Are you new to eating more plant-based meals? Maybe you are a seasoned pro but you can always use ideas that are quick and taste delicious? Either way, you will love this list of 9 quick plant based meals that you can make for your next lunch or dinner. These are general ideas that are also perfect for some meal prepping if you’re into that. The real question is, what will you make first?

How to use this list?

Use this list as inspiration when you sit down to make your meal plan. Which ones sound good right now? Do you have some of the ingredients on hand to make any of them? That might be a great place to start. Things to think about:

• Will these meals provide leftovers if I need them the next day?
• If I want leftovers, I need to make sure I plan accordingly
• The below ideas aren’t specific recipes but will instead give you components of a dish to complete that meal.
• You are building meals off your likes/dislikes. If anything in the example sounds gross, feel free to leave it out. Also, add in what might sound good to you instead.
• If you are prepping ahead of time, keep sauces and dressings separate until you’re ready to eat to prevent sogginess.
• Consider incorporating fresh fruits, nuts, and seeds as snacks or toppings for added variety and nutritional boost – on the side or added to the dishes.
• Mix and match the recipes based on your preferences and create a diverse weekly meal plan.

Here are your 9 quick plant-based meals to make this week

Quinoa Salad with Roasted Vegetables

• Prepare a batch of quinoa and roast a variety of vegetables that you like.
• Mix them together and store in separate containers if making ahead or place in bowls to eat right away.
• Make a lemon-tahini dressing like this one.
• When ready to eat, drizzle the dressing on top. You can add additional things like avocado, hummus, or a handful of kale/spinach.

Chickpea Stir-Fry

• Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas.
• Stir-fry a mix of your favorite vegetables.
• Prepare a soy or teriyaki sauce like this one.
• Combine the chickpeas, stir-fried veggies, and sauce with cooked quinoa or rice. When done eating, portion it into containers for lunch the next day.

Vegan Buddha Bowl

• Precook brown rice or quinoa. This can be done ahead of time to save time if needed.
• Roast sweet potatoes while preparing other bowl ingredients listed next.
• Assemble bowls with brown rice, roasted sweet potatoes, avocado slices, warm black beans, shredded cabbage, and drizzle with hummus, a salad dressing of your choice, or salsa.

Vegan Chili

• Cook a big batch of vegan chili with beans, tomatoes, and spices. This is the recipe I usually cook.
• This chili can be served with almost anything; avocado, green onions, cilantro, rice, cornbread, or tortilla chips are great choices.
• This is a great one for leftovers the next couple days.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

• Prepare quinoa or rice.
• Mix with black beans, corn, salsa, and taco seasoning.
• Stuff the mixture into bell peppers and bake.
• If you are looking for an easy recipe, try this one.

Easy Pasta Salad

• Cook pasta of your choice.
• Toss with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and arugula or whatever you prefer.
• Add your favorite Italian vinaigrette and mix well. If wanted, this can be made ahead of time and enjoyed the next day.

Roasted Veggie and Hummus Wrap

• Roast veggies of your choice.
• Grab a tortilla or your favorite wrap. Spread with hummus and spinach leaves and then add in your roasted veggies.
• Take it up a notch with an added protein boost and add on some tofu.

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Curry

• Prepare a batch of sweet potato and chickpea curry, like this recipe here.
• Cook brown rice to serve as a base.
• This will make really great leftovers!

Lentil Tacos

• Cook lentils with your favorite taco seasoning.
• Warm flour or corn tortillas.
• Assemble tacos with the seasoned lentils, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and guacamole, or your preferred toppings.
• These can be served as is or with a side or rice, green salad, or whatever you like.

Why I like meals like these

These 9 plant-based meal ideas incorporate a variety of plant-based ingredients, ensuring a balance of essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Many of these meals include whole grains, legumes, and vegetables, providing ample dietary fiber which is perfect for helping us feel full for a longer period of time as fiber supports digestive health, helps with satiety, and contributes to overall well-being.

These meal ideas also are focused on whole, minimally processed foods. Choosing whole foods over highly processed ones supports overall health and well-being and although I do love some processed foods – don’t get me wrong – I also like incorporating more Whole Foods as often as I can.

Which ones will you be adding to your meal plan next week?