19 Scrumptious Vegan Recipes to Give You a New Lease on Lunch

Published by PETA Staff.

A diet high in vegetables and other plant-based protein is the way to improve one’s health, save animals, and help protect the environment. It seems as though everyone is recognizing this—from the American Medical Association, which stated that hospitals should serve more vegan meals, to these vegan bodybuilders and doctors.

These vegan lunch recipes with healthy veggies are so tasty, colorful, and vibrant that you’ll be the envy of all your coworkers or lunch buddies.

For more about vegan nutrition, check out our post about complete proteins and our vegan lifestyle infographic.

Bowls

Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl

This bowl is not messing around. Did you say maple-tahini sauce? It’s also packed with roasted sweet potatoes, kale, and crispy chickpeas.

Lightened Up Protein Power Goddess Bowl

Featuring spelt berries, spinach, green lentils, and more, this high-protein power bowl will keep you going until the end of the workday.

Curried Peanut Sauce Bowl with Tofu and Kale

Chef Isa Chandra Moskowitz created this gorgeous superfood bowl, featuring both curry and peanut sauce flavors.

Sandwiches and Wraps

Back-to-School ‘Chicken’ Salad

Vegan chicken salad is a great choice for a high-protein, midday pick-me-up.

Cauliflower Cheddar Grilled Cheese with Zucchini, Pesto, and Tomato

The basil–pumpkin seed pesto includes fresh basil, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice. Swoon!

Vegan Meatball Subs

A “meatball” sub is not for the faint of heart. You’d better be hungry if you’re going to tackle this one.

Vegan Chicken Sandwich with Avocados

This sandwich, though—it’s pure bliss, courtesy of vegan bacon, a “chicken” patty, avocado, and vegan cheese.

Salads

Mexican Quinoa Salad with Orange Lime Dressing

With all the protein in quinoa plus the fiber in black beans, you can’t lose.

Strawberry-Almond-Kale Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

Strawberries and almonds are a perfect flavor pairing.

Vegan Cobb Salad with ‘Honey’-Mustard Dressing

This salad includes spinach, tomatoes, vegan cheese, chickpeas, black olives, avocado, and delicious Tofu Eggs.

Southwest Salad with Creamy Chili-Lime Dressing

This Southwest number features crispy vegan chicken strips.

Mason Jar Meals

Asian Noodle Salad Jars

This scrumptious salad features soba noodles, crunchy rice noodles, red bell pepper, edamame, and carrots. Really, what else could you possibly need?

Mason Jar Miso Soup

Miso soup is a great lunch—it’s hearty but won’t weigh you down. This recipe includes mushrooms, corn, bean sprouts, sliced nori (seaweed) sheets, and so much more.

Raw Pad Thai Mason Jar Salad With Kelp Noodles

This mason jar lunch takes 15 minutes to prepare and is the perfect choice to throw in your backpack or purse on the way to work.

Burrito Bowl Mason Jars

In about 30 minutes, your vegan burrito mason jar dreams can come true. Sign us up.

Pasta

10-Minute Vegan Peanut Sesame Noodles

This spicy sesame noodle dish is similar to Chinese dan dan noodles. Add steamed broccoli to give it a veggie kick.

Pasta with Cashew Cream Sauce

Using just four ingredients (five if you add broccoli or Tuscan kale for extra nutrition), this dreamy pasta dish could be yours.

Bowl of rigatoni pasta with vegan cashew cream marina sauce

Vegan Stuffed Shells

How amazing would you be if you rolled into work with some delicious stuffed shells in tow? You’d be the envy of all your coworkers.

Eggplant and Portobello Pasta

Rosemary helps to flavor this portobello mushroom and white eggplant pasta sauce. Note that vegan beer is also an ingredient. Yum!

Ready to go vegan? We thought so. Order our free vegan starter kit to get you going:

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