Here Are 8 Weeks’ Worth of Plant-Based Meals

updated Aug 30, 2021
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Credit: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Cyd McDowell

Unlike diets that come with a clear framework of dos and don’ts, plant-based eating is more of a lifestyle that celebrates putting plants at the center of the plate. The term “plant-based” can look a little different for everyone, but the consensus is focusing on plant-forward meals. For some, that means a style of eating that looks very similar to a vegan diet, while others may choose to include animal products like dairy, eggs, and honey.

No matter what plant-based eating looks like for you, there’s something here for every eater. Each of these eight plans includes recipes and helpful tips for prepping plant-based meals. Follow the plans as written or mix and match recipes for a plan that fits your needs.

Credit: From Left to Right: Joe Lingeman, Ghazalle Badiozamani, Joe Lingeman, Ghazalle Badiozamani, Joe Lingeman

1. A Week of Easy Plant-Based Slow Cooker Dinners

Each of these five plant-based dinners requires little to no upfront prep work and leans on the slow cooker for the heavy lifting. In addition to getting crave-worthy, comforting dinners on the table, this meal plan is focused on minimum effort and maximum reward, when it comes to weeknight cooking. Talk about a weeknight win!

Get the plan: A Week of Easy Plant-Based Slow Cooker Dinners

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Stylist: Cyd McDowell

2. How I Prep a Week of Easy Plant-Based Meals for Two in 2 Hours

Stacked with feel-good, plant-based meals that are all about warmth and comfort — like a hearty pot of chili, stuffed peppers, 10-minute tacos, and baked oatmeal — this is a meal plan to keep on repeat throughout the winter months. This plan also seeks to repurpose leftovers into wholly new meals, and use up ingredients across meals so you’re not left with many stragglers. And with about two hours of meal prep you’ll get the lion’s share of cooking and prep work done for the week ahead.

Get the plan: How I Prep a Week of Easy Plant-Based Meals for Two in 2 Hours

Credit: Laura Wright

3. A Week of Simple Plant-Based Dinners from Laura Wright of The First Mess

In this one-week meal plan, Laura Wright, creator of The First Mess blog, shows off her amazing ability to turn humble vegetables into the most crave-worthy, satisfying meals that also happen to be pretty easy to pull off. You’ll dig into plant-based dinners like harissa chickpea bowls, garlic sesame tofu, and sweet potato cakes.

Get the plan: A Week of Simple Plant-Based Dinners from Laura Wright of The First Mess

Credit: From Left to Right: Joe Lingeman, Lauren Volo, Shelly Westerhausen, Karen Biton-Cohen, Shelly Westerhausen

4. A Week of Easy Plant-Based Dinners Packed with Protein

All five veggie-packed dinners in this lineup lean on a plant-based protein (like beans, lentils, or tofu), along with plenty of good fats to guarantee that they’ll fill you up.

Get the plan: A Week of Easy Plant-Based Dinners Packed with Protein

5. How I Prep a Week of Vegan Meals

If you’re focused on keeping dairy and eggs out of your diet, this is a great plan to try. It will take you from breakfast through dinner for the week, with meals like cauliflower rice burrito bowls, stir-fry, and enchilada casserole.

Get the plan: How I Prep a Week of Vegan Meals

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Food Stylist: CC Buckley/Kitchn

6. How I Prep a Week of Easy Vegan Meals for Two

If you’re looking for plant-based meals that are just as filling as they are delicious, you’re going to want to try this week of meals. It also walks you through a prep session which sets you up for the week with granola, a big pot of bean and lentil chili, and all the makings for roasted veggie hummus bowls.

Get the plan: How I Prep a Week of Easy Vegan Meals for Two

Credit: From Left to Right: Guy Ambrosino, Shelly Westerhausen, Maria Siriano, Mia Yakel

7. A Week of Easy Vegan Dinners

Between chickpea tikka masala, tostadas, and veggie burgers, what these plant-based meals lack in meat they more than make up for with big flavors.

Get the plan: A Week of Easy Vegan Dinners

Credit: Kelli Foster

8. How I Prep a Week of High-Protein Plant-Based Meals in Just 1 Hour

If you’re trying to eat a high-protein diet that also happens to be plant-based, know that it’s easier than you might think. This meal plan offers guidance on how to achieve both health goals, and includes options like smashed chickpea salad, BBQ tofu bowls, braised lentils, and more.

Get the plan: How I Prep a Week of High-Protein Plant-Based Meals in Just 1 Hour