing.
Pasta salad
Vegan pasta salad can be a mouthwatering side dish or convenient packed lunch.
It’s made with noodles and veggies in a creamy vegan mayo sauce.
Soups
I like to say that soup is winter’s salad.
You can squeeze in a lot of veggies, beans, and grains into one bowl.
Curry red lentil soup
Even when your pantry is bare, you probably have all the ingredients you need for this flavorful curry red lentil soup.
Ready in 25 to 30 minutes!
3 bean chili
Three bean chili with pinto, black, and Great Northern beans is the perfect warm-you-up dinner.
Itβs a one pot meal thatβs ready in less than half an hour. It’s also yummy on a chili dog.
Vegan chicken noodle soup
You’ll feel like you’re enveloped in a hug with this vegan chicken noodle soup.
This nourishing and comforting dish is packed with celery, carrots, onions, vegan chicken, and eggless noodles.
Tortilla soup
Vegan tortilla soup is filled with black beans, seitan, and corn in a flavorful broth.
Finish with crunchy tortilla strips and a squeeze of lime.
Sandwiches & wraps
When you want something fast & quick, look no further than these easy sandwiches & wraps.
These tasty Veganuary ideas will keep you full all month long!
Vegan tuna salad
Swap out tuna for chickpeas in this mouthwatering vegan chickpea tuna salad sandwich.
You won’t believe how much better it is than its non-vegan counterpart. Plus, it takes only minutes to make!
Bagel sandwich
This easy bagel sandwich is ready in no time.
Just toast a bagel. Then top it with a slathering of homemade hummus and fresh, crunchy sliced vegetables.
So simple but so good!
Pizza bagels
This pizza bagel recipe is so simple, you could get the kids involved with it.
Everyone can add their own toppings to these personal pizzas.
Lunch is ready to go in 10 minutes using the air fryer or oven!
BBQ jackfruit sandwiches
BBQ jackfruit sandwiches have wonderful bite, plus sweet and savory flavor.
It’s a fun & easy way to use a canned jackfruit.
(By the way, barbecue jackfruit is also amazing on vegan pulled pork nachos!)
Veggie wrap
This handy veggie wrap is one of my favorite easy vegan lunches.
It’s filled with vegan chick’n strips and veggies. Then it’s finished with a drizzling of lemon tahini dressing.
Tacos & burritos
Tacos and burritos are always crowd-pleasers.
Plus, these Veganuary meals are full of filling possibilities.
Black bean tacos
Black bean tacos are one of my go-to weeknight dinners.
By using canned black beans, they come together lightning fast.
Refried bean tostada
Craving a dish with crunch? Make vegan tostadas!
Crunchy corn tortillas are topped with refried beans, avocado, and salsa.
They can be made in the air fryer, oven, or pan fried.
Lentil taco meat
Vegan lentil taco meat has a wonderful bite & flavor. Add it to tacos or burritos for a protein-packed filling.
Plus, when you use cooked lentils as the base, it comes together in no time flat.
Chickpea tacos
Chickpea tacos are loaded with delicious spices & flavor. Plus, garbanzo beans have fabulous bite.
Finish with your choice of toppings.
Burritos with beans & tots
Hello, comfort food!
Vegan burritos with beans, chorizo, and tater tots are wonderfully decadent.
It’s a meal the whole family is sure to love!
Vegan chicken tacos
Dinner is ready in less than 30 minutes with these meatless chicken-style tacos.
Using store-bought vegan chicken makes them very convenient to prepare. Then they’re finished with lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, and dairy-free cheese.
Perfect for a weeknight taco dinner!
Bowls
Dig in to one of these colorful, veggie-packed bowls!
Falafel bowl
This flavor-packed falafel bowl includes:
- Homemade falafel
- Hummus
- Salad
- Brown rice
- Tahini dressing
There are so many flavors & textures in one bowl!
Pesto rice bowl
Pesto rice is the perfect weeknight meal.
It uses just 10 ingredients & takes about 8 minutes to make.
Eat it on its own, as a side dish, or as a base for delicious pesto rice bowls with your favorite toppings!
Burrito bowl
This burrito bowl is packed with flavor.
With lentils, black beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo, thereβs a tantalizing mix of tastes β bite after bite.
Snacks
When you just want something simple and satiating to tide you over until dinnertime, turn to one of these tasty snacks.
Vegan pickle roll-ups
These easy pickle roll-ups are made with just 3 ingredients – vegan ham, non-dairy cream cheese, and crunchy dill pickle.
Not just for snacking, they’re also a fun party appetizer.
Tortilla pinwheels
Tortilla pinwheels are a simple finger food with buffalo hummus & fresh veggies. They have plenty of flavor & crunch.
They’re also terrific for lunchboxes and parties!
Roasted chickpeas
Want a tasty, protein-packed alternative to popcorn? Make a batch of roasted chickpeas in the oven or air fryer.
They’re delicious by the handful. They also make a terrific addition to kale salads and pesto pasta.
Vegan pigs in a blanket
These tasty crescent dogs are easy to make, a child could do it!
Pillowy pop crescent rolls surround meatless hot dogs. Cook them in the air fryer or bake in the oven.
Serve them with vegan honey mustard or barbecue sauce for dipping.
Easy desserts
Craving something sweet? Indulge in one of these easy vegan desserts.
Vegan rice crispy treats
You’ll feel like a kid again with sweet & gooey vegan rice crispy treats.
They’re made with just 3 ingredients. And you can use the microwave for a minimum of work & clean-up.
Pear crisp
Vegan pear crisp is topped with oats and pistachios for a warming and cozy dessert.
For maximum deliciousness, pair it with non-dairy vanilla ice cream.
Banana bread cookies
Can’t stand to wait for banana bread to bake? Make banana bread cookies instead. They cook in a fraction of the time.
They’re so pillowy, light, and sweet.
Nice cream
Chocolate banana nice cream is wonderfully creamy & smooth.
Who would guess it’s made with a base of frozen bananas?
Chocolate covered oranges
Dessert doesn’t get easier than chocolate covered orange slices.
Chocolate is melted in the microwave. Then orange slices are dipped into it, and refrigerated until the chocolate hardens.
Content updated December 12, 2024. Originally posted January 10, 2017.
Danielle
These look delish! I have a question. I’m having a baby soon so we are trying to prepare freezer meals ahead for when we get home from the hospital. Which of these recipes would freeze and reheat well?(and do you have any tips for doing that? ) Thanks!!
Cadry
Congratulations on having a baby on the way, Danielle! Very exciting! That’s a great question about which of these meals are freezer friendly.
Chili freezes very well. In addition to eating it on its own, you can also put it on tater tots & pizza, as I featured above. When I freeze chili, I like to put it into glass Pyrex containers. But if you’re afraid you’ll run out of freezer space, you could put room temperature chili into freezer bags and freeze them flat. That will be easier for stacking. I usually freeze the chili in portions of 2 or 3, but you could do it in whatever amounts you think you’ll be able to enjoy.
On the same idea, the following soups freeze very well:
Curried lentil soup
Split pea soup
When I freeze refried beans, I usually freeze the beans on their own in a Pyrex. However, you could also freeze the burritos individually and put them in freezer bags. The breakfast burritos would also freeze well, I think, without the guacamole.
The beans that are on the boozy black bean & rice bowls, chickpea tacos, black bean burritos, and taco pizza also freeze fine in Pyrex. Then you can thaw & reuse.
I love freezing rice in batches as well. I usually freeze in varying sizes of glass Pyrex containers. To reheat, pop it in the microwave, or thaw a bit and throw the rice into a pan or skillet for fried rice. You can also find frozen rice at Trader Joe’s if you run out! π
Danielle
Thank you for so much great advice! It will come in handy. We are excited about it all!
Hannah Teson
Such a great list! I’m a big fan of your Garlic butter noodles with red wine mushrooms π
Cadry
Thank you, Hannah! I’m so glad to hear that! π
Shell
This was a really fun round-up! I completely forgot about the plantain and black bean burritos. I have a plantain on my counter and I feel happy every time I look at it.
Cadry
Thanks, Shell! It’s been way too long since I’ve made plantains. Maybe it will be the next project for my air fryer! π
Johanna @ Green Gourmet Giraffe
such great recipes and really helpful that your breakfast meals are mostly savoury – it is challenging to have regular savoury breakfasts for me but I don’t feel so ready for the day if I just have sweet
Cadry
Thanks, Johanna! I feel the same way about sweet breakfasts. Things like pancakes are fun every once in a while, but I finish breakfast feeling like I didn’t really have anything substantive. I’m a savory breakfast person through and through.
barbara
yum..thank you can’t wait to try these recipes..
Cadry
You’re welcome, Barbara! I hope you enjoy them. π