18 High-Protein Vegetarian Dinner Recipes Ready in under 20 Minutes

Rainbow Grain Bowl with Cashew Tahini Sauce

If you are looking to incorporate more protein in your meals, add these dinner recipes to your rotation! These delicious options, such as our Bean & Veggie Taco Bowl and our Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas, align with a  vegetarian diet and pack at least 15 grams of protein per serving. They’re perfect for those who don’t eat meat, or anyone who simply wants to eat more veggie-focused meals.

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Bean & Veggie Taco Bowl

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Simple brown rice and black beans serve as the backdrop for sautéed veggies and taco toppings!

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Rainbow Grain Bowl with Cashew Sauce

Rainbow Grain Bowl with Cashew Tahini Sauce

This vibrant grain bowl is packed with nutrients to keep you full for hours. Look for precooked lentils in the refrigerated section of the produce department, or pick up a can near other canned beans.

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Teriyaki Tofu Rice Bowls

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Thanks to a handful of shortcut ingredients from your grocery store, including precooked rice and seasoned baked tofu, you can have dinner on the table in about 15 minutes.

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Massaged Kale Salad with Grapes & Cheddar

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Massaging your kale helps to make this tasty salad more tender and flavorful. If you can’t find crumbled Cheddar at your market, you can buy the cheese as a brick and then slice it before breaking it into little chunks.

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Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas

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You’ll make more of the herby dressing than you’ll need to dress this satisfying salad, but that’s a good thing. Try it drizzled over grilled or steamed vegetables or instead of mayonnaise on a sandwich.

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Spinach & Artichoke Salad with Parmesan Vinaigrette

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Inspired by the classic warm party dip, this simple salad can be served up right away or divided up for a week of delicious meals. 

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Green Salad with Edamame & Beets

green salad with edamame and beets
Katie Webster

This big salad is a feast for the eyes and an everyday way to incorporate nutrient-rich beets and plant-based protein from edamame (green soybeans). If you're not a fan of cilantro, mix in freshly chopped basil or dill instead.

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Artichoke & Egg Tartine

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For a Mediterranean-inspired meal, serve up fried or poached eggs on top of sautéed artichokes and toast. Serve with hot sauce on the side, if desired.

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Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing

Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing

Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient meal for one!

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Spinach Ravioli with Artichokes & Olives

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Store-bought spinach ravioli and a handful of basic pantry items are all you need to get a healthy dinner on the table in 15 minutes. Ingredients like oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, briny Kalamata olives and toasty pine nuts help to build big flavor fast. 

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Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara

Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara

Fresh pasta cooks up faster than dried, making it a must-have for fast weeknight dinners like this luscious yet healthy meal. Eggs are the base of the creamy sauce. They don't get fully cooked, so use pasteurized-in-the-shell eggs if you prefer.

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Zucchini Noodle "Pasta" Salad

a bowl of zucchini noodles and vegetables

This veggie-packed salad has all the flavors you love in a classic pasta salad, but we've swapped in zoodles for wheat pasta. 

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Vegan Superfood Grain Bowls

overhead shot of vegan grain bowl filled with beets, edamame and avocado

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

This nutrient-packed grain bowl recipe comes together in 15 minutes with the help of a few convenience-food shortcuts like microwaveable quinoa and precooked beets. 

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Beefless Vegan Tacos

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Here  we swapped crumbled tofu for ground beef, without sacrificing any of the savory seasonings you expect in a taco. You can also use the filling in burritos, bowls, taco salads and to top nachos.

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Tomato & Provolone Sandwiches

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There's something magical about a simple bread-and-tomato sandwich, but this one is even better topped with melted provolone cheese and tarragon-garlic mayo.

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Gnocchi with Zucchini Ribbons & Parsley Brown Butter

Gnocchi with Zucchini Ribbons & Parsley Brown Butter

For this recipe, convenient store-bought potato gnocchi are tossed with delicate ribbons of zucchini, shallots and cherry tomatoes that have all been sautéed in nutty browned butter.

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Vegetarian Sushi Grain Bowl

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If making your own sushi is not your cup of tea, get all of those flavors in this grain bowl. Start with a base of brown rice and add veggies, dressing and creamy avocado for a delicious and easy meal.

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Ravioli with Arugula & Pecorino

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Elevate your frozen ravioli with some sizzled garlic and shallots, shaved pecorino and fresh arugula.

Medically reviewed by
Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
Jessica Ball
Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & WineReal SimpleParentsBetter Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes.
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