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Ready to spice up your Meatless Mondays? We’ve got 52 mouthwatering dinner recipesโ€”one for every Monday of the year! From chickpea gyros to mushroom carnitas tacos, these dishes are guaranteed to make your Mondays anything but boring.

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If you’re ready to dip your toes into the world of plant-based eating, Meatless Monday is the perfect day to start!

What Is Meatless Monday?

As the name suggests, Meatless Monday is just a day where you skip the meat and eat vegetarianโ€”simple as that.

Originally launched during World War I as a way to encourage food rationing, this idea got a modern makeover in 2003, thanks to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, to improve public health and the environment.

But why Monday?

Studies show that Mondays are the best day to start new habits (like a healthy diet or lifestyle change). And trust me, it makes a difference!

Eating meatless just one day per week can save the lives of up to 29 animals, reduce your carbon footprint, and improve your health. Plus, itโ€™s a fun way to expand your usual recipe repertoireโ€”because who doesnโ€™t love an excuse to cook something new and delicious?

So, What Can You Eat?

Well…not meat! This means no beef, pork, lamb, goat, chicken, or turkey (most people also choose not to eat fish).

Eggs, cheese, milk, and dairy are fair game if that’s your thing, though we would encourage you to seek out a local farm or market to find these. The taste is often better, and the animals producing these ingredients are less likely to be subjected to factory farming.

Meatless Monday Recipes

Need inspiration? Here are 52 vegetarian dinners ready for your Meatless Mondays, broken down by month to help you cook with the season. (And yes, weโ€™ve got options for picky eaters, families, and those on a budget!)

Chickpea pot pie in a cast iron.

January: Easy Chickpea Pot Pie

Warm up your winter Meatless Monday with this pot pie! Itโ€™s creamy and veggie-filled with a buttery, flaky crust thatโ€™s sure to satisfy cravings. Itโ€™s the perfect warm and hearty dish.
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A bowl of rice, tofu cubes, purple cabbage, carrots, snap peas, and fresh basil in a flavorful vegetarian coconut curry sauce, garnished with sesame seeds.

January: Thai Vegetarian Coconut Curry

This Thai Vegetarian Coconut Curry recipe is an easy, flexible Thai curry recipe that transforms boring weeknight dinner into an exciting meal!
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Vegan nachos on a black plate on a white background - These vegan nachos are piled high with easy mushroom BBQ "pulled pork" and a cashew-based queso cheese sauce that will knock your dairy-free socks off.

January: Vegan Nachos with BBQ “Pulled Pork” and Queso

Sometimes you just need nachos for dinner, ya know? These vegan nachos are piled high with easy mushroom BBQ โ€œpulled porkโ€ and a cashew-based queso cheese sauce that will knock your dairy-free socks off.
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Bowl of kimchi ramen with avocado slices, mushrooms, lime wedge, and green onions on a blue surface. Chopsticks and two glasses of water are nearby.

January: Easy Kimchi Ramen Hack

This easy kimchi ramen hack takes a regular packet of instant ramen and transforms it into something thatโ€™s packed with veggies and lots of flavor. Itโ€™s a quick and easy instant ramen hack.
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Vegan tikka masala with naan and rice in a white bowl.

January: Chickpea Tikka Masala

Another cozy dinner perfect for winter! This Chickpea Tikka Masala recipe is an easy dinner to whip up when the Indian food cravings hit (plus, itโ€™s vegan).
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A plate of baked ziti with spinach, ricotta, tomato sauce, and melted cheese, with a fork resting on the side.

February: Vegetable Baked Ziti

This vegetable-packed vegetarian Baked Ziti is the ultimate weeknight dinner. With sautรฉed veggies and spinach ricotta, itโ€™s a healthy comfort food youโ€™ll feel good about diving into.
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Shakshuka in a cast iron skillet on a yellow background

February: Shakshuka

Who says we can't have breakfast for dinner? This 1-dish, easy shakshuka recipe is a traditional North African meal thatโ€™s incredibly easy to make and packed with flavor!
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A bowl containing rice, black beans, chopped red bell peppers, avocado, lettuce, seasoned crumbled protein, corn, and diced red onions, with a spoon on the side.

February: Tempeh Vegan Burrito Bowl

A flavor packed (and easy to make) vegan burrito bowl with tempeh taco meat and copycat Chipotle cauliflower rice!
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A pita wrap filled with lettuce, tomato, red onion, seasoned chickpeas, and a creamy spreadโ€”these delicious chickpea gyros are tied with twine and partially wrapped in paper for the perfect handheld meal.

February: Roasted Chickpea Gyros

This is a reader favorite for meat-eaters trying to do Meatless Monday! It's an easy vegetarian dinner for feeding everyone on busy weeknights!
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A vibrant bowl of kimchi bibimbap brimming with an egg, mushrooms, cucumber, carrots, and sprouts. Surrounding items include sliced vegetables, savory sauce, and glistening water glasses on a blue surface.

March: Kimchi Bibimbap

Kimchi bibimbap is a traditional Korean dish made with kimchi, mushrooms, roasted veggies, and a delicious gochujang sauce. This dish is kind of like a Buddha bowl and only requires 30 minutes to make!
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Quinoa stuffed peppers on a platter.

March: Enchilada Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Need a healthy vegetarian dinner outside of your usual routine? These Enchilada Quinoa Stuffed Peppers are flavored with a quick homemade enchilada sauce and baked to bubbly, cheesy perfection.
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A plate of white rice topped with crispy, sauced chicken pieces, garnished with sliced green onions and sticky garlic cauliflower. Accompanied by chopsticks, raw ginger, garlic, green onions, and a glass of water.

March: Sticky Garlic Cauliflower

This Sticky Garlic Cauliflower tastes just like the sticky garlic chicken from your favorite Chinese takeout place, but totally vegetarian (and WAY delicious!)
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Tempeh sandwich on a white board

March: Buffalo Tempeh Sandwiches

These Buffalo Tempeh Sandwiches are stuffed with crispy baked tempeh buffalo tenders, provolone cheese, and ranch dressing!
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Roasted Chickpea Stuffed Avocados

March: Roasted Chickpea Stuffed Avocados

Spicy roasted chickpeas, creamy avocado, and tangy garlic yogurt sauce make this flavorful nutrition powerhouse stuffed avocados!
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Asparagus pizza recipe on orange background - This Burrata Asparagus Pizza is a simple yet downright delicious flatbread to whip up on pizza night. Creamy burrata piled with tender asparagus, fresh arugula, and lemon!

April: Asparagus Pizza with Burrata and Arugula

Spring means ASPARAGUS! This Asparagus Pizza with burrata and arugula is a simple yet downright delicious flatbread to whip up on pizza night. Creamy burrata piled with tender asparagus, fresh arugula, and lemon!
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Mushroom carnitas tacos on a platter.

April: Mushroom Carnitas Tacos

Mushroom Carnitas Tacos are made with oyster mushrooms, pickled onions, and a delicious cilantro sauce. These gourmet tacos are packed with delicious vegetarian carnitas flavor and are ready in just 35 minutes!
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Vegan burritos wrapped in foil.

April: Vegan Burritos with Taco Meat and Queso

These Vegan Burritos have it all: easy tempeh taco meat, smoky queso cheese sauce, and Chipotle copycat cauliflower rice!
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A plate with four tacos filled with crumbled filling, sliced avocado, greens, and sauceโ€”perfect for fans of spicy vegetarian recipesโ€”sits next to a halved avocado, a lime wedge, and a jar of orange condiment on a purple table.

April: Kimchi Tempeh Tacos

Looking for an easy, Asian-inspired taco recipe sure to please your tastebuds and leave your stomach feeling nice and full? These Kimchi Tempeh Tacos will do just that. Theyโ€™re totally delicious and require just 20 minutes!
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Two plates of sunny-side-up eggs styled as huevos rancheros with salsa, avocado, and cheese rest on a yellow tablecloth. A small bowl of salsa complements the scene, alongside two glasses of water, cutlery, and a napkin.

May: Huevos Rancheros

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo season in style with this hearty Meatless Monday dinner contender. This authentic Huevos Rancheros recipe is an easy, healthy Mexican dish made with black beans, Pico de Gallo, and more!
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Almond Crusted Baked Tofu Nuggets

May: Almond Crusted Baked Tofu Nuggets

Here's how I discovered that you can use ground almonds as a breading for crunchy, filling, packed-with-protein baked tofu nuggets.
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Portobello mushroom gyros in foil.

May: Portobello Mushroom Gyros

These vegetarian Portobello Mushroom Gyros are seasoned with Mediterranean spices, sauteed to meaty perfection, and drizzled with creamy tzatziki.
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Chickpea cauliflower tacos with pickled red onion.

May: Roasted Cauliflower Street Tacos

These Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with quick slaw and avocado cream sauce are a quick and delicious way to load up on veggies this Taco Tuesday!
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Vegetarian philly cheesesteak

June: Oyster Mushroom Philly Cheesesteak

This vegetarian Philly Cheesesteak transforms oyster mushrooms into the perfect substitute for beef! With sautรฉed peppers and onions and loads of melted cheese, this is the best meatless cheesesteak.
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Veggie spring rolls cut in half on a plate

June: Vegetable Vietnamese Spring Rolls

Use that fresh summer produce to try something new…spring rolls! This veggie-packed Vietnamese Spring Rolls recipe is a fresh and delicious Asian-inspired dinner that is served with the best almond coconut dipping sauce!
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Close-up of a slice of vegetable lasagna on a white plate with a fork. The lasagna, reminiscent of vegetarian moussaka, is topped with melted cheese and garnished with herbs. Additional lasagna in a dish is partially visible.

June: Vegetarian Moussaka

Got eggplant? Make moussaka this Monday! With roasted eggplant, seasoned ground tempeh, and creamy bechamel sauce, this vegetarian moussaka recipe is Greek comfort food at its best!
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Buddha bowl recipe with fruits and veggies in a bowl

June: 15 Minute Buddha Bowls

This 15 Minute Buddha Bowls recipe, with healthy grains, chickpeas, fruit, and avocado, is a balanced, healthy meal that comes together in no time!
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Many carrot hot dogs in a line.

July: Carrot Hot Dogs

No July is complete without fresh-off-the-grill hotdogs. Now in meatless form. These Carrot Hot Dogs donโ€™t just look like the BBQ classic, they actually taste like it too! A smoky, sweet marinade brings carrots to life, turning them into grillable vegan hot dogs!
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A sliced vegetable pizza topped with cheese, red onions, zucchini, bell peppers, and fresh basil on a red tiled surface.

July: Veggie Pizza

This classic Veggie Pizza recipe is loaded with colorful roasted vegetables. Vegetarian pizza night just got an upgrade!
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Layered vegetable tian in a tart pan on a yellow background

July: Ratatouille (Tian Provenรงal)

Throw all that fresh summer produce into a pan (and look fancy as heck doing it). This one-pan Ratatouille (Tian Provenรงal) is piled high with vegetables and filled with mouth-watering flavor. Itโ€™s a modern take on the classic French recipe that only requires 15 minutes of prep time!
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A bowl of rice topped with sliced avocado, marinated red fish, edamame, cucumber, seaweed, green onions, and sauce, with chopsticks and side dishes on a green surface.

July: Vegan Tuna Sushi Bowl

This Vegan Tuna Sushi Bowl has plant-based tuna made with tomatoes, and all the fixings of your favorite poke bowls (including the spicy mayo)!
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These Soyrizo Tacos are stuffed with homemade vegan chorizo and quick pickled red cabbage, topped off with a smoky adobo crรจme.

August: Soyrizo Tacos with Adobo Crรจme

These Soyrizo Tacos are stuffed with homemade vegan chorizo and quick-pickled red cabbage topped off with a smoky adobo crรจme.
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A slice of cheesy eggplant lasagna sits on a plate, showing layers of pasta, sauce, and melted cheese, with a fork resting beside it.

August: Eggplant Lasagna

Ready to make a delicious vegetable-based lasagna? Try this easy vegetarian eggplant lasagna recipe (itโ€™s totally grain and gluten-free)!
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A vibrant quinoa breakfast features a plate of quinoa topped with colorful vegetables and a perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg. Beside it sits a fork, while two glasses of water and a red napkin complete the inviting scene in the background.

August: Sweet Potato & Spinach Quinoa Breakfast Skillet

This Sweet Potato and Spinach Quinoa Breakfast Skillet is a veggie-packed, delicious, and filling breakfast that comes together in less than 30 minutes!
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Portobello Mushroom Burgers with an orange background - With melted sharp cheddar, the perfectly meaty texture, and best-ever Fancy Sauce, these Portobello Mushroom Burgers are the vegetarian recipe that'll have you craving mushrooms for dinner.

August: Portobello Mushroom Burgers

With melted sharp cheddar, the perfectly meaty texture, and best-ever Fancy Sauce, these pan-fried Portobello Mushroom Burgers are the vegetarian recipe thatโ€™ll have you craving mushrooms for dinner.
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These vegetarian tacos are loaded with adobo-spiced pulled mushrooms (which have the same texture and taste as pulled pork) and a fresh corn ceviche that adds sweet crunch. Best vegetarian taco recipe of all time? Quite possibly.

August: Corn and Pulled Mushroom Vegetarian Tacos

This vegetarian pulled โ€œporkโ€ mushroom tacos are loaded with adobo-spiced pulled mushrooms (which have the same texture and taste like pulled pork) and a fresh corn ceviche that adds sweet crunch. Best vegetarian taco recipe of all time? Quite possibly.
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Mushroom risotto in a bowl.

September: Easy Mushroom Risotto

For a dinner that breaks from your usual routine while also being a flavorful classic, give this Easy Mushroom Risotto recipe a try! Packed with wild mushrooms, wine, and cheeseโ€ฆ what more could you want from a dinner?
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Fall salad with crispy chickpeas, shredded Brussels sprouts, and apples.

September: Fall Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

This simple fall salad packs in the tastiest ingredients of the season and is drizzled with a creamy pomegranate balsamic vinaigrette!
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General Tso's cauliflower on a plate with rice and green onions

September: Baked General Tso’s Cauliflower

Iโ€™m not exaggerating when I say that this Baked General Tsoโ€™s Cauliflower tastes better than the Chinese takeout we all know and love (but without the frying or meat!)
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Goat cheese pizza slices on yellow background

September: Goat Cheese Pizza with Mushrooms and White Sauce

This Goat Cheese Pizza recipe has mushrooms, creamy white sauce, and loads of cheese. Pizza Friday just stepped it up a notch!
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Glow bowls with sweet potato, kale, and pearl couscous,

October: Roasted Veggie Buddha Bowls with Yum Sauce

For a vibrant yet easy vegan dinner, these Roasted Veggie Buddha Bowls do the trick, packed with colorfully delicious flavors and drizzled with creamy, protein-packed Yum Sauce!
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A bowl filled with creamy macaroni and cheese sits on a green surface, with a fork resting on the edge of the bowl.

October: Stovetop Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

When the mac and cheese cravings hit, this lightened up Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe will do the trick (and itโ€™s ready on the stove in under 30 minutes!)
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Bowl of orange soup topped with roasted chickpeas and crumbled cheese, set on a green checkered tablecloth with a spoon, napkin, and garnishes nearby.

October: Pumpkin Soup with Smoky Roasted Chickpeas

This pumpkin soup is topped with smoky roasted chickpeas and fresh thyme, making it the ultimate cozy autumn recipe for busy weeknights!
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In need of some vegetarian taco inspiration? These Beet and Chickpea Tacos are simple to make and packed with so much flavor

October: Roasted Beet and Chickpea Tacos

In need of some vegetarian taco inspiration? These Beet and Chickpea Tacos are simple to make and packed with so much flavor (plus, they keep you full for hours!)
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A bowl of tempeh chili topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, and crushed tortilla chips, with a spoon in the bowl and extra toppings on the table.

October: Tempeh Chili Meal Prep

This vegetarian chili will warm your bones with delicious plant-based protein this winter (and in under 30 minutes!) With tempeh, veggies, beans, and a blend of spices, this is a simple chili that you would never believe is meatless.
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Sweet potato gnocchi in a bowl on a white background

November: Sweet Potato Gnocchi

The Meatless Monday recipe is bound to be a fall favorite. This Sweet Potato Gnocchi recipe is an autumn-inspired take on gnocchi. Fluffy, tender, and melt in your mouth with a buttery sage and rosemary sauce.
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Whole roasted cauliflower with orange background

November: Ultimate Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Wow your guests with this Ultimate Whole Roasted Cauliflower! Slathered in whipped feta and drizzled with herb sauce, this is a statement-making dish youโ€™re really going to love.
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Two flatbreads topped with roasted chickpeas, diced sweet potatoes, greens, and onions, drizzled with creamy sauceโ€”these hearty hummus wraps are served on a white plate.

November: Roasted Butternut Chickpea Hummus Wraps

Spicy, savory flavor all wrapped up in warm flatbreads is the name of the game with these Roasted Butternut Chickpea Hummus Wraps! Quick weeknight dinners never tasted so good.
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Sweet potato fettuccine noodles in a bowl on a yellow background

November: Sweet Potato Fettuccine in Gorgonzola Sauce

This Sweet Potato Fettuccine recipe is tossed in gorgonzola and cranberries to create a decadent, gluten-free pasta dish thatโ€™s full of flavor.
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A plate of spaghetti inspired by kimchi ramen, topped with a raw egg yolk, sliced green onions, and red pepper flakes, with chopsticks resting on the plate; two glasses of water are nearby.

December: Kimchi Udon Noodles

For a perfect Korean dish sure to fill your belly with comfort and delight, try kimchi udon noodles! This 20 minute recipe requires just 9 ingredients and is incredibly easy to prepare.
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Vegetable lasagna on a serving spatula.

December: Vegetarian Lasagna

This vegetarian lasagna is made using classic, authentic ingredients like veggies, marinara, and bechamel. It only requires 15 minutes of prep time and is a real treat!
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Bowls of chana dal and white rice with lemon wedges rest on a blue surface, accompanied by refreshing glasses of water.

December: Easy Chana Dal Recipe

Ready to enjoy the cozy flavor and filling nutritional benefits of this easy chana dal recipe? Learn how to make this tasty, delicious Indian/Pakistani-inspired recipe.
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Step up your pizza game with this Beet Pesto Pizza with Goat Cheese and Kale, a decadent, healthy pizza that's packed with flavor and antioxidants.

December: Beet Pesto Pizza with Goat Cheese and Kale

Close out the year with…pizza! Step up your pizza game with this Beet Pesto Pizza with Goat Cheese and Kale, a decadent yet healthy pizza thatโ€™s packed with nutritious flavor.
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Eat vegetarian cookbook.

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2 Comments

  1. Ann says:

    The Monday meatless recipes look delicious, have you made a book of them all?
    As there are quite a few I need to print off.

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      I haven’t but I should! Until then, each recipe just has a print option on its individual page. Happy you’re liking the recipes, Ann!