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High-Calorie Vegetarian Meals: 15 Healthy Dishes For You

When the whole of the internet is full of low-calorie this and low-fat that, I am thrilled to come out with this compilation of high-calorie vegetarian meals.

High-Calorie Vegetarian Meals: 30 Healthy Recipes For You | Hurry The Food Up

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Full on nutrition, zero junk, flavor max – this is the primer for every single recipe in this collection and you will never need to resort to tasteless meals that leave you hangry.

So what if I can show you how you can tuck into high-calorie vegetarian meals that are also high in taste, high in flavor, high in nutrition – and super duper low on crap?

What? Is that a snort of disbelief I hear?

Stick around for a wee bit. And let me show you how you can eat nourishing, high-calorie vegetarian meals made of whole foods that have enough protein and healthy fats to meet your nutritional needs.

I guarantee you will not be rooting around for the biscuit tin, an hour or two after!

If you are having a hard time coming up with high-calorie recipes that have plenty of protein to support your lifestyle, why not subscribe to our vegetarian high-protein meal plan?

There are plenty of healthy vegetarian recipes of high nutritional value to get you started.

Subscribe to get our FREE Vegetarian High Protein Meal Plan

All of these recipes are made “high protein friendly”, meaning that they clock in at around 25g of protein per 600kcal.

The average person needs at least a gram of protein per kilo of body weight. Pick any three of these and you have at least 75 grams of protein per day!

Easy peasy!

High-calorie vegetarian recipes

1. Vegan Mushroom Stew with Coconut

Check out the recipe here
5 from 11 votes
Protein: 20g
Calories: 464kcal
Ready in:37 minutes
Recipe by: Abril Macías

Bonus: vegan and tasty as heck!

Looking for something light and tasty for dinner? Try our high-protein coconut mushroom stew – perfect for those following a plant-based diet.

2. Socca Pizza / Chickpea Pizza

Check out the recipe here
5 from 11 votes
Protein: 33g
Calories: 522kcal
Ready in:30 minutes
Recipe by: Dave

Bonus: gluten-free, full of fiber

The healthy vegetarian recipe for gluten-free socca pizza made with chickpea (besan) flour (more veggie gluten free meals this way). It’s loaded with plant-based protein, easy to make, and makes a delicious low-calorie treat!

Subscribe to get our FREE 7-Day Vegetarian High Protein Meal Plan for Weight Loss

  • Ideal for weight loss
  • Easy vegetarian recipes only
  • Automated grocery lists
  • Use on mobile or download as PDF
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3. Perfect Pizza Potatoes

Check out the recipe here
4.89 from 17 votes
Protein: 22g
Calories: 450kcal
Ready in:1 hour
Recipe by: Heiko & HurryTheFoodUp

Bonus: celiacs can now have their pizza and eat it too!

A great alternative to regular vegetarian pizza recipes. If you are gluten intolerant, this is especially for you! Never feel like you’re missing out again!

4. Vegetable Stir Fry

Check out the recipe here
4.83 from 69 votes
Protein: 21g
Calories: 604kcal
Ready in:25 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Bonus: the perfect meal for busy weeknights

Tender veggies, fragrant ginger and garlic, soft noodles, and a creamy peanut stir fry sauce come together to make this delicious vegan dish. Impress your favorite vegan by putting this together in under 30 minutes!

5. Mediterranean Couscous Bowl

Check out the recipe here
5 from 1 vote
Protein: 20g
Calories: 553kcal
Ready in:25 minutes
Recipe by: Abril Macías

Bonus: the healthy way to reach your daily calorie intake

Need a new couscous recipe that’s high calorie and high protein? Try this Mediterranean couscous bowl with yogurt dressing. The perfect lunch, side, or dinner!

6. The Europa

Check out the recipe here
5 from 5 votes
Protein: 28g
Calories: 736kcal
Ready in:30 minutes

Bonus: so filling you will not even think of snacking

Baked potato, creamy garlic mushrooms, halloumi – Wowza! If you like mushrooms, then this one is a must.

7. Squidgy Fried Halloumi

Check out the recipe here
5 from 9 votes
Protein: 23g
Calories: 547kcal
Ready in:30 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Bonus: gluten-free, full of fiber

Fried halloumi absolutely rocks! We can’t get enough of the stuff and this quick recipe is another sure-fire, high-protein winner!

8. Vegan Lentil Bolognese

Check out the recipe here
4.91 from 10 votes
Protein: 26g
Calories: 530kcal
Ready in:30 minutes
Recipe by: Abril Macías

Bonus: plant-based meals never looked so easy!

Love a good bolognese but trying to eat less meat? Try our healthy, plant-based lentil bolognese – you’ll never look back!

9. Vegan Stuffed Peppers

Check out the recipe here
4.62 from 13 votes
Protein: 30g
Calories: 615kcal
Ready in:1 hour 20 minutes
Recipe by: Kat & HurryTheFoodUp

Bonus: so tasty you will not miss the meat or the cheese!

Vegan stuffed peppers packed with quinoa. Full of protein, bags of flavor, and clear, easy-to-follow instructions.

10. Lentil Tacos – Level Up Dinner

Check out the recipe here
4.89 from 17 votes
Protein: 29g
Calories: 599kcal
Ready in:20 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Bonus: when every day can be Taco Tuesday

These veggie lentil tacos are our new go-to meal. SO TASTY and stacked with lentil protein and fiber, it’s time to take dinner up to the next level.

11. Chickpea Spinach Salad

Check out the recipe here
4.64 from 180 votes
Protein: 23g
Calories: 579kcal
Ready in:7 minutes
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp

Bonus: never ever let time crunch stand in the way of a healthy meal

You won’t believe this tasty bad boy is actually good for you! Ready in 7 minutes, high in protein, fiber, and absolutely delicious! Perfect for a quick lunch.

12. Purple Beetroot Pasta

Check out the recipe here
4.68 from 59 votes
Protein: 24g
Calories: 515kcal
Ready in:25 minutes
Recipe by: Lisa & HurryTheFoodUp

Bonus: eat the rainbow? Don’t mind if I do!

The beets are bangin’ in this eye-catching dish. Highly nutritious, beetroots are an awesome addition to any pasta meal – including this beauty! Why not give it a go tonight?

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:15 minutes
Total Time:25 minutes
Servings:2 servings
Calories:621kcal
Author: Lisa & HurryTheFoodUp

Ingredients

Optional

  • ¼ cup beetroot juice

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to package description.
  • Roast the walnuts in a large dry pan on medium heat for a couple of minutes.
  • Dice the onion and garlic.
  • Put the walnuts into a small side bowl and add the onion and garlic to the pan with olive oil on low to medium heat. After 2 minutes season with sage, salt and pepper.
  • Open the packaged beetroot and pour the excess liquid into the pan. It should just be a few drops. Cut beetroot into small cubes and add it too.
  • Add the white wine vinegar to the mix.
  • Once ready, drain the pasta with a colander and collect about half a cup (100 ml) of the excess pasta water.
  • Add both the pasta and water to the pan.
  • Now it’s time for the coloring, if you bought the beet juice. Add it to the mix. Give everything a good stir and let it simmer for about 6 minutes and make the taste test.
  • While it’s simmering, wash and roughly cut the arugula.
  • Garnish with the arugula, feta, walnuts and lemon slices.
  • Enjoy!

NOTES

Recipe inspired by Lisa!
If you liked this recipe: Then you definitely need to check out two of our other pasta dishes: the gorgeous Red Pesto Pasta and/or this amazing Pasta Salad with Peanut Butter Sauce.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
High-Calorie Vegetarian Meals: 15 Healthy Recipes For You
Amount per Serving
Calories
621
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
24
g
37
%
Saturated Fat
 
5
g
31
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
8
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
7
g
Cholesterol
 
23
mg
8
%
Sodium
 
1122
mg
49
%
Potassium
 
903
mg
26
%
Carbohydrates
 
87
g
29
%
Fiber
 
8
g
33
%
Sugar
 
18
g
20
%
Protein
 
26
g
52
%
Vitamin A
 
312
IU
6
%
Vitamin C
 
42
mg
51
%
Calcium
 
127
mg
13
%
Iron
 
5
mg
28
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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13. Easy Tomato Spinach Pasta

Check out the recipe here
4.76 from 37 votes
Protein: 26g
Calories: 536kcal
Ready in:25 minutes

Bonus: switch spinach with kale for awesome results

A simple but delicious vegetarian dish that requires bugger all washing up (more quick veggie meals here!)! It’s also an easy way to get all that healthy greens into your system.

14. Roasted Fennel, Carrots, Chickpeas

Check out the recipe here
5 from 5 votes
Protein: 23g
Calories: 524kcal
Ready in:35 minutes
Recipe by: Abril Macías

Bonus: a tray bake like no other

Looking for new oven-based recipes? Try this delicious roasted fennel and carrots with chickpeas! 22 g protein per serving! The perfect side dish to this would be some nutty brown rice!

15. Flawless Feta and Spinach Pancakes

Check out the recipe here
4.92 from 37 votes
Protein: 29g
Calories: 459kcal
Ready in:30 minutes
Recipe by: Sofia & HurryTheFoodUp

Bonus: serve with a green side salad for a healthy meal

These feta and spinach pancakes are quick and easy – and cover a whole range of important nutrition and health topics!

Questioning calories

What’s the deal with high-calorie meals anyway?

High-calorie meals generally get a bad rep. People clock the calorie numbers and zero in on those that contain fewer calories, giving the higher calorie ones a wide berth.

Not that there’s anything wrong with low-cal meals (we have some excellent recipes for those, right here at HTFP!) but, too often, low calorie gets mistaken for low nutrition. When you aim for nutrient-dense foods, you will feel full for longer, taking away the need to sneak in a snack later.

High-calorie vegetarian meals that are high in protein but contain relatively low saturated fats are good for your health and your heart.

And if you are following a healthy lifestyle and are looking to increase your muscle mass, you need nutrient-dense foods that are high in calories and quality. Which is just what we have right here!

And if anyone tries to tell you that you cannot build muscle on a vegetarian diet, do feel free to call BS on that. We will hold your coat while you do. Vegetarians most definitely can build muscle and we have tips on how you can do so safely.

Which vegetarian food is high in calories?

Nuts like cashew nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, etc contain a lot of good fats and are high in calories as a result.

It is easy for those looking to add more high-calorie vegetarian meals to their diet to go nuts on nuts (ha!) and nut butters, but do remember the magic words: portion control!

What do vegetarians eat for protein?

High protein foods available for vegetarians include eggs, cottage cheese, tofu, tempeh, quinoa, seeds, nuts, and lentils. By choosing good quality products that are unprocessed (or with as little factory assistance, as possible), vegetarians can get their essential amino acids easily.

Can you gain weight as a vegetarian?

Eating too many processed items or not keeping track of portion sizes will cause weight gain, in vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.

But vegetarians can achieve healthy weight gain by eating foods that are high in calories and protein, and low in saturated fats (10% or less).

So, give these high-calorie vegetarian recipes a go and tell us how you got on.

Were they a bit hit? Did you make any tweaks? Do you have recommendations to make our recipes better? Do share with us in the comments section below. You know we love to hear from you 🙂

Comments
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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2 comments
  1. I really like the idea for high calorie vegitarian meals as I struggle a lot to gain weight. And a wheight GAIN course/ebook is something I’d gladly spend money on.

    When it comes to this gathering of recipies however… I tried some and they taste good but the listed calories on several looks competely made up, Couscous sallad with youghurt dressing at 553kcal per serving? Higly doubt it.

    1. Hi Niklas, really cool to hear you liked what you tried! Reg. the couscous bowl: you think the calories are too high or too low? We actually checked it a couple of times and the numbers look fine (of course any nutri card here is an approximate)