Spice up dinner time with these 30 simple vegetarian dinners that are wholesome, gluten-free and come with low-carb, grain-free options!
If meatless Mondays feel a little hard to figure out, here are 30 awesome vegetarian dinner recipes to try! They sit right alongside my vegetarian creamy taco chili and vegetarian tortilla soup when you want a meatless week.
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 15 to 30 minutes for most of these dinners
- 🍽️ Makes: 30 dinners, about a month of meatless nights
- 🥗 Diet: Vegetarian and gluten-free, with grain-free, dairy-free, vegan and low-carb options
- 🥦 Star ingredients: Zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, cauliflower rice, chickpeas, lentils and quinoa
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Everything from Thai peanut and red curry to Mexican taco spices and Italian bolognese
- ✋ Difficulty: Pick a night, click a recipe, print it. Most are 30 minutes or less.
Quick Answer
The easiest low-carb vegetarian dinners swap the grain for a vegetable: zucchini noodles with pesto, mushroom bolognese or peanut sauce, spaghetti squash baked Mexican style or with ratatouille, cauliflower rice in burrito bowls and fritters, cauliflower steaks with tahini, stuffed peppers, lentil loaf, chickpea stew and chana masala, and big bowls like taco salad, jackfruit salad and Thai spiralized salad. All 30 dinners below are gluten-free, and most come with a grain-free or dairy-free option.
Jump to:
I have one child that is 99% vegetarian. He thrives off eating a plant based diet along with only about two kinds of cheeses. Then I have another one that will eat all the cheese in the world and every type of meat known to mankind. To keep everyone nourished, we like to eat vegetarian dinners about 4-5 nights a week and our plates are always at least ¾ full of plant-based foods every night. I thought you might enjoy a round-up of a month's worth of vegetarian dinners to keep dinners fun and never boring!
Why This Collection Works
Click to see why these dinners work
- A vegetable stands in for the grain. Zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash and cauliflower rice carry the sauce without the carbs, which is what makes a low-carb vegetarian dinner filling instead of thin.
- Plants bring their own protein. The majority of plants naturally contain protein such as spinach, nuts, seeds, quinoa, legumes and lentils, plus they are packed with fiber to help flush out toxins from the body.
- Eggs and cheese fill the gap. You can also get protein from eggs and cheese (both vegan cheese and dairy cheese), which is how picky eaters stay happy at the same table.
- Every recipe is gluten-free already. No swapping flours or hunting for a substitute mid-week.
- A month at a time. Thirty dinners is roughly four weeks of meatless nights, so the planning happens once instead of every Sunday.
Why You'll Love These Dinners
- 30 dinners in one place, a month's worth of meatless nights.
- All gluten-free, with grain-free, dairy-free and vegan options called out on each one.
- Most are 30 minutes or less, several in 15 or 20.
- Kid-tested at my table, where one child is 99% vegetarian and the other eats everything.
- Pairs with the rest of the week like chicken freezer meals and crockpot taco chicken chili.
Key Ingredients and Swaps
- Zucchini, spiralized into zoodles, for pasta nights.
- Spaghetti squash, roasted and shredded, for a grain-free noodle with more structure.
- Cauliflower, riced for bowls and fritters or cut thick into steaks.
- Chickpeas, lentils and black beans for protein and fiber. My are beans gluten-free guide covers which canned ones to trust.
- Quinoa when you want a grain, swapped for cauliflower rice when you do not.
- Gluten-free soy sauce for the Asian-inspired dishes, and homemade almond milk for cheese sauces without dairy.
- Swaps: These vegetarian dinners are all gluten-free, plant-based, lower in carbs and grains and you will also find grain-free, dairy-free and vegan options.
Every recipe below links out to its full ingredient list and instructions.
The Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet
A vegetarian diet is a diet that focuses on eating plant-based foods. What could be better than that?!! It provides a wide array of nutritional health benefits including reducing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer and aiding in weight loss.
The majority of plants naturally contain protein such as spinach, nuts, seeds, quinoa, legumes and lentils, plus they are packed with fiber to help flush out toxins from the body! You can also get protein from eggs and cheese (both vegan cheese and dairy cheese).
30 Vegetarian Dinners
Grilled Portobello Mushrooms in Garlic Sauce
This vegetarian dinner has gourmet written all over it! Grill or bake these savory marinated Portabella mushrooms and serve them with this warm garlic sauce. It is a gluten-free vegan dish you will want to make on repeat! Recipe by Vegan Richa. Get the recipe here.
Pesto Zucchini Spaghetti Recipe
This zoodle dish is healthy, low carb, gluten-free and ready in 20 minutes! My mouth is just watering looking at those blistering cherry tomatoes and mushrooms! A family favorite the kids will love twirling on their forks. Recipe by Vegetarian Gastronomy. Get the recipe here.
Savory Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Carrots Buddha Bowl
This is an easy dinner consisting of roasted sweet potatoes, carrots and onions tossed in a light olive oil marinade and served with sauteed cauliflower rice. Slowly roasting in herbs brings out bold flavors of the root vegetables. It is plant-based, wholesome, Whole30 and paleo too! Get the recipe here.
Vegan Zucchini Noodle Lasagna
Doesn't this lasagna look fantastic?! You'll never miss the meat and dairy as it is made with cashew ricotta and tempeh "beef". Recipe by My Darling Vegan. Get the recipe here.
Creamy Vegetarian Taco Chili Soup
Warm up with this creamy taco soup made in the slow cooker or stovetop! Get the recipe here.
Vegan Garlic Bread Pasta
Italian night has just began with this healthful gluten free pasta dish! You'll love how easy it is to make hemp seed Parmesan, which is the garnish that makes this dish superb! If you want a grain-free dish, use spaghetti squash noodles. Recipe by Yup It's Vegan. Get the recipe here.
Low Carb Mexican Baked Spaghetti Squash
This recipe takes spaghetti squash to a whole new level! It is baked with an easy mushroom sauce and ready for you to top with your favorite cheese and salsa! Get the recipe here.
Raw Spiralized Thai Salad
A refreshing crispy and crunchy salad to serve for dinner or as a side dish. Recipe by Strength and Sunshine. Get the recipe here.
Spaghetti Squash with Ratatouille
Sharon really knows how to make one delicious ratatouille recipe! Top it on spaghetti squash for a low calorie dinner that is rich in dietary fiber, anti-oxidants, minerals and vitamins! Recipe by Sharon Palmer. Get the recipe here.
Cauliflower Rice Paleo Baked Fritters
Cauliflower rice mixed with carrot shreds, flavorful herbs and grain-free flour is a wholesome meal formed into patties and baked on a sheet pan! These are a kid favorite and incredibly healthy! Get the recipe here.
Healthy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
Full of savory Mexican vegetables, green chilies, sweet corn, spices and loads of flavor! It's a healthy family meal ready in about 30 minutes! Get this healthy vegetarian tortilla soup recipe here.
Vegetarian Fajita Burrito Bowl
Have dinner on the table in 30 minutes with this refreshing vegetarian fajita burrito bowl! Instead of rice, serve with sauteed cauliflower rice for a grain-free, lower calorie meal. Get the recipe here.
Simple Vegan Quinoa Fried Rice
Ready in 15 minutes, this recipe just looks like nature! It is a savory Asian infused dish that is packed with protein quinoa, flavorful vegetables and a splash of hot sauce. For gluten-free, just make sure to use gluten-free soy sauce. For a grain-free option, use all the same ingredients except swap the quinoa for cauliflower rice and add hemp seeds for protein. Recipe by Happy Kitchen Rocks. Get the recipe here.
Nut Butter Blast Peanutty Pad Thai Zoodles
Creamy peanut butter, sweet red peppers and crunchy cabbage give this flavorful dish bold textures and flavors. Perfect for summer and warm nights when you do not want to turn on the oven! Recipe by Dianne's Vegan Kitchen. Get the recipe here.
Mushroom Bolognese Zucchini Noodles
A vegetarian mushroom bolognese sauce tossed with zucchini noodles and packed with flavor! You will never miss the meat here! Recipe by My Darling Vegan. Get the recipe here.
Vegetarian Mexican Stuffed Peppers
Yummy taco spices, beans, corn, rice (or use cauliflower rice for grain-free) stuffed in sweet bell peppers is a family favorite! Serve this satisfying vegetarian dish with a splash of lime and avocado slices! Get the recipe here.
Grilled Ginger Cauliflower Steaks with Tahini Sauce
Thick cauliflower grilled to perfection with spices and a slightly spicy tahini sauce you'll want on all your vegetables! Be careful, you may just want to eat this whole dish! Recipe by Strength and Sunshine. Get the recipe here.
Zucchini Chickpea Stew
A summertime favorite and winter comfort food at its best! Recipe by Veggies Save The Day. Get the recipe here.
Vegetarian Red Curry Stir Fry
This wholesome meal is quick, paleo, flavorful and ready in 30 minutes with little clean-up! Recipe by the Happy Kitchen Rocks. Get the recipe here.
Vegan Zucchini Pasta Alfredo
This recipe is a great way to use up summer zucchini squash! It is made with a creamy cashew and nutritional yeast vegan cheese sauce, is low in carbs and fantastic when you crave creamy dairy foods! Recipe by VNutrition and Wellness. Get the recipe here.
Chana Masala Recipe
An easy and healthy 30 minute meal made in one pot! This chana masala encompasses curry spices and creamy coconut milk in a tomato base sauce. It is best served with rice or cauliflower rice. Get the recipe here.
Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf
Who would have thought, you can made a delicious vegetarian lentil loaf adding cauliflower rice for incredible texture? This "meat" loaf looks and tastes similar to a traditional recipe. It is gluten-free, nut free and soy free! Recipe by Strength and Sunshine. Get the recipe here.
Portobello Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a delicious recipe made of nutritious vegetables! This version of the French dish, has chickpeas for protein and substitutes eggplant for portobello mushrooms. Recipe from The Nut Free Vegan. Get the recipe here.
Mediterranean Jackfruit Salad
Have you tried Jackfruit yet? It has a consistency that tastes like pulled poultry only it is a delicious fruit that grows on trees, originating from southwest Asia. Toss it into this favorite salad or turn into lettuce wraps! Recipe by Tasting Page. Get the recipe here.
Low Carb Vegan Zoodles with Peanut Sauce
Sriracha, soy sauce, peanut butter and lime... oh my! Those flavors together are what make these zoodles epic! Recipe by Bear Plate. Get the recipe here.
Red Curry Cauliflower Rice Vegetable Soup (Instant Pot)
This red curry soup looks amazing and it is quick and easy in the Instant Pot! With only 8 ingredients, you can enjoy a delicious, spicy, low carb soup in 20 minutes! Recipe by Green Scheme. Get the recipe here.
Easy Traditional Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
This one comes with a cashew Parmesan recipe and an easy marinara sauce with added protein from walnuts. Recipe from Vegetarian Gastronomy. Get the recipe here.
Healthy 10 Minute Vegetarian Taco Salad
Make the rice (or use cauliflower rice) ahead of time for quick 10 minute Mexican dinner! Leftovers can be turned into a burrito for the next night! Get the recipe here.
Simple Cannellini Tomato Cucumber Salad with Avocado Broccoli Dressing
A simple salad made with cannellini beans, juicy tomatoes, fresh cucumbers and a creamy avocado broccoli pesto dressing. It is so easy to pull together and packed with muscle building nutrients! For lower carbs, swap out the beans for tofu or pumpkin seeds. Get the recipe here.
Tomato Basil Soup
This one we can eat for days all year round! It is one of my kids favorite recipes that they request at least once a week and they even make it themselves. Juicy sweet tomatoes and fresh basil leaves are the secret to the best tomato soup! Recipe from my boys and I. Get the recipe here.
One more bonus recipe. Sometimes dinner does not feel complete without a roll or comforting side, do you feel me?
Grain-Free Cauliflower Buns
Let's not forget the dinner rolls! These grain-free cauliflower buns are the most spectacular and you have to try them! Wouldn't these be delicious as a side or to dip into the sauces of any of these meals? Recipe from Paleo Grubs.
Expert Tips
- Print and staple. Here is how I suggest using these recipes: click the links and print them out, then keep the recipes together in a notebook or stapled together and you have a month's worth of delicious vegetarian meals.
- Swap the grain to drop the carbs. Nearly every dish here takes cauliflower rice in place of rice or quinoa, and spaghetti squash or zoodles in place of pasta.
- Check the soy sauce. The Asian-inspired dishes need a gluten-free soy sauce or tamari to stay gluten-free.
- Feed a mixed table. Our plates are always at least ¾ full of plant-based foods, and the meat eater adds his own on the side.
- Batch the bases. Cook a pot of quinoa, a tray of roasted vegetables and a bag of cauliflower rice on Sunday and half of these come together in minutes.
- Round out the week with gluten-free chicken pot pie or healthy chicken enchiladas when someone wants meat on the table.
How to Use This List
1Pick your nights. We eat vegetarian dinners about 4-5 nights a week, so start with four and build from there.
2Click the links and print them out. Then keep the recipes together in a notebook or stapled together and you have a month's worth of delicious vegetarian meals!
3Swap the grain to go low carb. Use cauliflower rice in place of rice or quinoa, and zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash in place of pasta, on any dish in the list.
I hope you enjoy these recipes. One month of vegetarian dinners, ready to be printed and saved for meatless Monday or a month of easy vegetarian dinner recipes!
Serve any of them with a simple side like air fryer potato wedges, teriyaki green beans or a bowl of corn chowder, and dinner is done.
Vegetarian Dinner FAQs
Swap the grain for a vegetable. Zucchini noodles with pesto, mushroom bolognese or peanut sauce, spaghetti squash baked Mexican style or topped with ratatouille, cauliflower rice burrito bowls, cauliflower steaks with tahini sauce and stuffed peppers are all low carb and filling.
The majority of plants naturally contain protein such as spinach, nuts, seeds, quinoa, legumes and lentils, plus they are packed with fiber to help flush out toxins from the body. You can also get protein from eggs and cheese, both vegan cheese and dairy cheese.
Yes. Every recipe in this collection is gluten-free, and many are also grain-free, dairy-free or vegan. For the Asian-inspired dishes, use a gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
Use cauliflower rice in place of rice or quinoa, and spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles in place of pasta. Most of the recipes here call the swap out directly.
We eat vegetarian dinners about 4-5 nights a week and our plates are always at least ¾ full of plant-based foods every night. The meat eater adds his own protein on the side, so nobody cooks two dinners.
Yes. Cook a pot of quinoa, roast a tray of vegetables and prep cauliflower rice ahead, then most of these dinners come together in 15 to 30 minutes on a weeknight.
Leave a Reply