Cooking a plant-based dinner doesn't have to be tasteless or time consuming. Our top recipes are bursting with flavor and can be on the table in under an hour.
Top 10 Plant-Based Dinner Recipes
Updated on Jul. 22, 2021
1/10
Tomato-Garlic Lentil Bowls
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
An Ethiopian recipe inspired this feel-good dinner that's tangy, creamy and packed with hearty comfort. —Rachael Cushing, Portland, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 294 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 419mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 8g fiber), 21g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 2 lean meat, 1/2 fat.
Lentils are one of the best meat substitutes you can buy!
2/10
Mediterranean Chickpeas
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Add this to your meatless Monday lineup. It's great with feta cheese on top. —Elaine Ober, Brookline, Massachusetts
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup chickpea mixture with 2/3 cup couscous: 340 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 677mg sodium, 51g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 9g fiber), 11g protein.
3/10
Sweet Potato Bowl
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I have three hungry boys in my house, so dinners need to be quick and filling, and it helps to get in some veggies, too. This one is a favorite because it's hearty and fun to tweak with different ingredients. —Kim Van Dunk, Caldwell, New Jersey
Nutrition Facts:
2 cups: 435 calories, 11g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 405mg sodium, 74g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 8g fiber), 10g protein.
4/10
Tuscan Portobello Stew
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s a healthy one-skillet meal that’s quick and easy to prepare, yet elegant enough for company. I often take this stew to my school’s potlucks, where it is devoured by teachers and students alike. —Jane Siemon, Viroqua, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups: 309 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 672mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 13g fiber), 12g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 vegetable, 1-1/2 fat, 1 lean meat.
Check out our favorite plant-based meat brands, too.
5/10
Pesto Gnocchi
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Perk up gnocchi and vegetables with a flavorful pesto sauce. If you don't have pine nuts to top the pesto gnocchi, skip or substitute any nut you like. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 327 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 682mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 4g fiber), 9g protein.
6/10
Quinoa and Black Beans
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Some vegan quinoa recipes are boring, but this one definitely isn't. My daughter’s college asked parents for the best quinoa recipes to use in the dining halls. This healthy quinoa recipe fits the bill. —Lindsay McSweeney, Winchester, Massachusetts
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups: 375 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 668mg sodium, 60g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 10g fiber), 13g protein.
7/10
Hearty Asian Lettuce Salad
Total Time
20 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This meatless version of your favorite restaurant salad packs 13 grams of protein per serving and is bursting with juicy flavor. It's a brilliant choice for lunch or a busy-day dinner. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 salad: 329 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 430mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 7g fiber), 13g protein.
8/10
Asparagus Tofu Stir-Fry
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
With its flavorful ginger sauce and fresh vegetables, this tasty dish is a favorite. I get rave reviews every time I serve it, and it doesn’t bother my husband’s food allergies. —Phyllis Smith, Chimacum, Washington
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 278 calories, 11g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 682mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 4g fiber), 14g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 lean meat, 1 fat.
For a super satisfying meal, learn how to create umami flavor with plant-based foods.
9/10
Tropical Fusion Salad with Spicy Tortilla Ribbons
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Fresh fruits and veggies pair up for a fantastic summer salad that's savory, sweet and spicy all at once. Make the tortilla strips with your pizza cutter—so easy! —Jennifer Fisher, Austin, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 321 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 380mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (20g sugars, 11g fiber), 9g protein.
10/10
Tofu Chow Mein
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is an easy recipe for a "tofu beginner," as it teaches people how to use it. If you have time, one way to prepare it is to cut the tofu block in half and wrap well in a terry kitchen towel. Let it sit in the fridge for at least an hour to absorb excess water. For a complete meal, serve with Chinese soup and egg rolls! — Autumn SinClaire, Gold Beach, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups: 417 calories, 17g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 588mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 8g fiber), 21g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 fat, 2-1/2 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable.
