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30-Minute Plant-Based Dinner Ideas

It's dinner time and you only have 30 minutes to get food on the kitchen table. Here are 30-minute, plant-based meal ideas that will get those hungry bellies fed ASAP!

Thai-style vegetable curry in a bowl made with red bell peppers, potatoes, and broccoli.
by Aly Michell Dated: August 24, 2021 Last Modified: August 28, 2023 Leave a Comment
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(This post may have affiliate links. Please see my disclosure.)
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  • 5 Tips To A Quick, 30-Minute Dinner 
  • 30-Minute Plant-Based Dinner Ideas

I get it - after a long day of just being a busy human being, a 30-minute dinner recipe sounds like the perfect thing to wrap up a night (or let’s be real: takeout). 

As much as I love cooking and exploring new plant-based dinner recipes, sometimes I just want to hang up the apron and get something on the dinner table quick and easy.  

When I think about dinner, the first thing I think about is utilizing the ingredients I have in my kitchen.

That way, I can skip the grocery trip. Additionally, using what I already have helps me reduce food waste and be a little more intentional about thinking outside of the cooking box. 

Pro-tip: shop more pantry items that stretch out for a long time (canned beans, rice, pasta, sauces, and spices). These items are useful in quick dinner plant-based recipes. Plus, they are typically inexpensive. 

5 Tips To A Quick, 30-Minute Dinner 

Plan Beforehand 

A great way to create a quick dinner is to prepare beforehand. This could mean chopping, organizing, or even discovering a new plant-based recipe before it’s time to whip something up in the kitchen.

It also helps to have ingredients already on hand to avoid a grocery trip. 

What I do is take a look at what I have around in my pantry and kitchen and come up with something with what I already have.

For example, if I have cooked brown rice ready to be used, I drag that out and make loaded stir-fry rice. 

Go For Recipes With Minimal Prep Time 

When searching for recipes online, take a look at the recipe first. Take note of the prep time, cook time, and the steps needed. Anything that requires too many steps or too long of a cook time, toss it. Look for something different. 

Most recipes will note the cooking time. If not, reading the recipe steps will give you a good idea of how long it might take to create the dish. 

Search For One Pan/Pot/Baking Sheet Recipes

Using only one cooking tool can make things easier and faster. Examples include an Instant Pot, wok, baking sheet, and cast iron skillet, or dutch oven. These cooking tools often do not need help from others and whole meals can be made from them. 

Currently, one of my favorite kitchen tools that I purchased recently is a dutch oven. It helps distribute heat more evenly, is great for longer cook times like stews, by preventing it from drying out, and it can be used both on the stovetop and in the oven. 

Heat Pre-Made Frozen Dinner

Keep your freezer well-stocked with already cooked, plant-based meals that simply need to be heated through.

If there’s a day during the week when you have ample time to meal prep, use that time to cook freezer-friendly meals that can be warmed throughout the week. 

These freezer meals can include curries, stews, soups, and chilis. 

If you need something cozy for dinner, check out 10 Soup Recipes For Fall.

If you’re going with the pre-cooked, freezer route, go for freezer-grade containers including glass storage containers or reusable silicone bags.  

Keep It Simple 

Look for recipes that only require a handful of ingredients, steps, and cookware. A great option would be a classic spaghetti dish.

Other easy plant-based recipe options include, a tofu sandwich loaded with chopped veggies, tacos, and stir-fry. 

There are plenty of recipes online that are reasonable, fast, using everyday ingredients and cookware. Or, cook something that you’ve made more than a dozen times before. So there are no surprises - just get straight to the cooking point. 

30-Minute Plant-Based Dinner Ideas

Oil-Free Vegan Fried Rice

A delicious, oil-free healthy vegan fried rice recipe loaded with your favorite veggies along with tofu scramble!
Oil-free "fried" rice with veggies served on a platter

Beefless "Beef" Stew (Puerto Rican Style)

Try our mouthwatering Puerto Rican-style vegan beef stew! Enjoy the flavors of the Caribbean in this cruelty-free twist on a classic favorite.
Vegetarian beef stew with chunks of potatoes, carrots, vegan beef, green olives in a gray bowl

Black Bean Tofu Burger Recipe

Protein-packed, healthy plant-based burgers made with tofu, black beans, and mushrooms. A kid-friendly burger that's great for a weekday dinner meal. Gluten-free, vegan, and healthy.

10-Ingredient Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese

Grab your bowls - we’re making the ultimate comfort food: Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese! Made with just 10 ingredients and incredibly easy to make.
Bowl of vegan macaroni and cheese.

Vegetarian Tofu Bean Chili

The BEST vegetarian tofu bean chili. This classic, comfort dish is made with tender tofu, creamy beans, rich tomato sauce, and a blend of pantry-friendly spices. 
Vegetarian tofu bean chili in a gray bowl topped with chopped cilantro
20-Minute Thai-Style Vegetable Red Curry
Flavor-packed, Thai-style vegetable red curry made with sweet red bell pepper, broccoli, and tender potatoes. Cooked in just 20 minutes! Serve with a side of jasmin rice or roti.
Check out this recipe
Thai-style vegetable curry in a bowl made with red bell peppers, potatoes, and broccoli.

Creamy Rigatoni With Sofrito Avocado Sauce

Quick and easy, creamy rigatoni pasta gently tossed in avocado and fragrant sofrito sauce. Made with a Puerto Rican twist, using adobo. A delicious dinner recipe that’s perfect for a busy weekday summer night.
Rigatoni pasta in a creamy avocado sauce in a gray bowl. Topped with chili flakes.

20-Minute Habichuelas Guisadas (Puerto Rican Bean Stew)

Puerto Rican bean stew (habichuelas guisadas) packed with Latin flavors and ingredients. This dish is 100% vegan, healthy, and a great addition to other Puerto Rican sides.
Habichuelas guisadas or Puerto Rican bean stew made with potatoes, beans, and green olives in a bowl.

Cannellini Bean Burgers (with Pantry-Friendly Ingredients)

Need a QUICK and EASY burger? These Cannellini Bean Burgers are made with pantry-friendly ingredients! No need to chop or shred! These burgers are also 100% vegan, gluten-free, eggless, and dairy-free.
Cannellini bean burger with sirarcha mayo sauce, spinach, and sliced onions.

Spring Vegetable Fried Rice

Easy, 10-minute, vegan spring vegetable fried rice! A healthy, springtime recipe loaded with seasonal vegetables. Serve as a side dish or as the main meal.
Spring fried rice with vegetables in a bowl.

20-Minute Chipotle Sofritas

A flavor-packed sofritas recipe that's inspired by Chipotle's version of the dish. Made with adobo sauce, fresh homemade sofrito, and "meaty" firm tofu. A great dish to add with rice, tacos, burritos or a salad.
Vegan chipotles sofritas in a cast-iron skillet served with black beans, cilantro-lime rice, and tortillas.

Vegan Palak “Paneer” With Tofu

Flavor-packed vegan palak "paneer" made with tofu, spinach, and Indian spices. A healthy dish that is best served with naan, roti, or a side of rice.
Vegan palak paneer in a large white bowl with a side of sliced onions and white rice.

One-Pot Pasta With Roasted Tomatoes and Mushrooms

Make dinner easy with a 30-minute, One-Pot Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and Mushrooms. Made with just a handful of ingredients, this is the perfect weeknight meal for the budget-friendly family.
One-pot rigatoni pasta in a bowl with mushrooms, spinach, red chili flakes.

10-Ingredient Vegan Broccoli Curry

Creamy, full-bodies vegan broccoli curry with easy-to-find ingredients. The perfect weeknight dinner recipe, taking only 20 minutes to make!
Bowl of vegetable broccoli curry with flatbread.

Did you try any of the recipes on this 30-Minute Plant-Based Dinner Ideas list?

Please leave a comment below, share it, rate it, or tag a picture @plantbasedandbroke on Instagram and hashtag it #plantbasedandbroke. Show off that creation with us

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Category: All, Plant-Based Dinner Recipes, Recipe Roundups

About Aly Michell

Previous Post:13 Vegetarian Packed Lunch Ideas
Next Post:Vegan Black Bean ChiliVegan black bean chili in gray bowl topped with pan-roasted corn and chopped cilantro.

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Hi, My name is Aly Michell! I create plant-based recipes that are easy, accessible, using everyday cookware.

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