34 Plant-Based Dinner Ideas for Meatless Mondays
Looking for fresh, delicious ideas to make Meatless Mondays exciting? Whether you’re plant-based full-time or just easing into more vegetarian meals, these 34 plant-based dinner recipes are bursting with flavor, easy to prepare, and 100% satisfying no meat needed!
Let’s dive in!
Why Go Plant-Based on Mondays?
🌱 Health Boost: More veggies = better heart health, digestion, and energy.
🌱 Save Money: Plant-based proteins like beans and lentils are super budget-friendly.
🌱 Good for the Planet: Eating less meat reduces your carbon footprint!
Table of Contents
34 Delicious Plant-Based Dinner Ideas
Quick Stir-Fries and Skillets
1. Veggie Stir-Fry with Tofu
Ingredients:
- 1 block firm tofu, cubed
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 zucchini, sliced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
Instructions:
Sauté tofu until golden. Add veggies and stir-fry until tender-crisp. Toss with soy sauce.
2. Sweet Chili Cauliflower
Ingredients:
- 1 head cauliflower, florets
- ½ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions:
Roast cauliflower at 400°F for 20 min. Toss with sweet chili sauce before serving.
3. Mushroom and Spinach Skillet
Ingredients:
- 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions:
Sauté garlic and mushrooms until soft. Stir in spinach until wilted.
Hearty Soups and Stews
4. Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 cup lentils
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cups veggie broth
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a pot. Simmer 30–40 minutes until lentils are tender.
5. Chickpea Vegetable Stew
Ingredients:
- 1 can chickpeas
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 2 zucchinis, diced
- 1 tsp cumin
Instructions:
Sauté zucchini. Add chickpeas, tomatoes, cumin. Simmer 20 minutes.
6. Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
Ingredients:
- 4 cups diced tomatoes
- 1 onion
- 1 cup coconut milk
- Fresh basil
Instructions:
Simmer tomatoes and onion. Blend smooth. Stir in coconut milk and basil.
Flavor-Packed Pasta Dishes
7. Vegan Pesto Pasta
Ingredients:
- Pasta
- 1 cup basil
- ¼ cup pine nuts
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
Instructions:
Blend pesto ingredients. Toss with cooked pasta.
8. Creamy Avocado Pasta
Ingredients:
- Pasta
- 1 ripe avocado
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove
Instructions:
Blend avocado, lemon, and garlic. Mix with warm pasta.
9. Mushroom Stroganoff
Ingredients:
- Pasta
- 2 cups mushrooms
- 1 cup coconut cream
- 1 onion, diced
Instructions:
Sauté onion and mushrooms. Stir in coconut cream. Toss with pasta.
Easy Bowls and Grain Meals
10. Buddha Bowl
Ingredients:
- Quinoa
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Kale
- Avocado
- Tahini dressing
Instructions:
Layer all ingredients in a bowl. Drizzle with tahini dressing.
11. Tex-Mex Rice Bowl
Ingredients:
- Brown rice
- Black beans
- Corn
- Salsa
- Avocado
Instructions:
Layer rice, beans, corn, salsa, and sliced avocado.
12. Mediterranean Couscous Bowl
Ingredients:
- Couscous
- Cucumber
- Cherry tomatoes
- Olives
- Hummus
Instructions:
Top couscous with veggies and a big scoop of hummus.
Tacos, Wraps, and Sandwiches
13. Black Bean Tacos
Ingredients:
- Tortillas
- 1 can black beans
- Salsa
- Shredded lettuce
Instructions:
Fill tortillas with beans, salsa, and lettuce.
14. Buffalo Cauliflower Wraps
Ingredients:
- Cauliflower
- Buffalo sauce
- Tortillas
- Ranch dressing (vegan)
Instructions:
Roast cauliflower, toss with buffalo sauce, and wrap in tortillas with ranch.
15. Vegan Sloppy Joes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup lentils
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 1 onion, chopped
Instructions:
Cook lentils and onion. Stir in tomato sauce. Serve on buns.
Creative Plant-Based Mains
16. Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients:
- Mashed potatoes
- Mixed vegetables
- Lentils
Instructions:
Layer lentils and veggies in a dish. Top with mashed potatoes. Bake 25 minutes at 375°F.
17. Stuffed Bell Peppers
Ingredients:
- Bell peppers
- Rice
- Black beans
- Salsa
Instructions:
Stuff peppers with rice, beans, and salsa. Bake 30 minutes at 375°F.
18. Eggplant Parmesan (Vegan)
Ingredients:
- Sliced eggplant
- Marinara sauce
- Vegan mozzarella
Instructions:
Bake breaded eggplant slices. Layer with marinara and cheese. Bake 20 minutes.
Asian-Inspired Plant-Based Dinners
19. Thai Peanut Noodles
Ingredients:
- Noodles
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions:
Whisk sauce ingredients. Toss with noodles.
20. Vegan Sushi Rolls
Ingredients:
- Sushi rice
- Nori sheets
- Avocado
- Cucumber
Instructions:
Layer veggies on rice and nori, roll tightly, and slice.
21. Miso Ramen
Ingredients:
- Ramen noodles
- 1 tbsp miso paste
- Mushrooms
- Spinach
Instructions:
Cook noodles. Stir miso paste into broth. Add mushrooms and spinach.
One-Pan and Sheet Pan Meals
22. Sheet Pan Veggie Fajitas
Ingredients:
- Bell peppers
- Onions
- Fajita seasoning
Instructions:
Roast veggies at 400°F for 20 minutes. Serve with tortillas.
23. One-Pan Orzo with Vegetables
Ingredients:
- Orzo pasta
- Cherry tomatoes
- Spinach
- Broth
Instructions:
Simmer everything together until orzo is tender.
24. Baked Gnocchi with Marinara
Ingredients:
- Gnocchi
- Marinara sauce
- Spinach
Instructions:
Mix gnocchi with marinara and spinach. Bake 20 minutes at 400°F.
Delicious Curries and Indian-Inspired Dishes
25. Chickpea Curry
Ingredients:
- 1 can chickpeas
- 1 can coconut milk
- 2 tbsp curry powder
Instructions:
Sauté chickpeas. Add coconut milk and curry powder. Simmer 15 minutes.
26. Red Lentil Dal
Ingredients:
- Red lentils
- Onion
- Curry spices
- Coconut milk
Instructions:
Cook lentils with spices and coconut milk until creamy.
27. Cauliflower Tikka Masala
Ingredients:
- Cauliflower florets
- Tikka masala sauce
- Rice (for serving)
Instructions:
Roast cauliflower. Simmer in sauce. Serve over rice.
Fresh and Simple Salads
28. Rainbow Veggie Salad
Ingredients:
- Mixed greens
- Bell peppers
- Carrots
- Cucumber
- Balsamic vinaigrette
Instructions:
Toss all veggies with vinaigrette.
29. Quinoa Avocado Salad
Ingredients:
- Cooked quinoa
- Avocado
- Black beans
- Corn
- Lime dressing
Instructions:
Mix everything together and drizzle with lime juice.
30. Watermelon and Cucumber Salad
Ingredients:
- Watermelon
- Cucumber
- Mint
- Lime juice
Instructions:
Toss all ingredients together for a refreshing summer salad.
Fun Plant-Based Comfort Foods
31. Vegan Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:
- Elbow pasta
- 1 cup cashews (soaked)
- Nutritional yeast
- Garlic powder
Instructions:
Blend cashews and seasonings for sauce. Mix with pasta.
32. Vegan Pizza
Ingredients:
- Pizza dough
- Marinara sauce
- Vegan cheese
- Veggie toppings
Instructions:
Top dough with sauce, cheese, and veggies. Bake 15 minutes at 450°F.
33. Plant-Based Quesadillas
Ingredients:
- Tortillas
- Vegan cheese
- Beans
- Peppers
Instructions:
Fill tortillas, cook in a skillet until crispy.
34. Baked Falafel Wraps
Ingredients:
- Canned chickpeas
- Parsley
- Garlic
- Pita bread
- Tahini sauce
Instructions:
Blend falafel ingredients. Bake 20 minutes at 400°F. Serve in pita with tahini.
Conclusion
You don’t have to sacrifice flavor (or spend hours in the kitchen) to enjoy plant-based meals. These 34 ideas prove that Meatless Mondays can be fun, easy, and delicious!
