When starting to eat a plant-based diet, it can be challenging to come up with meals that aren’t just salads. Contrary to what you may think, there are a lot more options when it comes to plant-based meals. Here are some quick meal and snack ideas fueled by plants to help you get started with enthusiasm.

Plant-based meals are a hot topic right now as healthier diet options than traditional meat and potatoes. However, when you hear ‘plant-based,’ you may find yourself wondering, “is it vegetarian?” or “is it vegan?” The great news is that it can be either – or neither.

You can be entirely plant-based even if you eat a little meat here and there, but plant foods take the main stage with this dietary plan. The definition is a bit open to interpretation, and that’s one of the strengths of plant-based meals.

What are some plant-based meals? As you get started eating a plant-based diet, salads may be the only meal that comes to mind. However, there are many delicious vegetarian or vegan recipes for plant-based diet meals that aren’t salads. The same goes for snacks.

Today I’m sharing some fantastic ideas for quick plant-based meals as well as some fantastic easy plant-based snacks to keep you satisfied all day long.

Also, check out this awesome post on healthy food prep tips!

quick plant based meals and snacks

Quick and Easy Plant-Based Snacks

Snacks are typically eaten on the go. Plant-based snacks are no different and do not need to be time-consuming. Prep them ahead of time and take them with you for a guilt-free pick-me-up while you’re out and about.

What Snacks Can You Eat That Are Plant-Based?

What snacks can you eat on a plant-based diet? All kinds of things! A few of my favorite snacks that are fueled by plants include:

  • Carrots and hummus
  • Chips and salsa (particularly root chips)
  • Slices of fresh veggies
  • Fresh fruits
  • Side salad

Plant-Based Snack Recipes to Try

This list has snack ideas that are not only healthy and taste delicious but are easy to pick up and take with you no matter what your plans for the day include.

1. This Keto Vegetarian Recipe Is A Plant-Based Meal You’ll Love 

These keto eggplant meatballs are a tasty plant-based meal or snack that is completely vegan.

They’re made with a mix of 2  eggplants and 5 mushrooms and they’re baked though you could air fry them too. Use almond flour to bind them, and add hemp hearts to not only increase the protein content but also to give them some crunch and texture. 

2. When You Want An Easy Plant-Based Meal, Go For The Chipotle Corn Salsa 

Need something you can make well ahead of time for your next BBQ? Go for this easy and flavorful copycat Chipotle corn salsa recipe. With just a handful of simple ingredients, it can be made in minutes!

All you need for this plant-based snack is corn (frozen, fresh, or canned), some lime juice, tomato, red onion, cilantro, and salt and pepper (which you can skip out on to make it child-friendly). Prepare your corn – boiling, and cooling if using fresh corn; defrosting if frozen; draining the liquid if canned. Squeeze your limes, dice and chop everything else and mix in a bowl. 

3. Need A Vibrant Hummus For Your Plant-Based Meal? 

Go with this creamy vegan beet hummus dip. It’s so vibrant, healthy, packed with plant-based protein, and full of flavor!

You can make it from scratch and did I mention how easy it is to make it? Put all your ingredients in a food processor and blitz. Yup, that’s all you need to do to prepare this hummus that you can have with almost anything. 

Your ingredients: cooked chickpeas, cooked beetroot, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, cumin, olive oil, black pepper, and salt.

plant-based creamy vegan beet hummus dip

4. Here’s A Healthy Plant-Based Snack When You’re Craving For Some Chips

These versatile oven-baked zucchini chips make a delicious snack with a healthy crunch. These plant-based snacks are both paleo and keto and can be made quickly in an oven with ease.

Just like you’d make potato chips, slice your zucchinis but take some time to dry them since they’re very high in water content. 

5. Discover New Plant-Based Snack In These Baked Beet Greens Chips

Are you like me who thinks red whenever beets are mentioned? Well, this plant-based snack is miles apart from the color red because what you’re enjoying is the beet greens.

Baking them is an easy, tasty way to enjoy beet greens! You can customize the flavor by using different flavors like a vegan parmesan or a zesty lime topping. Yum!

6. Beautiful Plant-Based Low-Carb Party Appetizer 

How beautiful is this bite-sized low-carb appetizer? This tasty snack adds plenty of flavors and would make a welcome addition to any party. All you need are some medium-sized basil leave, mini mozzarella balls, black olives, grapes or cherry tomatoes, and olive oil or balsamic glaze for drizzling, though optional.

To assemble this plant-based snack, start by halving the cheese balls and the cherry tomatoes. Then lay down the basil leaves, place a halved cherry tomato/grape on each basil leaf, add the halved mozzarella ball to each tomato slice, top with the halved olive oil, and drizzle with some olive oil or balsamic glaze. 

7. If You Have To Have Potatoes, Try This Healthier Plant-Based Meal Instead

There are regular fries and then there are the air fryer sweet potato fries!  These are the absolute best side dish ever! Air frying makes them nice and crispy, skips out on the messy oil frying, and makes this plant-based meal just SO easy to make! 

Air fryer sweet potato fries with an avocado aioli for a plant-based meal

8. This Plant-Based Snack Is Miles Apart From What You Knew Growing Up 

I never knew how much I could LOVE Brussels sprouts until I made this air fryer version! Give this plant-based snack or appetizer a try and see for yourself. 

9. Try The Vegan Mushroom Pate For A Flavorful Plant-Based Meal  

If you are a pate fan, you’ll be amazed at how incredible this vegan mushroom-based version is. It’s earthy, meaty, and bursting with flavor! Serve this with crackers, swipe it on toast, or have it with veggies to dip.

Quick Plant-Based Meals

Think plant-based dinner recipes are time-consuming? Not these ideas. This list of vegetarian dinner ideas (many are even quick vegan meals) can be prepared fast or even ahead of time to help with those busy nights.

Plant-Based Meals That are Fast

No matter when you make these plant-based meals will be loved by the entire family. Each of these is meatless, delicious, and practically guaranteed to satisfy.

sweet potato fries and grilled leaves for quick plant based meals

10. You Gotta Have This When You Want Tantalizing Plant-Based Take-Out Meals 

Try this delicious and nutritious vegan teriyaki bowl recipe with tofu. It’s completely customizable and simple to throw together in just minutes.

11. These Plant-Based Quinoa Tacos Could Become Your Quick Go-To’s

One of my favorite quick plant-based meals is these quinoa tacos with avocado dressing. Whole food vegan recipes like this are great for overall health and plant-based weight loss. The avocado dressing sauce for this vegan tacos recipe is creamy and nutritious as well.

12. Busy? This Plant-Based Meal Is A Dinner Lifesaver! 

For those days life is just life, the vegan chickpea fajitas with mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers seasoned with homemade fajitas seasoning will become your go-to dinner. This healthy sheet pan meal can be cooking in the oven while you prepare the rice or tortilla bread to serve with it, or are busy helping your kiddos with homework.

Plant-based meal - chickpea fajitas with a lemon dressing cooked on a sheet pan.

13. The Plant-Based Quinoa Chickpea Salad Is Simply Perfect!  

This quinoa chickpea salad is filled with fresh, crisp vegetables and drizzled with a fantastic lemon dill dressing. This is one of those quick plant-based meals perfect for meal prep, potlucks, or a leisurely dinner!

bowl of plant-based meal - quinoa chickpea salad filled with fresh, crisp vegetables, drizzled with a fantastic lemon dill dressing

14. Peanut Tofu Satay Curry

If you haven’t tried plant-based meals with tofu yet, this is a great one to start with. Easy-to-make, super satisfying, and full of flavor is what you’ll get with the peanut tofu satay curry. And it’s a plus for being vegan and gluten-free too! 

15. Fast Plant-Based Meal – The Lazy Falafel 

This lazy falafel is SUPER easy to make! And by fast we mean it shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes to whip up this plant-based meal, and the speed doesn’t compromise on its taste – it’s as delicious as the traditional version.

Basically, all you need to do is to crush up some chickpeas and fry them off with onions and spices, and your plant-based meal is ready to eat with some pita bread. 

16. The Perfect Plant-Based Snack – Beet and Carrot Raw Slaw Salad

This beet carrot raw slaw is simply perfect when you need a beautifully simple salad – it’s filled with light tangy flavor, has a deliciously crunchy texture, and is gorgeous in presentation. Plus, it’s loaded with vitamin C, A, and tons of other nutrients. 

beet carrot raw slaw with a tossed dressing in a white bowl.

17. For A Light, Healthy Plant-Based Meal, Go For The Vegan Tuna Salad

Was the tuna salad once a favorite? Relieve those memories with this chickpea salad, which is a light and healthy recipe you can make as a quick plant-based meal. It takes less than 10 minutes to put together and is both gluten-free and vegan.

18. Another Plant-Based Meal You Can Safely Prepare Ahead 

This colorful and nutrient-dense kale power salad is the perfect make-ahead plant-based meal filled with crunchy vegetables and a peanut dijon dressing! Its secret lies in the kale which has the power to hold up well to dressings! 

Rainbow kale salad with a fresh peanut Dijon dressing being drizzled on

19. Need A Nutrient And Superfood Dense Plant-Based Meal For Summer?  

Try the grilled summer vegetable quinoa salad – it’s simply bursting with flavors and drizzled with a light lemon-basil vinaigrette!

It’s basically grilled zucchini, sweet corn, crunch red peppers, sweet red onion mix with fluffy, and whole-grain quinoa that’s drizzled with a homemade vinaigrette. Freshen up the salad with basil and trust the lemon to add to its brightness. 

20. This Is For Those Days You’ve Gotta Have A Fast Plant-Based Meal

It happens – you’re literally dying to eat something and you need it fast. Go for the keto cucumber avocado and pomegranate salad. It is one of those plant-based meals that can be thrown together in less than 5 minutes and pairs with just about any meal! Plus, the flavor is fantastic. 

plant-based meals - bowl filled with cubes of avocado, cucumber and pomegranate seeds.

21. When You Need A Fresh And Fast Plant-Based Meal, Try This Salad 

Whether you’re a salad person or not, you’ve gotta try this fantastic Brussel sprout and bacon salad – it’s one of the fastest plant-based meals or sides I’ve tried! The flavor here is excellent.

This plant-based meal is so fresh, crispy, sweet, and savory, and prides itself on being miles above other salads. And the cherry on top is the poppyseed vinaigrette. 

22. How About A Filling Plant-Based Meal You Can Eat Anytime? 

If you ever have a hard time getting veggies into your meals, this vegetable breakfast casserole is one of the best plant-based meals to make!

Eggs, fresh veggies, and potatoes give you a breakfast casserole that’s filling and perfect for just about any meal! 

Give These Quick Plant-Based Meals a Try

Going “healthy” by eating plant-based diet meals doesn’t need to take up a ton of time. So, if you’re looking to adopt a more natural diet that can also help your health and benefit the planet, this list of healthy, quick plant-based snacks and meals has you covered.

So whether you are on the go and need a quick pick-me-up, or you’re looking for great dinner ideas for a busy evening, all of these ideas are quick and simple to prepare. You’ll find something for everyone, and don’t let the “healthy” part fool you – all of these plant-based options are mouth-wateringly delicious!

collage of quick + easy plant-based snacks and meals - air fryer sweet potato fries, brussel sprouts, and a colorful and nutrient-dense kale power salad.

Enjoyed trying out any of these plant-based meals? If you’re new to this, here’s more information on the plant-based lifestyle: 

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