Vegetarian Dinner Ideas: Bowls, Pasta, Pies and More

Plan a meat-free dinner around the ingredients you already enjoy. These fourteen ideas include bean and lentil dishes, tofu bowls, vegetable pasta, a potato-topped pie and chickpea-filled pita. Some recipes contain dairy or egg; this is a vegetarian collection, not a vegan or allergen-free menu.

Build dinner around a main ingredient and a method

For a bowl, combine a bean or tofu recipe with the rice, couscous or vegetables specified in its method. Choose a tomato-lentil sauce or risotto when you want a pasta or rice supper. If you have oven time, try the mushroom and lentil pie or a vegetable pizza. Use vegetable stock, and choose vegetarian-labelled cheese and pesto wherever those ingredients are called for.

14 recipes to explore Estimated timings shown

Bowls and one-pan suppers

Tofu, chickpeas and beans with vegetables, spice and sauce.

Ginger-Garlic Tofu and Broccoli Bowls

Dry the tofu before browning it, then add broccoli and ginger-garlic sauce.

Allow about 45 min View recipe

Vegetable and Chickpea Couscous Bowls

Vegetable broth, chickpeas and couscous served as a generous bowl.

Allow about 50 min View recipe

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Bowls

Roasted sweet potato and black beans, with cold toppings added at serving.

Allow about 50 min View recipe

Chickpea and Spinach Coconut Curry

A chickpea and spinach curry with coconut sauce; check your curry paste.

Allow about 35 min View recipe

Tomato, White Bean and Spinach Stew

Cooked white beans and spinach in a tomato-based vegetable stew.

Allow about 45 min View recipe

Pasta and rice dinners

A choice of tomato sauce, roasted vegetables, creamy rice or filled pasta.

Tomato and Red Lentil Pasta

Split red lentils thicken the tomato sauce as they soften.

Allow about 50 min View recipe

Roasted Vegetable and Feta Orzo

Roast the vegetables first and choose vegetarian-labelled feta.

Allow about 45 min View recipe

Mushroom and Pea Risotto

Cook the mushrooms separately and use vegetable stock and suitable cheese.

Allow about 50 min View recipe

Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells

Drain the spinach well before filling the pasta with ricotta.

Allow about 1 hr 20 min View recipe

Bake, fill and share

A potato-topped pie, falafel pita, vegetable pizza or cauliflower burger.

Mushroom and Lentil Shepherd-Style Pie

Let the mushroom-lentil filling thicken before adding the mashed potatoes.

Allow about 1 hr 20 min View recipe

Baked Falafel Pita with Lemon Tahini Sauce

A baked canned-chickpea version, with a chilling step before shaping.

Allow about 1 hr 15 min View recipe

Roasted Vegetable and Pesto Pizza

Roast the vegetables and choose vegetarian-labelled pesto and mozzarella.

Allow about 1 hr 20 min View recipe

Baked Cauliflower Burgers with Yogurt Sauce

Squeeze moisture from the cauliflower and choose vegetarian-rennet Parmesan.

View recipe

Soup night

A warming peanut, sweet-potato and chickpea combination.

Peanut and Sweet Potato Soup with Chickpeas

Peanut, sweet potato and chickpeas in a warming soup; contains peanuts.

Allow about 50 min View recipe

Check cheese, pesto and stock before cooking

Some hard cheeses use animal rennet, and some pesto contains those cheeses. Choose products labelled suitable for vegetarians and read the recipe’s substitution notes. Pick vegetable stock rather than a meat-based stock. Where cheese is optional, consider serving it separately so everyone can choose their own topping.

Plan leftovers around the components

Cooked beans, lentil sauces and vegetable fillings can be convenient to prepare ahead when the recipe allows. Keep crisp salad, bread and cold sauces separate until serving. Cool cooked rice promptly and follow the specific recipe’s storage limits. A dish with nuts, dairy, egg, soy or wheat is not suitable for every dietary requirement simply because it contains no meat.

Food images are AI-generated serving illustrations. Recipes include their own development notes and estimated timings; check each method before cooking.

A GOOD PLACE TO START