There are a lot of reasons to serve meatless meals. For one, they will help you save money, since meat is more expensive than most vegetarian ingredients.
These easy meatless recipes are great meals to make on a budget. And going meatless, even just now and again or for Meatless Mondays, can also be good for your health.
Whatever your reason, these affordable meatless meals and sides are satisfying, hearty and delicious. They’re packed full of filling ingredients from you won’t miss the meat.
Note that while this isn’t a specifically vegan list of recipes, many of the recipes state that they’re vegan. Some are also gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, etc. There’s hopefully something here for everybody.
By the way, there’s a whole other list of meatless chickpea recipes because chickpea is such a popular meat replacement ingredient. It’s so filling and full of protein and other goodies.
Budget-Friendly Easy Meatless Meals
Ratatouille Nicoise is a simple classic French vegetable stew traditionally made with late summer, well-ripened vegetables. It is a wholesome side dish to serve with grilled chicken or meat, especially lamb. You can serve it as a vegetarian or vegan main course over plain rice, couscous, or simply mixed with pasta.
This delicious cauliflower snack is just a tiny bit spicy, with a wonderful hint or garlic. It's quick to make, and it works wonderfully as a finger food or a side dish.
Broccoli cheddar zucchini soup is a hearty, comforting soup recipe that's filled with nutritious veggies. All you need is 30 minutes to have a bowl of this creamy, cheesy soup on the table.
Cheesy and savory, Zucchini Casserole with Tomatoes is a delicious way to use your late-summer garden harvest. Easy to make and budget-friendly, it makes a hearty vegetarian main dish or side.
This easy vegan version of Shepherd's Pie features lentils instead of meat. It takes less than 30 minutes to make. It's hearty, gluten-free, and loaded with protein and nutirion from the veggies.
It even gets a comforting amount of cabs from the dairy-free mashed potatoes. It's healthy and budget friendly.
A meatless, veg easy recipe for zucchini boats with just a handful of ingredients. Stuffed and baked, this summer will be your zucchini season!
This easy healthy dinner only takes 30-40 minutes to make. It gets so much flavor from feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, basil and more.
This quick and easy lentil Bolognese is a vegan twist on the classic Italian meat sauce. You can serve it with pasta or - if you're watching the starchy carbs - spaghetti squash or zoodles.
This Vegan Cabbage Soup is the perfect hearty meal for busy weeknights or lazy Sundays. It's easy to make, budget-friendly, and very tasty.
Instant Pot Potatoes and Carrots Recipe: To Recreate Nostalgic Flavors
Packed full of fresh produce and goodness, this Instant Pot potatoes and carrots recipe guarantees fork-tender chunks of veggies with mouth-watering flavors in every bite. It takes only 35 minutes of pressure cooking (with a lot of hands-off time) to revive the nostalgic flavors reminiscent of the stews from childhood.
This recipe for Roasted Veggie Burrito Bowls with Avocado Crema is a delicious plant-based meal. They are packed with veggies, black beans, rice, and a dairy free avocado cream sauce. Vegan, gluten free, and dairy free!
This one-pot Dry Mushroom Masala is super healthy, vegan, low calorie and is bursting the flavors of Indian spices and can you believe all that gathers in less than 15 minutes.
This budget-friendly, uber-hearty recipe takes the New Orleans classic and removes the meat - but not the flavor. The ultimate vegan and vegetarian comfort food meal!
Looking for a hearty meatless dinner? These Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers For Two will hit the spot with rice, tomatoes, and black beans!
This vegan-friendly Vegetable Korma is an easy homemade curry that uses easy-to-find ingredients and a simple step-by-step recipe.
Lubya is a delicious Afghan red kidney bean curry in warm tomato sauce. This curry is mild, soft, and hearty. Serve on basmati rice and top with the garnishes of your choice.
If you've never tried Vegetarian Rasta Pasta, you're in for a treat! This mouth-watering dish is creamy, spicy, and bursting with flavor. It's an easy and simple recipe that comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Old-fashioned Irish stew is a cold-weather hearty tradition. The updated vegan stew recipe is made with loads of healthy root vegetables, tofu, and rich stout beer broth. One bite and it is hard to believe this simple recipe is meatless.
Fasolada Recipe, Greek Bean Soup (Vegan, Creamy, Quick + Gluten-Free)
Fasolada is a Greek white bean soup that's hearty and perfect for a cold winter day. It's easy to make and full of flavor. Plus, it's loaded with fiber and protein, making it a healthy meal choice.
This copycat recipe of Panda Express Eggplant Tofu combines crispy tofu, fried eggplants, and red peppers with a sticky sweet and spicy sauce! Vegan and gluten-free!
No pasta was harmed in the making of this meal. Spaghetti Squash with Garlic & Almonds combines Jarlsberg, almonds, and garlic for a delicate crunch and rich, nutty depth in this light and easy spaghetti squash recipe.
Carrots, potatoes, corn and lots of hearty veggies make this a soup that will fill you up. A great mix of seasonings makes it delicious.
Vegetable Korma Recipe - Simple mix veg kurma curry [without coconut]
This is a meatless version of a korma recipe. It has all the delicious seasonings of a meat karma dish, just without the meat.
These delicious vegetarian Turkish Stuffed Peppers (Biber Dolmasi) are filled with aromatic stuffing made of rice, onions, pine nuts, currants, and various herbs/spices.
This thick & creamy cashew carrot ginger soup is an easy-to-make instant pot soup recipe. Made with cashews, carrots, ginger, coconut milk and Thai red curry paste for a bit of spice. Plus it’s both vegan and gluten-free!
Instant pot mujadara is a quick and easy version of this classic Middle Eastern dish, made in your pressure cooker.
These roasted Portobello Mushroom Fajitas are a delicious meatless meal that even steadfast meat eaters will love. Marinated portobello mushrooms are roasted with bell peppers and onions and piled on toasted tortillas with toppings to create these easy vegetarian fajitas.
These quick Vegan Tostadas are easily customizable to suit every member of your family’s tastes. From start to finish, this dish takes just 30 minutes. Prep the beans and shells ahead of time and this easy weeknight dinner can be on your table in just 10 minutes! Gluten-free,
too.
Packed with hearty plant based protein, vegetables and spices, this quick and easy Vegan Black Bean Soup is perfect for a cozy weeknight meal. Kid approved and ready in just 30 minutes!
This potato and lentil dahl is a quick one pot meal. Ready in 25 mins on the stove or just 15 mins if you use a pressure cooker. It's simple, spicy and nourishing.
When life gives you tomatoes, you make homemade mushroom tomato sauce! This meatless Creamy Tomato Mushroom Pasta with spinach is a filling vegetarian weeknight dinner for two you can make without needing to buy a jar of sauce.
Easy Quinoa Veggie Wrap With Sweet Italian Dressing (Gluten-Free I Vegan)
Enjoy a flavorful lunch with this homemade veggie wrap! Loaded with protein-packed quinoa and colorful veggies all dressed in a homemade Italian dressing. This quinoa wrap makes a great meal prep recipe, tasty lunch or gluten-free dinner recipe on a busy weeknight.
Lentil tortilla soup is a delicious vegetarian soup that is hearty and soul-warming. Perfect for cool fall days, this great recipe is an easy weeknight meal that has so much flavor!
Packed with nutrients, this beautiful chocolate cherry vegan smoothie bowl recipe is a healthy and delicious way to start the day.
Mexican lentil soup made with lentils, lots of veggies, and broth is a simple, wholesome one-pot meal that’s perfect for easy meals during the week. Lentils give the soup an earthy and savory essence making the dish feel hearty and satisfying.
Easy stuffed poblanos casserole made with Lentil and orzo is the best vegan comfort food recipe for the whole family. It’s as easy as putting all the ingredients into a casserole dish and let the oven do the hard work.
This roasted butternut squash with sweet chilli and maple syrup makes the perfect midweek dinner. With its deeply caramelised, crispy corners and velvety centres it’s topped with pomegranate arils for a pop of freshness and optionally haloumi for a hint of saltiness.
This easy 30 minute Mushroom Stew is perfect for a cozy family dinner that everyone will love! It makes excellent comfort food full of rich umami and savory flavors in just one pot.
Mediterranean grain bowls combine whole grains, vegetables, and fresh, bright, bold Mediterranean flavors for a healthy, delicious meal ready in about 10 minutes! Great for meal prep and work lunches.
Easy cheese flautas are a great way to please picky eaters. Made with jack cheese and flour tortillas, toppings optional. A meatless meal!
Barbunya Pilaki (Turkish Style Borlotti Beans) is a classic Turkish dish braised in olive oil with onions, garlic, and tomato (paste). This delicious vegan dish is perfect to serve as a light lunch, a part of a mezze spread, or a side dish to grilled&roasted meat, fish, and vegetables.
Tteokbokki is a rice cake popular in Korea. This recipe takes it to the next level with cheese.
Make this delicious Apple Risotto loaded with apple flavors in 35 minutes. Apple Risotto is a delicious side dish or meal on its own, topped with crunchy Marcona almonds. Follow the instructions to make the risotto super creamy.
This Mushroom Vegetarian Dumplings recipe is so delicious dipped with garlic chili oil and perfect as pan-fried, steamed, boiled, or baked!