30 Simple Vegan Recipes to Help You Go Vegan

Published April 2, 2020 by Rebecca Maness. Last Updated January 5, 2024.

Whether you’ve just gone vegan or you’ve been avoiding meat and dairy for years, it’s always good to have a few go-to recipes that you can throw together in a pinch. These simple vegan recipes use some of the staples that you probably already have in your pantry or fridge. Many of them include very few ingredients, are easy to prepare, and can even be customized to your liking depending on what you have on hand. Best of all, these recipes are all made without any ingredients that harm animals—that means no meat, eggs, dairy, or honey!

Check out these simple vegan recipes that will help kick-start your creative culinary juices:

Vegan Pasta

5 Ingredient Hummus Pasta

If you bought a giant container of hummus, this pasta dish is for you. The chickpea-based spread creates a smooth, high-protein pasta sauce.

5 Ingredient Vegan Vodka Pasta

Canned coconut milk mixed with reserved pasta water makes this vodka sauce luxuriously creamy without dairy. In the dairy industry, calves are torn away from their mothers shortly after birth. Mother cows have strong bonds with their children—so keep them together by choosing creamy coconut milk instead.

One Pan Aglio e Olio (Garlic & Oil) Spaghetti

This delicious, super-simple pasta dish packs a garlicky punch. While most packaged pasta is vegan, some brands may be made with eggs. Gentle hens are known to sing to their young before they hatch, but in the egg industry, chickens never get to meet their babies—so make sure that pasta is vegan before you buy it.

Vegan Baking Staples

Easy Crusty Vegan Bread

Now is the best time to try your hand at homemade bread. Start your baking journey with this simple no-knead recipe.

Three-Ingredient Vegan Cookie Recipes

Thankfully, cookies don’t have to be complicated. Here are some of our favorite three-ingredient recipes.

Vegan Biscuits and Gravy

Flaky vegan biscuits smothered in rich vegan sausage gravy has to be the ultimate comfort food. We love crumbled Beyond Sausage with these, and you can use unsweetened oat milk to make the creamy gravy.

Homemade Flour Tortillas

There’s nothing like fresh flour tortillas. We suggest filling these with homemade refried beans, vegan chicken, and grilled vegetables.

Wacky Chocolate Cake

Wacky cake, which originated during the Great Depression, was popularized during World War II, when cow’s milk, butter, and chicken eggs were rationed and in short supply.

Rice, Oats, and Quinoa

Healthy 5-Ingredient Granola Bars

These tasty bars are free of honey, which helps save bees, who work hard to make this essential food source for their own consumption.

Vegan Fried Rice

You can use frozen or canned veggies for this easy fried rice recipe. Serve it with a vegan protein, like tofu, tempeh, or a plant-based meat such as Beyond Sausage.

5-Ingredient Mexican Quinoa

This recipe uses only five ingredients, and it only takes 15 minutes to prepare.

Beans and Lentils

3 Ingredient Vegan Chili

Crumbled Beyond Meat is delicious in this easy chili recipe. Serve it with tortilla chips, and top it with any garnishes you have on hand: green onions, cilantro, avocado, vegan cheese shreds, or vegan sour cream.

Easy Refried Beans

Taco Tuesday will never be the same once you try these homemade refried beans.

3-Ingredient Lentil Soup

The hearty brown lentil, a plant-protein powerhouse, adds a peppery flavor to this simple soup.

Chickpea Nuggets

If you have kids, this recipe is a perfect one for a cooking lesson. Have them shape the nuggets and dunk them in breadcrumbs.

Potatoes (Including Sweet Potatoes)

3 Ingredient Vegan Gnocchi

It’s easier than you might think to make gourmet vegan gnocchi at home. Serve yours with a tomato or pesto sauce and pour a glass of your favorite vegan wine for a romantic evening in.

Sweet Potato Breakfast Boats

Top vitamin-packed sweet potatoes with black beans, corn, salsa, and avocado for this healthy, savory breakfast.

Creamy Potato Salad with Chickpeas

Fresh dill gives this creamy vegan potato salad a bright, herby kick. If you bought vegan bacon at the store, toss that in, too. Vegan bacon is healthier than regular bacon, and it saves smart, curious pigs from slaughter.

Super Simple Green Bean & Potato Curry

You can use frozen or canned green beans in this curry, which is delicious with fresh basmati rice and homemade vegan naan.

Canned and Frozen Vegetables

Vegan Pea Soup

Garnish this silky pea soup with fresh mint and croutons made from stale bread.

Vegan Bloody Mary & Virgin Mary

Host a Sunday brunch at home and stir up these Bloody Marys with canned tomato juice and spices.

Stale Bread

Easy Vegan Bread Pudding

Mix in whatever toppings you want in order to personalize this vegan bread pudding.

Fruit

Three-Ingredient Vegan Ice Cream

Frozen bananas are the key to this creamy three-ingredient ice cream.

Sliced Pears with Creamy Vegan Bleu Cheese

This simple appetizer is a crowd-pleaser. Use any vegan bleu or soft cheese you can find in your grocery store for an easy option.

Oat Milk

Dark Chocolate Chia Pudding

Whip up a decadent dessert with chocolate oat milk, chia seeds, and vegan dark chocolate chips.

We’ve got you covered, with plenty of vegan recipes for whatever you’re craving, like these easy three-ingredient recipes or these recipes that use aquafaba (the juice from canned garbanzo beans).

Going vegan is the best choice that you can make for animals, the environment, and your own health.

I Want to Go Vegan!