20 Protein-Packed Vegetarian Meals
If you're a vegetarian, you're probably always looking for fresh, healthy, and delicious meatless meals. And by now you know that getting your vegetarian protein and varying your menu to ban boredom are two of the biggest challenges. That's why we've found 20 awesome, high protein vegetarian meals from around the web and broken them up below into breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
See which ones you haven't tried yet—and then plan out your healthy eating game plan with some Zero Belly Smoothies mixed in the rotation for an extra boost of waist-slimming superpowers.
Breakfast
Oatmeal Pancakes With Cinnamon Apples
Good old-fashioned pancakes are a staple breakfast food, but they're not always known for being healthy. These pancakes are lighter and are made from oats and wheat flour, so they'll give you a solid protein and fiber boost, too.
Get our recipe for Oatmeal Pancakes with Cinnamon Apples.
Fruit and Granola Greek Yogurt Parfait
Holy parfait. Breakfast doesn't get much more simple than this. Just combine a yogurt of your choice (we recommend Greek) with fresh berries and granola for a sweet yet satisfying start to your day.
Get our recipe for a Fruit and Granola Greek Yogurt Parfait.
Chocolate-Coconut-Banana Smoothie Recipe
Perfect to kill that chocolate craving, this creamy smoothie is one you won't forget. This recipe calls for a small carton of plain Greek yogurt, which is loaded in gut-healthy probiotics, packed with protein, and low in sugar. The majority of sugars occurring in this drink come from natural sources such as plain yogurt, dark chocolate, and banana, which makes it far healthier than most smoothies.
Get our recipe for a Chocolate-Coconut-Banana Smoothie.
Oatmeal Superfood Breakfast Bars
Just looking at these will make your mouth water. The vibrant colors from the variety of seeds and fruits make for a picture-perfect on-the-go breakfast, packed with superfood ingredients that will have you ready to take on any day. These bars are ideal to make ahead for an easy grab in the A.M. that will get you fueled to start the day and shedding those pounds in no time. If you're a die-hard KIND bar fan and not about to make your own, see where your favorite flavors fall on our exclusive list of every KIND bar—ranked!.
Get the recipe from A healthy Life For Me.
High Protein Vanilla Chia Pudding
Chia seeds, quinoa, and hemp hearts are all loaded with plant-based protein. A complete way to start out your day, this blend of superfoods is bumpin' with nutrients. This is also a flat-belly dream with 0 grams of sugar and almost 16 grams of protein (without using maple syrup)!
Get the recipe from Simply Quinoa.
Lunch
Avocado and Heirloom Tomato Toast with Balsamic Drizzle
Here's a satisfying lunch made with fresh avocado and juicy heirloom tomatoes; it doesn't get much better than that! Avocados are a belly-fat killer and packed with healthy monounsaturated fats to leave you feeling fuller. So, when your stomach starts to rumble mid-day, reach for this easy 5-ingredient (plus seasoning) toast recipe to boost your energy and have you ready to take on the rest of the day.
Get the recipe from Blissful Basil.
Vegan Tempeh BLT Wrap
Tempeh is an awesome alternative when you're looking to cut back or completely cut out the meat in your diet. Tempeh is a firmer version of its very close friend tofu. It actually contains more protein per gram and is a less processed form (Tofu's getting jealous). Tempeh is new to us westerners but has been eaten in Asia for hundreds of years. The mild flavor allows you to season and dress it as you please to fit the taste you're looking for.
Get the recipe from Peaceful Dumpling.
Golden Raisin Wheat Berry Arugula Salad
Wheat berries are the whole-grain form of wheat, this complete grain prior to undergoing any processing is full of protein. Pairing wheat berries with peppery arugula and sweet raisins lead to an explosion of flavor in your mouth. High protein grains are always a great swap when you're looking to stay away from meat. This may sound like your average salad but once you taste it you'll understand the difference.
Get the recipe from In It 4 the Long Run.
Dinner
Braised Lentils and Vegetables
Lentils are a nutrition-packed member of the legume family. One of the main benefits lentils bring to the table is their high fiber content. They also give you tons of energy and stabilize blood sugar. These are a filling addition to any meal and when seasoned right, can lead to a perfect balance of savory flavors. No wonder they're lentils are one of the best of the healthiest foods on the planet!
Get the recipe from Cafe Johnsonia.
Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
One of my favorite carb swaps is the spaghetti squash. I don't know about you, but I am a huge pasta fan since growing up in an Italian family. There were just so many ways to eat it—with marinara, butter and garlic, meatballs, carbonara sauce- and the list doesn't stop there. Now, there's a way to enjoy these Italian favorites without all the added carbs and calories. The spaghetti squash has a similar appearance and texture to angel hair pasta once it's cooked and pulled from its outer shell. This healthy pasta tip is the ideal answer for when you're looking for that hearty Sunday night dinner.
Get the recipe from I Heart Vegetables.
Mexican Zucchini Burrito Boats
These zucchini burrito boats put Chipotle to shame. Stuffed with rice, veggies, beans and melty cheese to hold it all together, this Mexican dish is one of the best high protein vegetarian meals that will have you forgetting you skipped the meat.
Get the recipe from Making Thyme For Health.
Peanutty Quinoa Bowls with Baked Tofu
Tofu is the perfect substitute to add to breakfast, lunch or dinner, especially if you are staying away from animal meat. It is filled with protein and brings a great amount of nutritional value to the table. Tofu is made from soybeans and can be cooked to taste similar to just about any other meat. It is super absorbent so depending on the way you cook it and what you cook it in will really define how it will turn out. Think of it as a blank canvas ready to be painted. Try it out a few different ways and find out how you enjoy it best, here's a great place to start.
Get the recipe from Oh my Veggies.
Coconut Curry Lentil Soup
What's better than an incredibly comforting warm soup on a cold winter day? Not much. Come home and snuggle up to this soup that is super high in fiber and blasting with flavor. It's creamy texture and kicking spices come together to make the perfect balance of flavors. The ginger in this soup will also help aid sickness, nausea, and congestion. So beat those winter sniffles with this hearty dinner.
Get the recipe from Vegangela.
Baked Falafel Bowls
It's true: the more colors you eat, the more nutrients you put into your body. Sticking to bright colored fruits and vegetables are a great way to increase your vitamin intake and some major flavors. When looking to boost your iron, eat greens, like arugula. An entire 2 cups of arugula contains only 10 calories. (Go ahead, read that again, it's not a typo!) These bowls are beaming with color and with fully packed fiber to keep your digestive system on track.
Get the recipe from Vegu Kate.
Avocado Couscous Grapefruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
Here is a quick, simple, throw-together high protein vegetarian recipe perfect for those nights that you just have too much going on! I don't know about you but I am a huge fan of adding citrus to zest up a basic salad. Grapefruit is also an excellent source of vitamin C, the colds worst enemy. This cold-fighter is bright in color and in flavor; sure to pack a punch. The citrus will add a sweet and sour tang to the couscous and jazz up the creamy avocado. Opt out of the honey dressing if you're looking to reduce the sugar count and just use a mix of fresh lime juice and olive oil.
Get the recipe from Well Plated.
Snacks
Vegan Buffalo Cheddar Cheese
Spread this 'cheese' on some homemade crackers or eat it with a spoon, there's no wrong way to enjoy this! The smoky, spicy combination is bold and hearty. The cashews are disguised as a cheese that make the perfect vegan alternative. Cashews are a great mineral source packed with copper, manganese, magnesium and vitamin K.
Get the recipe from My Darling Vegan.
Chickpea Croutons
Whether you're topping a soup or salad or just looking for healthy snack ideas, here's an answer! Pack a handful or two in a baggy and pick at them all day long. With such great crunch and flavor, these one ingredient croutons are an ideal wholesome snack. Forget the processed pretzels and chips, bake these chickpeas at home for a quick 20 minutes to create these protein-packed treats.
Get the recipe from Simple Vegan Blog.
No-Bake Oatmeal Protein Energy Balls
Whoever invented this latest 'no-bake balls' food trend needs to be recognized! The convenience and ease of making these no-bake energy balls pretty much beats out any other snack out there. Always so delicious and filled with the perfect amount of protein and nutrients to keep you going, these oatmeal protein balls will have you feeling some type of way. Their gooey and rich texture are munch-worthy in between meals or for a late night snack.
Get the recipe from The Healthy Maven.
Banana Nut Quinoa Bars
Ever have a busy work week that sometimes calls for an unhealthy quick breakfast? NO MORE. With these easy, high protein bars that you can make ahead of time and have around for the whole week. They are chewy and crunchy with the perfect amount of sweetness added from the banana. Bananas are a potassium filled fruit that help lower blood pressure naturally, plus they have high levels of tryptophan which converts into serotonin and makes you happier.
Get the recipe from The Wholesome Dish.
Baked McTofu Nuggets
Who would have thought you could make this McDonald's classic would land on a list of high protein vegetarian meals? Well, this twist on the McNuggets are a loaded source of protein and baked to perfection.
Get the recipe from One Ingredient Chef.
