If you’re a vegetarian or looking to become one, it can be hard deciding what to eat. Here are some easy vegetarian dinners that can help!

All of these dinner ideas come together in under an hour or are made with energy-saving tools like a slow cooker or Instant Pot! They are all well-suited to busy weeknights when you just want to get a filling, healthy meal on the table.

What should a vegetarian eat for dinner?

It would be easy to think that cooking vegetarian recipes would be limiting, but that’s just not true! With a diverse diet full of a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, spices, and plant-based proteins, vegetarians can meet all of their dietary needs just fine.

What about protein?

The world of vegetarian protein sources is wide and varied. You can get your protein from:

• Eggs
• Milk, cheese, and yogurt
• Quinoa*
• Legumes like chickpeas, beans, and lentils*
• Tofu, tempeh, and other soy products*
• Grains such as oats, barley, and millet*
• Nuts*

The options with stars next to them are also good vegan sources of protein. Some vegetables even contain a decent amount of protein, like peas, Brussels sprouts, spinach, and corn.

What are some easy vegetarian dinners?

You’ll find all our easy recipe ideas below, but here are some of our readers’ favorites:

• Lentil Tacos are ready in 30 minutes, and the world is your meatless oyster when it comes to the toppings!
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is one of our favorite easy weeknight dinners. It’s made from scratch, but ready in the same amount of time as the boxed kind!
• Veggie Lentil Soup is a recipe we almost always have the ingredients for, so it is easy to dish up a bowl on even the busiest night.
• Black Bean Fiesta Salad is one of our favorite lunch meal prep recipes, but it also works well for a filling dinner.
• Top Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes with your favorite vegetarian chili or lentil sloppy joes.
• Summer Roasted Vegetable Pasta has all the best flavors of summer—tomatoes, sweet corn, and fresh basil! It can also be made with gluten-free noodles if you needed.
• Avocado Black Bean Quesadillas are ready in 15 minutes, and we even give a vegan option.