Make Veganuary easy with this collection of 31 super tasty vegan dinner recipes. One for every single day of the month!
What is Veganuary?
Veganuary is a yearly campaign that supports people through a month of eating vegan food in January and based on its growth over the past few years, it is expecting record-breaking signups in 2021!
Here are the figures from 2020:
If you have found your way here, then chances are you might be one of those people. Congratulations and thank you for taking the pledge! By doing this you are helping to reduce the suffering of billions of animals, you are helping our planet, and you will discover new and exciting foods and recipes. You will probably find that you will feel better as a result of it too.
If you haven't taken the Veganuary pledge yet but are curious to see what being vegan is all about, you can find a vegan starter kit on Veganuary's website here, and plenty of super delicious vegan dinner recipes to get you started below. Be sure to explore my website further for other vegan meal inspiration too.
The benefits of a vegan diet
- A plant-based diet can be an incredibly healthy way to live. It has been shown to reduce your risk of contracting heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even some types of cancer. Many people also feel better in themselves too with higher energy levels and improved mood.
- A plant-based diet is more sustainable.
- One third of all the world's grain is fed to farm animals. That grain could instead be used to feed billions of people.
- Cattle grazing is to blame for a lot of deforestation. Almost 80% of Amazon rainforests are currently used for grazing cattle. By limiting the meat and dairy we eat, we could help reduce deforestation.
- By reducing our meat and dairy intake we could cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50%.
- Eating less meat could see the world's water consumption reduce drastically. It takes approximately 2000 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. It is thought that by eating plant-based food for one year, an individual can save up to 150,000 gallons of water.
- A plant-based diet could stop our oceans from being decimated. Scientists estimate that fish populations could completely collapse by 2050 if our current rate of fishing continues.
- Lastly, plant-based food is amazing! It's fresh, vibrant and delicious. Arm yourself with a bunch of great recipes and you won't look back!
To help get you through the month, I have rounded up 31 Vegan Dinners For Veganuary. That's one for every single day of the month! Print them out, make a shopping list, buy what you need and you are good to go.
You will also find lots of other great recipes if you explore my website. I have all of your staples covered like Vegan Butter, Vegan Yogurt and Oat Milk and Cashew Milk, plus lots of breakfasts, more dinners, snacks and baked goods.
If you need even more recipe ideas, my cookbook Vegan Comfort Cooking is available in bookstores, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter too. That way you will get all of my brand new recipes sent straight to your inbox as soon as they are published.
Vegan dinner recipes for Veganuary
And now on to the exciting part. The vegan dinner recipes for your month of Veganuary!
Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
The ultimate Vegan Lentil Shepherd's Pie featuring rich, flavourful, saucy lentils topped with fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes & baked until deliciously golden brown & crispy. Easy, healthy, comforting and filling!
make this recipeTofu Bowls
Tofu bowls full of fluffy coconut lime rice, triangles of sticky, caramelized baked tofu and toasty around the edges roasted broccoli all brought together with a hefty drizzle of peanut sauce!
make this recipeEasy Savoury Rice
Quick, healthy & easy savoury rice. Full of tasty vegetables and ready from start to finish in less than thirty minutes!
make this recipeVegan Tortilla Soup
Vegan Tortilla Soup with rich, bold, tomatoey, smoky, limey, garlicky flavor and piles of crispy, crunchy baked tortilla strips. Then come the extra toppings which really seal the deal. It’s quick and easy to make and totally delicious!
make this recipeVegan Broccoli Rice Casserole
One-pot, from scratch, super-easy, Vegan Broccoli Rice Casserole with creamy rice, tender broccoli and surprise sausage-y bites. Put everything in the dish raw then bake. Minimal prep, minimal hands on time, maximum comfort!
make this recipePeanut Noodles
Quick, easy, versatile and very slurpable Peanut Noodles! Perfect for midweek dinners and meal prep and the only cooking required is boiling the noodles!
make this recipeCreamy Red Lentil Dal
A quick & easy Red Lentil Dal that is as soul warming as it is delicious. It’s super creamy thanks to the melty red lentils & rich coconut milk. Perfect served over rice for an easy meal!
make this recipeI also have an Instant Pot version here.
Cherry Tomato Sauce
A rustic, creamy, thick and full of flavour Cherry Tomato Sauce, that's perfect for serving over pasta. It's made with only 6 ingredients and is easy enough for midweek, yet worthy of company too.
make this recipeSweet and Sour Tofu
Healthier Sweet and Sour Tofu with crispy, crunchy, chewy baked tofu, sweet, savory, fruity, tangy sauce and chunks of bell pepper and pineapple. Just perfect served over fluffy rice!
make this recipeEasy Vegan Mushroom Pie
Tender, juicy, meaty portobello mushroom, stuffed with sweet caramelized onions, a sprinkling of thyme, all topped with buttery, crisp pastry. This is seriously the easiest Vegan Mushroom Pie you will find & it’s soooo good!!! Perfect for making in advance too!
make this recipeEasy Butternut Squash Curry
Creamy, sweet Butternut Squash Curry served over piles of steaming rice. Quick, healthy, easy, totally delicious and ready in only 30 minutes!
make this recipeVegan Roast
A simple, easy, rustic and hearty Vegan Roast that's sliceable, ultra tender and full of flavour. Just perfect for serving with copious amounts of gravy, roast potatoes and all the trimmings. Leftovers are great in sandwiches too!
make this recipeOr get my gluten-free version here
Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese with Black Pepper & Broccoli
Potato-carrot cheese sauce is the thing these days. My version of this sauce is creamy, filled with vegetables, and loaded with black pepper. What makes this sauce different, you may ask? It’s the black pepper: add black pepper and then, when you think that should be enough, add some more.
make this recipeVegan Meal Prep with Black Beans & Rice
A healthy, protein packed recipe for Vegan Meal Prep with Black Beans & Rice that you can prep in advance in under 30 minutes & enjoy all week long!
make this recipeMushroom Fried Rice
This Mushroom Fried Rice recipe is budget friendly and super quick to make. It’s a great way to use up leftover cooked rice, is made all in one pan and takes no more than 15 minutes!
make this recipeVegan Instant Pot Portobello Pot Roast
The ultimate one pot family meal – Vegan Instant Pot Portobello Pot Roast! We’re talking meaty portobello mushrooms, meltingly tender vegetables and a thick, really rich and flavourful gravy. Plus as well as tasting amazing, it’s super easy, quick and convenient with minimal washing up. A big YES PLEASE on all counts!
make this recipeI also have a non-Instant Pot version here.
Vegan Meatloaf with Gravy
This vegan meatloaf is incredibly easy to make & is sure to please with it's deep & savoury flavour. Serve sliced & smothered in rich, thick gravy for a truly satisfying meal!
make this recipeVegan Potato Soup
Thick, hearty and creamy Vegan Potato Soup. It's really simple to make and very budget friendly. You can enjoy it just as it is, or get crazy with toppings. I like to finish mine off with some crumbled tempeh bacon, crispy roasted potato chunks & a sprinkle of parsley for a pop of colour!
make this recipeCreamy Vegan Gnocchi with Garlic & Kale
Soft fluffy pillows of gnocchi & tender, sautéed kale, tossed in a creamy, garlic infused sauce. This Creamy Vegan Gnocchi with Garlic & Kale is dinner party worthy but incredibly easy to make, taking less than 15 minutes from start to finish and that includes prep time too!
make this recipeVegan Black Bean Burgers
Easy to make Vegan Black Bean Burgers that are loaded with flavour and not mushy. They are satisfying, delicious and a tried & true reader favourite!
make this recipeOven Baked Garlic Mushroom Rice
One-pot, Oven Baked Garlic Mushroom Rice. A simple, comforting, no frills kind of meal that you are going to be wanting to make again and again!
make this recipeLoaded Taco Fries with Lime Crema
What's not to love about an obscenely large pile of Loaded Taco Fries with a generous drizzle of Lime Crema? Especially when they are healthy, oil-free & 'bury your face in them' delicious......
make this recipeSkinny Fettuccine Cauliflower Alfredo
This quick & easy Skinny Fettuccine Cauliflower Alfredo is rich, creamy & delicious. It also happens to be really low in calories & virtually fat free!
make this recipeVegan Crab Cakes
Leave the cute little crabs where they belong & make these Vegan Crab Cakes instead. Tender, moist, packed with flavour & subtly 'fishy', they are so like the real deal! And they are really easy to make!
make this recipeSuper Simple Green Bean & Potato Curry
A really super simple Green Bean & Potato Curry that is budget friendly, only has 8 ingredients & needs no fancy-schmancy spices.
make this recipeRisi e Bisi
Risi e Bisi (Italian Rice & Peas) is a simple, humble and comforting one-pot recipe which originates from Venice. It's got a great flavour base from plenty of sweet leeks and green peas and it's creamy and rich with none of the fussiness of a risotto. In fact it's really easy to make and very family friendly.
make this recipeTomato Pasta Bake with Garlicky Crumb Topping
This Tomato Pasta Bake with Garlicky Crumb topping is a budget friendly, hearty & delicious meal that the whole family will love!
make this recipeCauliflower Rice Bowls
Super delicious and flavour-packed Cauliflower Rice Bowls with crispy cinnamon sweet potatoes & creamy, garlicky avocado mash!
make this recipeVegan Italian Sausage Pasta Soup
One-pot Vegan Italian Sausage Pasta Soup! It's hearty, rustic and comforting, with a creamy tomato-y soup base, lots of herbs and garlic, vegan sausage chunks and pasta. Ultimate vegan comfort food!
make this recipeBaked Vegan Mac and Cheese
The ultimate Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese. Cheesy, saucy macaroni topped with an irresistible buttery & golden crispy crumb topping. No dairy, no nuts & easily made gluten-free. Prepare to get saucy!
make this recipeOne-Pot Spicy Vegetable Rice
This One-Pot Spicy Vegetable Rice is our go to favourite mid-week dinner. 3o minutes & one pot is all that is standing between you & a big bowl full of deliciously spiced, flavourful rice studded with sweet, soft veggies.
make this recipeSo there you have it. A meal for every single day of Veganuary. What better way to kick off the new year than with some compassion and super tasty vegan eating?
I wish you the best of luck, and the animals and the planet thank you!
George says
I just did a quick pass of these recipes and It made me angry because I don't know which to try first.
I'm going to be eating these for months before I can even decide which one I like the best. I've only been Vegan for about 6 months now. and these all look amazing.
Thank you
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you George. I hope you enjoy testing them all out!
Maureen Cram says
Thanks so much for posting these recipes. I have posted the link on the leading vegan FB group page for anyone doing Veganuary. I also told our over 10k members that your blog is a great one to follow as all the recipes work and taste great :).
A Virtual Vegan says
Thats very kind Maureen. Thank you!
Kerstin says
Incredible, just in time for me . I am always looking for daily meals that are not boring but ever soooo good tasting. You are my daily go to. Happy , healthy 2020
A Virtual Vegan says
Happy New Year to you too Kerstin!
nicky says
SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THESE AMAZING RECIPES
THANK YOU
DO YOU HAVE A BOOK ONE CAN BUY ON KINDLE
NICKY
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Nicky. I have a book called Vegan Comfort Cooking that will be published on May 28th. It is available to pre-order now, but I'm not sure whether the Kindle version is yet. I won't post a link as they are different for each country and I don't know where you are, but if you search Vegan Comfort Cooking or Melanie McDonald on Amazon you should see it.
Loretta Kravig says
These recipes look great! Is there a possibility that you could put them into an ebook that could be downloaded all at once? I find going to each one separately to be a bit tiring. And I like to print them off do I can have a hard copy. It’s easier to read as I make the recipes.
A Virtual Vegan says
That's a really great idea but unfortunately I don't have the time to do it. I will bear it in mind for anything like this that isn't so time specific in the future though.
Punam's Indian recipe says
This is a very good collection of veg recipes, but am totally confused where to start from all the recipes seems delicious.