21 Easy Meatless Dinners

Jan 5, 2022 · By Bethany Kramer
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A collage of vegetarian dishes with the words 21 easy meatless dinners in the center of the images.

The recipes I’m sharing today are some of Drew and I’s favorites! Whether you are trying to eat a little less meat for the new year and you want to try something new, or you already love veggie-filled recipes and need some new inspo. We have something here to try!

You’ll find recipes of all kinds in this post. From nourishing plant-based soups and stews to vegetarian pasta dishes to amazing meatless fajitas, there is a little something for everyone. Each recipe is full of flavor, contains a variety of wholesome plant-based ingredients, and is easy to make!

1. The Best Vegetarian Fajitas

A top recipe on the blog! These veggie fajitas are full of flavor and meat-eater approved! They’re satisfying and filling and are a nutritious meatless meal the whole family will love.

vegetarian fajitas arranged on parchment paper with lime slices and guacamole arranged around them.

2. Vegetarian Stuffed Shells (without ricotta)

Cheesy veggie stuffed shells for my pasta lovers out there! They’re made without ricotta cheese, making it lighter and healthier, but instead, the shells are stuffed with roasted vegetables and fresh herbs, then topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Vegetarian stuffed shells in a skillet pan that is arranged on a wooden background. Fresh herbs are arranged around the skillet and sprinkled over top of the stuffed shells.

3. Tuscan Kale & Chickpea Soup

The coziest chickpea soup for veggie lovers! This herbaceous soup is filled with rich flavor, hearty vegetables, and protein from garbanzo beans. Perfect for cold days but is light enough to be served year-round!

ceramic bowl with chickpea soup with kale in it on gray background with napkin and spices arranged around it.

4. Lemon Asparagus Pasta (15-Minutes)

Pasta is perfect for meatless nights! And this lemony pasta with asparagus is quick to prepare and requires only a handful of ingredients. Serve this with regular pasta or make it healthier by using gluten-free pasta noodles or chickpea noodles!

a white ceramic bowl filled with pasta noodles with asparagus and lemon on a brown wooden board.

5. Vegetable Stir Fry

This stir fry is a dinner the whole family will love! It’s filled with colorful vegetables, edamame for protein, and delicious homemade teriyaki sauce. Perfect for a weeknight meal or even to make for meal prep!

vegetable stir fry with white rice in white ceramic bowl with dark napkin next to it.

6. Black Bean Tacos (10-minutes)

The quickest of tacos! These 10-minute black bean tacos are surprisingly delicious even using the simplest of ingredients. Crunchy tortillas made with garlic-y black beans, and all the best toppings!

a group of black bean tacos on plate with condiments.

7. Cauliflower “Shawarma” Wraps

Instead of classic chicken shawarma, this recipe uses cauliflower as a meatless substitute. My husband loves these wraps! They’re full of flavor and all the toppings make it even more delicious.

hand holding naan cauliflower shawarma wrap won white parchment paper with condiments arranged around it.

8. Baked Eggplant Rollatini

Another fan favorite on ASP! If you love eggplant, this eggplant rollatini is a popular Italian recipe. Made with baked eggplant slices that are wrapped with ricotta, fresh herbs, and baked in rich marinara. SO good!

eggplant rollatini in a black cast iron pan.

9. Herb & Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups

Lasagna lovers, we got you. These spinach lasagna roll ups are a must to try! Instead of layering the lasagna in a baking dish, they’re rolled up with cheese, fresh herbs, and leafy greens – then baked to perfection. Everyone will love them!

Spinach lasagna roll ups with red sauce over them in a white dish.

10. Vegetarian Black Bean Tortilla Soup

Instead of chicken tortilla soup, this recipe uses hearty beans as the protein and it’s simply delicious! Every bite is rich in flavor and is topped with creamy avocado and crunchy tortilla strips.

A bowl of vegetarian tortilla soup topped with tortilla strips and avocado slices. The bowl is sitting on a wooden background with lime slices, tortilla chips, and herbs arranged around it.

11. Moroccan Chickpea Stew

This chickpea stew is full of Moroccan spices and aromatics! Perfect for serving with rice and takes only 30 minutes to make.

A white bowl on a white counter with a grey napkin with moroccan chickpea stew and rice.

12. Cheesy Rotini Pasta with Roasted Vegetables

This cheesy pasta is lighter than most and is paired with healthy roasted vegetables that can be customized to whatever you like! Some readers say it tastes like an Italian mac & cheese – which I love to hear. Perfect for the family and is kid-friendly too!

white bowl with rotini pasta noodles and roasted vegetables in it on gray background with shredded cheese and red pepper flakes arranged around it.

13. Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

A long-time favorite in our house is this sweet potato black bean chili! It’s hearty, satisfying, and so flavorful. We love topping it with creamy avocado to balance the spice and crunchy tortilla chips!

A ceramic bowl with sweet potato black bean chili in it, topped with avocado slices and cilantro leaves. The bowl is arranged on a gray background with tortilla chips, a gray napkin, and cilantro placed around the bowl.

14. Roasted Eggplant & Zucchini Lasagna

If you want to keep lasagna a little lighter, this eggplant & zucchini lasagna is perfect! No regular pasta noodles are required. Just thin slices of roasted vegetables, fresh herbs, and melted cheese with all the marinara sauce your heart desires!

cast iron skillet with eggplant and zucchini lasagna on wooden board on a gray background.

15. Vegetarian Pasta e Fagioli

Pasta Fagioli is a classic Italian soup made of pasta and beans! This recipe leaves out the meat (usually Proscuitto is added to richen the flavor) and instead, this version uses a parmesan rind to infuse with flavor rather than meat. It’s so hearty, rich with flavor, and perfect to cozy up with on a cold winter day!

A cast iron pot with pasta fagioli soup in it with bread pieces surrounding it.

16. Eggplant Parmesan (Baked or Fried Method)

If you love chicken parmesan, you will love eggplant parmesan! The same concept, just using thinly sliced eggplant instead of chicken. It’s breaded, pan-fried, or baked, then baked with marinara, melted Italian cheeses, and fresh herb. Such a crowd-pleaser!

a slice of eggplant parmesan being lifted on spatula out of white baking dish.

17. Three Cheese Baked Rigatoni with Roasted Vegetables

Love pasta? This baked rigatoni with roasted vegetables is one everyone will love! No heavy cheeses or meat is needed to make the flavors rich and delicious.

Black cast iron skillet with baked rigatoni in it with a gray napkin next to it on wooden background.

18. Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos

Try a new version of veggie tacos with these sweet potato black bean tacos! A little bit of sweetness from the potatoes is the perfect touch of flavor. And topping them with pickled onions and creamy avocado makes them even tastier!

A close up of sweet potato black bean tacos on a grey plate with lime slices next to it.

19. 10-Minute Naan Pizza

The quickest way to make weeknight pizza! These personalized pizzas are made with naan instead of regular pizza dough to make preparation quick and easy.

naan pizza sliced into fourths on brown parchment paper with fresh herbs and spices surrounding it.

20. Minestrone Soup

The heartiest soup for meatless Monday! This Italian classic is filled with pasta, potatoes, vegetables, and herbs. It’s so delicious and cozy.

Hand holding spoon in bowl of vegetable soup on wooden board with torn bread in top corner and napkin next to bowl.

21. Lentil Bolognese

A plant-based way to enjoy bolognese meat sauce! This lentil bolognese is simply delicious and uses lentils as the main protein. Each bite is filled with accents of chopped vegetables, fresh herbs, and rich marinara!

Hand holding fork and twisting pasta noodles in red lentil bolognese sauce.

And that’s a wrap! If you tried any of these recipes and loved them, let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear about it.

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