You don’t have to be a vegetarian to eat meatless meals. These vegetarian dinner recipes will help you add more variety to your diet and take away the meat one or more times a week! Save This Recipe! Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get new recipes from me every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Happy Healthy Mama.
When we first got married and I started incorporating vegetarian dinner recipes into our rotation, it definitely took some time for my husband, Tim, to get used to. He grew up having meat at the center of his plate, so he felt like he was eating “side dishes” for dinner.
Eventually he learned that you don’t have to have a huge hunk of meat on your dinner plate for it to be a satisfying meal.
We are currently in the middle of a global pandemic, and meat is more difficult to get in stores due to production problems stemming from workplace restrictions. There’s no telling what the future is going to hold, but wether meat is readily available or not, it’s a great idea to get creative with meals and find meatless dinner ideas.
There are a lot of benefits to eating more meatless meals and I hope you’ll consider adding them into your rotation!
5 Benefits to Incorporating Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
- When you eat less meat, you have more room in your diet for more and a wider variety of vegetables, which are the most nutritious foods on the planet.
- When you eat more plant-based proteins and whole grains, you are eating more heart-healthy proteins and getting more fiber, which helps prevent heart disease, a number of cancers, and promotes longevity.
- Studies have found the more meat a person consumes, the higher their risk for type 2 diabetes. Reducing your meat intake can reduce that risk.
- Livestock production creates more greenhouse gases than all transportation combined – all the cars, trucks, planes, and trains in the world. You don’t have to cut out all meat to make a difference–even one vegetarian dinner a week can help.
- Animal proteins generally cost a lot more than plant-based proteins like beans and whole grains, so eating vegetarian dinners can save your family money at the grocery store.
Are you on board? Here are some great vegetarian dinner recipes to get you started!
36 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
When you need fresh ideas, this is the list to help you plan more meatless meals. Save this post to your Pinterest recipe board so you can always find it!
Italian Baked Spaghetti Squash
This vegetarian dinner recipe is so filling and satisfying, no one will complain that they’re eating a meatless meal. Italian seasonings and vegetables are stuffed inside a spaghetti squash and topped with cheese. You can’t go wrong!
Mexican Quinoa Skillet Dinner
This is a really easy dinner to make and the quinoa and beans make it a high-protein dinner also. You’re going to love the Mexican flavors here!
Instant Pot Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
This dinner couldn’t be easier to make in your Instant Pot! (affiliate link) It’s creamy and delicious with a Roasted Red Pepper sauce.
Vegan Asian Noodle Bowls
This recipe is not only vegan, but also gluten free. There’s still almost 16 grams of protein per serving thanks to edamame and brown rice noodles.
Smoky Black Bean Tacos
You don’t need meat for a smoky, delicious flavor in your dinner! These tacos hit the spot every time.
Vegetable Lasagna
This is my favorite vegetarian comfort food! Loaded with vegetables instead of meat, this is a much healthier version of traditional lasagna.
Coconut Curry Lentil Bowls
These Coconut Curry Lentil Bowls are made with chickpeas, red lentils, and kale and are filled the best flavor. This is such an easy one-pot dinner recipe, you’ve GOT to try this one!
Korean BBQ Chickpea Bento Bowl
Rice + beans + veggies = a vegetarian meal that’s perfectly balanced with carbohydrates, protein, and fat. I can’t get enough of the Korean barbecue sauce in this one!
Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Oh, baby! This is a meal all in itself and if you’ve never tried stuffed sweet potatoes, you’re in for a treat!
Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
Lentils take the place in this twist on classic shepherd’s pie. Even the biggest meat-lovers adore this one!
Vegetarian Pot Pie
If you need a dinner that’s quick, easy, and comforting, this is the vegetarian dinner recipe to try. It’s made with mostly pantry and freezer staples. That’s right–no chopping required!
Lentil Loaf
Filled with protein, iron, and fiber, lentils are a great meat alternative. Bonus: they’re also way cheaper than meat! This is a great “main course” vegetarian dinner recipe.
Quinoa Vegetable Stew
This is a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs kind of stew! Nobody is hungry after this meal.
25-Minute Butternut Squash Enchiladas
Short on time? We use canned butternut squash in this recipe to make for a super quick, and totally delicious vegetarian dinner.
Vegetable Grain Bowl
So much deliciousness happening in this bowl.
Pesto Pasta Salad
You can serve this one hot or room temperature and it’s always a hit!
Egg Casserole
Breakfast for dinner, anyone? YES PLEASE. This egg casserole is filled with vegetables and cheese and is easy to throw together.
Wild Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash
This is a perfect fall or winter meal that only looks complicated and fancy. It’s actually super easy to throw this company-worthy dinner together!
Sweet Potato Fritters with Avocado Dipping Sauce
Don’t skip the Avocado Dipping Sauce here–it brings the whole meal up a notch!
Summer Vegetable Orzo
You can substitute whatever your favorite or in-season vegetables are in this easy and versatile dinner.
Vegetable Lentil Soup
There ain’t nothing wrong with soup for dinner, my friends, especially when it’s a hearty bowl of Lentil Vegetable Soup. Add some bread and maybe a salad and you’ll have a happy family.
Vegetable Pumpkin Curry
This is a unique dinner that is so flavorful you’ll wonder how you lived without it!
Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers
This recipe has been loved by many Happy Healthy Mama readers! If you love veggie burgers, you’ve got to give this one a try!
Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers
Quinoa and beans take the place of meat here, but there’s no lacking of flavor in this slow cooker meal!
Zucchini Quinoa Lasagna
This Zucchini Quinoa Lasagna is a gluten-free and vegetarian dinner. All the traditional lasagna flavors are there, but this is a fun twist!
Vegan Corn Chowder
This is the best corn chowder I’ve ever had, vegan or not. You’re going to adore it.
Arugula Pesto Pasta
If you love the peppery flavor of arugula, you’ll absolutely love this pasta dinner!
Whole Wheat Penne With Mushrooms, Spinach, and Tomatoes
This is a great way to add some green to your pasta dinner and nobody is going to complain. So much flavor in this satisfying dinner.
Roasted Broccoli Barbecue Pizza
Broccoli on pizza? Don’t knock it until you try it!
Roasted Portobello Fajitas
Meaty portobello mushrooms mean nobody is going to miss the beef in this fajitas!
Barley Risotto with Butternut Squash
Butternut squash, parmesan cheese, and fresh rosemary are a match made in heaven in this luscious dinner.
Crockpot Vegan Chili
This Vegan Crockpot Chili is so easy to make! Dump your ingredients in the Crockpot and at dinnertime you’ll have a comforting meal.
Butternut Squash and Kale Lasagna
Kale never tasted so good.
Grilled Vegetables with Pasta
Take advantage of grilling season with this easy summer dinner.
Portobello Mushroom Burger with Chipotle Mayo
Move over burgers, there’s a new guy in town. This Portobello Mushroom burger is hearty, satisfying, and the chipotle mayo brings it over the top!
Quinoa and Sweet Potato Enchilada Pie
If your family has hearty appetites, this is the dish to try! It’s so filling and absolutely tasty.
Do you have a favorite vegetarian dinner recipe? Please share the link in the comments! I’d love us to all help each other reduce our meat consumption!
What a great read, the quinoa and sweet potato enchilada pie looks absolutely amazing, will be trying this for sure.