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Here are our top picks when it comes to easy vegetarian dinner recipes! These healthy meatless meals please everyone around the table.
Looking for meatless meals? Vegetarian dinners appear often on our table, as authors of a vegetarian cookbook. It can be difficult to find vegetarian meal ideas that are easy, filling, tasty, and healthy all at once. So we’ve combed through our website to find the very best of the best vegetarian meals that we know you’ll love!
Here are our top 40 vegetarian dinner recipes! These recipes are filled with colorful healthy veggies and enough plant-based protein to keep you full. All of them have received top marks from readers, and remain in our short-list for regular cooking, too. Ready to get started?
And now…our top easy vegetarian dinner recipes!
It’s got bubbly cheese, garlicky tomato sauce, and savory, meaty breaded eggplant: it’s Eggplant Parmesan! This classic vegetarian dinner recipe is hearty, filling, and pleases just about everyone. This baked Eggplant Parmesan is faster and easier to make at home than most recipes and full of incredible flavor.
Need a fast and easy vegetarian dinner recipe? Enter: baked quesadillas! This recipe makes the humble solo meal into a delicious dinner, resulting in a big batch all at once on a sheet pan. They come out with a beautifully crispy exterior. In fact, it feels like a whole new version of this classic: like Quesadillas 2.0.
Some vegetarian dinner recipes stand a head above the rest, and this is one of them. Try this cheese tortellini in creamy marinara sauce! In just 15 minutes, you’ve got a pasta skillet that’s a true symphony flavor.
Here’s a Tex Mex favorite vegetarian dinner that no one can turn down…and it’s a great way to infuse loads of veggies without giving it a second thought. Try these Vegetarian Faijtas! These are so full flavored and satisfying, they please everyone around the table: even the meat lovers.
In just 30 minutes you have a fast and easy vegetarian dinner: this vegetarian Chili! All you have to do is chop an onion and garlic: otherwise it’s dump and stir. It's one of our fan favorite recipes! Even better: serve it over Sweet Potato Wedges for chili-Loaded sweet potatoes!
Also try: Ultimate Vegan Chili
What’s more fun than a classic lasagna? Whip up a pan of Lasagna Roll Ups! This unique spin on the iconic Italian dish is 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. Roll up the noodles and cover them in melty mozzarella cheese, and it’s fun, a crowd-pleasing dinner recipe.
You won’t want to stop eating this mushroom pasta recipe! Its savory, buttery flavor pops with garlic, lemon, and Parmesan. This dish has just the right proportion of ‘shrooms to pasta, so that each bite has a generous pop of flavor.
Here’s a vegetarian dinner that takes just 30 minutes and results in so much flavor…you’ll put it on your regular rotation immediately. Try this Thai-style Tofu Curry recipe! The brilliant red broth is flavored with coconut milk and red curry paste, with the zing of lime and a hint of spicy sweetness.
Here’s a delightful vegetarian recipe that 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.
Looking for fresh and healthy vegetarian dinner ideas? Try this Mediterranean Bowl, bursting with colorful veggies! It’s a simple “meal in a bowl” that stars spiced roasted vegetables, seasoned with an irresistible mix of cumin, coriander, garlic and a hint of cinnamon. Add to that quinoa or couscous, fresh cucumber and tomato, and top it all off with a creamy lemon tahini sauce.
You know those recipes where people rave and only you know the secret that it’s actually easy to make? That’s the case with this Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta! There’s major wow-factor to this pasta, which comes together in just 30 minutes. Earthy, fruity sundried tomatoes lend a meaty quality to this easy vegetarian dish, which is bathed in a Parmesan cream sauce.
Need a healthy vegetarian dinner idea? Look no further than this trusty trick: Stuffed Sweet Potatoes! Bake the spuds whole until they’re moist and tender, then top with savory fillings to make a hearty dinner recipe. The way the savory black beans contrast with the sweet orange flesh makes magic, in our opinion.
Here’s a vegetarian dinner recipe we 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.
Here’s a vegetarian dinner recipe that’s one of the Italian greats: Quattro Formaggi! This classic Italian combination of four cheeses makes one completely irresistible slice! There’s the melty mozzarella, sharp and salty Parmesan and Pecorino cheese, and the subtle funk of gorgonzola. Combine it all on pillowy pizza crust with zingy pizza sauce and it’s a match made in pizza heaven.
Need dinnertime inspiration? Cozy up to a bowl of these creamy, zingy peanut noodles! This is one of our favorite fresh, easy dinner recipes and 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. Mix it together with luscious noodle strands and crunchy veggies and top with loads of fresh cilantro and crunchy peanuts.
Over the years, we’ve become huge fans of tofu. And here’s a way to prepare it that we cannot get enough of: this crispy tofu recipe! It’s easy to make and comes out perfectly seasoned, with extra crunchy edges and a tender interior. There’s no need to even press the tofu! It’s actually pretty amazing that it can go from bland to meaty, savory cubes in just 20 minutes.
The best way to eat mac and cheese, in our opinion? Broccoli mac and cheese! Why eat broccoli on the side when you can stir it right in? This makes a tasty one pot meatless meal that kids and adults alike will go mad for. It comes out creamy, cheesy, and loaded with broccoli for a dose of nutrients and fiber. What’s not to love?
Got eggplant and want to turn it into a meal? Try this Eggplant Lasagna, a tasty vegetarian dinner recipe that swaps out the traditional noodles for roasted eggplant! This gooey pan holds layers of eggplant, homemade marinara, and a flavorful three-cheese filling. Lemon zest and nutmeg takes it to restaurant-style flavor.
Here’s a must-make recipe for tofu fans: and eaters on the fence, too. Try this irresistible BBQ Tofu recipe! Each bite has just the right chewy texture, bathed in a silky, sweet, savory sauce. You’ll want to keep eating it for days. Serve with rice, or Southern-style sides like coleslaw and cornbread.
Here’s our favorite way to use these tasty florets: in a cauliflower stir fry! Fry it until lightly charred and tender, then add bell peppers and a punchy stir fry sauce. It’s the best way to make eating your veggies irresistible!
Here’s a recipe that doubles as a vegetarian dinner or a stunning side dish: and it couldn’t be more delectable. Try these spinach artichoke Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms! Yes, that’s right. It combines the deliciousness of spinach artichoke dip with the meaty, savory goodness of a baked portobello mushroom.
Also try: Portobello Mushroom Pizza
Let’s make stuffed Zucchini Boats! This recipe is a vegetarian dinner masterpiece!. Hollow out zucchini into shells, then stuff it with vegetarian sausage, tomatoes, garlic, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Top with some crispy breadcrumbs, bake until golden brown, and wow! These are packed with intensely savory flavor.
Here’s a go-to when you need a plant based dinner that’s protein-packed: Meatless Meatballs! This recipe takes under 30 minutes to make, and it’s packed with protein! Even better: the flavor is outstanding. Serve with pasta and your favorite marinara sauce!
You’ll love this simple tofu soup recipe, a tasty, nourishing vegetarian dinner! Cubes of tofu float in a savory broth flavored with miso, ginger, dried mushrooms, and fresh mushrooms. Add crunchy carrots and green onions just before serving, and it’s a satisfying combination of hearty earthiness with crisp, fresh vegetables.
Here’s an easy dinner recipe that seems to please just about everyone: Taco Salad! This Tex-Mex salad has been impressing for decades, and it gives us all the 1990’s nostalgic vibes. Top it off with our deliciously satisfying vegan taco meat.
Here's a vegetarian sheet pan dinner to load on the veggies! This recipe has 4 of our best vegetables to eat all at one time: and it’s seriously tasty, too. It’s perfect to meal prep for healthy dinners or lunches throughout the week.
Meet a favorite vegetarian dinner recipe: the Falafel Burger! We don’t always have the energy to fry up a batch of authentic falafel. So eating it in burger form is the next best thing! The combination of a cumin and coriander-scented chickpea patty with cool cucumber sauce and all the fixin’s is pretty darn epic.
Need a fresh dinner idea or crowd-pleasing appetizer? Try this lettuce wraps recipe! The punchy, savory filling is infused with hoisin, soy sauce and rice vinegar, mixing savory tofu with cashews and green onions. Throw it into tender leaf of crunchy green lettuce with a few more colorful veggies, and it’s to die for!
This one the ultimate quick weeknight meal, a filling vegetarian dinner that comes together in 20 minutes flat. Meet this soba noodle bowl! It’s filled with stir fried broccoli, red pepper and onion, mix with a savory sauce with creamy peanut butter.
Here's a fan favorite easy weeknight vegetarian dinner: chickpea curry! It takes only about 20 minutes to make, which is a speed demon move on weeknights. Warm spices and coconut milk make it one the most tastiest things you can make in that short time window—hands down.
A good grain bowl is an easy vegetarian dinner! This one is loaded with fresh veggies, chickpeas and our favorite creamy Tahini Sauce. It makes a fast and easy dinner in 30 minutes!
Ready for a stunning vegetarian dinner? You’ve got avocado fries, breaded and baked in a hot oven until crispy, with a texture reminiscent of a fried fish taco. Then top that with spiced black beans, pico de gallo, and the refreshing crunch of romaine lettuce. Drizzle on a creamy lime and cilantro sauce, and it’s heaven on a plate.
Meet our best vegetarian lasagna! We’ve been honing meatless lasagna recipes for years. This one is the culmination of all of our research: and damn, is it good (if we may say so ourselves). The tomato sauce has just the right zing and garlic nuance, and the spinach ricotta cheese filling is classic and creamy.
Are you on the lentil train? Lentils are low in calories, high in nutrition, and budget friendly. And, they make 40 times less greenhouse gases than a burger. Impressive, right? So here’s a favorite way to eat them: this Best Ever Lentil Soup.
This eggplant pasta has got it all! It’s packed with savory and zesty flavor: tender roasted eggplant, zesty marinara sauce, and peppery basil. It’s 100% plant-based, but lacking nothing in the flavor department. Even better, this vegetarian dinner is incredibly versatile: it works for weeknights and for serving to company!
Here’s a quick dinner idea that’s always satisfying and works for nearly every diet. That’s right, the good old Burrito Bowl! Throw rice, veggies, and burrito fillings in a bowl and call it meal! Here’s the thing: a good burrito bowl can actually take a while to make at home with all the components. Want a burrito bowl that’s lightening fast to make? Try this one.
Here’s a vegetarian dinner idea that marries basic Italian flavors into a mess of garlicky, gooey goodness: Baked Rigatoni! It’s a pasta bake that’s got all the comfort of tomato sauce and cheese, but has intrigue and uniqueness in the flavors. The tomato sauce is full of garlic and a little fennel for meatiness, and it’s got lots of fresh peppery basil for a herbaceous kick.
What better to please a crowd than Sloppy Joes? These vegetarian Sloppy Joes have a zingy lentil filling that tastes just as good as the meaty version. Put it on a toasted bun with some bread and butter pickles, and WOW!
Here’s a tasty pasta recipe that’s comfort food with a healthy spin: our creamy cavatappi pasta! It’s one of Alex and my favorite pasta shapes, paired with a creamy cauliflower sauce that coats the noodles perfectly. It’s cheesy but not too rich, made with a secret ingredient to infuse nutrients.
Last up...a vegetarian dinner recipe that's a hands down fan favorite: Creamy Wild Rice Soup! This one is impossibly creamy, packed with flavor and full of tender veggies and hearty rice. Everyone asks for the recipe—it’s that good.
More recipe ideas
There are lots more ideas where these come from! Outside of these vegetarian dinner recipes, we’ve got ideas for every meal…and everything in between. Browse some of these ideas:
- Review our top Easy Vegetarian Recipes for every meal
- Fill in your day with Vegetarian Breakfast Ideas or Easy Vegetarian Lunch Ideas
- Nosh on these Vegetarian Appetizers
- Go for 20 Easy Friday Night Dinner Ideas
- Check out seasonal Vegetarian Grill Recipes or Summer Vegetarian Recipes
- Find Vegetarian Tacos, Vegetarian Soups or Vegetarian Sandwiches
- See our top 12 Best Vegetarian Meals for Meat Eaters
40 Top Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
Here are our top picks when it comes to vegetarian dinner recipes! These meatless meals please everyone around the table.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 to 8 1x
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 pounds eggplant (about 2 medium large)
- ¾ cup flour*
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 cup plain panko (or purchased or homemade breadcrumbs)
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano, divided
- 1 ¾ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 28 ounces fire roasted crushed tomatoes*
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 handful fresh basil, chopped, plus more to garnish
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese***
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cut off the ends of the eggplant and cut it into 1/2-inch slices (to make approximately 18 slices). Sprinkle with ¾ teaspoon salt divided between the slices, and allow them to sit for 10 minutes while you prepare the breading ingredients. (Don’t wipe off any salt or extra moisture.)
- Place the flour on a plate. Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl and set it aside. In another shallow bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, 2 teaspoons oregano, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt and set it aside.
- Dip both sides of each eggplant slice into the flour, then the eggs, then the Parmesan cheese mixture. Place each slice onto the prepared baking sheets. (Note: This gets messy; you may need to wash or wipe your fingers off after every few slices.)
- Place the trays in the oven and bake for 10 minutes, then flip and bake 10 to 15 minutes more, until tender and golden brown.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce: In a medium bowl, mix the fire roasted tomatoes, grated garlic, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, chopped fresh basil, and olive oil. Mix well until all the olive oil is incorporated.
- Remove the eggplant from the oven. Spread 1 cup of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13″ pan. Add half the baked eggplant in a layer (about 9 slices), then top with 1 cup tomato sauce and 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Add the second layer of eggplant (we like to add them right on top of the first layer to make 9 stacks). Top with another 1 cup tomato sauce and 1 cup shredded mozzarella on each stack. Top with the remaining 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and browned. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then top with additional chopped basil and serve. Store leftovers refrigerated for up to 3 days (or frozen for 3 months); reheat in the oven until warm.
Notes
*You’ll have about ⅓ cup flour left over and about 1 egg, but it’s easier for the breading. There also may be some panko left over. These items are not included in the nutritional info.
**Fire roasted tomatoes make the best flavor: they taste sweet and smoky right out of the can. If you can’t find them, substitute best quality tomatoes with 1 teaspoon sugar and ½ teaspoon smoked paprika. Or, use 1 ½ cups best quality marinara sauce.
***Whole milk mozzarella cheese melts much better than part skim mozzarella, and has a richer flavor. It also melts better when reheating leftovers.
Hi! I have started cooking vegetarian meals for my boyfriend and me more frequently and love to try new recipes. I am excited to hear about your new recipes and will purchase your cookbook shortly. Enjoy your day and I can’t wait to hear from you.
So glad to hear that! Thank you for the comment :)
Let us know if you have any questions!