Hurry The Food Up Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes For Busy People
When your to-do list is as long as your arm, the kids aren’t in bed and you can’t be bothered to spend the next hour in the kitchen, the best thing you can have is a quick and easy vegetarian dinner recipe.
Lucky for you, you don’t even need to hunt around for an exciting, easy recipe that will charge up the taste buds and still be ready in no time. The best quick vegetarian dinner ideas are here, ready for your perusal.
This is a compilation of our favourite quick-to-prepare, vegetarian meals, ranging from vegetarian casseroles to vegetarian fried rice to vegetarian pasta recipes – basically whatever you fancy!
There’s also a good deal of vegan recipes hiding amongst these delicious vegetarian dinner ideas, so there’s something for everyone.
Vegetarian Dinner Ideas – where do I start?
I’ve been vegetarian for a long time now but I haven’t forgotten how intimidating it can be to make the leap to a vegetarian diet.
The good thing is that you’ve found this blog, and we have all kinds of vegetarian recipes for beginners!
The best place to start is by checking out our guide on how to go vegetarian. If that doesn’t convince you, you start incorporating the vegetarian dinner recipes below into your meal plans to see how you like them.
You might have heard that it’s too hard to get all the right nutrients with a vegetarian diet, but there’s no need to worry. If you pay attention to your diet and make sure you’re eating healthy vegetarian meals, you will have no trouble getting the nutrients you need.
Plus, these quick vegetarian dinner recipes are good for your health because they reduce heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses, AND good for the planet (the UN said so!)
So if you’re new to a vegetarian diet, check out these easy vegetarian dinner recipes to get you started. And if you’re already a vegetarian (or a vegan), then you already know how delicious a meatless chili sin carne or a vegetarian sloppy joe can be!
The beets are bangin’ in this eye-catching dish. Highly nutritious, beetroots are an awesome addition to any pasta meal – including this beauty. Get your vegetarian dinner ideas right here!
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: WholeSomeYum
This easy zucchini gratin recipe is a cheesy zucchini casserole that everyone will love! Healthy, low carb, gluten-free, and absolutely delicious.
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: Watch What U Eat
Filled with greens, beans and carbohydrates all-in-one pot spinach rice recipe. It is healthy and full of proteins, fibers and vitamins. Ideal recipe for busy times.
This coconut curry is the easiest one we’ve ever made, but mixes it up with the top brass. You won’t find a better effort vs taste curry ANYWHERE!
This is one of our all-time favourite quick vegetarian dinner recipes. Try it out now:
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup broccoli (or use green beans)
- 1 spring onions
- 1 sweet potato
- 2 carrot
- ½ zucchini
- 2 sticks lemongrass
- 2 tsp curry powder
- 1 tbsp yellow curry paste (or red for hotter, green for hottest!)
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1 can chickpeas (15 oz = 435g, drained and rinsed)
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 lemon (juiced; lime works too!)
Optional:
- 1 cup basmati rice (cooked; whole grain rice is nice too)
- ½ cup cashews (roasted; or use peanuts)
Instructions
- If serving with rice, get that cooking now according to package instructions.
- Grate the sweet potato and the carrots.
- Chop the spring onion, broccoli, and zucchini.
- Add the olive oil to a large pan and fry all the veg on a medium heat. This needs about 5-7 minutes.
- Next, add the curry powder and curry paste, and the beaten (smack it with a heavy spoon a few times to let out the flavour) lemongrass.
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
- Stir and fry for another couple of minutes then add the coconut milk, chickpeas, lemon juice, maple syrup and salt. Let it simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Alright, that's it. Take out the lemongrass. Serve with rice and top with roasted cashews or peanuts. Easy. Awesome.
Nutrition
This cheesy, crispy, oven favourite broccoli cheese casserole is low effort and high reward – complete with cheat tips!
A spicy, creamy corn chowder that’s satisfying and filling. Simple to make, ready in 25 minutes. Vegetarian and healthy. Tastes best when it’s cold outside.
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: ContentednessCooking
It is an amazing entirely vegan and gluten free Mexican inspired dish. Made with a creamy and spicy Enchilada sauce, and full of fresh vegetables. Comfort food that you can easily customize to your taste.
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: PinchAndSwirl
This salad is a savory, salty, sweet, tangy combination that will have you nodding your head in satisfaction with every bite.
Quick and creamy Avocado Pasta that’s healthy and vegan. High in fiber, vitamin C, iron and good fats. Easy to make in under 15 minutes.
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: StaceyHomemaker
Vegan lentil sloppy joes are sure to be a hit because they’re classic comfort food that everyone knows and loves! The flavorful tangy sauce has two secret ingredients that will make you want to lick every last drop of sauce off the plate.
Everybody should know how to make veggie fried rice. Hands down one of the most delicious and easiest ways to use up leftovers. Ready in max. 15 minutes!
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: NourishNutritionBlog
Amazingly delicious and easy tacos! You can add whichever veggies you have on hand, and love them all the same! This is a great idea for a tasty vegetarian dinner.
This is not some bland version of a traditional potato soup, but a full blown delicious recreation built from scratch – all vegan of course!
Pineapple Fried Rice. Some food pairings were just meant to be together, and this is one of them. Get your sweet, crunchy and tropical hit right now!
This low-carb pie that’s keto-friendly is incredibly tasty – and the best thing – it takes only five minutes to prep! Seriously!
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: MyKitchenLove
Comfort food defined pasta packed with vegetables and that family-friendly Alfredo flavour.
So comforting you want to sit in it. Only vegan ingredients, great taste and ready in 20 minutes. High in protein and fiber. You won’t be disappointed!
Crispy Tortilla Pizza. A healthier way to eat pizza with the same great taste that you love. Ready in just 25 minutes, you won’t look back!
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: TheKitchenGirl
Healthy black beans, sweet potatoes, homemade enchilada sauce, and corn tortillas are baked with a stretchy cheese on top.
Who said meat free recipes can’t deliver? This meatless (aka vegan) chili proves that you can still enjoy your favourite meals, but in a new, animal friendly way.
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: TheStingyVegan
This vegan jambalaya is quick and easy to make, full of spice and flavour and a great one-pot meal. Beans and mushrooms stand in for shrimp and sausage for a totally plant-based, gluten-free and oil-free version of Southern comfort food that’s just as good as the original!
That’s all folks! Hopefully one of these vegetarian dinner recipes will quell the hunger in your belly or solve your dilemma of what to make as a vegetarian main meal.
Since there’s everything from vegetarian tacos, to vegetarian jambalaya, to vegetarian curry, we’re pretty sure you can find the perfect addition to your rotation of vegetarian weeknight dinners on this list.
Looks like I’ve got a whole line up of veggie packed dishes! Yum! Thanks for including my Cauliflower Alfredo!
Your’re very welcome Samantha! It’s an awesome dish 😀
Trying this tonight! Can not wait 😀
Yay, enjoy, Kylie!
Hauke…thanks so much for including my skillet enchiladas in this healthy lineup! I’m having a proud moment – I really value your content. Keep rockin it! Thanks again and Happy 2018 to you…Cheers!
You’re very welcome, Traci! Glad you like the lineup, all the best in 2018 to you too 🙂
woah, I love the huge variety of options you give here.. Being a vegetarian this is surely going to be helpful in the coming days, in terms of ideas on what to make.
I am 12 years old and a vegitarian and this provides many helpful and easy ideas for my family. I will try to make as many as I posobly can!!
You’re very welcome Natalie. Enjoy cooking for your family!
Where are the recipes ? I see the photos, but no links to the recipes.
Hi KeeKee, just click the blue link in the ‘recipe by’ section and you’ll be taken straight to each one 🙂
These look and sound amazing, yum! I am going to attempt a vegetarian diet for a month and these are definitely going to help, thanks Dave!
Sounds like a plan to me, Jessica! Going veggie is great – and easy when you know where to look 🙂
how did you vegetarian month go?
What a great list! Saved almost every recipe on here!
Thanks Julie, really glad you’ve found some inspiration! 😀
Just made the coconut curry rice and vegggy dish and it was outstanding!
My 16 yr old daughter and I are going green to help save the planet anyway we can !
Thank you for the quick and great recipes!
That’s so awesome Paula! Really glad you enjoyed – and are doing whatever you can for the planet. Us too, one step at a time! Thanks for writing 🙂
What a great site! And what you say: tasty does not have to be complicated at all
I really like the Vegan Coconut Curry. It looks so fancy and delicious, I want to try it now. Definitely try the remaining recipes when I have time. Thank you for sharing the best recipe!
Glad you like the recipes!! Yep, deffo worth a try that Coconut Curry 😀
Thanks for the Amazing recipes. Just loved the Black Bean Tacos recipe and I am gonna try that tonight.
Hope you have an amazing 2020 !
You’re very welcome Harpreet, and the same to you. Enjoy the recipe and have a great 2020!
Thank you for such a great site! I’ve found several recipes here that I am going to try. Great ideas.
Oh, and I’m making your fried rice tonight. Have the rice cooking now so it will be cooled and ready for later. This sounds amazing! I’ll be adding firm tofu pieces as well. Can’t wait!
Thanks Gail! Really glad you like the ideas. Enjoy the rice – I’m sure the tofu will be very tasty in there too!
The rice dish was out-of-this-world delicious! That sauce is really excellent! I’M on your site again, looking for more inspiration. Thanks again. 🙂
Hey Gail! Good to have you back – and I’m glad you found something! Keep enjoying!
Made the fried rice last night – appreciate the quick and easy walk-through! Bookmarked this page for sure 🙂
Woop, yay! Glad you enjoyed it and found us, Alexa 🙂
Wow! amazing list. I’ve found some good recipes here that I am going to try.
Thanks! Awesome stuff.
yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got hungry just by seeing this pictures, they all look delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipes, they’ll save a lot of week meals.
Oh finally !!!
Healthy veggie easy tasty recipes for real people with kids cats dogs and normally work – so hard to get the time to eat right and find inspiring veggie recipes that you know are going to taste of something !!!!
Thank you for sharing these x
Thanks Vicky! Really glad you’ve found the recipes useful and your comment is much appreciated!
Thanks for the vegetarian dinner recipes.
You’re very welcome 🙂