Easy Vegan Weekday Vegan Meal Plan

Guess what?  It's world vegan day.  In honor of that, I've been working on putting together an e-book or maybe even a cookbook, but for now, I want to share our VERY easy meal plan for my household.  You can expand on the ideas and make much more elaborate or homemade versions, but for today I want to share the easiest way possible to make 5 nights of dinners.  

Marinara Monday

Mondays are notoriously hard, we all know it, so I like to do a simple pasta with marinara, roasted veg, and a green salad for Monday night dinner.
I like to use the Instant Pot to make my pasta, either simply making the pasta alone in salted water for 4 minutes on manual with a quick release and drain, or I cook the pasta in the sauce.

SUPER EASY VERSION: Jar sauce plus box/bag of pasta.  I never liked marinara as a kid, but my kids love it, so that makes our life easy.  While I cook the pasta in the Instant Pot, I throw some frozen broccoli or green beans in my Air Fryer with some garlic salt.  While both are cooking, I cut up lettuce and other veggies for a green salad.  So easy, an 8 year old can do it.

You could also try this Instant Pot Cheesy Marinara Pasta.  

Taco Tuesday

For years, we were purists and did baked tacos every Tuesday.  They are crispy and delicious and they were wonderful.  Lately, however, the kids have been requesting my homemade corn tortillas.  I use my electric griddle, my tortilla press, and maseca and water for the easiest and most delicious tortillas.  I've even been pureeing vegetables to make pretty colored tortillas with veggie goodness.   Sweet bell peppers pureed with water make orange-yellow tortillas, spinach and cilantro make green tortillas, red cabbage pureed with water make purple tortillas, activated charcoal makes grey-black tortillas, pumpkin puree makes nice orange tortillas.  It's all so fun and delicious.  It's so easy for us this way, with tortilla press tacos.
We put refried beans and lettuce/salsa/etc on our tacos.  I like to pulse some mushrooms and walnuts and garlic and brown in a pan with chili powder for a "taco meat," but the kids aren't as into it.  

Other ideas for Taco Tuesday: tostadas, burritos, nachos, enchiladas, etc.  Beans, rice, corn, and veggies are all so easy to veganize.

Wok This Way Wednesday

Rice plus stir fried veg is another easy vegan meal that works with whatever you have.  You don't even need fancy recipes, get a jar of stir fry sauce (checking for fish sauce or other animal ingredients).

I make rice in my Instant Pot using the rice setting and it couldn't be easier.  We either do stir fry or sushi bowls (seasoned rice plus avocado, roasted sweet potatoes, cucumber, etc).  

My kids' current favorite stir fry sauce is for me to make mostly broccoli, but I add in whatever other veg I have on had.  I cook on high with a little oil and then after veg is cooked I stir in some fresh garlic, maple syrup, and soy sauce.  I simmer it down until the sauce is a nice sticky texture.  The kids go crazy for this sauce.  It's an easy and quick hit over rice.  For protein I like soy beans or tofu cooked in the air fryer.

Throwback Thursday

For Throwback Thursday I like to go for "meat" (beans) and potatoes or burgers (veggie burgers of course) and fries.  There's tons of recipes out there, so I don't have any preference.  Lately we've just been doing fries in the Air Fryer and store-bought veggie burgers or beans cooked quickly and easily in the Instant Pot.  

​For the super easy option, bake a potato or cook some frozen fries and serve with baked beans or chili and a salad.

Pizza Friday

Pizza Friday.  Super easy solution is to order a pizza.  Peta has compiled a handy list of how to order vegan from popular chains.  If you have a local pizza place with vegan options, by all means support them. 

To make your own pizza, you can do mini pizzas in the Air Fryer on pitas or make your pizza dough from scratch.  I like the recipe in Thug Kitchen Party Grub, but mostly I just make it by feel.  I have been making the dough earlier in the day and then storing in a gallon ziplock in the refrigerator.  I preheat oven to 550 degrees, then roll out, top with whatever I like, and bake about 10 minutes. Super easy.

What about the weekend?

You're on your own!  But seriously, whatever you'd like to eat, search for a vegan version of it and you'll find it.  

I hope these ideas help you with some ideas about how to eat simple and easy meals 5 days a week.  You can switch it up and mix it up and make a plan that fits you.  For the winter, you may make one or two nights a week soup night.  I like to vary my grains and beans, but you might find you wan the same for several nights and that works too.  These are all just jumping off ideas.

Happy World Vegan Day!