These easy vegetarian recipes bring incredible flavor in every bite, from quick weeknight dinners to satisfying breakfasts and lunches. Find your new favorite plant-based meal with my tested, family-approved recipes.
Looking to find vegetarian recipes? It’s actually the reason I started this website! My husband Alex and I fell in love with eating plant-based meals, started sharing recipes online, and went on to write an acclaimed vegetarian cookbook.
What I’ve found after years of recipe testing is that many vegetarian recipes are unsatisfying: they lacking either plant-based protein or flavor. So, here is a list of my very favorite easy vegetarian recipes that have been a hit with my real life family and also get great reviews from readers. Some are vegetarian dinner ideas, some are lunch and breakfast recipes, and I threw in a few treat recipes too!
My Top Easy Vegetarian Recipes
One easy vegetarian dinner idea everyone loves is sheet pan fajitas! It's a great way to make a fun healthy dinner where no one notices there’s no meat! Roast up lots of veggies on a sheet pan with spices, and serve with refried beans and a fast and easy homemade guacamole. Also try my Vegetarian Fajitas or Classic Fajita Veggies.
This Mediterranean rice bowl is one of my favorite vegetarian dinner ideas, ready in just 30 minutes! It's packed with colorful vegetables and bright flavors with fluffy turmeric rice, seasoned chickpeas, and the very best creamy tzatziki sauce.
I love that this vegetarian enchilada casserole is a delicious and filling vegetarian dinner idea that's all about cozy comfort food. It’s simpler to make than rolling enchiladas, and makes a crowd-pleasing meal where no one will miss the meat.
With all of my vegetarian recipes for beginners, I try to make them so delicious that you feel totally satisfied without meat. This is the case with our chickpea curry: it's seriously flavorful, filled with ginger, garlic, cumin and curry powder, with a little coconut milk. It’s my top vegetarian dinner recipes for satisfying plant based cooking.
Meet another of my favorite vegetarian and vegan dinner recipes: the Falafel Burger! It's so easy to make with canned chickpeas. The combination of a cumin and coriander-scented chickpea patty with cool cucumber sauce is seriously satisfying.
This sweet potato lentil soup is a cozy, creamy, budget-friendly vegetarian dinner made with wholesome ingredients and aromatic spices. It's perfect for meal prep and packed with plant-based protein and fiber! Also try my even simpler 7 Ingredient Lentil Soup.
Eggplant Parmesan might be one of my favorite vegetarian recipes of all time. There’s something so satisfying those golden brown breaded eggplant slices covered with tangy tomato sauce and stretchy melted cheese. For years I’ve been researching and testing to find the best way to make it, and this baked version has become my go-to!
This delicious bowl has perfectly-seasoned, savory crispy tofu that are golden on the outside and tender on the inside. It's tossed with fluffy rice and fresh veggies, then covered with a spicy mayo and sprinkled with crunchy fried onions. Also try it with my favorite Air Fryer Tofu!
This delicious black bean tacos recipe takes just 15 minutes, a fast and easy vegetarian dinner idea that pleases everyone! Customize your toppings for loads of variations. You can also try my Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos if you have a little more time.
This curry is a crowd pleaser not just because of the hearty, cozy flavor in the red lentils, which melt in your mouth seasoned with red curry paste and coconut milk. It’s that tangy cilantro chutney, which you can whip up while the lentils cook that infuses everything with a pop of tangy flavor!
This 30 minute vegetarian dinner features these easy black beans, a trick to make a bland can of beans taste amazing in 5 minutes. Pair it with rice and colorful veggies, and top with cilantro lime ranch.
What's a more classic Italian vegetarian recipe than pizza margherita? Here's how to make that famous pie at home, with a flavor-popping pizza sauce and this easy pizza dough recipe (that you can use for any topping).
Of all my vegetarian recipes, people consistently comment about this wild rice soup! It's actually vegan, but you'd swear it's made with cream. Cashews make a creamy base, along with tender wild rice, cozy carrots, onions, and white beans that add more plant-based protein.
Roasting your dinner on a baking sheet makes for an easy vegetarian recipe! This easy sheet pan dinner is full of colorful vegetables and loaded with flavor. It's a plant-based dinner that roasts up everything on a sheet pan at once: lots of good-for-you veggies and chickpeas for plant based protein.
This mac and cheese recipe is all about balance: it’s got big flavor, a bit less cheese per serving than the standard recipe, and it’s loaded with broccoli for a dose of nutrients and fiber! This one’s on a regular rotation in my house.
Here’s another of my vegetarian recipes for beginners that everyone loves. Moroccan spices infuse this soup, like cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon. With the contrasting sweetness of the sweet potatoes, it’s complex and cozy all at once. It's vegan and plant based, though I like adding a dollop of Greek yogurt for protein.
I get lots of comments from readers on these Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas! Tender sweet potatoes are the perfect contrast to savory black beans and tangy salsa verde. Top it off with Colby cheese, it’s a deliciously comforting vegetarian dinner.
Here’s a vegetarian dinner that’s simple, hearty and pleases a crowd: this easy Stuffed Shells recipe! Stuff pasta shells with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan and spinach, then bake them up in a bath of garlicky tomato sauce.
I created this quick egg tacos recipe to make a dinner recipe that's ready in 5 minutes! The spiced scrambled egg filling tastes meaty and satisfying. It's perfect for quick weeknight meals and a truly easy vegetarian recipe for beginners.
A stir fry is one of my favorite easy ways to eat lots of vegetables, and this tofu stir fry is absolutely delicious! It stars my favorite stir fry sauce that infuses the veggies with loads of savory flavor.
This Italian vegetarian recipe makes dinnertime more special: Eggplant Rollatini! It’s like a combination of eggplant Parmesan and lasagna roll ups. Tender strips of eggplant are wrapped around a creamy three-cheese filling, then baked in homemade tomato sauce and more cheese.
Instead of simmering a soup for hours, you can get big flavor in this tortilla soup in just over 30 minutes. The secret here is adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chilis: it brings in a smoky flavor without adding too much heat! Topped with homemade crunchy tortilla strips, you won’t be able to stop eating it.
This falafel bowl makes a satisfying meal, full of bright Mediterranean flavors! Featuring homemade baked falafel, pickled cucumbers and onions, and crunchy veggies, it’s a delicious meatless lunch or dinner idea.
This lettuce wraps recipe! is so full of flavor! The punchy, savory filling is infused with hoisin, soy sauce and rice vinegar, mixing savory tofu with cashews and green onions.
I love this unique spin on the iconic Italian dish, a fun way to put a spin on dinner. This recipe features a comforting vegetarian filling of spinach, basil and ricotta, topped with a garlicky easy homemade tomato sauce.
It can be hard to find a vegetarian dinner idea that works for everyone, and here’s one I fall back on often: the Loaded Baked Potato! Mix and match any variety of baked potato toppings and you’ve got a delicious dinner that works for almost any diet.
These creamy, zingy peanut noodles are one of my favorite fresh, easy dinner recipes that it comes together in less than 30 minutes. The peanut butter sauce is lusciously creamy, bursting with flavor from soy sauce, fresh lime juice and honey or maple syrup.
This impressive vegetarian pasta recipe hails from Sicily and like any classic Italian dish, it’s all about elegant simplicity. Sauteed eggplant tastes savory and meaty against a tangy tomato sauce, al dente pasta and salty ricotta salata cheese.
This sheet pan pizza makes a big pan the equivalent of 3 medium pizzas, and it’s so easy to make! You don’t need any special equipment, and you don’t have to bother with shaping the dough.
Everyone in my family loves this chili recipe. It’s beyond simple to make, and the flavor is so satisfying. It’s got a hint of smokiness to highlight the tangy tomatoes and savory black beans. Top it with your favorite chili toppings!
Here's my favorite vegetarian lasagna: the tomato sauce has just the right zing and garlic nuance, and the spinach ricotta cheese filling is classic and creamy. It’s scented with fresh thyme and a little lemon zest.
This impossibly creamy sauce is a healthy spin on the traditionally rich pasta made with nutrient-rich cauliflower and protein-packed cashews instead of dairy. Make it with any type of noodle you choose (legume noodles, zoodles, etc) and it’s an easy 30-minute plant based dinner.
There are two problems with most meatless meatballs recipes: they take a long time to make, and many recipes don’t have much protein. But my vegetarian meatballs recipe solves both problems. This recipe takes under 30 minutes to make and it’s packed with protein!
This noodle bowl is the ultimate quick weeknight meal, a filling vegetarian dinner that comes together in 20 minutes flat. It’s filled with stir fried broccoli, red pepper and onion, mix with a savory sauce with creamy peanut butter. Eggs are scrambled right into the mix to add additional protein.
Here's another of my favorite easy vegetarian recipes: a pasta skillet that takes only 15 minutes! The fresh basil-infused marinara sauce is complimented with pillows of tangy goat cheese. This one is a massive hit at my house!
Each bite of this BBQ tofu has just the right chewy texture, bathed in a silky, sweet, savory sauce. This recipe is easy to put together and a great starter recipe for eaters who are tofu wary.
This vegetarian mushroom pasta has become a fan favorite recipe because of the big flavor that's possible in under 30 minutes. Imagine: creamy goat cheese, savory mushrooms, fresh thyme and oregano and a bright squeeze of lemon.
This recipe makes the humble solo meal into a delicious dinner, resulting in a big batch all at once on a sheet pan. All the quesadillas are done at the same time, and they come out with a beautifully crispy exterior. In feels like a whole new version of this classic: like Quesadillas 2.0.
These Thai style baked sweet potatoes get rave reviews from readers. Top a baked sweet potato with a fresh, crunchy Thai-style pepper and cabbage slaw and a creamy peanut sauce. It's zingy, crunchy, and satisfying.
Portobello mushrooms have big savory flavor: throw them in a skillet with some punchy seasonings and they make a fantastic vegetarian dinner idea. This recipe is for when you have just a few minutes to throw together a meal!
This vegetarian burrito is packed with flavor from Spanish rice (aka Mexican rice), seasoned black beans, peppers and onions, and mashed avocado. It's hearty and satisfying, and simple to whip up for lunch or dinner.
This creamy broccoli potato soup is creamy, cozy and 100% made of veggies! This easy and healthy vegetarian recipe is also vegan and gluten-free, and tastes like an elevated version of broccoli cheese soup from a can, but better.
Why is finding healthy and easy vegetarian lunch recipes so hard? Here's one of my favorite easy lunch tricks ever. It’s basically a vegetarian chicken salad sandwich, but uses chickpeas instead of chicken. It’s so tasty, it’s become one of our most popular chickpea recipes.
Simply adding an avocado and tomato to a standard grilled cheese makes it fit for serving to company! Although it’s simple, grilled cheese can be dressed up as much as you like. Serve this avocado grilled cheese with tomato alongside a bowl of homemade tomato soup or a green salad, and you’ve got instant dinner.
This kale quinoa salad is a great vegetarian lunch idea full of healthy ingredients: quinoa, kale, peppers, carrots: and a delicious tangy dressing. It’s so flavorful and keeps flavor 3 to 4 days in the fridge. It also works as a side salad for healthy dinners.
Here’s a breakfast vegetarian recipe that’s so full of cozy-spiced flavor. It's plant-based and full of flavor, great as a make ahead idea for quick morning meals! Bake up a pan in advance and then grab a square to go. The combination of the cinnamon, allspice and maple makes magic.
Why not infuse veggies into the first meal of the day, too? This Breakfast Vegetable Scramble, full of protein and colorful veggies. You can make it two ways: with eggs or tofu, depending on your diet.
This 5 minute pesto arugula breakfast sandwich is a fitting vegetarian recipe for beginners because it shows how thoughtfully flavored food doesn’t have to take hours to make. Slather pesto on an English muffin, quick wilt some arugula, and top with an egg.
When it comes to healthy vegetarian snacking, these oatmeal balls are a fan favorite recipe! Just mix a handful of simple ingredients together, and you’ve got an instant homemade snack that’s so much more delicious than store-bought granola bars or energy bites. They’ve got a good amount of protein and fiber for a tiny ball.
If a no bake cookie and a peanut butter cup had a baby, it would be these bliss bites! These chocolate peanut butter treats are also gluten free, vegan and plant based, and they've become one of my top reader favorites.
Vegetarian Recipes by Type
Most of the recipes in the list above are vegetarian dinner recipes. If you’re looking for other categories, here are more options:
- 25 Vegetarian Breakfast Ideas
- 35 Vegetarian Lunch Ideas
- 40 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
- 35 Vegetarian Appetizers
- 40 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes
Making Vegetarian Meals Part of Your Weekly Rotation
Starting with vegetarian dinner ideas doesn’t mean you need to completely overhaul your cooking routine. If you’re just starting out, I suggest picking 2 to 3 recipes from this list to try first: maybe a pasta dish, a taco or burrito night, and a soup or curry. Master those, then gradually add more vegetarian meals to your rotation.
One nice thing about of plant-based cooking is that it can help to expand your culinary skills. You’ll get better at building layers of flavor without relying on meat, and you’ll find new ingredients and techniques.
Each recipe in this collection has been tested and actually loved by my children and usually, one or more outside friends or family. I hope you’ll find that they are reliable favorites like I have!
Print50 Easy Vegetarian Recipes
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Print RecipeThis vegetarian enchilada casserole is a delicious and filling vegetarian dinner idea! It’s simpler to make than rolling enchiladas and makes a crowd-pleasing meal where no one will miss the meat. It’s a spin on our popular enchilada casserole with chicken—and we like it just as much!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Baked
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 15-ounce can refried pinto beans
- 1 red bell pepper, finely diced (1 cup)
- 4 or 5-ounce can mild diced green chilis (optional)
- ¾ cup canned corn
- 1 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, and smoked paprika
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups (8 oz) shredded Mexican blend cheese
- 12 corn tortillas, cut in half
- 2 1/2 to 3 cups mild red enchilada sauce (about 18 to 22 oz)
- Finely minced red onion, green onion, and cilantro, for the garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- In a large bowl, make the filling by mixing the black beans, refried beans, red pepper, green chilis, corn, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and kosher salt.
- Spoon some of the enchilada sauce to just cover the bottom of a 9 x 13” baking dish, then make the layers. Top with 4 tortillas to cover the entire dish (see photo), then spoon over ½ cup enchilada sauce. Add half of the filling on top of the sauce, then ½ cup cheese and about ½ cup enchilada sauce.
- Add another 4 tortillas, the remaining filling, ½ cup cheese, and ½ cup enchilada sauce.
- On the top, add one more layer of 4 tortillas. Top with the remaining enchilada sauce (about 1 cup) and sprinkle with the remaining cheese (about 1 cup).
- Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered 5 minutes. If desired, broil for about 1 minute until browned.
- Rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with sliced red onion, green onion, and optional cilantro. Slice into 12 pieces and serve.
Notes
For vegan: Use dairy free cheese (we like Daiya brand).
For spicy: Adjust the spice in this recipe by using mild or hot enchilada sauce, or add chopped jalapeños for extra kick.
For green enchiladas: Use salsa verde instead of red enchilada sauce.
More Easy Recipes To Try
- Vegetarian 28 Day Meal Plan
- Plant Based Dinner Recipes
- Easy Dinner Recipes
- Healthy Dinner Recipes
- Easy Vegan Recipes or Vegan Dinner Recipes
- Dinner Recipes for Family.
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