33 Plant-Based Dinners That Will Make You Forget All About Meat
Meatless for Monday and beyond.
Here at Delish, we’re all about flavor, so when it comes to plant-based recipes, we’ve gotten creative to make sure they’re just as delicious as their meat and dairy-laden counterparts. Whether you’re a lifelong vegan, a curious omnivore, or looking for healthy recipe ideas for meatless Mondays, you're guaranteed to love these 33 amazing plant-based dishes.
While there are plenty of rad meatless meats and dairy-free cheeses on the market now, for these recipes we’ve largely tried to stick with whole foods like nuts, beans and mushrooms instead. In our vegetarian moussaka, for example, we swap out beef for lentils. In our vegan meatloaf, we use chickpeas and baby bella mushrooms. Our vegan mac & cheese uses cashews (and sauerkraut!) to get that umami-rich cheesy flavor. We’re even using oyster mushrooms to fake chicken-fried chicken (+ mushroom gravy, mmm).
We’re also big fans of tofu, seitan, and tempeh. If you’re unfamiliar, tofu is made from minimally processed soy milk that has been cooked and pressed into a block; seitan is made from wheat gluten that’s had all the starch removed, and tempeh is made from soy beans that have been fermented and pressed into a block. If none of this sounds tempting, just trust us. Think of them like raw chicken — not something you’d want to eat on its own, but once you season and cook it properly, it becomes delicious. Try our seitan piccata, our spicy fried tofu sandwich, or our tempeh buffalo wings, and you’ll soon be a convert.
For more meatless recipes, check out our vegetarian dinners, vegan dinners, and vegan desserts.
Vegan Crunchwraps
We updated the fast food favorite to be totally vegan and completely irresistible. Creamy vegan queso dip and meaty lentils make a satisfying filling while a quick trip in a hot skillet adds crunch to every bite.
Get the Vegan Crunchwraps recipe.
Jerk Tofu Grain Bowls
This vegan recipe is a bit of a culinary road trip through some Jamaican staples: sweet plantains, aromatic rice and peas, and tofu in a jerk marinade.
Get the Jerk Tofu Grain Bowls recipe.
Vegan Meatloaf
This hearty "meat" loaf is made mostly out of chickpeas and baby bella mushrooms. We're in love! Serve it with a side of vegan mashed potatoes and green beans for the most comforting meal.
Get the Vegan Meatloaf recipe.
Vegan Pizza
Make your own pizza dough to really impress your plant-based friends. Don't skimp on the vegan ranch dressing — it's the best part!
Get the Vegan Pizza recipe.
Vegan Chili
Sweet potato, black beans, pinto beans, and a whole bottle of beer (like Modelo) come together to make a super hearty meatless chili.
Get the Vegan Chili recipe.
Super Green Pasta Salad
It’s not so hard to eat your greens when they come in pasta salad form. Sweet baby spinach is great here, but peppery arugula or tender baby kale would work well too.
Get the Super Green Pasta Salad recipe.
Vegan Ramen
This completely vegan version uses layers of umami-packed flavor to mimic the depth complexity of traditional ramen, and edamame for a protein boost. Feel free to swap in some of your favorite veggies, but don't skip the
Get the Vegan Ramen recipe.
Vegan Mac & Cheese recipe
Delicious vegan mac & cheese might sound like an oxymoron, but trust us, this cheese sauce is good enough to satiate the strongest dairy craving.
Get the Vegan Mac & Cheese recipe.
Vegan Seared "Scallops" with Succotash
In a dish that brings summer vibes to the table no matter the season, king trumpet mushrooms mirror the sweet, delicate flavor of sea scallops. Nestled into a colorful and crisp corn and snap pea succotash, this date-night-worthy dinner is sure to impress.
Coconut Ranch Kale Salad
This vegan coconut ranch is absolutely irresistible. (Seriously, you'll want to dip everything in it.) But the crunchy chickpeas may just be our favorite part. Who needs croutons?
Get the Coconut Ranch Kale Salad recipe.
Vegan Meatballs
Few comfort foods satisfy like a hearty bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. Now, my vegan friends, you TOO can enjoy this comfort sans guilt! These chickpea based meatballs pack tons of flavor, come together quickly, and even provide a good amount of protein and fiber.
Get the Vegan Meatballs recipe.
Vegan Antipasto Chopped Salad
If, like us, you can’t resist a good olive bar, this recipe was made for you. Perfect as a main and even better paired with vegan pizza, this zesty, crunchy salad is an Italian flavor bomb.
Get the Vegan Antipasto Chopped Salad recipe.
Vegan Mushroom Pot Pie
When it's cold out, a steaming hot pot pie filled with creamy, flavorful gravy, sweet and tender veggies, and topped with a shatteringly flaky crust is EVERYTHING. Here, mushrooms replace meat and are every bit as satisfying as their meaty counterparts.
Get the Vegan Mushroom Pot Pie recipe.
Extra Lemony Seitan Piccata
Most piccata sauces use only lemon juice; we opt for whole pieces of the fruit to make use of every last bit of bright citrus flavor. After a simmer in a wine and broth jacuzzi, the lemon loses its sharp bitterness and becomes sweet and tender.
Get the Extra Lemony Seitan Piccata recipe.
Vegetarian Moussaka
Moussaka is a Greek eggplant-based dish that is traditionally made with ground beef. Here we swapped the meat with lentils to make this an even heartier vegetarian dish. The creamy bechamel sauce on top of this is INCREDIBLE.
Get the Vegetarian Moussaka recipe.
Chicken-Fried Mushrooms & Gravy
Meaty oyster mushrooms stand in for steak in our indulgent take on this Southern classic. Buttermilk is a must for fried chicken, so we made our own with almond milk and vinegar.
Spicy Fried “Chicken” Sandwich
Crunchy, spicy, creamy, and tart—this "chicken" sammie is total bliss. We replicated spicy fried chicken with protein-packed tofu and added cornmeal to the batter for extra crunch. Don't skip the freezing step — it's what gives the tofu a more meat-like texture.
Tempeh Buffalo “Wings”
Quicker to make and easier to eat than buffalo chicken wings, this plant-based version swaps chicken for snackable triangles of tempeh to mimic the crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Get the Tempeh Buffalo “Wings” recipe.
Tofu Katsu Curry
This hearty Japanese dinner comes complete with crispy sesame-panko-crusted tofu, tender vegetables, and a rich and flavorful curry sauce.
Get the Tofu Katsu Curry recipe.
Baked Falafel Sandwich
Although this shortcut isn't as crispy as the classic falafel, they develop a nice golden crust and contain all the key spices. A zippy roasted pepper salad is the perfect foil, and creamy tahini sauce ties it all together.
Get the Baked Falafel Sandwich recipe.
