56 Vegan Dinner Recipes • It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken


Ready to make your dinnertime a breeze? I’ve got a treat for your taste buds with these 56 Vegan Dinner Recipes! I cover everything from vegan meats to pasta, to vegan seafood, tacos, pizza, burgers, nachos, soups, stews, and so much more!

Get ready to explore a world of scrumptious plant-based dishes that’ll leave you craving seconds. These Vegan Dinner Recipes are designed for anyone and everyone who loves delicious food (and who doesn’t?). No matter your culinary skill level, I’ve got you covered with quick, easy, and mouthwatering vegan dinner ideas. So, let’s dive into a list of delicious vegan recipes that satisfy even the pickiest eater!

When making vegan dinner recipes, you can’t go wrong with pasta! You are going to love this Saucy Vegan Spaghetti Bake! It’s easy to make and takes just 10 minutes of prep time! Uncooked spaghetti is added to a baking dish along with water, tomato sauce, and seasonings, and then it’s baked. Yes, you read that right: the spaghetti bakes in the oven! (How cool is that?) Topped with a 5 minute homemade vegan alfredo sauce, this easy recipe will become a new weeknight staple! ➡️ Get this recipe and more in my new cookbook Craving Vegan.Vegan Spaghetti Bake

Just 20 minutes to make, and only 7 ingredients, this is by far the quickest and easiest seitan recipe ever!! This vegan chicken alternative is simple to whip up and perfect to add to any meal.  Crispy crunchy on the outside, and tender chewy in the middle. The perfect meaty texture to amp up any vegan meal! If you are new to making seitan this is the perfect recipe for beginners to try.The Quickest & Easiest Seitan Recipe (Vegan Chicken!)

My Pan-Seared Vegan Salmon is a delicious, pan-seared fish-inspired fillet that has the most amazing crispy skin and a tender, flaky inside. The flavour is mild but full-bodied umami with hints of butter, nuts, and the ocean.  It pairs beautifully with a squeeze of lemon juice and melts in your mouth with every bite.Vegan Salmon!

Easy Vegan Jackfruit Tacos are a perfect quick and easy dish. Jackfruit has a shredded meat texture, and in this recipe, it is packed full of spices and can be layered on a taco with your favorite toppings. Perfect for Taco Tuesday!Easy Vegan Jackfruit Tacos

his is my favorite vegan dinner recipe to feed a crowd. This vegan chili recipe is a plant-based twist that tastes better than meat chili!!! You read that right. This vegan chili recipe has won 1st place at a chili cook-off competing against non-vegan recipes! 🏆 Packed with protein and fiber this award-winning vegan chili is not only perfect for game day or entertaining but also easy to make, full of good-for-you ingredients, has so much flavor and freezes beautifully for meal prep. 

The Best Vegan Chili Ever!

I present you Vegan Butter Cauliflower. A fraction of the calories and fat, but tastes even better. Super easy and quick to make, a fun twist on the classic curry dish. This makes for a perfect weeknight meal. Vegan Butter Cauliflower

Buttermilk Fried Oyster Mushrooms taste just like vegan fried chicken!!! Oyster mushrooms are meaty and juicy and have a cool pull-apart texture that makes them ideal as a chicken substitute. They are easy to make and require just 9 ingredients. Trust me when I say, that once you make a bucket of these crunchy coated mushrooms, they will soon be your go-to vegan fried chicken recipe! ➡️ Get this recipe and more in my new cookbook Craving Vegan.Buttermilk Fried Oyster Mushrooms (Vegan Fried Chicken)

The tofu is shredded with a cheese grater and then baked in spices. This technique makes the most amazing tender and chewy bite. It’s super satiating and full of BBQ deliciousness. Add this meaty tofu dish to elevate any vegan dinner recipe.

Vegan BBQ Shredded Tofu

One of my most popular vegan dinner recipes are these tacos! Chewy and perfectly spiced. Layer on a taco (or burrito) with your favourite toppings for the ultimate vegan taco. These can be made ahead and reheated making dinner a breeze. Vegan Tofu Taco Crumbles

This 20-minute pasta recipe is so easy to whip together. A simple creamy sauce coats the noodles with chewy, salty, smoky, bites of sun-dried tomato. Perfect for a busy weeknight meal, made from ingredients you probably already have in the pantry. Fast and Easy Vegan Carbonara

Mouth-watering, tender, chewy, juicy, flavourful, meat-like texture. Amazing! BBQ or pan fry then serve whole or slice and put on top of salad for a steak salad. So delicious and satisfying! Vegan Seitan Steak

This Tofu Bolognese recipe is to die for. Quick, easy, healthy, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, hearty, and lick the bowl scrumptious. Just like traditional bolognese but better! Whenever I am not sure what to make, this is always my go-to vegan dinner recipe as it is hearty, satisfying, and comforting.

Vegan Tofu Bolognese

Marry Me Tofu is so creamy and flavorful, that it might inspire a proposal! This easy delicious recipe takes just 30 minutes to whip up.  Serve this vegan tofu recipe over pasta, rice, quinoa, mashed potatoes or with crusty bread for a meal that will win everyone’s heart. 💞Marry Me Tofu

All the flavours of Korean BBQ made vegan and gluten free! Sweet and mildly spiced, just 15 minutes to make! I love to add some soy sauce to my rice to take the flavor to the next level! Sweet Korean Lentils

This Vegan Four Heads of Garlic Soup is super creamy, garlicky, comforting, easy to make, and downright decadent! Perfect for a chilly night served with some crusty bread, when you need a big, warm hug in a bowl. Plus, it can also be made ahead of time and freezes well so it’s great for meal prepping. ➡️ Get this recipe and more in my new cookbook Craving Vegan.4-Heads of Garlic Soup

Creamy, rich, basil bursting, zesty, garlic, peppery pizza, with pops of sweet grape tomatoes, yus-puhlease. Vegan Creamy Pesto Pizza you make one mighty fine meal.Vegan Creamy Pesto Pizza

My Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings are so easy and delicious! Just cauliflower florets coated in a crispy spiced crust served with hot buffalo sauce and a side of Vegan Blue Cheese Dip.Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower

Vegan Lobster (Garlic Butter Heart of Palm) that is tender and served with a buttery garlic dip. Just 7 ingredients and takes 10 min to make. The depth of flavor is out-of-this-world! Vegan Lobster! (Garlic Butter Heart of Palm)

Just 15 minutes of prep then pop the sheet pan in the oven to roast. Serve the flavor-packed tofu and veggies with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings. The perfect crowd-pleasing easy weeknight dinner, you’ll want to add this to your weekly rotation!Vegan Sheet Pan Fajitas

Just 10 ingredients to make the best homemade burger patty ever. Juicy, chewy, meaty, and holds up on the grill! Make these ahead of time and store in the fridge or freezer until ready to serve. Then toss them on the grill or in a frying pan when ready to serve.The Best Vegan Seitan Burger

Hearty, vegan meaty, vegan cheesy, total comfort food bliss! Easy to make and can be made ahead of time. You won’t even know it’s vegan!!The Best Vegan Chili Mac & Cheese

Hearty vegetables in a rich, earthy, thick stout beer broth. It’s a stick to your ribs kinda stew! 

Vegan Irish Stew

Just 9 ingredients and super-easy to make. Can be made in a skillet or a pan but I have also included air-fryer instructions as well as baked options! Oh, and they can be made oil-free! Flaky, tender, creamy, and next-level good!Easy Vegan Crab Cakes

Delicious, hearty, packed with protein, can be made gluten-free, and are easy to make! The base is made with TVP (textured vegetable protein) which is a pantry-friendly ingredient made from soybeans. These flavorful, meaty, tender meatballs are perfect for spaghetti, subs, or any other dish that calls for traditional meatballs.Easy Vegan Meatballs

Creamy, cheesy, warming Vegan Alfredo Pasta Bake… is there anything better? Pasta noodles are tossed in a super luscious plant-based Alfredo sauce, then spread with homemade vegan mozzarella for the most impressive comfort food that will please any crowd (vegan or not)!Vegan Alfredo Pasta Bake

Crispy crunchy on the outside and juicy, and tender on the inside with an amazing pull-apart texture! The “chicken” in the recipe is made from jackfruit that is marinated overnight so the jackfruit becomes super flavorful. Next, it’s coated in a crispy panko coating and baked, air-fried, or pan-fried (your choice). These might be the best nuggets you’ll ever try!Vegan Chicken Nuggets

Just 20 minutes to make, these soy curl tacos are juicy, tender, chewy, and bursting with flavour! The perfect vegan chicken taco! Gluten-free and oil-free options.Easy Soy Curl Tacos! (Vegan Chicken Tacos)

Spiced black beans and corn, on top of a homemade melty dairy-free cheese, with diced tomato, green onions, and cilantro. This is the perfect easy weeknight meal, and bonus, most of it can be made ahead of time, making it quick to grab and assemble when hunger strikes. Vegan Black Bean & Corn Quesadilla

Easy recipe for Greek styled dinner. Just marinate vegetables, grill, and assemble the sandwiches to taste.Vegan Grilled Veggie Gyros

With layers of a vegan meaty bolognese sauce, lasagna noodles, homemade cashew vegan ricotta (which takes less than 5 minutes to make), all topped with a 5-minute vegan mozzarella sauce you have yourself The Best Ever Vegan Lasagna!!! It’s meaty, cheesy, savory, creamy, and so delicious, no one will be able to tell it’s vegan!The Best Ever Vegan Lasagna

This homemade vegan seitan chicken recipe is easy to make, just 8 ingredients, can be made ahead of time, and once prepared can be used any way that you might have cooked chicken- marinate, bread, fry, crust, bake, grill, BBQ, the options are endless!!!Vegan Seitan Tenders

The “fish” is made from tofu with a special technique that makes it flaky and full of flavour, all fried up in a homemade beer batter.Vegan Fish and Chips

20 minutes and just 4 ingredients to make! Vegan Jerk BBQ Soy Curls are spicy, saucy, tender, to die for delicious. You can enjoy these spicy soy curls anyway you like. Serve them along with some rice and coleslaw, pile them high on a bun, roll them into a wrap, or top a grain bowl. Wherever you add them, you’re gonna be sooooo happy that you did.Vegan Jerk BBQ Soy Curls

This comfort food recipe only takes 25 minutes to make. Perfectly creamy and luscious all while being dairy-free with a gluten-free option. Serve over pasta or rice. Easy Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff

This easy to prepare soup is made with homemade beefy tofu crumbles, a simple tomato soup base, and lasagna noodles cooked right in the soup. Top with melty dairy-free cheese and fresh basil, all in a bowl of pure comfort food bliss! The Best Vegan Lasagna Soup

Easy to make with oil-free option. Perfect for the grill, BBQ, to toss on pasta, pizzas, salads, soups, on a bun, or to use anywhere you like!Vegan Italian Seitan Sausages

10 minutes to cook, this tofu recipe is so easy to make and insanely delicious. In this recipe I share with you the key to making tofu taste like chicken!! (Yes, I’m aware of the irony)! Haha.Easy Sticky Teriyaki Tofu

Vegan and vegetarian recipes know no bounds! This vegan turkey roast is easy to make, and most of it can be made ahead of time, so it’s a great stress-free option. It’s super meaty, tender, juicy, rich yet mild flavor, and with buttery garlic crispy skin!! You and your family will be amazed at how delicious it is!The Best Vegan Turkey Roast

An easy baked tofu recipe that is great on its own or can be used in so many dishes: on salads, in sandwiches, in tacos, on pasta, on nachos, as nuggets, the options are endless, use these everywhere!Baked Tofu Bites (Use These Everywhere)!

Vegan Greek Sheet Pan dinner is a healthy weeknight dinner that is quick and easy to make! Colourful vegetables and tender bites of tofu are tossed in a lemony garlicky Greek-inspired seasoning. Just pop in the oven until caramelized and golden, then top with Kalamata olives and a sprinkle of vegan feta. This Greek-inspired meal is delicious served on rice or pita and great for meal prep!

Vegan Greek Sheet Pan

This recipe tastes like greasy take out, but it’s healthy, vegan, easy to make, 30-minute recipe, and so super delicious! Just like an egg roll but without the wrapper. Skip the fuss of working with wrappers or using a fatty deep fryer, and meal prep this easy weeknight dinner.

Vegan Egg Roll in a Bowl

Layer tortilla chips with Impossible™ Beef, homemade vegan nacho cheese, and all your favorite toppings to make The Best Loaded Vegan Nachos EVER!The Best Loaded Nachos

Made with a homemade vegan mozzarella that only takes 15 minutes to make. Layered with spicy and smoky BBQ chickpeas for the ultimate hearty cheeseless pizza. Vegan BBQ Chickpea Pizza

Chewy flavour-packed easy homemade vegan tofu chorizo, paired with a 5-minute dairy-free garlic cream sauce, all tossed together with hot pasta. Yes, yes, and more yes!!! Easy to make and even easier to eat.Vegan Chorizo Garlic Cream Pasta

My go-to vegan soup recipe is this 20-minute white bean & kale soup because it’s simple, packed full of veggies, made with ingredients you likely already have on hand and will make you feel great! 

My Go-To Vegan Soup Recipe

Just 10 ingredients and easy to make. Inspired by glazed ham this tofu roast is the perfect centrepiece for any dinner or a holiday feast. Perfect with roasted or mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, asparagus, or any other steamed green you prefer! 

Brown Sugar & Mustard Glazed Tofu

Quick and easy recipe for a hearty veggie burger with a perfect bite (not mushy). Even if you don’t like beets, you will love these burgers. Pair them with french fries or a salad for a great vegan dinner recipe idea.

Vegan Beet Burgers

These Vegan Swedish Meatballs are so meaty, that you might just fool a meat eater! Delicious homemade seitan meatballs are covered in a rich and creamy gravy for the ultimate comfort food. These taste better than IKEA’s!

Vegan Swedish Meatballs

This easy vegan pasta takes just 15 minutes to make! Vegetarian ragu recipe is hearty, rich, slightly smoky, and makes for the perfect weeknight meal. 

The Best Ever Lentil Ragu

The Best Vegan Hamburger Helper is easy to make and uses easy-to-find ingredients that you likely already have on hand. Inspired by the cheeseburger flavor, tofu is seasoned and cooked for a beefy-tasting bite, and the pasta is cooked in a cheesy creamy sauce that everyone will love. You won’t believe this is vegan!

The Best Vegan Hamburger Helper

This 2-Ingredient vegan seitan “chicken” is so chewy and juicy. The washed flour seitan pulls apart into shreds that are perfect for adding to any dishes like pastas, stews, sandwiches, salads, stir-fry’s, and more!2 Ingredient Vegan Chicken

This Hearty Vegan Lentil Stew is full of warming stick-to-your-ribs flavors that are perfect for a chilly night. Packed with carrots, celery, potatoes, peas, and lentils this rich stew is full of good-for-you veggies, that are simmered in a hearty gravy sauce made with red wine. YUM. When you want something cheap, filling, and healthy, this is a great vegan dinner recipe to satisfy.

Hearty Vegan Lentil Stew

This savoury pie is made with tofu and mushrooms for the best chewy, juicy, meaty texture. A fantastic centrepiece for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Make ahead. Gluten-free and oil-free options.Vegan Tourtiere (Vegan Meat Pie)

Fresh spinach and basil mixed with easy to whip up dairy-free ricotta, stuffed into cannelloni pasta, and coated in tomato sauce. So delicious no one will even know it’s vegan! Vegan Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni

This recipe is so easy, just 15 minutes to make! Fresh, easy, creamy, and full of zesty lemon and the zing of garlic. Perfect quick pasta for a warm spring night. Creamy Vegan Lemon Asparagus Pasta

If you want to save the ocean, eat vegan fish! These vegan tofu fillets are flakey and delicate, they have a mild taste of the sea, delicious served with a wedge of lemon, and best yet, they are easy to make too. Just 10 ingredients, and can be prepped ahead of time.Vegan Tofu Fillets (Vegan Fish)

 

15 Helpful Vegan Dinner Recipe Side Dish Ideas:

Wondering what to serve alongside these vegan dinner ideas? Check out these fun suggestions:

Easy Vegan Potato Salad:

This easy vegan potato salad is the stuff of side dish dreams! Tender potatoes are coated in a creamy dressing with the perfect blend of herbs and seasonings. What really makes this potato salad sing is the addition of chopped dill pickle, fresh dill, tangy apple cider vinegar, and the crisp bites of celery and red onion. Serve this my seitan burger and it will get gobbled up in no time!Easy Vegan Potato Salad

The Easiest (and Most Delicious) Vegan Cornbread:

Sweet, tender, moist, full of corn flavour, and you can optionally add in corn kernels. Perfect paired with vegan chili.The Easiest (and most delicious) Vegan Cornbread

Easy Homemade Lentil Tofu (No Soy, 2 Ingredients):

Just 2 ingredients and is super quick to make! This is the perfect recipe for anyone who cannot eat soy, or just wants to change it up a bit. The end result is a “tofu” that can be crisped up on the outside and is melt-in-your-mouth tender in the middle. You can use it 1 to 1 as a sub for soy tofu- season and cook it any way you like and add to salads, pastas, soups or have as a side dish all on its own!Easy Homemade Lentil Tofu (Soy-Free, 2 Ingredients)

Cheesy Vegan Garlic Bread:

This dairy-free garlic bread is quick and easy to make. Smothered in a homemade vegan cheese, perfect paired with your favourite Italian pasta dish like my vegan Bolognese, Cannelloni, or Carbonara. There’s also an option for classic garlic bread (without cheese).Cheesy Vegan Garlic Bread

Coconut Crusted Vegan Shrimp:

Golden, crispy, coconut coated on the outside, lightly chewy, juicy, with a slight taste of the sea on the inside. Serve these with homemade cocktail sauce for a real crowd-pleaser. The secret ingredient to make these shrimp: soy curls! Oil-free and air fryer versions are included in the recipe notes! Perfect as a side with my vegan steak if you’re looking to make a vegan “surf and turf” or pair with a pasta or big salad! Coconut Crusted Vegan Shrimp

Garlic Sautéed Green Beans:

Just 15 minutes to make and 6 ingredients, this is a quick and easy recipe for Garlic Sautéed Green Beans. And boy-oh-boy, these Garlic Sautéed Green Beans make for a perfect side dish for any meal like my vegan grilled fish recipe. But they are so tasty all on their own that you could even treat them as the main and serve them over pasta, or with rice for a super easy and delicious dinner.Garlic Sautéed Green Beans

Easy Vegan Macaroni Salad:

10 ingredients and 20 minutes to make, this pasta salad is the perfect side dish for any BBQ, picnic, or potluck. Gluten-free and oil-free options.Easy Vegan Macaroni Salad

The Best Vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes:

Not only is this the best-mashed potato recipe ever, but it also happens to be oil-free, less than 10 ingredients and under 30 minutes to make! The perfect side for any meal like my brown sugar & mustard glazed tofu and a crowd pleaser for your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast.The Best (and easiest) Vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Perfect Roasted Brussel Sprouts:

Forget about bland, mushy sprouts – we’re talking golden-brown and irresistibly crisp outer leaves, tender on the inside, and seasoned to perfection. The Perfect Roasted Brussel Sprouts are a delicious side dish for a Thanksgiving dinner, holiday feast, or for almost any meal! Just 6 ingredients, and 15 minutes of prep time.Perfect Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Easy Vegan Mushroom Gravy:

9 easy ingredients, use any mushroom you like, make ahead of time, rich, umami-packed, easy vegan mushroom gravy is where it’s at! This gravy is so flavourful and gorgeous is the perfect sauce to add oomph to your meal. Keep scrolling down for the best vegan mushroom gravy you’ll ever taste! Who knew something so rich, creamy, and flavourful would be so easy to make at home?!Easy Vegan Mushroom Gravy

Vegan Truffle Mac and Cheese:

It takes just 10 ingredients and only 20 minutes to make! The perfect side dish for a special occasion without the stress of complicated cooking.Vegan Truffle Mac & Cheese

Easy Vegan Stove Top Stuffing:

The perfect traditional stuffing for Thanksgiving or Christmas or any meal, really. Just 30 minutes and can be made ahead of time. Perfectly seasoned, fluffy, with sage, thyme, rosemary and dried cranberries. Easy Vegan Stove Top Stuffing

Creamy Chipotle & Lime Bean Salad:

This flavor-packed vegan dish takes just 15 minutes to make and can be made ahead of time. The prefect side for potlucks and parties! Creamy Chipotle & Lime Bean Salad

Vegan Garlic Seared Scallops:

Creamy, garlicky, buttery, slightly nutty, and all-around amazing! Just 13 minutes to make and just 9 ingredients! Perfect as an appetizer, or as a side dish with a garlic or white sauce pasta dish or alongside potatoes and a veg.Vegan Garlic Seared Scallops

5-Minute Chimichurri Sauce:

Use this sauce everywhere you want to take your dish up a notch. On a burrito or in a burrito bowl, on tacos such as my jackfruit tacos, on a vegan seitan steak, on roasted veg, on a tofu scramble, anywhere and everywhere you like! 5-Minute Chimichurri Sauce

I hope you enjoy these 56 Vegan Dinner Recipes! From cozy comfort foods like Spaghetti Bolognese, to vibrant and nourishing bowls like Egg Roll in a Bowl or Lentil Soup, your dinnertime is about to get a whole lot tastier. This list is perfect for anyone looking to get into Veganuary, introduce more plant-based options into their diet, or are seasoned vegans that simply need a little inspiration!

If you enjoyed this post or tried any of these dishes, let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don’t forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.

Bon appetegan!

Sam Turnbull.





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