103 Vegetarian Recipes That Everyone Will Love

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This roundup of the best vegetarian recipes offers meatless meals for every vegetarian family. From healthy, kid-friendly options like mac and cheese to avocado sushi rolls, and everything in between – we bet you’ll find more than a few vegetarian recipes to love. This list has it all, be it a quick toss-up for a weekday lunch, or a weekend spread for your friends and family.

Looking for the BEST healthy vegetarian recipes? You’ve come to the right place! Here I give you my top vegetarian breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks! Plus, I’ll give you some tips and tricks to eating nutritious vegetarian meals without any fuss!

Whether you’re looking for a simple breakfast, a quick and easy lunch, a weeknight dinner, a snack for on the go, or even a sweet treat to end the day, there is something for everyone on this list. These healthy vegetarian recipes are super simple, comforting, and absolutely delicious!

Healthy Mac And Cheese 

Calories: 268.1 — Fiber: 6.5 grams — Protein: 14.1 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: It’s an easy vegetarian dinner recipe, kid-friendly, and healthy too.

We all love mac and cheese, but the traditional recipe contains high fat-content and many calories. Thankfully, this tasty vegetarian mac and cheese is healthy and low-calorie. The best part is that you can enjoy it any day of the week and not just on meatless Mondays. 

Get the healthy mac and cheese recipe here. 

Healthy Veggie Gnocchi

Calories: 300.9 — Fiber: 7.3 grams — Protein: 15.2 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: It’s perfectly flavorful and one of the best vegetarian Italian recipes to provide warm comfort in winter.

Try this great recipe if you’re wondering what to make for dinner tonight. It’s one of our favorite vegetarian meals, and you’ll love it too. Serve it as a healthy lunch or dinner, and kids can pack leftovers for lunch at school, too. 

Get the healthy gnocchi recipe here. 

Portobello Mushroom Steaks

Calories: 185 — Fiber: 3.3 grams — Protein: 5 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Ideal transition meal if you are trying to eat less meat, and it’s mouthwateringly good.

The delicious flavors of the mash, mushroom steak, and asparagus combine for a heavenly taste that will elevate your vegetarian cooking without getting complicated. For chargrilled flavors, Portobello steaks make a great vegetarian version of steak – all you have to do is broil it in the oven. Alternatively, you can try grilling it for one of the best vegetarian grill recipes!

Get the portobello mushroom steaks recipe here. 

Vegan Paella

Calories: 228 — Fiber: 7 grams — Protein: 11 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Put a vegetarian spin on the traditional paella with simple ingredients that form one of the best vegetarian dinner ideas. This will soon be on regular rotation in your house!

Next time you feel like throwing out some leftover veggies that are still good to use, think again. Use brown rice, crispy tofu, and lime juice to get a protein-loaded, zesty meal that will nourish your family while adding color to the dinner table.

It’s low-calorie, high in protein and fiber, and ideal for some leftovers to balance a tight family budget. There are many ways to construct the perfect vegetable paella for your family. 

Get the vegetable paella with tofu recipe here. 

Sweet Potato Tacos 

Calories: 160 — Fiber: 6 grams — Protein: 7 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: These fun vegetarian tacos are ready in 30 minutes, and you can sneak your kids some extra veggies in what will soon be one of your favorite recipes for meatless meals.

The best thing about these unique tacos is that you can mix refried beans and sweet potato with red onions. Kids love the taste of black beans and fresh Greek yogurt. But if you have a picky eater, simply shred their favorite cheese as a topping instead of the Greek yogurt. 

Get this recipe for sweet potato black bean tacos here. 

Lasagna Roll Ups

Calories: 422 — Fiber: 6 grams — Protein: 25 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: The kids will love these vegetarian lasagna rolls, and best of all, you can prep the healthy ingredients to make this delicious meal the next day.

These mouthwatering lasagna rollups require the same fillings you would use for your usual vegetarian pasta, but it’s ready in a fraction of the time. A bonus is that you can freeze the leftover rolls and easily defrost them for one of your future vegetarian dinners. 

Get the pasta rolls recipe here. 

Indian Cabbage With Peas

Calories: 150 — Fiber: 9.4 grams — Protein: 7.3 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: This is sure to become one of your favorite side dishes and is the perfect complement to your main meal. It’s an ideal vegetarian filling for spring rolls or dumplings to explore flavor profiles.

This quick and flavorsome Indian dish only takes 10 minutes to prep and 15 minutes to cook. The spices combine to create a rich flavor profile that works so well with the slightly charred edges of the cabbage. Add some more veggies and make a full meal of it. 

Get the Indian cabbage with peas recipe here. 

Vegetarian Wontons

Calories: 108 — Fiber: 1 grams — Protein: 5 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: It’s an ideal light meal or appetizer for vegans and vegetarians.

These wontons are ideal for vegetarian friends and meat-eaters alike. The filling is super customizable, and you can play around with different options like a mushroom filling, butternut squash, mashed sweet potatoes, and chopped red pepper for some kick. 

Serve with soy sauce or peanut sauce for an authentic Asian meal experience. 

Get the vegetarian wontons recipe here. 

Sweet Potato Casserole without Eggs

Calories: 101 — Fiber: 2 grams — Protein: 1.3 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Complement your main dish with a delicious and easy-to-make sweet potato casserole. If you love fall vegetarian recipes, savor the fragrant spices in this Thanksgiving time classic.

The crunchy pecan topping adds some pop and texture to this staple side that is a must for any kitchen. It’s low in sugar, healthy, and very nutritious too. As a bonus, the recipe is vegan and vegetarian-friendly, and it’s gluten-free too. This has to be one of the best vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes out there. 

Get the sweet potato casserole without eggs recipe here. 

Roasted Pumpkin Salad

Calories: 220 — Fiber: 4 grams — Protein: 4 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: The flavor profile is complex and delicious, with this protein-loaded salad ideal for family gatherings. 

The unusual mix of ingredients makes it a great way to sneak some more plant-based proteins into your diet. The quinoa adds extra protein, while the kale and other green veggies help keep things light and satisfying. 

Get the roasted pumpkin salad recipe here. 

Air Fryer Pizza Rolls  

Calories: 147 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 6 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: These healthy cheesy rolls are super tasty and quick to make. Customize these basic rolls with any filling to suit your taste.

Create these from store-bought pizza dough, add your favorite topping, and whip them through the air fryer. They are ready in minutes, just in time for a tasty treat, lunch, or delicious vegetarian dinner. Simply avoid meat and opt for a plant-based diet alternative.

Get the air fryer pizza rolls recipe here. 

Tandoori Cauliflower

Calories: 95 — Fiber: 5 grams — Protein: 10 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Who doesn’t like spicy roasted cauliflower served with tangy Greek yogurt?

These delicious tandoori gobi are ideal for a main meal, and the warm spices are perfect for a satisfying winter meal or side. With the crispy coating, your kids will gobble up their veggies. If you aren’t a yogurt fan, you can replace the Greek yogurt with sour cream to make the dip. 

Get this tandoori gobi recipe here. 

Avocado Sushi Roll

Calories: 63 — Fiber: 5 grams — Protein: 6 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Fresh, homemade sushi rolls are a taste sensation that will have you searching for opportunities to make more of these creamy but healthy appetizers. 

Rolling these sushi rolls isn’t nearly as difficult as you may believe, and with this vegan-friendly filling of creamy avocado, you’re sure to enjoy the fruit of your labor. If you are entertaining, you can prepare the sushi rice beforehand and simply use it daily to make your sushi rolls.

Add a squeeze of lemon juice over the avocado if you have to keep the sushi for a few hours before serving. The tangy taste goes well with a vegan mayonnaise. 

Get the avocado sushi roll recipe here. 

Tofu Meatballs

Why You’ll Love It: One of the most delicious vegetarian recipes is making meatballs with pasta—that’s right, tofu meatballs.

Calories: 51 — Fiber: 1 grams — Protein: 4 grams 

The tofu needs to be quite firm to achieve the correct texture, but these vegetarian tofu meatballs are super easy to make, and when served with whole-wheat pasta, they are extra nutritious and healthy, too. Serve these on bamboo skewers for party fare or as lunchbox treats. 

Get the tofu meatballs recipe here. 

Italian Chickpea Soup

Calories: 254 — Fiber: 12 grams — Protein: 12 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Amp up your vegetarian recipe repertoire with this easy and super healthy chickpea soup served with a slice of freshly made quick bread. 

Rainy days are the perfect time to serve this warm and comforting soup. The fresh herbs and rich flavors make it an ideal meal for busy weekdays. Plus, you can freeze it for a healthy vegetarian dinner meal prep.

Get the Italian chickpea soup recipe here. 

Mexican Fruit Salad

Calories: 76 — Fiber: 2 grams — Protein: 1 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Serving fresh fruit with a hint of heat from a Mexican chili powder blend is sure to make you the queen of the BBQ, so enjoy!

You can dice up any fresh fruit for this summer salad, but citrus fruits like melon, papaya, and pineapple work best. A sprinkle of Mexican Tajin adds freshness and gives the delicious fruit side dish a pleasant kick. If you want veggie options, feel free to swap the fruit for vegetables and toss with the chili blend!

Get the Mexican fruit salad recipe here. 

Miso Mushrooms

Calories: 253 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 10 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: These quick and easy mushrooms burst with umami flavor thanks to the delicious miso paste, butter, and garlic it’s fried in. 

These button mushrooms are ideal for serving as a side dish, combining it with a main, or adding them to skewers as an appetizer. They really are that good. 

Make them vegan by replacing the butter with vegan butter, and add some extra flavor with sesame seeds. You can also try this out with shiitake mushrooms! I love getting seasonal mushrooms from the farmers market.

Get the miso mushrooms recipe here. 

Chipotle Black Bean Burgers

Calories: 359 — Fiber: 14.2 grams — Protein: 15 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: These are the ultimate burger replacements for vegetarians, and you can barbeque with the best of them since these patties won’t disintegrate on the grill.

Serve these black bean burger patties on a wholewheat bun with some sweet potato air fryer chips or even some air fryer taco chips. The taste is out of this world, and kids love these “meaty” burgers with just a hint of chipotle pepper. 

They are very diet-friendly, with the whole burger adding less than 500 calories. Everyone will love these for no meat recipes!

Get the chipotle black bean burgers recipe here. 

Healthy Vegetable Lasagna 

Calories: 304 — Fiber: 4 grams — Protein: 17 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Enjoy delicious, creamy lasagna without all the refined flour and oil that a traditional lasagna comes with for a heart-healthy vegetarian meal.

This healthy lasagna is one of the best vegetarian pasta recipes. It’s simple comfort food, made with wholewheat pasta, lots of veggies, melted cheese, and almost no added oils. 

Amp up your family’s vegetable intake if you’re vegetarian with the zucchini, baby spinach, tomatoes, and more.

Get this healthy vegetable lasagna recipe here. 

Vegetarian Fajita Bowl

Calories: 475 — Fiber: 17 grams — Protein: 14 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Add a quick recipe to your dinner table repertoire for busy weekdays with one of the best Mexican vegetarian recipes. 

Combine black beans, sweet corn, red and yellow bell peppers, and brown rice for a gluten-free vegetarian meal with fiber and protein. For a greater vegetable selection, you can also try baby mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, squash, and broccoli. You’ll come back for seconds with veggie main dishes like this!

Get the vegetarian fajita bowl recipe here. 

Mushroom Soup Without Cream

Calories: 143 — Fiber: 2 grams — Protein: 6 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Winter is a time for warm comfort meals like soup, and creamy mushroom soup is at the top of the list, especially when it doesn’t contain any cream.

Easy-to-find ingredients are combined to make this delicious taste-of-home mushroom soup. Simmer sliced mushrooms in garlic and onion before adding the thick soup mix of flour and low-fat milk.

If you want to go vegan, you can easily replace the low-fat milk with coconut milk in this veggie dish recipe.

Get the cream-free mushroom soup recipe here. 

Vegan Thai Green Curry

Calories: 250 — Fiber: 9.9 grams — Protein: 11.1 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: This low-calorie meal is perfect for families and to serve on busy weeknights. The next day, it’s packed with protein and fiber for a lunchbox yum.

The coconut milk and lemongrass combine for a glorious green sauce that gives the vegan Thai green curry its unique taste without adding high heat. It shows that vegan dinners can be easy to make while still creating a big flavor profile. 

Get the vegan Thai green curry recipe here. 

Beetroot And Feta Salad

Calories: 281 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 8 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Impress your family with this tasty, quick, and fancy salad that serves perfectly as a light and healthy vegetarian recipe for dinner.

The flavors of the beet, mixed salad leaves, red onion, and walnuts combine to create a delicious salad that’s vegetarian and can easily be made vegan. Switch out the traditional feta cheese for vegan cheese to entertain vegan friends or family. 

Get the beetroot and feta salad recipe here. 

Grilled Cheese With Pickles

Calories: 483 — Fiber: 9 grams — Protein: 17 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Who doesn’t love a cheese griller sandwich? Add pickles, and you’re at the next level in your flavor journey.

The salty dill combines beautifully with the melted cheese, and these grilled cheese sandwiches are ideal for serving kids and adults alike. Choose sourdough bread for a greater texture to these mouthwatering sandwiches. Definitely add this to your vegetarian dinner menu!

Get the grilled cheese with pickles recipe here. 

Red Lentil Pasta 

Calories: 318 — Fiber: 14 grams — Protein: 23 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: This is the perfect comfort meal for vegans and gluten-intolerant people, with the flavor of delicious marinara sauce and red lentils.

Your family will love this as one of the best high-protein vegetarian recipes, and they won’t even realize you’ve sneaked vegetables into their pasta. 

It’s low in carbs, and you can easily add extra veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots, or squash. If you’ve been having a hard time coming up with veggie dinner ideas, pasta is always a great way to go!

Get the red lentil pasta recipe here. 

Vegetarian Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Calories: 440 — Fiber: 8.4 grams — Protein: 17.6 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: An ideal earthy-flavored meal or side that requires little effort to assemble.

This is one of the best healthy vegetarian recipes to please even the most picky eater. While it seems complicated to make, the peppers bake while the quinoa cooks and the filling only takes a few minutes!

Get the vegetarian stuffed poblano peppers recipe here. 

Mushroom Fritters

Calories: 95 — Fiber: 1 grams — Protein: 4 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: These delicious savory bites are perfect for an easy side or a perfect snack around the BBQ. 

Warning: Everyone will love these, so make extra. If you have some leftovers (which is unlikely), they freeze super well and defrost like a breeze. With only 10 minutes of prep time, you can easily add these to any meal or even use them as salty snacks for your next Netflix binge. 

Get this recipe for mushroom pancakes here. 

Oat Flour Pancakes

Calories: 154 — Fiber: 2 grams — Protein: 8 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Want sweet, gluten-free breakfast pancakes in a flash? Pst: These are healthy, too, and ready in 45 minutes.

Thanks to the oat flour, these healthy pancakes are super fluffy and a little like cake at the same time. They are ideal for a tea-time treat, too, and when topped with a sweet treat like maple syrup, your kids will love them. 

Or serve these as a savory treat with some grilled cheese and pickled dill to satisfy that salty craving. No matter the time of day, oat flour pancakes are an awesome vegetarian main course.

Get the oat flour pancakes recipe here. 

Spaghetti Squash Casserole 

Calories: 275 — Fiber: 8 grams — Protein: 16 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: This is one of the best vegetarian casserole recipes, and it’s pasta-free but similarly delicious—double win!

Enjoy this squash casserole as an easy weeknight dinner during Fall and Winter. This easy no meat meal adds a bit of warmth, and with only 15 minutes of prep; it’s ready in a flash. Because it’s pasta-free, it’s lower in calories, so you can still sneak a dessert without feeling guilty. 

You can also experiment with different kinds of squash and pumpkin to load up on the veggies. 

Get the spaghetti squash casserole recipe here. 

Air Fryer Tempeh

Calories: 160 — Fiber: 1 grams — Protein: 11 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Meet your meatless protein target with this deliciously crispy, vegan-friendly plant-based protein that you can serve with a dip or as a meat substitute.

Tempeh is super easy to prepare! Thanks to the invention of air fryers, it is ready in a flash. The smokey flavor of the tempeh is ideal as a meat replacer, and even non-vegetarian friends will love it. Make it kid-friendly with some potato chips and a tangy dip. 

Get the crispy air fryer tempeh recipe here. 

Garbanzo Bean Soup

Calories: 286.5 — Fiber: 9.8 grams — Protein: 13 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Take a trip to Tuscany from your kitchen with this great, first-time-friendly garbanzo soup that’s easy to make and filled with hearty love.

This heart healthy vegetarian recipe is so easy and super delicious, too. It’s vegan-friendly and creamy enough to make kids eat all their soup without knowing it’s loaded with garbanzo bean goodness. With a high dose of fiber and protein, this soup is a great way to amp up your nutritional meal value. 

Get this garbanzo bean soup recipe here. 

Tofu Pasta

Calories: 335 — Fiber: 4 grams — Protein: 16 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Add this recipe to your cookbook for a great, fast, weeknight dinner that will make everyone ask for seconds.

This tofu pasta recipe sets the bar for a healthy, super nutritious, and tasty meal. Enjoy whole wheat pasta, protein-rich tofu, fresh veggies, and tasty homemade tomato sauce in this staple dinner idea. Make enough as this pasta stores like a champ for up to five days in the fridge. Guaranteed to be the best meatless dinner!

Get the tofu pasta recipe here. 

Thai Basil Eggplant Stir Fry 

Calories: 151 — Fiber: 4 grams — Protein: 8 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: This stir fry is a real winner meal with delicious veggies that perfectly match a warm bowl of rice. Vegetable meal recipes do not get much better!

Typical Thai basil eggplant stir fries are high in oil and salt, making them less heart-healthy. However, this Thai basil eggplant stir fry recipe is healthy, loaded with sweet veggies and amazing flavor. 

Get the Thai basil eggplant stir fry recipe here. 

Healthy Guacamole 

Calories: 60 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 1 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Add your twist to traditional guacamole with a complex combination of spices and herbs. Pair with other vegetable dishes for filling plant based meals.

This great guacamole recipe is an ideal addition to tacos, on enchiladas, oven-toasted bread, and even as a dipping sauce. Adding a little heat with some spices, pepper, and coriander helps freshen things up some more. It’s a far healthier recipe than store-bought guacamole loaded with sugars and preservatives. 

Get the healthy guacamole recipe here. 

Spinach Pizza

Calories: 130 — Fiber: 2 grams — Protein: 5 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: It’s an easy, no-rise crusted pizza that bursts with flavor and the goodness of spinach and gooey cheese. 

A pizza in 35 minutes from start to finish may sound too good to be true, but this Florentine spinach pizza is to die for. It’s super easy to assemble, and the white pizza sauce creates a wonderful center to the simply delicious pizza. 

It’s perfect for picky eaters, as you can customize it by adding meat or more veggies. Add this to your must try list for tasty veg recipes!

Get this spinach pizza recipe here. 

Instant Pot Chili Mac

Calories: 277 — Fiber: 10 grams — Protein: 17 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Enjoy this hearty vegetarian chili recipe that can be made in different ways- on the stovetop, in your instant pot, or simmering in a slow cooker.

If you’re on an end-of-month budget, this recipe is ideal. It’s very pocket-friendly since it’s made with pantry staples. It packs a real punch with nutritional value, and you can always add extra veggies to stretch it a bit for a second meal the next day or to take as a lunchbox meal to work. It really is one of the best vegetarian slow cooker recipes!

Get the instant pot chili mac recipe here. 

Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes 

Calories: 241 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 4 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Shake up your kitchen classics with this easy alternative to fried potatoes that can be served as a side with other veggie dishes. 

Throw these smashed potatoes in the air fryer for a crispy outer with a soft and fluffy inner as a healthy alternative. It pairs well with just about anything you serve at the dinner table. 

Get the air fryer smashed potatoes recipe here. 

Keto Greek Salad

Calories: 254 — Fiber: 2 grams — Protein: 9 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: It’s an ideal summer meal or side to keep to your diet goals and enjoy wholesome veggies and low-carb salad ingredients.

Load up this salad with a range of tasty ingredients like feta cheese, bell peppers, olives, onion, and fresh tomatoes that combine with a great Greek keto salad dressing. It’s surprisingly filling and makes a perfect quick meal, as it only takes 10 minutes to assemble. If this isn’t on your vegetarian menu, you’ll be missing out.

Get the keto Greek salad recipe here. 

Stewed Beans

Calories: 308 — Fiber: 10 grams — Protein: 9 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: A perfect end-of-month meal that will keep your family feasting on delicious beans and a range of hearty and wholesome soft-stewed vegetables.

This meatless recipe is highly nutritious and offers a huge punch of fiber and protein while still coming in low on the calorie front. It’s perfect for large families as it’s so cost-effective, and the rich color and great taste will have everyone asking for seconds. 

Get the stewed beans recipe here. 

Veggie Shawarma

Calories: 331 — Fiber: 6 grams — Protein: 14 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Shawarmas are delicious but not always healthy; however, this version is vegan-friendly and super healthy.

Swap out roasted meat with crispy marinated tofu and enjoy it with hummus, mixed greens, fresh herbs, and cucumber with various flavorful spices. The vegan tzatziki sauce is a perfect addition to the whole finger-licking experience. 

Get the veggie shawarma recipe here. 

Alfredo Sauce Without Heavy Cream

Calories: 137 — Fiber: 1 grams — Protein: 9 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Enjoy a light and healthier alfredo sauce that’s lacto-vegetarian-friendly.

This fun vegetarian dinner idea is all the traditional alfredo sauce taste without the cream and butter that normally goes into making this famous Italian pasta sauce. You just need a few basic ingredients and a little time to combine to create a masterful sauce that’s to die for. Serve with silky fettuccini noodles for a low-carb, low-calorie, low-fat sauce, and enjoy a guilt-free meal. 

Get this recipe for homemade alfredo sauce without heavy cream here. 

Air Fryer Quesadilla

Calories: 208 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 9 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Add some authentic yum to non-traditional quesadillas ready in 13 minutes or less.

The easy filling of refried beans and melty cheese sauce makes this vegetarian main course a breeze. Using your air fryer further reduces the need for oil or fat as you can simply fry these up and serve as starters or a light meal when life gets busy. 

Add a scrumptious salad, or play around with other filling ideas to get your culinary party started.

Get the air fryer quesadilla recipe here. 

Potato Salad Without Eggs

Calories: 259 — Fiber: 5 grams — Protein: 7 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Everyone deserves a perfect potato salad recipe like this, which is sure to become your favorite. Easily made without hardboiled eggs.

Stun friends around the BBQ with this eggless potato salad made with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, fresh herbs, and Greek yogurt (my secret ingredient). The salad is ready in just 25 minutes, and is wonderfully light and creamy without being unhealthy. 

Your whole family will love this salad as a side, and leftovers (if any) don’t last long. 

Get the eggless potato salad recipe here. 

Loaded Veggie Nachos

Calories: 386 — Fiber: 7 grams — Protein: 12 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: This is the perfect weekday game night meal or snack for your family (or boys’ night out).

The nacho chips, creamy cheese layers, veggies, guacamole, and more all combine for a taste riot that will leave people begging for the recipe. While it tastes deceptively like junk food, these veggie nachos are healthy and loaded with protein. 

The nachos are quick to prepare, and you can really stretch them to serve a large crowd on a tight budget.

Get the loaded veggie nachos recipe here. 

Rajma Masala

Calories: 258 — Fiber: 13 grams — Protein: 14 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: This great veggie option makes the most of delicious kidney beans served in a new and exciting way.

Satisfy your taste buds with this thick, creamy tomato curry that is protein-loaded with kidney beans. You can even save time by cooking with canned kidney beans, which helps reduce prep time. 

This curry is ideal with bread or cheesy buns, but you can also serve leftovers in a wrap, naan bread, or toasted sandwich.

Get this kidney bean curry recipe here. 

Healthy Falafel Wrap 

Calories: 285 — Fiber: 10 grams — Protein: 12 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Amp up a health-conscious diet with these vegetarian falafel wraps that are super tasty and light.

The hummus falafel wrap sauce is a real winner, and by baking and not frying the falafels, this recipe is much healthier than the traditional one. This falafel recipe will surely become a frequent feature on your menu thanks to the greatest duo – the hummus and chickpea patties.

You can even use the patties as a meatless option for your veggie burgers. 

Get the healthy falafel wrap recipe here. 

Vegan Taquitos

Calories: 150 — Fiber: 6 grams — Protein: 6 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: These mini tacos are ready in minutes, and your family will beg for more once the flavors melt in their mouths, so remember to make extra.

Make the most of this bean-filled protein boost by enjoying these taquitos spicy flavor and wonderful texture of these taquitos. If you want to go even more healthy, you can choose wholewheat tortillas to roll the taquitos, but even corn ones are fine for a healthier than “white tacos” taste. 

Pair with a salad, salsa, guacamole, and pico de gallo for a delectable filling meal. 

Get the vegan taquitos recipe here. 

Aubergine Curry

Calories: 192 — Fiber: 8 grams — Protein: 5 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: With one pot, some flavorful ingredients, and 10 minutes of prep time, you can feast on the tastiest eggplant curry that your winter heart has ever enjoyed.

Aubergine or eggplant is an affordable vegetable to source and make a feast from when the monthly budget feels the pinch. It absorbs the curry flavors beautifully, so the recipe is even better the day after it’s been prepped. Make extra, freeze, and enjoy at a moment’s notice.

Get this eggplant curry recipe here. 

Italian Ratatouille

Calories: 312 — Fiber: 11 grams — Protein: 8 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: This vegetable ratatouille is Italian and super tasty for any meal of the day.

Substitute the recipe’s veggies with seasonal ones, but adding potatoes makes this an Italian ratatouille. Alternatively, not having potatoes ensures it’s an authentic French ratatouille. Serve it with air fryer garlic bread or even as a side to a delicious omelet. 

It’s super nourishing, and with a high fiber content, you’ll love the dense texture of this healthy veggie dinner.

Get this Cambiotta recipe here. 

Tomato Soup With Canned Tomatoes

Calories: 31 — Fiber: 0.4 grams — Protein: 0.2 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Put some canned tomatoes to great use in the ultimate tomato soup recipe any time of the year. 

Serve this versatile soup as a main, starter, and even appetizer. Not only do the canned tomatoes add more flavor, but they are also excellent at cutting down on meal prep. Treat your family to a warm meal with tomato soup in just 30 minutes, and serve with croutons, air fryer garlic bread, cheesy buns, or toasted cheese sandwiches. 

Get the tomato soup with canned tomatoes recipe here. 

Vegetable Polenta With Parmesan

Calories: 358 — Fiber: 4 grams — Protein: 10 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Porridge is the ultimate in comfort food, and this meatless recipe for dinner combines roasted veggies for a total flavor fest. 

Customize this delicious polenta recipe by choosing seasonal veggies to match, with squash and pumpkin in fall and winter and summer veggies like asparagus and aubergines when the weather is warmer. 

With minimal prep, this delicious meal is ready in 55 minutes.

Get this vegetable polenta recipe here. 

Lebanese Lentil Soup 

Calories: 284 — Fiber: 16 grams — Protein: 13 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Treat your family to a quick, delicious, and light lentil soup on a weeknight. 

The rich color of this lentil soup is perfect for its rich taste, which is surprising since it is also healthy, vegan, and gluten-free. It seems you really can butter your bread on both sides. 

Serve this meal with vegan flatbread or smashed air fryer potatoes.

Get the Lebanese lentil soup recipe here. 

Pineapple Pico de Gallo

Calories: 27 — Fiber: 1 gram — Protein: 1 gram 

Why You’ll Love It: Complement other easy vegetarian recipes with a tasty salsa that’s fresh and delicious, or serve it with a Mexican wrap or salad. 

The fresh ingredients help create a perfect summer salsa to accompany your Mexican dishes and as a delicious topping for taco chips. The pineapple pico de gallo salsa is a great companion to many of the best vegetarian air fryer recipes, like mashed potatoes, garlic bread, taquitos, quesadillas, empanadas, and shawarmas. 

Get the pineapple pico de gallo recipe here. 

Vegan Roasted Potatoes

Calories: 70 — Fiber: 2.1 grams — Protein: 1.5 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: You’ll get crispy roasted potatoes with a delightful rosemary flavor every time, no matter whether it’s a weekday meal or for special occasions.

No more oily and greasy potatoes with this vegan meal idea. With just a few easy ingredients, you can enjoy a roasted potato that will remind you of the winter holidays from your childhood. This is vegetarian comfort food at its finest.

Get the vegan roasted rosemary potatoes recipe here. 

Chana Aloo Masala

Calories: 227 — Fiber: 7.3 grams — Protein: 9.9 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: This great recipe makes a perfectly decadent chickpea curry that pairs beautifully with coconut yogurt or coconut cream for a cooler touch.

It’s a perfect recipe for busy mommies as you only need one pot, and you can feed a large family on a budget with this creamy curry that’s loaded with protein and fiber. If your family loves their veggies, you can easily add some carrots, sweet potatoes, and sweetcorn. 

Get this potato chickpea curry recipe here. 

Avocado Toast With Honey 

Calories: 378 — Fiber: 8 grams — Protein: 10 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Warm avocado toast with a drizzle of honey and a little bite from the chili flakes makes for a warming breakfast that you’ll love. 

This delightful breakfast treat (or light lunch or dinner) is ready in 10 minutes, combining wholesome ingredients that won’t leave you calorie-heavy. The high fiber and protein content means you’ll start your day on the right foot with a nutrient boost. 

All the ingredients are available at your local grocers, and are absolutely vegetarian-friendly.

Get the honey avocado toast recipe here. 

Samosa Wrap 

Calories: 370 — Fiber: 9 grams — Protein: 16 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Samosas are a favorite Indian vegetarian food for many, and this healthier version will surely become a firm family favorite, too.

Fold the wholewheat tortilla wraps to create an Indian burrito bursting with tasty and nutritious filling. This recipe is safe for vegans and vegetarians, and with the right tortilla, it can be gluten-free, too. These mouthwatering samosa wraps are ready in 45 minutes and super tasty to eat. 

You can customize the fillings to meet any taste pallet, making this recipe really versatile.

Get the samosa wrap recipe here. 

Roasted Broccoli And Potatoes

Calories: 260 — Fiber: 7 grams — Protein: 9 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Use a single sheet pan to roast the potatoes and broccoli to prepare an easy recipe that’s nutritious and wholesome.

The roasted broccoli and potatoes perfectly accompany seared steak, fish filets, air-fried tempeh, or grilled tofu. Whatever you decide to match with your main, your tastebuds will have a party!

Get this recipe for roasted broccoli and parmesan potatoes here. 

Stuffed Vegetarian Zucchini Pizza Boats 

Calories: 241 — Fiber: 5 grams — Protein: 13 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: These hollowed-out zucchini are ideal for making fancy no meat meals that don’t cost you a cent over the basic ingredients. 

These zucchini pizza boats are quick and easy to prepare, too. In less than 25 minutes, you and your family can savor a kid-friendly meal that’s customizable and very variation-friendly. Enjoy as is, or add a refreshing salad to up your nutritional benefits from one meal. 

Get this vegetarian zucchini pizza boats recipe here. 

Vegan Biryani

Calories: 282 — Fiber: 9.4 grams — Protein: 11 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Create a flavor feast with this nourishing cauliflower biryani that’s loaded with Indian spices.

This recipe is loaded with protein thanks to chickpeas and quinoa, while brown rice increases fiber content without being heavy on carbs. Enjoy a naturally gluten-free biryani that is easy to make, serves many, and it only requires a single pot! 

Get this cauliflower biryani recipe here.

Layered Taco Casserole

Calories: 246 — Fiber: 10 grams — Protein: 9 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Treat your family with this kid-friendly tortilla chips casserole that’s super easy to make and perfect for busy weeknights.

This black bean taco casserole is Mexican-inspired and resembles a cheesy enchilada in appearance and taste. It’s loaded with protein and fiber (and veggies, too) for a health boost you can’t beat. 

Get the layered taco casserole recipe here. 

High-Protein Veggie Burgers

Calories: 508 — Fiber: 22 grams — Protein: 29 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Protein deficiency doesn’t stand a chance with this veggie burger that’s dense in protein, flavor, and fiber for a healthy cheat. 

Your whole family will approve of this protein powerhouse pattie that’s perfect for a freshly made and rich in goodness without preservatives or other additives. Plus, these only take 30 minutes to prep and make. If you are craving vegetable recipes for dinner, this will satisfy you!

Get the high-protein veggie burgers recipe here. 

Air Fryer Ravioli

Calories: 288 — Fiber: 7.1 grams — Protein: 14.9 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Everyone loves ravioli, and crispy ravioli is a perfect party appetizer that’ll be the talk of the town. They look fancy but require minimal effort.

Use your air fryer to make this recipe fat and calorie-friendly without sacrificing taste, and it’s ready in minutes. The golden brown breadcrumb layer makes this a crispy treat with a gooey inner that melts perfectly into the veggie dip you make by sneakily bolstering marinara sauce with fresh veggies. When you need easy vegetarian dinner ideas, give this a try!

Get the air fryer ravioli recipe here. 

Gluten-Free Pasta Salad

Calories: 433 — Fiber: 13 grams — Protein: 22 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Pasta salad is a perfect side for a BBQ or a picnic, and this is the best and freshest gluten-free pasta salad ever.

Unlike other pasta salads, this recipe is light, flavorful, and oh-so-good. This low-carb and gluten-free chickpea pasta meets all your dietary requirements without skimping on flavors.

With some baked tofu, it becomes a complete meal.

Get the gluten-free pasta salad recipe here. 

Vegetable Au Gratin

Calories: 251 — Fiber: 4 grams — Protein: 12 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Crispy veggies that are tender inside and smothered in cheese sauce—what’s not to love?

Making a vegetable au gratin is a great way to use up all your fridge’s leftover veggies. Any veggies work, from fresh and frozen to market veggies in the fridge.

Need a vegan alternative? Substitute the cheese with vegan-friendly options, and you’re good to go for the tastiest of vegan dishes.

Get the vegetable au gratin recipe here. 

4 Ingredient Potato Soup

Calories: 187 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 5 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Make the most of this winter staple with only four ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time.

Bring out the color with a few diced green onion bits and some shredded cheese as garnish. This single-pot soup tastes delicious, healthy, and free of heavy cream. It’s fairly high in protein at 5 grams and low in calories too. I love enjoying soup as simple vegetarian meals for dinner!

Get the 4-ingredient potato soup recipe here. 

Kerala Egg Roast

Calories: 381 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 14 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: It’s an ideal vegetarian breakfast for ovo-vegetarians, super easy to make, and perfect with any sides.

Serve this roasted vegetarian curry for breakfast or as a filling meal for an easy vegetarian lunch. It’s perfect on some quick bread toast, with wild rice, or even with oat flour pancakes. Forego the green chili to make it kid-friendly. Add this to your list for next time you need inspiration for easy veggie dishes!

Get the Mutta curry recipe here. 

Vegan Turkey

Calories: 325 — Fiber: 7 grams — Protein: 32 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Bring joy to your vegan family members on Thanksgiving with a perfect vegan turkey roast that’s delicious and full of meaty texture.

Use chickpeas and wheat gluten to create a texture that’s so meat-like you may find yourself wondering if you accidentally baked a bird instead of this vegan-friendly roast. This vegan roast is a perfect centerpiece and serves many, ideal for holiday meals or one of the best meatless monday recipes!

Get the vegan turkey recipe here. 

Frozen Vegetable Stir Fry 

Calories: 395 — Fiber: 7.3 grams — Protein: 26.9 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Stir fry is a great way to use frozen veggies for a protein dense meal that’s ready in 20 minutes.

Weeknight meals can be a challenge when you are short on time, but by using prepared frozen veggies or any veggies in your fridge, you can save time and make a delicious and easy meal in 20 minutes. 

Serve this cheap vegetarian meal with quinoa, brown rice, or vegetarian pastas for a kid-friendly alternative.

Get the frozen veggie stir fry recipe here. 

Panera Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich 

Calories: 289 — Fiber: 8 grams — Protein: 16 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Make this your family’s ultimate sandwich favorite in just 10 minutes. When you need vegetarian food ideas, a sandwich is always a good go-to!

This delicious sandwich is packed with greens, tomatoes, hummus, peppers, onions, and vegan feta cheese. Serve it on soft, whole wheat bread for an incredible texture combination. Also great with sun-dried tomatoes.

This Mediterranean veggie sandwich is perfect for hot summers or as a lunchbox treat.

Get the panera Mediterranean veggie sandwich recipe here.

Vegan Mexican Rice 

Calories: 228 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 5 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: It’s a one-pot meal that is flavorful, colorful, and super easy to make. Easy vegetarian dishes do not have to be bland and boring, and this is proof!

Serve this protein-packed rice as a side for refried beans, fried tofu, or grilled vegetables. It’s filling, so you can feed an army on a budget, while the easy meal prep and great storage time let you make this recipe in advance and then defrost or heat it as needed. 

Get the vegan Mexican rice recipe here. 

Rustic Pizza Recipe

Calories: 350 — Fiber: 7 grams — Protein: 17 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Ditch the usual Margherita pizza for this delicious rustic pizza that’s totally customizable. I love easy veg recipes that can take on various flavor combos!

The dough is super easy to make since it’s yeast-free. Any vegetarian topping can work, but the garlic-soaked mushrooms are a real winner. 

Serve it as a snack, keep it for lunch box treats, or increase the nutritional value with more tasty veggies and tofu. Make it vegan with a vegan cheese instead of the usual Parmesan or mozzarella cheese.

Get the rustic pizza recipe here. 

Tomato Avocado Cucumber Salad

Calories: 135 — Fiber: 4.3 grams — Protein: 5.1 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Jump into summer with a super light salad that’s easy to make, deliciously creamy, and protein loaded too.

This salad combines the sweetness of tomatoes, crispy lettuce, creamy avocado, and crunchy cucumbers for a taste explosion. Add some fried tofu or lentils to make a meal and enjoy. If this isn’t on your list of vegetarian food, add it now!!

Get the tomato avocado cucumber salad recipe here. 

Curried Butternut Squash Soup 

Calories: 260 — Fiber: 9 grams — Protein: 10 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Creamy butternut makes a great starter, main course, or a tasty lunchbox treat. 

The curried flavor of this butternut soup is a great winter warmer, but it’s even tasty in spring or summer. The low calories, high fiber, and protein content, and delicious taste make this a guilt-free pleasure. This is so easy and satisfying that it makes for one of the best meals for new vegetarians!

Get this vegan butternut squash soup recipe here. 

BBQ Jackfruit Burrito Bowl

Calories: 416 — Fiber: 12.7 grams — Protein: 8.9 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: A perfect meal with punch and loads of flavor is this BBQ jackfruit burrito bowl that’s got the most perfect homemade sauce ever.

Load up a burrito bowl with brown rice, oven-baked jackfruit (and remember the liquid smoke), onions, garlic, fresh carrots, and avocado. The protein and fiber-rich bowl has an almost guacamole taste that blends perfectly with the meat-like jackfruit. This is one of the best vegetarian dinner recipes for busy nights.

Get the BBQ jackfruit burrito bowl recipe here. 

Red Lentil Dal

Calories: 249 — Fiber: 14 grams — Protein: 11 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Delicious twist of an Indian curry recipe with red lentils instead of beans.

Make a nutritionally dense meal with leftover veggies, red lentils, and a warming range of Indian spices that aren’t as spicy as curry. Served with quinoa, rice, or naan bread, this is a complete and nourishing meal that’s delicious and fail-proof. Add to your list of vegetarian supper ideas!

Get the masoor dal recipe here. 

Vegan Wellington

Calories: 363.1 — Fiber: 10.3 grams — Protein: 11 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: The flavors of this meat-free Wellington are delicious, and it’s a perfect appetizer or main meal for special occasions. 

While the prep time is longer than other plant based dinner recipes, the results are worth it as these vegan Wellingtons are perfection with lentils, mushrooms, and vegetables. The tasty flavor completely replaces any meat cravings. The recipe is allergen-friendly, too, as it’s nut-free, vegan, and quite low in calories. 

Get this vegan Wellington recipe here. 

Vegan Corn Chowder

Calories: 253 — Fiber: 5 grams — Protein: 8 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: This lighter take on the classic chowder is vegan-friendly and only takes 30 minutes to prepare. Plus, the whole family will love it.

The dairy-free soup is perfect for large gatherings, and it’s a real winner on cold days. You may even serve it all year long as the flavors are so fresh and the soup is so filling. The secret vegan ingredient is quinoa, which adds to the bulk of the soup while also creating the creamy texture. Nobody will even realize this is one of your meat-free meals!

And even if you’re dieting, don’t skip the potatoes, as these build the creamy taste. 

Get this corn quinoa chowder recipe here. 

Leek Asparagus Soup

Calories: 221 — Fiber: 8.5 grams — Protein: 8.3 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: The lightness of this leek and asparagus soup is perfect as a healthy meal, appetizer, or even as a side for dipping crusty bread or toasted sandwiches.

In just 30 minutes, you can enjoy this pureed soup that’s wonderfully colorful, creamy, and nutritionally dense. No heavy creams in this light soup, and the creaminess comes from the pureed chickpeas. Top with some lemon zest for an extra boost of freshness. Healthy vegetarian meals like this deserve a round of applause!

Get the leek asparagus soup recipe here. 

Sweet And Sour Tofu

Calories: 272 — Fiber: 9 grams — Protein: 17 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Enjoy the authentically Asian taste of sweet and sour tofu without the usual carbs, oils, and fats that this street-food staple comes with.

Look no further than this sweet and sour tofu with veggies for delicious ideas for tonight’s dinner. It’s a twist on the Chinese classic, and the biggest benefits are that it’s very healthy, low-carb, and high in fiber and protein. Serve it with white rice, becoming one of the best vegetarian meals.

Get the sweet and sour tofu recipe here. 

Taco Stuffed Peppers

Calories: 480 — Fiber: 17.9 grams — Protein: 20.1 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: An ideal alternative to taco Tuesday, and you’ll feel satisfied after enjoying just one pepper. If you need easy vegetarian dinner recipes, this is the one!

I love that the peppers hold their shape so well, making for a visually pleasing meal. It’s also high in protein, and you can experiment with fresh vegetables for the filling. It makes a tasty leftover lunch if you didn’t finish it last night.

Get the taco stuffed peppers recipe here. 

Vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna 

Calories: 238 — Fiber: 6 grams — Protein: 13 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Lasagna is pure comfort food. This zucchini lasagna is budget-friendly, healthy, low-carb, gluten-free, and hearty. 

Your taste buds will love you when you eat this vegetarian zucchini lasagna. It has similar flavors to a traditional meaty lasagna, but is vegetarian. You can easily swap out the cheese and ricotta for plant-based alternatives if you follow a vegan lifestyle. It truly is one of the most perfect meatless recipes!

Get this vegetarian zucchini lasagna recipe here. 

Vegan Meatloaf 

Calories: 180 — Fiber: 6 grams — Protein: 8 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Ideal for any dinner or holiday meal, and it’s ready in an hour! 

This vegan lentil meatloaf is easy to make, and most ingredients are likely in your pantry. What I love about vegetarian entrees like this is that the lentils don’t get soggy, so you can keep it in the fridge for up to five days or freeze it and enjoy it later.

Healthy Curry Spaghetti Squash

Calories: 283 — Fiber: 13 grams — Protein: 12 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: It’s a healthy curry high in protein, relatively low in carbs, and loaded with vitamins B6, C, and other minerals.

You need at least an hour to prep and cook the curry spaghetti squash and chickpeas, but believe me; it’s worth it! I like putting a Thai spin on it with a green or red curry paste and coconut milk. Vegetarian main dishes like this are unbeatable!

Get the healthy curry spaghetti squash recipe here. 

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Calories: 246 — Fiber: 6 grams — Protein: 10 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: It’s bright, crunchy, and creamy—ideal for veggie lunch ideas or as a side dish with a BBQ.

The Hawaiian macaroni salad is ready to serve in under 20 minutes, so it’s super quick to whip up this salad. The mayo adds a creamy sauce component to the salad that helps tie everything together.

Get the Hawaiian macaroni salad recipe here. 

Chipotle Corn Salsa

Calories: 84 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 3 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: A perfect Mexican salsa that’s flavorful and it doesn’t burn your taste buds (even if you aren’t used to spicy foods). This is one of those vegetarian options that’ll add flavor to everything!

I use frozen corn if I can’t find it fresh at my local grocer, and this roasted chili corn salsa is still just as delicious. Serve it with tacos, enchiladas, or a burrito bowl for the perfect Mexican vegetarian or vegan meal.

Get this roasted chili corn salsa recipe here. 

Cheesy Baked Asparagus

Calories: 91 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 7 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Low-carb, gluten-free, vegetarian-friendly, and ready to serve and enjoy in a mere 10 minutes. 

Drizzle some olive oil and herbs (and a few other ingredients) over the asparagus spears, bake with mozzarella and Parmesan, and you and your family are set to dive into this delicious dish. Serve with a protein of your choice and a salad for a more complete meal. Do not forget to add this to your list of low carb vegetarian recipes!

Get the cheesy garlic roasted asparagus recipe here. 

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Calories: 163 — Fiber: 4 grams — Protein: 11 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: A warm, cheesy, and healthy soup that’s ready in 45 minutes. Vegetarian lunch ideas don’t get much easier!

This soup contains a good serving of broccoli, so you get all the nutritional benefits of the green veggie. Plus, the broccoli adds that pop of color to the cheesy soup that makes it so delectable!

Get the instant pot broccoli cheddar soup recipe here. 

Goat Cheese Pizza

Calories: 171 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 6 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: A low-calorie pizza that’s as delicious as it’s healthy! If you want easy vegan dinner recipes, look no further!

Goat cheese and caramelized onion is a match made in taste bud heaven. Add the crispness of the pizza crust, and you’ve got a real winner. If you don’t have time to make a proper pizza dough, use naan bread as an easy alternative. 

 Get the goat cheese pizza recipe here. 

Red Lentil Pasta

Calories: 318 — Fiber: 14 grams — Protein: 23 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: A protein-packed, gluten-free Italian pasta that’s refreshing and comforting for dinner, lunch, or when you feel peckish.

This is one of the best vegetarian italian recipes. It’s quick and easy to put together in just 30 minutes. Play around with different veggie combinations. My family loves beetroot or cauliflower with the pasta. 

Get the red lentil pasta recipe here. 

Vegan Tikka Masala

Calories: 180 — Fiber: 5 grams — Protein: 5 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: A vegan tikka masala with tofu that’s mild enough for the whole family to enjoy (and not break out a sweat). 

One of the best vegetarian Indian recipes is this tikka masala. If your kids aren’t fans of vegetables, you can sneakily add some, and they’ll gobble it up because this curry is so yum.

Get the vegan tikka masala recipe here. 

Healthy Risotto Recipe

Calories: 398 — Fiber: 11.1 grams — Protein: 12.8 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: A healthy risotto alternative that bursts with Italian flavors. Equally great for healthy vegetarian lunch ideas or no meat dinner ideas.

This risotto is naturally gluten-free, so it’s great for those family members with celiac disease or other gluten sensitivities. You’d likely have most ingredients in your pantry; just buy arborio rice. If you can’t, opt for sushi rice or another short to medium grain rice. 

Serve with asparagus or a healthy salad for a scrumptious meal.

Get this vegetarian instant pot risotto recipe here. 

Vegan Empanadas

Calories: 96 — Fiber: 3 grams — Protein: 4 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: A showstopper when you have visitors, but also vegan-friendly and easily adaptable. This is a standout amongst meatless dinner ideas!

While you must make the dough for the empanadas, the whole recipe takes around 45 minutes. So it’s easy-peasy and a delectable vegan Mexican recipe. These doughy pockets with a filling will leave your heart content. 

Get the vegan black bean empanadas recipe here. 

Chickpea And Lentil Curry 

Calories: 483 — Fiber: 19 grams — Protein: 19 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: It’s vegan and gluten-free, so the whole family can enjoy the healthy goodness of this delicious curry. 

Serve the chickpea and lentil curry with rice or a vegan flatbread. It’s an ideal recipe for you, your family, or a large group of people coming over for dinner because it’s easy to make. You can also customize it, making it hotter, trying other veggies or spices, and adding other protein options. Be sure to add this to your list of tasty vegetarian meals to try!

Get the chickpea and lentil curry recipe here. 

Pumpkin And Sweet Potato Soup

Calories: 155 — Fiber: 8.7 grams — Protein: 5.4 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Warm and soul-comforting, perfect for a cold or rainy day. This is the best of the best for vegetarian meals to make this cold weather season.

You can also make this winning pumpkin and sweet potato soup with butternut, and I love that it’s vegan, gluten-free, delicious, and ready to serve in 30 minutes, especially when you make it in your instant pot! My family prefers a thinner soup, so I add more veggie stock, but that rich, creamy, warmth you crave is still there.

Get the pumpkin and sweet potato soup recipe here. 

Pinto Bean Casserole

Calories: 263 — Fiber: 12.2 grams — Protein: 10.9 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Quick and easy to prep and bake, this tasty veggie food is ready in 30 minutes (or less)! 

The pinto bean casserole is one of the best vegetarian meals. It is very nutritious, with pinto beans, quinoa, and vegetables. Plus, you skip the heavy cream, rice, and high calories and fat from traditional casseroles. 

Get this pinto bean casserole recipe here. 

Lentil Falafel Burger Recipe

Calories: 363.5 — Fiber: 11.4 grams — Protein: 18.2 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: High in protein, this vegetarian recipe packs a punch with Mediterranean flavors. 

Burgers are adult and kid-friendly, and these lentil falafel burgers are no exception. I love how customizable the recipe is, meaning I can explore burger toppings to my heart’s content, make it gluten-free or vegan-friendly, or go bunless for a more calorie-friendly, meatless Monday meal.

Get this vegan falafel burger recipe here. 

Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets 

Calories: 300 — Fiber: 3.2 grams — Protein: 12.7 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Super easy to make, healthy, and holds its own against some of the best healthy vegetarian meals!

Pair these air fryer tofu nuggets with a dip and roasted veggies, a healthy beetroot, and fresh mint salad, or pasta, especially when you need to up the protein count of a recipe. These nuggets are one of the best gluten free vegetarian recipes, and you only need tofu, chickpeas, eggs, almond flour, and seasoning.

Get the air fryer tofu nuggets recipe here. 

Mexican Vegetarian Flautas

Calories: 315 — Fiber: 15 grams — Protein: 13 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: One of the best healthy vegetarian recipes that’s ready in under an hour. 

A flauta is a Mexican rolled-up taco, but the filling goes in a larger tortilla rather than a traditional taco or taquito. You can go to town with filling options, experimenting with veggies, proteins, and spices. My kids love this yummy vegetarian dinner idea!

 Get the black bean flautas recipe here. 

Sweet Potato Cauliflower Curry 

Calories: 167 — Fiber: 7.2 grams — Protein: 5.4 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: A delectable curry that will become one of your new favorite vegetarian comfort food recipes!

Pair the sweet potato cauliflower curry with rice, naan bread, roti, or a fresh salad for a lower-calorie option. You can also turn up the heat by adding some hot peppers, or increase the overall protein by adding tofu, chicken, or your favorite protein.

Get the sweet potato cauliflower curry recipe here. 

Vegan Enchilada Casserole 

Calories: 300 — Fiber: 7.8 grams — Protein: 13.2 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Ready in just 30 minutes, have a complete and filling weeknight dinner ready, even when you are tired from a long day at work. Plus, it’s a crowd pleaser if you have friends and family over! 

The vegan enchilada casserole is one of the best vegan recipes for dinner. All the ingredients are easily sourced, and you can explore other protein sources, veggies, and cheeses to make your taste buds sing.

Get the vegan enchilada casserole recipe here. 

Healthy Baked Potato

Calories: 149.1 — Fiber: 4.3 grams — Protein: 7.5 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: Gooey cheese on broccoli and a baked potato… yes please! It is super delicious for fun Saturday night family dinner ideas!

These potatoes are twice baked, making the skin extra crispy. You can swap out the broccoli with other veggies of your choice, and even substitute the cheese with a vegan alternative to easily make this meal vegan-friendly. 

Get the healthy baked potato recipe here. 

Air Fryer Jicama Fries 

Calories: 115 — Fiber: 11 grams — Protein: 2 grams 

Why You’ll Love It: These air fryer jicama fries are healthier than traditional fries and super yummy. They’ll continue to get five-star ratings from you and your whole family.

Also called Mexican potato or Mexican yam bean, jicama is ideal if you want to try something new or are tired of potato fries. The nuttiness and high fiber of jicama are ideal for air frying. Serve these fries with healthy tacos, burgers, or as is for a delicious snack. I personally love these with vegetarian summer recipes for a fun backyard bbq!

Get this air fryer jicama fries recipe here. 

What Are The Different Types Of Vegetarian Diets?

When you follow a vegetarian diet, you don’t eat meat, poultry, and fish.

There are several different types of vegetarians, and what they eat or do not eat depends on the type of vegetarian diet they follow.

• Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarians: Do not eat meat, poultry, or fish, but do eat eggs and other dairy products.
• Lacto-Vegetarians: Do not eat meat, poultry, fish, or eggs, but do eat dairy products.
• Ovo-Vegetarians: Do not eat meat, poultry, fish, or dairy products, but do allow eggs.
• Vegan: Does not include meat, poultry, fish, diary, eggs, or any other animal derived ingredient, including honey.

Why Follow A Vegetarian Diet?

There are many reasons why one may choose to follow a vegetarian diet.

• Personal preference, doesn’t like the taste of meat
• Help the environment, reduce greenhouse gases, and natural resources required to raise livestock
• Health reasons
• Ethical reasons, animal rights
• Religious beliefs

What Should Vegetarians Eat To Be Healthy?

Often, if you are beginning a vegetarian diet, it is common to be concerned that you will not get enough protein.

However, it is quite easy to incorporate enough protein in your diet from plant sources, if you are consuming a well rounded healthy diet.

Making sure you include the following foods in your daily diet, will ensure that you are getting the vitamins, nutrients, and protein you need to ensure you do not have any nutritional deficiences.

• Fruits and Vegetables: Including a wide range of fruits and vegetables is key. Eat the rainbow, as they say. Be sure to include leafy greens such as spinach, and kale. Apples, bananas, oranges, stone fruit, berries, broccoli, carrots, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers…the list goes on and on!
• Whole Grains: Stay away from refined carbohydrates such as anything made with white flour. These foods have minimal nutritional value, and turn straight to sugar when consumed. Instead fill up on whole grains that are high in fiber, such as whole wheat pastas, bulgar, brown rice, farro, oats, barley, and buckwheat.
• Healthy Fats: Using olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil in your cooking provides you with mono-unsaturated fats. You do not need a lot of these fats. Just a little, but it is important to incorporate them into your diet. Avocados are also an excellent source of healthy fats!
• Plant Protein: Plant protein comes from nuts, seeds, legumes, sprouted grains, some vegetables, and soy products. Include nuts and nut butters in your smoothies, or sandwiches. Sprinkle chia, pumpkin, flax, or hemp seeds on your salads. Add legumes such as lentils and beans to your stews and entrees. You can also include tofu, or tempeh to your dishes.
• Organic Dairy: If you are a vegetarian that eats eggs and dairy, these can both be great sources of protein! Eggs are super high in protein, as is plain Greek Yogurt, String Cheese, Milk and all other sources of dairy. I recommend choosing organic when you’re buying dairy since organic farms cannot use antibiotics or growth hormones when producing dairy products.

How Can I Eat Vegetarian For Cheap?

Create a Meal Plan: The best way to reduce your grocery bill is to create a meal plan for the week. Once you know what you are going to cook, then you make your list. Stick to the list! Your grocery bill can easily rise when you buy expensive processed food that is not on your list!

Only Buy Produce You Know You Will Eat: I often run into the problem of buying a bunch of produce that I can’t possible enjoy before it goes bad. What ends up happening is I throw away produce because I haven’t been able to cook it before it goes bad. Basically, I end up throwing away money. Only buy what you need. If a recipe calls for 2 zucchini, buy 2 zucchini, not 4! You get the idea!

Don’t Buy All Organic Produce: I know, organic is best! I highly recommend buying organic when you can. However, organic produce is more expensive. Not all produce you buy needs to be organic. Depending on the type of produce you buy, some have more pesticide then others. The EWG has put together a shopping guide of their dirty dozen, and clean 15 fruits and vegetables. This is a list of the 12 fruits and veggies they recommend you buy organic, and the 15 that are okay to buy non-organic. This will help reduce your overall grocery bill.

Buy in Bulk: Dried foods such as beans, lentils, rice, quinoa, pasta, and flours are less expensive when you buy them in bulk. They also have a long shelf life, so there is no need to worry that they will go bad. Dried beans are much less expensive than canned. With a little planning, you can drastically reduce your grocery bill by keeping these items stocked in your pantry.

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