These Cozy Vegan Dinners Are Proof You Don’t Need Meat to Feel Fully Fed

While I normally like to plan meals ahead of each week, December was easily a month of me eating whatever was in sight—no plan, just vibes. It was a lot of sweets, it was a lot of savory snacks, and it was a hell of a lot of meat. And there is nothing wrong with any of that! But now that January is here, I’m looking to cut back on the meat just a bit and turn to more plant-forward meals that nourish me from the inside out.

Luckily, Serious Eats is full of vegan recipes! Many of the vegan dinner recipes on this list are easy and require only a handful of ingredients. So whether you’re participating in Veganuary, doing Meatless Monday, made a resolution to go full vegan, or are just looking to throw in a few meatless days in here and there, you’re sure to find a delicious and satisfying vegan dinner recipe below.

01 of 13

Serious Eats / Mateja Zvirotic Andrijanic

This recipe for plump chickpeas bathed in a spicy and tangy tomato sauce comes together with simple ingredients you likely already have on hand. To keep it vegan, just choose the vegetable oil option rather than ghee.

Get Recipe: Channa Masala

02 of 13

This curry is intense with garam masala and ginger, cooled by coconut milk and ground toasted cashews.

Get Recipe: Chickpea, Coconut, and Cashew Curry

03 of 13

While mapo tofu is typically made with ground beef, this recipe leans on dried and fresh mushrooms for a standout version that’s completely vegan.

Get Recipe: Vegan Mapo Tofu

04 of 13

This simple soup is made with roasted sweet potatoes, a splash of orange juice, and topped with crushed pistachios, olive oil, mint, scallions, and orange zest.

Get Recipe: Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

05 of 13

You can still have a mouth-tingling, umami-packed Kung Pao dish without the chicken—just add tofu plus some extra vegetables.

Get Recipe: Crispy Kung Pao Tofu

06 of 13

This vegan chili features a deep, spicy flavor, textural contrast, and rib-sticking richness. This chili gets an umami boost from Marmite or Vegemite—note that according to the Marmite website, all Marmite is certified vegan except the 70g jar, so be sure to check the label if you or somebody you are cooking for is a strict vegan.

Get Recipe: The Best Vegetarian Bean Chili

07 of 13

Kenji went through rounds of testing to make a veggie burger that was structurally sound, holds together on the grill, and objectively doesn’t suck. And he did not fail!

Get Recipe: Homemade Vegan Burgers

08 of 13

This vegan tofu tikka masala is every bit as rich and tangy as its chicken or paneer counterparts and comes together in under 45 minutes, making it as fast—if not faster—than takeout.

Get Recipe: Tofu Tikka Masala

09 of 13

Dried mushrooms are the secret to this soup’s intense and deeply satisfying flavor.

Get Recipe: Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage

10 of 13

The secret to imitating a beefy ragù and a creamy béchamel is all about layering flavors and textures. This recipe relies on ingredients such as mushrooms, seitan, and almond milk to do just that.

Get Recipe: Vegan Lasagna alla Bolognese

11 of 13

Daniel’s vegan version of carbonara is rich, dotted with meaty mushroom bits, and features the characteristic lactic tang of Pecorino Romano but with no dairy whatsoever. One commenter called this five-star recipe “hands down the best pasta dish I’ve had in the last five years.”

Get Recipe: Vegan Carbonara Pasta

12 of 13

Despite the creaminess of this sauce, you won’t find one drop of dairy. Instead, it’s made from puréed chickpeas. One key to making a delicious, deeply flavored sauce is starting with dried beans and boiling them with aromatics.

Get Recipe: Pasta With Vegan Chickpea Sauce

13 of 13