30+ Light Dinner Ideas (Easy + Vegan)

by Alena
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Refreshing, scrumptious and meal prep-friendly light dinner ideas for the whole family! These 30+ filling recipes are made with simple ingredients in less than an hour and taste fantastic.

Everyone loves quick and easy vegan dinner ideas for busy weeknights! That’s why we selected our favorite recipes from around the web to share with you here.

They go far beyond your average salad, are actually filling and substantial while still being low-calorie vegan meals.

Packed with essential nutrients and lots of flavors, these light vegan dinner ideas taste super fresh and can be prepared in bulk to eat over the course of a few days!

Nutriciously Week of Bowls iPad

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.

Even meat-eating family members will appreciate these savory vegan soups, fresh salads, creamy sauces, crunchy oven-baked goodness and all the seasonal produce. 

We hope you like our list of satisfying whole food plant-based recipes for easy and effortless weight management without sacrificing flavor!

For more ideas, check out our high-protein, low-fat or low-carb meals.

30+ Light Dinner Ideas

More vegan recipe ideas

If you liked this selection of light vegan dinner ideas, you need to check out the following goodness next!

Did you enjoy these vegan dinner recipes and found something you want to try? Let us know in the comments below and Pin this article here or share it on social media!

collage of 4 light vegan dinner ideas from frittata to red pepper soup, spring rolls and quinoa salad

30+ Light Dinner Ideas (Easy + Vegan)

Yield: 2 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Looking for light dinner ideas that are perfect for summer? Our healthy Caribbean bowl is super tasty, great for weight loss, easy to make and full of fruity flavors.

Ingredients

Vegan Caribbean Bowl

  • ¾ cup quinoa, dry
  • 1 medium sweet potato (260 g), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 cup lettuce, chopped (50 g)
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • ½ avocado, chopped
  • ¾ cup pineapple, canned & chopped (juice reserved)
  • 1 cup black beans, cooked & drained
  • 1 green onion, finely chopped

Dressing

  • 3 tbsp soy yogurt, unsweetened
  • 3 tbsp pineapple juice
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Dash cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook quinoa on your stovetop according to package directions. Once all the water is absorbed, fluff with a fork and set aside.
  2. Preheat your oven to 400° F (200° C) and arrange your cubed sweet potatoes in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for around 20 minutes, until soft and slightly browned.
  3. Meanwhile, wash your fresh produce and divide everything between two serving bowls. Top with pineapple, beans, cooked quinoa and roasted sweet potatoes.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients for the fruity dressing. Pour it over your Caribbean bowls and enjoy your light vegan dinner!

Notes

  • Some suggested food swaps include rice instead of quinoa, mixed greens instead of lettuce, white beans instead of black beans, coconut yogurt instead of soy yogurt and bell pepper instead of avocado.
  • You can also roast some cauliflower, chickpeas and onion in the oven alongside your sweet potatoes.
  • Top with crunchy nuts and seeds if you like!
  • Find more easy and healthy light vegan dinner ideas in the article above.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: ½ recipe
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 417Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 623mgCarbohydrates: 72gFiber: 18gSugar: 18gProtein: 15g

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

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Alena sitting in a cafe with a bowl of fresh plant-based food and a glass of coffee in front of her

About Alena Handwritten FontAlena Schowalter is a Certified Vegan Nutritionist who has been a vegetarian since childhood and vegan since 2012. Together with her husband, she founded nutriciously in 2015 and has been guiding thousands of people through different transition stages towards a healthy plant-based diet. She’s received training in the fields of nutrition, music therapy and social work. Alena enjoys discussions around vegan ethics, walks through nature and creating new recipes.

4 thoughts on “30+ Light Dinner Ideas (Easy + Vegan)”

  1. Beautiful Round-Up! And thanks for including me =) It depends on my mood, but I’ve been in the mood for loaded, crunchy salads lately with a hearty dressing yum!
    xoxo
    Jennifer

    Reply
    • Hey Jennifer,
      great to hear from you! I’m glad you like the round-up and of course we had to include something from your blog since you’re doing such a great job :)
      Salads can be so yummy – I’m into steamed greens over rice these days, no idea why but I’m loving it!
      Stay healthy & wonderful,
      all the best
      Alena xx

      Reply

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