by Alena Schowalter
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These easy and delicious low-calorie vegan recipes help you enjoy a filling dinner without compromising on taste. Lots of nutritious veggies, protein and fiber support easy and healthy weight loss!
Everything you want a delicious plant-based meal to be but without any excess calories! Even though vegan meals on average are more weight loss-friendly, some recipes can call for quite a bit of high-calorie vegan foods.
To make reaching your health goals less frustrating, we decided to hand-select over 30 low-calorie vegan recipes that are still satiating, delicious and familiar family favorites.
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Rich in nutritious ingredients like beans, veggies, whole grains and some healthy fats, these light dinner ideas range from colorful salads to stuffed veggies, filling bowls, pasta dishes and even pizza!
Depending on your favorite way to lose weight, you can find more oil-free vegan recipes, high-carb low-fat vegan recipes, high-protein vegan meals and vegan keto recipes on our website.
Enjoy the following low-calorie meals and don’t miss out on our flavorful Mexican fiesta bowl at the very end which you can print and rate!
Tasty Low-Calorie Vegan Recipes
Thai Vegetable Stir-Fry
This super easy 30-minute veggie stir fry with tofu is easy to customize, really flavorful and can be served alongside any grain of your choice! It’s naturally high in fiber and antioxidants and a super filling low-calorie vegan meal idea.
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Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers
These Mexican-flavored plant-based stuffed peppers have serious potential to become your go-to weeknight dinner! Filled with hearty protein-packed staples and low in calories, they are easy to make ahead of time and support healthy weight loss.
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Zoodles with Black Bean Meatballs
Swapping meat for black beans is a great weight loss tip! Rich in protein and fiber, they help to fill you up for hours on end and make for a tasty low-calorie vegan dinner idea when paired with zucchini noodles.
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Easy Raw Vegan Pad Thai
Another way to enjoy veggie noodles is this crunchy vegan Pad Thai with creamy peanut sauce and protein-packed tofu! It’s loaded with flavor, easy to make and especially great during warm Summer days.
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Baked Ratatouille with Millet
Speaking of summer months, put your seasonal produce to good use by making this gorgeous zucchini, eggplant and tomato ratatouille in the oven! Since it’s so low in calories, pair it with some crusty bread or herbed millet as written in our recipe.
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Moroccan Stuffed Aubergine
These comforting quinoa stuffed eggplant halves feature protein-packed chickpeas, sweetness from raisins and lots of cozy spices in the veggie sauce! This family-friendly dinner idea tastes best when served with a simple lemony yogurt sauce and eaten warm out of the oven.
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Creamy Vegan Mushroom Risotto
Starchy, creamy and ready in about 30 minutes: this delicious vegan risotto with mushrooms and peas is low in calories, low in fat but bursting with flavor! It’s easy to make, really filling and leaves you with only one pot to clean afterward.
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Easy Quinoa Veggie Bowl
Get creative with this mix-and-match quinoa veggie bowl recipe! Use up any veggies from your fridge, pair them with your favorite grains, legumes and oil-free vegan dressing and enjoy a colorful weight loss-friendly dinner.
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Red Lentil Carrot Soup
There’s nothing better than a pot of hot, fragrant and cozy plant-based goodness on a cold day! Meet our easy and nutritious vegan lentil, potato and carrot soup packed with spices and protein. Great for meal prep and bulk cooking!
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Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Make pizza night more weight loss-friendly by swapping your usual dough for this cauliflower and potato pizza crust! Only 2 ingredients and 10-minutes of hands-on time are needed for the crust which you can then load with your favorite sauce, veggies and perhaps some chickpeas.
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Rainbow Collard Green Wraps
These veggie-stuffed collard wraps are filled with essential nutrients, complex carbs and plant-based protein thanks to the millet and chickpeas. They are weight loss-friendly, easily customizable and great to make ahead of time and take with you for lunch!
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Sweet Potato Lima Bean Salad
Roasted sweet potato cubes meet crunchy veggies and protein-packed lima beans! This simple plant-based salad is wonderfully flavored and satiating yet low in calories. Drizzle with healthy sweet mustard dressing and enjoy!
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Healthy Vegan Bibimbap
Colorful veggies meet cooked rice and a spicy homemade miso sauce in this healthy vegan Bibimbap recipe! Made with accessible ingredients, it’s suitable for weeknights and meal prep — find exact instructions in our free Week of Bowls eBook.
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Vegan Sweet Potato Nourish Bowl with Chickpeas
This spiced and roasted chickpea sweet potato nourish bowl is quickly assembled with fresh veggies and a creamy homemade sun-dried tomato hummus! Perfect for a healthy, high-protein weeknight dinner.
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Fresh Tofu Summer Rolls
Crunchy veggies and flavorful crispy tofu are wrapped in rice paper sheets and served with creamy peanut dip in this delicious recipe.
Photo credit: epicveganeats.com
Creamy Vegan Broccoli Soup
This easy vegan broccoli soup is such a delicious way to eat more of this green vegetable! It tastes similar to a broccoli and cheddar soup, but without all the heavy cream and cheese. Plus, it features a whole bunch of white beans for added protein!
Photo credit: plantbasedjess.com
Spicy Red Quinoa Salad
Flavorful and refreshing, this spicy Indian red quinoa salad is paired with crispy tofu and a delicious zesty curry dressing! Ready in 30 minutes and made with only simple wholesome ingredients, this recipe is great for meal prep, easy to make and high in protein.
Photo credit: www.myplantifulcooking.com
Vegan Zucchini Lasagna
Swap the lasagna sheets for zucchini noodles to make this 5-ingredient vegan lasagna with zucchini and summer squash. It’s the perfect crowd-pleasing and light dinner option when your garden is bursting with overgrown zucchini.
Photo credit: homecookedroots.com
Vegan Soy Curl Fajitas
These vegan soy curl fajitas are a quick and easy meal that’s perfect for weeknights. Use it for tacos, burritos or colorful bowls and customize this recipe to your needs. They are packed with Mexican flavor and take around 30 minutes in the oven!
Photo credit: aplantifulpath.com
Low-Calorie Tabbouleh Salad
This easy tabbouleh salad is super healthy, gorgeous and versatile! Featuring lots of fresh herbs, tomatoes, cucumber and bulgur wheat, it takes less than 30 minutes total. Drizzle with a simple 4-ingredient dressing and enjoy either warm or cold!
Photo credit: myveganminimalist.com
Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
Filled with a delicious combination of stir-fried tofu, peanut ginger sauce and tomato avocado salsa, these crunchy lettuce wraps are a great low-calorie vegan recipe idea! Top this lunch or dinner with crunchy seeds and peanuts if wanted and enjoy this low-carb meal with the whole family.
Photo credit: speakveggietome.com
Low-Calorie Protein Pasta Salad
This hearty protein pasta salad with kidney beans and lettuce is low in calories, nutritious and totally crowd-pleasing! Paired with a creamy Italian dressing, this recipe only requires a handful of simple ingredients and is ready in 15 minutes.
Photo credit: www.myplantifulcooking.com
Oven-Roasted Mexican Cauli Rice
Swapping rice for cauliflower rice is a common trick to lower the calorie content of any meal! This recipe for oven-roasted cauliflower rice means you don’t have to do any stirring and can load your baking sheet with all of the veggies and beans you want to serve with the rice. Easy to make and packed with flavor!
Photo credit: debraklein.com
Teriyaki Wild Rice Power Bowl
This high-protein wild rice power bowl will blow you away and keep you full for hours! Packed with nutritious veggies, wild rice and tossed in a flavorful teriyaki sauce, it’s a delicious vegan dinner idea that works well for weight loss.
Photo credit: tishasveggieeats.com
Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon
Looking for a healthy and comforting meal that’s rich in flavor but low in calories? Try this mushroom bourguignon with red wine, carrot, garlic, bell pepper and lots of spices over some mashed potatoes. Perfect for vegans and meat-lovers alike!
Photo credit: www.makingthymeforhealth.com
Cauliflower Steaks over Pesto Zoodles
Just like you can swap pasta for zucchini noodles, you can make steaks out of veggies to get one tasty and weight loss-friendly dinner! These cauliflower steaks feature a delicious vegan parmesan coating and the accompanying zoodles are smothered in hemp pesto — super gourmet and ready in 1 hour.
Photo credit: www.emilieeats.com
Spanish White Beans & Tomatoes
Only 7 ingredients, 20 minutes and one pot are needed to make this low-calorie dish! White butter beans are cooked with smoky and sweet spices, canned tomatoes and fresh spinach before being served either hot or cold and tastes great over beans or bread.
Photo credit: veggiedesserts.com
Easy Vegan Zuppa Toscana
This warm and savory vegetable soup with kale, white beans, potatoes and Tuscan herbs is the perfect weeknight dinner or make-ahead lunch! Comforting, filling and under 200 calories per serving, you can easily go back for seconds. Store leftovers in the fridge for 5 days to have a healthy meal on hand!
Photo credit: happykitchen.rocks
Spaghetti Squash Burrito Bowls
Beautiful, healthy and comforting, these colorful burrito bowls use roasted caramelized spaghetti squash halves that are topped with homemade red cabbage slaw, black beans and salsa verde. This low-calorie meal takes less than an hour and is perfect for special nights!
Photo credit: cookieandkate.com
Spring Green Minestrone
What a gorgeous twist on classic Minestrone soup! This spring green soup features asparagus, peas, white beans and plenty of pesto. It’s a full meal in one bowl and light enough to eat it during warmer months or when trying to lose some weight!
Photo credit: occasionallyeggs.com
Vibrant Raw Vegan Tacos
No grains but all the delicious flavors are found in these lettuce shell tacos! Ready in less than 15 minutes, they feature a simple homemade walnut taco filling that’s popping with spices alongside bell pepper, tomato, cilantro, olives and avocado.
Photo credit: cadryskitchen.com
Ramen Soup with Zucchini Noodles
Let’s make some healthier ramen soup with homemade zucchini noodles! This recipe does require you to have some type of spiralizer at home to create the zoodles but you can add any sliced veggies to this cozy dish and flavor it to your liking.
Photo credit: jaroflemons.com
Vegan Rainbow Spring Rolls
These colorful and crunchy summer rolls are bursting with veggies and flavor! Especially when served alongside delicious dips like sweet and spicy mango chili sauce or creamy peanut ginger sauce. Ready in 30 minutes total and completely gluten-free!
Photo credit: speakveggietome.com
Vegan Watermelon Poke Bowl
This Hawaiian-inspired dish uses watermelon instead of fish and quinoa in place of rice to create a plant-based and lower-calorie version of the original! Complete with marinated tofu cubes, fresh veggies and a simple 3-ingredient vinaigrette, this bowl is so delicious.
Photo credit: sharonpalmer.com
More Healthy Vegan Recipes
If you enjoyed this list of low-calorie vegan recipes, be sure to try some of this plant-based goodness next!
- 22+ Vegan Summer Salads
- 30+ High-Protein Vegan Snacks
- 28+ Delicious Vegan Bowls Recipes
- 18 Low-Carb Breakfast Recipes
Did you like these low-calorie vegan recipes and tried any of them? Be sure to check out the Mexican Fiesta bowl below, give it a rating and share your thoughts in the comments. You can Pin this article here!
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30+ Low-Calorie Vegan Recipes for Weight Loss
by Alena Schowalter
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
Total Time 30 minutes minutes
These easy and delicious low-calorie vegan recipes help you enjoy a filling dinner without compromising on taste. Lots of nutritious veggies, protein and fiber that support easy and healthy weight loss! The following Mexican Fiesta Bowl recipe is an exclusive snippet from the 3-day meal plan in our free Weight Loss Challenge, easily customizable and ready in around 30 minutes.
Serves 2
Ingredients
Mexican Fiesta Bowl
- ½ cup brown rice 90 g, dry
- ½ cup chickpeas 160 g, cooked & drained
- ¼ cup corn kernels 40 g, drained
- 1 small bell pepper sliced
- 1 medium tomato diced
- 1 cup mixed greens 55 g
- Salt pepper, cayenne, cumin to taste
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ cup sugar-free salsa 130 g
Instructions
Cook our rice according to package directions. Once all of the water has been absorbed, remove the pot from heat.
In the meantime, prepare the other ingredients for your low-calorie bowl: the chickpeas, corn, bell pepper, tomato and mixed greens.
Arrange them nicely in a dinner bowl, add the cooked rice and season with salt, pepper, cayenne, cumin and lemon juice.
Top the Fiesta bowl with sugar-free salsa and enjoy!
Notes
- Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
- This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for some easy meal prep or leftover lunch!
- You can use any veggies you like for this bowl. Feel free to swap chickpeas for another type of beans.
- We also like to add a dollop of dairy-free yogurt or cashew sour cream to this bowl.
- Find 30+ more low-calorie vegan recipes in the article above.
Course: Low-Calorie
Cuisine: American
Nutrition Facts
30+ Low-Calorie Vegan Recipes for Weight Loss
Amount per Serving
Calories
404
% Daily Value*
Fat
3
g
5
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
2
g
Sodium
375
mg
16
%
Carbohydrates
92
g
31
%
Fiber
9
g
38
%
Sugar
59
g
66
%
Protein
9
g
18
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated automatically, their accuracy is not guaranteed.
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Hi, I'm Alena Schowalter — a Certified Vegan Nutritionist who has been a vegetarian since childhood and vegan since 2012. Together with my husband, I founded nutriciously in 2015 and have been guiding thousands of people through different transition stages toward a healthy plant-based diet. I enjoy discussions around vegan ethics, walks through nature, and creating new recipes. Read more about us here.
