17 Easy, Tasty Vegan Dinners That Will Have You Asking, Dairy Who?

Cravings hit for vegans too! In fact, we might venture that a vegan craving is more urgent than for an omnivore, because it can bring with it the question of where and how to satisfy it, when you can't just pull up to a local diner or fast-food joint to get that itch scratched. Enter our list of the most craveworthy vegan dinners we can think of — all of which are easy to make, any night of the week. If you want "cheesy" and comforting, veggie-laden and nourishing or crispy and crunchy, we've got you covered. But our list isn't just for vegans. Anyone looking to get more plant-based meals into their diets will love all the variety and ease of preparation here, so please, give them a try. The planet will thank you.

You know that sandwich we all grew up with — that crispy fried fish, that creamy tartar sauce, a pillowy bun? We think this version can compete. It's not a direct dupe; rather, you've got a tile of tofu soaked in pickle brine (!) to be layered with a mustardy glaze and a hot Buffalo-style mayo. This is the stuff cravings are made of.

Vegans need their nostalgic moments too, darnit. So when the craving hits, hit back with a casserole that twists the usual can-of-soup ingredient into a delicious mushroom and cashew milk sauce. Tofu and chickpeas ensure that it won't just be an empty-calorie starchfest, and while a potato chip topping would be vegan, this one goes with saltine crumbs, because their yeasty heft just really brings it all home.

Katie Lee does suggest an optional sour cream here, but this recipe was too delicious to leave off the list, so we suggest you instead opt out, or opt for a vegan version, if you want to make this dish truly vegan. The texture and flavor of the cauliflower makes this as satisfying as any sort of taco, while the beans add heft and protein to make these a complete meal. Yes, we'll take three.

We've all encountered vegetarian chilis, three-bean style and the like. This version, using lentils is particularly filling and even suggestive of meatiness, in a way that really complements the chili seasoning. Some fresh radishes and avocado as garnish really make it.

In the mood for pizza? This one is so interesting and has so much going on, you'll be feeling, "cheese who?" It combines roasted cauliflower, chickpeas, jalapeño and cilantro, for a flatbread that's filling and complex. This one's a real keeper.

Fettucine famously combines heavy dairy and often egg, too, a roster that earned it the nickname "heart attack on a plate" when it was in vogue in the '80s (we really knew how to ruin good fun back then, didn't we?). This version is just as soulful and satisfying from a few key ingredients (greetings, nutritional yeast), and with the high-fiber content, it might even have an effect on your cholesterol (in the good direction, for a change). Lemon keeps it from tasting too heavy; you'll definitely want seconds, here.

The Reddit rabbithole for what to call vegan sloppy Joe's yields endless rewards; "happy Joes," "tidy Joes," "sloppy Joaquins," and, when they're tofu-based, "sloppy Joefu" or "sloppy toes" (head-scratch not included). These don't rely on tofu, though. Their meatiness comes from a surprising ingredient combination: mushrooms and chopped walnuts. Let's start our own thread. Sloppy Mo-nuts?

The Best Baingan Bharta? It's a bold claim, but we tend to agree. This smoky Indian eggplant dish is often, by tradition, vegan, and is just such a wonderful combination of vibrant flavors.

Though a shepherd's pie symbolizes the very heartiness of a meat dish, it is a form that lends itself quite easily to going vegan. Just remove the meat and double the veg, and there you have it, as hearty as ever. This version utilizes frozen peas and carrots, so that even a shepherd who's held up at work can whip it together in no time.

We don't mean to frame this in a way that implies that vegans are missing bacon. But it has to be stated: If you're missing bacon, this soup, which emulates a loaded baked potato, will have you swooning. The skins get flash-fried and seasoned with salt and smoked paprika. They're to be scattered over the top of the soup, but we defy you to not eat handfuls of them while you're finishing cooking.

Everyone needs a good go-to lasagna recipe, particularly one that uses no-boil noodles to make assembling it a no-brainer. Eating plant-based doesn't rule out that necessity. This lasagna can be assembled ahead, and the combination of mushroom and fennel seeds will have you swearing that it contains some sausage (if you're into that sort of thing).

There's a time and a place for traditional Bolognese, the famed ragu from northern Italy. But this very light, very umami take on it is just as essential. We love it served over rigatoni, as shown here, but also with dried Italian egg noodles like tagliolini (which you can find eggless, too).

If there's something more comforting than a vegetarian coconut curry, we'd love to know about it. This chowder, vegan of course, combines those elements along with cauliflower, chickpeas, ginger and cilantro, and makes excellent day 2 leftovers as well. Serve as is, with a side of flatbread, or a scoop of rice.

Think of this as a dinner that combines the best fresh elements of salad and hearty notes of a sheet-pan meal. Kale, Brussels sprouts, squash, fennel and beans ensure that every bite will be different. A tahini dressing lends richness and ties everything together.

A good ratatouille can truly be all things to everyone. It's a main, it's a side, it's a condiment, it's a relish. Delicious hot, cold, freshly made, three days later. Everyone should have a good ratatouille recipe under their belt, even more so if you keep a garden. We nominate this one.

A top-notch homemade red sauce is all you need to lend depth to a baked ziti, whether it's combined with dairy cheese or not. This one starts with San Marzano tomatoes, the most umami of them all. Combine with your favorite vegan ricotta and mozzarella for just a casserole full of comfort.