100+ Easy Vegan Main Dish Dinners & Plant-Based Mains
Explore our collection of easy vegan main dish dinners! From cozy red lentil sweet potato curries and easy vegan mujadara to crispy breaded tofu steaks and comforting pasta e fagioli, these satisfying plant-based mains make weeknight dinner time delicious, healthy, and nourishing for the whole family.
Vegan dinners the whole family will enjoy. You will love these protein-packed plant-based recipes! You can pair some of these vegan dishes with some of my vegan appetizer recipes. At Essy Cooks’ we try to feature the most flavourful vegan recipes.
Vegan cooking can be easy, but some of my recipes can also be a little more complex, you will find tags for different categories like gluten-free, or gourmet depending on how much time you have. You can also browse my vegan shop to see my recommended cooking tools and kitchen equipment that will make creating your favorite vegan recipe a little easier!
Vegan Dinner Vs. Vegetarian Dinner
Vegetarian
A vegetarian abstains from consuming any animal products like meat, poultry, or fish. Vegans are more stringent vegetarians who additionally abstain from eating dairy, eggs, and any other products with animal byproducts.
According to some sources, vegetarian diets date back to 700 B.C. There are various kinds, and people may practice them for a number of different reasons. These include religion, environmentalism, ethics, and health. Vegan diets have just lately become popular, but they have received a lot of media attention.
A vegetarian is someone who abstains from eating any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish, or byproducts of animal slaughter, according to the Vegetarian Society. Different amounts of fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses, nuts, and seeds are included in vegetarian diets.
Vegan
The strictest kind of vegetarianism might be characterized as a vegan diet. The Vegan Society now describes veganism as a way of life that makes every effort to avoid animal exploitation and cruelty (2).
This includes being exploited for food or any other reason.
Therefore, a vegan diet forgoes not only eating animal meat but also products like dairy, eggs, and eggs. Gelatin, honey, carmine, pepsin, shellac, albumin, whey, casein, and various types of vitamin D3 are a few of these ingredients.
Animal products are often avoided by vegetarians and vegans for similar reasons. Their acceptance level of animal products is where they diverge most.
Reducetarianism
Some people choose to gradually transition to a vegan lifestyle, starting by reducing meat consumption and gradually eliminating other animal-based products. This is called “reducetarianism” and it allows individuals to take on the change at their own pace.
In general, both vegetarian and vegan meals can be delicious and nutritious, and with careful planning, you can ensure that your diet includes the right balance of essential nutrients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular vegan main dish dinners for weeknights?
Our Red Lentil Sweet Potato Curry, Easy Breaded Tofu Steaks, and Pasta e Fagioli are top-rated reader favorites that come together quickly for satisfying weeknight dinners.
How can I make plant-based main dishes high in protein?
Incorporate protein-rich plant ingredients like lentils, extra-firm tofu, chickpeas, or tempeh into your main meals. Dishes like our Easy Mujadara with caramelized onions and breaded tofu steaks pack 20g+ of protein per serving!