Opinion 10 easy family dinner recipes to the plant-based switch as easy as pie

Thinking about going plant-based, but can’t stand the thought of giving up Friday night pizza, Mum’s bolognese, or a cheeky sausage roll? We get it. Food is so much more than fuel – it’s comfort, tradition, and connection. The idea of saying goodbye to your family’s favourite meals can feel a bit scary.

But the good news is, you don’t have to! Nowadays, there’s a vegan version of just about everything – and the best part? There are plenty of easy family dinner recipes you can make plant-based – that are just as hearty and flavourful, but kinder to your health, animals, and the planet.

Yes, it might take a little convincing to get the fam on board at first (Dad might eye the lentils with suspicion, or the kids might side-eye the cheese), but once they realise taco night, Sunday roast, and big brekkies are still on the table, they’ll come around. We promise!

To help you ease into the switch, we’ve rounded up ten easy family dinner recipes – the kind of meals Aussie households love to cook, share, and come back to again and again. These are beginner-friendly, totally satisfying, and proof that you can have your (vegan) cake and eat it too!

1. Spaghetti Bolognese

An absolute weeknight hero with a plant-based twist, this rich, hearty spag bol uses textured vegetable protein (TVP) to mimic the mince you know and love. Savoury, nostalgic, and full of tomatoey, herby goodness, serve it over pasta, sprinkle with vegan parm, and watch everyone go back for seconds. 

2. Classic Black Bean Tacos

Taco night = sacred. Luckily, it’s safe in our vegan hands! One of our fave easy family dinner recipes, these tacos are stuffed with seasoned black beans, salsa, guac, and all the trimmings. They’re quick, easy, fun, and oh-so-satisfying. Plus, everyone can customise their own plate.

3. Butter ‘Chicken’ Curry

One of the most iconic takeaways of all time! Creamy, fragrant, and packed with banana blossom “chicken”, this curry is comfort in a bowl. Served with rice, roti, or garlic naan, it’s perfect for when you’re craving a takeaway-style dinner that happens to be homemade (and way healthier).

4. Easy Pad Thai

One of the best easy family dinner recipes out there – so easy, in fact, that it’s even in the name! Pad Thai is a classic family favourite, and this plant-based version nails it. With sweet-savoury sauce, fresh veggies, springy noodles, and tofu or mushrooms standing in for meat, it’s a fast and fresh midweek winner guaranteed to please. 

5. Lentil Shepherd’s Pie

Comfort food doesn’t get much better than this: Rich, savoury lentils simmered with veggies, all tucked under a golden, fluffy mash topping. Perfect for chilly nights, family dinners, or when you need something hearty to feed a crowd. Easy as pie!

6. Vegan Big Breakfast

While it’s not quite dinner, just because you’re going plant-based, doesn’t mean Saturday morning cook-ups are going anywhere! Think smoky mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, hash browns, sausages, tofu scramble, and toast – a plate that rivals any café’s big brekkie.

7. Vegan Sausage Rolls

Whether it’s a family picnic, school lunchboxes, or footy finals snack, sausage rolls are a cultural Aussie staple. This vegan version uses a savoury lentil-mushroom filling wrapped in flaky pastry – comfortingly familiar and dangerously moreish.

8. Nanna’s Lasagne

This one is close to the heart – a nostalgic lasagne, just like Nanna used to make, reimagined in plant-based form. It’s rich and saucy, layered with vegan cheese, and full of the kind of love and warmth that brings the whole family together.

9. Vegan Parmigiana

Nothing says Aussie pub feed like a parma. And yes – there’s a vegan version! This one heroes a crispy crumbed plant-based chicken schnitzel, topped with rich tomato sauce and melted vegan cheese. Add a side of chips and salad, and you’ve got yourself the ultimate Friday night feast.

10. Sticky Date Pudding

Still got room for dessert? Sweet, rich, and drenched in butterscotch sauce, this vegan sticky date is every bit as indulgent as the original. Perfect for special occasions, Sunday dinners, or any night that calls for a bit of comfort.

A few tips for winning the family over with these easy family dinner recipes – made plant-based

Don’t reinvent the wheel: One of the easiest ways to bring everyone along on your plant-based journey is to keep it familiar. If you’re serving up a vegan lasagne or parma, plate it with the same sides you’ve always had – a salad, chips, or some (vegan) buttery garlic bread. Keeping those little details consistent helps the meal feel like home, even if the main dish is a little more plant-based. 

Lead with flavour: When it comes to selling your loved ones on a plant-based dish, sometimes it helps to let flavour take the lead. Instead of announcing, “Tonight we’re having a vegan curry!”, try keeping it simple with, “It’s curry night!” People are often more open to trying something new when it doesn’t come with a label attached.

Celebrate little wins: It’s also worth remembering that every small step is worth celebrating. Maybe your dad still insists on meat for dinner, but he takes a spoonful of your sticky date pudding for dessert. Or your kids can’t give up milk, but go back for seconds of the lasagne. Those little moments of curiosity and enjoyment add up, and they’re a sign you’re on the right track.

Don’t forget to have fun: Food is just as much about connection as it is about nourishment, so have fun with it! Set up a self-serve taco bar, lay out toppings for a DIY pizza night, or host a burger BBQ where everyone can get hands-on. When people feel involved in the meal, they’re far more likely to get excited about it – and maybe even ask you to make it again! 

The final takeaway (or, should we say, eat in!) 

Going vegan doesn’t mean giving up the food you love; it just means reimagining it. From Bolognese to burgers, parmas to pudding, there’s a plant-based version of every family classic. And who knows? Your loved ones might like the vegan versions even better!

To learn more about how plant-based living and family tradition can go hand in hand, make sure to check out The Nanna Diaries – our heartwarming series spotlighting delicious recipes passed down through generations (with a vegan twist).