Clear Lists
Get the app →
Meatless Dinner Ideas
Hearty vegetarian dinners built on beans, lentils, eggs and tofu, with serving sizes where sources give them.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
Tick the circles, tap any line to change it, drag the dots to reorder.
Saved in this browser. Send it to Clear to keep it on your phone.
Double it. Prep Dish says it's easy to double a soup and freeze half, and Cookie and Kate suggests a double batch of enchilada sauce for the freezer too. Both are worth doing while the pot's already out. The ideas lean on beans, lentils, eggs, tofu and cheese for protein, often in familiar shapes like tacos, enchiladas and soups. They assume you eat eggs and dairy, so check broth labels, since one source swaps chicken broth for vegetable.
Why these items are on the list
- Roasted cauliflower lentil tacos. Cookie and Kate's recipe makes 8 modestly portioned tacos, with creamy chipotle sauce.
- Sweet potato black bean tacos. Cookie and Kate's recipe makes 8 to 10 hearty tacos, enough for at least four people.
- Veggie black bean enchiladas. Cookie and Kate's recipe makes eight enchiladas, about four servings, with broccoli, bell pepper and spinach inside.
- Spinach artichoke enchiladas. Cookie and Kate's recipe yields six large ones, and suggests doubling the red sauce and freezing it.
- Roasted veggie enchilada casserole. Cookie and Kate's recipe serves 6 to 8 and is gluten free.
- Spaghetti with lentils and marinara. Cookie and Kate's recipe serves four and calls it easy and affordable.
- Spinach lasagna. Cookie and Kate's recipe makes one 9-inch square lasagna for 8 to 9 servings, and tastes even better next day.
- Minestrone soup. Cookie and Kate's recipe makes about six bowls, and it's vegan if you skip the cheese on top.
- Lentil soup. Cookie and Kate's recipe makes four large bowls from mostly pantry ingredients; have everything prepped before you start.
- Butternut squash chipotle chili. Cookie and Kate's recipe makes about 12 cups, enough for 4 to 6 bowls; double it for a crowd.
- Three bean chipotle chili. Prep Dish calls it hearty enough to stand alone; if you want a side, they suggest gluten-free cornbread muffins.
- Vegetable paella. Cookie and Kate's recipe serves six hearty portions and is vegan and gluten free.
- Tex-Mex migas. Scrambled eggs with crumbled tortilla chips, peppers and onion; Cookie and Kate's recipe makes four bowls.
- Kale and black bean burrito bowls. Cookie and Kate calls it vegan and gluten free, with lime-marinated kale and avocado salsa verde.
- Crispy tofu mango bowls. Cookie and Kate's recipe makes four bowls; prep the produce while the tofu and rice cook.
- Brussels sprouts and crispy tofu. Cookie and Kate says once your prep is done, rice, sprouts and tofu cook in about 30 minutes, glaze alongside.
- Thai pineapple fried rice. Use chilled leftover rice; Cookie and Kate's recipe makes two large portions or four modest ones.
- Sesame tofu and broccoli. Delish's swap for beef and broccoli: oven-baked tofu in a savory, sweet, slightly spicy sauce.
- BBQ pulled mushrooms. Delish calls it chewy, sticky and meaty, piled on a bun, and good for vegetarian barbecue guests.
- Buffalo cauliflower wings. Delish says they're spicy without the bones, and it also lists buffalo tempeh wings.
- Green shakshuka. Prep Dish calls it a little spicy and super savory; serve with crusty bread or roasted potatoes.
- Eggs in bell pepper rings. Prep the veggies ahead and it comes together quickly on a weeknight.
- Spinach, broccoli and ricotta frittata. Eggs cook fast, Prep Dish notes, which helps on a night when the day got away from you.
- Black bean and salsa burritos. One of the family favorites on Cozy Country Living's list, handy for meatless Lent Fridays.
- Vegetable bean soup. Prep Dish says it relies on pantry and freezer ingredients; swap in vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
Tick the ones you've made and the list shows what's left to try. Share it with the family and let someone else choose a night.
When to use it
Useful for Fridays in Lent, a weekly meatless night, or whenever you want to trim the grocery bill.