23 Dinner Ideas For Anyone Trying To Eat More Veggies In 2021

These meatless meals are seriously good.

Maybe you're trying to eat less meat in 2021, or perhaps you want to cut it out of your diet all together. In any case, these vegetarian recipes are affordable, flavorful, and best of all, loaded with protein so you can eat well and feel satisfied as the new year arrives.

1. White Bean Chili

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Canned white beans, chopped green chiles, and frozen corn form the base of this hearty vegetarian chili. Canned coconut milk adds a deliciously creamy taste and texture. Finish your bowl with avocado, jalapeño, tortilla chips, or any of your favorite toppings.

Recipe: White Bean Chili

2. Vegetarian Bolognese

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Simmered in a homemade tomato sauce, this combination of quinoa and chopped walnuts seriously mimics the taste and texture of a traditional Bolognese meat sauce.

Recipe: Vegetarian Bolognese

3. Sweet Potato Black Bean Casserole

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All the best flavors of enchiladas in a casserole, this comforting dinner comes together in a single baking dish.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Black Bean Casserole

4. Chickpea Shakshuka With Red Peppers and Goat Cheese

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Red pepper, chickpeas, and creamy goat cheese make classic shakshuka — a flavorful dish of baked eggs in tomato sauce — even more filling. Make sure to grab some bread or pita for dunking.

Recipe: Chickpea Shakshuka With Red Peppers and Goat Cheese

5. Spinach Stuffed Shells

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This easy and tasty meatless pasta is guaranteed to please the whole family. You can even make a big batch of the spinach-stuffed shells ahead of time and store them in the freezer for lazy nights.

Recipe: Spinach Stuffed Shells

6. Sheet Pan Veggie Tacos

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This recipe calls for potatoes and mushrooms tossed in chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, and other spices. You can get creative though and use whatever veggies you like best — from sweet potato to cauliflower.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Veggie Tacos

7. One-Pot Mushroom Stroganoff

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You only need a handful of simple ingredients to whip up this cozy pasta dish. If you're following a vegetarian diet, swap the beef broth for vegetable or mushroom broth. You won't lose any of the flavor.

Recipe: One-Pot Mushroom Stroganoff

8. Vegetarian Swedish Meatballs

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This meatless balls are made from a mixture of wild rice, mushrooms, eggs, breadcrumbs, and spices. Simmer them in a homemade five-ingredient creamy gravy.

Recipe: Vegetarian Swedish Meatballs

9. Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry

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This Thai-inspired vegetarian curry comes together with only a few ingredients. You can start with sweet potatoes and spinach and add whatever other veggies you have on hand.

Recipe: Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry

10. Air Fryer Tofu With Honey Garlic Sauce

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Tofu is one of my favorite things to make in my air fryer. Once it gets golden brown and crispy, toss it into a sweet and tangy sauce made of honey, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger.

Recipe: Air Fryer Tofu With Honey Garlic Sauce

11. Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala

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This Indian-inspired recipe is usually made with chicken, but cauliflower is the perfect vegetarian substitution. Best of all, this dish comes together quickly (and with very little effort) in the Instant Pot.

Recipe: Instant Pot Cauliflower Tikka Masala

12. Vegetarian Niçoise Salad

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This traditional French salad is usually made with tuna fish, but this recipe calls for canned white beans instead. Served with green beans, radishes, hard boiled egg, potatoes, tomatoes, and artichokes, this salad will fill you up and keep you feeling satisfied.

Recipe: Vegetarian Niçoise Salad

13. Okonomiyaki (Savory Japanese Pancakes)

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This Japanese vegetable pancake is a popular street food in cities like Osaka and Kyoto, but it's actually simple enough to make in your own kitchen. The main ingredients you need are cabbage, scallions, egg, and breadcrumbs, and you can top the pancakes with just about anything.

Recipe: Okonomiyaki (Savory Japanese Pancakes)

14. Sweet Potato Coconut Stew With Lentils and Kale

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Coconut milk, vegetable broth, and spices like turmeric, ginger, and garlic form the base of this creamy soup. It's packed with tender sweet potatoes, lentils, and leafy kale.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Coconut Stew With Lentils and Kale

15. Roasted Cauliflower Burrito Bowls

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Load up these burrito bowls with all your favorite Mexican-inspired toppings like avocado, pico de gallo or salsa, refried beans, and more.

Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Burrito Bowls

16. Mexican-Style Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

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Rice or quinoa, black beans, and diced tomatoes are mixed with lots of spices and stuffed into bell peppers, then they're topped with Monterey Jack cheese and baked in the oven.

Recipe: Mexican-Style Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

17. Black Bean Burgers

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These burgers are made with black beans, bell pepper, onion, breadcrumbs, eggs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and spices. Mix all the ingredients together, mash it with a fork, shape it into patties, and grill.

Recipe: Black Bean Burgers

18. Vegetarian Ramen

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The only ingredient you should go out of your way to buy for this veggie-packed ramen is white miso because it adds a savory, creamy element. Go for whatever add-ins you like best — from mushrooms and scallions to tofu and soft boiled egg.

Recipe: Vegetarian Ramen

19. Vegetarian Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna

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Classic lasagna gets a vegetable-packed twist. Cremini and shiitake mushrooms are layered between lasagna noodles with tomato sauce and a creamy ricotta cheese mixture.

Recipe: Vegetarian Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna

20. Rainbow Vegetarian Pad Thai

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Rice noodles are stir-fried with zucchini, shredded carrots, onion, and egg. If you don't want to make the sauce from scratch, just grab your favorite store bought pad Thai sauce.

Recipe: Rainbow Vegetarian Pad Thai

21. Kale Caesar Salad With Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas

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Roasted sweet potato, crispy chickpeas, and avocado turn Caesar salad into a filling meal. Make the Parmesan tahini dressing from scratch if you're feeling ambitious, or just pick up your favorite pre-made dressing if you want something faster.

Recipe: Kale Caesar Salad With Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas

22. Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Roasted Vegetables

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You can use any of your favorite vegetables to make this sheet pan gnocchi. Toss everything in simple three-ingredient sauce made of butter, sage, and garlic.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Roasted Vegetables

23. Tempeh Egg Roll Bowls

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Tempeh is a great substitute for chopped pork in these egg roll bowls because it crumbles. It's marinated in tamari, rice wine vinegar, and sriracha, then it's stir fried with vegetable slaw and scallions.

Recipe: Tempeh Egg Roll Bowls