The Best Easy Vegan Meals You Have to Try

Vegan meals follow one simple rule: no animal products or by-products. Not only is meat off-limits (including eggs), but so are the common byproducts that come from animals, like dairy-based cheese, yogurt, butter, milk, and even honey.

Vegan meal recipes will rely heavily on these types of ingredients:

• • Fruits and vegetables
  • Peas, beans, and lentils
  • Seeds and nuts
  • Whole grain pasta, rice, and bread
  • Sunflower oil, coconut oil, avocado oil
  • Soymilk, almond milk, coconut milk
  • Nut-based cheese

Vegan meals are totally plant-based – which is great news if you’re looking to make a healthier choice or switch fully to a plant-based diet! Even better, planning and preparing a vegan meal doesn’t need to be overly complicated or difficult.

If you’re ready to discover some easy vegan meals, you’ve come to the right place. In the sections below, we’ll give you some of our favorite vegan meals. And when you add our plant-based meats, these easy vegan meals aren’t just good – they’re Very Good.

We love the Ultimate Vegan Breakfast Sandwich from Trial and Eater for two reasons: not only is it jam-packed with savory plant-based ingredients, but it’s also an easy vegan meal that is wholly customizable.

We recommend using sliced mushrooms, fresh spinach, and avocado, but this is a recipe that can be easily adjusted for your personal tastes. And of course, while the recipe below uses English muffins, you can easily swap those out for toast or your favorite bagel instead. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• • 2 tablespoons oil (coconut, olive, or avocado oil)
  • ½ chopped white onion
  • 2 minced garlic cloves
  • 8 sliced mushrooms of choice
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 1 avocado
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 English muffins

Put your oil in a skillet and use medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add your chopped white onion and saute for 3 to 4 minutes (the onion should be translucent and tender to the touch). Add your minced garlic and stir into the onion for 60 seconds.

Now you can add the sliced mushrooms, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Continue sauteing for 5 to 10 minutes until the mushrooms are caramelized; if you’re using white mushrooms, they should turn golden brown.

Once the mushrooms are done, add your fresh spinach to the skillet and stir the spinach for between 1 to 2 minutes. (Don’t forget to stir gently, as your skillet will be fairly full at this point!) When the leaves are soft and cooked down, you can remove the skillet from heat.

Split your avocado in half and slice. Add avocado slices to your English muffin, toast, or bagel. If you like your avocado with a little citrus, don’t be shy about putting a few drops of lime or lemon juice on as well!

Transfer your veggies from the skillet and layer neatly on top of the avocado. Add tahini sauce or ketchup for an additional kick, or layer on your favorite Very Good Vegan Cheese for a melty, creamy layer of cheesy goodness. You can also add our Very Good Breakfast Sausages to make this breakfast sandwich even more versatile – but make sure you sign up for our newsletter to get early access when they’re ready to order!

Jackfruit is a powerhouse ingredient for any vegan meal. Not only does it have a rich, meat-like texture, but it also comes with tons of flavor and easily integrates into a variety of dishes. This recipe from Fueled Naturally takes pizza to a whole new level, creating the perfect use for our Very Good BBQ Pulled Jackfruit. It’s simple, quick, and uses family-friendly ingredients to create a lunchtime snack for everyone to enjoy! Here’s what you’ll need:

• • 1 package of Very Good BBQ Pulled Jackfruit
  • 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough
  • Flour
  • ½ cup barbeque sauce (for the jackfruit)
  • ¼ cup barbeque sauce (for the pizza dough)
  • ¾ cup shredded vegan cheese
  • ¼ cup finely sliced red onion
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro
  • Vegan ranch

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Open your package of Very Good BBQ Pulled Jackfruit and spread out on a large pan over medium heat. Add ½ cup of your favorite barbeque sauce and stir gently. Saute the jackfruit in barbeque sauce for 5 to 10 minutes.

Cut a piece of parchment and sprinkle with flour. Gently spread the refrigerated pizza dough onto the parchment paper and place on top of a pizza stone or baking sheet. You can use your fingers to press and stretch your dough into a circle, or you can use a rolling pin.

Once the pizza dough is evened out, take ¼ cup of barbeque sauce and spread on top of the dough for your sauce. Add jackfruit, vegan cheese, and finish with finely sliced red onions. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the crust is golden brown.

Take the pizza out of the oven and garnish with fresh cilantro. Drizzle with vegan ranch for an extra burst of flavor, and enjoy!

The weeknights can get hectic, especially if you’re juggling after school activities, homework, errands, rush hour traffic, and late-night work. At The Very Good Butchers, we love convenience just as much as we love beans (and with a bajillion butchered beans, that’s a lot of love). That’s why each of these easy vegan meals take 30 minutes or less to make!

See below for our favorite quick and easy vegan meals for those weeknights where time is of the essence – without having to sacrifice taste or health benefits.

Pasta is the ultimate comfort food and crowd-pleaser, especially if you have younger mouths to feed. This Vegan Chickpea Florentine Pasta is equal parts creamy and savory, and can be made all in one pot for the ultimate cooking convenience. Spinach, garlic, chickpea pasta, onion, lemon, and cheese all come together for a delicious and filling meal. Though most opt for parmesan, add our Cheddah Cheese for a bolder taste, or get creative AF with our Goud AF gouda.

Delicious, easy, and filling, Black Bean Tacos are a perfect weekday vegan meal. They are also completely customizable for a variety of palates, making this a uniquely flexible dinner for the whole family to enjoy. Stick with the basics and use seasoned black beans, salsa, lettuce, garlic, and cilantro for a wholly vegan and healthy meal. And for a little variety, add our Very Good Taco Stuff’er for that perfect crumbled texture and taco flavoring!

Mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, and basil are a trio made in heaven – and our Very Good Crazy Caprese Burger is no exception. Our bean burgers are loaded with organic veggies and spices, creating a mouthwatering taste with a hint of classic BBQ. Swap out the mayo and mozzarella for their vegan counterparts, and you have a delicious meal that can be put together in less than 30 minutes. And to round it off, we love pairing this burger with vine ripe tomatoes (don’t forget the S&P).

No need to head to the baseball diamond – you can make a Very Good Taco Chili Dog right at home! This chili dog features two of our favorite products: the Very Good Dogs and Very Good Taco Stuff’er. Add vegan cheese, black beans, taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, peppers and onions, and you’ve got your favorite ballpark meal (and plenty of chili for a midnight snack).