Want to cut back on your meat? If you’re a meat lover, it’s difficult. I know how hard it can be to find meatless meals that taste great, but I promise you, there are so many ways to make meals with legumes and grains that taste just as good as your favorite meat dish.
These 21+ healthy meals are some of my favorites for those nights when I want to skip the meat.
21+ Healthy Meatless Meals for Meat Lovers You Have to Try
1. Tuscan White Bean Skillet
White beans have a naturally meaty texture, and they take on the flavors of whatever they’re cooked with. That’s why I LOVE this dish. It’s so flavorful and so healthy. You’ll need white beans, sundried tomatoes, artichokes, garlic, diced tomatoes, onion, kale and some other basic spices. The whole thing comes together in 30 minutes.
Related: 17 Best Anti-inflammatory Meals on a Budget That Are Worth Trying
2. Garlic Broccoli Stir Fry with Chickpeas
This stir fry recipe is ready in just 25 minutes. It’s rich in protein and other vital nutrients, but it’s also loaded with flavor. Chickpeas have a meaty texture, and with the stir fry sauce, they taste just like chicken. I recommend using fresh ginger and garlic.
3. Cauliflower Shawarma Bowls
Meatless meals don’t have to be boring. I love shawarma, and this variation makes cauliflower the star of the show. It also has chickpeas and basmati rice for added protein. The tahini sauce makes this dish so special and uses a mix of tahini, cilantro, parsley, lemon juice, garlic and cumin.
4. Sticky Sesame Cauliflower
I love this sticky sesame cauliflower dish because it’s so easy to make and so satisfying. You won’t miss the meat at all. Sriracha and ginger give this dish a little heat. I recommend serving this with rice or even quinoa for some extra protein.
5. Chickpea “Meatballs”
Spaghetti and meatballs without the meat? Yes! Chickpeas have the perfect texture and flavor to replace beef in a classic meatball recipe. This recipe also uses eggs and breadcrumbs along with many different spices to add flavor.
6. One Pot Veggie Pasta
One pot pasta not only tastes great, but cleanup is so fast. In 20 minutes, this no-fuss dish is complete. You’ll only need pasta (the recipe calls for fusilli but use what you like), vegetable stock, mushroom, seasoning, zucchini and tomato paste.
Pasta sauce and mozzarella are added, and since all of the ingredients are cooked in a Dutch oven, it’s almost impossible to mess this recipe up.
7. Broccoli Chickpea Power Bowls
Power bowls are great, healthy foods that you can make quickly and enjoy. The main ingredients usually include grains, protein, dressings, nuts, seeds and some sort of dressing. I love the texture of these bowls, and the ginger tahini dressing will leave your taste buds happy.
Farro, brown rice or quinoa are added with chickpeas, olive oil, broccoli, seasonings, red onions, kale and sweet potato.
Roast your veggies on parchment paper and a baking sheet and cook your grain as directed.
8. Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
Hearty is a great way to explain shepherd’s pie. You’ll love that the ground beef is removed, and healthy, meatless lentils are added in. You’ll add creamy mashed potatoes, veggies and sauce to the pie.
Prep time is 20 minutes and total cooking time is just one hour.
Add red wine and Worcestershire sauce and you’ll have a tasty pie that’s simple and easy to bake.
9. Southwest Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Rice Skillet
30-minute meatless meals that you can cook up in a skillet are a favorite among parents who have little time to themselves every night. This dish is simple enough that even kids can help make this dish, and it’s filled with good-for-you ingredients:
- Spices – a ton of them
- Salsa
- Brown rice
- Black beans
- Lime
- Green chiles
- Sweet potatoes
- Cheese – cheddar, Monterey jack or Colby jack
10. Red Lentil Fritters
Finger foods that you can dip are so addicting, and these red lentil fritters definitely fit the bill. In 25 minutes, you’ll be dipping these fritters into a delectable mayo and sriracha dip that will make your mouth water.
And the fritters are made with carrots, potatoes, garlic, red lentils, all-purpose flour, marjoram, paprika powder and red onion.
11. Kale, Quinoa & White Bean Soup
Soup on a cold night is the perfect food. Snuggle up to the television and a cozy fire, and you’re good to go. And this soup is as easy as adding the ingredients into a large stock pot and cooking.
Ingredients for this recipe include:
- White beans
- Quinoa
- Tomatoes
- Herbs
- Mirepoix
- Kale
- Veg paste
12. Mexican Rise Casserole
Veggies, black beans, cheese and rice go seamlessly together in this dish. Simple ingredients include rice, frozen corn, red bell peppers, garlic, red onion, lime, cream cheese, black beans, fire roasted tomatoes, spices and Mexican cheese.
A Dutch oven is ideal for this recipe because you’ll be able to mix it all inside one dish before baking.
13. Thai Veggie Fried Rice
This is one of the best fried rice recipes I’ve tried, and it’s great for anyone who is into meal planning and trying to eat healthier. And you won’t add fish sauce to this dish. Instead, you’ll use meatless ingredients, such as: shiitake mushrooms, cashews, sesame oil, red bell pepper, ginger, brown sugar, broccoli florets and quite a few others.
If you don’t have a Dutch oven, you will need to buy one.
Related: 25 Easy Keto Bowls to Meal Prep that are Perfect for Weight Loss
14. Black Bean Enchiladas
Want to make a week’s worth of food? Freeze these enchiladas and cook them throughout the week. And with just 5 ingredients and your baking dish, it’s simple to make. You’ll find that the recipe site does include homemade enchilada sauce, which I highly recommend that you make.
You can opt to use any bean that you like:
- Black beans
- Refried beans
- Pinto beans
Black beans are my go-to, and it’s as simple as using tortillas, filling them with sauce and ingredients, and rolling them up before baking.
15. Crispy Sheet Pan Black Bean Tacos
Tacos make my list of meatless meals a few times, but this one has a crispy crust and uses corn tortillas. You’ll love the black beans, garlic, lime and onion that act as the “meat,” and then there’s the delightful:
- Spices
- Cumin
- Corn tortillas
- Pepper jack cheese
Your tacos will be ready in just 45 minutes. I added some medium salsa on top, but the recipe doesn’t call for it.
16. Creamy Spinach Mushroom Tortellini with Caramelized Onions
Tortellini is a stuffed pasta, but you need to be sure that you buy the cheese variety instead of the meat-based one. You won’t be making the tortellini from scratch, but you will make the creamy pasta sauce, which includes:
- Olive oil
- Mushrooms
- Spinach
- Heavy cream
- Salt and pepper
- Caramelized onions (you’ll make them)
17. Lentil Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
If you’re craving a hearty meal, this is it. You’ll fill your sweet potatoes with onions, broth, garlic, lentils, walnuts, tomato paste and spices. Yogurt adds a creamy flavor, and you can add avocado for some healthy fats.
The longest part? You’ll need to wrap your sweet potatoes in foil, place them in a baking dish and cook for 60 – 70 minutes.
18. Black Bean Burger
I used to buy these premade from the store, but then I realized there were so many added ingredients. And with a recipe this easy, it makes no sense to buy them. You’ll use canned beans (red, cannellini, chickpeas or butter beans work well), veggies, seasoning and nuts.
Binding ingredients will keep it all together and include:
- Eggs
- Breadcrumbs
- Mayo
And it’s simple to form the patties. You’ll only need to put your wonderful burgers on a bun, add your toppings and eat.
Related: 25 Delicious Dinner Meal Prep Ideas That Make It Easy to Prepare Ahead of Time
19. Vegetarian Taco Skillet
Meatless meals that are this flavorful? What a delish taco skillet this is, and you still enjoy a ton of protein thanks to the quinoa in it. Taco night starts with your cast iron skillet, and you’ll add a lot of ingredients: olive oil, onion, red bell pepper, quinoa, vegetable broth, fire roasted tomatoes, green chiles, spices, black beans, corn, cilantro and cheese.
You’ll slowly add the ingredients into one pan, and the quinoa will summer in the vegetable broth for a delightful flavor.
20. Mushroom Meatballs – Without the Meat
I never thought that mushroom meatballs would be something I crave, but after making this recipe, I really like it. And it’s so easy to prepare. Cooktoria offers a baking or frying option, and for me, baking offers a healthier option and an excuse to use my baking sheets.
It takes all but 15 minutes to prep and 45 minutes to cook, and you’ll be using oats, breadcrumbs, cloves, oregano, thyme and other tasty ingredients.
21. Eggplant Curry
In 40 minutes, you’ll enjoy this creamy eggplant and curry recipe with naan bread or white rice. And with a punch of flavor, I absolutely love the spices that go into this dish: cumin, coriander, curry, turmeric and red pepper flakes. You’ll also add garam masala, ginger, garlic, onions and other ingredients into the mix.
You can serve it on top of rice, but you can also add a side of flatbread or naan bread if you like.
22. Vegan Bolognese with Lentils
Hearty, delicious and meat-free? This Italian-inspired dish is the same Bolognese that you know and love, but instead of meat, it includes lentils. And with mushrooms, carrots and celery, it’s a recipe that has simple ingredients with an abundance of flavor.
If you don’t like the spicy flavor, you can always omit a few of the spices, such as crushed red peppers.
