40 Easy Meatless Meals

Tasting meatless meals can be exciting for seasoned vegetarians and curious omnivores.

Whether seeking to reduce your carbon footprint, explore new protein sources, or add more plant–based variety to your diet, these meals cater to diverse dietary preferences.

So, let’s dive into a world of flavors, textures, and aromas, proving meatless doesn’t mean flavorless. Instead, it means a vibrant, fulfilling, and sustainable culinary experience.

4. Tofu Cacciatore

We might use tofu instead of chicken, but this caciatore is rich, earthy, meaty, and packed with rich tomato flavor.

Chewy and jerky-like, you’ve never had tofu like this before.

5. Lentil chili

With this meat-free chili, you can expect a hearty, satisfying, and high-protein meal that is easy to make with pantry staples.

Ingredients like lentils, black beans, onions, peppers, and tomatoes meld with a blend of aromatic spices to create a dish with comforting flavors.

6. Lemon tofu cutlets

An Italian recipe for lemon chicken inspires this lemon tofu.

We replaced the chicken fillet with tofu slices, resulting in a delicious meal that can be prepared in 15 minutes.

7. Vegetarian Meatballs

With these vegetarian meatballs, you can have meatballs without the meat.

This recipe is quick and easy to make with straightforward ingredients. It’s cozy, delicious, and with a rich marinara sauce.

8. Fried tofu

Fried tofu is one of the easiest ways to cook it in a pan; you can serve it on a bed of white rice, salad, or kale quinoa bowl.

Our vegetarian, vegan-friendly recipe is tasty, and you can make it in less than 20 minutes with simple ingredients.

9. Hummus Pasta

Make this 20–minute vegetarian dinner with homemade or store-bought hummus and quick sautèed mushrooms.

The combination of creamy hummus and charred mushrooms makes a satiating meatless meal.

10. Microwave stuffed sweet potato

Microwave sweet potato is ready in 5 minutes, is healthy, and is delicious. 

Eat it as is, or load the potato with a colorful topping with beans and grains – it’s a veggie-packed and meat-free main dish.

11. Kung Pao tofu

Try this delicious Chinese-inspired Kung Pao dish in less than 30 minutes and get plenty of plant–based protein, sticky sauce, and fresh veggies.

It’s a colorful and vegetarian alternative to kung pao chicken with delicious Asian flavors.

12. Lentil curry

One of our favorite meatless dinners is this easy lentil curry, which you can make in one pot with simple ingredients in 30 minutes.

Serve with white rice, fresh parsley, and a dollop of yogurt for a comforting and creamy meal and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

13. Mushroom Alfredo

This tasty mushroom Alfredo is an easy 15-minute vegetarian meal with an irresistibly creamy and smooth sauce and sautéed mushrooms.

Serve it with an easy side salad for added greens and crisp; it’s a perfect weeknight idea!

14. Lentil bolognese

Here’s an easy lentil bolognese with simple ingredients rich in taste and meaty texture.

You can make it for an everyday dinner or meal prep, as it keeps in the fridge for several days.

15. Pasta e Fagioli

Pasta and beans is an easy and comforting meal with simple ingredients and Italian flavor that will please everyone around your table, kids and adults alike.

Serve it with a slice of toasted bread or bruschetta for an authentic and cozy dinner.

16. Chickpea pasta salad with avocado

This chickpea pasta salad is a quick and wholesome dish made with fresh and nutritious ingredients in less than 20 minutes.

A creamy mustard dressing gives a glossy and tangy coating, making this pasta a meal-prep favorite.

17. Creamy Cauliflower Alfredo

You’ll love this veggie–packed Alfredo because it’s a million times lighter than the original Alfredo, but it’s still tasty, fulfilling, and ready in 30 minutes.

Serve it with a sprinkle of parsley and a quick salad for extra greens.

18. Red pepper pasta

Here’s a 20-minute vegetarian pasta recipe that is simple and made with minimal effort for an everyday dinner. 

It’s creamy, nutritious, and delicious, with hidden veggies (roasted peppers) that please even the pickiest eaters.

19. Cauliflower pasta

Try this white and refreshing vegetarian cauliflower pasta with fresh herbs and pine nuts.

Roasted cauliflower florets meet delicious garlic and olive oil sauce, plenty of fresh parsley, and lemon zest, a light and wholesome dinner idea.

20. Butternut squash pasta

This butternut squash pasta is creamy, restaurant-worthy, and with a velvety smooth sauce.

It’s quick and straightforward; you can make it any day of the week, either as a vegan or vegetarian dinner.

21. Lentil pasta

Meatless and delicious pasta is not a problem with this Italian lentil pasta.

It’s a perfect main dish for dinner, is kids-friendly and contains all the macros to keep you healthy and satiated.

22. Stuffed bell peppers

Our stuffed peppers recipe is inspired by Mediterranean, Levantine, and Middle-Eastern flavors, especially from our lentil mujaddara.

We make a meat-free filling that mixes lentils, rice, fresh herbs, and fragrant spices.

23. Vegan mushroom pasta

Try this restaurant-worthy pasta with jerky-like mushrooms and authentic Italian flavor.

Vegan mushroom pasta is a delicious recipe with a few ingredients in about 20 minutes.

24. Tofu curry

Making a delicious tofu curry is an excellent way to eat meatless.

Here, we’ll show you how to put this Indian-inspired meal together in less than 30 minutes and make the best everyday vegan curry.

25. Easy chickpea curry

Here’s a fun and delicious way to cook with chickpeas in one pot.

Chickpea curry is an easy and plant-based curry you can make with simple ingredients in about 30 minutes.

26. Tuscan bean stew

This Italian bean stew is a comforting and tomato-packed dinner favorite.

It’s an excellent recipe for a quick weeknight meal, ready in just over 30 minutes, and great as a meal prep recipe.

27. Lentil vegetable soup

We love this wholesome lentil vegetable soup because you can make it with little effort, simple pantry staples, in one pot, and with little hands-on time.

The lentils make the dish nutritious and fulfilling, with texture, protein, iron, and heart and gut-healthy fiber.

28. Asian-style tofu soup

Here’s a tofu soup that is quick, tasty, and with seasonal vegetables.

You can make it in 30 minutes with simple ingredients, seasonal veggies, and noodles.

29. Pasta e Ceci

You’ll love this pasta with chickpeas; it’s easy to make in one pot in 30 minutes with simple and affordable pantry staples.

Sprinkle with parmesan or dairy-free parmesan for an Italian vegetarian or vegan dinner.

30. Chickpea soup

This rustic chickpea soup is easy to make, with minimal effort and a few simple and affordable ingredients. 

It tastes like home, it’s cozy, and it’ll transport you to the Italian countryside bite for bite.

31. Lentil soup

This red lentil soup guarantees a hearty, meatless meal with plenty of plant-based protein.

It’s perfect for autumn or winter weeknight dinners as it’s easy to make with a few pantry staples, and it only needs to simmer for about 20 minutes.

32. Tuscan soup

You can make this plant-based soup from scratch in less than 45 minutes and store it in the refrigerator for several days.

If you love comforting and rustic Italian flavor, this Tuscan bean soup must go on your recipe list.

33. African peanut stew

This African peanut stew recipe is without meat; we use chickpeas for an easy 30-minute high-protein vegetarian meal.

It’s excellent for a creamy weeknight dinner with rice and fresh lime and convenient for meal prep.

34. Mashed chickpea tuna

You can make this mashed chickpea tuna in 10 minutes, with simple ingredients and without cooking.

It’s an easy, fun, and tasty recipe that uses mashed chickpeas and a few other simple ingredients to recreate the texture and flavor of tuna salad.

35. Falafel

Falafel is an easy and sandwich-friendly recipe you can make as a meal-prep-friendly meal.

Cook it in an air fryer for a quick and lighter vegetarian meal, and serve it with pita bread and hummus.

36. Avocado-tahini toast

This is the creamiest, most delicious avocado spread to eat in sandwiches and on toast or serve as a dip.

Top the toast with chickpeas or tomatoes for a colorful and vibrant lunch idea.

37. Chickpea Frittata

There are no eggs or tofu in this chickpea frittata, but plenty of flavors and roasted zucchini.

Quick to make, it cooks for 8 minutes on a pan or 18 minutes in the oven; it’s an easy and fast lunch idea.

38. Aloo Gobi

The Indian cuisine is a fantastic source of inspiration for meatless meal ideas.

This cauliflower and potato curry is one of our favorite dishes, a satisfying and healthy dinner or side dish idea served with garlic-brushed Naan.

39. Tofu salad

This tofu salad is crunchy and wholesome and perfect for a quick lunch.

It’s low in calories, packed with flavor, and satiating to eat (the creamy tahini dressing is a must-try).

40. Chickpea salad

We end this meatless meal collection with a quick and healthy plant–based dish.

This chickpea salad is a quick, tasty, and nutritious main dish. Make it in 15 minutes with fresh ingredients and a creamy mustard dressing.