15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (1)

Here’s a list of 15 Meatless Main dishes everyone will love whether you’re a vegetarian, have a vegetarian in your life or you’re just trying to incorporate more plant based meals into your diet (Meatless Mondays!).

Easiest Pasta and Broccoli Recipeis one the quickest pasta dishes I make for my family, I make it at least twice a month when I need a quick meal and they all devour it. With just a few ingredients and only one pot, this recipe will put dinner on the table in 15 minutes.
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (2)

Spaghetti Squash Lasagnais awonderful way to prepare spaghetti squash; a winter squash that resembles strands of spaghetti when cooked.
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (3)

Cheesy Zucchini Enchiladas–meatless enchiladas filled with zucchini and cheese, topped with my homemade enchilada sauce they’re so delicious whether you’re vegetarian or not.
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (4)

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad– aprotein packed salad with Mediterranean flavors – quinoa, cucumbers, tomatoes, kalamata olives, red onion, extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon and a little feta cheese combined makes a healthy salad with fresh clean ingredients.
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (5)

Skinny Baked Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese– cheesy macaroni and broccoli are topped with bread crumbs and baked to perfection. Kid friendly, vegetarian and comfort food at it’s finest. This has been popular on the blog since 2011 when it was first posted.
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (6)

Crock Pot Minestrone Soupby far the best recipe you’ll ever try for Minestrone soup – a classic, hearty Italian soup with tomatoes, white beans, vegetables and pasta. You can use Swiss chard or baby kale instead of spinach if you wish and you can omit the pasta if you don’t want the carbs – honestly you won’t miss it with everything else in this soup.
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (7)

Skinny Mushroom Stroganoff – aquick and easy meal, perfect for Meatless Mondays! I love the combination of Shiitake, Baby Portabella and Cremini mushrooms along with the noodles in a light creamy sauce.Using a variety of mushrooms gives a nice texture and flavor. The Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste help give you some of that beef flavor you find in a traditional beef stroganoff recipe.
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (8)

Spicy Black Bean Burgerswith Chipotle Mayonnaise–One bite of this spicy black bean burger with spicy chipotle mayo and creamy avocado and you won’t miss the meat!
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (9)

Spaghetti with Creamy Butternut Leak Parmesan Sauce–Something magical happens to pasta when you combine it with a creamy butternut squash puree. This recipe issuper easy to make with only a few ingredients, and is very filling. Your family will love it!
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (10)

Three Cheese Tortellini and Mushroom Soup–is the perfect one pot meal. Vegetarians can swap out the chicken broth for vegetable broth (also perfect for Meatless Mondays). This soup is warm and satisfying, with tortellini in every bite!
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (11)

Butternut Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas–Butternut squash, black beans, tomatoes, cilantro and spices are simmered in a skillet with green chilies and jalapeno, then wrapped in tortillas and baked in the oven with enchilada sauce and cheese – these vegetarian enchiladas are delicious and perfect for meatless Mondays, or any day of the week!
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (12)

Crock Pot Creamy Tomato Soup–This creamy, rich tasting tomato soup is made in the slow cooker, with tomatoes, herbs, milk and Pecorino Romano cheese. Add the cheese rind for an added flavor boost.
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (13)

Baked Spaghetti Squash and Cheese–Cheesy baked spaghetti squash and baby spinach is a comforting, cheesy dish, without the guilt. If you are looking for a dish that is gluten-free, low-carb, vegetarian and comforting, give this a try. You’ll love it!
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (14)

Spaghetti Squash Primavera–Spaghetti squash and fresh vegetables simmered with a quick marinara sauce and topped with fresh mozzarella make this recipe delicious.To speed things up you can make the spaghetti squash in the microwave, which takes only about 8 minutes to cook, but if you have more time you can make it in the oven, the directions for both ways are listed with the recipe.
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (15)

Three Cheese Zucchini Stuffed Lasagna Rolls–These EASY lasagna rolls are stuffed with zucchini, ricotta and Parmesan, then topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese – delicious, kid friendly and perfect if you want to feed a crowd. You can make them a day ahead and refrigerate, or if you like to cook for the month, these are also freezer-friendly. Double it up, or bring an extra to a friend in need, they’ll thank you!
15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (16)

15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (17)

15 Light and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are 5 healthy food vegetarian? ›

Vegetarian sources of iron
  • pulses, such as kidney beans, chickpeas and lentils.
  • dried fruit, such as apricots.
  • dark green vegetables, such as watercress, broccoli and spring greens.
  • wholemeal bread and flour.
  • fortified cereals (with added iron)
  • nuts.

How to eat healthy vegetarian meals? ›

To get the most out of a vegetarian diet, choose a variety of healthy plant-based foods. These include whole fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Nuts and legumes, such as lentils, beans and peanuts, also are considered healthy plant-based foods. At the same time, cut back on less healthy choices.

What should vegetarians eat to replace meat? ›

How to get protein without the meat
  • Pulses. Pulses are an inexpensive protein choice, are high in fibre and a source of iron. ...
  • Soya beans. ...
  • Quinoa. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Seeds. ...
  • Cereals and grains. ...
  • Quorn™ ...
  • Dairy.

What type of vegetarian is healthiest? ›

Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Diet

For most people, this is a healthy diet. Advantages of the lacto-ovo vegetarian diet include: A wide array of options for consuming protein, including cheese, milk and yogurt. Less risk of low intake of vitamin B12, vitamin D and iron intake compared to some other vegetarian diet options.

Which vegetarian food is best for weight loss? ›

Vegetarian Protein-Rich Foods For Weight Loss
  1. Lentils (Dal) About a cupful of cooked dal has 18 grams of protein. ...
  2. Chickpeas (Chana) Chickpeas, or chana, come under the category of legumes and are high in protein content. ...
  3. Amaranth And Quinoa.
  4. Spinach. ...
  5. Almonds. ...
  6. Paneer Or Cottage Cheese. ...
  7. Broccoli.
Oct 16, 2019

How do vegetarians get protein? ›

Beans and legumes are two of the best sources of protein for vegetarians because you can use them in place of almost any meat in curries, salads, soups, tacos, and similar dishes. They come in many varieties, including: Lentils. Black beans.

Which cuisine is best for vegetarian food? ›

8 Types of Cuisine that are Vegetarian-friendly
  1. Indian cuisine. Indian cuisine remains one of the world's most vegetarian-friendly cuisines. ...
  2. Thailand cuisine. ...
  3. Indonesian cuisine. ...
  4. Chinese cuisine. ...
  5. 5. Japanese cuisine. ...
  6. Korean cuisine. ...
  7. Southern Italian cuisine. ...
  8. Mexican cuisine.
Oct 11, 2021

What sweets are suitable for vegetarians? ›

M&S Own Brand
  • American Hard Gums.
  • Fizzy Pop Sweets.
  • Fizzy Whizzy Cola Bottles.
  • Fruit Crumbles.
  • Fruit Gums.
  • Fruit Pastilles.
  • Fruit Sherbets.
  • Mixed up Meerkats.

Which vegetables are the healthiest? ›

In this article, we look at 15 of the most healthful vegetables and suggest ways to enjoy them as part of a balanced diet.
  1. Spinach. Share on Pinterest Aleksandr Zubkov/Getty Images. ...
  2. Kale. ...
  3. Broccoli. ...
  4. Peas. ...
  5. Sweet potatoes. ...
  6. Beets. ...
  7. Carrots. ...
  8. Fermented vegetables.

What vitamins do vegetarians lack? ›

The nutrients of concern in the diet of vegetarians include vitamin B(12), vitamin D, ω-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, and zinc. Although a vegetarian diet can meet current recommendations for all of these nutrients, the use of supplements and fortified foods provides a useful shield against deficiency.

What are the 5 main food groups for vegetarians? ›

No matter which vegetarian eating style you follow, it is important to choose a variety of foods including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds. This can help ensure you are meeting your nutritional needs each day.

What are the 4 perfect 5 healthy foods? ›

As we know the concept of Four Healthy Five Perfect emphasizes the consumption of rice, side dishes, vegetables, fruit and look at milk as a refined food. While the concept of Balanced Nutrition is interpreted as a daily food arrangement that contains nutrients in the type and amount that suits the needs of the body.

What is a list of vegetarian foods? ›

What to Eat on a Vegetarian Diet
  • Beans and lentils.
  • Nuts, nut butters and seeds (including chia and flax)
  • Whole grains (quinoa, bulgur, freekeh, whole-wheat, oats, brown rice and more)
  • Soy (tofu, edamame, tempeh)
  • Fruits.
  • Vegetables.
  • Dairy (yogurt, kefir, cheese and milk)
  • Eggs.
Apr 16, 2024

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Madonna Wisozk

Last Updated:

Views: 6622

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (48 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Madonna Wisozk

Birthday: 2001-02-23

Address: 656 Gerhold Summit, Sidneyberg, FL 78179-2512

Phone: +6742282696652

Job: Customer Banking Liaison

Hobby: Flower arranging, Yo-yoing, Tai chi, Rowing, Macrame, Urban exploration, Knife making

Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.