21 Delicious Plant-Based Recipes for Beginners - Real + Vibrant (2024)

A delicious collection of plant-based recipes that are easy to make, completely reliable, and will build your confidence in the kitchen!

21 Delicious Plant-Based Recipes for Beginners - Real + Vibrant (1)

Looking to add more plant-based recipes into your diet but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you recipes that your loved ones will actually, truly enjoy!

I’ve totally got you covered today!

Below you'll find 21 simple and easy-to-make recipes, including breakfast, drinks, main dishes, salads, soups, and more!

Plant-Based Recipes that Build Your Confidence in the Kitchen

When I first started integrating more plant-based into my own diet, I struggled and felt overwhelmed. Let's just say my first batch of quinoa turned out less than appetizing. And I had no idea what I was doing with kale. Feeling defeated, I gave myself a goal to feel confident with 2 recipes, that's it. Once I became comfortable with those, I added two more recipes to my repertoire. Soon I was cooking at home on a regular basis!

Needless to say, I've gone through the hurdles of cooking food at home, especially when trying to make a change to support my health.

I've put together a solid list of plant-based recipes for beginners. And if you prefer a printable copy of these, just drop your email below and I'll send it your way!

Breakfast & Smoothie Plant-Based Recipes

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia seed pudding is delicious, versatile, easy to make, and a powerhouse of nutrients. It makes for a delicious snack, breakfast, and even dessert.

Overnight Steel Cut Oats

Here's a quick and easy way of making a delicious and filling breakfast. Made with steel cut oats and a few more ingredients, it just needs 5 minutes of your time right before you go to sleep and another 5 minutes in the morning!

Walnut Apple Crisp

This walnut apple crisp is inspired by the classic apple crisp dish. It’s made with fresh seasonal apples, nuts, oats, and warming spices. You'll love this guilt-free treat!

Morning Green Smoothie

A delicious, sweet and tangy green smoothie made with spinach, tangy lime, and sweet banana. This smoothie is perfect for busy mornings or as an afternoon snack.

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Tropical Matcha Smoothie

Looking for a new favorite smoothie? This is it! Made with spinach, mango, matcha, and ginger, this energizing smoothie takes all of 2 minutes to make!

Soups & Curries Plant-Based Recipes

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

This cauliflower soup is a delicious vegan staple any time of the year, but especially during the cooler months of the year. It’s silky, comforting, and easy to make.

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Sweet Potato Kale Soup

This delicious soup is hearty and nourishing. Made with sweet potato, kale, fresh tomatoes, and onions, it’s easy to make and comes together in a quick 30 minutes.

Chickpea Curry

Chana masala is an Indian staple and for good reason! It's with a delicious mixture of chickpeas, Indian spices, and fresh herbs. Tasty and easy to make, you can enjoy it with a side of rice, naan, or in a bowl!

Main Dish Plant-Based Recipes

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Simple, nourishing, and full of flavor! Tossed in a refreshing lemon herb dressing, this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is a crowd-pleaser. It's perfect on its own or as a side salad.

Sweet Potato Black Bean Bowl

This sweet potato and black bean bowl is packed with flavor and tastes delicious. It makes for a quick and easy meal to pull together any day of the week.

Vegan Power Bowl

This vegan power bowl makes the perfect filling plant-based meal. It’s packed with fresh greens, sweet potatoes, seasonal product, and avocado. So much to love in this bowl!

Garlic Roasted Cauliflower

These garlic roasted cauliflower florets make for a tasty side dish. Simple, delicious, versatile, and packed with flavor, each bite is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Cauliflower Tacos

Take taco night to the next level with these roasted cauliflower tacos! Made with delicious garlicky roasted cauliflower, red cabbage, and a creamy cashew sauce. These tacos are filling, tasty, and make the perfect meal.

Plant-Based Dressing Recipes

Creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing

Looking for that perfect go-to everyday dressing? This is it! It's delicious on salads, bowls, roasted veggies, and more. Made with a few ingredients, you'll love this dressing!

LemonVinaigrette

This vinaigrette is simple, fresh, tangy and full of flavor. It tastes great on almost any salad or bowl and also makes a great marinade.

Balsamic Vinaigrette

Elevate any salad with this everyday balsamic vinaigrette. It's silky in texture with the perfect mix of tangy with a touch of sweetness. You just can't go wrong with this dressing!

Plant-Based Drink Recipes

Iced Matcha Latte Recipe

Iced matcha lattes are delicious but can add up quickly when purchased at a coffee shop or cafe. This iced matcha latte recipe is easy to make for a fraction of the cost!

Hot Matcha Latte Recipe

This matcha latte is made with almond milk and matcha green tea. It takes only a few minutes to make - no whisk needed!

Turmeric Latte Recipe

You'll love this healing and anti-inflammatory beverage, made with turmeric, nut milk, cinnamon, and other Indian spices.

Plant-Based Almond Milk Recipe

Learning how to make almond milk is a great place to start when adapting a healthier lifestyle. Almond milk is a delicious plant-based alternative to dairy. It's easy to make and you only need two ingredients!

Plant-Based Oat Milk Recipe

This oat milk is so good! It's perfect for smoothies, baked goods, and more! It's easy to make, needs only 3-ingredients, and takes less than 5 minutes to make!

Get these Plant-Based Recipes in a Printable eBook!

Bookmark this page for later, or better yet, enter your email address below to get a free copy of the recipes delivered straight to your inbox!

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For More Easy Plant-Based Recipes...

…feel free to check out the full collection of Recipeshere on Real + Vibrant. Or my cookbook Plant Power Bowls: 70 Seasonal Vegan Recipes to Boost Energy and Promote Wellness (including a chapter on plant-based Desserts)!

Happy cooking, everyone!

21 Delicious Plant-Based Recipes for Beginners - Real + Vibrant (2024)

FAQs

How do you make plant-based food taste good? ›

Rich, savory seasonings can make plant-based food delicious

But meat-free foods like miso, mushrooms, or seaweed can offer a "tsunami of umami," particularly when combined with herbs, spices, and sesame or olive oil for richness, Buettner said.

What happens when you eat more plant-based foods? ›

Eating a plant-based diet improves the health of your gut so you are better able to absorb the nutrients from food that support your immune system and reduce inflammation. Fiber can lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar and it's great for good bowel management.

What is the best plant-based food to eat? ›

Leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, squash, bell peppers, cucumbers…the more, the merrier! Whole grains: many whole grains are a vital source of protein and fiber.

What 5 foods do you eat that are plant-based? ›

Plant-based or plant-forward eating patterns focus on foods primarily from plants. This includes not only fruits and vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legumes, and beans.

Can I eat eggs on a plant-based diet? ›

Eggs can and should be part of a plant-based diet, and these five suggestions showcase how easy it is to incorporate the incredible egg into your plant-forward dishes.

How do they make plant-based food taste like meat? ›

Umami is what gives savoury dishes that meaty, brothy taste – typically found as MSG. Some manufacturers will use what you might call an “umami bomb” to give plant-based applications the hearty, meaty taste consumers want from traditional meat.

What is used to make plant-based meat taste like meat? ›

Soy protein concentrate and pea protein are common ingredients used to mimic the true taste and texture of real meat. Editor's note: Some plant-based meat options, notably Impossible Foods products, contain GMO soy.

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