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    Home » Collections

    30 Vegan Lunch Ideas

    Published: Jan 15, 2023 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Looking for easy vegan lunch ideas? These quick and tasty vegan recipes are healthy, fulfilling, and beginner-friendly.

    We've listed 30 of our best lunch recipes that help you prep smarter and make lunch faster at the same time! Browse through this list, and take your pick: from colorful salads, and sandwich ideas, to vegan dips and grain bowls. Hopefully, you'll get as excited about quick and easy lunches as we are.

    Vegan lunch ideas with sandwich and salad

    Whether you're looking for meal-prep ideas, lunchbox inspiration, or easy vegan recipes, you can find your favorite on this list.

    Healthy Lunches in 30-mins

    You're busy, yet you want a healthy and fulfilling lunch. These are our simplest and quickest recipes for an ultra-quick lunch perfect for when you're busy and on the go.

    1

    Italian Flatbread (Piadina)

    Piadina is a thin yeast-free Italian flatbread that you can fill with anything you like and enjoy for a light lunch, snack, or dinner. Fill it with stringy vegan cheese and rocket and you'll have an amazing vegan lunch.

    2

    Chickpea Frittata Muffins

    Chickpea frittata muffins are an easy make-ahead recipe that you can eat as a nutritious and tasty breakfast, quick lunch, or dinner. You can customize these and use peas, carrots zucchini in the batter.

    3

    Tomato Bruschetta

    Tomato bruschetta is crunchy, juicy, garlicky, and perfect as an appetizer, quick lunch, or even for brunch. The recipe is simple, and you can make it in 10 minutes with a few ingredients.

    4

    Vegan Mushroom Pasta

    Vegan mushroom pasta is a quick and creamy pasta recipe, that you can make in just 15 mins! It's simple, yet incredibly delicious and flavorful.

    5

    Vegan pasta salad with lemon vinaigrette

    A quick pasta salad which is perfect as a make-ahead lunch and dinner - for work or at home. And it is incredibly nutritious and full of healthy vitamins.

    6

    Vegan Chickpea Salad

    This vegan chickpea salad is an easy and nutritious dish. Make it in just 15 minutes with simple, fresh ingredients and a refreshing lemon vinaigrette.

    7

    Chickpea Quinoa Salad

    Chickpeas and quinoa are combined to create a simple and healthy chickpea quinoa salad with fresh, seasonal veggies and a simple lemon vinaigrette.

    8

    Tofu Salad (Creamy Dressing)

    This tofu salad recipe is a crunchy and healthy bowl perfect for lunch or dinner. Low in calories, high in flavor and filling. Make this today and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

    9

    Vegan Mayo

    Our recipe for vegan mayo is very similar in taste and texture to real mayonnaise. It's as thick and creamy as the real deal. It's also perfectly spreadable, and it can be used in sandwiches, hamburgers, and wraps.

    10

    Vegan Tuna

    Vegan tuna is a quick and easy recipe made with mashed chickpeas. It's the perfect replacement for tuna in a sandwich, to fill a baked sweet potato, as an appetizer, or just as is as a vegan tuna salad.

    11

    Rice Salad

    This easy rice salad is adapted from the Italian rice salad and it's the perfect summer dish, easy to prepare in advance, and bring with you for a picnic outdoors.It's a fulfilling meal that is nutritious, light, crunchy, colorful, and refreshing.

    12

    Chickpea Pasta Salad

    Lunch in just 20-mins with wholefood plant-based protein. You'll love this healthy pasta salad recipe because it's tasty, nourishing, and fulfilling, rich in vitamins, and antioxidants.

    13

    Farro Salad

    Farro salad is refreshing and delicious, thanks to chewy farro, crunchy veggies, and a tasty Italian dressing.

    14

    Vegan Egg Salad

    If you are looking for a great, quick, and fulfilling vegan lunch or snack idea, you need to try this vegan egg salad. Made with tofu, vegan mayo, and herbs, it’s great on a sandwich or on its own.

    15

    Chickpea crepes - Savoury mushroom pancakes

    Chickpea crepes are the vegan version of savory French pancakes. They are truly delicious and easy to make, perfect when you feel like eating something different.

    16

    Vegan Couscous Salad

    This vegan couscous salad is easy, fresh, crunchy, and nutritious. Follow our recommendations or make it with your favorite veggies.Toss it with a simple homemade lemon vinaigrette and fresh herbs to make this easy, delicious and healthy meal

    17

    Tofu Cream Cheese

    This tofu vegan cream cheese is made with 5 simple ingredients and it's smooth, velvety, and perfect to use as a starter, dip, or spread in a sandwich. You can easily flavor the basic recipe of this vegan cream cheese with many vegetables like roasted eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, or steamed artichokes.

    18

    Couscous with Vegetables

    Couscous with vegetables is a delicious way of enjoying couscous. This is an easy recipe that you can make in less than 30 minutes, with seasonal veggies and herbs. Serve this dish warm, or make it ahead and serve it cold for a quick lunch on the go.

    19

    Vegan Ricotta Cheese

    This is the best nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free ricotta. It has a creamy, soft texture and a neutral flavor that is perfect for making both sweet and savory dishes and for serving on bread.

    20

    Vegan frittata - no eggs, no tofu

    Would you believe me if I told you that this eggless vegan frittata, made in 15 minutes with chickpea flour, is just as good as a traditional frittata? This vegan frittata is crisp on the outside, soft and moist on the inside, and for some reason, it feels like eating a regular egg frittata.

    21

    Farinata (Socca)

    Farinata or socca is an easy recipe, made by mixing together chickpea flour and extra virgin olive oil, then baking it in the oven for about 20 minutes.

    22

    Garlic and Oil Pasta (Spaghetti Aglio e Olio)

    This is the original recipe for garlic and oil pasta, a delicious Italian meal also known as spaghetti aglio e olio.We'll show you how to make it to perfection in under 15 minutes, with simple ingredients

    23

    Black bean salad

    Here's a nutritious, colorful, and lime-dressing infused black bean salad. Roasted sweet potato, black bean, avocado, and corn make the base of this autumn- and winter-friendly bowl. Great for meal-prep, and putlock meals too!

    24

    Orange Tofu

    This easy vegan dish is the best alternative to orange chicken. We use crispy oven-baked tofu coated in a sticky, sweet and sour orange sauce. It's tasty, tangy, and delicious.

    25

    Tofu Soup

    This tofu soup is quick, tasty, and easy. You can make it in 20 minutes, with simple ingredients and seasonal veggies any time of the year.

    26

    Pan fried tofu with mushrooms

    Pan-fried tofu with mushrooms is a quick and delicious recipe that is perfect for every day, last-minute dinner or lunch.

    27

    Vegan Carbonara

    This vegan carbonara is a simple recipe that can be made in 15 minutes. The taste of our carbonara sauce is similar to the taste of an authentic Italian carbonara recipe. A perfect quick lunch for busy days.

    28

    Spinach Pesto (Vegan Recipe)

    Our spinach pesto is an easy recipe that you can make in 5 minutes in a blender. Use the pesto with your favorite pasta, zucchini noodles or as a spread in a sandwich or wrap.

    29

    Tofu with Pizzaiola Sauce

    Only 10 mins cooking with this quick and simple lunch. We fry thinly sliced tofu and cook it in a rich tomato and oregano sauce - a perfect last-minute meal for the whole family.

    30

    Lemon Tofu

    Lemon tofu is an easy, everyday recipe prepared in just 10 mins. Simply fry the tofu on a pan with little olive oil and coat it in a quick lemon sauce.

    How to make a tasty vegan meal

    You can easily make a quick, healthy, colorful, and delicious vegan meal by using three main components.

    1) Fresh, colorful, and crunchy veggies. You can go local and seasonal for the best taste and nutrition.
    2) Crispy and tasty plant-based protein. Choose from tofu, legumes, tempeh, pulses, quinoa, seeds, brown rice, and grains. Choose, 1, 2, or 3 take make the nutrition profile as varied as possible.
    3) A creamy and nutritious dressing or topping. Take your pick from this list of easy vegan sauces, or pair it with creamy toppings, such as:

    • Avocado spread: velvety smooth and creamy, and packed with healthy fats
    • Easy Guacamole: a perfect topping for salads and filling for wraps
    • Cashew sour cream: homemade sour cream in 10 minutes with cashews and lemon
    • Eggplant dip: with roasted eggplant and tahini, a creamy and aromatic topping idea
    • avocado spread
      Avocado Spread
    • guacamole
      Guacamole
    • vegan sour cream
      Vegan Sour Cream
    • baba ganoush eggplant dip
      Eggplant Dip - Baba Ganoush

    What to eat on a vegan diet

    With this abundance of vegan lunch ideas, hopefully, you can use this list as a source of inspiration for making healthy plant-based lunches.

    With a list of vegan recipe ideas, you won't run out of inspiration to make nutritious, high-protein meals*. You can even take breakfast and dinner ideas from these other lists:

    • 25 Vegan brunch recipes
    • 29 Easy dinner ideas
    • 25 Vegetable sides
    • 40 lazy vegan recipes
    • 25 Best tofu recipes
    • 25 Vegan salad recipes
    • 43 Plant-based desserts

    *Always consult a doctor or nutritionist for a tailored diet plan that fits your exact needs.

    For many more 30-minute meal ideas, check out our 30-minute meal category page.

    Vegan lunch recipes with salads and sandwiches

    30 Vegan Lunch Ideas

    Author: Nico
    These delicious vegan lunch ideas are easy to make, healthy, vibrant, and beginner-friendly.
    Try this 10-minute vegan tuna salad that you can serve with a baked potato, in a sandwich, or as a quick appetizer.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Main Course, Snack, Starter
    Cuisine International
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 137 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2x 15-ounce cans chickpeas drained
    • ⅓ cup vegan mayo
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon nori sheet blended into flakes
    • ½ medium red onion chopped
    • 1 stalk celery chopped
    • 1 handful parsley chopped
    • ½ lemon the juice
    • 1 tablespoon capers or pickles - chopped
    • 2 pinches salt
    • 2 twists black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Drain and rinse the canned chickpeas then transfer them into a large container with low edges such as an oven dish or into a large mixing bowl and mash them with a fork.
      Tip: It's easier to mash the chickpeas in a flat container like an oven dish than in a bowl.
      mashed chickpeas in a baking pan
    • Add the rest of the ingredients: vegan mayo, soy sauce, mustard, blended nori sheets, chopped red onion, chopped celery, chopped parsley, chopped capers, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
      all ingredients for vegan tuna in a container
    • Mix with a fork until all ingredients are well combined. Taste and adjust for salt.
      vegan tuna just made by mixing all ingredients
    • Serve in a sandwich, on toasted bread, as a starter, on a baked potato, or eat as is as with a side of lettuce leaves as a salad.
      baked sweet potatoes stuffed with chickpea tuna

    Video Recipe

    Mashed Chickpea Salad (vegan "tuna") in 15 minutes

    Notes

    Nori Sheets are added to give a sea flavor to the vegan tuna. If you don't have or don't like nori seaweed you can omit it.
    The best way to add nori is to blend the sheets in a blender at full speed until the sheet turns into dust or flakes. You can store the leftover nori flakes into an airtight container for months, and use it sprinkled on salads or other meals.
    See the variation chapter in this blogpost to have a better idea about how to use this vegan tuna salad.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    30 Vegan Lunch Ideas
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 137 Calories from Fat 108
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 12g18%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1g
    Potassium 93mg3%
    Carbohydrates 5g2%
    Dietary Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 1g2%
    Vitamin A 203IU4%
    Vitamin B6 1mg50%
    Vitamin C 10mg12%
    Vitamin E 1mg7%
    Vitamin K 21µg20%
    Calcium 17mg2%
    Folate 13µg3%
    Iron 1mg6%
    Manganese 1mg50%
    Magnesium 8mg2%
    Zinc 1mg7%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

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    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

    Hi, we are Nico and Louise, and we love cooking! Welcome to our blog.

    Here we share veggie-packed recipes for the whole family.

    Omnivores, flexitarians, vegetarians, and vegans, you are ALL WELCOME to this community.

    More about us →

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