The most-loved whole food plant-based recipes from Shane & Simple that made healthy eating deliciously simple this year!
As we wrap up another incredible year at Shane & Simple, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude.
Your continued support, enthusiastic comments, and wonderful feedback have made 2024 our best year yet! Today, I’m excited to share the recipes that resonated most with you - our amazing community of home cooks.
What makes these recipes special isn’t just their delicious flavors or simple preparation methods - it’s the stories you’ve shared about making them for your families, serving them to skeptical friends (who became instant converts!), and incorporating them into your weekly meal rotations.
Each comment, photo, and message has reminded me why I started this blog: to show that plant-based cooking can be both simple and satisfying.
This year’s top recipes reflect what I’ve always believed - that healthy, plant-based meals don’t require fancy ingredients or complicated techniques.
Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or just starting to explore plant-based cooking, these reader favorites prove that delicious, nutritious meals are within everyone’s reach.
What sets these recipes apart is their commitment to truly wholesome ingredients. Every dish is crafted following whole food, plant-based principles, without any added oils or processed ingredients.
It’s proof that you don’t need to compromise on health to enjoy incredible flavors. Throughout 2024, so many of you have shared your health transformations - from lowered cholesterol to increased energy, weight loss to improved digestion - and how these oil-free, whole food plant-based recipes have played a crucial role in your journey.
The beauty of this lifestyle is its simplicity. By focusing on whole plant foods - vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds - we naturally create meals that nourish our bodies while satisfying our taste buds.
No complicated ingredients, no processed foods, and absolutely no oils needed.
Whether you’re managing health conditions, working towards specific wellness goals, or simply wanting to feel your best, these recipes show that healthy eating can be both delicious and sustainable.
Before diving into the list, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each one of you who visited the blog, tried a recipe, left a comment, or shared our content with friends and family.
Your trust in Shane & Simple means the world to me, and I’m excited to continue creating recipes that make whole food, plant-based, oil-free cooking accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Your Top 24 Favorite Recipes of 2024
Based on your visits, shares, and wonderful comments, here are the 24 recipes that resonated most with our community this year.
Each one is 100% whole food plant-based, oil-free, and packed with flavor. From quick weeknight dinners to crowd-pleasing desserts, these recipes showcase just how delicious healthy eating can be.
4-Ingredient Fudgy Sweet Potato Brownies (Vegan, GF)
Guilt-free, fudgy sweet potato brownies made with just four simple ingredients. These vegan sweet potato brownies are flourless, gluten-free, and utterly delicious!
Easy 5-Minute Spicy Peanut Butter Ramen Noodles
Spicy Peanut Butter Ramen gives life to boring noodles. Covered in creamy peanut sauce that’s sweet and spicy, it’s quick, easy, and full of flavor! Soy-free and gluten-free options are included as well. When it comes to noodles most look at ramen like it’s the bottom feeder of the noodle food chain. But, as you
Vegan Black Pepper Tofu
This vegan Black Pepper Tofu recipe is a delicious tofu stir fry with crunchy red bell peppers and red onion smothered in a sweet, peppery sauce. Serve it over brown or white rice for an easy weeknight meal that’s healthier and way better than takeout!Â
Oil-Free Oven Roasted Potatoes
Delicious Oil-Free Oven Roasted Potatoes that bake to a crispy golden brown. Lightly seasoned with only a little salt & pepper and super easy to prepare. These potatoes are the perfect plant-based side dish!
Healthy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad (Vegan)
Healthy broccoli cauliflower salad that’s creamy and crunchy! Filled with red onion, apples, and carrots, and covered in a tangy-sweet cashew mayo dressing. Vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free!
The Best Vegan Banana Bread Recipe (Simple + Moist)
The Best Vegan Banana Bread recipe is so easy to make and absolutely perfect! Using only 10 simple ingredients, it’s moist, healthy, oil-free, and so delicious! Ready in less than an hour from start to finish.
Homemade Blackened Seasoning Recipe
The BEST Blackened Seasoning Recipe! Use this blackening spice for adding depth and flavor to tofu, veggies, and more.
Healthy Oil-Free Granola
The best Healthy Oil-Free Granola recipe! It’s simple to make, sweetened with maple syrup, crunchy, and super delicious. Serve in a bowl with your favorite plant milk for a delicious breakfast or enjoy all by itself as a snack.Â
How To Make Vegan Buttermilk (2 Ingredients!)
Step-by-step instructions for making your own vegan buttermilk. The perfect traditional buttermilk substitute for recipes like vegan pancakes, quick breads, and more!
How To Make Seitan At Home (Easy Step-by-Step Guide)
Seitan is a "wheat meat" made from vital wheat gluten. It's high in protein, low in fat, and cheap to make. It’s a great substitute for meat, fish, or chicken.
Brown Rice and Lentils (One Pot)
Brown rice and lentils is a delicious meal or easy side dish requiring only 5 ingredients and one pot. Healthy whole grains and legumes packed with protein and fiber and perfect for feeding a crowd.
Crunchy Baked Taco Shells
Crunchy baked taco shells that are easy to make, healthy, low-fat, and delicious! These things crisp up like a dream with NOÂ OIL and NO DEEP FRYING!
The Best Grilled Tofu Recipe
The best Grilled Tofu recipe. It's high in protein, low in fat, and requires just 5 ingredients and 30 minutes. A simple recipe that's sure to make you a tofu fan for life.
Vegan Cheese Sauce
Delicious nut-free Vegan Cheese Sauce made with potatoes, carrots, and onion. It’s smooth, creamy, low-fat, and healthy! Pour over veggies or use to make some incredible guilt-free nachos.
Vegan Carrot Hot Dogs
Vegan Carrot Dogs taste like the real deal and are the perfect plant-based alternative to regular hot dogs! Easy and perfect for the grill.
The Best Bang Bang Cauliflower
Bang Bang Cauliflower is a delicious and healthy twist on the classic bang bang shrimp. Crispy cauliflower baked in the oven then tossed in a creamy sweet and spicy vegan mayo sauce. You can bake it in the oven or cook it in an air fryer!
Easy Instant Pot Cabbage
All you need are 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to make this Easy Instant Pot Cabbage. It’s perfect when you need a quick, simple, and delicious side dish.
Copycat Lipton Onion Soup Mix Recipe
This homemade dry onion soup mix recipe is so easy to make and taste just like Lipton Onion Soup Mix. Made with basic pantry staple spices, it’s perfect for making classic onion dip and seasoning many other recipes.
Oil Free Salad Dressing
This balsamic Oil free Salad Dressing is so easy to make and ready in less than 2 minutes! It’s tangy with a hint of sweetness and absolutely delicious. Whole foods plant-based, nut-free, oil-free, and gluten-free.
Easy Vegan Chickpea Curry (Low Fat, Healthy)
This easy vegan chickpea curry is filled with aromatic spices and covered in a rich sauce. Low fat, healthy, and oil-free but you’d never know it. Ready in as little as 10 minutes!
Quick & Easy General Tso Sauce Recipe
General Tso Sauce is a sweet, spicy, and rich sauce perfect for making General Tso tofu, veggies, and all your stir-fry dishes! Full of flavor and easy to make with only 6 ingredients.
Easy Lemon Cucumber Water
Lemon Cucumber Water is delicious, refreshing, loaded with health benefits, and so easy to make. You only need 1 cucumber, 2 lemons, and 5 minutes. It’s also great for weight loss and detox.
Easy Vegan Black Bean Meatballs
Easy Vegan Black Bean Meatballs are a delicious plant-based alternative to regular meatballs. These hearty and savory veggie meatballs are perfect over pasta with marinara sauce, a party appetizer, or making an incredible vegan meatball sub. Low-fat, oil-free, and filling!
Best Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe (No Mayo)
This vinegar coleslaw recipe is made with an oil-free, mayo-free dressing that’s tangy, sweet, and delicious. Just 7 ingredients and ready in 5 minutes.
Honorable Mentions
While these recipes didn’t quite make the top 24, they deserve special recognition for their impact this year. Each one has its own devoted following and has helped countless readers on their healthy eating journey:
- Vegan BLT Salad with Tempeh Bacon & Ranch Dressing – Your go-to meal prep choice that sparked countless meal-planning discussions
- Flourless Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies – The “rookie of the year” that quickly became a reader favorite after its release
- Eggy Tofu Patties – The “comeback kid” that saw renewed popularity after being featured in your meal plans
- Sweet Potato Reuben Sandwich – The “hidden gem” that consistently receives rave reviews from those who try it
- Easy Smashed Chickpea Salad – The “weekend warrior” that became your favorite Sunday meal prep recipe
What makes all of these recipes special is that they’ve become part of your daily lives.
You’ve shared stories of serving them at family gatherings, using them to introduce friends to whole food plant-based eating, and making them your go-to choices for healthy, delicious meals.
Looking Forward to 2025
As we head into the new year, I’m more inspired than ever to create recipes that support your whole food, plant-based journey.
I’ve been listening to your requests and feedback and can’t wait to share what’s coming next. Expect more quick weeknight meals, creative oil-free cooking techniques, budget-friendly options, and recipes that will please even the pickiest eaters in your family.
I’m also planning more content about transitioning to and maintaining a healthy, oil-free WFPB lifestyle, including shopping guides, meal prep strategies, and tips for eating out while staying true to your health goals.
Remember, cooking is more than just following a recipe - it’s about creating memories, nourishing our loved ones, and showing that plant-based meals can be healthy and crave-worthy. Thank you for being part of this journey with me.
Stay tuned for more delicious recipes in 2025, and don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for exclusive content, cooking tips, and early access to new recipes!
With gratitude, Shane
P.S. Don’t see your favorite recipe from 2024 on this list? Drop a comment below and let me know which Shane & Simple recipe you loved most this year!
1. Vegan Egg Roll In A Bowl – The best authentic restaurant tasting stir-fry sauce I ever made and so EASY!
2. Vegan Chickpea Salad Sandwich – I can now honestly say I no longer miss real tuna salad! Also totally authentic tasting to the real thing!!
3. Chickpea Vegan Meatloaf – The best recipe out there for taste and texture!
These three recipes are in my regular menu rotation! Everyone I have served these to has been an instant fan!
Would love it, if you’d consider doing a weekly menu plan in the near future!
These three easy tasty recipes were a game changer for me and my family! Now we don’t feel so deprived from some of the flavors and foods we used to enjoy eating before following a WFPB lifestyle!!
THANK YOU!!
Nancy Mendell