Plant-Based Recipes for Athletes
These 100+ plant-based recipes are proof that eating a vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based diet can be healthy, substantial, and delicious all at once — even as an athlete.
(And if you’re new to the diet, our nutritionist app is a great place to start.)
Also, don’t forget to check out our free plant-based diet plan or our stress-free vegan meal plan for help with putting all these plant-based recipes together into a coherent plan that’s built to last.
With that, let’s get to the plant-based recipes!
Our Favorite Plant-Based Recipe Compilations
- 15 Vegan Lunches You Can Make at Work
- 7 Oil-Free Salad Dressing Recipes that Actually Taste Good
- 10 Delicious Kale Recipes to Help You Eat More of It
- “Grain, Green & Bean” Recipes
- Tasty, Healthy Vegan Snacks
- 30 Plant-Based Breakfast Recipes Worth Waking Up For
- 5 Staple Vegan Sauces for Endless Meal Combinations
- 60 Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes
- Kid-Friendly Vegan Recipes
- My 7 Favorite Pasta Recipes (and How to Make them Vegan)
- 9 High-Energy Plant-Based Snacks for Athletes
- Cheap, Healthy Vegan Meals (that Taste Way Better Than They Should)
- Vegan Thanksgiving Tips and Recipes
- Other Vegan Holiday Recipes
- Vegan Cookout Recipes
Smoothies and Sports Drinks
- How to Make a Smoothie (vegan)
- Blueberry Smoothie
- Blueberry Rooibos Antioxidant Smoothie (vegan)
- Iskiate (chia fresca) (vegan)
- Lemon-Lime Sports Drink (vegan)
- Long-lasting Lemon Lime Drink (vegan)
- Mango Jalapeno Smoothie (vegan)
- Pineapple Papaya Smoothie (vegan)
- Superfood Juice (Like Odwalla and Naked) (vegan)
- Ginger Pear Smoothie (vegan)
Granola, Energy Bars, and Running Food
- The Ultimate Energy Bar Formula (vegan)
- Blueberry Flax Granola (vegan)
- Chia Energy Bars (vegan)
- Chickpea Granola Bars (vegan)
- Chocolate Quinoa Protein Bars (vegan)
- Energy Bars (vegan)
- Energy Gel (vegan)
- Pinole (vegan)
- Pinole and Chia Waffles (vegan)
- Spicy Cacao Banana Energy Bars (vegan)
- Strawberry Chia Energy Bars (vegan)
- Superfood Energy Bars (vegan)
Pasta, Risotto and Polenta
- Arugula-Walnut Pesto
- Gnocchi
- Orzo with Citrus-”Cooked” Veggies, Avocado, and Feta
- Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower and Arugula
- Pasta with Pesto, Potatoes, and Green Beans
- Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese with Portabella and Peas
- Tomato Pesto
- Trenette with Pesto, Beans, and Potatoes
- Raw Zucchini “Pasta” (vegan)
- Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables
- Eggplant Parmigiana
- Butternut Squash Risotto
- India Pale Ale Risotto
- White Beans and Broccoli Rabe (vegan)
- Risotto with Sundried Tomatoes, Asparagus, and Mushrooms
- Spinach and Eggplant Lasagna
- Spring Vegetable Ragout with Fresh Pasta
- Spaghetti and Bean Balls (vegan)
- Fire Roasted Tomato Pasta with Chickpeas and Arugula (vegan option)
- Mustardy Portobello Mushroom Pasta (vegan)
- Mac ‘n’ Chard (vegan)
- Pasta with Summer Squash and Tomatoes (vegan option)
- Pasta with White Beans and Garlic (vegan)
- Asparagus Ragout with Polenta
Pizza
- Vegan Pizza Recipe (vegan)
- Classic Margherita Pizza
- Tuscan White Bean Pizza (vegan)
- Sunflower Seed and Beet Pizza (vegan)
- Grilled Pizza with Portobello, Onions, Tomatoes and Arugula
- Mostly-Raw Adzuki Bean Quinoa Sesame Pizza (vegan)
Tofu, Tempeh & other Soy
- Peanut Butter Tofu with Snow Peas (vegan)
- Szechuan Tempeh with Sweet-Spicy Peanut Sauce (vegan)
- Tempeh Stir-Fry with Black Bean Sauce (vegan)
- Stir-Fry with Tofu and Vegetables (vegan)
- Chipotle Chili with Textured Vegetable Protein (vegan option)
- TVP Tacos
- Tofu Curry (vegan)
- Sweet Potato Curry with Tofu, Bok Choy, and Carmelized Shallots (vegan)
- Red Cooked Tofu (vegan)
Beans and Lentils
- Quick Red Lentil Curry (vegan)
- Corn Cakes with Black Beans
- Lentil Tacos
- Smoky Black Bean and Cheddar Burritos with Baby Spinach
- Refried Bean Tostadas
- Wine-Braised Lentils over Toast
- Adzuki Beans and Millet with Collard Greens (vegan)
- BBQ Black-eyed Pea and Collard Rolls (vegan)
- Beans and Rice 5 Ways (vegan)
- Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas (vegan)
- Black Beans and Rice with Sun Dried Tomatoes (vegan)
- Black Bean and Walnut Croquettes (vegan)
- Black Beans with Yellow Coconut Rice (vegan)
- Lentil Sloppy Joes (vegan)
- Crispy Chickpea Fritters (vegan)
- Hawaiian Beans and Rice (vegan)
- Piccata-Style Cashew Chickpea Medallions (vegan)
- Millet Black Bean Patties with Corn (vegan)
Soups and Stews
- Raw Butternut Squash and Apple Juice Soup (vegan)
- Raw Carrot-Ginger Juice Soup (vegan)
- Thai Lemongrass Soup (vegan)
- Hot and Sour Asian Soup (vegan)
- Mixed Vegetable and Quinoa Stew (vegan)
- Raw Curry Soup (vegan)
- Curried Cauliflower and Chickpea Stew with Basmati Rice (vegan)
- Plantain and Pinto Stew (vegan)
- Lentil Soup with Pineapple (vegan)
- Lentil Tomato Soup
“Burgers” and Seems-Like-Meats
- The World’s Most Versatile Veggie Burger Recipe (vegan)
- Pesto-Ricotta Portobello Mushroom Burgers
- Perfect Vegan Bacon (vegan)
- Raw Almond Flaxseed Burgers (vegan)
- “Beef” and Broccoli over Quinoa (vegan)
- Lentil Burgers (vegan)
- Smoky Veggie Burgers (vegan)
- Portobello Bistro Burgers (vegan option)
- Mexican Black Bean Burgers with Tomatillo and Avocado Salsa (vegan option)
Other Sandwiches and Wraps
- “Meatball” Subs (vegan)
- Buffalo Tempeh Wraps
- Grilled Onion and Eggplant Sandwiches
- Meatless Muffaletta Sandwiches
- Falafel (grilled) with Tahini-Mint Sauce
- Falafel (better version)
More-than-Salads
- Breakfast Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette (vegan)
- Charred Mushroom and Baby Spinach Salad (vegan)
- Southwest Caesar Salad with Grilled Tempeh
- Chickpea, Carrot, and Parsley Salad
- Grilled Romaine Lettuce Hearts
- Warm Orange-Fennel-Olive Salad with Grilled Tempeh
- Black Bean Corn Salsa Salad (vegan)
- Fried Plantains and Tropical Salad (vegan)
- Summer Squash Orzo Salad (vegan)
- Korean Cabbage Salad with Tofu (vegan)
- Red Chile Corn Salad with Limas and Cherry Tomatoes (vegan)
- Curried Couscous Salad (vegan)
- Macadamia Cranberry Salad (vegan)
- Gazpacho Salsa Dressing (vegan)
Sides (and Stuff that Doesn’t Fit Anywhere Else)
- Grilled Peppers with Mozzarella
- Black Bean Hummus (vegan)
- Root Vegetable Saute
- Squash Casserole with Feta, Lemon, and Oregano
- Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
- Grilled Sweet Potato Fries (vegan)
- Patatas Bravas (vegan)
- Sauteed Okra (vegan)
- Vegan Flatbread (vegan)
- Baba Ganoush (smoked eggplant dip) (vegan)
- Homemade Vegan Bacon
Sneaky-Healthy Desserts
- Almond Quinoa Muffins (vegan)
- Apple Pinto Tart (vegan)
- Basic Cookies (vegan)
- Banana Bread with Stevia (vegan)
- Black Bean Brownies (vegan)
- Blueberry Spinach Crumble Bars (vegan)
- Gluten-Free Carrot Macaroons (vegan)
- Raw Chia Carrot Cake (vegan)
- Chocolate Avocado Mousse
- Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (vegan)
- Chocolate Cream Pie (vegan)
- Chocolate Cupcakes with Coconut Ganache (vegan)
- Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes
- Chocolates (vegan)
- Cranberry Spinach Bars (vegan)
- Cucumber-Lime Cocktail (vegan)
- Fresh Fruit Tart with Almond Crust (vegan)
- Raw frozen Banana Truffles (vegan)
- Gingerbread Stout Cookies (vegan)
- Jubilee Bars (vegan)
- Lemon Bars (vegan)
- Lemon Poppy Zucchini Bread (vegan)
- Merlot Berry Sorbet
- Millet Crispies Treats (vegan)
- Oatmeal Flax Spelt Cookies (vegan)
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (vegan)
- Orange-Currant Brunch Cake (vegan)
- Pineapple Upside-Down Cake (vegan)
- Pink Bean Muffins (vegan)
- Pumpkin Bread (vegan)
- Pumpkin Pie (vegan)
- Quinoa Parfaits (vegan)
- Sweet Corn Ice Cream (vegan)
- Sunflower Seed Butter Cookies (vegan)
- Thai Steamed Peaches
- Thumbprint Cookies made with Cauliflower (vegan)
- Vanilla Bean Scones (vegan)
- White Bean Blondies (vegan)
PS: If you’re wondering about protein, we believe that most people will get plenty through a whole-food plant-based diet. But here’s a protein specific meal plan and our favorite protein powder if you’d like more peace of mind.