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

Bowl of Pappa Al Pomodoro in a black bowl on dark blue surface, with dark dyed napkin and a glass of red wine — Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Glaze

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.

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Channa Masala

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.

Channa Masala
Chickpea, Coconut, and Cashew Curry

Andrew Janjigian

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

Chickpea, Coconut, and Cashew Curry
Vegan Mapo Tofu

Melissa Hom

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.

Vegan Mapo Tofu
Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

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.

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

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Crispy Kung Pao Tofu

Serious Eats / Melissa Hom

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

Crispy Kung Pao Tofu
The Best Vegetarian Bean Chili

Serious Eats / Julia Estrada

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.

The Best Vegetarian Bean Chili
Homemade Vegan Burgers

Serious Eats / Fred Hardy

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!

Homemade Vegan Burgers
Tofu Tikka Masala

Serious Eats / Jatin Sharma

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.

Tofu Tikka Masala

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

Serious Eats / Mariel De La Cruz

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

Japanese Udon With Mushroom-Soy Broth, Stir-Fried Mushrooms, and Cabbage
Vegan Lasagna alla Bolognese

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.

Vegan Lasagna alla Bolognese
Vegan Carbonara Pasta

Vicky Wasik

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."

Vegan Carbonara Pasta
Pasta With Vegan Chickpea Sauce

Vicky Wasik

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.

Pasta With Vegan Chickpea Sauce

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Tuscan Pappa al Pomodoro (Tomato and Bread Soup)

Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Glaze

This Tuscan bread-and-tomato soup is one of the best ways to enjoy tomatoes in the winter.

Tuscan Pappa al Pomodoro (Tomato and Bread Soup)

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

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