25 High Protein Vegan Recipes for All Meals (2024)

Vegan? Vegetarian? Worried about getting enough protein? These high vegan protein recipes have got your back!

By Lora O’Brien

If you’re vegan, then you’ve probably received the look at least once. You know, the one of pure bafflement as someone looks at you and asks, ‘But where do you get your protein from?’ It’s a frustrating process trying to explain the many ways in which a vegan can get protein into their diet without the consumption of meat. But by then people have already made up their minds that you’ll be deficient in protein and become severely ill by living as a vegan.

How wrong people can be! Being vegan means that you’re probably putting so much more goodness into your body. For years now, we’ve had the ‘meat is the only protein’ myth shoved down our throats But very slowly, people are starting to learn that while protein is certainly an essential nutrient which plays many key roles in the way our bodies function, we don’t actually need huge quantities of it.

How important is protein in the diet?

Protein is essential for a healthy diet. It is needed for:

• Maintaining muscle mass
• Keeping blood sugars stable
• Keeping hunger at bay
• Growing, repairing and maintaining cells, including hair growth
• Building muscle, cartilage and skin
• Regulating hormones

But that being said, we don’t need all that much of it. Only about one calorie out of every 10 we take in needs to come from protein. To determine your daily protein intake, you can multiply your weight in pounds by 0.36, or use this online protein calculator. For a 50-year-old woman who weighs 140 pounds woman and who is sedentary (doesn’t exercise), that translates into around 53 grams of protein a day. That’s around 100g of almonds, plus half a cup of lentils.

Sure, vegan athletes, especially in the early stages of training, may have higher protein needs than vegans who exercise moderately or who are not active. Most will consume a vegan protein powder. But unless you’re trying to build some serious muscle, protein supplements aren’t needed to get a decent protein intake.

What are good sources of vegan protein?

There are plenty! For example:

• beans
• edamame
• nuts
• peas
• quinoa
• tofu
• tempeh,
• amaranth
• lentils

These are all good sources of vegan protein. I’ve included a short video here below to tell you more about how to get your vegan proteins.

And to make that even easier, I’ve found 25 great high protein vegan recipes for all three meals of the day. These will any vegan to stay as fit as a fiddle whilst following a healthy, cruelty-free diet.

25 High Protein Vegan Recipes for All Meals

1. Quinoa with Acorn Squash & Pomegranate

Quinoa is a great grain to add to loads of high vegan protein recipes! A typical cup of quinoa holds a decent 9g of protein. That’s about the same as 1 cup of milk. This is a perfect lunch or even dinner to throw together and enjoy. It’ll leave your hunger satisfied, fill you up and it’s full of lots of other nutritional goodness, too.

Get the recipe here.

2. Great Big Vegan Salad

Even though winter is well and truly here, salads are still a great lunch to enjoy, and so easy to pack them with protein. This salad alone contains 30g of protein from the tempeh and lentils. Salads take mere minutes to throw together and are a great way of using up veggies in your fridge.

The key thing to remember when making salads is to keep them exciting. No one enjoys bland lettuce and shredded carrot! Salads can be an easy lunch but they can also be filling, so make sure you’re adventurous, add lots of protein and whichever vegetables take your fancy.

Get the recipe here.

3. Vegan Walnut Sausages

One of the best high protein vegan recipes? Sausages, of course! These are firm, healthy, and are easier to make than you think. I love that they’re full of nutty, mushroomy flavours, too.

Get the recipe here.

4. Butternut Squash & Veggie Pizza

Seriously, how good does this look? It’s exactly how food should be – packed with lots of veggies and bursting with colour! The addition of chickpeas to the base and topping gives this a massive protein boost. The typical tomato based pizza sauce is replaced by butternut squash here (SO amazing!). It’s then covered with red onion and broccoli.

Get the recipe here.

5. High Protein Veggie Burger

Have you ever seen a burger look this bright and colourful? The answer is probably no. But rest assured, this is entirely vegan, and the protein here comes from the kidney beans and texturised vegan protein. There’s an explosion of flavours in this burger! Add it to a gluten free bun and enjoy with a dollop of organic, sugar-free ketchup or some avocado slices.

Get the recipe here.

6. Mango Tempeh Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce wraps are a great way of enjoying foods. If you’re used to buying tortilla wraps or using bread why not switch it up and give this a try? You can serve them with your choice of sauce but we definitely recommend a sweet chilli sauce or if you’re feeling like something hotter and spicier, try a sriracha sauce.

The protein here comes from the tempeh, which serves as the meat substitute. Then you’ve got the fresh flavours of cucumber, lime and mango. Yes, mango!

Get the recipe here.

7. Tuscan Kale And Lentil Soup

Take your tastebuds on a trip to Tuscany! This easy to make lentil soup is one of the best high protein vegan recipes for cold days. It’s absolutely brimming over with good stuff, and pairs beautifully well with a crusty roll. Add lashings of olive oil on top for some extra yum!

Get the recipe here.

8. Coconut Curry Lentil Soup

When it’s cold and blustery outside, there’s nothing nicer than a warm meal inside. Lentils are a super convenient way of adding protein to a simple dish, like soup. They make it heartier, gives it more texture and leave you a lot more filled up than you would be otherwise. Plus, they’re so quick and easy to use!

Get the recipe here.

9. Thai Veggie Quinoa Bowl

Quinoa is a great protein packed grain to use when building meals. It’s more nutritious than rice, and goes beautifully with virtually all veggies. I think this bowl will be one of your go-to high protein vegan recipes, since you can always adapt it to include whatever vegetables you happen to have on hand.

Get the recipe here.

10. Tempeh Reuben Club Sandwich

Finding a decent vegan sandwich can be like finding Where’s Wally. It’s time consuming and hope is usually lost after a long search. It’s a whole lot easier to simply make your own! And how utterly sinful and delicious does this club sandwich look? It’s actually pretty healthy and packed with protein from the tempeh, healthy fats from the avocado and there’s even a layering of sauerkraut (you know fermented veggies are great for digestive health, right?)

Get the recipe here.

11. Tofu Scramble

I think the main fear many of us have before going vegan is leaving behind foods we love. But being vegan is all about re-building those favourite dishes, just healthier and without animal products. I think it’s a fair assumption to say that the majority of people enjoy a cooked breakfast, so this scramble is one of the best high protein vegan recipes for those who miss their Sunday morning fry ups!

Get the recipe here.

12. Sweet Potato & Black Bean Quesadillas

First and foremost, I must confess I am somewhat of a Mexican food fiend. Whether it’s a taco, quesadilla or burrito, it’s just pure, flavourful heaven for me. So, no wonder this sweet potato and black bean quesadilla is one of my fave high protein vegan recipes. It’s perfect for bringing a little vegan-friendly Mexican food back into your life!

Get the recipe here.

13. Black Bean & Smoked Tofu Stew

This is one of the heartiest high protein vegan recipes! It’s packed with smoked tofu and black beans, giving you two boosts of protein. Oh, and there’s also a recipe for chipotle-infused corn bread, which will be delicious for dipping into this stew for a warm and delicious dinner.

Get the recipe here.

14. Mexican Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are one of my go-to high protein vegan recipes. They’re a fab way to get a filling lunch or dinner. You can fill them with whichever grains and protein you desire. And the best part is that you can make them the night before for a delicious and nutritious lunch. The protein in these soft, sumptuous stuffed peppers comes from the quinoa.

Get the recipe here.

15. Amaranth & Red Lentil Patties

Patties are a great thing to whip up to see you through a busy week. They keep in a lock tight container in the fridge so that you can throw them together with a salad or have them on hand when hunger cravings strike. And of course, these amaranth and red lentil patties are packed with loads of vegan protein!

Get the recipe here.

16. Classic Vegan Falafel

Crunchy on the outside, mushy on the inside and packed with spicy flavour. Who would disagree that falafel is one of the tastiest high protein vegan recipes ever? These yummy balls are great in a sandwich, a wrap, or in a salad. And of course they come with all the rich protein that’s in garbanzo beans (a.k.a. chickpeas).

Get the recipe here.

17. Kung Pao Chickpeas

Another fabulously flavoursome Asian inspired dish for you, friends. Kung pao chickpeas is one of the most unusual high protein vegan recipes here! This sweet yet slightly spicy dish is the perfect accompaniment to some steamed rice. Crush some peanuts or cashews over the top, and you’ve got a quick meal that’s full of protein and tastes insanely good.

Get the recipe here.

18. Breaded Tofu Steak with Flaxseed Bread

Hunger? What hunger? This totally filling tofu ‘steak’ is one of the most filling of all the high protein vegan recipes! And guess what? It’s got a whopping 25g of protein per serving!

Get the recipe here.

19. Vegan Veggie Quiche

Apart from being very high in protein, probably the best thing about this totally eggless quiche is that you can use whatever veggies you like! This recipe calls for tomatoes and mushrooms, but I tried this with asparagus and it was delicious. Did I mention this works as a breakfast, lunch or dinner food?

Get the recipe here.

20. Banana Protein Pancakes

Seriously, who doesn’t love banana pancakes? You might be surprised to know this tasty dish is included in our list of high protein vegan recipes. But yep, they’re packed with the stuff, thanks to the added protein powder. Delish! And even more so when they’re covered with chopped nuts and a lashing of maple syrup.

Get the recipe here.

21. Tofu Egg Salad Sandwich

We’ve all been eating egg salad pretty much since childhood, right? While vegetarians can continue to do so, we vegans may miss the creamy, rich taste of an eggy sarnie. But no longer! This recipe will take you right back to those carefree childhood days. And of course, it’s the perfect thing to pack for a work lunch too.

Get the recipe here.

22. Apple & Cinnamon Overnight Smoothie

Looking for high protein vegan recipes for breakfast? This is ideal! The protein in this smoothie comes from the flaxseed, and it’s also got loads of coconut water, which will keep you hydrated at the same time. Bonus!

Get the recipe here.

23. No Bake Vegan Protein Bars

Buying vegan friendly snacks can sometimes be expensive. So why not make your own? They’re cheaper in the long run, easy to make at home and the perfect snack to carry around to get you through an afternoon energy slump. These guys carry a wonderful cherry vanilla flavour, and they’re one of the easiest high protein vegan recipes to make, too.

Get the recipe here.

24. Pumpkin Pie Vegan Protein Balls

If you’ve not seen vegan protein balls bouncing about in health food shops, then all you need to know is that they’re basically compact bundles of all things good, and they pack a serious protein punch. But guess what? They’re super easy to make at home! Whip up a batch, store them in an airtight tub and they’ll last you for up to two weeks. I make mine with Vega One protein powder, and extra chia seeds for an extra dose of healthy fats and fibre.

Get the recipe here.

25. Grain Free Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites

I couldn’t do a list of high protein vegan recipes without including something for dessert, right? I’m warning you though: when these chickpea based treats are hot and sticky, fresh out of the oven, it’s pretty easy to eat every single one!

Get the recipe here.