Typically, vegan meals have a bad rap for being low in protein, bland and boring, either overusing chickpeas or mushrooms. But that doesn’t have to be the case. We've compiled a list of some of our favourites. And, to keep life interesting, the focal point of the meal isn’t always the same. We’ve got lentils, cauliflower, mushrooms, nuts, meat substitutes, and tofu.
So, if you’ve been debating having a few vegan dinners a week, you no longer have an excuse not to. In fact, you’ll start looking forward to them.
Go on, give it a go. Start slow with meat free Mondays, take it to the next level with a couple of days a week, ramp it up to a week every month, and before you know it, you’ll be doing Veganuary.
And, if you're an avid meal prepper, make sure to stock up on some airtight containers to load your prepped meals into.
1. Cauliflower tikka masala
Make your favourite vegan curry in just 15 minutes. Quickly blend up a spice paste, pop it all into the pan and sit back and relax until it’s done and dusted. Best served with rice or naan, or I think it works well with a wrap for lunch the next day.
Nutritional info per serving:
- Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat
- 560 | 25g | 84g | 15g
2. Portobello fajitas
Portobello mushrooms make the perfect swap-in for vegan fajitas. Knock this vegan dinner up in 15 minutes flat for a speedy weeknight meal. Plus, it’s a great option for the end of the week, you can chuck in all the veggies that are looking a little past their best.
Nutritional info per serving:
- Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat
- 439 | 12g | 35g | 15g
3. Spicy one-pot lentil dahl
Ideal for batch cooking, this high-protein lentil dahl is a must-try. Whip up three portions, get them distributed between your airtight containers, and come lunch time the next day, make your co-workers jealous.
Nutritional info per serving:
- Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat
- 504 | 28g | 83g | 6g
4. Vegan mac ‘n’ cheese
Creamy, cheesy, and completely plant-based. Make that make sense? Now, I don’t know the science behind it, but what I do know is the combination of nutritional yeast and cashews come together to make an entirely vegan yet cheesy-tasting sauce. And I’m not complaining.
Nutritional info per serving:
- Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat
- 452 | 16g | 63g | 13g
5. Vegan “meatball” sub
It's a takeaway classic, but so much better. Firstly, because it’s not had to travel to get to you, the bread isn’t so soggy that it’s lost all integrity. Secondly, you know exactly what’s gone into it, so there’s no doubt in your mind that it’s 100% vegan.
Nutritional info per serving:
- Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat
- 498 | 29g | 65g | 11g
6. Vegan buffalo cauliflower tacos
Meat-free Mondays have never tasted so good. Crunchy cauliflower tacos in a zingy buffalo sauce, now we’re talking.
Nutritional info per serving:
- Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat
- 278 | 11g | 23g | 15g
7. Gut health soup
Packed full of veggies, fibre and flavour, this gut health soup is the ultimate warming meal. It’s an all-in dish that’s designed to boost your gut health, and give you a meal to really look forward to.
Nutritional info per serving:
- Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat
- 318 | 16g | 55g | 2g
8. Vegan lentil bolognese
Rich and packed with flavour, the cornerstone of any bolognese recipe. Meat or no meat, it really makes no odds to me, as long as it’s filling, delicious and easy to meal prep. Tick, tick, tick.
Nutritional info per serving:
- Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat
- 486 | 21g | 86g | 6g
9. Crispy tofu & teriyaki noodles
Once you master how to cook tofu well, there’s no stopping you. It should be crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside — there’s really no other way to eat it. Pair your perfect tofu with plenty of veggies served on a bed of noodles, that’s midweek dinner done right.
Nutritional info per serving:
- Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat
- 462 | 17g | 67g | 14g
10. Cold peanut noodle salad
Sometimes the chaos that is the communal microwave at work isn’t worth it. For days like that, a cold, crunchy peanuty salad is just what you need. With a satay-style dressing and minimal prep required, it’s a real lunch time winner.
Nutritional info per serving:
- Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat
- 176 | 10g | 25g | 2g
For more recipes, check out this article. But don’t skip over the meat sections, we’ve got some winning recipes in there and you can substitute out the meat for a vegan alternative.
After finishing an internship with Myprotein, Emily returned to university to finish her degree in Business Management and Marketing, before coming back to work full-time with the team. Emily specialises in high-protein recipes, inspiring real-life stories and accessible health and fitness advice, and her work has been featured in The Supplement Magazine. When she’s not in the kitchen baking or cooking, she’s out exploring Manchester’s best food spots, or working up an appetite at the gym.
