35 Meatless Monday Recipes the Family Will Love
You'll want to eat these meals the rest of the week
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The Spruce / Anita Shecter
Meatless Monday is an international campaign that started in Britain in 2009 and has since spread worldwide. The idea behind it is that everyone can make a meaningful change in the world by eating meat-free for one designated day each week. For those who want to get on board with this cause—or who already cook vegan or vegetarian all year round—this collection of meatless recipes will inspire you in the kitchen. Browse these great ideas for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that leave out the meat, but don't skimp even a little bit on flavor.
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Vegetarian Japanese Udon Noodle Soup
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The Spruce Eats / Anastasiia Tretiak
Experience the classic flavors of Japanese-style udon with a vegetable-based soup. The clear broth has a rich umami taste that beautifully balances with the thick chewy noodles, crisp-tender Chinese broccoli, and chopped fresh cilantro, all topped with roasted peanuts.
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Classic Eggplant Parmesan
Louise Lister / Getty Images
Who needs meat when you can have this cheesy vegetarian casserole? Fried breaded eggplant rounds are layered lasagna-style with tomato sauce and two kinds of cheese, then baked until the whole thing is hot and bubbling. Bonus: the recipe freezes well for a make-ahead meal.
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Vegan and Vegetarian Bean and Rice Burrito
The Spruce
Enjoy this easy, cheesy, Tex-Mex burrito that skips meat entirely. Cooked rice seasoned with cilantro and lime juice is loaded into flour tortillas along with sauteed beans and vegetables. Feel free to customize and add your family's favorite burrito fillings.
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Farro and Wild Mushroom Risotto
The Spruce / Elaine Lemm
Farro grains and wild mushrooms combine to create a luxurious Italian-style risotto with wild mushrooms, shallot, garlic, butter, and parsley. It makes a filling meatless weeknight meal, along with a side salad.
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Sweet and Spicy Halloumi Sandwich
The Spruce / Grilled Cheese Social
In this insanely delicious gourmet sandwich, soft halloumi cheese is pan-seared until crispy, then layered with roasted, cinnamon-spiked squash, raspberry harissa jam, plus a tangy Brussels sprout slaw.
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Cauliflower Gnocchi
The Spruce / Molly Watson
In this light and healthy dish, riced cauliflower florets take the place of potatoes, to form tasty little gnocchi. They are cooked Italian-style with tomato sauce. Top with plenty of Parmesan cheese for serving.
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Bang Bang Cauliflower
Leah Maroney This cauliflower recipe is a riff off of the Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer from Bonefish Grill, which has a near-cult following. Modified to be vegetarian and dairy-free, this is the perfect light but decadent appetizer. Serve it on top of quinoa with a side salad, for a complete dinner in a bowl.
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Super Easy Cacio e Pepe Pasta
The Spruce / Elaine Lemm
Not only is this super-easy cacio e pepe pasta recipe meatless, but it also requires only three ingredients and is ready in about 15 minutes. Pecorino Romano cheese, a healthy dusting of black peppercorns, and spaghetti alla chitarra combine to make a company-worthy dish with a minimum of effort.
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Veggie Burgers
The Spruce
Meatless Mondays can still be burger days! Veggie burgers made with mushrooms have a flavor and texture that's so meaty, you may not miss the beef at all. Canned pinto beans add protein and texture, while a combination of garlic, onions, cumin, and parsley give it big flavor.
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10 of 35
Cauliflower Fried Rice
The Spruce / Anita Shecter
Cauliflower takes the place of the usual white or brown rice in this sneakily healthy stir fry. Cauliflower florets are reduced to rice-sized grains in the food processor, then quickly stir-fried with chopped fresh vegetables and soy sauce.
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Vegan Tofu Stir-Fry With Peanut Sauce
VeselovaElena / Getty Images
Who wouldn't say yes to peanut sauce for dinner? This Asian-style stir-fry with tofu, shiitake mushrooms, and snow peas is utterly delicious, good for you, and makes a filling meal when served over fluffy hot cooked rice.
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Cauliflower Chowder
The Spruce Eats / Elaine Lemm
Thick and creamy, cauliflower chowder is perfect for fall and winter meals. It's ready within an hour and is a flavorful, hearty vegetarian soup that makes dinner simple when served with a thick slice of bread or salad.
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Cauliflower Parmesan
The Spruce Eats / Jennifer Perillo
Cauliflower Parmesan is a quick and healthy main dish inspired by an Italian favorite. In less than an hour, you can roast the cauliflower, make the fresh marinara, and broil it with mozzarella and pecorino cheeses.
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Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai
The Spruce Eats / Jennifer Perillo
Make Monday "takeout" night and meatless with this delicious spaghetti squash pad Thai recipe. The low-carb dish has everything that's great about the original, including tofu, eggs, fish sauce, cilantro, tamarind, scallion, garlic, bean sprouts, and roasted peanuts. The traditional rice noodles are replaced by the stringy squash, and it's an easy recipe to make vegan as well.
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Spicy Spaghetti With Garlic and Olive Oil (Aglio e Olio)
Lauri Patterson / Getty Images
Sometimes, it's the simple things that satisfy, like this traditional Italian recipe for spaghetti with garlic, olive oil, and a little red chile pepper. Breadcrumbs and parsley are optional, but add lovely texture and flavor to the classic pasta dish.
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Asparagus Pizza
The Spruce Eats / Anita Schecter
Turn Monday into pizza night with this asparagus pizza recipe. The delicious pizza is best in spring when the vegetable is at its peak, and your family will love the cheesy blend of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Baby arugula and red pepper flakes add a little extra flavor, and it all comes together quickly.
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Middle Eastern Pizza
The Spruce / Anita Schecter
When you're craving something new for dinner, try this homemade flatbread with Middle Eastern inspiration. Naan or pita bread forms the base for the tasty dish, which is topped with crumbled feta cheese, hummus, spinach, tomatoes, and za'atar seasoning.
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18 of 35
Gluten-Free Cheesy Mushroom Baked Ziti
rita maas / Getty images
Gluten-free and meatless dinners don't have to be bland! Meaty mushrooms, tangy onions, two kinds of cheese, and jarred tomato sauce deliver plenty of flavor in this family-friendly baked casserole with gluten-free pasta. Even better, it takes just 30 minutes to make.
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Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
The Spruce Eats / Pete Scherer
Roasted, thick-cut cauliflower turns into a delicious veggie steak when roasted. With a crisp crust and meaty texture, cauliflower steaks are worthy of main dish status. This recipe is prepared simply with cumin seeds, but feel free to serve your steaks with a spice rub or sauce, much like an actual steak.
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Avocado and Poached Egg Toast
The Spruce / Leah Maroney
Start your Meatless Monday off right with this on-trend breakfast rich in protein, nutrients, and heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Whole grain toast is topped with a perfectly poached egg and creamy avocado slices, all drizzled with hot sauce to taste.
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Vegan Tofu and Cashew Chow Mein
vertmedia / Getty Images
Soft wheat noodles with stir-fried tofu and vegetables in a medley of Asian sauces makes a filling weeknight meal that is suitable for meat-free days. Roasted cashews add extra crunch and protein to this nutritious vegetable-packed entree.
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Crispy Quinoa with Kale
The Spruce / Jennifer Meier
Quinoa is a nutty-tasting grain that packs plenty of protein, making it an excellent choice when you're not eating meat. Here, it's pan-toasted in olive oil with fresh kale leaves, cumin, cinnamon, garlic, and eggs, creating a crunchy, flavorful, and super nutritious side.
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Classic Fettuccine Alfredo
The Spruce
Every home cook needs to know how to make fettuccine alfredo, and this classic recipe is easy enough to whip up on a Monday night, but special enough for dinner parties. Just a handful of ingredients are needed, and while it's not exactly diet food, it's definitely a crowd-pleasing meal.
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Spinach and Ravioli Lasagna
Laura Agra / Katie Workman / themom100
Packaged ravioli forms the base of this creamy pasta bake bulked up with spinach and artichoke hearts. It's done in just 30 minutes and freezes well for a make-ahead meal.
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Easy Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry
StockFood / Getty Images
Cauliflower and chickpeas are transformed by aromatic spices and other ingredients, including creamy coconut milk, into a delicious vegetarian dish that makes an excellent entree when served over hot cooked rice.
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Vegetarian Avocado and Pesto Pasta
The Spruce Eats / Emily Hawkes
Avocado lovers will adore this pasta recipe combining chunks of the creamy, heart-healthy fruit with pesto-dressed noodles. Store-bought pesto is a great shortcut that makes this simple weeknight recipe even faster to prepare.
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Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
The Spruce
Use up leftover rice and create a tasty dinner the entire family will love with this tropical recipe. Seasoned rice mingle with chunks of juicy pineapple, sweet raisins, roasted cashews, garlic, shallots, soy sauce, and a little curry powder in a fantastic dish you can make in 30 minutes.
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Vegetable Stir-Fry With Tofu
The Spruce / D Schmidt
A fabulous stir-fry sauce is the secret to this meat-free 30-minute dinner. Prep the tofu and all of your veggies first, so you can toss them into the pan at just the right time during cooking.
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Pumpkin and Sage Pasta
The Spruce Eats / Ulyana Verbytska
Pumpkin and sage are a classic fall flavor combination. Vegetarian and vegan, this creamy pasta calls for canned pumpkin puree so it's quick and easy enough to prepare any night of the week, but still feels fancy enough for guests.
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Vegetarian Crockpot Lentil Soup
The Spruce Eats
Crock pot lentil soup is inexpensive, packed with protein and fiber, and cooks while you go about your day to form a simple weeknight dinner. Celery and carrots add a sweet note to this filling vegetarian soup. Serve it with salad, and crackers or dinner rolls for a complete meal.
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Pasta With Sundried Tomato Pesto
Katie Workman / themom100
Everyone loves pesto pasta and sun-dried tomatoes give this colorful variation a fabulous deep red hue and salty-tangy flavor. Serve it with a pasta shape that has ridges to "hold onto" the sauce, such as penne rigate.
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Creamy Cauliflower Soup
Philippe Desnerck / Getty Images
Thick and luscious cauliflower soup makes a delicious, healthy lunch for meatless Mondays. You'll love the elegant flavors, which come from white wine, garlic, and snipped fresh chives.
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Easy Black Bean Chili
Phoebe Lapine / Getty Images
With less than 10 ingredients, this budget-friendly black bean chili will easily fill up growling stomachs on meatless Mondays. Cook up a big pot on the weekend and freeze individual portions to reheat later for make-ahead lunches and dinners.
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Caprese Sandwich With Tomato, Mozzarella, and Fresh Basil
The Spruce
Enjoy this fresh and satisfying meat-free sandwich for dinner, perhaps with a cup of tomato soup on the side. Thick slabs of soft, fresh mozzarella cheese are tucked between tomato slices and basil leaves inside submarine rolls that are drizzled with balsamic glaze and olive oil.
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Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese
The Spruce
A big plateful of homemade macaroni and cheese makes an indulgent dinner, or a filling lunch. You'll want to bookmark this must-have recipe, which walks you through making a tasty from-scratch cheese sauce. The pasta bake is finished with a tasty, buttered breadcrumb topping.
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