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By Lisa Esile, MS Last Updated:
Need a delicious meal in 20 minutes or less? From hearty salads to pastas, tacos, sandwiches, wraps, and more, these tasty vegan meals can be prepared faster than the speed of takeout and are perfect for busy weeknights—or any time you need a satisfying meal, pronto. They also happen to be extremely healthy! For more quick-fix lunch and dinner ideas, check out these 30-Minute Meals and 29 Easy Plant-Based Recipes You’ll Make Again and Again.
With pickled greens, green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and chili-vinegar soy sauce, this 15-minute noodle dish bursts with the intense flavors of Szechwan cooking.
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Ready in just 10 minutes, these colorful, hearty tacos—filled with a lime-infused mix of mango, avocado, and black beans— are as scrumptious as they are speedy. Note: The recipe calls for fresh mango, but frozen will also work.
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Using pantry staples such as canned chickpeas and tomatoes, this rustic plant-based bolognese is seriously satisfying, without leaving you feeling stuffed. Pro tip: Make sure to get the pasta cooking first; then prepare the sauce.
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Ready in about as much time as it takes to set the table, this veggie-forward one-pot pasta bowl makes great use of tasty quick-cooking ingredients such as vermicelli, finely sliced veggies, bok choy, and enoki mushrooms. Adzuki beans and tofu add extra heft while miso paste, fresh ginger, and Thai basil broaden the savory flavor.
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In this mouthwatering gourmet sandwich, creamy (and colorful!) carrot hummus perfectly complements crisp lettuce, crunchy cucumber slices, and the sweet-spicy bite of pickled pepperoncini peppers.
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Ready in a jiffy, this scrumptious pasta pairs the silky, subtle anise notes of fennel bulb with walnuts, earthy whole grain pasta, and sweet butternut squash. Bonus: This is a one-pot meal, so no messy cleanup!
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If you like wraps as much as we do, you’ll love these! The combination of the whole grain tortilla, creamy bean spread, and crunchy, juicy veggies covers the gamut of flavors and textures. Let your taste buds enjoy the party!
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Looking for a tasty oil-free alternative to hummus? Try this vibrant green pea spread. Peas give it a bright green color, and sunflower butter adds a subtly sweet depth of flavor. As one reader writes, “This is a go-to quick and easy meal for me. I make it all the time!”
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Transform a can of chickpeas into a delectable meal with a few prime ingredients such as lime juice, cilantro, avocado, jalapeño, and red onion.
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Sink your teeth into these soft whole wheat tortillas stuffed with creamy hummus, tender quinoa, and crunchy salad ingredients. Note: This recipe calls for oil-free hummus and cooked quinoa, so make sure you’ve got those on hand.
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Lettuce cups are a fantastic vehicle for a satisfying, quick, and fun family meal. Their fresh crunch and mild flavor tastes great alongside a luscious filling of black beans, corn, jarred roasted red peppers, cherry tomatoes, and mango.
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Let your taste buds savor this cool noodle salad that pops with spicy kimchi flavor, crunchy mung bean sprouts, refreshing cucumber, and soft noodles. The recipe calls for cold noodles, but you don’t need to wait for them to cool; just rinse them in cold water once they’re cooked.
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Beat the heat with a bowl of sweet-and-spicy watermelon gazpacho, loaded with cubed jicama and cucumber for extra crunch. Make plenty: It’ll last in the fridge for a few days and tastes even better the second day.
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This secret to this dairy-free fettuccine alfredo is the creamy sauce made from cannellini beans and almond butter, with sun-dried tomatoes and sugar snap peas lending tang and crunch. Note: If you don’t have fettuccine, any pasta shape will do.
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The only salad dressing you need to turn this simple chickpea, cherry tomato, and spinach salad into a masterpiece is fresh mint, lemon juice, and salt and pepper.
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Up your avocado toast game with a mix of grated beet, fresh ginger, and wasabi-infused avocado. Who needs butter when you’ve got toast toppers like this?
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Ready in 10 minutes, this finger-licking good chickpea salad sandwich filling is loaded with palate-pleasers including capers, red onion, tahini, pickle, and mustard. It has consistently been one of our most well-loved recipes. As one fan writes, “This is unbelievably delicious.”
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If you’ve got a can of beans, you’re halfway to whipping up a quick and wholesome meal, as this scrumptious bean salad proves!
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Dressed with cilantro, lime juice and zest, and balsamic vinegar, this easy black bean, tomato, and corn salad will keep you powered up for hours. As co-creators Ann and Jane Esselstyn write, “We could eat this black bean salad for every meal in summer, even breakfast.”
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Southwest flavors work beautifully to transform instant grits into a comforting savory bowl the whole family will enjoy.
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The fresh flavors of tomato and cucumber perfectly marry with creamy avocado and the earthy goodness of whole grain toast. For more butter-free toast topping ideas, check out Beyond Butter: 8 Healthy Ways to Top Your Morning Toast.
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Pre-cut frozen veggies are a life-saver when you’re in a hurry. Here, fresh ginger and garlic add sweet-tangy flavor while curry-infused quinoa adds heartiness. Note: Quinoa is gluten-free and cooks quickly, making it an ideal whole grain when time is short.
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This tasty oatmeal from Matt Frazier and Stepfanie Romine features carrot, marinara, kale, and pumpkin seeds and is ready in just 15 minutes. Once you get used to the idea of oatmeal being an anytime food, a world of easy meal options opens up!
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In this satisfying one-pot meal, red lentil pasta, mushrooms, fresh rosemary, and leek are the perfect companions—and it’s ready in 15 minutes.
View RecipeThis article was originally published on July 15, 2021, and has been updated.
Lisa Esile is an author, illustrator, blogger, vegetable gardener, and whole-food enthusiast with a special fondness for potatoes. She has a master’s degree in human nutrition and is passionate about showing people how to live happier, healthier lives. She is the author of Reach Your Big Calm and the co-author of Whose Mind Is It Anyway? Find her on Facebook.
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Comments (6)
Love the quick n easy recipes!
I am willing to try ur recipes
We hope you’ll enjoy them, Ronie! From the website to the cookbooks to the Meal Planner, you’ll find an abundance of tasty options of all kinds and cuisines 🙂
So excited to try these quick and easy recipes!! I’m inspired!
I should have learnt by now not to read recipes when I’m hungry
I want to make them all, right now as they ALL look absolutely delicious.
Thank you
Excited to try these recipes!