Meal prep can feel overwhelming, but here’s a secret that makes it so much easier (and way more delicious): prep your sauces, not just your meals. Having a few staple vegan sauces ready to go turns simple basics—like whole grains, beans, and roasted veggies—into crave-worthy dishes you’ll actually look forward to eating. From creamy tahini miso dressing and tangy pomegranate vinaigrette to mango guacamole, BBQ sauce, tzatziki, and a versatile stir fry sauce, these 11 recipes add flavor, texture, and even extra nutrition (hello, healthy fats!) to every bite. Once you start making these sauces weekly, boring food will be a thing of the past.
After perusing this list of yummy vegan sauces, let me know which one you’re excited to try first! And don’t miss my tips on using these sauces down below the roundup.
Creamy Miso Tahini Dressing
Add a burst of umami and creamy goodness to your meals with this easy Miso Tahini Dressing. This delicious dressing is a must-make kitchen staple, perfect for topping salads and grain bowls, spreading on sandwiches, or using as a dip!
Everything Stir Fry Sauce
Add delicious, savory, and zesty flavor to all your stir fries and noodle bowls with this Everything Stir Fry Sauce. It’s made with common, budget-friendly ingredients in two simple steps and adds a restaurant-style finish to homemade meals. A must-have in any recipe repertoire!
Perfect Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Add tangy-sweet flavor to roasted vegetables and green salads with this Pomegranate Vinaigrette recipe! It’s made with just a handful of ingredients in a few simple steps. Each batch makes four servings; just double or triple the recipe for a larger batch.
Vegan Caesar Dressing
Indulge in the creamy flavors and texture of this easy-prep Vegan Caesar dressing – perfect for salads, sandwiches, wraps, or as a dipping sauce! This versatile dressing is a great kitchen staple, made with wholesome, plant-based ingredients.
Avocado Dressing
This versatile creamy Avocado Dressing is made with simple wholesome ingredients, perfect for topping salads, grain bowls, sandwiches, wraps, or your favorite dishes! Everything blends easily in the food processor for a no-fuss anytime dressing.
Vegan BBQ Sauce
The BEST Vegan BBQ Sauce: sweet, tomato-y, tangy, and smoky! Save yourself the hassle of finding a good bottled vegan sauce and make it yourself. This sauce is ready in a few simple steps and is perfect for topping, drizzling, and dipping!
Pepita Cilantro Pesto
This vibrant pesto swaps pine nuts for pepitas and basil for cilantro, creating a nutty, herby sauce that’s perfect for tossing with pasta, spreading on sandwiches, or drizzling over roasted veggies. Packed with healthy fats and fresh flavor, this pepita cilantro pesto is a versatile staple that instantly brightens any meal.
Vegan Tzatziki Sauce | Cooling & Versatile Cucumber Sauce
Cool, creamy, and refreshing, this vegan tzatziki is made with dairy-free yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and fresh herbs. It’s the perfect sauce for dipping, spreading in wraps, or drizzling over grain bowls and roasted veggies.
Mango Guacamole
This tropical Mango Guacamole is a fun twist on the classic dip recipe. Sweet, creamy, and zesty, this mango guacamole takes classic guac to the next level. Juicy mango adds a tropical twist that pairs perfectly with tortilla chips, tacos, grain bowls, or even as a topping for grilled veggies.
Herbes de Provence Salad Dressing
This fragrant vinaigrette brings the flavors of the French countryside to your table. With a blend of herbes de Provence, olive oil, and a touch of tang, it’s an easy way to elevate simple greens, roasted veggies, or grain bowls.
Arrabbiata Sauce
Bold, spicy, and bursting with flavor, this classic Italian tomato sauce is simmered with garlic, chili flakes, and herbs. Toss it with pasta, spoon it over roasted vegetables, or use it as a punchy base for your favorite dishes.
How to Use These Vegan Sauces
My favorite way to use these vegan sauces is on hearty salads and grain bowls (aka Buddha Bowls). When I don’t have a ton of time for meal prep, I will use my Instant Pot to quickly prep a few grains and beans, then prep a handful of these sauces to dress up my meals.
I also take this time to wash and/or prep my veggies. That usually means I will wash my kale that will be used in salads, and roast or air fry veggies (think sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and carrots). A balanced meal consists of veggies, whole grains, legumes (like lentils or beans), and a nice sauce. Check out more ideas below!
Meal Prep Made Easy
With these 11 staple sauces in your back pocket, meal prep no longer has to feel like a chore—it becomes a creative shortcut to meals you’ll love all week long. A drizzle here, a dollop there, and suddenly those prepped grains, beans, and veggies are transformed into vibrant, satisfying dishes. Try one or try them all, and you’ll quickly see how a little sauciness makes a big difference. And if you’re ready for even more flavor inspiration, check out my Vegan Meal Prep YouTube playlist to see these recipes come to life. Don’t forget to bookmark this post so you can come back each week and keep your meals anything but boring!
