Meatless Recipes You’ll Wanna Eat Whether You’re Vegetarian or Not

I have always been a meat lover. Give me steak, butter chicken, or tacos al pastor and I will always be happy.

There has not been one point in my life where I thought I would ever go meat-free. But that doesn’t mean that I’m apposed to vegetarian meals or vegan recipes. Nope!

Just like with any recipe, if it’s done right, I’m gonna enjoy it.

And if you’re in the same boat and you’re trying to save money or just want to cut down on your meat intake (or you are vegetarian or vegan), then this list of vegetarian dinner ideas is here for you.

These meatless recipes are here to help you create a list of meals to try this month. Some of them I’ve tried and personally recommend, and others just look insanely good so I had to share.

So grab a few of these meatless dinner ideas, give them a try this week, and see which ones become a staple in your meal planning.

1. Caramelized Onion and Parmesan Pasta

If you’re creating a list of meatless dinner ideas, then I think this should be at the very top of your list.

I’ve enjoyed this satisfying meal more then once, and it is probably the best pasta recipe I’ve ever had. It’s not very healthy, but it is incredibly cheesy, savory, and satisfying.

And while the cooking process for the caramelized onions takes a bit of time, it is completely worth it. So if you want a filling vegetarian option for your weeknight dinner, then I would make this without hesitation. It is the ultimate comfort meal.

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2. BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches

Jackfruit is probably one of the best meatless swaps out there. It’s vegan-friendly and works with so many no meat dinner ideas. Also, with the added chickpeas, this is a great option if you want some plant-based protein.

Just smother everything in a tasty BBQ sauce and in 25 minutes, you’ll be able to enjoy this meal on your busy weeknights.

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3. Swiss Rösti

Röstis are one of my favorite things to make.

They’re big Swiss potato pancakes and they’re perfect for the vegetarian diet. Just add a side of eggs, top it with some creamy butter, and you’re all set.

And while grating your own potatoes can be a bit of a process, it is so worth it. You get this wonderful crispy outer part and the inside melts in your mouth. It’s honestly one of the best meatless meals you can have for a weeknight dinner (in my opinion).

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4. Tofu and Brown Rice Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

If you’re looking to go without the meat, then this is a great meal for lunch or dinner.

And honestly, cutting out the meat doesn’t have to be so hard when you have a hearty vegetarian meal that includes spicy mayo, and an incredible looking peanut sauce.

With a total cook time of just 20 minutes, it’s kind of a no-brainer that you need to add this to your meal plan.

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5. Çılbır

If you’re craving something that has a lot of flavor and makes you feel like you’re vacationing in Istanbul, then Çılbır is your answer. It’s one of those easy meatless meals that’s well spiced, quick to make, and perfect for when you’re craving breakfast for dinner.

And if you love creamy rich yogurt, bold flavors, and runny poached eggs, then I highly recommend this recipe!

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6. Feta Gnocchi

Gnocchi has got to be one of my favorite pastas. It’s incredibly satisfying to eat and works with so many meatless dinners.

And for this recipe, it’s baked with creamy feta cheese, garlic, spices, tomatoes, and so many other good ingredients. The prep time is just 5 minutes, which means this is one of the best meat free meals to make on those extra busy weeknights.

So if you’re looking for a recipe with that Mediterranean feel, then this might be a good one to try!

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7. Make-This-Right-Now Greek Bowl

This is one of the best easy meatless dinner ideas on the list, and I’m not just saying that because it’s my recipe.

It’s an incredibly simple dinner to throw together for when you want something healthy. Also, it has some good vegetarian protein with the spiced chickpeas and a lot flavor with the feta cheese and oven roasted sun dried tomatoes.

Top it with some olive oil and you have a tasty meal that won’t make it hard to stick to a vegetarian diet!

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8. Three Cheese Baked Gnocchi with Spinach

If you’re looking for the vegetarian version of some of your favorite Italian dinners, then this might be a great alternative!

With parmesan, mozzarella, mascarpone cheese, gnocchi, and garlicky, savory tomato goodness, it’s kind of hard to say no to this skillet baked dinner.

It’s all ready in just 40 minutes and it honestly looks like one of the most crave-worthy meatless meal ideas on the list.

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9. Pasta Napoletana 

If you wanna feel like you’re kind of in Italy without spending nearly 30 hours on a plane just to get there, then this pasta Napoletana should be on your list of easy vegetarian dinners to make.

I really loved how simple this recipe was and it was incredibly satisfying to eat. Also, the basil and parmesan added some really nice flavor to this dish.

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10. Massaman Tofu Curry

I love massaman curry! It’s always bursting with so much flavor and there are probably plenty of meat alternatives that work with this Thai dish.

So if you like super flavorful and comforting dinners, then I’d make this and even batch it for your meal prepping. It’s just that good!

Side Note: According to the Thai food blogger, She Simmers, commercial (store-bought) massaman curry paste is pretty close to the real thing. So if you don’t feel like making it from scratch, then you don’t have to!

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11. Steph’s Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Rice

If you’re still craving Thai, then this one looks like a no-skip kind of vegetarian recipe.

With creamy coconut milk, savory and fragrant red curry, protein-filled chickpeas, and steaming hot jasmine rice, it makes for the perfect weeknight meal.

It’ll keep you from ordering off of UberEats and helps make the meatless diet just that much easier.

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12. Indian Chinese Chilli Paneer

Indian food is always great when it comes to meat free dinner ideas. They have so many plant-based options for when you’re on the vegetarian or vegan diet.

And according to this Indian food blogger, this is a Hakka restaurant style recipe. So it’s a dish that has a bit of Indian going on and some flavors from a specific region in China.

Honestly, that sounds so delicious, and with paneer, an Indian cheese, I’d probably eat way too much of it!

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13. Crispy Black Bean Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce

I am always down for crispy tacos, and this protein filled vegetarian dinner that has a creamy looking cilantro lime sauce looks ridiculously tasty.

It’s ready in just 25 minutes, has plenty of good seasoning, and it looks like it would be perfect for either a filling lunch or dinner.

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14. Courgette Pesto Pasta

So in this recipe, she uses trofie, a pasta that’s traditionally served with pesto. But she also recommends strozzapreti, which I highly recommend!

I’ve made it a couple of times in the last week, and it’s such a great pasta for your recipes. If you want to make it by hand, then it’s just 2 ingredients (3 if you add salt) and requires no pasta machine. Also, the pasta shape makes it so that the sauce clings to it better than other pasta types.

Here’s a recipe for homemade strozzapreti pasta if you want to do it yourself.

But if you want to just get pre-made trofie or strozzapreti, then I totally get it! Just follow the recipe I’ve linked to and enjoy the savory pesto goodness.

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15. Wild Mushroom Risotto

I love wild mushroom dishes, and this wild mushroom risotto look incredible.

Also, this recipe looks so flavorful with white wine, parmesan, time, shallots, and mushrooms like shiitake or king oyster.

It’s the kind of meatless recipe you make for when you’re having a date night at home, or you just want to treat yourself after a big exhausting day.

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16. Loaded Caprese Grilled Cheese

If you wanna dress up your lunch, but you also want to keep it meatless, then this loaded caprese grilled cheese looks like it’s the answer.

With tasty sourdough bread, fresh mozzarella cheese, and a garlic butter tomato sauce, I don’t know how you go wrong.

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17. Roasted Veggie Grain Bowl with Balsamic Dressing

I love bowls; they’re such an easy way to get so many good ingredients all in one dish, and you can also have fun and get creative with it.

And I feel like this veggie grain bowl is a great way to get some good nutrients without sacrificing the flavor.

With a creamy balsamic dressing, this looks like the kind of meatless meal you’d order at some pretty cafe.

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18. Savory Dutch Baby with Gouda and Crispy Prosciutto

This is for those nights when you’re craving breakfast for dinner.

Or maybe you just want to have a nice meal in, and feel like you’re dining at some fashionable Napa Valley brunch spot.

Either way, this Dutch baby look ridiculously savory and good. With prosciutto and gouda, it’s a vegetarian recipe that’s probably gonna be super flavorful!

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19. One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes and Kale

If you love sheet pan or one pan dinners, then this is a great one to try.

Only using just one pan simplifies the cooking process so much and I am always a sucker for those Mediterranean-inspired dinners.

Top it with some parmesan, red pepper flakes, basil, and maybe an egg for some extra protein and you’re all set!

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20. Buddha Bowl

This buddha bowl looks so tasty, but what makes it even better is that it’s a Mexican-style bowl.

With queso fresco, sweet potato, lime, chipotle chiles, and protein-packed black beans, this looks like the perfect vegetarian recipe to make for lunch all week long.

It’s also versatile, so you can sub in or out any ingredients you want!

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21. Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Recipe

Orzo is a type of small pasta that looks like rice and it cooks pretty fast!

So if you want an alternative to rice, then definitely try this garlicky, herby, flavorful meatless meal out.

It’s great for when you’re trying to eat a bit healthier, or you just want something that’s super hearty and comforting. And with a prep time of just 10 minutes, you’ll be able to enjoy a good dinner without a lot of work.

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22. Tofu Curry Without Coconut Milk

If you’re not a big fan of coconut milk, then I’ve got you covered.

This curry recipe has a creamy, fragrant tomato sauce and a whole lot of flavor with the garam masala. So if you want Indian but you also don’t feel like leaving the house, then this might just be the perfect vegan recipe to try this coming week!

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23. Easy French Onion Pasta

I love French onion soup, so the fact that you can get it in pasta form is honestly a dream come true.

With savory, sweet, and rich caramelized onions, creamy Gruyere cheese, and fragrant thyme, this vegetarian skillet dinner looks like the perfect comfort food.

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24. Protein Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese

Now if you really want to pack in the protein and still have your pasta, then this creamy blended cottage cheese mac and cheese looks like the perfect meal.

And with garlic and cheddar cheese mixed in there too, I just know the flavors are gonna be good.

With a prep time of 5 minutes and a total time of just 25, you’ll have a very quick dinner that’s ready to enjoy on a busy day.

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25. Lentil Chili Recipe

I love chili recipes, they’re so hearty, flavorful, and comforting. Also, you can change them up as much as you want and add your favorite ingredients.

But what I really like about this meat-free dinner is that it has so much plant-based protein. So with lentils, black beans, and kidney beans, you’re gonna have a protein-packed meal.

Also, it just looks so flavorful and good. Make it with your favorite corn bread recipe, and you have the perfect meal for a colder evening.

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26. Gochujang Pasta Recipe

I love basically gochujang anything. My husband first got me addicted to this spicy Korean condiment maybe like 10 years ago, and I’ve never grown tired of it.

And if you want a spicy pasta recipe for tonight that has a bit of an Asian flavor going on, then I think this is the perfect one to try.

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27. Easy Vegetarian Crockpot Lasagna

While I don’t have a slow cooker right now because I travel full-time, this used to be one of my favorite go-to vegetarian dinner recipes.

It was so easy to make, tasted great, and made you feel like you were having a bit of a restaurant experience at home.

Pro-tip: Try fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano for this recipe. I haven’t done it personally, but I’m going to assume that it tastes a lot better than the stuff you sprinkle from a container.

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28. Halloumi Fajitas

I first had halloumi back when I used to live in Istanbul, and it has always been one of my favorite ways to dress up a meal.

It’s traditionally made up of half sheep half goat’s milk, and it’s a cheese you slice up and grill. You can have it as a side, or you can enjoy it in a tasty meatless dinner like this one!

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29. Lentil Bolognese Pasta Recipe

Lentils are such an easy way to add some protein to a meal, and this lentil bolognese pasta looks ridiculously savory, tangy, and good.

And with red wine, herbs, and garlic, I think this might be the perfect flavorful dinner to try on a weeknight.

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30. Moroccan Shakshuka

I have always been a fan of shakshuka. It’s such a simple yet flavorful vegetarian recipe to make for any meal of the day.

And the Moroccan one looks so delicious! With a lot of good spices, some Greek yogurt, and the protein-packed addition of chickpeas, this looks like a great dinner idea!

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Here’s a shakshuka recipe I made a few years ago; definitely great as a hot breakfast or a comforting dinner.

31. Asian Garlic Noodles

I’m not gonna like, this Asian noodle recipe look so good and I could probably eat it 5 nights in a row without getting tired of it.

There’s a lot of good sauces and flavoring going into this dish, and I’m very curious to see how the parmesan cheese would taste with it.

Also, it’s ready in only 20 minutes which makes it an instant win in my book.

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32. Butter Bean Curry

Indian cuisine will always be the perfect go-to when it comes to eating tasty meatless meals.

They have so many of them, and this butter bean curry looks so creamy and rich. Also, there are so many nice spices that go into this recipe, and you can pair it with some comforting naan which makes it even better.

This honestly looks great for those evenings when you need dinner in under an hour and you want to enjoy something cozy.

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