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If you’ve ever worried that vegetarian dinners won’t actually keep you full, this post is for you! I’m pretty picky when it comes to “high-protein” meals – I want real dinners that feel satisfying, not recipes that rely on protein powder or weird swaps.
These are the vegetarian dinners I make when I want something filling, comforting, and genuinely high in protein. They’re weeknight-friendly, packed with flavor, and the kind of meals that don’t leave you hunting for snacks an hour later!
These Are the High-Protein Vegetarian Dinners I Make on Repeat
4.81 from 21 votes
High-Protein Marry Me Butter Beans
We're taking our butter beans up a notch with this High-Protein Marry Me Butter Beans recipe! It's creamy and delicious and packed with SO MUCH protein- you're going to love it!
Crispy pan-seared tofu tossed in a bold, spicy-sweet gochujang sauce that comes together in minutes. This Gochujang Tofu is an easy vegetarian dinner is perfect served over rice or noodles, with optional edamame for extra protein if you want to bulk it up.
These Caesar Tofu Lettuce Wraps are my meat-free take on a viral recipe and I absolutely love how these turned out! It's SO SIMPLE to make and packed with a ton of flavor from the tofu lunch "meat" as well as the croutons, caesar dressing, and pickled red onion!
Quick High-Protein Vegetarian Dinners for Busy Nights
5 from 9 votes
Sheet Pan Black Bean Tacos
These Crispy Black Bean Tacos are cheesy and so delicious plus they come together with just 15 minutes of active work! The whole family will love these and they're easily customizable.
This easy broccoli cheese rice casserole is creamy, cozy, and made from scratch with simple ingredients. A vegetarian comfort-food classic that’s perfect for weeknights or meal prep.
Creamy peanut tofu noodles tossed with crispy air fryer tofu and veggies. This easy peanut noodle recipe is packed with flavor, ready fast, and perfect for weeknights!
This ultra creamy Tofu Pasta Sauce is rich, velvety, and packed with 25g of plant-based protein per serving! It’s an easy, dairy-free alternative that comes together in minutes—just blend, heat, and toss with your favorite pasta!
This Sesame Ginger Tempeh Stir Fry Recipe is one of the most popular recipes on my blog! It's an easy vegan stir fry that only requires 25 minutes to make and SO DELICIOUS! Even my meat loving husband enjoys this dish!
NO MORE bland tofu with these 3 delicious Summer inspired tofu marinades. They're all SO SIMPLE to make and great for meal prep if you want to marinate it in the fridge for a few days until you're ready to enjoy!
High-Protein Bowls & Salads That Don’t Feel Like Diet Food
5 from 5 votes
Dense Bean Salad
This Dense Bean Salad is a high-protein hearty mix of chickpeas, cannellini beans, crisp vegetables, olives, and feta in a tangy oregano-garlic vinaigrette. Perfect for meal prepped lunches and popular at potlucks!
This Edamame Salad is a plant-based powerhouse filled with protein and fiber to keep you full and satisfied! It's easily customizable so you can add in your favorite veggies to use up what you already have on hand.
These whipped feta veggie bowls are loaded with roasted vegetables, crispy chickpeas, and creamy whipped feta for an easy, flavorful vegetarian dinner that everyone will love!
Cozy and nourishing Coconut Lentil Curry withwarming spices, creamy coconut milk and a boost of veggies from onion, tomatoes, bell pepper and peas. This flavorful recipe is packed with plant-based protein and fiber for the perfect, satisfying meal!
Nourishing Coconut Tofu Soup is a mix of ginger, garlic, lemongrass, mushrooms and tofu, all simmered together in a savory broth. An easy, healthy meal that’s full of flavor and ready in less than 30 minutes!
Green Goddess Pasta is fresh, vibrant, and packed with herby flavor in every bite—and the best part? It’s ready in just 30 minutes! With a creamy, nutrient-packed green sauce, this quick and easy pasta is perfect for busy weeknights when you still want something wholesome and delicious.
These High Protein Veggie Burritos are super easy to make and packed with 25 grams of plant based protein! They come together with just a handful of simple ingredients and are a great freezer meal too.
This Marry Me Tofu is my vegetarian take on the VIRAL Marry me chicken recipe that I have been seeing everywhere! It’s simple to make and packed with so much flavor!
Bringing you major warm, cozy and comforting vibes with this Vegan Lentil Soup! This soup recipe is so easy to make and it’s loaded with nourishing vegetables, warm spices and lentils, all simmered in a savory veggie broth. An easy one pot dinner option that the whole family will love!
Most adults need around 0.36–0.60 grams of protein per pound of body weight, depending on activity level. That’s roughly 50–75 grams per day for many people. Personally, I aim for closer to 100 grams of protein per day. All the meals in this post contain 20–30g of protein per serving to help you meet that goal.
What are the best high-protein vegetarian ingredients?
My go-to protein-packed ingredients include: – Lentils, chickpeas, and other beans – Tofu, tempeh, and edamame – Cottage cheese and Greek yogurt – High-protein pastas (like chickpea or lentil-based) – Quinoa, eggs, hemp seeds, and even oats!
How can I add more protein to vegetarian dinners?
Easy ways to boost protein include: – Swapping regular pasta for lentil or chickpea pasta – Adding cottage cheese or Greek yogurt to sauces – Using tofu or tempeh in stir-fries and sheet pan meals – Stirring hemp seeds or nutritional yeast into bowls and soups
Are these dinners freezer-friendly?
Yes! Many of them are great for meal prep. I recommend freezing: – The high-protein burritos (individually wrapped) – Coconut lentil curry and other saucy dishes – Bean-based soups and stews → Just thaw and reheat on the stove or microwave with a splash of broth!
Want to level up even more?
Many of these dinners pair well with cottage cheese, lentil pasta, quinoa, or a sprinkle of hemp hearts to boost your protein even further.
Learning simple and easy ways to add more protein to vegetarian meals is key!
Brita is the author of Food with Feeling which is a vegetarian based food blog. She creates easy and delicious recipes that encourage people to try more meat-free recipes!
The beans are so creamy, and the seasoning is on point rich, savory, and just the right amount of heat. You can tell a lot of thought went into making this both delicious and nutritious. Perfect for a satisfying meal or even as a side dish. They’re seriously so good, I might just ‘marry’ them myself! Definitely adding this to my regular meal rotation.
Thank you for nice and healthy recipes
The beans are so creamy, and the seasoning is on point rich, savory, and just the right amount of heat. You can tell a lot of thought went into making this both delicious and nutritious. Perfect for a satisfying meal or even as a side dish. They’re seriously so good, I might just ‘marry’ them myself! Definitely adding this to my regular meal rotation.
Thank you for your wonderful recipes!!
Great recipes- thank you so much🎈🌹❤️
All these look sooo delicious
I can’t wait to try them!