• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Plant Based School
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Us
  • All Recipes
  • Mains
  • Pasta
  • Sweet
  • Collections
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Collections

    30 Tasty Vegetarian Recipes

    Published: Feb 26, 2023 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Are you looking to find tasty vegetarian recipes to level up your next meat-free meal? These delightful vegetarian lunch and dinner ideas are easy to make, healthy, quick, and vibrant.

    We've listed 30 of our most delicious, and most satiating recipes that will give you some fresh ideas for your next meatless meal. Scroll through this collection, and take your pick from grain bowls, pasta, burrito, sandwiches, big salads, and much more.

    Tasty vegetarian meals

    Browse through this list, and take your pick: these wholesome recipes will fulfill and nourish you, and add extra color to your meal.

    15-min vegetarian recipes

    Super quick and delicious vegetarian dinner recipes with easy-to-find ingredients. These 15-minute recipes come with loads of flavor, and they're great for when you're short on time.

    1

    Pan fried tofu with mushrooms

    A perfect substitute for chicken cutlets, this easy pan-fried tofu is packed with protein and chewiness. It's a great replacement for mushroom chicken, and it takes only 15 minutes of cooking.

    2

    Garlic and Oil Pasta (Spaghetti Aglio e Olio)

    An Italian favorite with only 5 ingredients and 12 mins cooking time. Spaghetti aglio e olio is indulgent and quick, a perfect combination for everyday dinner.

    3

    Tofu Soup

    Better than takeaway, this Asian favorite is a great way to increase your veggie intake. Add noodles and a drizzle of chili oil for an authentic dinner.

    4

    Rigatoni Arrabbiata

    Another naturally vegetarian recipe and super quick pasta is our rigatoni arrabbiata sauce. Tomato-rich, aromatic, and satiating, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, this dish is ready in about 15 minutes!

    5

    Air Fryer Tofu

    If you're in a hurry, air fryer recipes always come in handy. This air fryer tofu pairs well with basmati rice, couscous, and noodles. Drizzle a little chimichurri sauce on top and dinner is ready!

    6

    Vegan Breakfast Burrito

    Here's a great way to make a meat-free burrito while enjoying plenty of healthy proteins, fats, and flavor. Scrambled tofu, black beans, bell pepper, and avocado marry in a Mexican-inspired dinner wrap,

    7

    Lentil Vegetable Soup

    This 30-minute lentil vegetable soup is one of the easiest ways to make a wholesome vegetarian soup in less time. Dried herbs, spinach, and green lentils marry in a tomato-rich soup base with Italian flavors.

    8

    Vegan Chickpea Salad

    A refreshing and vibrant meal, perfect as a quick lunch and to eat on the go. We highly recommend serving this salad with a green goddess dressing for added creaminess.

    9

    Chickpea Pasta Salad

    A spring-and summer-friendly vegetarian meal, ready in about 15 minutes! This chickpea pasta salad with a creamy mustard vinaigrette is perfect as a lunchbox meal, as a putlock meal, and as a family lunch.

    10

    Marinara Sauce

    Kids and adults alike love Italian marinara sauce, it works with pizza, pizza and lasagna. It's an easy 10-minute pasta sauce, vegetable drizzle, or dipping sauce with breadsticks served as an appetizer.

    11

    Hummus

    Hummus is one of the most versatile condiments with endless vegetarian meal options. Spread it on toast topped with seeds, use in a sandwich with green leaves, serve with falafel, or in a burrito with avocado and leafy greens.

    12

    Microwave Sweet Potato

    Microwave sweet potato takes just 8 minutes to cook, and 5 minutes to top with your favorite condiments and grain salad. Serve with your favorite vegetarian salad, such as couscous salad or quinoa salad, and drizzle with sour cream or tahini sauce for a glossy and delicious finish.

    13

    Carrot Salad

    Carrot salad with chickpeas and shaved almonds is a light meal or appetizer idea that does not require any cooking. Serve this refreshing salad with slices of toasted bread, and pesto for an easy, slightly lazy vegetarian dinner idea.

    14

    Avocado Spread on toast

    This green and creamy avocado spread with tahini is a perfect match for toasted crunchy bread. Top it with fresh tomatoes, chickpeas, or seeds for a satiating yet super easy snack and vegetarian meal.

    30-min vegetarian recipes

    Quick and easy vegetarian recipes, perfect for everyday meals and on-the-go lunches. These meal ideas are ready within 30 minutes, they're great for family dinners and made with easy-to-find ingredients.

    15

    Mushroom Alfredo

    Make this creamy pasta a vegetarian or vegan dinner with our easy-to-follow instructions. No matter which ingredients you use, this pasta is rich, smooth, tasty, and so easy to make you'll want to do it every night. It's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

    16

    Broccoli Pasta

    A reader favorite, this naturally vegetarian Italian meal is a mashed green broccoli sauce that marries chewy orecchiette pasta. Make it in about 20 minutes, and serve with parmigiana cheese or grated vegan cheese.

    17

    Zucchini Pasta

    A refreshing vegetarian dinner for summer cookouts, potlucks, and family gatherings. With shredded zucchini and pine nuts, and is ready in just 25 minutes!

    18

    Cauliflower Pasta

    Here's a crowd-pleasing vegetarian dinner! Roasted cauliflower florets meet delicious garlic and olive oil sauce, plenty of fresh parsley, lemon zest, and toasted pinenuts.

    19

    Vegan Pasta Salad

    Vibrant, fresh and fulfilling, this vegan pasta salad is perfect for meal prep! Pair with your favorite dressing or sauce and get some healthy plant-based protein and fats.

    20

    Marinated Tofu

    Charred and chewy, this marinated tofu is an easy everyday recipe and perfect with rice. Serve with your favorite veggies and freshly chopped parsley on top.

    21

    Tofu Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

    Rich, earthy and Italian - these tofu meatballs are great on spaghetti or in a sub! Add fresh basil on top for an Italian dinner experience.

    22

    Asparagus Risotto

    Another spring-friendly recipe with sauteed asparagus and fresh flavors. Creamy, easy to make and a risotto favorite in our home.

    23

    Tofu Salad (Creamy Dressing)

    Fresh veggies, fried tofu, and creamy tahini dressing come together in this vibrant salad. A perfectly healthy meal that's quick to make as well.

    High protein vegetarian recipes

    Here you'll find high protein vegetarian meals that are packed with healthy plant-based protein. It's surprisingly easy to add vegetarian protein to your diet, if you're in doubt, take a look at this helpful protein chart.

    24

    Tofu Pasta (Tofu Bolognese)

    This tofu pasta is a protein-rich and hearty bolognese sauce that pairs perfectly with spaghetti.

    25

    Orange Tofu

    Sticky, sweet, and chewy - one of our favorite alternatives to chicken. This orange tofu is an Asian-inspired favorite in our home.

    26

    Vegan Egg Salad

    Perfect in a sandwich or on toasted bread, this vegan egg salad with tofu is great for lunch or dinner.

    27

    Vegan Fish

    An aromatic and fun way to eat tofu and a great alternative to white fish. If you're vegetarian and seek fish-like flavors, this is your next recipe!

    28

    Tofu Curry

    Curry remains one of our winter recipe favorites, it's creamy and comforting. Serve with white rice or cauliflower rice and fresh coriander.

    29

    Chickpea crepes - Savoury mushroom pancakes

    Protein-packed and healthy, these chickpea crepes are made with chickpea flour and stuffed with mushrooms and white sauce.

    30

    Tofu with Pizzaiola Sauce

    Tofu with pizzaiola sauce is a simple yet delicious tofu recipe ready in just 10 mins. It's a great replacement for chicken, but with a chewy and hearty result.

    What should I eat for dinner as a vegetarian?

    Once you've picked your next vegetarian main dish from this list, you can easily pair them with most vegetable side dishes, such as salads, roasted vegetables, and casseroles. Here are some of our favorites:

    • 12 artichoke recipes (appetizer ideas, green sides, and pesto).
    • Easy and crunchy asparagus recipes, such as baked, steamed, and grilled ideas.
    • Eggplant parmigiana or cauliflower mac and cheese for a wintery vegetable casserole.
    • Easy sauces to drizzle on your main and add extra flavor and color to your meal.
    • or any other of these easy and healthy vegetable side dishes
    • baked asparagus
      Baked Asparagus
    • artichokes
      How to Cook Artichokes + 12 Easy Recipes
    • eggplant parmigiana
      Eggplant Parmigiana
    • Cauliflower mac and cheese and silver spoon
      Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

    How to store vegetarian recipes

    • How to store: you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave. On the second day, these meals will be stickier and less creamy.
    • How to freeze: you can also freeze the meals for up to 3 months. To freeze, let it cool down first, then transfer them to a freezer-friendly container, leaving some space to allow it to expand. Thaw in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop. Before serving, garnish with fresh herbs, and optionally a drizzle of olive oil.
    Tasty vegetarian meal ideas

    30 Tasty Vegetarian Recipes

    Author: Nico
    Here's a delicious and easy lentil vegetable soup with a rich and hearty tomato base and nourishing green or brown lentils.
    You can make these recipes with simple ingredients, they're excellent for weeknight dinners and meal prep and they make healthy and wholesome homemade meal.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 35 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 354 kcal

    Equipment

    • Optional: immersion blender or blender to make the soup extra creamy

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 carrots
    • 1 onion
    • 1 stalk celery
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 4 cloves garlic
    • 6 cups vegetable broth
    • 2 cans (15-ounce each) diced tomatoes
    • 1 cup lentils uncooked, green or brown
    • 1 teaspoon thyme dried
    • 1 teaspoon oregano dried
    • 1½ teaspoons salt or more to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper or red pepper flakes
    • 5 ounces spinach (about 4 to 5 cups)

    Instructions
     

    • To a large pot or dutch oven, warm up the olive oil then add coarsely chopped onion, celery, and carrot, and fry on medium heat for 5 minutes stirring often.
      vegetables and oil in a pot
    • Add grated garlic and cumin and fry for one more minute, or until you smell their aroma.
      fried vegetables in a white pot
    • Add vegetable broth, canned tomatoes, dried lentils, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, or/and red pepper flakes.
      Cover with a lid, bring to a boil, then crack the top open and simmer on low heat for about 25 minutes or until the lentils are cooked but still al dente. Stir occasionally.
      tomato and lentil soup simmering
    • OPTIONAL STEP: if you like extra creamy soup, blend about 2 cups of it. You can do this with an immersion blender directly in the pot, or with a regular blender.
      blend some of the lentils
    • Add the spinach and simmer for a few more minutes until they wilt and you are happy with the texture and consistency of the soup/lentils.
      spinach in tomato lentil soup
    • Taste and adjust for salt. Serve it in a bowl with a slice of toasted bread rubbed with garlic and a drizzle of good quality extra virgin olive oil.
      Optionally, you can add a squeeze of lemon juice.
      Lentil Vegetable Soup with hand

    Video Recipe

    Italian Lentil Soup is a wholesome Dinner Idea

    Notes

    Nutritional information is an estimate for 1 serving of lentil vegetable soup out of 4 servings, without bread or toppings.
    SUBSTITUTIONS
    - Dried lentils: substitute drained and rinse canned lentils but add them in the soup 15 minutes after the broth and tomatoes start simmering. Canned lentils can only take about 1o to 15 minutes of simmering before falling apart. You can also use canned beans or chickpeas.
    - Olive oil: substitute any vegetable oil or coconut oil for olive oil.
    - Onion: substitute leek or shallots for onions. 
    - Herbs: you can use fresh or dried herbs. Substitute rosemary and bay leaves for thyme and oregano.
    - Spinach: you can use most leafy greens including curly kale, lacinato kale, Swiss chard, bok choi, and more. You can even add vegetables such as diced potatoes, diced sweet potatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, cauliflower and broccoli florets. If you add veggies, do so at the beginning, with the dried lentils so that they have time to cook fully.
    TOPPINGS
    You can top this lentil vegetable soup with homemade croutons, crostini, grated parmesan cheese, crumbled feta cheese, dairy-free cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, and drizzle of good quality EVO oil, chopped parsley.
    MAKE AHEAD & STORAGE
    - Make Ahead: this lentil vegetable soup is an excellent recipe to make ahead as you can refrigerate it for several days or freeze it for months. Also, on the second and third days, the soup tastes better than when it's freshly made because the flavors have time to meld.
    - Refrigerator: let the soup cool down completely at room temperature, then transfer it into an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
    - Freezer: let the soup cool down completely at room temperature, then transfer it into a freezer-friendly container and freeze for up to 3 months.
    - Thaw: thaw in the refrigerator over several hours or in the microwave with a thawing function.
    - Reheat: you can reheat the soup in a pot on the stovetop for a few minutes or in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes. Avoid reheating it multiple times.
     

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    30 Tasty Vegetarian Recipes
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 354 Calories from Fat 72
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 8g12%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 5g
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Potassium 1295mg37%
    Carbohydrates 54g18%
    Dietary Fiber 23g96%
    Sugar 10g11%
    Protein 19g38%
    Vitamin A 8759IU175%
    Vitamin B6 1mg50%
    Vitamin C 37mg45%
    Vitamin E 4mg27%
    Vitamin K 194µg185%
    Calcium 170mg17%
    Folate 364µg91%
    Iron 8mg44%
    Manganese 1mg50%
    Magnesium 130mg33%
    Zinc 3mg20%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    You might also like:

    • 25 Tofu recipes including curry, soup and salad
      25 Easy Tofu Recipes
    • easy pasta recipes in 30 minutes
      40 Easy Pasta Recipes
    • Italian vegetarian dishes including risotto, pasta and soups
      40 Italian Vegetarian Dishes
    • meatless meals with dinner and lunch
      40 Easy Meatless Meals
    « Oatmeal
    Falafel »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment and star rating :-) Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

    Hi, we are Nico and Louise, and we love cooking! Welcome to our blog.

    Here we share veggie-packed recipes for the whole family.

    Omnivores, flexitarians, vegetarians, and vegans, you are ALL WELCOME to this community.

    More about us →

    Trending

    • lentil curry with basmati rice
      Lentil Curry
    • vegan mushroom pasta
      Vegan Mushroom Pasta
    • cauliflower lentil salad
      Cauliflower Lentil Salad
    • chickpea soup with bread
      Chickpea Soup

    Seasonal

    • Roasted sweet potatoes on white platter
      Roasted Sweet Potatoes
    • broccoli pasta with fork
      Broccoli Pasta
    • roasted cauliflower soup
      Cauliflower Soup
    • lentil bolognese
      Lentil bolognese

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Top Recipes
    Vegan Custard
    Potato gnocchi
    Easy Focaccia
    Rice salad
    Vegan Ricotta

    Top Compilations
    Best Tofu Recipes
    Vegan Pasta Recipes
    Easy Dinners
    Best Plant-Based Desserts
    Vegan Appetizers

    Most Shared
    Eggplant Parmigiana
    Vegan Mayo
    Vegan melted cheese
    Hummus
    Roasted sweet potatoes

    HOME ABOUT RECIPES SUBSCRIBE PRIVACY POLICY NUTRITION DISCLAIMER IMPRINT

    Copyright © 2023 The Plant Based School