19 Vegan Dinner Recipes for a Healthy Heart

November 25, 2020

Skip gallery slides

These heart-healthy dinner recipes are so delicious that you won’t miss the meat. Each vegan dinner is packed with nutritious vegetables and is low in saturated fat and sodium so eating for a healthy heart is manageable and tasty. Recipes like Vegan White Bean Chili and Tofu & Snow Pea Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce are filling and make following a heart-healthy eating pattern a piece of cake.

Start Slideshow

1 of 19

Vegan Mushroom Bolognese

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This Bolognese sauce recipe is adapted from Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. We swap out the beef and pork for button mushrooms to keep this traditional comfort food vegan yet weighty with umami flavor. And while some recipes call for red wine, this recipe sticks with Hazan's white wine selection.

Advertisement

Advertisement

2 of 19

Seitan BBQ Sandwiches

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Enjoy classic BBQ flavor with filling vegan seitan, or wheat meat. The sliced seitan needs time in a hot pan to turn brown and crispy; let it sear before coating it with the tangy ketchup mixture for the best texture. A side of sweet potato chips makes the perfect pairing for a fast weeknight meal.

3 of 19

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.

Advertisement

4 of 19

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.

5 of 19

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.

6 of 19

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.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

7 of 19

Tofu & Snow Pea Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A fast dinner recipe perfect for busy weeknights, this easy stir-fry recipe will quickly become a favorite. To save time, use precooked rice or cook rice a day ahead.

8 of 19

Vegan Cauliflower Fettuccine Alfredo with Kale

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this date-night-worthy vegan fettuccine Alfredo recipe, cooked cauliflower transforms into a rich, luscious sauce when it's blended with softened cashews. A high-speed blender will give you the creamiest results. Opt for whole-wheat fettuccine to add fiber to this vegan pasta recipe.

9 of 19

Vegan Scallops

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

King oyster mushrooms stand in for shellfish in this look-alike vegan scallop recipe. The seaweed in the recipe helps add that characteristic flavor of the sea, while tamari and vegan Worcestershire amp up the umami.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

10 of 19

Spinach Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, White Beans & Basil

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Roasted sweet potatoes are paired with spinach, cabbage and white beans and tossed together with a bright basil dressing in this healthy main dish salad.

11 of 19

Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

The rich mushroom sauce in this vegan version of classic beef stroganoff gets thick and creamy thanks to vegan sour cream.

12 of 19

Chinese Sweet & Sour Tofu Stir-Fry with Snow Peas

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy sweet and sour tofu stir-fry is easy to whip together on weeknights. Just be sure to plan ahead so that you can freeze the tofu in advance. It gives the tofu a meatier texture and helps it absorb the sauce.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

13 of 19

Chickpea & Potato Curry

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This fast Indian-style curry comes together with ingredients you most likely have on hand, like frozen peas and canned tomatoes and chickpeas. Plus, using these spices shows how simple it is to make a curry sauce for an easy vegetarian recipe. Serve with whole-wheat naan to sop it all up.

14 of 19

Tofu Tacos

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These quick vegan tacos, filled with a spicy tofu filling, make a perfect weeknight dinner. To keep them vegan, top them with shredded cabbage, fresh pico de gallo and guacamole. For vegetarians, add crumbled queso fresco.

15 of 19

Vegan Black Bean Burgers

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These easy vegan black bean burgers have a healthy dose of fiber thanks to the combination of black beans and quinoa. Cumin and chipotle chile powder give these vegan burgers a Southwestern spin. Using your hands to combine the mixture creates a soft, uniform texture.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

16 of 19

Spicy Tomato & Arugula Pasta

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

The simplicity of this healthy pasta recipe makes it good family fare. For a touch of heat, mild Anaheim chiles are augmented with crushed red pepper and garlic.

17 of 19

Vegan Superfood Buddha Bowls

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This nutrient-packed vegan Buddha bowl recipe comes together in 15 minutes with the help of a few convenience-food shortcuts like prewashed baby kale, microwavable quinoa and precooked beets. Pack these ahead to keep on hand for easy meal-prep lunches or dinners on busy nights.

18 of 19

Vegan Pad Thai with Tofu

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You won't miss the scrambled eggs and fish sauce in this vegan version of the Thai favorite because the flavorful sauce hits just the right balance of sweet, spicy and umami.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

19 of 19

Vegan Lasagna

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Silken tofu seasoned with cheesy-tasting nutritional yeast makes a flavorful vegan substitute for ricotta and Parmesan. Whole-wheat noodles and lots of veggies make this version healthier than a typical lasagna.

Up Next