Craving a delicious meal but want to skip the meat? Believe it or not, plant-based dishes can be just as satisfying (or even more!) than a juicy steak.
We've got a whopping 36 recipe ideas to prove it! From hearty stews and spicy curries to flavorful burgers and creative grain bowls, this list has something for every taste bud.
Get ready to explore a world of exciting textures and bold flavors. We'll show you how to turn everyday veggies, grains, and legumes into restaurant-worthy meals that are sure to become new favorites.
Easy Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers are a classic comfort food and these vegetarian ones will make you forget about all the meat! This recipe is a winner for those busy weeknights. Get the recipe.
Creamy Pasta with Spinach
This creamy pasta is satisfying, delicious, and incredibly easy to make! The creamy, rich coconut sauce perfectly coats the penne pasta, while the roasted chickpeas provide a pleasant crunch. The garlic and spinach add a layer of freshness, making every bite absolutely delicious! Get the recipe.
Vegetable Bean Soup
This delicious and healthy Vegetable Bean Soup is the perfect potato and bean soup that's light yet filling. It's made with crunchy cauliflower and protein-packed pinto beans and comes together in just 30 minutes! Get the recipe.
Creamy Pad Thai
This Pad Thai dish combines the essence of Thai cuisine with plant-based goodness. This vibrant and satisfying recipe features tender rice noodles, crispy tofu, and a colorful array of fresh vegetables, all tossed in a luscious peanut sauce. Get the recipe.
Vegetable and Chickpea Curry
Clean out the freezer with this simple curry recipe with chickpeas and coconut milk. Use any veggies you have, combine them with some savory spices and coconut milk, and presto! A delicious and nutritious plant-based meal ideal for busy days. Get the recipe.
Quinoa Patties with Zucchini and Feta Cheese
You'll love these Mediterranean Style Quinoa Patties with Zucchini and Feta Cheese. They are crispy, delicious and easy to make.
Cook quinoa the night before or in the morning and finish the patties just before lunch or dinner and you'll have a complete meatless meal that is full of healthy goodness. Get the recipe.
Turkish Lentil Soup
This traditional Turkish Lentil Soup also called Mercimek çorbası is a uniquely fragrant, cozy and satisfying soup perfect for chilly days. You can make it in no time and enjoy for lunch or hearty dinner. Get the recipe.
Hearty Potato and Eggplant Stew
This cozy and filling recipe for eggplant and potato stew includes tender potatoes, chewy eggplants, and flavorful aromatics. It's the best vegan stew, made with tons of vegetables in under an hour. Get the recipe.
Stovetop Grilled Vegetable Panini
Loaded with flavorful Grilled Veggies, melty Mozzarella and smothered in grilled pepper tapenade, these easy Stovetop Grilled Vegetable Panini don't require panini maker. You can make them with just a grill pan and one easy trick. Get the recipe.
Mushroom Chili Recipe
This Mushroom Chili Recipe is the chili you'll ever need! Hearty mushrooms make a wonderful substitution for ground beef. With an easy secret step to give this chili the perfect texture, it's extremely flavorful and great for cozy fall and winter dinners. Get the recipe.
Thai Coconut Curry
This Thai Eggplant Red Curry is simple yet flavor packed meal perfect for meal prep or busy weeknights. Zucchini and tofu add richness and nutrients to this already healthy freezer-friendly dish. Made in one pot and ready in just 30 minutes. Get the recipe.
Easy Moroccan Slow Cooker Bean Stew
This Moroccan Slow Cooker Bean Stew is the ultimate comfort food full of flavor. Made with white Beans, tomatoes, and spices, this slow cooker recipe is sure to warm you up on a chilly night. Get the recipe.
Roasted Bell Pepper Pasta with Olive Gremolata
This Bell Pepper Pasta features easy-roasted sweet red pepper sauce tossed with Fettuccine and a simple Olive Gremolata. It's a super quick and satisfying recipe that you can make on a whim. Perfect for lunch or late dinner. Get the recipe.
Mushroom Stroganoff Pasta
No more bland mushroom pasta! This incredibly delicious Mushroom Stroganoff recipe packs a serious flavorful punch. It's so creamy and satisfying, perfect comfort food for long winter days. Get the recipe.
Lentil and Cauliflower Tacos
These Lentil Tacos are one of the easiest and healthiest recipes that have the perfect meat replacement! Not only does it taste amazing, but it's also budget-friendly and a great way to get started with a vegan diet. It's a protein-packed, iron-rich, and full of flavor in each bite thanks to the homemade avocado dressing. Get the recipe.
Easy Harissa Tofu Recipe
This easy Harissa Tofu recipe has a big flavor, thanks to a few tablespoons of Harissa paste. You might want to make extras, as leftovers make a great addition to salads and grain bowls. Get the recipe.
Escarole Soup
For a light and delicious soup that you can whip up and have ready in just 20 minutes, escarole soup does the trick! This one-pot soup is simple to make and does not require any complicated equipment or recipes. It is both flavorful and filling, creating a perfect addition to your lunch or dinner table! Get the recipe.
Baked and Stuffed Potatoes
This Healthy Baked Potato is stuffed with the tastiest vegetables like spinach and mushrooms. It's easy, healthy, and makes the ultimate comfort food, perfect for any occasion. Get the recipe.
Juicy Black Bean Burger Recipe
Are you ready for the best vegan black bean burger recipe out there? This easy and delicious veggie mushroom burger is healthy and bursting with flavor. And the best part is, it takes just 30 minutes to make it from start to finish! This vegan burger recipe is so good that you will never miss the meat. Get the recipe.
Casarecce Pasta Recipe
This Casarecce Pasta recipe will give you an incredibly delicious pastca recipe that’s family-friendly and ready in just a little over 20 minutes! This pasta variety, with its twisted and rolled shape, resembles a small scroll and is known for its ability to hold sauces and ingredients exceptionally well. And my recipe features a plant-based sun-dried tomato pesto topped with fresh basil that you’ll absolutely love. Get the recipe.
Creamy Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms
This 30-minute Polenta Recipe gets its unique flavor from an umami-packed Miso Paste. Served with quick vegan sautéed mushrooms, this dairy-free polenta is SO creamy and perfect for busy days. It's healthy, comforting, and easy to make. Get the recipe.
Dill Pickle Soup
Dill Pickle Soup is my all-time favorite soup recipe for busy weeknights. It requires merely 30 minutes of your time and provides you with a hearty and satisfying bite. This easy soup is savory and creamy and kids love it too. Perfect for lunch or dinner, especially in cold winter weather. Get the recipe.
Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry
Enjoy this quick & easy Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry recipe for a wholesome, restaurant-style Asian meal! Crispy tofu is cooked with tender broccoli in an aromatic flavorful sauce, then topped with sesame seeds, and served over rice. Get the recipe.
Broccoli and Mushroom Salad
This Broccoli and Mushroom Salad Recipe features some of my favorite ingredients. Shiitake mushrooms, fresh crunchy broccoli, Kalamata olives, and amazing red onion vinaigrette. So healthy, clean, and perfect for a light dinner or a colorful side. Get the recipe.
Creamy Kale and Mushroom Lasagna
Have you ever made vegetable lasagna? No? It's time to fix that. This Creamy Kale and Mushroom Lasagna is full of delicious and aromatic mushrooms, covered in a cheesy Bechamel sauce and fresh Mozzarella and baked until bubbly perfection. Get the recipe.
Spicy Chickpea, Broccoli and Potato Dinner
A simple one pan meal packed with veggies, plant-based protein and a spicy sauce on top. Get the recipe.
Pasta e Ceci Soup
Is there anything more comforting than pasta with chickpeas? A healthy, weeknight pasta e ceci ricetta featuring ditalini pasta with garbanzo beans in a nourishing tomato broth. Vegetarian and easily vegan. Get the recipe.
Creamy Mushroom Soup
It's a Ukrainian Mushroom Soup. After you take the first sip of it, you'll instantly feel cozy and warm. Classic autumn soup with a ton of flavor. Get the recipe.
Black Bean Soft Tacos
Craving some hearty and tender black bean soft tacos? These tacos are full of fiber and protein and come together in about ten minutes. Fresh flavors of tomato and onion are mixed with warm spices such as chili powder and cumin to make these tacos as flavorful as possible. Get the recipe.
Crispy Rice Paper Spring Rolls
These rice paper spring rolls are the best Chinese spring rolls using rice paper instead of classic spring roll wrappers. These crispy, savory rolls have a colorful, pre-cooked veggie filling (with julienne carrots, red cabbage, scallion, and bean sprouts) as well as marinated shredded tofu. Get the recipe.
Glass Noodles Stir Fry with Vegetables
Easy Glass Noodles Stir Fry aka Mung Bean Vermicelli in a flavorful Almond Butter Sauce. This simple yet delicious recipe comes together quickly and perfect for lunch or dinner in a hurry. Get the recipe.
Peanut Tofu Buddha Bowl
Peanut Tofu Buddha Bowl! A gluten-free and vegan lunch or dinner. Brown rice, the BEST peanut tofu, vegetables and roasted broccoli in a simple peanut sauce. If you are looking for a healthy buddha bowl recipe, this is it! Get the recipe.
Easy Sweet Potato Sushi Rolls
These sweet potato sushi rolls combine teriyaki-glazed sweet potato chunks with cool crunchy cucumber, green onion, and creamy avocado for an amazing sushi experience that’s also vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free! Get the recipe.
Tofu Bolognese Recipe
Our Vegan Tofu Bolognese offers a plant-based twist on the traditional Italian Bolognese. This hearty sauce features marinated and pan-seared tofu simmered in a rich marinara sauce bursting with delightful flavors and colorful vegetables. Get the recipe.
Mediterranean Loaded Hummus
Our Mediterranean Loaded hummus combines the heartiness of this smooth chickpea dip with the freshness of a colorful salad. Served with pita bread, you can turn traditional hummus into a main dish for a busy weekday meal. Get the recipe.
Green Salsa Enchiladas
Green Salsa Enchiladas! Enjoy like traditional enchiladas, or in a casserole version. Enchiladas verde made with white beans, spinach and poblano peppers. Get the recipe.
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Get ready to wow your church community with our handpicked selection of 20 delicious potluck recipes that are bound to get everyone talking! Whether you're a kitchen pro or just starting out, these recipes cover classic comfort foods and exciting twists on favorites. 20 Church Potluck Recipes That'll Have Everyone Talking.
Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.
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