10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources
A list of ten of my favorite protein sources that I eat often as a vegan. These protein sources are super versatile, delicious, and easy to prepare.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I will receive a commission if you purchase through my link. Read my full disclosure here.
10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources
Good morning friends. Today, we are going to talk about protein. Specifically, we will be discussing vegan protein sources. If you have recently switched to a vegan diet or you are simply looking for some plant based options that have protein in them, the list I’m about to share might be helpful for you.
In my opinion, there are a ton of delicious vegan protein sources out there to try. Today, I will be sharing ten of my personal favorites with all of you. In general, I find that nuts, seeds, and legumes are a great place to start. However, even vegetables sneak in some extra protein. Anyway, let’s jump into my list of ten of my favorite vegan protein sources.
10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources – #1
1. Tofu
Tofu has about 7g of protein per serving.
Tofu is one of my personal favorite protein sources. Why? Because it’s incredibly versatile. While I do like the taste of tofu plain, some people don’t. But that’s ok, because if you soak it in a sauce/marinade, it will absorb that flavor.
One trick I use to make great tofu is to squeeze as much liquid out of the tofu block as I can before I cook it. That way, the tofu has less excess liquid. I love to air fry my tofu so that it turns out crispy. Or, you could even use it to make a delicious tofu breakfast scramble.
10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources – #2
2. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter has about 8g of protein per serving.
Peanut butter packs in some healthy fat as well as a ton of flavor. I also enjoy the smooth texture that it has. But, if you’re allergic to peanuts, there are other great alternatives out there such as almond butter, pumpkin seed butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.
I love to use peanut butter in my plant based baked desserts, like my vegan peanut butter cups and peanut butter oatmeal cookies. Go ahead and give one a try if you enjoy peanut butter flavored desserts.
10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources – #3
3. Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds have about 9g of protein per serving.
In my opinion, pumpkin seeds are one of the more underrated vegan protein sources. They actually have a lot more protein than you’d think. One of my favorite ways to eat pumpkin seeds is by sprinkling them on top of a salad. They’re also perfect for snacking on.
10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources – #4
4. Lentils
Lentils pack in about 8g of protein per serving.
Lentils are a delicious and inexpensive protein source. They can be used to make veggie burgers, soups, and you can even throw them into salads. They also sneak in some iron and other nutrients, so I really enjoy incorporating them into my diet.
10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources – #5
5. Chickpeas
Chickpeas have about 6g of protein per serving.
They are also probably my favorite bean. I just love the flavor of them. Chickpeas go great in salads, and they also make a delicious base for hummus and nourish bowls. So, when you need a little protein boost, try one of these recipes. You can thank me later :).
10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources – #6
6. Nutritional Yeast Seasoning
Nutritional yeast seasoning has about 5g of protein per serving.
Nutritional yeast seasoning is a less well-known ingredient that has a slight nutty, cheesy flavor. It’s perfect to sprinkle on top of all kinds of savory foods. I like to use it on top of avocado toast, pasta, or even in vegan macaroni and cheese. Nutritional yeast also has some vitamin B12 in it, which is another reason that I like to eat it (almost) daily.
10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources – #7
7. Quinoa
Quinoa has about 8g of protein per serving.
Not only is quinoa rich in protein, but it’s also incredibly versatile. I love to use it in salads, nourish bowls, burritos, and more.
10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources – #8
8. Oats
Oats pack in about 5g of protein per serving.
Now, oats might not have quite as much protein as some of the other sources I’ve shared, but they do have some protein. They also contains a lot of great vitamins and minerals. In my opinion, oatmeal is one of the best breakfast options out there. I just love the texture and flavor of it when I add toppings like nut butter, seeds, and fresh/frozen fruit. If you’re looking for a new oatmeal recipe, try my delicious strawberry baked oatmeal skillet.
10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources – #9
9. Potatoes
1 medium potato packs in about 4g of protein.
I wanted to include a vegetable in this list just to show you that there is sneaky protein in a lot of vegan foods, including vegetables. Vegetables such as potatoes have a variety of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, magnesium, and iron.
10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources – #10
10. Protein Powder
The exact protein content in vegan protein powder varies by brand, but my current favorite (the Orgain Simple Vegan Protein) has 20g of protein per serving.
I think protein powder taste delicious when it is used in baked goods, vegan shakes, smoothies, etc. Also, the kind I buy comes in multiple tasty flavors including chocolate and vanilla. While I do try to get most of my protein from beans/legumes/grains/nuts/seeds/veggies, protein powder serves as a convenient way to sneak in some extra protein. So, I thought it was worth including in this list.
10 Of My Favorite Vegan Protein Sources – Final Thoughts
That rounds out ten of my favorite vegan protein sources. As you can see, there are many different plant based foods that contain a good amount of protein. Anyway, that’s it for this blog post. I hope you found it helpful or insightful in some way. As per usual, I will be back with more content very soon.
-Alyssa 🙂
