21 Delicious Plant-Based Recipes for Beginners - Real + Vibrant (2024)

A delicious collection of plant-based recipes that are easy to make, completely reliable, and will build your confidence in the kitchen!

21 Delicious Plant-Based Recipes for Beginners - Real + Vibrant (1)

Looking to add more plant-based recipes into your diet but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you recipes that your loved ones will actually, truly enjoy!

I’ve totally got you covered today!

Below you'll find 21 simple and easy-to-make recipes, including breakfast, drinks, main dishes, salads, soups, and more!

Plant-Based Recipes that Build Your Confidence in the Kitchen

When I first started integrating more plant-based into my own diet, I struggled and felt overwhelmed. Let's just say my first batch of quinoa turned out less than appetizing. And I had no idea what I was doing with kale. Feeling defeated, I gave myself a goal to feel confident with 2 recipes, that's it. Once I became comfortable with those, I added two more recipes to my repertoire. Soon I was cooking at home on a regular basis!

Needless to say, I've gone through the hurdles of cooking food at home, especially when trying to make a change to support my health.

I've put together a solid list of plant-based recipes for beginners. And if you prefer a printable copy of these, just drop your email below and I'll send it your way!

Breakfast & Smoothie Plant-Based Recipes

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia seed pudding is delicious, versatile, easy to make, and a powerhouse of nutrients. It makes for a delicious snack, breakfast, and even dessert.

Overnight Steel Cut Oats

Here's a quick and easy way of making a delicious and filling breakfast. Made with steel cut oats and a few more ingredients, it just needs 5 minutes of your time right before you go to sleep and another 5 minutes in the morning!

Walnut Apple Crisp

This walnut apple crisp is inspired by the classic apple crisp dish. It’s made with fresh seasonal apples, nuts, oats, and warming spices. You'll love this guilt-free treat!

Morning Green Smoothie

A delicious, sweet and tangy green smoothie made with spinach, tangy lime, and sweet banana. This smoothie is perfect for busy mornings or as an afternoon snack.

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Tropical Matcha Smoothie

Looking for a new favorite smoothie? This is it! Made with spinach, mango, matcha, and ginger, this energizing smoothie takes all of 2 minutes to make!

Soups & Curries Plant-Based Recipes

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

This cauliflower soup is a delicious vegan staple any time of the year, but especially during the cooler months of the year. It’s silky, comforting, and easy to make.

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Sweet Potato Kale Soup

This delicious soup is hearty and nourishing. Made with sweet potato, kale, fresh tomatoes, and onions, it’s easy to make and comes together in a quick 30 minutes.

Chickpea Curry

Chana masala is an Indian staple and for good reason! It's with a delicious mixture of chickpeas, Indian spices, and fresh herbs. Tasty and easy to make, you can enjoy it with a side of rice, naan, or in a bowl!

Main Dish Plant-Based Recipes

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Simple, nourishing, and full of flavor! Tossed in a refreshing lemon herb dressing, this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is a crowd-pleaser. It's perfect on its own or as a side salad.

Sweet Potato Black Bean Bowl

This sweet potato and black bean bowl is packed with flavor and tastes delicious. It makes for a quick and easy meal to pull together any day of the week.

Vegan Power Bowl

This vegan power bowl makes the perfect filling plant-based meal. It’s packed with fresh greens, sweet potatoes, seasonal product, and avocado. So much to love in this bowl!

Garlic Roasted Cauliflower

These garlic roasted cauliflower florets make for a tasty side dish. Simple, delicious, versatile, and packed with flavor, each bite is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Cauliflower Tacos

Take taco night to the next level with these roasted cauliflower tacos! Made with delicious garlicky roasted cauliflower, red cabbage, and a creamy cashew sauce. These tacos are filling, tasty, and make the perfect meal.

Plant-Based Dressing Recipes

Creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing

Looking for that perfect go-to everyday dressing? This is it! It's delicious on salads, bowls, roasted veggies, and more. Made with a few ingredients, you'll love this dressing!

LemonVinaigrette

This vinaigrette is simple, fresh, tangy and full of flavor. It tastes great on almost any salad or bowl and also makes a great marinade.

Balsamic Vinaigrette

Elevate any salad with this everyday balsamic vinaigrette. It's silky in texture with the perfect mix of tangy with a touch of sweetness. You just can't go wrong with this dressing!

Plant-Based Drink Recipes

Iced Matcha Latte Recipe

Iced matcha lattes are delicious but can add up quickly when purchased at a coffee shop or cafe. This iced matcha latte recipe is easy to make for a fraction of the cost!

Hot Matcha Latte Recipe

This matcha latte is made with almond milk and matcha green tea. It takes only a few minutes to make - no whisk needed!

Turmeric Latte Recipe

You'll love this healing and anti-inflammatory beverage, made with turmeric, nut milk, cinnamon, and other Indian spices.

Plant-Based Almond Milk Recipe

Learning how to make almond milk is a great place to start when adapting a healthier lifestyle. Almond milk is a delicious plant-based alternative to dairy. It's easy to make and you only need two ingredients!

Plant-Based Oat Milk Recipe

This oat milk is so good! It's perfect for smoothies, baked goods, and more! It's easy to make, needs only 3-ingredients, and takes less than 5 minutes to make!

Get these Plant-Based Recipes in a Printable eBook!

Bookmark this page for later, or better yet, enter your email address below to get a free copy of the recipes delivered straight to your inbox!

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For More Easy Plant-Based Recipes...

…feel free to check out the full collection of Recipeshere on Real + Vibrant. Or my cookbook Plant Power Bowls: 70 Seasonal Vegan Recipes to Boost Energy and Promote Wellness (including a chapter on plant-based Desserts)!

Happy cooking, everyone!

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

About Me

I'm a passionate enthusiast in the field of plant-based cooking, with extensive experience and knowledge in creating and enjoying delicious, nutritious, and easy-to-make plant-based recipes. I have spent years experimenting with various ingredients, flavors, and cooking techniques to develop a deep understanding of plant-based cuisine. My expertise extends to a wide range of dishes, including breakfast options, drinks, main dishes, salads, soups, and more. I have also actively engaged with the plant-based community, sharing my insights and experiences to help others build their confidence in the kitchen.

Plant-Based Recipes Concepts

Here's a breakdown of the concepts used in this article:

Breakfast & Smoothie Plant-Based Recipes:

  1. Chia Seed Pudding: A versatile and nutrient-rich snack, breakfast, or dessert option made with chia seeds.
  2. Overnight Steel Cut Oats: A quick and filling breakfast made with steel cut oats and other ingredients.
  3. Walnut Apple Crisp: A guilt-free treat inspired by the classic apple crisp dish, made with fresh seasonal apples, nuts, oats, and warming spices.
  4. Morning Green Smoothie: A sweet and tangy green smoothie made with spinach, lime, and banana.
  5. Tropical Matcha Smoothie: An energizing smoothie made with spinach, mango, matcha, and ginger.

Soups & Curries Plant-Based Recipes:

  1. Creamy Cauliflower Soup: A delicious vegan staple, especially suitable for cooler months, made with cauliflower.
  2. Sweet Potato Kale Soup: A hearty and nourishing soup made with sweet potato, kale, tomatoes, and onions.
  3. Chickpea Curry: A tasty and easy-to-make dish featuring chickpeas, Indian spices, and fresh herbs.

Main Dish Plant-Based Recipes:

  1. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad: A simple and nourishing salad tossed in a refreshing lemon herb dressing.
  2. Sweet Potato Black Bean Bowl: A flavorful and quick meal featuring sweet potato and black beans.
  3. Vegan Power Bowl: A filling plant-based meal packed with fresh greens, sweet potatoes, seasonal produce, and avocado.
  4. Garlic Roasted Cauliflower: Tasty roasted cauliflower florets, versatile and packed with flavor.
  5. Cauliflower Tacos: Roasted cauliflower tacos made with garlicky cauliflower, red cabbage, and a creamy cashew sauce.

Plant-Based Dressing Recipes:

  1. Creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing: A versatile dressing suitable for salads, bowls, and roasted veggies.
  2. Lemon Vinaigrette: A simple, fresh, and tangy dressing that complements salads and bowls.
  3. Balsamic Vinaigrette: An everyday balsamic vinaigrette, silky in texture with a perfect mix of tanginess and sweetness.

Plant-Based Drink Recipes:

  1. Iced Matcha Latte Recipe: An easy-to-make iced matcha latte for a fraction of the cost of purchasing one.
  2. Hot Matcha Latte Recipe: A matcha latte made with almond milk and matcha green tea, taking only a few minutes to prepare.
  3. Turmeric Latte Recipe: A healing and anti-inflammatory beverage made with turmeric, nut milk, cinnamon, and other Indian spices.
  4. Plant-Based Almond Milk Recipe: A delicious plant-based alternative to dairy, easy to make with only two ingredients.
  5. Plant-Based Oat Milk Recipe: A versatile oat milk perfect for smoothies, baked goods, and more, requiring only three ingredients and less than 5 minutes to make.

These concepts cover a wide range of plant-based recipes, providing a diverse and comprehensive collection to support individuals in their journey towards incorporating more plant-based options into their diet. If you have any specific questions about these recipes or need further guidance, feel free to ask!

21 Delicious Plant-Based Recipes for Beginners - Real + Vibrant (2024)

FAQs

What are the most filling plant-based foods? ›

Plant-based foods you can add to your meals to help improve satiety
  • Lentils. Lentils are an economical and readily available ingredient that are used as staples in most plant-forward meals. ...
  • Chia seeds. ...
  • Oats. ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Walnuts or Almonds. ...
  • Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • Avocado.

How to make vegan food satisfying? ›

5 Tips for Making a Vegan Meal Feel Filling and Satisfying
  1. Balance the plate. I think the misconception that vegan meals are all veg and nothing else gets to the issue at hand. ...
  2. Flavor with herbs and spices. ...
  3. Take on the traditional. ...
  4. Mix up the cooking technique. ...
  5. Showcase the produce.
May 2, 2019

What supplement is required on a 100% plant-based diet? ›

The body needs vitamin B12 to maintain healthy blood and a healthy nervous system. Many people get vitamin B12 from animal sources, such as meat, fish and dairy products. Sources for vegans are limited and a vitamin B12 supplement may be needed.

What are the Super 6 plant foods? ›

Spotlight the Super Six:

When it comes to the plants you eat, you want to eat from across the six different plant groups: vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, legumes (beans and pulses), nuts and seeds, and herbs and spices.

What snack foods can vegans eat? ›

Try These Popular Vegan Snacks (Chips, Cookies, and More)
  • Vegan Rob's Chips.
  • Rivalz Extra Chedda' Mac.
  • Outstanding Foods PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds.
  • Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars—Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate.
  • Trader Joe's Almond Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets.

Is Peanut Butter vegan? ›

The bottom line. Most types of peanut butter are free of animal products and can be enjoyed as part of a vegan diet. However, some varieties are made in facilities that also process animal products or contain refined sugar that was produced using bone char or non-vegan ingredients like honey or fish oil.

Can vegans eat rice? ›

Yes, absolutely! Rice is a common grain in all cooking and has a significant place in the plant-based world too. Some rice dishes may not be suitable for vegans though, so if you're eating out or following a recipe make sure there are no meat, fish or other animal products being used before you tuck in!

Does plant-based food fill you up? ›

A plant-based (i.e., vegan or vegetarian) meal will lead to better mood, higher satiety, and less stress compared to an omnivorous meal. Higher fiber content in the meals will mediate higher mood and satiety and lower stress, whereas higher unrefined sugar and fat content will mediate the opposite.

What plant-based protein keeps you full? ›

Sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed, hemp seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, etc., have around 6 grams of protein in 2 tbsp, and seed butters such as tahini have 5 grams per 2-tbsp serving. Try making chia pudding for breakfasts and snacks and top with thawed frozen cherries. Top cereal or yogurt with pumpkin seeds.

Why am I so hungry on whole food plant-based diet? ›

It might seem obvious, but "one of the reasons why you might feel hungrier when you transition to a vegan or plant-based diet is because you may not be eating enough calories and nutrients," explains Julie Barrette, a senior clinical dietician with Providence Mission Hospital.

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