You don’t need meat to make a dinner that fills everyone up. Beans, lentils, eggs, cheese and whole grains do the job beautifully, and they cost a lot less.
These vegetarian dinner ideas are the hearty kind: lentil curries and soups, bean tacos and burritos, cozy pastas, fried rice and a big pot of chili. Even the meat-lovers at your table won’t miss anything.
How to Make a Vegetarian Dinner Filling
Build every meal around a solid protein (beans, lentils, eggs, tofu, Greek yogurt or cottage cheese), add a fiber-rich carb like rice, quinoa or whole-grain pasta, and don’t skimp on healthy fat. Olive oil, avocado, nuts and cheese are what make a vegetarian meal feel satisfying instead of light.
A note on broth: a couple of the soups give you the option of chicken or vegetable stock. Use vegetable stock to keep them vegetarian.
20 Vegetarian Dinner Ideas
Easy Layered Ratatouille Recipe (Like the Movie!)
This gorgeous, good-for-you baked ratatouille dish is super easy to make! I cook it low and slow for the best texture, but the hands-on time is minimal. Serve it warm out of the oven with a crusty baguette on the side, and maybe a sprinkling of fresh Parmesan cheese.
Caramelized Onion Pasta (aka Pantry Pasta)
A cozy, pantry-friendly pasta made with caramelized onions, garlic, and tomato paste for a rich, velvety sauce. Ready in 35 minutes and perfect for weeknights or dinner guests.
Healthy Fried Rice Recipe (Quick & Easy)
This healthy fried rice is a reader favorite. It’s best made with cooked and cooled rice, so it’s perfect for leftovers, and it takes about 15 minutes if your rice is already cooked.
Black Beans and Eggs Rice Bowl (Easy & Healthy)
Simmered black beans with warm spices create a rich, flavorful base for soft, jammy eggs cooked right in the pan. Served over warm rice and finished with fresh toppings, this bowl is high in protein and fiber to keep you full and satisfied. It’s delicious for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Easy Red Lentil Soup with Lemon
This red lentil soup with lemon is cozy, filling and full of fiber and protein. Make it with vegetable stock to keep it vegetarian.
Coconut Lentils
Coconut Lentils are creamy, nourishing, and packed with warming spices. This dish is perfect for a cozy night in or an easy weeknight meal. Plus, it’s naturally dairy-free, full of plant-based protein, and incredibly satisfying!
Awesome Vegetarian Chili Recipe
A hearty vegetarian chili loaded with beans and vegetables. Use vegetable broth (the recipe gives you the option) and skip the optional bone broth.
Superfood Black Bean & Quinoa Salad Recipe
This Superfood Black Bean & Quinoa Salad Recipe is one of my absolute favorite quick meals to make because it is packed with vital nutrients and so easy to make.
Butternut Squash Quinoa Bowl with Arugula
This Butternut Squash Quinoa Bowl is cozy, nourishing and loaded with the best flavors of fall: roasted squash, fluffy quinoa and peppery arugula.
Buddha Bowl Recipe with Spicy Black Beans
We love this spicy black bean Buddha Bowl when we have extra rice or beans in the refrigerator to use up. The ingredients are flexible, add more or less of whatever you have on hand. This recipe is a great way to use up any rice, beans, quinoa or veggies that you already have prepared.
Loaded Veggie Black Bean Burritos
These flavorful, protein-packed black bean burritos come together in about 20 minutes and make the perfect plant-based lunch or dinner. Smoky chipotle black beans are wrapped in your favorite tortilla and topped with a creamy, tangy cilantro-lime slaw for the perfect balance of heat, crunch, and freshness.
Spicy Black Bean Tacos with Avocado Cream Sauce
Add a kick to your weeknight dinner with these black bean tacos, and discover one of my favorite sauces to swap for sour cream. This recipe makes enough for 6 tacos and is easily doubled or tripled.
Easy Thai Peanut Noodles
These Healthy & Easy Thai Peanut Noodles are creamy, savory, and packed with flavor while still being simple enough for a busy weeknight. Made with a quick homemade peanut sauce and your favorite noodles, this easy recipe comes together in about 30 minutes and works well served warm or cold. Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free with easy vegan options, it’s a satisfying meal you’ll want to make again and again.
Quick Roasted Garlic Pasta
If you’re looking for a simple yet flavorful pasta dish that’s ready in under 30 minutes, this Roasted Garlic Pasta with Olive Oil & Chile is your new go-to recipe.
Quick Pasta alla Vodka (20-Minute Recipe)
Creamy tomato pasta made with olive oil, garlic, tomato paste, cream, and Parmesan. Add vodka for the vodka version or leave it out for an easy creamy tomato sauce. Pasta alla Vodka comes together in about 20 minutes. It cooks fast, so make this tonight if you don’t know what to make for dinner!
Cottage Cheese Alfredo Pasta (High-Protein, 30 Minutes)
This Cottage Cheese Alfredo Pasta is a lighter, high-protein twist on classic Alfredo. Blended cottage cheese creates a silky, creamy sauce without heavy cream, while broccoli adds color and texture. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an easy weeknight comfort meal that feels indulgent but is secretly nourishing.
Loaded Veggie Hummus Wraps
This Loaded Veggie Hummus Wrap Recipe makes 2 to 4 (or more) wraps depending on how big your veggies are when you chop them. Be creative and use what you have on hand. Try to combine smooth textures with crunch textures, and don’t forget to dress your greens before adding them.
Vegan Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
A simple, silky butternut squash soup made with vegetable stock. It’s easy to make and big on flavor.
Green Lentils with Scallions, Garlic & Mint
Green lentils with garlic, scallions, and fresh mint make a delightful meal! Serve it with basmati rice for a delicious and nutritious meal. This recipe makes 2 large servings; double or triple it to scale as needed or for meal prep.
Easy Veggie Fried Rice
This Easy Vegetable Fried Rice is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
FAQs About Vegetarian Dinner Ideas
What is a good vegetarian protein for dinner?
Lentils, black beans, chickpeas, eggs, cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are all easy and inexpensive. One cup of cooked lentils has about 18 grams of protein.
Are these dinners vegan?
Some are. The lentil dishes, black bean recipes, butternut squash soup and quinoa bowls are vegan or easy to make vegan. Recipes with eggs, cheese or cottage cheese are vegetarian, not vegan.
What vegetarian dinners are good for meal prep?
The coconut lentils, red lentil soup, vegetarian chili and black bean quinoa salad all keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
For an easy start, make the Coconut Lentils. It’s creamy and cozy, and it’s made almost entirely from pantry staples.
If you like eating this way, you’ll also love my Blue Zone Recipes.
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