Recipes & Cooking Recipes by Diet Vegetarian 14 No-Meat Dinner Ideas That Are Hearty and Full of Flavor These meatless meals are as flavor-filled and satisfying as any meat-filled dish. By Karla Walsh Karla Walsh Karla Walsh began her career at FITNESS magazine in 2010. Since, she's worked at a wide variety of publications full-time, including BHG.com, Recipe.com and as a cross-brand social media specialist. From search engine optimization to features for print to video strategy, she has a diverse background in all things magazines. At the start of 2019, Karla chose to pursue full-time freelance writing and has contributed to more than 3 dozen brands. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on May 19, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Jason Donnelly Don't let the idea of going veggie or practicing Meatless Monday scare you—these no-meat dinner ideas taste like your faves (pizza, chili, tacos, barbecue sandwiches—the comfort food gang's all here) without the beef, pork, or poultry. So no matter what you're craving, these easy meatless dinner recipes are so full of flavor that we promise you won't miss the meat! 9 Meat Alternatives to Add Protein to a Plant-Based Diet 01 of 14 Hearty Vegetable Cacciatore View Recipe Carson Downing Translated from Italian, cacciatore means "hunter." So it stands to reason that this classic Italian entrée's centerpiece is commonly braised rabbit or chicken. For this healthy no-meat dinner idea, allow meatlike portobello mushrooms, buttery fingerling potatoes, and chewy fava or soybeans to steal the show. Simmered in a sauce of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and wine, it tastes every bit as hearty and satisfying as the original dish. 02 of 14 Original Pizza Margherita View Recipe Jacob Fox Make pizza a little fresher—and vegetarian—by skipping the greasy sausage or packaged pepperoni. Instead, sprinkle your favorite pizza dough with garden-fresh basil and grape tomatoes, and top things off with melty mozzarella cheese. The kicker: This, one of our best no-meat dinner ideas, can be on the table in just 30 minutes, quicker than most delivery pies. 10 Vegetarian Italian Recipes So Good You Won't Miss the Meat 03 of 14 "Beef" Picadillo-Style Tacos View Recipe Blaine Moats Shake up some margaritas and prepare to dive into a vegan taco night that tastes just as good as (maybe even better than!) all fiesta feasts you've had before. A poblano chile, cumin, and coriander seasoning flavors the plant-based meat just as it does in your favorite taco recipe, so you won't notice there's zero beef. This Meatless Monday idea turns up the flavor volume even more with almonds, green olives, and potatoes—all elements inspired by picadillo, a classic dish in many Latin American countries. 04 of 14 Veggie Shepherd's Pie with Stout View Recipe Blaine Moats Lentils, mushrooms, carrots, and rich stout beer beef up this no-meat dinner idea, so it's wildly cozy. Don't worry: The peas, tomatoes, and potatoes are still invited to the savory pie party! To sneak in even more nutrition, follow our tip for mixing the spuds with parsnips and cauliflower. 05 of 14 Greek Spinach-Veggie Burgers View Recipe Blaine Moats Skip the fast-food hamburger tonight and head to the Mediterranean! Well, at least you can take your taste buds on a trip there with this no-meat dinner idea that takes just 30 minutes. Herb stuffing mix, spinach, and feta cheese make a healthy hamburger alternative, even when loaded with your favorite toppings. 9 Meat Alternatives to Add Protein to a Plant-Based Diet 06 of 14 Black Bean-Chipotle Tostadas View Recipe Jason Donnelly Nutty farro and filling black beans make a substantial topping for this easy meatless dinner idea. Corn, lime, cumin, salsa, and chipotle in adobo sauce bring major south of the border flair to this crowd-pleasing Mexican recipe. Try one as a starter for a meal (with a side of chips and guac, naturally). How to Make Your Own Restaurant-Quality Fresh Guacamole at Home 07 of 14 Mushroom-Sweet Potato Moussaka View Recipe Carson Downing Typically built around ground beef or lamb, this Greek casserole epitomizes comfort food. With a foundation of tomatoes, beef, and eggplant, it's traditionally coated in a thick layer of egg-thickened béchamel sauce and baked until bubbly. However, this lighter no-meat dinner idea is entirely vegan, showcasing a cashew cream sauce, garlicky roasted mushrooms instead of meat, and a luscious mashed sweet potato topping. Oh yes, and an impressive 20 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber to boot. 08 of 14 Mile-High Meatless Lasagna Pie View Recipe Christina Schmidhofer Struggling to choose between deep-dish pizza or a lasagna recipe tonight? We say, choose both. This hearty springform Meatless Monday dinner idea gets its 26 grams of protein from a variety of cheeses (ricotta is a strong source). Buy It: Nordic Ware Spring Form Pan ($14, Target) 09 of 14 Chickpea Alfredo with Spring Veggies View Recipe Blaine Moats Even if you're used to chicken-loaded restaurant Alfredos, this no-meat dinner idea will win you over from your first slurp. No one will guess it's completely vegan! (That is if you skip the optional Parm garnish.) The hearty and super-silky Alfredo sauce made with chickpea flour, cashews, and a couple of cloves of garlic is almost indistinguishable from Alfredo sauce made with dairy, especially once you toss it with fettuccine noodles, spinach, asparagus, and peas. 17 Delicious Vegan Desserts that Are a Sweet Treat for Everyone 10 of 14 Vegetarian Chili View Recipe Andy Lyons This healthy no-meat dinner idea is chock-full of beans and spices, so it tastes surprisingly similar to the classic stew (and is super-hearty). Volume eaters (aka those who try to eat large quantities of food without a lot of calories), listen up: You can scoop up a full 1½ cups for just 256 calories, and that portion has more protein than two eggs. To complete the meal, serve the vegetable-loaded chili recipe with toasted bread or a dinner roll. 11 of 14 Barbecue Jackfruit Sandwiches View Recipe Matthew Clark Jackfruit makes a great sub for barbecue meat with a similar texture and appearance to pulled pork, especially once it's slathered in barbecue sauce! Even the carnivores at your table won't be able to tell the difference once they take a bite of this easy no-meat dinner idea. Chipotle, Jackfruit, and Arugula Tacos 12 of 14 Hearts of Palm Cakes View Recipe Blaine Moats Like a mash-up of falafel and crab cakes—minus the seafood—this Meatless Monday idea is full of fiber and flavor. Hearts of palm, a slightly nutty vegetable low in carbs and somewhat reminiscent of artichokes, star in the Creole-seasoned patties. Pair with our easy vegan rémoulade sauce and try the panko-coated crabless cakes over leafy greens or as the filling for a wrap sandwich. 13 of 14 Cajun-Seasoned Vegetarian Gumbo View Recipe Jason Donnelly This vegetarian-friendly Southern favorite needs just seven ingredients, including beans, tomatoes, okra, and frozen stir-fry veggies. Even better news? This, one of our best meatless dinner ideas, takes just 10 minutes to prep before it essentially finishes itself in the slow cooker. 8 Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes for Delicious Meatless Meals 14 of 14 Buffalo Cauliflower Salad View Recipe Blaine Moats Roast florets of versatile cauliflower, then toss with a lemon juice-spiked cayenne pepper sauce for a Meatless Monday-friendly twist on Buffalo wings. Pile atop a bed of veggies—including carrots and celery, of course. Add almonds and an easy avocado dressing, and you have an entrée salad that might just inspire everyone to say, "Who gives a cluck about chicken?" 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