All the vegetarian dishes: 39 meatless recipes - Today's Parent (2024)

A veggie packed version of your favourite street food. Get the recipe:Veggie noodle Pad Thai

Photo: Erik Putz

Butternut squash lovers rejoice! This decadent slice is creamy, crunchy and packed with veggie goodness. Get the recipe:Butternut squash pizza

Photo: Erik Putz

Give your spuds some love with this baked sweet potato recipe featuring roasted chickpeas, sour cream, crispy onions and chives. Get the recipe:Baked sweet potato with roasted chickpeas

Photo: Erik Putz

These quick and easy Mexican tostadas will become a weeknight dinner go-to. Let the kids help out by customizing their own toppings. Get the recipe: Refried bean tostadas with queso fresco

Photo: Erik Putz

Make eggplant the star of your next weeknight dinner with this tasty grilled recipe with creamy and fragrant coconut rice. Get the recipe:Grilled eggplant on coconut rice

Photo: Erik Putz

A creamy, vegan mac and cheese is so easy to make. This one uses chickpeas and butternut squash to create the perfect orange sauce. Get the recipe:Chickpea Mac and “Cheese”

Photo: Erik Putz

Pancakes for dinner? Yes, please. These savoury hotcakes are packed with protein and, topped with in-season veggies, provide a perfectly balanced meal. Get the recipe:Chickpea Pancakes with Summer Vegetables

PHOTO: ERIK PUTZ

Want to get an A+ on school lunch? Roll last night’s dinner up in a tortilla and you’re done. Get the recipe:Easy Black Bean Burritos

Photo: Erik Putz

What could be easier than a big ‘ol pot of black beans? Packed with flavour and fibre, these beans will take you from dinner to lunch, no problem. Get the recipe:Big Pot of Black Beans

Photo: Erik Putz

Meatless doesn’t have to mean a boring salad. These sticky-sweet skewers offer a nice alternative that will get even the most hardcore meat-eaters talking. Get the recipe:Miso-Maple Tofu Kebabs

Photo: Roberto Caruso

Just like at your fave Indian food joint, this simple masala packs bold flavors and is great alongside rice and naan, obvie. Get the recipe:Chana Masala

Photo: Erik Putz

It’s a colourful assortment of veggies and grains up in here. The dressing? Oh, that’s a super delicious yogurt and herb combo. Get the recipe:Rainbow Veggie Quinoa Bowl

Photo: Erik Putz

This juicy burger may be meat-free but it’s packed with flavour thanks to the creamy ranch sauce and thick slices of cheddar. Get the recipe:Portobello + Ranch Burgers

PHOTO: ERIK PUTZ

You won’t beleive how easy it is to make your own tortilla bowl. This dressing, though. It’s a blend of buttermilk, soft tofu, mayo, dill and garlic. Black beans give the salad a meaty texture. Get the recipe:Vegetarian Taco Salad Bowl

Photo: Roberto Caruso

Put that take-out menu away. This slurpy recipe comes together in just20 minutes (way faster than delivery) and is protein-packed. Get the recipe:Curry and Peanut Noodles with Tofu

Photo: Maya Visnyei

Get that pulled pork flavour with a fraction of the fat. Bonus: the kids will love helping out by spiralizing the potatoes. Get the recipe:“Pulled” Sweet Potato Tostadas

PHOTO: Erik Putz

Chickpeas in pasta: Yes!This chunky sauce covers fun little ear-shaped pasta. Get the recipe:Orecchiette with Rustic Tomato Sauce and Chickpeas

Bland veggie burgers need never apply. This pattypacks all the flavours with chickpeas, quinoa, cremini mushrooms and lots of spices. (Worchestershire sauce contains anchovies, so look for a vegan variety, they exist!) Get the recipe:Chickpea Burger

If comfort in a bowl is what you’re all about, look no further than this easy risotto. Barley is a chewy stand-in for traditional rice. Get the recipe:Barley Risotto with Mushroom, Zucchini and Peas

Photo: Roberto Caruso

If you’re going to cook vegetarian, having a good go-to lentil recipe is key. Here’s yours: amoroccan-inspired masterpiece that’s sweet, savoury and so easy to make. Get the recipe:Red Lentils with Sweet Potato and Apricots

A thick and creamy pot of broccoli soup is yours for the making. In fact, you likely already have most of the ingredients on hand. Our recipe uses milk instead of cream, but it’s still plenty thick thanks to potatoes. Get the recipe:Broccoli-Cheddar Soup

Photo: Erik Putz

Cheesy, gooey lasagna is sure to satisfy your Meatless Monday (or Tuesday, or Wednesday). Packed with mushrooms and zucchini, it feels hearty and healthy. Get the recipe:One-Pan Vegetarian Lasagna

PHOTO: Erik Putz

Here’s the beauty of mushrooms (beyond their deliciousness): their hearty, meaty texture makes them perfect for cranking this cheesy quesadilla up a notch. Plus, it’s packed with Boursin, so you know it’s good and fancy. Get the recipe:Mushroom Quesadilla

Photo: Roberto Caruso

Black beans give this tasty pasta salad an extra boost of protein and fibre. Get the recipe:Greek Pasta Salad with Black Beans

Photo: Erik Putz

Your local brunch spot has nothing on you with these simple breakfast wraps. Refried beans are the best. We repeat: refried beans are the best. The scrambled eggs, salsa and shredded cheese aren’t too bad, either. Get the recipe:Campfire Huevos Rancheros

Photo: Roberto Caruso

If you want to make friends and be the highlight of the potluck circuit, make these simple baked beans. They’re sweet thanks to maple syrup and molassas and smoky courtesy ofpaprika. Serve them hot or cold. Get the recipe:Smoky Campfire Beans

Photo: Roberto Caruso

We’ve married two of the best dinner cheats—frittatas and one-pan meals—into a vegetarian dish that works for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Get the recipe:Potato and Leek Sheet Pan Frittata

PHOTO: Erik Putz

Quinoa is an itty-bitty, high-protein grain that happens to be great at absorbing all the tasty flavours you throw atit. In this case, vegetable broth,diced tomatoes and black beans. This is great on its own or stuffed into a burrito. Get the recipe:Mexican Quinoa

Portobello caps are filled with a simplequinoa salad that packs nine grams of protein per serving. That’s not too shabby. Get the recipe:Grilled Portobellos with Quinoa Salad

Photo: Robert Caruso

Mild-tasting and almost custard-like, mild tofu is delicious with this not-too-spicy sweet-chili glaze. Stir-fried bok choy is an easy and tasty veggie to try alongside. Get the recipe:Sesame and Sweet Chili Tofu

Those forgotten veggies wilting at the back of your fridge are dreaming of a better life. Enter this easy-peasy omelette. Put it between toast and win at breakfast-for-dinner. Get the recipe:Kitchen Sink Omelette

It’s pronounced FUH, people. But no matter, it’s a fragrant vegetable broth that can be dressed up however you like. We used rice noodles, tofu and cilantro. Bean sprouts and a drizzle of hoisin are also good life choices. Get the recipe:Vegetarian Pho

Texture is key with this slow simmering chili. It’s got lentils, beans and sweet potato. Serve it with our impossibly yummy garlic bread for best results. Get the recipe:Make-Ahead Lentil Chili

Photo: Roberto Caruso

Tradional carbonara without the bacon right here, folks. And with a sauce this rich and creamy, you won’t even miss it. Get the recipe:Vegetarian Pasta Carbonara with Peas

Photo: Maya Vis­nyei

Roasted veggies can do no wrong. Throw an egg on top and make some toast—you’ve got this brunch thing on lock. Get the recipe:Sheet Pan Black Bean and Sweet Potato Hash

A comforting dish of ricotta-stuffed shells is calling. Your little sous chef canscoop tomato sauce, sprinkle mozzarella cheese and garnish with basil. Get the recipe:Giant Stuffed Cheesy Shells

Photo: Erik Putz

We love, love, love this bowl. Soba noodles are made of buckwheat and cook up in the time you whisk together the dressing ingredients. Did we mention you throw the juilenned veggies right in with the noodles (you could also do a handful of frozen shelled edamame)? One-pot wonder indeed. Get the recipe:Cold Sesame Soba Noodle Dish

Photo: Erik Putz

Tofuis a convincingscrambledegg stand-in thanks to mild, golden turmeric. Wrap it up in a corn tortilla with black beans and guac. Get the recipe:Vegan Tofu Scramble

Photo: Roberto Caruso

Finger foods rules the school and these sweet falafel bitesare no exception. Stuff them into a mini pita and dunk ’em in your favourite dip. We’re bigtzatziki fans over here. Get the recipe:Red Pepper Falafel Cakes

Photo: Erik Putz