This post may include affiliate links; see our disclosure policy.
Here are the best vegetarian meals for meat eaters to satisfy even the most passionate carnivores. They may even ask for seconds!
Are you cooking for meat eaters? We get it, making vegetarian meals that please the staunchest of meat eaters is quite the challenge! When Alex and I first started eating more vegetarian and plant based recipes, our meat-and-potatoes families thought we were crazy. So it became a challenge! We set out to convince even the most passionate meat eaters that eating vegetables can be seriously delicious.
Did it work? Absolutely! Not all of our family members eat vegetarian recipes on the regular. But they are now convinced that eating meals without meat can taste good. Here we’ve put together a collection of starter vegetarian meals for meat eaters. These are the top recipes that we know will go over well: they’re super satisfying and rich. Even better: Each one has been tested on our friends and family and come away a winner.
And now: our best vegetarian meals for meat eaters!
First up in our vegetarian meals for meat eaters? Pizza! And this pizza in particular is a front runner in our most well-loved category. This one skips the taco meat, but with all the flavor going on you won't miss it. It's topped with a slather of refried beans, gooey cheese, crunchy veggies, black olives, and crunchy tortilla chips. The best part? It's all drizzled with Homemade Ranch.
Just WOW! Alex and I eat dairy, but we agree: this is our favorite lasagna, period. And you'll never miss the dairy. No matter how you eat, this vegan lasagna will be a hit It's smothered in a zesty marinara sauce, layered with spinach, mushrooms, and our secret ingredient: hummus! Top with a sprinkling of "Parmesan" and it will please everyone at the table...we guarantee it.
Here’s an easy meal for meat eaters designed to work in 30 minutes flat: these easy Vegetarian Enchiladas! The filling takes no time to whip up: it’s just spiced pinto beans and spices. Roll ’em up, bake until golden and cheesy, and load with all your favorite toppings.
Next up: this magical vegetarian BBQ sandwich! Oddly enough, this one is so convincing it might fool you into thinking you're eating pulled pork: when in reality it's actually jackfruit! It's covered in a boozy, tangy bourbon barbecue sauce that coats it in mega-flavor: and the jackfruit texture is almost just like meat. We suggest being upfront about it, of course: but the flavor and texture are truly divine. This one's a surefire winner as a vegetarian meal for meat eaters.
Another vegetarian meal for meat eaters: our best vegetarian meatloaf! Here cheese, nuts, herbs, and mushrooms combine into a loaf that has a convincing meaty texture and flavor: it's almost magical! May I just say that my meat-loving mother is obsessed with this one? She always asks if we can make it on special occasions.
Here's a quick and easy vegetarian meal that meat eaters love: we know because we've gotten lots of feedback on it! Why? It tastes like a Big Mac. Well, start with our best coleslaw ever. Add a melty cheese on top of a salty pretzel bun. What puts it over the edge is our secret sauce: Russian dressing, the star ingredient in a Reuben sandwich and, it turns out, the Big Mac.
What meat eater doesn't love a good mac and cheese? This one is rich and creamy, with a thick sauce made of melty gouda cheese. The best part? A crunchy herbed breadcrumb topping seals the deal. It has such a satisfying, savory flavor that no one misses the meat.
This hearty vegetarian chili is another meal we hear that meat eaters love! It's packed with flavor from a load of chili powder, a trio of beans, and bulgur wheat stands in as a meaty texture. Stir in lots of sour cream and cheese as the garnish, and it's a seriously satisfying bowl...without the meat.
Here's a comfort food that's typically made with sausage, turned into a vegetarian brunch for meat eaters! Yes, if you're a lover of biscuits and gravy they don't need to be made with meat (or dairy, for that matter). Turns out, vegan biscuits and gravy are damn good. A thick, peppery mushroom gravy coats impossibly flaky biscuits. All we can say is: wow.
Yes, you can make these tacos in 5 minutes! (If you're speedy.) And yes, they're the perfect vegetarian meal for meat eaters. Why? The filling makes meat magically out of eggs! Add a load of chili powder, garlic powder and cumin, and these eggs turn into "chorizo eggs" in no time. Top with the traditional taco toppings, and they're an instant hit.
Here's a super savory and satisfying skillet: skillet enchiladas! There's no going wrong with a bold red enchilada sauce that buries everything in garlicky, smoky goodness! Add to that tortilla strips, gooey cheese, black beans, corn and cilantro, and you've got one very crowd-pleasing dinner.
And last but certainly not least in our vegetarian meals for meat eaters: skillet eggplant marinara! This one involves no breading or frying eggplant. Instead bake it and layer in a skillet with a tangy high quality marinara, mozzarella cheese and feta. It comes together into gooey goodness. Serve with spaghetti or garlic bread for a satisfying meal.
A few more vegetarian and plant-based recipe resources
If you’re looking to make a switch to eating more meatless vegetarian meals, it takes time to work it into your lifestyle! Here are a few of the resources we’d recommend if you’re just starting out:
I went on to your website trying to find recipes that my brother (a meat eater but will eat some vegetarian meals and myself (a vegetarian) can eat. I make dinner once a week for him. Thank you. These are great, normal recipes. Nothing crazy that he would not eat.