Looking for healthy vegetarian recipes that go beyond the same bowl of greens? Think chickpea curry, sweet potato tacos and colorful noodle bowls.
These meal ideas give you plenty to choose from, whether you’re in the mood for something saucy or a plate piled with vegetables.
You can keep things simple or try something a little different. Save your favorites as inspiration for your next meal plan. These pictures show serving ideas rather than complete recipes, so ingredients and portions will shape the nutritional balance.
Vegetarian Meal Ideas Worth Saving
chickpea curry and rice
We’re starting off strong with this gorgeous chickpea curry. I love the orange sauce with leafy greens running through it.
White rice, a pale dollop and a lemon wedge sit alongside.
If you want to follow this serving idea, leave the rice to one side so there’s plenty of room for the curry.
colorful vegetable bowl
How pretty is this bowl? The browned zucchini and eggplant slices sit beside orange vegetables, red peppers and leafy greens. Those little white crumbles make the colors stand out even more.
For your own version, try a couscous base with the vegetables arranged in loose sections like these.
sweet potato and black bean tacos
I am obsessed with this taco combination. The sweet potato cubes have dark browned edges, with black beans tucked between them.
Avocado, chopped tomatoes and green herbs fill out the tops.
Keep a lime wedge on the side if you’re following this plate. I’d definitely keep the avocado too.
lentil shepherd’s pie
If you love a golden potato topping, this one is for you. The spoonful shows the thick lentil filling underneath, with little orange vegetable pieces mixed through.
My favorite part is the browned ridges across the top. A little chopped parsley would be a pretty finishing touch for your own version.
vegetable-stuffed mushrooms
These little stuffed mushrooms are so cute! The caps hold a colorful mix of chopped greens, red pieces and a golden topping.
I love how they’re served together with lemon wedges.
Read also: 20 Side Dishes for Chicken and Dinner Pairing Ideas
Try this presentation for a sharing plate, or pair your stuffed mushrooms with a grain salad for dinner.
tofu burrito bowl
This tofu bowl may just be one of my favorites here. I love the browned cubes piled over rice, especially with avocado slices and black beans alongside.
The red and yellow pepper strips bring in even more color. Choose a sauce you enjoy for a little drizzle across the top.
golden bake with basil
Who else would choose a corner piece? This bake has a golden melted topping, red sauce around the edges and basil leaves scattered over the squares.
The filling isn’t visible here, but the presentation is lovely inspiration for a vegetarian lasagna. I’d serve it with a simple green salad.
greek chickpea salad
Don’t want another leafy salad? No problem!
This bowl puts chickpeas, cucumber, tomato halves and dark olives front and center. Thin red onion slices and white crumbles are scattered throughout.
I especially love how chunky everything is. Keep that same mix of shapes when putting together your own salad.
glazed cubes and broccoli
That glossy coating looks so good with the bright green broccoli. There are browned cubes, orange vegetable slices and sesame seeds scattered over the whole pan.
For a vegetarian version inspired by this picture, try tofu with broccoli and carrots. Serve it over rice if you’d like something underneath to catch the sauce.
greens-filled pasta shells
The pasta fans are going to love this! These large shells hold a pale filling flecked with chopped greens, all nestled into red sauce beneath a browned topping.
I’d choose spinach and ricotta for a version of this dish. Leave the shells facing up so that pretty filling still shows.
spaghetti with lentil sauce
If you’re looking for a different way to use lentils, save this spaghetti idea. The thick red sauce sits between the strands, with visible lentils and little diced vegetables throughout. A scattering of herbs finishes the pan.
saucy cauliflower and flatbread
I love this cauliflower bowl with the browned flatbread tucked along the edge. The big florets are coated in orange-red sauce, with chopped herbs scattered over them.
Keep the cauliflower in generous pieces for a similar plate. I’d serve extra flatbread alongside for scooping.
mushroom stroganoff and rice
This is another lovely idea if you want something saucy. Sliced mushrooms surround a mound of white rice, with a little green garnish over both.
Don’t want to serve it with rice? Try your own mushroom stroganoff over noodles instead.
Either way, I’d keep those mushroom slices nice and chunky.
sweet potato burrito bowl
Here is another burrito bowl, but it’s a little different from the tofu version above. This one has orange sweet potato cubes, black beans and corn alongside rice, lettuce and avocado.
I love the salsa spooned right over the vegetables. Keep some on the side too if you like adding it as you eat.
cheesy eggplant rounds
How good do these little eggplant rounds look? Each one has a crumb-coated edge, red sauce and a melted topping, with strips of green herbs scattered over it.
This is a pretty way to serve eggplant without stacking it into a large bake. I’d pair a few rounds with a tomato and bean salad.
loaded flatbreads with greens
I am obsessed with these loaded flatbreads. The golden sesame-speckled bites sit over leafy greens and a white spread, with a pale sauce drizzled across them.
For a similar vegetarian lunch, try falafel with cucumber ribbons and avocado. Don’t forget a few herbs if you want that same generous green topping.
bean and vegetable pasta soup
If you like a soup with lots going on, this one is for you. There are spiral noodles, white and dark red beans, peas, carrots and leafy greens in the reddish broth.
I love that there’s something different in every spoonful. A piece of bread on the side would be a lovely addition.
eggs in red sauce
Look at those golden yolks against the red sauce! The eggs sit between long pepper strips, with white crumbles and green leaves scattered across the pan.
Save this shakshuka-style idea for a savory breakfast or dinner. I’d bring bread to the table for scooping up the sauce.
browned veggie patties
Don’t want a bowl or a pasta dish? These thick veggie patties offer something a little different.
I love the browned surfaces and the visible little pieces throughout.
Try a bean-based patty recipe for your own version. Serve it in a bun with lettuce and tomato, or keep it on a plate with a crunchy slaw.
rainbow noodle bowl
Last but definitely not least, we have this colorful noodle bowl. I love the purple cabbage beside the shredded carrots!
Edamame, peanuts and a generous pile of herbs sit around the noodles.
Keep the lime wedge if you’re trying this combination. A peanut-lime dressing would be a lovely addition to toss through before eating.
Related stories