Easy Food to Make for Dinner Vegetarian
Joel Goldberg
A recent poll found that nearly 10 percent of adult Americans consider themselves vegetarian—that's nearly 33 million people trying to figure out what the heck to eat for dinner. It's true, we do have a TON of lists dedicated to weeknight dinners filled with steak, chicken, and seafood, but don't worry: Vegetarians, we've got you, too. Whether you're a lifelong vegetarian, a curious omnivore, or are just looking for healthy recipe ideas for meatless Mondays, you're guaranteed to love these 62 incredible vegetarian dinners.
Not only are a lot of Americans vegetarian, so is a significant portion of the world's population. The numbers vary, but suffice it to say, many world cuisines put far less of an emphasis on meat, instead focusing on filling, hearty, creative spins on vegetables and plant-based proteins. Check out our Middle Eastern-Mexican fusion green shakshuka, our Jamaican jerk tofu grain bowls, our Indian saag paneer, our Vietnamese tofu banh mi, or our Szechuan mapo tofu to see what we mean.
And if you're craving classic meat-based comfort foods, but want to keep it veg-friendly? Check out our seitan piccata, our vegan crunchwrap, spicy fried "chicken" sandwich, chickpea "tuna" salad, or tempeh Buffalo "wings" to see just how good these meatless dupes can be. You could also skip the overt protein altogether, and just rely on meaty vegetables like eggplant, mushrooms, and cauliflower to fill the void. Try our air fryer cauliflower tacos (so similar to our fish tacos), vegan chicken-fried mushrooms and gravy, ultimate vegetarian Italian sub, or vegan seared "scallops" with succotash. They're so good, we bet you won't even miss the meat.
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Vegetarian Eggplant Lasagna
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Vegetarian Enchiladas
These enchiladas are stuffed with a hearty combination of corn, beans, and zucchini and topped with two types of cheese. Garnished with avocado, tomato, and cilantro, it's the definition of a healthy and hearty meal.
Get the Vegetarian Enchiladas recipe.
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One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac
Looking for a hearty weeknight dinner? Our smoky vegetarian chili mac is here to save the day! It all comes together in one pot, and it's SUPER versatile. Throw in your favorite bean and pasta shape, melt in your favorite cheese, and top with whatever else you like. (As long as it's crunchy. Fritos are classic, but fried onions, any corn/tortilla chip, or toasted nut will do the trick.)
Get the One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac recipe.
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Extra Lemony Seitan Piccata
Some piccata sauces use only lemon juice, but we opt for whole pieces of the fruit for ultimate citrus flavor. After a simmer in a wine-and-broth jacuzzi, the lemon loses its sharp bitterness and becomes sweet and tender. We dig it drizzled over plant-based, high-protein seitan.
Get the Extra Lemony Seitan Piccata recipe.
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Saag Paneer
Chopping all the baby spinach (a whole pound!) is the hardest part of this Indian recipe. To save time, microwave it first so it steams, then chop.
Get the Saag Paneer recipe.
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Ultimate Vegetarian Italian Sub
One of our favorite sandwiches is the Italian hero, a sandwich filled to the brim with all manner of cured meat, cheese, and refreshingly crisp vegetables. This vegetarian version is just as good as the original, with planks of zucchini and eggplant instead of meat.
Get the Vegetarian Italian Sub recipe.
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Paella Verdura
This veggie-packed paella comes together in under an hour, and, even better, most of the cooking happens in the oven. Briefly returning the skillet to the stovetop after baking is the key to achieving a crispy rice crust on the bottom, often referred to as socarrat (meaning "burnt" in Catalan).
Get the Paella Verdura recipe.
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Chickpea "Tuna" Salad
This vegan "tuna" salad is proof that when it comes to mayo-based salads, the magic is in the fixin's. When we say you won't miss the tuna, we mean it: This creamy, zingy, crunchy salad will satisfy all your canned fish cravings. We like to keep a can of chickpeas in our pantry at all times, so this quick meal is always only 5 minutes away.
Get the Chickpea "Tuna" Salad recipe.
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Baked Feta Pasta
Obviously roasting a block of feta with bursting tomatoes is going to be amazing. But is it good enough to break TikTok? Our answer, begrudgingly, is yes. It's genius—super easy, but fancy enough for date night. 😍
Get the Baked Feta Pasta recipe.
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Pumpkin Curry
Earthy, sweet pumpkin is the perfect base for a spicy, Thai-inspired coconut milk curry. We begin by roasting the pumpkin to provide some caramelization and nuttiness. Then we take some of that roast pumpkin and actually blend it into the curry sauce, which adds another layer of pumpkin flavor.
Get the Pumpkin Curry recipe.
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Air Fryer Cauliflower Tacos
To get extra crispy "fried" cauliflower, you've gotta use your air fryer. This recipe is basically the vegan version of our favorite fish tacos. The finishing touches? A quick and easy pickled slaw for a bite of freshness and a spicy mayo for a touch of heat.
Get the Air Fryer Cauliflower Tacos recipe.
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Roasted Vegetable Baked Falafel Sandwiches
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Whole Roasted Cabbage
This gorgeous, whole-roasted stunner is the perfect holiday substitute for vegetarians. It's savory, sweet, and salty—not to mention super tender on the inside. Topped with lots of silky mushroom gravy, we doubt anyone at your table will be missing meat.
Get the Whole Roasted Cabbage recipe.
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Vegan Chicken-Fried Mushrooms & Gravy
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Pumpkin Ravioli
These autumnal ravioli may not be quick or easy, but they are SO delicious. Give yourself an afternoon to prepare them, or make the pasta dough the night before you plan to serve.
Get the Pumpkin Ravioli recipe.
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Baked Eggplant Parm
Classic eggplant Parm is one of our favorite dishes in the world, but it's definitely a labor of love to prepare. If we're being honest, we're not always down to put in the work. Enter this healthier, easier bake. Instead of frying each individual piece of eggplant, you bake them all at once until they're nice and crispy. 😍
Get the Baked Eggplant Parm recipe.
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Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein
The exact origins of chow mein are not entirely clear, but historians suspect this dish was born in northern China a millennia ago. Centuries later, it's been popularized by a beloved chain with a cute panda mascot. Now you can make it at home!
Get the Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein recipe.
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Polenta with Wild Mushroom Ragu
Make this showstopper with a custom blend of your favorite funghi! If wild mushrooms are not accessible, creminis or button mushrooms also work perfectly. If serving for a dinner party or event, the ragu can be made up to three days in advance; just reheat gently on the stovetop while you make the polenta.
Get the Polenta with Wild Mushroom Ragu recipe.
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Sheet-Pan Burrata Caprese Gnocchi
This is one of our favorite ways to prepare gnocchi. Roasting gives the dumplings a slightly browned exterior while still maintaining a pillowy, chewy interior. They're a fabulous base for a Caprese salad, except here we swap out tomatoes (which sadly aren't always in season!) for beautiful and reliably sweet bell peppers.
Get the Sheet-Pan Burrata Caprese Gnocchi recipe.
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Copycat Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
The trick here is caramelizing the tomato paste, which deepens the overall flavor of this satisfying soup. This recipe makes a big batch, so whether you're cooking for the whole famiglia or just yourself, there will be plenty to eat (or freeze!).
Get the Copycat Olive Garden Minestrone Soup recipe
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Tofu Banh Mi
In this meat-free Vietnamese classic, the pressed tofu marinates twice: once quickly before cooking and again after it's cooked. A French baguette will do the job, but an airier, crisp-crusted Vietnamese-style baguette is the ultimate bread for this sammie.
Get the Tofu Bahn Mi recipe.
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Stuffed Butternut Squash
Start by slathering the butternut squash halves with a brown sugar-butter mixture, which enhances the naturally sweet qualities of the roasted squash. After baking until perfectly tender, you'll top the squash with a hearty filling of quinoa, kale, and chickpeas. Flecked with dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds, the savory pilaf has the perfect balance of texture, flavor, and pops of color. It's sweet, savory, protein-packed, and filling—what more could you want?
Get the Stuffed Butternut Squash recipe .
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Butternut Squash Mac 'N Cheese
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Green Shakshuka
Shakshuka typically involves a sauce of tomatoes and red peppers, but our take on this simmered skillet breakfast spins the color wheel thanks to roasted tomatillos and Swiss chard. It also takes flavor inspiration from Mexico with the addition of a tangy, spicy salsa verde pepped up with cotija cheese and avocado. Topping choices are endless, from chorizo to toasted pine nuts.
Get the Green Shakshuka recipe.
Source: https://www.delish.com/cooking/g1486/healthy-vegetarian-dinner-recipes/
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