High-Protein Vegan Recipes

Vegan Stir-Fry With Hoisin Sauce and Coconut Rice — The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

If you're looking for vegan main dishes with at least 10 grams of protein we've got you covered. These plant-based recipes lean into the legumes, tofu, tempeh, and TVP. We've got everything from stir fry to veggie burgers to cozy, warm shepherd's pie. Welcome to this vegan wonderland of flavors and textures.

01 of 19

Mushroom Burger

The Spruce

While the veggie burger concept may not seem revolutionary, lots of us overlook mushrooms as a hearty burger base. Make your own at home by combining mushrooms like button or baby bellas with pinto beans, green onion, garlic, spices, and egg replacer to hold it together. They won't crumble when baked or grilled, and taste great with your favorite toppings.
02 of 19

Crispy Fried Tofu

The Spruce

With its endless versatility and ability to soak up sauces and marinades, tofu is a vegan's dream. Frying it gives the soybean protein a crispy exterior while the interior remains soft, while adding a little garlic, nutritional yeast, and salt and pepper gives it extra umami flavor. Dip it in just about any sauce or toss tofu into stir fries, curries, or noodle dishes.
03 of 19

Chickpea Burger

The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

Many vegan burgers use black beans as the base, but this one swaps in chickpeas instead for a slightly different flavor. Binding the mashed bean mixture with flour instead of egg keeps it vegan, while freezing the patties before cooking helps them hold their shape when frying. Use either a stovetop grill or frying pan to cook, so they don't fall through your grill grates.
04 of 19

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

The Spruce

Set it and forget it with this simple slow cooker taco soup recipe that features lots of pantry ingredients. Pinto, black, and kidney beans give it heft, while corn, stewed tomatoes, and green chiles add both flavor and texture. Serve it with crumbled tortilla chips, dairy-free shredded cheese, green onions, or jalapeños for topping.

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05 of 19

Blackened Grilled Tofu

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Give grilled tofu a smoky, charred flavor and crispy exterior with a flavorful seasoning blend that works on basically any protein. The combination of dry herbs, paprika, black pepper, garlic, and onion powder also works on vegetables and roasted potatoes, so make extra to keep in the pantry for future use.
06 of 19

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

The Spruce

Start the day off right with a chocolate peanut butter smoothie that tastes like a treat. Kids love them, too. Try freezing peeled bananas so they stay good longer and do double duty as a thickening and cooling agent in your glass.
07 of 19

Homemade Black Beans

The Spruce Eats / Anastasiia Tretiak

Adding some garlic, bouillon, diced onion, veggie broth, sugar, and some balsamic vinegar gives black beans enough flavor to serve as a main dish. Enjoy them on their own with white rice, or add them to a tofu scramble with some salsa for a vegan huevos rancheros.
08 of 19

Thai-Style Stir Fry with Coconut Rice and Hoisin Sauce

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

For a taste of Thai, stir fry tofu, bell peppers, shiitake mushrooms in a hoisin, ginger, and lime sauce. Making rice with coconut milk gives it a gentle sweetness that complements the dish perfectly. You can also switch up the vegetables according to your preferences or what's at the farmer's market.

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09 of 19

Tofu Scramble with Spinach

The Spruce / Danielle Moore

For a plant-based breakfast that will last through lunch, scramble crumbled tofu with spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Turmeric gives the tofu a bright yellow color, while a bit of soy sauce and lemon add flavor.
10 of 19

Gluten-Free Thai Green Curry

The Spruce.

For a plant-based, gluten-free main dish, try this aromatic Thai green curry. Lemongrass, coriander seeds, green chilies, galangal, makrut lime leaves, and coconut milk power the flavor. Try it with tofu or chickpeas.
11 of 19

Sweet and Sour Tempeh

The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

Simmer tempeh with pineapple and peppers in a tangy sauce of vinegar and sugar for a sweet and sour dish that tastes even better than takeout. Serve on its own or with a side of white rice to get every last drop of sauce.
12 of 19

Tofu Stir-Fry in Peanut Sauce

The Spruce

A spicy soy, sriracha, and peanut sauce gives this tofu and vegetable stir fry a great Asian-inspired flavor. Because stir frying goes so quickly, prep all of your ingredients before you heat your pan. White rice, noodles, or even quinoa make the perfect accompaniment.

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13 of 19

Black Bean Burger

Spicy Vegan Black Bean Burger.
nata vkusidey/Getty Images

Instead of buying black bean burgers at the supermarket, make a batch of your own so you can control the flavors. Egg replacer binds them well enough to grill or pan-fry. These freeze well, so whip up enough to save some for later. Top them with your favorite burger accoutrements.
14 of 19

Barbecue Baked Tempeh

The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

A finger-lickin' soy and barbecue sauce gives baked tempeh a sweet and savory flavor that works perfectly for sandwiches, burritos, or just over rice. Because it uses relatively few ingredients, use a high-quality barbecue sauce. A few drops of liquid smoke would give it that pit-roasted character, too.
15 of 19

Baked Korean BBQ Tofu

The Spruce

Replicate the smoky, sweet, spicy profile of Korean BBQ at home with this easy baked tofu preparation. We've included a recipe that replicates the unique complexity of Korean barbecue sauce, but if you have some on hand, just thin it out with water a bit to coat the tofu cubes.
16 of 19

Plant-Based Pho

The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

Packed with lots of vegetables and tender tofu with a little sambal olek for kick, Vietnamese pho makes a lovely comforting soup. Top it with fresh bean sprouts, Thai basil, cilantro or your favorite fresh herbs, and some chile oil for drizzling.

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17 of 19

Sesame and Chili Marinated Tofu

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Because it has a very mild flavor on its own, tofu serves as a blank canvas for marinades like this spicy soy sauce-based version. It gets its zip from two kinds of soy sauce, fresh garlic, sesame oil, and a little chile paste. Add it to a vegetable stir fry, serve it on its own or over rice.
18 of 19

Southwestern-Style Chili

The Spruce / Allyson Kramer

For game day, a cool fall day, or really any day, a big bowl of stick-to-your-ribs chili just hits the spot. This Southwestern-style vegan version uses TVP, beans, and mushrooms simmered slowly to get that deep, rich flavor and tender texture. Top it with vegan sour cream, shredded soy-based cheese, cilantro, avocado, and some extra hot sauce.
19 of 19

Vegan Shepherd's Pie

Diana Miller / Getty Images

Textured vegetable protein crumbles, or TVP, have a similar texture to ground beef or turkey and add hearty protein to this easy shepherd's pie. Combined with corn, peas, and gravy and topped with creamy mashed potatoes, it's a comfort food gold standard.