50+ Best Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes (2024)

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Try these delectable whole food plant-based recipes if you’re new to this way of eating! Our beginner-friendly ideas include quick, easy, nutritious and crowd-pleasing goodness — from breakfast to dinner.

Preparing healthy plant-based meals on a daily basis can be easy and delicious with our selection of recipes!

No matter if you’re a seasoned vegan looking for new healthy ideas or want to dabble in a whole food plant-based diet, this article is for you.

50+ Best Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes (1)

free 7-day vegan meal plan

Your next week of eating is planned out with these quick and delicious vegan bowls, meal prepping steps & full grocery list.

Our list of recipes covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts and condiments that are not only 100% vegan but also sugar-free and oil-free, made with whole-grain products and fresh produce.

Sounds great? Find more oil-free vegan recipes, healthy dressings and colorful vegan bowls on our website.

We also have a healthy 1-week meal plan and a plant-based transition guide you’ll love!

Breakfast Recipes

50+ Best Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes (2)pin it

Easy Vegan Granola Recipe →

Breakfast is our favorite meal of the day! You get to eat delicious sweet food like breakfast cookies or fruity chia pudding alongside a good cup of coffee or tea.

Preparing whole food plant-based breakfast is really easy and satiating if you go for a combination of complex carbs, plant-based protein and healthy fats!

From creamy oatmeal to quick smoothies, savory tofu scrambles, pancakes with fruit or peanut butter sandwiches, so much deliciousness is waiting for you!

Check out our breakfast guide for more tips and try the following recipes.

Stuffed Vegan Crêpespin itFluffy Vegan Blueberry MuffinsDelicious Vegan Toasts 4-Ways
Vegan Berry White Bean SmoothieChocolate Overnight OatsVegan Chickpea Flour Omelette

Lunch ideas

50+ Best Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes (9)pin it

Vegan Grilled Cheese Recipe →

Make your own portable lunch instead of relying on restaurants to save money and ensure that your meal is whole food plant-based!

We love working with leftovers for lunch, but you can also make quick-to-assemble recipes like hummus wraps, sandwiches or bowls.

Check out our top tips and favorite packable lunches here and try some of the recipes below!

pin itEasy Homemade Vegan Bean BurritosMediterranean Pasta Saladpin itVegan Creamy Pesto Pasta
Creamy Vegan Potato Saladpin itHealthy Vegan Pizza RollsStuffed Collard Green Wraps

Easy snacks

50+ Best Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes (16)pin it

Baked Tortilla Chips Recipe →

Do you love snacking as much as we do?

Swap the greasy bag of chips for whole food plant-based-approved snacks like apple slices with peanut butter, trail mix, roasted beans or whole wheat crackers with some hummus.

Check out our selection of protein-packed snacks, kid-friendly snacks and homemade bliss balls for more ideas!

If you’re looking for store-bought whole food plant-based snacks, find our 25 favorite supermarket choices and 10 great snack boxes here!

Edible Chickpea Cookie DoughSpicy Oil-Free Roasted Chickpeas
Coconut Almond Bliss Balls
Peanut Butter Stuffed Datespin itFruity Sugar-Free Flapjacks
pin itVegan 7 Layer Mexican Taco Dip

Dinner recipes

50+ Best Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes (23)pin it

Tofu Veggie Bowl Recipe →

Filling, colorful and family-friendly: whole food plant-based dinners are plentiful and totally suitable for those on a budget or feeding non-vegans.

In fact, many common dinner recipes can be recreated to fit this diet by using a few healthy food swaps! Choose whole-grain pasta, add protein-packed beans or lentils, a serving or two of seasonal veggies and top with a flavorful vegan sauce.

Find an array of protein-packed, kid-friendly, budget-friendly, lazy and light dinners around our website! Start with the recipes below.

pin itEasy Vegan Bean ChiliQuinoa Stuffed Bell Pepperspin itHealthy Vegan Mac and CheeseOne-Pot Lentil Carrot SoupVegan Buffalo Cauliflower TacosEasy Vegan Hummus Veggie Pasta
pin itEpic Veggie-Stuffed LasagnaFlavorful Thai Vegetable Stir-Frypin itUltimate Veggie Bean BurgerEasy Vegan Chow Mein NoodlesVegan Rainbow Buddha Bowlpin itVegan Thai Potato Curry

Healthy desserts

50+ Best Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes (36)pin it

Chocolate Mousse Cake Recipe →

Do you want to stay for dessert? Great, because we have scrumptious whole food plant-based treats that are nourishing and so morish.

Nobody will believe that these recipes are fully vegan — let alone oil-free and sugar-free!

Common components for healthy plant-based recipes are oat flour, almond flour, whole wheat flour, mashed beans (yes!), silken tofu, fruits, coconut, dark chocolate and nut butter.

By the way, our favorite whole food plant-based sweetener is dates! You’ll find them in many of our desserts below. Check out no-bake vegan desserts here!

pin itNo-Bake Vegan Caramel Slicepin itEasy Vegan Cinnamon RollsVegan Sugar-Free Apple CrumbleEasy Bounty Balls
Fluffy Silken Tofu Chocolate MousseFudgy Black Bean BrowniesVegan Skillet Cookie CakeHealthy Vegan Carrot Cake

Easy condiments

50+ Best Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes (45)pin it

Garlic Yogurt Sauce Recipe →

Flavorful condiments are what bring all the different components of a meal together beautifully!

While you can totally go for store-bought vegan dips, dressings and sauces, they are often cheaper and healthier when made at home.

There are so many ways to eat hummus, one of the most classic vegan dips, and we love drowning our veggies or pasta in creamy sauces!

Whole food plant-based condiments are often based on nuts, seeds, beans or vegetables and flavored with a wide range of herbs and spices.

Roasted Beetroot HummusVegan Almond Ricotta CheeseQuick Vegan Brown Gravy
Vegan Honey Mustard DressingHealthy Peanut Butter SauceQuick Oil-Free Pesto

More healthy recipes

Our website is full of delicious, healthy and easy plant-based recipes! Check out these collections next.

  • 30+ Plant-Based Soups
  • 30+ Plant-Based Breakfast Ideas
  • 35+ Vegan Beginner Recipes
  • 25+ Plant-Based Smoothies
  • 22+ Vegan Sandwiches

Did you try any of these plant-based recipes? Let us know how you liked them in the comments below, leave a rating and Pin this article here.

50+ Best Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes (52)

50+ Best Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes

Yield: 3 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Try these delectable whole food plant-based recipes if you’re new to this way of eating! Our beginner-friendly ideas include quick, easy, nutritious and crowd-pleasing goodness. The following easy corn chowder is a comforting one-pot dinner idea the whole family will love!

Ingredients

Easy Corn Chowder

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cups cauliflower florets (220 g)
  • 4 cups vegetable broth (880 ml), divided
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 14 oz potatoes (400 g), peeled and diced
  • ¼ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups corn kernels (330 g), divided
  • 1 cup cooked cannellini beans (260 g), drained

Instructions

  1. Sauté onion, garlic and cauliflower in a few tablespoons of vegetable broth for 5 minutes while stirring frequently in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the rest of the vegetable broth, celery, potatoes, spices and half of the corn kernels. Cover the pot and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.
  3. Add the cannellini beans, then take the pot off the stove and blend everything using an immersion blender or regular blender.
  4. Add the remaining corn kernels to the corn chowder in the pot, then adjust to your taste preferences.
  5. Serve warm!

Notes

  • Any leftovers can be stored in a lidded container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat at your convenience.
  • Add some canned coconut milk for added fat and creaminess!
  • Find 50+ more easy whole food plant-based recipes in the article above.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 3Serving Size: ⅓ recipe
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 361Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 607mgCarbohydrates: 75gFiber: 12gSugar: 11gProtein: 16g

Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated automatically, their accuracy is not guaranteed. Just focus on whole plant-based foods and eat until satiety!

Please rate & share if you like this!

Leave a comment on our blog or share on Pinterest or Instagram.

50+ Best Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a realistic whole food plant-based diet? ›

Living a Whole Food, Plant-Based Life

This includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes (beans, peas, and lentils), nuts, and seeds. Many eventually give up the diet label in favor of lifestyle. Perhaps that's because the popular notion of dieting has become so confusing. A WFPB lifestyle should be simpler.

What not to eat on a whole food plant-based diet? ›

It encourages eating little to no processed food and discourages the use of oil and salt. This means that vegan meat and cheese, bread, ice cream, cookies, candy, snacks, and frozen meals are not allowed.

Can I eat bread on a whole food plant-based diet? ›

Are they included in a WFPB diet? You can eat true 100 percent whole-grain cereals, pasta, and bread and follow a WFPB diet, but you also need to be careful and read labels closely. Foods labeled as multi-grain, made with whole grain and 100 percent wheat are not pure 100 percent whole-grain foods.

Can you drink coffee on a whole food plant-based diet? ›

Coffee can be part of a healthy WFPB diet for most people. Some folks who suffer from anxiety/GI issues/low iron may want to steer clear or limit consumption. Tea is a great beverage to include in your WFPB lifestyle - especially herbal teas.

What is the downside of a plant-based diet? ›

Cons of a Plant-Based Diet

Potential Nutrient Deficiencies: Vegetarian and vegan diets need to pay extra attention to ensure they're getting enough protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin B12 in their diets.

Can you eat oatmeal on whole food plant-based diet? ›

Here are a few of the most common foods you'll see in a whole-food plant-based meal plan: Legumes: lentils, beans and chickpeas. Whole grains: quinoa, wheat, oats, farro and more. Seeds: chia, flax, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

Is oatmeal part of a plant-based diet? ›

Getting started on a plant-based diet may seem overwhelming, but take it one day at a time. Eat a variety of fruits and/or vegetables with all meals. Incorporate whole grains, such as oatmeal, quinoa, farro, brown rice, or whole wheat bread.

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.

Why am I so hungry on whole food plant-based diet? ›

It might seem obvious, but "one of the reasons why you might feel hungrier when you transition to a vegan or plant-based diet is because you may not be eating enough calories and nutrients," explains Julie Barrette, a senior clinical dietician with Providence Mission Hospital.

Why can't I lose weight on a whole food plant-based diet? ›

A whole food plant-based diet often leads to healthy weight loss, but if you're not seeing the scale move, these reasons could be why: You're still eating and cooking with oil. You need to eat more leafy greens (and fiber in general) You're going out to eat too much.

What are 5 plant-based foods? ›

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.

Is peanut butter good for a plant-based diet? ›

Plant Protein

Anyone can follow plant- based eating. Peanuts and peanut butter is one of the most powerful plant foods that have a perfect balance of calories and nutrients. They are a food that has a lot of nutrients to offer, with the majority of calories coming from those good nutrients.

Can you eat bananas on a plant-based diet? ›

A whole-foods, plant-based shopping list. Fruits: berries, citrus fruits, pears, peaches, pineapple, bananas, etc. Vegetables: kale, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, asparagus, peppers, etc. Starchy vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, etc.

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

People who follow a vegan diet avoid eating animal products, including conventional canned tuna, which is the key ingredient for popular dishes such as tuna melts and tuna salad sandwiches. Here's why cruelty-free and sustainable vegan tuna is a better choice. Traditional canned tuna is, of course, made from fish.

Can you eat cheese on a whole food plant-based diet? ›

Try not to equate protein with meat. There are a lot of great plant-based protein sources, including tofu, lentils, beans, nuts and nut butters, seeds, and quinoa. Don't forget: Dairy, eggs, beef, poultry, and fish are allowed on the plant-based diet, they just shouldn't be the center of the meal.

Can I eat yogurt on a whole food plant-based diet? ›

Following a plant-based diet means saying goodbye to all animal products — including lean meat and dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese and ice cream.

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