21 Quick and easy dinners for midweek or lazy weekends.

I don't know about you, but I live my life at top speed. 

I know it's not healthy, but that's just how it is. I have a day job, my blog to run as well as writing for various online and in print magazines and developing recipes for brands. 

On top of that I have a family to look after, a house to keep and meals to cook. Believe me I'm always in a rush.

Quick Meals

Meals often have to be a speedy affair too. We're home late a few times a week, with a small window of opportunity for dinner before our wee boy needs to go to bed. It's all very tiring and it can be stressful too.

Be Organised

As I try to organise myself for the week (this doesn't always happen), I need interesting meals I can get to the table quickly, but they still have to taste good and be relatively healthy. No huge lists of ingredients either or any weird ingredients. It has to be simple, healthy and filling.

I bet you feel the same too!

My midweek meals have to:

1. Be quick
2. Have a short list of ingredients
3. Have no weird or hard to find ingredients
4. Use what I have in the store cupboard and fridge
5. Be something my family will enjoy (I am not cooking two meals)
6. Not break the budget
7. Taste great!

BEST Vegan Recipes

I've been searching the web for some of the best quick vegan recipes and I've found lots to share with you. 

I've also included some of my recipes too, which have been tested out and approved by my family before I share them.  

I hope you try some of these recipes and they inspire you to make your busy midweek dinners more varied.

also check out Back to School Vegan Lunches for Kids

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........ and come back to this list of recipes when you need inspiration

21 Quick Vegan Meals for Midweek Dinners 

YOU'LL LOVE!

1. Chili Quinoa-Bean Bites (with Chipotle Mashed Sweet Potatoes)

Chili Quinoa-Bean Bites are crisp on the outside and soft in the middle, with pops of sweet, juicy corn and a bit of a kick from the chilli (not too spicy though!).

recipe and photo

Coconuts and Berries

2. Green Goddess Farfalle with Dairy Free Pesto

A tasty pasta with dairy free pesto, broccoli, spinach and peas. Super tasty and healthy, but filling too. This pasta dish is good hot or cold as a pasta salad.

recipe and photo

Tinned Tomatoes

3. Creamy Curried Kale and Chickpeas

A favorite dish, a creamed spinach with chickpeas similar to Palak Paneer but without the cheese.

recipe and photo

Fat Free Vegan

4. Spinach and Coconut Dal

A delicious, but frugal family meal, that can be thrown together in under half an hour. Great for during the week, when you get in from work late and need to put a meal on the table.

recipe and photo

Tinned Tomatoes

5. Spicy Three Bean Sausage Rolls 

Spicy vegan sausage rolls made with a selection of beans and spices all bound up in golden and flaky puff pastry.

recipe and photo

Tinned Tomatoes

6. Maple-Orange Roasted Chickpeas and Carrots

These Maple-Orange Roasted Chickpeas & Carrots are a nice side-dish, or you could roast some potatoes at the same time and turn it into a one-pan meal.

recipe and photo

Coconut and Berries

7. Greek Pasta Salad

A fresh pasta salad with the flavours of Greece, little balls of vegan cream cheese and a zingy dressing.

recipe and photo

Tinned Tomatoes

8. Vegan Smoky Red Pepper & Cheese Bean Burgers

Smoky red pepper, cheese and bean burgers. These juicy, smoky burgers are easy to make and great served stacked high in buns with salad and some vegan cheddar melted over them. Ready in 20 mins.

recipe and photo

Tinned Tomatoes

9. Kale and Cashew Pesto Spaghetti

A creamy green sauce for spaghetti that's super silky and coats the pasta beautifully. The pesto is homemade from kale and cashews. It's suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

recipe and photo

Tinned Tomatoes

10. Black Bean and Red Lentil Chili

Black lentils hold their shapes while red lentils break down slightly to thicken the chili. This is one of those dishes that tastes best after the flavors have a chance to blend, so if possible, make it ahead of time and reheat before serving.

recipe and photo

Fat Free Vegan

11. Spiced Carrot, Lentil and Spinach Soup

A gently spiced soup that has so much flavour. It's vegan and dairy-free and perfect if you are watching your weight. It's only 184 calories for a huge bowlful or 138 calories for a standard bowlful.

recipe and photo

Tinned Tomatoes

12. Korean Sweet Potato Noodle Stir Fry (Japchae) with Marinated and Baked Tofu

 This is a classic Korean stir fry dish using deliciously chewy, gluten-free sweet potato vermicelli. Although mainly a party or celebratory dish in Korea, it is easy enough to make for the family as a midweek meal.

recipe and photo

Food to Glow

13. Zucchin (courgette) Bhaji and Tarka Dal

These zucchini bhaji have a great flavour and texture and best of all - they use up a LOT of zucchini! Tarka dal is made for dipping these bhaji.

recipe and photo

Maple Spice

14. Mini Margherita Puff Pizzas

Easy mini Margherita pizza pies that can be made in under 30 minutes. They are easy enough for children to make and they always love to eat them. Serve with a salad for a light dinner.
.

recipe and photo

Tinned Tomatoes

15. Creamy Mushroom and Leek Risotto

A creamy leek and mushroom risotto recipe, with tips on how to make the perfect risotto and a free printable recipe.

recipe and photo

Tinned Tomatoes

16. Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

A rich spaghetti sauce, sweet with the flavour of tomatoes, with some warmth from a little spice and the smoky flavour of roast red peppers and red onions

recipe and photo

Tinned Tomatoes

17. Quick and Easy Five Vegetable Dal

Just add herbs or spices and vegetables to cooked grains and dinner is on the table in around 20 minutes. Serve with naan or flatbread.

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Utterly Scrummy Food For Families

18. Fridge Lentil Soup

A warming lentil soup, made to use up salad drawer stragglers. Healthy, nutritious and very, very tasty.

recipe and photo

Tinned Tomatoes

19. Black Bean Quinoa Chili

The thing we really like about this soup is the black velvety texture from pureeing about one-third of the cooked beans before they go into the soup, but you can forgo the blending and keep it chunky.

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Food to Glow

20. Baked Sesame Tofu Sticks with Peanut Butter, Tahini, and Ginger Sauce

Baked Sesame Tofu Sticks with Peanut Butter and Tahini Sauce are a great snack.

recipe and photo

Kalyn's Kitchen

21. Spiced Tofu and Mushroom Tacos

Homemade soft, warm tacos filled with a roasted pepper tapenade, salad leaves, roast spiced tofu, roast red onions and roast mushrooms

recipe and photo

Tinned Tomatoes

If you need more inspiration?

Looking for more easy vegan recipes? Check out these food guides.

• 25 Awesome Puff Pastry Recipes for Vegans
• 41 Insanely Good Vegan Lunches
• The Ultimate Sandwiches Guide  
• (50 Droolworthy Veggie & Vegan Sandwiches)
• Ultimate 4th of July Vegan BBQ Guide
• Best Vegan and Dairy-Free Products (UK)
• Most Popular Vegan Recipes 2017

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RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Chip Shop Battered Tofu

This is the chip supper you would love to order from your local chip shop, but will be very lucky if it's on their menu.

It's a real winner but easy to make. 

Creamy tofu is coated in thick, crisp, spicy beer batter. 

Serve this chip shop battered tofu with chips, peas and tomato ketchup. I'm not keen on mushy peas but I know a lot of you out there love them, so you could serve them with those if you like or even baked beans.

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I hope these meals have inspired you to try some new recipes.  Thanks to everyone who contributed a recipe. Do share this post as a thank you to the contributors and save it for later.

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