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Looking to gain weight on a vegan diet? The bottom line of gaining weight on any diet is that you must consistently consume more calories than your body needs. Your body can then use this excess for muscle and fat stores. Discover how to make easy, high calorie vegan meals that support healthy weight gain.
With this list of high calorie vegan recipes, building a satisfying and nutritious plant-based dinner has never been easier.
Vegan Mexican Tofu Bowl
East meets West in this bold, flavor-packed fusion featuring tofu and black beans for a double dose of plant-powered protein. It’s a satisfying, nutrient-dense meal that makes a perfect choice when your goal is healthy vegan weight gain.
Get the recipe: Vegan Mexican Tofu Bowl
Air Fryer Granola
When making vegan meals for weight gain, try to get a balance of healthy fats, protein, and carbs. This air fryer granola is packed with healthy fats from an assortment of nuts, as well as carbs from oats and fruit. Add your favorite vegan high-protein yogurt (and maybe some fresh fruit) to complete the meal.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Granola
Vegan Keto Smoothie
This vegan keto smoothie is the perfect start for those looking for a grab-and-go low carb meal option. Be sure to use full-fat coconut milk in this recipe to bump up the calories even more. Add your favorite toast and plant-based protein (maybe hummus?) to make it a full meal.
Get the recipe: Vegan Keto Smoothie
Air Fryer Tofu Bowls
Eating more often feels easier when there’s variety on your plate. (Just think how effortless it is to overeat at a buffet.) These crispy tofu bowls offer that same satisfying appeal with bold flavors and flexible ingredients. Add extra grains to your bowl and top with energy-dense nuts and seeds to boost the calories even more while keeping things delicious and plant-based.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Tofu Bowls
Marinated Tempeh
Many top vegan protein sources are naturally lean, but that doesn’t mean they should be left out. Protein plays a key role in vegan weight gain and overall nutrition. In this recipe, you’ll learn how to marinate and air fry tempeh for a flavorful, versatile protein option. It’s easy to prep ahead and perfect for adding to grain bowls, wraps, or salads throughout the week.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Marinated Tempeh
Air Fryer Toast
Turn your favorite vegan bread into a high-calorie, satisfying meal by topping toasted slices with mashed avocado, energy-dense add-ons, and a plant-based protein. (How about the marinated tempeh from this list?) Serve a glass of calcium-fortified soy milk on the side to complete the meal.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Toast
Roasted Garbanzo Beans
Snacking between meals is a smart strategy for healthy weight gain, and these roasted chickpeas make it easy. Coated in nutritional yeast and savory spices, they’re a flavorful, protein-packed bite. Enjoy them on their own, or make it a meal by sprinkling them over salads as a crunchy, high-protein alternative to croutons.
Get the recipe: Roasted Garbanzo Beans
Mango-Avocado Salsa
Serve this mango-avocado salsa with the rice and lentils below for a complete meal. Avocado is a wonderful addition to fruit salsas and salads to bump up the calories. To make it, combine: 2 chopped mangos, 1 chopped avocado, 1 chopped red pepper, 1 chopped jalapeno (remove the seeds for less heat), the juice of one lime, ½ teaspoon lime zest, and ¼ cup cilantro. (4 servings; 176 calories each)
Related info: Can you eat avocado with brown spots?
Creamy Coconut Rice
Fats are the most calorie-dense macronutrient, so vegan recipes for vegan weight gain should not be low in fat. Cook 1 cup dry white rice in 1¼ cups full-fat coconut milk and 1¼ cup water to add fat and calories. Top with high-calorie toppings (I added 2 tablespoons of sliced almonds and 2 tablespoons of toasted coconut flakes) to bump the energy-density up even more. (4 servings; 375 calories each)
Need a dessert? Try these: Vegan Rice Crispy Treats
Spiced Pineapple Lentils
To make spiced pineapple lentils, combine: 1 cup dry brown lentils, 2½ cups vegetable broth, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon each cumin and garlic powder, and salt to taste. Simmer over medium-low in a partially covered pot for 45-50 minutes. Stir in 8 ounces of undrained canned, crushed pineapple during the last 10 minutes of cooking time. (4 servings; 212 calories each)
See the entire list of recipes: High Calorie Vegan Meals
Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
A tropical extravagance, Summer!
Such striking colors you’ve assembled, and with flavors to match.
Cheers for the global economy in making such things possible, and for those like you with the vision to imagine and the skills to make them reality.
Just think – merely decades ago, such tables existed only in dreams!
Thank you and it’s true! I can’t remember ever eating an avocado prior to sometime in the 1990s. I feel like I must have at some point! I’m wondering now how old I was when I first tried guacamole.
In Florida several years ago we enjoyed avocados straight from the tree (well, actually they had already fallen on the ground lol). Amazingly buttery! Being able to try an abundance of foods from other areas is a gift.
Summer, this post is such a detail on easy meal prep, plus the pictures make a huge justice to what you have written. Indeed thoughtful meal planning means you won’t be taking the guilt ride later and those lentil bowls with coconut rice is perfectly balanced. Pretty!
Thank you so much, I appreciate that you stopped by! This dish is one of my favorite vegetarian meals.