I have always loved vegetarian cooking because it is SO CREATIVE! Cooking with vegetables and making the most of their flavors and textures is just so inspiring to me.
These vegetarian dinner recipes have truly become some of our most-loved, most-cooked, most-repeated meals around here.
Whether you’re fully vegetarian or just trying to work a few more plant-forward meals into your week, these dinners prove that you absolutely do not need meat to have something deeply delicious.
These are the 45 vegetarian recipes our readers come back to again and again (and the ones I make on repeat at home). If you’re looking for vegetarian dinners that feel genuinely exciting to cook, you’re in the right place!
Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
Miso Peanut Ramen Bowls
A sweet and creamy savory broth ladled into bowls with noodles, crispy crumbled tofu, and fresh veg! These ramen bowls are SO GOOD.
Crispy Buffalo Tofu with Caesar Salad
This Buffalo Tofu is SO EASY! A two-ingredient sauce tossed with air-fried crispy tofu, laid on top of a kale caesar salad.
Creamy Vegan Red Pepper Pasta with Blistered Tomatoes
This Creamy Vegan Red Pepper Pasta is seriously delicious and seriously vegan! Perfectly chewy rigatoni, blistered juicy tomatoes, a creamy-but-cream-less roasted red pepper sauce, all sprinkled with fresh chives and basil.
Sticky Gochujang Tofu with Herbs and Peanuts
Crispy golden tofu bathed in a 5-ingredient peanut gochujang sauce that is spicy, sweet, tangy, and so delicious.
Gnocchi with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Delicious pillowy gnocchi swimming in a silky creamy sauce that’s laced with thyme and loaded with little slips of garlic butter-browned mushrooms! Oh, this is so good.
Roasted Corn and Fried Egg Tacos
Roasted Corn and Fried Egg Tacos with a crispy, cheesy, lacy-edged egg, corn, cotjia cheese, cilantro, pickled onions and sauce all piled into a tortilla with refried beans.
Steph’s Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Rice
Amazingly creamy, saucy chickpea curry served over rice with a dollop of chili crisp and a side of cucumber salad. Ready in 20 minutes!
Sopa Tarasca (Pinto Bean Soup) with Jalapeño Corn Fritters
Let’s make Sopa Tarasca! It’s a creamy, silky Mexican-inspired soup made with pinto beans, warm chili spices, and whole tomatoes. And you NEED a big pile of the jalapeño corn fritters on top. Drooling over this one!
Pearl Couscous Skillet with Tomatoes, Chickpeas, and Feta
Steamy, saucy goodness! This Couscous Skillet is packed with vibrant flavors and freshness. Pearl couscous, tomatoes, chickpeas, spices, kale, and a bunch of fresh herbs and feta on top.
7-Layer Beet Salad
This 7-Layer Beet Salad is a stunner! Studded with cooked beets, supremed oranges, chopped pistachios, creamy truffle ricotta, and a bit of fresh mint. So fresh, so good!
Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie ♡ saucy mushrooms, carrots, and peas topped with creamy mashed potatoes. Real food meets comfort food!
Sesame Apricot Tofu
Torn-up tofu pan-fried into crispiness and made saucy, sticky, and sweet into this Sesame Apricot Tofu. An easy, simple vegetarian dinner that’s deliciously saving my life!
Crispy Black Bean Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce
These vegetarian tacos have a deliciously satisfying black bean filling with fresh salsa and seasonings all tucked into a golden crispy tortilla and served alongside a cool and creamy cilantro lime sauce. YUM!
Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup
The BEST Wild Rice Soup – in the Instant Pot! So creamy and simple and ready in an hour. Perfect for fall/winter nights!
Spicy Sofritas Tofu
Spicy Sofritas Tofu, like homemade Chipotle! Think spicy peppers, garlic, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro in a flavorful simmer sauce for your tofu!
Tofu and Brown Rice Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
These lettuce wraps are ridiculously good! Crunchy, fresh, and packed with tofu, brown rice, crispy onions, plus a drizzle of peanut sauce and spicy mayo. Delicious!
Cauliflower Black Bean Tostadas with Queso and Pickled Onion
Tangy, creamy, crunchy, smoky, seasoned vegetarian goodness on a perfectly crisp little corn tortilla disk. Cauliflower Black Bean Tostadas to the rescue!
Crunchy Roll Bowls
A block of tofu, nicely browned in teriyaki sauce, served on a bed of sticky rice with edamame, cucumber, avocado, jalapeño, and a handful of crushed-up crunchy onions, buried under a thick drizzle of extra teriyaki and spicy mayo.
Thai Coconut Soup with Tofu and Rice
A savory coconut creamy broth, swirls of chili oil floating on top, beautiful veg and cubes of flavor-soaked tofu, and a pile of steamy rice at your service.
Smoky Red Lentil Soup with Spinach
This Smoky Lentil Soup is ultra creamy and totally vegan! Packed to the brim with veggies, red lentils, coconut milk, and lots of spices, it’s a total win for the coziest months of the year!
30 Minute Vegetarian Meatballs
These vegetarian meatballs are incredibly easy and super versatile! Packed with cauliflower, quinoa, brown rice, garlic, and spices. Stockpile these in your freezer and your future self will thank you.
Three Cheese Baked Gnocchi with Spinach
You’re in for a treat with this delicious Three Cheese Baked Gnocchi! Tender gnocchi blanketed in a creamy tomato sauce, speckled with fresh spinach and bites of melty cheese. Gorgeous!
Spaghetti with Crispy Zucchini
This Spaghetti with Crispy Zucchini is the perfect end-of-summer song! It doesn’t get much better than fresh summer zucchini coated in a crispy, cheesy breading piled high on top of spaghetti with fresh herbs. YUM!
One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes and Kale
This One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes and Kale is a straight-up DREAM! Rustic farro cozied up to cherry tomatoes, onions, garlic, and kale. So good and so wholesome!
Harissa Chickpeas with Whipped Feta
Harissa Chickpeas with Whipped Feta! Perfectly spicy/saucy/tomato-y chickpeas smothered in creamy, garlicky whipped feta and served with naan, lemons, and cucumbers. Your next weeknight wonder!
Smoky Beans & Greens Tacos with Aji Verde
Three cheers for summertime eating! Smoky black beans sautéed with kale and garlic and spices, tucked into charred corn tortillas, and topped with the best feisty, punchy green sauce – Aji Verde!
Black Pepper Stir Fried Udon
This Black Pepper Stir Fried Udon is the perfect SOS dinner! Saucy udon noodles, dark soy sauce, stir fry veggies, fresh garlic, and lots of freshly ground black pepper. So easy!
Creamy Tomato Lasagna Florentine
This Creamy Tomato Lasagna Florentine is so deliciously comforting and simple. Noodles, tomato sauce, and a creamy spinach layer!
Plantain and Pinto Stew with Aji Verde
Our new favorite warm and nutritious stew filled with pinto beans, plantains, tomatoes, kale, and lots of cozy spices. Top it with a swizzle of a spicy green sauce called aji verde and you’re in flavor town.
Portobello French Dip with Horseradish Aioli
Roasty portobello strips, golden caramelized onions, melted Provolone cheese, zippy horseradish aioli, all piled on a warm, crusty roll.
Instant Pot Red Curry Lentils
Guess what’s for dinner? Creamy, spicy, delicious red curry lentils, made in the Instant Pot.
Lemongrass Vermicelli Salad
Lemongrass Vermicelli Salad – a summer showstopper! A twirl of vermicelli noodles, pan-fried tofu, fresh herbs and veggies, and a lime-and-lemongrass-based sauce that just slips all over the plate.
Couscous Salad with Lime Basil Vinaigrette
A bright, zippy, unexpectedly delicious couscous salad that’s packed with sweet potatoes, black beans, spinach, feta, and more – all tossed with a life-changing lime basil vinaigrette!
Amazing Mushroom Bowls with Kale Pesto
Amazing Mushroom Bowls with Kale Pesto! Smoky, sweet, salt mushrooms (or tempeh!), caramelized pineapple, peppers, and dollop of kale pesto, all served over rice.
Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry
Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry – packed with nutrition! Our favorite easy, healthy, winter comfort food recipe.
Cauliflower Walnut Vegetarian Taco Meat
This vegetarian taco meat is made with cauliflower, walnuts, and chipotle peppers. It’s so easy: just mix and bake. Meatless miracle!
Roasted Cauliflower Hummus Bowls
These Roasted Cauliflower Hummus Bowls are LIFE-CHANGING. A bed of garlicky creamy hummus, piled high with spiced roasted cauliflower, and a speckling of fresh lemony tomatoes and herbs.
Spicy Peanut Tofu Bowls
These Spicy Peanut Tofu Bowls are a meal prep / weeknight dinner life-saver! Crispy tofu, roasted veggies, fluffy rice, and a spicy sweet peanut sauce all over top.
Greek Baked Orzo
Lightly tomato-sauced orzo baked in a skillet with red peppers, kale, chicken – or chickpeas – and a topping of feta, lemon juice, and fresh dill.
Vegan Sheet Pan Fajitas with Chipotle Queso
These Vegan Sheet Pan Fajitas are SO GOOD. Roasted peppers and onions, steak-like portobello mushrooms, some mashed avocado, and a waterfall of spicy cashew queso.
Coconut Curry Ramen
Coconut Curry Ramen with a creamy golden broth, pan-fried vegetables, cubes of golden brown tofu, and steamy delicious ramen noodles.
Chipotle Tahini Bowls
Healthy and versatile bowls that come together under a generous drizzle of addictingly creamy vegan chipotle tahini sauce.
Brussels Sprouts Tacos
Savory sautéed shredded brussels sprouts tucked into charred tortillas with roasted corn, jalapeno, black bean, and cilantro chimichurri. WHOA. Yes.
Vegan Crunchwrap Supreme
This vegan crunchwrap is INSANE! Stuff this bad boy with whatever you like – I made it with sofritas tofu and cashew queso – and wrap it up, fry, and devour! Favorite vegan recipe to date.
Firecracker Vegan Lettuce Wraps
HELLO YUM. Firecracker Lettuce Wraps that are happily vegan – with crispy tofu bits, saucy brown rice noodles, and a creamy sesame sauce.