40 Easy Meatless Meals - The Plant Based School (2024)

Tasting meatless meals can be exciting for seasoned vegetarians and curious omnivores.

Whether seeking to reduce your carbon footprint, explore new protein sources, or add more plant–based variety to your diet, these meals cater to diverse dietary preferences.

So, let’s dive into a world of flavors, textures, and aromas, proving meatless doesn’t mean flavorless. Instead, it means a vibrant, fulfilling, and sustainable culinary experience.

Meatless meals video

Our 40 best Meat-free Meals

1. Orange tofu

Orange tofu is an easy vegetarian substitute for orange chicken.

Make it in less than 30 minutes for an Asian-inspiredeveryday dinner that is healthier and better than takeaway.

2. Tofu pizzaiola

These easy tofu cutlets in marinara sauceare a simple yet tasty pan-fried recipe, ready in 20 minutes.

Serve them with white rice, crusty bread, or focaccia on the side to sop up the sauce leftovers.

3. Lentil loaf

Lentil loaf is a family-friendly recipefor those who want toeat less meatbut are not necessarily vegan.

Our vegetarian meatloaf combines lentils with vegetables,herbs,spices,cheese, andeggto make a meat-free alternative that istasty and satisfying.

4. Tofu Cacciatore

We might use tofu instead of chicken, but this caciatore isrich, earthy, meaty,and packed with rich tomato flavor.

Chewy and jerky-like, you’ve never had tofu like this before.

5. Lentil chili

With this meat-free chili, you can expect ahearty, satisfying, and high-protein mealthat is easy to make with pantry staples.

Ingredients like lentils, black beans, onions, peppers, and tomatoesmeld with a blend of aromatic spices to create a dish with comforting flavors.

6. Lemon tofu cutlets

An Italian recipe for lemon chicken inspires this lemon tofu.

We replaced the chicken fillet with tofu slices, resulting in a delicious meal that can beprepared in 15 minutes.

7. Vegetarian Meatballs

With thesevegetarian meatballs,you can have meatballs without the meat.

This recipe isquick and easyto make with straightforward ingredients. It’scozy, delicious,and with a rich marinara sauce.

8. Fried tofu

Fried tofuis one of the easiest ways to cook it in a pan; you can serve it on a bed of white rice, salad, or kale quinoa bowl.

Our vegetarian, vegan-friendly recipe is tasty, and you can make it in less than20 minuteswith simple ingredients.

9. Hummus Pasta

Make this 20–minute vegetarian dinner with homemade or store-bought hummus and quick sautèed mushrooms.

The combination of creamy hummus and charred mushrooms makes a satiating meatless meal.

10. Microwave stuffed sweet potato

Microwave sweet potatoisready in 5 minutes, is healthy, and is delicious.

Eat itas is, or load the potato with a colorful toppingwith beans and grains – it’s a veggie-packed andmeat-free main dish.

11. Kung Pao tofu

Try this delicious Chinese-inspired Kung Pao dish inless than 30 minutesand get plenty of plant–based protein, sticky sauce, and fresh veggies.

It’s a colorful and vegetarian alternative to kung pao chicken with delicious Asian flavors.

12. Lentil curry

One of our favorite meatless dinners is thiseasy lentil curry, whichyou can make in one pot with simple ingredients in30 minutes.

Serve with white rice, fresh parsley, and a dollop of yogurt for a comforting and creamy meal and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

13. Mushroom Alfredo

Thistasty mushroom Alfredo is aneasy 15-minute vegetarian meal with an irresistiblycreamy and smoothsauce andsautéed mushrooms.

Serve it with an easy side salad for added greens and crisp; it’s a perfect weeknight idea!

14. Lentil bolognese

Here’s an easy lentil bolognese with simple ingredients rich in taste and meaty texture.

You can make it for aneveryday dinnerormeal prep, as it keeps in the fridge for several days.

15. Pasta e fa*gioli

Pasta and beans is aneasyandcomfortingmealwithsimple ingredientsand Italian flavor that will please everyone around your table, kids and adults alike.

Serve it with a slice of toasted bread or bruschetta for an authentic and cozy dinner.

16. Chickpea pasta salad with avocado

This chickpea pasta salad is aquick and wholesomedish made with fresh and nutritious ingredients in less than 20 minutes.

A creamy mustard dressing gives a glossy and tangy coating, making this pasta a meal-prep favorite.

17. Creamy Cauliflower Alfredo

You’ll love thisveggie–packedAlfredobecause it’sa million times lighterthan the original Alfredo, but it’s still tasty, fulfilling, and ready in30minutes.

Serve it with a sprinkle of parsley and a quick salad for extra greens.

18. Red pepper pasta

Here’s a 20-minute vegetarian pasta recipe that is simple and made with minimal effortfor aneveryday dinner.

It’s creamy, nutritious, and delicious, with hidden veggies (roasted peppers) that please even the pickiest eaters.

19. Cauliflower pasta

Try this white and refreshing vegetarian cauliflower pasta with fresh herbs and pine nuts.

Roasted cauliflower floretsmeet delicious garlic and olive oil sauce, plenty of fresh parsley, and lemon zest, a light and wholesome dinner idea.

20. Butternut squash pasta

This butternut squash pastais creamy, restaurant-worthy, and with a velvety smooth sauce.

It’s quick and straightforward; you can make itany day of the week, either as a vegan or vegetarian dinner.

21. Lentil pasta

Meatless and delicious pasta is not a problem with this Italian lentil pasta.

It’s a perfect main dish for dinner,is kids-friendlyand contains all the macros to keep you healthy and satiated.

22. Stuffed bell peppers

Our stuffed peppers recipe is inspired byMediterranean,Levantine, and Middle-Eastern flavors, especially from ourlentil mujaddara.

We make a meat-free filling that mixeslentils,rice,freshherbs, andfragrantspices.

23. Vegan mushroom pasta

Try this restaurant-worthy pasta with jerky-like mushrooms and authentic Italian flavor.

Vegan mushroom pastais a delicious recipe with a few ingredients in about 20 minutes.

24. Tofu curry

Making a delicioustofu curryis an excellent way to eat meatless.

Here, we’ll show you how to put this Indian-inspired meal together inless than 30 minutesand make thebest everyday vegan curry.

25. Easy chickpea curry

Here’s a fun and delicious way to cook with chickpeas in one pot.

Chickpea curry is aneasy and plant-based curryyou can make withsimple ingredients inabout 30 minutes.

26. Tuscan bean stew

This Italian bean stew is a comforting and tomato-packed dinner favorite.

It’s anexcellent recipefor a quickweeknight meal, ready in just over 30 minutes, and great as ameal prep recipe.

27. Lentil vegetable soup

We love thiswholesome lentil vegetable soup because you can make it withlittle effort,simple pantry staples,in one pot, and withlittle hands-on time.

The lentils make the dish nutritious and fulfilling, withtexture,protein,iron, and heart andgut-healthy fiber.

28. Asian-style tofu soup

Here’s a tofu soup that is quick, tasty, and with seasonal vegetables.

You canmake it in 30 minutes with simple ingredients, seasonal veggies, and noodles.

29. Pasta e Ceci

You’ll love this pasta with chickpeas; it’s easy to make inone potin 30 minuteswith simple and affordablepantry staples.

Sprinkle with parmesan or dairy-free parmesan for an Italian vegetarian or vegan dinner.

30. Chickpea soup

This rustic chickpea soup iseasy to make, with minimal effort and a fewsimple and affordable ingredients.

It tastes like home, it’s cozy, and it’ll transport you to the Italian countryside bite for bite.

31. Lentil soup

This red lentil soup guarantees a hearty, meatless meal with plenty of plant-based protein.

It’s perfect forautumn or winterweeknight dinners as it’seasy to makewith a fewpantry staples, and it only needs to simmer for about20 minutes.

32. Tuscan soup

You can make this plant-based soup from scratch inless than 45 minutesand store it in the refrigerator for several days.

If you love comforting and rustic Italian flavor, this Tuscan bean soup must go on your recipe list.

33. African peanut stew

This African peanut stew recipe iswithout meat; we use chickpeas for aneasy 30-minute high-protein vegetarian meal.

It’s excellent for a creamy weeknight dinner with rice and fresh lime and convenient for meal prep.

34. Mashed chickpea tuna

You can make this mashed chickpea tunain 10 minutes, with simple ingredients andwithout cooking.

It’s an easy, fun, and tasty recipe that uses mashed chickpeas and a few other simple ingredients torecreate the texture and flavorof tuna salad.

35. Falafel

Falafelis an easy and sandwich-friendly recipe you can make as a meal-prep-friendly meal.

Cook it in an air fryer for a quick and lighter vegetarian meal, and serve it with pita bread and hummus.

36. Avocado-tahini toast

This is thecreamiest,most delicious avocado spreadto eat in sandwiches and on toast orserve as a dip.

Top the toast with chickpeas or tomatoes for a colorful and vibrant lunch idea.

37. Chickpea Frittata

There are no eggs or tofu in this chickpea frittata, but plenty of flavors and roasted zucchini.

Quick to make, it cooks for 8 minutes on a pan or 18 minutes in the oven; it’s an easy and fast lunch idea.

38. Aloo Gobi

The Indian cuisine is a fantastic source of inspiration for meatless meal ideas.

This cauliflower and potato curry is one of our favorite dishes, a satisfying and healthy dinner or side dish idea served with garlic-brushed Naan.

39. Tofu salad

Thistofu saladis crunchy and wholesome and perfect for a quicklunch.

It’s low in calories, packed with flavor, and satiating to eat (the creamy tahini dressing is a must-try).

40. Chickpea salad

We end this meatless meal collection with a quick and healthy plant–based dish.

Thischickpea saladis a quick, tasty, and nutritious main dish. Make it in 15 minuteswith fresh ingredients and acreamymustard dressing.

Get more vegetarian and vegan dinner ideas from these reader favorites. They’re packed with veggies and protein and are easy to make:

• Vegetarian lunch ideas
• 45 amazing salad ideas
• 25 best tofu recipes
• 20 best lentil recipes