This vegan pumpkin bread recipe is moist, fluffy, and cozy spiced with no eggs, dairy, or mixer required! This cozy bake has become a reader favorite.
This vegan pumpkin bread is the ultimate in cozy, the mealtime equivalent of fuzzy blankets, wool sweaters, and hot cider. It’s perfectly moist and intensely pumpkin spiced, somehow without any dairy or eggs.
The first time I made it for my sister she said it was the best pumpkin bread she ever had! It’s light and fluffy: so you get your pumpkin spice fix without something overly heavy or rich. Here’s how to make it!
5 Star Reader Reviews
“Everyone loved it! It was so moist and delicious with a subtle bit of pumpkin and sweetness. It wasn’t overpowering like some recipes/box mixes!” -Rachel
“Made this pumpkin bread today because I had left over pumpkin from the steel cut oats bake. This pumpkin bread is perfect. Moist and delicious!” -Susan
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
When I first created this vegan pumpkin bread recipe, my sister was staying with me for a short time in between jobs. There’s nothing like a loaf of pumpkin bread in the oven to make a house guest feel at home, right? I have her a slice and she said, “This is the best pumpkin bread I’ve ever had!“
Here’s what makes this the best vegan pumpkin bread I’ve made:
It’s light and fluffy. Lots of pumpkin breads are dense and oily. This one won’t leave you with a stomach ache.
It’s just sweet enough. We’ve used a combination of sugar and maple syrup so that it’s sweet, but not too sweet.
It’s perfectly spiced. The pumpkin spice level here brings just the right amount of warmth, without overpowering.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are the basic ingredients you’ll need:
Flax eggs: Here I use flax eggs to stand in for traditional eggs. If you’ve never made a flax egg, it’s quick and easy: all you need is ground flax seed and water! You’ll wait 15 minutes for the egg to “gel”: and while you’re doing this, finish prepping the wets and dries.
Neutral oil: You can use organic canola or vegetable oil here. An olive oil marked “mild” can also work.
Maple syrup and sugar: Using both adds a depth to the flavor.
Pumpkin pie spice: Use purchased or homemade pumpkin pie spice, using cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, nutmeg.
Pepitas: Optional, but I like how they look on top!
Tips For Making Vegan Pumpkin Bread
This pumpkin bread is vegan, so it’s fully plant-based. Vegan baking is not so different from traditional baking: it uses just a few tricks to stand in for dairy and eggs. Here are a few tips for making this bread:
Baking pan: This recipe uses a 9-inch loaf pan. You can also make it in an 8-inch pan, you may just have to bake a little longer.
Loaf size: Note that I’ve made this pumpkin bread to be a small sized loaf to keep the serving size to a healthy level. Some pumpkin bread recipes use almost double the ingredients for the same pan. Here I’ve kept it deliberately smaller, so there are less calories per serving.
What’s the best way to store this vegan pumpkin bread? One nice thing about quick breads is that they keep well at room temperature. (This is also true for my zucchini bread and vegan cornbread.) Typically when it’s around I can’t stay away from it, so it disappears quickly! Here’s what I’d recommend for storage:
Room temperature (2 to 3 days): Store at room temperature and cover it with a towel. The benefit of this method is that it stays well and tastes basically like it did the day of baking.
Refrigerated (1 week): Refrigerating your pumpkin bread helps it to stay fresher longer. We prefer letting it come to room temperature before serving.
Frozen (up to 3 months): To extend the life even further, pop your sliced bread into the freezer in a sealed container. It can last at least 3 months, or maybe more.
Dietary Notes
This vegan pumpkin bread recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular eggs instead of flax eggs?
Of course! Substitute two regular eggs for the flax eggs, though it won’t be vegan any more.
Why is my vegan pumpkin bread gummy in the middle?
This is probably due to underbaking. Bake until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
Can I make this gluten free?
You can try a 1:1 gluten-free blend, though it generally comes out a little drier.
Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned?
You can, but make sure to roast and puree it first.
Can I reduce the sugar?
You could slightly reduce it, but it forms the structure of this bread.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9-inch bread pan with coconut oil or oil.
Start the flax eggs (let them soak for 15 minutes while you prepare the next ingredients).
In a bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, oil, and vanilla.
In separate bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, and pumpkin pie spice.
When the flax egg is done, whisk it into the bowl with the liquids. Then slowly mix in the dry ingredients until just combined and smooth (don’t over stir). Pour the batter into the bread pan. Sprinkle with pepitas and pat them down gently.
Bake 50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan until room temperature. Run a knife around the edges and invert. Slice into pieces and serve. Stores for about 3 days at room temperature (keep on a cutting board and cover with a towel) or freeze in slices for a few months.
Here are my top healthy chicken recipes to make weeknight dinners easy! These meal ideas pair this lean protein with vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil, plus minimal cheese and processed ingredients.
Need fast meal ideas that are also healthy? As a Mediterranean diet expert, chicken has become one of my favorite ideas for a quick and healthy meal: it’s a lean protein that’s relatively low calorie for the protein and nutrients it provides.
The healthy chicken recipes recipes below are all recipes I make on a weekly basis for my family (I have two school age kids), using either chicken breast, chicken thighs, and ground chicken. All of these are family favorites! Trust me, it was hard to narrow it down!
What Are Healthy Chicken Recipes?
So many chicken recipes out there that include loads of cheese, heavy cream, or processed cans of soup.
For my definition of healthy chicken recipes, I pull from the Mediterranean diet: these are recipes that feature lots of vegetables, whole grains, olive oil as the cooking fat, and nothing processed! The chicken is well seasoned using spices and herbs, with no seasoning packets or canned soup required.
15 Healthy Chicken Recipes To Make Weeknight Dinners Easy
This Greek chicken salad recipe is one of my favorite easy meals for a weeknight. It's a filling Mediterranean dinner in 25 minutes, starring seasoned chicken over cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, and olives in a lemony dressing!
This chicken and farro recipe is an easy healthy dinner idea that takes 7 minutes to prep, no chopping required! My entire family loves this one pan meal packed with whole grain farro, juicy chicken thighs, cherry tomatoes, and garlic. I've made it so many times!
These baked Greek chicken meatballs are juicy, herby, and ready in 30 minutes. My favorite way to serve them is over rice with tzatziki for an easy Mediterranean dinner recipe.
This juicy chicken burgers recipe is SO easy and possibly my very favorite of the list! There are no breadcrumbs, no egg, just five pantry spices. It’s our family’s top healthy dinner that’s quick to make using the stovetop or grill!
This chimichurri chicken is a fun easy weeknight meal made on a sheet pan! Juicy chicken thighs, tender potatoes, and red onion are topped with an herby chimichurri sauce. It's so simple and satisfying!
This chicken rice bowl is a copycat of Sweet Green! It stars sweet potatoes, crisp romaine, and pickled red onions, all drizzled with an herby Green Goddess Ranch! I absolutely love this one especially with air fryer chicken (below).
Here's another easy healthy chicken recipe that is so good! This Mediterranean-inspired recipe stars tender chicken breasts baked with cherry tomatoes, olives, capers, lemon, and feta for a nutritious one-pan dinner. It cooks in just 30 minutes!
These Greek chicken bowls are a simple 30-minute weeknight dinner packed with turmeric rice, seasoned chicken, crunchy veggies, and creamy tzatziki. Fresh, healthy, and so satisfying! I've made this so many times, and the air fryer chicken option makes it the quickest.
These baked Greek chicken meatballs are so delicious! Made with ground chicken, they're juicy, herby, and ready in 30 minutes. Or serve them over rice with tzatziki for an easy Mediterranean dinner recipe.
This homemade chicken and rice soup recipe is my kids favorite! It's an easy soup with tender shredded chicken breast, fluffy rice, and aromatic vegetables, it’s perfect for weeknight dinners.
This air fryer chicken breast recipe is truly my weeknight dinner hero, and it makes flavorful, juicy chicken every time! I have made this more times than I can count.
This easy sheet pan chicken recipe combines seasoned chicken breasts with colorful vegetables for a complete meal made on one pan! The method makes juice chicken and tender roasted vegetables: so easy on a weeknight!
This one pot chicken and rice recipe is an easy dinner with tender chicken thighs and fluffy rice, topped with a fresh lemon parsley gremolata. I love this one because it's so cozy and hearty, but healthy at the same time (kind of like healthy comfort food).
This easy slow cooker crockpot shredded chicken recipe is the ultimate meal prep staple! This simple method makes juicy, well-seasoned chicken for tacos, salads, sandwiches, and more. This is another one that I've made so many times! I really is my real-life go-to.
This easy chicken tacos recipe is packed with flavor and ready in 30 minutes! It’s a fun dinner idea starring juicy chicken and fresh toppings: a simple recipe everyone will love. You can also try my Smash Burger Chicken Tacos for a fun variation with ground chicken.
Easy Healthy Side Dishes To Pair
So the chicken is just one part of a healthy meal, of course! Here are my top fast and healthy side dishes to serve along side. It’s important to add more vegetables and fiber to your meal, so instead of bread consider these healthy side dishes! I’ve listed them in order of timing to make it easy to plan:
These healthy dinner ideas star fresh vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and heart-healthy olive oil. They’re quick and nutritious dinner recipes that for easy weeknight meals!
Need dinnertime inspiration? Healthy means something different to everyone. As an expert in the Mediterranean diet, I take my definition from this way of eating: each plate has lots of fresh vegetables, healthy fats (like olive oil), lean proteins, and whole grains.
Here’s my list of tip easy healthy dinner ideas and recipes! There are no cheesy pastas or greasy burgers below, only healthy chicken recipes, pescatarian recipes, vegetarian recipes, and vegan recipes. All recipes are listed with total cook time so you have an idea of how long they’ll take to whip up!
This sheet pan salmon dinner is one of my favorite healthy dinner ideas where the side dish bakes right alongside the protein! Throw it all on a sheet pan with lemon, and the flavor is unreal.
Try this Mediterranean Rice Bowl, a healthy dinner bursting with colorful veggies! It’s a simple “meal in a bowl” that stars chickpeas, turmeric rice, and my favorite tzatziki sauce.
This mac and cheese is big on flavor with less cheese than standard recipes! It's also filled with fiber and nutrient-rich broccoli, which seals the deal.
This easy Greek chicken salad recipe is a filling Mediterranean dinner in 25 minutes, starring seasoned chicken over cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, and olives in a lemony dressing!
I love making smoked salmon salad when I'm low on time: it's the ideal quick healthy dinner idea: no cooking involved! It’s fresh, healthy, and full of big flavor.
Love a good seafood dinner? Here’s one with your name on it: this tasty shrimp and rice skillet recipe! Succulent, juicy shrimp sit atop a bed of fluffy rice flavored with garlic, dill and spinach.
This juicy chicken meatballs recipe makes a deliciously healthy comfort food meal, served up in a tangy marinara sauce. It’s a hearty meal everyone will love! (Vegetarian and vegan options included if you’re serving eaters of different diets.)
The poke bowl is the definition of healthy dinner, with lean ahi tuna and loads of fresh veggies. The tuna is marinated in a flavorful poke sauce and served over rice.
Total time: 30 minutes (make it in half the time with pre-cooked rice)
This chickpea curry is the ultimate easy and healthy weeknight dinner! It’s done in 20 minutes, totally plant based, and full of colorful vegetables and flavor.
This Moroccan stew with chickpeas and sweet potatoes is an easy plant based dinner recipe: it’s incredibly flavorful featuring a blend of Moroccan spices. Serve with quinoa or couscous.
This salmon bowl recipe with rice is the definition of an easy and healthy dinner! The chunks of tender fish are covered in an irresistible marinade, then combined with fluffy rice, fresh veggies, and crunchy fried onions.
Total time: 50 minutes (or use canned salmon for a shortcut)
Looking for 5 minute recipes? Seared ahi tuna my favorite quick, nutritious and filling 5-minute recipe, served with leftover veggies and rice. For a fancier plating, lay slices over Sweet Potato Puree and accessorize with Parmesan Broccoli.
This succulent Old Bay steamed shrimp is fast and easy to make! Here’s how to steam shrimp until it’s tender and full-flavored: a healthy dinner idea cooked with almost no oil.
I'm always looking for fun and healthy dinner ideas, and this one makes a splash: lettuce wraps! They’re bursting with zingy flavor and crunchy veggies. Also try my Shrimp Lettuce Wraps.
This tender, flaky fish is covered in a lemon garlic sauce and cozied up with burst cherry tomatoes, Mediterranean seasonings, and gooey bits of feta cheese. If you think baked fish sounds boring, this recipe is for you!
Garbanzo beans might not strike you as a taco filling. But they make a flavorful filling coated in cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika, punched up with a hit of zesty lime.
Here’s a favorite healthy dinner idea: Salmon Tacos! These tacos are bursting with fresh, zingy flavor, pairing blackened salmon with pineapple pico and a creamy green avocado sauce. It’s an easy healthy dinner that you can whip it up in about 30 minutes.
This vegan meatballs recipe is easy to put together, full of protein, and packed with flavor! A perfect go-to plant based dinner made using the plant-based protein, tempeh.
This creamy shrimp and orzo recipe is a simple and tasty one pot meal! Juicy shrimp, tender orzo, salty feta and bright lemon come together into a satisfying dinner everyone will love.
These salmon burgers are ideal for an easy healthy dinner: each hearty bite is savory and slathered with remoulade sauce. For an even healthier sauce, use my Greek yogurt-based Dill Sauce.
These are the very best vegan fajitas: a plant based healthy dinner idea that everyone loves! Roast the veggies on a sheet pan for quick and easy prep. Add "guac-ish," a 5-minute fast version of guacamole.
Grain bowls are perfect for healthy dinner ideas! Pair a whole grain, protein and veggies with this amazing tahini sauce to make a healthy, fast and easy dinner.
This chicken and farro recipe is an easy healthy dinner idea that takes 7 minutes to prep, no chopping required! This one pan meal is packed with whole grain farro, juicy chicken thighs, cherry tomatoes, and garlic.
This insanely good falafel burger is easy to make and bursting with Mediterranean flavor! Smother in sauce for an epic healthy vegetarian or vegan dinner.
Here’s the tastiest taco salad recipe: a healthy and easy dinner everyone loves — and customizable for any diet! Don’t miss this hack for a quick salad dressing.
This Mediterranean couscous bowls recipe is a fast and healthy weeknight dinner! It features quick-cooking couscous with chickpeas and a creamy tahini sauce.
This chimichurri chicken is a flavor-packed easy weeknight meal made on a sheet pan! Juicy chicken thighs, tender potatoes, and red onion are topped with herby chimichurri sauce.
This pecan crusted salmon is fast and easy, with a deliciously crunchy topping! Make it as a healthy dinner idea to impress on weeknights or for dinner guests.
This vegetarian tortilla soup is so flavorful and quick! It's an easy healthy soup recipe that's full of zesty flavor: loaded with black beans, corn, and adobo sauce.
These sweet potatoes topped with a zesty slaw and creamy Thai peanut butter sauce are an irresistible plant based dinner recipe! Make it with Steamed Sweet Potatoes or Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes for the quickest prep time.
This epic BBQ tofu recipe is fast, easy and full of savory sweet flavor! A great way to make anyone into a tofu fan.
Total time: 20 minutes
Healthy Side Dishes to Serve Alongside
Many of the healthy dinner ideas above need a few side dishes to pair to turn them into a meal. But what are some easy healthy side dishes to go alongside, you ask? Here are some of our favorites that don’t take long to whip up:
I define healthy eating through the lens of the Mediterranean diet, which feature whole foods, fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats like olive oil. Each recipe you’ll see above has lots of fresh produce, quality protein sources, and whole grains.
There’s no processed ingredients, excessive cheese, or deep frying. Instead, these dinner ideas focus on simple cooking methods that develop flavor through herbs, spices, and fresh ingredients. Many recipes are gluten-free, and there are plenty of vegetarian recipes and vegan options.
Tips for Making Healthy Dinners Easier
One key to consistent healthy eating is having the right ingredients on hand. I keep my pantry stocked with basics like canned beans, quinoa, olive oil, and a variety of spices.
I’ve also learned that batch cooking can be helpful for weeknight dinners. Cooking a big pot of quinoa or brown rice or a big batch of roasted vegetables can be a life saver. I also like to make quick proteins like my air fryer chicken or air fryer tofu to pair with these types of components.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthy dinner?
I define it the way the Mediterranean diet does: a meal made mostly from vegetables, with a lean protein like fish, beans, or tofu, a whole grain, and healthy fats from olive oil, nuts, or seeds.
How do I make a healthy dinner at home when I’m short on time?
Use the broiler or air fryer, a hot skillet, or a sheet pan, and cook the grain ahead. Shrimp cooks the fastest of any protein, in about 5 minutes. Or open a can of beans!
What are healthy dinner ideas that kids will actually eat?
In my house, my kids usually like tacos, sheet pan dinners or pasta with veggies blended into the sauce.
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