Healthy Vegan Lunch Ideas
50 delicious and nutritious vegan lunch ideas. From quick and simple light bites to hearty vegan lunches packed with plant-based protein, here are easy vegan lunch recipes sure to satisfy and impress. Including salads, sandwiches, soups, pasta, and more!
Whether you’re looking for easy vegan lunch ideas for work or home that are light and healthy or more cozy and comforting to keep you feeling full until dinner, ready in just minutes, meal prep friendly, loaded with plant-based protein, etc., keep reading to get inspired by 50 of my top vegan lunch recipes to suit any mood and preference.
Vegan Salad Recipes
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
This Mediterranean orzo salad combines al dente orzo (optionally gluten-free) with fresh, crunchy vegetables and protein-dense white beans, tossed in a bright lemon vinaigrette for a low-fuss, healthy, simple summery vegan lunch salad in under 30 minutes.
You might also like this healthy vegan pasta salad.
Thai Glass Noodle Salad
This simple flavor-packed noodle salad combines vibrant, crunchy fresh veggies with chewy glass noodles in a lightly spiced Thai dressing sprinkled with crunchy peanuts. The result is a dairy-free, gluten-free, easy vegan lunch loaded with texture and flavor and ready in 25 minutes!
Couscous Salad
This 15-minute Moroccan-inspired couscous salad makes for a light yet hearty lunch you can enjoy year-round. It combines fluffy couscous with fresh veggies (like cucumber, tomato, and bell pepper) in a perfectly spiced Ras El Hanout dressing. Perfect for meal prep and as an easy vegan work lunch.
Chickpea Quinoa Salad
Looking for a hearty yet healthy vegan lunch loaded with plant-based protein? This healthy quinoa salad combines chewy quinoa and chickpeas with fresh salad veggies (like tomato, cucumber, and red onion) in a bright lemon vinaigrette for a fresh, summery lunch you can enjoy all year round.
Lentil Salad with Tahini Dressing
Cook the lentils from scratch or rely on canned lentils for a hearty, protein-packed, quick vegan lunch you can enjoy in minutes. It combines lentils, crisp salad veg, apples, fresh herbs, and seeds. The star of the show, though, is the AH-MAZING sweet, savory, rich homemade tomato, maple, and tahini-based dressing you’ll want to lick from the bowl!
Alternatively, check out my 20-minute savory Kidney bean salad complete with creamy tahini dressing OR Mexican avocado salad with black beans.
Lebanese Fattoush Salad
Lebanese Fattoush salad combines crispy pita bread with fresh salad veggies in a bright lemon juice and pomegranate molasses dressing for a quick vegan lunch loaded with texture and flavor that won’t leave you feeling weighed down.
Chickpea Vegan Buddha Bowl
Make a wholesome and nourishing vegan lunch bowl with a combination of crispy chickpeas with noodles, a rainbow selection of veggies (and fruit), and simple yet delicious and nutritious creamy avocado dressing. It’s simple to throw together, super adaptable, and a great way to ensure you eat your 5-a-day.
Alternatively, make an equally nourishing lunch bowl with mini hasselback potatoes as its key ingredient.
Brown Rice Salad
This vegetable and rice salad is a hearty, healthy, and nutritious plant based lunch idea. It combines brown rice and mixed fresh salad vegetables in a vegan sour cream-based dressing in 40 minutes (far less if you have leftover rice!). Plus, it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and super satisfying!
Sandwiches, Wraps, Tacos, and More
10-Minute Chickpea Tacos
All you need is 10 minutes to pull together this low-effort meatless meal that’s hearty, healthy, versatile, and loaded with nutrients. This version combines crispy chickpeas and fresh salad veggies in a creamy tahini dressing.
Have a little more time? You might also enjoy heartier baked cheesy rice and bean tacos, lentil meat tacos, or lentil-vegetable taco cups.
Avocado Toast Multiple Ways
When you’re in the mood for a super low-effort lunch loaded with nutrients, this brunch-time favorite is one of my go-to’s. Simply combine sliced or mashed avocado with your favorite toppings (plenty of inspiration included!) for a nutritious, delicious light lunch.
Looking for another delicious, nutritious toast topping? Try vegan tofu scrambled egg.
Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad Sandwich
Did you know you can make a delicious vegan tuna replacement with chickpeas?! This chickpea salad is bright, creamy, tangy, crunchy, naturally dairy-free, and gluten-free, and a wonderfully high-protein option to make a chickpea salad sandwich, wraps, and salad.
The Best Vegan Grilled Cheese
Looking for easy vegan lunches that are light yet also cozy and comforting? You can’t go wrong with an ooey-gooey, cheesy vegan grilled cheese. My version is mouth-wateringly delicious, combining veggies and homemade cheese sauce.
Vegan Sloppy Joes
Ditch beef for protein-rich canned white beans in this simple but delicious and nutritious vegan sloppy joe recipe. It’s a satisfying vegan/vegetarian lunch idea loaded with comfort and flavor in just 20 minutes.
Vegan Shawarma Kebab Sandwich
Craving kebab for lunch but consuming a meat-free diet? Make your own! This vegan shawarma is made with perfectly spiced jackfruit that tastes DELICIOUS when served in pita bread (optionally gluten-free pita) with salad veggies and a creamy garlic yogurt sauce. A healthy vegan lunch the entire family will love.
Vegan Mushroom Gyros
Make a delicious and healthy Greek fakeout vegan meal with homemade mushroom-based gyros ‘meat’ loaded into fluffy pita bread with salad veggies and homemade vegan tzatziki. It’s far lighter than takeout, 100% vegan, gluten-free, and ready in under 30 minutes.
Vegan Breakfast Burritos
Okay, I know it’s literally called a breakfast burrito. However, having meal-prepped and enjoyed these hearty, protein-packed, fully loaded potato, bean, & vegetable-stuffed vegan burritos more times than I can count, I can confirm they’re delicious and will keep you full until dinner.
Black Bean Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a low-fuss and super versatile healthy vegan lunch you can pull together in under 30 minutes. This version combines mixed veggies (like bell pepper, mushrooms, corn, and onion) with black beans and plenty of vegan cheese sauce. It’s super satisfying, cozy, and filling.
Another version I love combines eggplant, spinach, and vegan cheese.
Easy Vegan Taquitos
Make crispy vegan taquitos in the oven or an air fryer for a simple, delicious, gluten-free, healthy vegan lunch at home or on the go, with your choice of hearty, delicious fillings. This version uses a perfectly spiced potato vegetable filling and can be air-fried in just 6 minutes.
I also have a delicious version of spicy buffalo chickpea taquitos, too!
Quinoa Lentil Burgers
Looking for easy vegan lunches for feeding a crowd? Why not try these hearty, wholesome quinoa lentil burgers (or vegan black bean burgers), ready to load up in a bun with a side of fries. These burgers are loaded with plant-based protein, fiber, and several micronutrients, are meal-prep friendly, can be baked, pan-fried, or air-fried, and are loaded with savory, earthy, smoky flavor.
Light Bites and Lunch for On-The-Go
Vegetable Zucchini Fritters
These gluten-free, oil-free, vegan crispy vegetable fritters are loaded with zucchini, potato, and carrot (or veggies of your choice) and can be air-fried, baked, or pan-fried until crispy outside and tender in the middle! Enjoy this or other fritters as tasty vegan lunch ideas in burgers, wraps, salads, with fries, etc.
Interested in trying more simple fritter/nugget recipes? Check out my chickpea broccoli nuggets, mixed veggie fritters, cauliflower patties, and red lentil patties.
Stuffed Potato Cakes
Use fresh or leftover potatoes to assemble delicious stuffed potato cakes stuffed with mixed veggies and cheese. Once cooked, they’re crisp outside with a fluffy potato inside and versatile veggie filling. Perfect for serving with a side salad for a light and simple lunch.
Homemade Arepas
Learn how to make arepas at home with simple 3-ingredients pan-fried cornmeal cakes loaded with all your favorite fillings – like dairy-free cheese, refried beans, avocado, etc. They’re naturally gluten-free and a quick and delicious versatile light vegan lunch idea you can enjoy in under 30 minutes.
Love the combination of cornmeal pastry and filling? Also, check out my recipe for versatile vegan empanadas that you can bake or air fry as a light lunch.
Air Fryer Falafel
Ditch the deep fryer for an air fryer for healthier homemade falafels that are crisp outside and tender inside in just 15 minutes. They’re perfect for wraps, salads, and mezze bowls alongside pita bread and dips like hummus, tzatziki, and white bean dip.
Quick and Easy Eggplant Pizza
Make super delicious eggplant pizza slices with just a handful of ingredients and customizable toppings. Plus, they’re gluten-free, grain-free, keto, and vegan and can be baked or air-fried to enjoy as a crowd-pleasing light lunch with a simple side salad.
Easy Savory Crepes
For those days you’re craving something hearty and savory vs. the usual sweet crepes, try these protein-rich crepes made in under 30 minutes and stuffed with a perfectly spiced chickpea, mushroom, and spinach filling.
Simple Vegan Sushi
Learn how to make sushi at home for a light yet delicious, endlessly versatile meal. It’s the perfect vegan lunch idea for work, date days, and friend/family gatherings to get everyone involved.
Vegan Summer Rolls
Rice paper rolls are a light, healthy vegan lunch for several reasons. They’re a great meal for clearing out your crisper drawer, and it’s so easy to mix and match the fillings in dozens of ways and then pair them with a creamy peanut sauce for ultimate satisfaction.
Crispy Rice Paper Dumplings
Crispy rice paper dumplings took the internet by storm earlier this year, made by stuffing regular rice paper wraps with your favorite fillings – like noodles or sushi rice and veg – then pan-fried until crisp outside, slightly chewy, and loaded with flavor. Serve them with a dip for a delicious, satisfying, healthy vegan lunch.
Savory Vegetable Egg Muffins
Looking for delicious vegan lunch ideas for work and school lunchboxes? These savory muffins combine a tofu-based vegan ‘egg’ with versatile and adaptable veggies for a highly nutritional, protein-dense, flavor-packed addition to lunch on the go.
Another tasty bite-sized lunchbox snack includes ‘egg’ stuffed breakfast tomatoes.
Soup Recipes
While they aren’t always the quickest recipes to prepare, soups a meal-prep, vegan lunch idea favorite of mine, perfect for whipping up a large batch one evening to enjoy over several lunches with bread or a small side salad.
Creamy Vegan Broccoli Soup
This vegan broccoli soup is creamy, comforting, and loaded with nutrient and antioxidant-rich vegetables (like broccoli, celery, and potato) for a super healthy, surprisingly low-calorie soup you can enjoy all year long in just 35 minutes.
The Best Vegan Lentil Soup
Looking for high-protein vegan lunch ideas? This vegan lentil soup is perfectly spiced with a warm, earthy, slightly spicy flavor and made in 45 minutes with simple, inexpensive, healthy ingredients in one pot. Once ready, it’s a super hearty, flavor-packed soup loaded with plant-based protein and fiber to keep you full until dinner.
Vegan Pumpkin Soup
Find yourself craving warm soups in the cooler fall/winter months? Then, this pumpkin soup is a must-try. It’s creamy, comforting, and packed with autumnal flavor. Best of all, it requires just a few simple ingredients, is naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, and whole30, and can be made in under 30 minutes on the stove, in an Instant Pot, or in a slow cooker.
Best of all, when pumpkin isn’t in season, you can easily swap it for butternut squash.
Vegan Tantanmen Ramen
As convenient as packaged ramen is, did you know you can make homemade ramen from scratch with healthy ingredients in under 20 minutes? It’s warm, hearty, comforting, and has a tasty balance of creamy, spicy, highly aromatic flavors thanks to ginger, garlic, chili oil, tahini, and even a little peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter).
Want even creamier ramen with a spicy Thai twist? Try this 30-minute creamy vegan ramen.
Tomato Pasta Soup
Are you a fan of tomato soup and pasta separately? Then get ready to fall in love with this vegan tomato pasta soup recipe. It’s super warm, hearty, comforting, and can be made in one pot in less than 30 minutes!
Carrot Ginger Soup
Get ready to be blown away by how much flavor is packed into this simple 40-minute carrot ginger soup. It’s smooth and creamy, lightly spiced, made heartier with potato, and loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder
This creamy corn chowder perfectly highlights sweet, fresh, in-season corn during the summer months but makes for a hearty, comforting (yet low-fat) soup during fall/winter, thanks to frozen corn. It’s rich, loaded with veggies, and ready in 30 minutes.
Looking for even more delicious soup inspiration? Check out my list of 23 top vegan soup recipes.
Vegan Pasta Recipes
Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
This roasted red pepper pasta is creamy and smoky with a naturally sweet-savory flavor thanks to bell peppers, garlic, onion, cashew butter (nut-free options available), and several pantry spices. It’s a comforting lunch you can enjoy in just 30 minutes, chilled or warm over several days.
Quick and Easy Spinach Pasta
Looking for quick, easy, super healthy vegan lunch ideas you can pull together in under 10 minutes? This spinach pasta is that and more – a dairy-free, oil-free, nut-free, flavor-packed pasta with flavor notes similar to pesto, but made primarily with nutrient and antioxidant-rich spinach.
You can also make a healthy homemade avocado pesto in just 5 minutes and pair it with pasta for a delicious, nutritious, low-effort vegan lunch.
Simple One-Pot Orzo
In the mood for vegan lunch ideas that are warm, creamy, and comforting? This one-pot orzo is cooked in a creamy tomato sauce -like a faux risotto- in just 25 minutes, perfect for an easy vegan lunch alone or with a side of garlic bread.
Mushroom and Leek Pasta
This 25-minute vegan pasta dish is a delicious lunch or dinner made with simple pantry ingredients for a slightly sweet, savory, somewhat creamy, umami-rich pasta dish loaded with veggie goodness and super satisfying. It meal preps well, too!
Pasta with Chickpeas (Pasta E Ceci)
Pasta e ceci is part pasta, part soup, part stew: combining a classic soup base of onion, carrot, and celery with short-shaped pasta and chickpeas in a lightly spiced, herby, creamy broth. It’s low budget, pantry friendly, and loaded with protein and flavor – perfect for enjoying throughout the week for lunch and dinner.
20-Minute One Pot Pasta
This simple one-pot pasta is super cozy and comforting with your pasta of choice and adaptable mixed vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned) in a creamy tomato sauce. You only need one pot and 20 minutes for this dairy-free, vegan, low-effort, last-minute meal.
Spicy Sriracha Noodles
As impressive as stir-fries are as a quick and flavor-packed dinner, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy it as a satisfying vegan lunch idea. These Thai-inspired spicy sriracha noodles are perfect for those who like a bit of spice and are ready in just 20 minutes. Best of all, like most stir-fries, it’s extremely versatile and customizable – perfect for clearing out your crisper drawers.
Prefer milder noodles? Check out my recipe for simple vegetable stir-fry noodles.
More Family Favorite Vegan Lunch Ideas
Tofu Vegetable Kabobs
These BBQ marinated tofu and vegetable skewers are jam-packed with sweet and savory, umami-rich BBQ flavor and can be baked, grilled, or pan-fried to serve as part of a protein-packed lunch at BBQs, garden parties, or quick mid-week meals. I love to serve them with various salads and sides like Greek tomato rice or quinoa pilaf.
Looking for another quick and simple protein to add to lazy lunches? Check out my super crispy air fryer tofu – it cooks in just 11 minutes!
Vegan Pizza
There’s never a wrong time for delicious vegan pizza – especially when you can have heaps of fun with the base and toppings. At just 67kcal a slice, my low-calorie potato pizza crust is gluten-free, yeast-free, sugar-free, and great for potato lovers. However, you might prefer a sweet potato crust, my Keto zucchini pizza crust, or even traditional Italian pizza dough. Want it to be easier to take on the go? Check out my vegan calzone recipe.
Once you’ve found your ideal base, it’s time to experiment with toppings. Like my simple Mexican pizza loaded with refried beans, veggies, and cheese. Or how about a crispy chickpea and avocado pizza?
Versatile Vegan Quiche
This veggie-packed quiche tastes great and is super adaptable, meal prep friendly, and 100% dairy and egg-free. Instead, it relies on chickpea flour to create a delicious and nutritious vegan quiche filling that tastes surprisingly eggy (thanks to a secret ingredient) nestled in a decadent crust- perfect for enjoying at lunch alongside potato salad, German cucumber salad, etc.
Prefer a lighter, crust-free option? Check out my recipe for chickpea flour frittata instead.
Easy Vegan Omelette
Even as a vegan, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy a delicious, nutrient-dense, flavor-packed omelette for lunch. It’s stuffed with veggies, made with simple ingredients, and ready in just 20 minutes. The only difference? This version is 100% egg and dairy-free!
Simple Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms
While stuffed mushrooms are often considered a party appetizer, these hearty chickpea veggie stuffed portobello mushrooms also make for a delicious, protein-dense, hearty vegan lunch idea that are perfect for enjoying with a salad.
Baked Sweet Potato
How to make crispy oven-baked sweet potato in just 3 simple, fuss-free steps until tender and fluffy inside with a delicious naturally sweet, lightly caramelized flavor that makes for a delicious vessel for dozens of toppings. A wholesome, delicious plant-based lunch idea you can bake or microwave (so that’s it’s ready in just minutes!).
Chickpea Vegan Shakshuka
This vegan chickpea shakshuka has seen my brunch and lunch table more than I can count. With a combination of chickpeas and heaps of veggies in a smoky, slightly spicy, savory tomato sauce, it’s loaded with nutrients (and plenty of plant-based protein) and can be thrown together in 30 minutes as a super nutritious, filling lunch with bread/ cornbread.
Looking for another simple, flavor-packed, nutrient-dense vegan lunch idea? Try a simple vegan chili. It’s heat adjustable, a simple one-pot meal, and ready in 40 minutes.
More Vegan Recipe Roundups
- 41 vegan air fryer recipes
- 63 Vegan Christmas dinner recipes (full menu)
- 27 vegan pasta recipes you’ll love
- 33 vegan chickpea recipes
- 24 best vegan lentil recipes
- 14 vegan pantry-friendly dinners
- 36 best vegan desserts
- 7 fruit-infused water recipes
If you try any of these vegan lunch ideas, I’d love a comment and ★★★★★ recipe rating on their posts. Also, please don’t forget to tag me in re-creations on Instagram or Facebook with @elavegan #elavegan—I love seeing them.
Vegan Lunch Recipes: Chickpea "Tuna" Salad
Ingredients
- 1 (15-oz) can chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1/2 small (60 g) red onion roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup (50 g) celery chopped
- 1/4-1/3 cup (60-80 g) vegan mayonnaise or tahini sauce
- 2 small dill pickles
- 1 1/2 Tbsp lime juice or lemon juice
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 nori sheet crumbled into small pieces
- 1 tsp capers (optional)
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Bread slices for serving
Instructions
- You can watch the video in the post for visual instructions.First, roughly chop the red onion, celery, and dill pickles, and transfer them to a food processor along with all the remaining ingredients.
- Pulse the mixture about 8-12 times until it’s well incorporated but still has plenty of texture.
- OR, if you don’t have a food processor, finely dice the veggies first, transfer the chickpeas to a medium-large bowl and roughly mash them with a fork or potato masher, then add in the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
- Finally, taste the vegan tuna salad and adjust any of the flavors (mayo, lemon/lime, mustard, dill, salt & pepper). Enjoy!
Notes
- I served the no-tuna salad with this gluten-free protein bread.
Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically
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