Skip to content

Top Navigation

EatingWell EatingWell
  • Healthy Recipes
  • Special Diets
  • Diabetes
  • Healthy Meal Plans
  • Healthy Eating
  • Healthy Lifestyle
  • Healthy Cooking
  • Shop
  • News
  • Videos
Log In Account Details

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Cooking Light Diet
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore EatingWell

EatingWell EatingWell
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Real Cost of Healthy Food

      Today, more Americans than ever—a staggering 50 million people—are experiencing hunger. EatingWell examines the barriers to getting healthy food and what is being done to help. Read More Next
    • 15 Easy Citrus Vinaigrettes That Will Make You Love Salad Again

      Read More Next
    • 22 Comforting Irish Recipes That Are Perfect for St. Patrick's Day

      Read More Next
  • Healthy Recipes

    Healthy Recipes

    See All Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Healthy Lunch Recipes
    • Healthy Dinner Recipes
    • Healthy Snack Recipes
    • Healthy Dessert Recipes
    • Healthy Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Salad Recipes
    • Healthy Smoothie Recipes
    • Healthy Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Healthy Slow-Cooker & Crockpot Recipes
    • Healthy Kids Recipes
    • Healthy Holiday Recipes
    • Healthy Vegan Recipes
    • Healthy Vegetarian Recipes
    • Healthy Mediterranean Diet Recipes
    • Healthy Diabetes-Friendly Recipes
    • Healthy Low-Calorie Recipes
    • Healthy Weight Loss & Diet Recipes
    • More Lifestyle Diet Recipes
    • More Health Condition Recipes
    • More Dietary Restriction Recipes
    • More Nutrient Focused Recipes
  • Special Diets

    Special Diets

    See All Special Diets
    • Clean Eating Diet Center
    • Mediterranean Diet Center
    • Low-Carb Diet Center
    • Weight Loss Center
    • Dairy-Free Diet Center
    • Gluten-Free Diet Center
    • High-Fiber Diet Center
    • Vegan Diet Center
    • Vegetarian Diet Center
    • Heart-Healthy Diet Center
    • Cholesterol Diet Center
    • Diabetes Diet Center
    • High Blood Pressure Diet Center
    • Low Sodium Diet Center
    • Healthy Aging Diet Center
    • Pregnancy Diet Center
  • Diabetes

    Diabetes

    See All Diabetes
    • Meal Plans for Diabetes
    • Diabetes-Friendly Recipes
    • Diabetes Diet Center
  • Healthy Meal Plans

    Healthy Meal Plans

    See All Healthy Meal Plans
    • Meal Planning 101
    • Dinner Plans
    • Clean Eating Meal Plans
    • Mediterranean Diet Meal Plans
    • Low-Carb Meal Plans
    • Weight-Loss Meal Plans
    • Dairy-Free Meal Plans
    • Gluten-Free Meal Plans
    • High-Fiber Meal Plans
    • Vegan Meal Plans
    • Vegetarian Meal Plans
    • Heart-Healthy Meal Plans
    • Low Cholesterol Meal Plans
    • Meal Plans for Diabetes
    • Blood Pressure Meal Plans
    • Low Sodium Meal Plans
    • Anti-Aging Meal Plans
    • Pregnancy Meal Plans
    • Healthy Kids Meal Plans
    • ThePrep
  • Healthy Eating

    Healthy Eating

    See All Healthy Eating
    • Healthy Eating 101
    • Eat More Vegetables
    • 30-Day Challenges
    • Good Food Fast
    • Healthy Eating for Kids
    • Best Healthy Foods
    • Green and Sustainable Eating
    • The Beet
    • Transformed
  • Healthy Lifestyle

    Healthy Lifestyle

    See All Healthy Lifestyle
    • Wine, Beer & Spirits Guide
    • Entertaining
    • EatingWell in Real Life
    • Plant Your Plate
    • Healthy Pets
    • American Food Heroes
    • Future of Food
    • Food with Purpose
    • Obsessed
  • Healthy Cooking

    Healthy Cooking

    See All Healthy Cooking
    • Healthy Cooking How-To's
    • Ask the Test Kitchen
    • Budget Cooking Guide
    • Thrifty
    • Family Heritage Cooking
  • Shop

    Shop

    See All Shop
    • EatingWell Cookbooks & More
    • EatingWell Frozen Meals
  • News
  • Videos

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Cooking Light Diet
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Meal Plans Chevron Right
  3. Vegan Meal Plans Chevron Right
  4. 31-Day Veganuary Dinner Plan for Beginners

31-Day Veganuary Dinner Plan for Beginners

Updated December 30, 2019
Skip gallery slides
Pin

Following a vegan diet, or even just incorporating more plant-based foods into your routine here and there can have significant benefits for both you and the planet, which is why going vegan for the month of January—or should we say, Veganuary—is a fantastic way to kick-start a healthy year. Eating more plant-based foods and fewer animal products helps decrease the risk of developing chronic diseases (like diabetes and heart disease), makes losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight easier and also benefits the planet by decreasing the production of greenhouse gasses. What’s more is that it’s a delicious and healthy approach to eating! Whether you’re trying out the vegan diet for the first time or already follow some of the principles, these 31 days of easy, cozy vegan dinner recipes will get you through the month with ease.

 

Start Slideshow

1 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

To make this 20-minute vegan curry even faster, buy precut veggies from the salad bar at the grocery store. To make it a full, satisfying dinner, serve over cooked brown rice. When shopping for simmer sauce, look for one with 400 mg of sodium or less and check the ingredient list for cream or fish sauce if you want to keep this vegan. If you like a spicy kick, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce at the end.

1 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Carbonara

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Carbonara, traditionally bathed in eggs, gets a vegan makeover using roasted and pureed butternut squash instead to make it ultra-creamy. A topping of ground almonds, garlic and sage gives it texture and an herby, savory flavor in place of the cheese and bacon.

2 of 31

3 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vegan Eggplant Parmesan

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Classic eggplant Parm is filled with cheese, but this vegan eggplant Parmesan combines nondairy mozzarella cheese with nutritional yeast for a dairy-free cheesy substitute that gives you the comfort food factor without animal products. For the breading, use egg replacer, which you can find in natural-foods stores and the special-diet section of large supermarkets.

3 of 31

Advertisement

4 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Use-All-the-Broccoli Stir-Fry

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Spiralized broccoli stems transform into tender noodles in this lo mein-inspired vegetarian recipe. Serve on top of brown rice or buckwheat soba noodles.

4 of 31

5 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Curried Sweet Potato & Peanut Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this flavorful soup recipe, sweet potatoes simmer in a quick coconut curry, resulting in a creamy, thick broth punctuated by notes of garlic and ginger. We love peanuts for their inexpensive price and versatile flavor. They're also a great source of protein--1 ounce has 7 grams.

5 of 31

6 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Chickpea Curry (Chhole)

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Made with convenient canned beans, this quick and healthy Indian recipe is an authentic chickpea curry that you can make in minutes. If you want an additional vegetable, stir in some roasted cauliflower florets. Serve with brown basmati rice or warm naan.

6 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Instant Pot Vegetarian White Chili

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Parsnips lend a wonderful sweet and nutty flavor to this healthy white bean chili. Using an Instant Pot (or any other pressure cooker) means this hearty chili can be ready in under an hour, but it still tastes like it's simmered away for hours. Pureeing some of the chili gives the stew a nice creaminess, but feel free to skip that step to save time. Garnish the chili with cheese and sour cream for a richer meal, or serve it as-is to keep it vegan.

7 of 31

8 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Spicy Vegetable Lo Mein

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Skip takeout and make a healthier Chinese lo mein at home that's packed with vegetables. Make sure you drain your noodles well before adding them, as wet noodles will turn your stir-fry into a soggy mess. For a less spicy option, omit the sriracha hot sauce.

8 of 31

9 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Lentils take the place of ground meat and vegan butter adds creaminess to the mashed potatoes in this easy vegan shepherd's pie recipe. If you want to cut down on the cooking time, use precooked lentils and omit most of the vegetable broth, adding some in only if the mixture seems dry.

9 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vegan Minestrone Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Is minestrone soup vegan? It can be, with the right ingredients! This vegan minestrone soup is heavy on the green vegetables (it has peas, zucchini and kale, to name a few!), setting this quick healthy soup recipe apart from the rest. If you miss the tomatoes, feel free to add them to the mix. Last but not least, enjoy the crispy garlic croutons that float on top and soak up the flavorful broth.

10 of 31

11 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Mushroom-Quinoa Veggie Burgers with Special Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These hearty mushroom, black bean and quinoa veggie burgers are a healthy and satisfying homemade alternative to store-bought veggie burgers. And they take just 25 minutes of active time to prep, so while they're special enough for entertaining, they're quick enough for weeknight dinners.

11 of 31

12 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vegan Potato-Leek Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This rustic vegan potato-leek soup proves you don't need cream to make a hearty soup. The recipe calls for two types of potato--red potatoes, which hold their shape and add color to the soup, and russet potatoes, which break down slightly when cooked, adding texture and body to the soup. And not only is this comforting soup vegan--it's also gluten-free. Serve with a salad and crusty bread for a healthy dinner.

12 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Stuffed Potatoes with Salsa & Beans

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Taco night meets baked potato night with this simple recipe for loaded baked potatoes with salsa, beans and avocado. This easy, healthy family dinner comes together with just 10 minutes of active time, so you can make it on even the busiest of weeknights. This recipe is just as delicious with sweet potatoes in place of russets.

13 of 31

14 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Grab your crock pot for this delicious and easy slow-cooker vegetarian chili with beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, bell peppers and sweet potatoes. The recipe requires just 20 minutes of active time: after a bit of chopping, you just dump the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it do the work. Adding a squeeze of lime juice and a sprinkle of cilantro just before serving brightens up the flavors. Top it with some shredded cheese, if you'd like, or serve it as-is to keep it vegan. Either way, this healthy chili is sure to become a go-to when you want a satisfying and healthy dinner.

14 of 31

15 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vegetarian Lo Mein with Shiitakes, Carrots & Bean Sprouts

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A hit of Sriracha gives a sweet and spicy edge to this healthy vegetarian recipe. Traditional lo mein is made with fresh lo mein noodles, which can be found in Asian markets. You can also use fresh or dried linguine noodles--fresh linguine is in the refrigerated section of some grocery stores. This easy dinner comes together in just 30 minutes, so it's perfect for weeknights.

15 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This vegan burger recipe is one you'll want to make again and again. Savory chickpea and zucchini patties are topped with a creamy, herb-flecked tahini ranch sauce, juicy tomato slices and peppery arugula for a satisfying and healthy homemade veggie burger. Serve them on buns or stuff them in pitas. We recommend making extra sauce--it's a great dip for veggie sticks and, thinned with a little water, it makes a wonderful salad dressing.

16 of 31

17 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Stew

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This Mediterranean stew is a healthy dinner chock-full of vegetables and hearty chickpeas. A drizzle of olive oil to finish carries the flavors of this easy vegan crock-pot stew. Swap out the chickpeas for white beans for a different twist, or try collards or spinach in place of the kale. Any way you vary it, this stew is sure to go into heavy rotation when you are looking for healthy crock-pot recipes.

17 of 31

18 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vegan BLATs (BLTs with Avocado)

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Roasted shiitake mushrooms doused in soy sauce with a dash of smoked paprika become a natural, vegan alternative to bacon. Try them in this vegan version of a classic BLT with creamy avocado and eggless mayonnaise or on top of a salad as a substitute for bacon bits.

18 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Roasted Root Veggies & Greens over Spiced Lentils

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This earthy bowl of lentils bursting with Middle Eastern flavors is topped with leftover roasted root veggies from a large batch for an easy weeknight dinner.

19 of 31

20 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Creamy Mushroom Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

There's no cream in this silky mushroom soup. Pureed potatoes give this vegan mushroom soup its creamy texture. Be sure to use Yukon Gold--russets don't provide quite the right texture.

20 of 31

21 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vegan Mac & Cheese

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Mac and cheese no longer has to be off the menu if you don't do dairy. A blend of hearty cauliflower, butternut squash, cashews and nutritional yeast gives this vegan macaroni and cheese the gooey, cheesy texture and flavor of traditional mac, without a bit of dairy!

21 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Noodle Salad with Tofu

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

We've kept it simple with just rice noodles in this healthy vegan noodle salad recipe, but if you want to go wild, use wheat noodles, glass noodles or even your favorite spiralized veggie noodles.

22 of 31

23 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Instant Pot Lentil Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This Instant Pot lentil soup is quick enough to prepare when you get home from work for an easy weeknight dinner. This vegetarian soup recipe is full of aromatic vegetables, brown lentils and fresh spinach. A splash of balsamic vinegar brightens the flavor, and a garnish of radish and parsley gives this comforting soup a fresh finish.

23 of 31

24 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vegan Meatballs

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

For these hearty and healthy vegan meatballs, we've swapped out the traditional ground beef and pork for protein-packed chickpeas and quinoa--without skimping on any of those Italian flavors that you look for in a classic meatball. Mushrooms up the umami factor, and a simple tomato sauce completes the picture. Serve over your favorite pasta.

24 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Thai Tofu & Vegetable Curry with Zucchini Noodles

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

For this quick Thai curry recipe, we've combined tofu and plenty of veggies with a flavorful sauce made with red curry paste, lime juice and coconut milk. Serve the curry over lightly warmed zucchini noodles to get even more veggies in your weeknight dinner. Bonus: Everything is cooked in one skillet, so there's only one pan to wash after dinner.

25 of 31

26 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Roasted Butternut Squash & Pear Quinoa Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This roasted vegetable and fruit salad gets infused with flavor from quinoa that's cooked with fresh ginger, garlic and a hit of turmeric. Serve it alongside a roast chicken, then mix the leftovers together for lunch. Your future self will thank you.

26 of 31

27 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Dan Dan Noodles with Spinach & Walnuts

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this riff on Asian dan dan noodles, spinach and red bell peppers are tossed with a sesame-chile-soy sauce and topped with walnuts. If you want to bump up the protein, add tofu, seitan or even chopped egg.

27 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vegan White Bean Chili

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Fresh Anaheim (or poblano) chiles add mild heat to this classic white bean chili and contribute lots of smoky flavor. Quinoa adds body to the chili, while diced zucchini provides pretty flecks of green and increases the veggie content.

28 of 31

29 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vegan Jambalaya

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You won't miss the meat in this healthy jambalaya recipe. Vegan smoked sausage takes its place while the classic "trinity" of vegetables--onion, red bell pepper and celery--get a kick from jalapeño peppers. And everything is cooked in one skillet, which means cleanup is a breeze!

29 of 31

30 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Slow-Cooker Vegetable & Tofu Thai Stew

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Cauliflower and tofu are ideal ingredients for this soup. The cauliflower soaks up the cooking liquid, and the tofu keeps the dish light, allowing the bold flavors in the liquid--predominantly the curry paste and lemongrass--to take center stage in this slow-cooker tofu stew.

30 of 31

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 31

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Beefless Vegan Tacos

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Take taco night in a new direction with these healthy vegan tacos. We've swapped crumbled tofu for the ground beef, without sacrificing any of the savory seasonings you expect in a taco. You can also use the filling in burritos, bowls, taco salads and to top nachos.

31 of 31

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 31 Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry
2 of 31 Creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Carbonara
3 of 31 Vegan Eggplant Parmesan
4 of 31 Use-All-the-Broccoli Stir-Fry
5 of 31 Curried Sweet Potato & Peanut Soup
6 of 31 Chickpea Curry (Chhole)
7 of 31 Instant Pot Vegetarian White Chili
8 of 31 Spicy Vegetable Lo Mein
9 of 31 Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
10 of 31 Vegan Minestrone Soup
11 of 31 Mushroom-Quinoa Veggie Burgers with Special Sauce
12 of 31 Vegan Potato-Leek Soup
13 of 31 Stuffed Potatoes with Salsa & Beans
14 of 31 Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili
15 of 31 Vegetarian Lo Mein with Shiitakes, Carrots & Bean Sprouts
16 of 31 Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce
17 of 31 Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Stew
18 of 31 Vegan BLATs (BLTs with Avocado)
19 of 31 Roasted Root Veggies & Greens over Spiced Lentils
20 of 31 Creamy Mushroom Soup
21 of 31 Vegan Mac & Cheese
22 of 31 Noodle Salad with Tofu
23 of 31 Instant Pot Lentil Soup
24 of 31 Vegan Meatballs
25 of 31 Thai Tofu & Vegetable Curry with Zucchini Noodles
26 of 31 Roasted Butternut Squash & Pear Quinoa Salad
27 of 31 Dan Dan Noodles with Spinach & Walnuts
28 of 31 Vegan White Bean Chili
29 of 31 Vegan Jambalaya
30 of 31 Slow-Cooker Vegetable & Tofu Thai Stew
31 of 31 Beefless Vegan Tacos

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
EatingWell

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing
  • Recipe Index
  • Jobs

Connect

Follow Us