30 vegan dinner recipes for easy weeknight dinners

Author: Rachel Smith

Find a whopping thirty vegan weeknight dinner recipes for tasty vegan dinners, from pasta and noodle dishes to pizza, pies and burgers.


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Bored of making the same vegan dinners every week? Get inspired with these delicious vegan dinner recipes that will boost your creativity in the kitchen for a whole month.

They say that variety is the spice of life, but with the average Brit eating the same six meals on rotation1 it’s time to get out of the rut and try something new.

To help you get more creative in the kitchen, we’ve rounded up our favourite vegan dinner recipes to provide you with a month’s worth of inspiration.

Whether you’re feeding a vegan family or trying to please a family of vegans and meat-eaters, these vegan dinner recipes will be a hit with the whole family.

From pasta and noodle dishes to vegan pizzas, vegan pies, and vegan burgers, these vegan dinners might be meat-free but they’re certainly not lacking in flavour.

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1. Vegan Cannelloni with Spinach & Almond Ricotta

This vegan take on the classic Italian dish swaps cheese for almond ricotta made from nutritional yeast to give it a cheesy flavour.

This vegan cannelloni recipe is a great dinner to make on a slow Sunday afternoon and will fill the house with the delicious scent of tomato and basil.

Vegan Cannelloni with Spinach & Almond Ricotta

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2. Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese

When you’re in need of comfort food, mac ‘n’ cheese never fails to hit the spot. The vegan pasta dish is every bit as cheesy and comforting as the dairy version, with a tempting crunchy topping with chives to give it extra flavour.

Vegan Mac & Cheese is one of those vegan dinner recipes everyone loves

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3. Vegan Katsu Curry with Crispy Aubergine

These aromatic flavours of this vegan katsu guarantee this will become one of your go-to vegan dinner recipes. Panko-fried aubergine is smothered in a spicy curry sauce and served on a bed of fluffy rice for a mouth-watering meat-free meal.

Vegan Katsu Curry with Crispy Aubergine is one of the tastiest vegan dinner recipes

4. Vegan Lasagne

Lasagne never fails to please with its lovely layers of pasta, tomato sauce and béchamel sauce. This vegan version has all the elements of the classic dish, minus the meat and dairy, and is comfort food and its very finest.

Vegan lasagne

5. Vegan Green Bean & Roasted Potato Curry

Roast potatoes aren’t just a delicious side to a vegan roast, they’re also a great element to add to curries too. The addition of green beans adds a fresh, crunchy element to this vegan curry that’s just the right amount of heat without being too spicy.

Vegan Green Bean & Roasted Potato Curry

6. Vegan Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Samphire & Lemon

The fresh flavours of this sweet potato gnocchi come courtesy of the samphire and lemon which make it wonderfully salty and zesty. It’s an absolute treat for the tastebuds!

Vegan Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Samphire & Lemon

7. Vegan Mushroom & Ale Stew

We’ve swapped meat for mushrooms in this wonderfully hearty mushroom and ale stew recipe to ensure it has the same meaty texture. As mushrooms are a great source of vitamin D, this stew is a brilliant recipe to make in the colder months.

Vegan Mushroom & Ale Stew

8. Vegan Stir Fry with Roasted Sweet Potato and Orange & Ginger Sauce

Orange and ginger add a delightfully fragrant, citrusy tang to this vegan stir fry which roasted sweet potatoes ensure its packed with complex carbohydrates to leave you feeling full and satisfied.

Vegan Stir Fry with Roasted Sweet Potato and Orange & Ginger Sauce

9. Vegan Bao Buns with Tempeh, Peanuts and Zingy Red Cabbage Slaw

Soft pillowy buns are stuffed with crunchy red cabbage slaw, peanuts and tempeh to make a moreish meal that loaded with texture and flavour. Don’t be fooled by their impressive apperence – they’re surprisingly simple to make but oh-so difficult to resist.

Vegan Bao Buns with Tempeh, Peanuts and Zingy Red Cabbage Slaw

10. Vegan Crispy Chilli Beef

If you’re looking for a realistic mock meat that will fool even the most ardent of meat-eaters, seitan is a great alternative. This vegan version of the classic takeaway favourite has the same crunch, spice and meaty texture of crispy chilli beef and is delicious served with tofu ‘egg’ fried rice.

Vegan Crispy Chilli Beef

11. Vegan Indonesian Tempeh Curry

This vibrantly curry is infused with coconut and citrus flavours so it tastes like sunshine in a bowl. Stir-fried veggies add a crunchy element while fried tempeh gives it a meaty texture to create a beautifully balanced, fragrant curry that everyone can enjoy.

Vegan Indonesian Tempeh Curry

12. Vegan Sweet Potato, Aubergine & Chickpea Tagine

This aromatic and warming vegan sweet potato, aubergine and chickpea tagine is a cheap vegan meal that doesn’t scrimp on flavour. It’s a nutritious and hearty family meal that tastes even better the next day so is great if you’re making it to enjoy ahead of time.

Vegan Sweet Potato, Aubergine & Chickpea Tagine

13. Vegan Rainbow Paella

Paella is a dish that always makes us think of summer holidays and sangria with its fresh flavours and eye-catching appearance. Instead of using meat, this vegan paella is packed full of delicious colourful vegetables to make a nutritious and delicious vegan dinner.

Vegan Rainbow Paella

14. Vegan Mushroom & Ale Hotpot with Baby Hasselback Potatoes

Hotpots are winter comfort food at its very finest, and this one is particularly tasty as it features crispy hasselback potatoes on a bed of mushroom and ale stew. Serve it with a side of freshly steamed greens for a healthy and balanced vegan meal.

Vegan Mushroom & Ale Hotpot with Baby Hasselback Potatoes

15. Sweet Potato and Spring Onion Cakes with Dill Dressing

These flavoursome sweet potato and spring onion cakes are a great vegan alternative to fishcakes served with a tangy dill dressing. They’re both tasty and versatile as you can serve them as a starter, side dish, or even as a burger.

Sweet Potato and Spring Onion Cakes with Dill Dressing

16. Vegan Jamaican Jerk Bowl

If you like your food with a good kick of spice then you’ll love this Jamaican-inspired jerk bowl recipe. The vibrant colours of this dish add a welcome pop of colour to the dinner table while the spicy flavours will warm you from the inside out.

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17. Quick Vegan Pulled Jackfruit Burger with Barbecue Sauce

One of our favourite vegan dinner recipes for a Friday night is these super simple pulled jackfruit burgers. Pulled jackfruit has a similar texture to pulled pork so is absolutely delicious smothered in sweet, sticky BBQ sauce and served with fresh, crunchy vegan slaw.

Quick Vegan Pulled Jackfruit Burger with Barbecue Sauce is one of the best crowd-pleasing vegan dinner recipes

18. Vegan Pulled BBQ King Oyster Mushroom Tacos

King oyster mushrooms make a marvellous meat alternative to be used as a filling for vegan tacos. They’re cooked in smoky and sticky BBQ sauce to replicate the taste of pulled pork while pickled cabbage balances the sweetness of the BBQ with a sharper edge.

Vegan Pulled BBQ King Oyster Mushroom Tacos are one of the most crowd pleasing vegan dinner recipes

19. Vegan Jackfruit Tuna Mayo

Tuna mayo is a classic jacket potato topping that can easily be made vegan using the power of jackfruit which replicates the flakey texture of fish beautifully. Nori, gherkins and capers give the jackfruit a salty, fishy flavour and it’s so simple to make so is ideal for an easy vegan dinner.

Vegan Jackfruit Tuna Mayo is one of the simplest vegan dinner recipes you can make

20. Banana Blossom ‘Fish’ and Chips with Tartare Sauce and Crushed Peas

Fish and chips is a Friday night staple for many people, but with scientists predicting oceans may be fish-free as early as 20482 it’s time to try some vegan fish recipes!

This vegan fish and chips recipes replaces fish with banana blossom which mimics the flakey texture of fish to perfection. Serve it with tartar sauce and crushed peas for an authentic chip shop experience in the comfort of your own home.

Banana Blossom ‘Fish’ and Chips with Tartare Sauce and Crushed Peas

21. Mushroom, Leek and Smoked Tofu Pot Pie with Chive Mash

Pie and mash is a classic British dish that is both comforting and delicious. This pot pie is particularly easy to make because it uses pre-made puff pastry, which is accidentally vegan, so there’s no need to make your own.

The mix of meaty mushrooms, smoked tofu and leeks with fluffy chive mash makes this one super tasty vegan dinner!

Mushroom, Leek and Smoked Tofu Pot Pie with Chive Mash

22. Vegan Seitan Gyros

Gyros are a Greek dish that have a wonderful bite and a medley of fresh flavours to tantalise your tastebuds. Ideal for a ‘cheat meal’, fluffy flatbreads are filled with homemade seitan slices, fries, and vegan tzatziki.

The seitan slices take some time to prepare, but they also make great vegan sandwich fillings to enjoy the next day.

Vegan Seitan Gyros

23. Vegan Fish Pie

You don’t need fish to make an epic vegan fish pie! Instead, we like to use a mix of jackfruit and lentils to make a pie that’s loaded with vegan protein and fibre. Nori, parsley, lemon juice and leeks ensure it has a pleasingly fishy flavour and it’s topped off with a generous lash of creamy mash.

Vegan fish pie is one of those vegan dinner recipes that's great winter comfort food

24. Smoky Tempeh Burgers with Black Beans and Mushrooms

These tempeh burger is a delight to sink your teeth into! It’s packed with plant-based protein from the tempeh and black beans and holds its shape well when cooked. If you’re tried of processed vegan burgers in supermarkets, these healthier homemade patties are well worth trying.

Smoky Tempeh Burger with Black Beans and Mushrooms

25. Vegan Parsnip & Cauliflower Cheese Bake

Cauliflower cheese is taken to the next level with the addition of parsnip which gives this dish a sweet, earthy flavour. It makes a great side dish for your Sunday lunch, but it’s also a great vegan dinner recipe served with peas and a fresh salad.

Vegan Parsnip & Cauliflower Cheese Bake

26. Vegan Sweet & Sour Tofu Balls with Vegetable Fried Rice

Recreate your favourite Chinese takeaway dish with these totally tasty sweet and sour tofu ball recipe. It’s sweet, sticky, tangy and delicious and loaded with juicy pineapple chunks and crunchy cashews for texture.

Vegan Sweet & Sour Tofu Balls with Vegetable Fried Rice

27. Vegan Udon Noodles with Shiitake & Pak Choi

Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most flavoursome mushrooms around and make this noodle dish one mouth-watering recipe! This recipe has the five basics tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami, giving a great balance of flavours to this vegan dinner.

Vegan Udon Noodles with Shiitake & Pak Choi is one of the quickest, easiest vegan dinner recipes

28. Vegan Steak Diane

Many people say they miss steak and chips when they go vegan, but this clever vegan steak recipe recreates the textures and flavours of meat using the power of seitan. Serve it with classic trimmings such as grilled tomatoes and potato wedges and enjoy this retro recipe vegan-style!

Vegan Steak Diane

29. Vegan Moussaka

With its layers of tomato, mushroom and lentil ragu and slices of aubergine and potato topped with a creamy bechamel, this really is the ultimate vegan moussaka recipe.

It’s baked until golden and bubbling and will fill your kitchen with its delicious scent while it cooks.

Vegan Moussaka

30. Mushroom Bourguignon

This mushroom bourguignon is one of our reader’s favourite vegan dinner recipes thanks to its rich and enticing flavours. It’s a vegan take on the classic beef Bourguignon dish and utilises mushrooms to pack it with vitamin D so it’s the perfect winter dinner.

Serve it on a bed of creamy mash with a glass of red for a wholesome dinner that is ready to eat in 50 minutes.

Mushroom Bourguignon is one of our reader's favourite vegan dinner recipes

Written by

Rachel Smith

Having launched the brand's digital presence in 2015, Rachel shares her love for animals and the planet through her work as Vegan Food & Living’s Digital Editor. As a passionate vegan for over ten years, Rachel loves creating delicious vegan dessert recipes for her award-winning blog, Rawberry Fields. Rachel's recipes and photography have been featured in numerous international print and digital publications including the Daily Mail, Huffington Post, Thrive, and Buzzfeed. You can follow Rachel at @rawberryfields

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