12 Easy Vegetarian Dinners Everyone Will Like

Meat-free dinners do not have to feel like a compromise. These 12 vegetarian recipes are filling, full of flavour and mostly made in one pot or pan. Several are fully vegan, and the rest use eggs, cheese or paneer. Pick a slow cooker chili for a lazy weekend, or noodles and tofu for a 20 to 30 minute weeknight.

1. Middle Eastern Baked Falafel Bowl

Herb-packed chickpea falafel baked instead of fried, served over rice with tahini sauce, cucumber and tomato.

⏱ 50 min · Lunch, Vegan, Vegetarian

2. Air Fryer Crispy Tofu

Cubes of pressed tofu tossed in cornstarch and soy sauce, then air-fried until shatteringly crisp.

⏱ 30 min · Snack, Vegan, Vegetarian

3. Slow Cooker Black Bean Chili

Mostly hands-off, deeply savoury and meat-free, and it freezes beautifully.

⏱ 4 hrs 15 min · Dinner, Vegan, Gluten-Free

4. One-Pot Coconut Chickpea Curry

A rich, coconutty chickpea curry made in one pot, and even better the next day.

⏱ 35 min · Dinner, Gluten-Free, Vegan

5. Spicy Peanut Noodles

Noodles in a creamy, spicy peanut sauce, ready faster than delivery and good cold the next day.

⏱ 20 min · Lunch, Vegetarian

6. Shakshuka with Feta

Eggs gently poached in a spiced tomato and pepper sauce, finished with crumbled feta, all in one pan.

⏱ 35 min · Breakfast, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free

7. Thai Coconut Curry Soup

A fragrant, creamy coconut broth built on red curry paste, lemongrass and lime.

⏱ 35 min · Soup, Vegan, Gluten-Free

8. Roasted Tomato & Basil Soup

Deep, caramelised tomato flavour in a cozy bowl, made for dunking.

⏱ 40 min · Soup, Vegan, Gluten-Free

9. Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Elbow macaroni in a silky cheddar sauce, made entirely on the stovetop in one pot.

⏱ 25 min · Dinner, Vegetarian

10. Huevos Rancheros Bowl

Crisped tortillas, black beans, a quick ranchera sauce and a fried egg on top, the Mexican breakfast that works for dinner too.

⏱ 25 min · Lunch, Gluten-Free

11. Paneer Tikka Skewers

Paneer marinated in yogurt and spices, then charred at the edges. A crowd-pleasing starter.

⏱ 35 min · Appetizer, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian

12. Chilli Paneer Bites

Crispy paneer tossed in a sticky garlic-chilli sauce with peppers and onion, the Indo-Chinese starter that disappears first.

⏱ 30 min · Appetizer, Vegetarian

Before you start

Vegan picks from this list: falafel bowl, crispy tofu, black bean chili, chickpea curry, Thai coconut curry soup and roasted tomato basil soup.

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By Claire BennettA curious cook and lifelong traveller.Read Claire’s Story →

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