30 Vegan Dinners You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less

 

When finding time to cook is a struggle, eating vegan can seem more difficult. And while buying tons of takeout or fancy prepared foods saves time, it almost always costs more. Fortunately, with a little preparation and some simple recipes, you can whip up a delicious vegan meal in no time (well… under 30 minutes, at least)! Here are 30 vegan dinners you can whip up in 30 minutes or less.

 

1. Broccoli and Cashew "Cheese" (Avocado Tacos)

2. Banh Mi Sandwich (Lemongrass Chickpea Burger)

3. Spicy "Meatballs" (Spicy Tahini Falafel)

4. Pad Thai (Oven-Baked Chickpea "Crispy Tofu")

5. Fried Rice with Veggies and Tempeh ("Chicken Fried Rice")

6. Curry Noodle Bowl (Thai Curry with Tofu and Broccoli)

7. Biscuits and Gravy (One-Skillet Chickpea Biscuits)

8. Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich (Tempeh, Red Pepper, and Avocado "Cheesesteak")

9. Veggie Pita Pizzas (Portobello Pizzas)

10. Red Beans and Rice ("Jambalaya")

11. Zucchini Gratin ("Cauliflower Gratin")

12. Pad See Eiw ("Chicken" Pad See Eiw)

13 . Buffalo Cauliflower Bites ("Chicken" Nuggets)

14. Raw Zucchini Lasagna (Raw Zucchini "Pasta")

15. Naan Pizza (Pizza Sticks)

16. Pad Thai (Peanut Sauce "Noodles")

17. Spaghetti and Meatballs ("Meatball" Spaghetti)

18. Grilled Cheese Sandwich (Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup)

19. Vegetable Korma Curry ("Chicken" Tikka Masala)

20 . Oven-Baked Falafel ("Chicken" Nuggets)

21. Black Bean Burger ("Beef" Burger)

22 . Lentil Sloppy Joes ("Turkey" Sloppy Joes)

 

This flavorful recipe is perfect for chilly nights. Simply put the ingredients in a slow cooker and let it simmer away. This recipe is easily doubled if you're cooking for a crowd. Save time by purchasing pre-cooked rice at the supermarket.

2 cups cooked brown rice

1 cup uncooked lentils or 1 cup canned lentils, rinsed and drained

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons curry powder (see Note)

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1½ teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (optional)              

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the curry powder, cumin, and salt; cook for 1 minute. Stir in the pepper, if using. Add the beans and stir well to combine. If the mixture seems dry, add a little water so that the beans are completely covered with spiced oil. 

Turn down the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, until heated through and slightly sticky. Adjust seasonings as necessary; taste and adjust as desired. Serve warm over rice or with pita bread.* Note If you prefer a milder curry flavor or you don't have curry powder on hand, you can use ground cloves instead of curry powder.

This is a great recipe for using up leftover brown rice.