25 Meatless Monday Recipes (2024)

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Do you do Meatless Monday? Here are Meatless Monday recipes to inspire your kitchen, including both vegetarian and vegan meals!

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (1)

Do you observe Meatless Monday? It’s a movement to eat meatless meals one day per week. (Guess the day. Yep!) Luckily, it can be the most delicious day of the week. Alex and I started eating more vegetarian and vegan meals for two reasons: to improve our physical health and tread more gently on the planet. We started by doing one day a week with Meatless Mondays…and then we loved it so much we added it to other days of the week too!

What is Meatless Monday?

First of all, what’s Meatless Monday? Meatless Monday is a global movement with a simple message: one day a week, cut the meat.It was launched in 2003 as a non-profit initiative of The Monday Campaigns, working with the Center for a Livable Future (CLF) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The goal is to reduce meat consumption by 15% for our personal health and the health of the planet.Now entering its second decade,Meatless Monday is embraced in over 40 countries and in over 20 languages! How cool is that?

Why eat less meat?

There are lots of reasons to eat more meatless meals. The two most important for us: eating lots of vegetables is good for our health and the health of the planet. Why is it better for the Earth to eat less meat? In short: eating meat takes up a lot of resources. And growing plants uses less resources than growing meat. It’s a complicated topic, so we brought in an expert to help!

In our Small Bites podcast episode called Eating to Save the World,Eliza Barclay, Science and Health Editor at Vox.com, to breaks it down for us! She shared how what we eat affects the planet. We also talked about practical takeaways to help our world by eating more plant based meals: like all these Meatless Monday recipes! Listen below.

And now…our top 25 Meatless Monday recipes!

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (2)

Meatless Monday Sheet Pan Dinner

Here's a sheet pan dinner just for Meatless Mondays! It's full of colorful vegetables and loaded with flavor! It's a plant-based dinner that roasts up everything on a sheet pan at once: lots ofgood-for-you veggiesand chickpeas for plant based protein. Throw it all in the oven while you cook rice or quinoa. Top with a dollop ofhummus,cashew cream, or anothervegan sauce. Dinnertime win!

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (3)

Loaded Quinoa Tacos

These loaded quinoa tacos are a delicious vegetarian taco recipe, featuring a taco spiced quinoa taco filling, bell pepper slaw, spicy sour cream, and feta cheese! And they take only 30 minutes to make, putting them at the top of our list of Meatless Monday recipes.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (4)

Vegan Sloppy Joes

These vegan Sloppy Joes have a zingy lentil filling that tastes just as good as the meaty version. Put it on a toasted bun with some bread and butter pickles, and WOW! You’re going to love this one (promise). A fantasticplant-based mealfor people who are on the fence about veggies, they're crowd pleasing and have a cozy, comforting vibe!

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (5)

Stir Fry Vegetables with Teriyaki

This one’s the best veggie stir fry out there! This teriyaki vegetable stir fry is a favorite tasty and easy vegetarian recipe. The homemade teriyaki sauce is so easy to make: it takes just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes. The teriyaki also has no refined sugar, instead relying on maple syrup! This Meatless Monday recipe is so delicious, it’s become a serious go to in our house.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (6)

This white bean shakshuka recipe is a delicious vegetarian brunch or dinner recipe! The eggs are cooked in a savory tomato sauce, along with peppers, onions and white beans. Shakshuka recipes are having their moment, and this one’s one of the best.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (7)

Vegetarian Burrito Bowl with Cauliflower Rice

This low carb burrito bowl with cauliflower rice is a delicious way to eat more vegetables! It’s Whole 30 vegetarian and customizable for all diets. And can we say chorizo eggs? The way we’ve cooked the eggs here has gotten rave reviews from readers. One reader even made the chorizo eggs to go on a breakfast sandwich too: this genius move makes for two Meatless Monday recipes in one!

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (8)

Best Sweet Potato Chili

This vegetarian sweet potato chili recipe is all star and a family favorite! It’s a delicious healthy dinner recipe where you won’t miss the meat.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (9)

Best Mexican Pizza

Can’t decide between Italian and Mexican food? Have we got the perfect Meatless Monday recipe for you! This delicious Mexican pizza recipe features creamy refried beans, spicy jalapeño, and sweet corn. Make the dough in advance or use storebought dough for weeknight ease.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (10)

Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas

These sweet potato black bean enchiladas are delicious, crowd pleasing and one of our fan favorite best vegetarian dinner recipes! They feature tomatillo salsa verde that makes them “green” enchiladas, and they’re filled with sweet potato, black beans, and Colby Jack cheese.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (11)

Vegan Poke Bowl

Poke is a Hawaiian specialty, typically made with ahi tuna. But here's awhole food plant based (WFPB)version of this popular healthy bowl meal: vegan poke bowls! They're bursting with flavor, and they’ve got an unusual ingredient that amazingly gives the same texture and flavor as poke.Beets. Yep, you’re going to have to taste this to believe it…but it really works! Drizzle with spicy mayo and enjoy.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (12)

Simple Calzone Recipe

This simple calzone recipe features a homemade pizza dough and a spinach, mushroom, and two-cheese filling. Make the dough in advance or use storebought pizza dough to make this easier for a weeknight in your Meatless Monday recipes repertoire!

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (13)

Mexican Lasagna

Remember that Mexican pizza? This vegetarian Mexican lasagna uses the same Mexican and Italian fusion, and is the ultimate healthy dinner recipe! Layered with lasagna noodles, corn, and black beans, it’s full of zesty flavor.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (14)

Hearty Sweet Potato Kale Soup

Looking for a hearty meal? This sweet potato and kale soup features black beans and is flavored with cumin and lime; it’s vegetarian, vegan and gluten free.

Packed with red beans and okra, this easy vegetarian gumbo recipe brings New Orleans to your kitchen. With a few swaps, this recipe can be made vegan too.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (16)

Perfect Homemade Margherita Pizza

What’s more classic than a margherita pizza in your Meatless Monday recipes? This homemade margherita pizza recipe features a time saving no-cook sauce. Although this pizza uses few ingredients, it packs in big flavor. Make the pizza dough in advance or use storebought to make it a weeknight meal.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (17)

Quinoa Burger Recipe

These flavorful quinoa burgers are easy to make and keep well in the fridge for several days. Top with hummus and avocado and dig in!

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (18)

Creamy Coconut Curry Soup

This creamy coconut curry soup is a “pantry soup” made of only pantry ingredients you might have on hand. It comes together in under 30 minutes and is a simple plant based meal.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (19)

Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich

Looking for a quick sandwich recipe that will knock your socks off? This Mediterranean veggie sandwich is fast to make and loaded with deliciousness.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (20)

Creamy Pasta Marinara

This creamy spaghetti pasta marinara recipe uses whole milk Greek yogurt to make it extra rich and flavorful. Serve this sauce immediately or freeze for later! If you eat vegan, here’s ourVegan Pasta Marinarainstead!

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (21)

Quick Coconut Lentil Curry

This coconut lentil curry has it all: it’s a fast and easy dinner idea that’s healthy and full of flavor. Perfect for weeknights and your arsenal of Meatless Monday recipes.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (22)

Superfood Veggie Quesadilla

This loaded veggie quesadilla recipe is one the tastiest around—and it’s packed with veggies! It’s perfect for healthy dinner ideas for kids, and adults too.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (23)

Italian Vegan Pasta Salad

This Italian pasta salad is full of zesty flavor, featuring kalamata olives, capers, and crisp romaine. It takes under 30 minutes to make, which is perfect as a healthy weeknight meal. It’s also great for lunches!

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (24)

Chickpea Couscous Bowls with Tahini Sauce

These chickpea couscous bowls are a super quick dinner recipe: in just 25 minutes you have a fresh, vegan Mediterranean bowl covered in tangy tahini sauce.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (25)

Sweet Potatoes with Thai Peanut Butter Sauce

These sweet potatoes topped with a zesty slaw and creamy Thai peanut butter sauce are an irresistibleplant based dinner recipe! They’ve become one of our favorite go to’s for Meatless Monday recipes, and are a hit with our readers over on Instagram.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (26)

This vegetarian and vegan Italian vegetable gnocchi soup is bursting with flavor and can be made in around 30 minutes, making it an easy weeknight meal. If you eat dairy, top with Parmesan shavings as a garnish.

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (27)

Everything Bagel Pasta

This Everything Bagel pasta takes the magic of an everything bagel and makes it into a delicious vegetarian dinner. And it takes only 15 minutes to make!

And finally, to round out our Meatless Monday recipes: Korean ramen! This easy Korean ramen recipe is vegan and full of flavor, topped with quick pickled cucumbers.

Looking for more recipes?

Outside of these Meatless Monday recipes, here are a few more collections of meatless meals:

  • 10 Romantic Dinner Recipes
  • Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Lives
  • Easy Healthy Dinner Recipes
  • Best Vegan Dinner Recipes
  • Best Healthy Dinner Recipes
  • Easy Dinner Recipes for Family
  • Easy Dinner Recipes for Two
  • 10 Filling Plant Based Recipes Perfect for Dinner
  • What Should I Make for Dinner?

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25 Meatless Monday Recipes (29)

Meatless Monday Sheet Pan Dinner

★★★★★5 from 1 review
  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This easy sheet pan dinner is filled with healthy vegetables and fresh flavor! Throw it all in the oven while you cook rice or quinoa. Dinnertime win!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 crown broccoli (1/2 pound)
  • 1 medium red onion
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes (1 1/2 pounds)
  • 2 medium red potatoes
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 15-ounce can chickpeas
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning*
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoonkosher salt
  • 1 lemon
  • Rice or quinoa (or anotherwhole grainorseasoned lentils), to serve (optional)
  • Dollop of sour cream,cashew cream, or hummus, to serve

Instructions

  1. Adjust the oven racks for roasting 2 trays. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Optional:If serving with rice or quinoa, followHow to Cook Brown Rice,Instant Pot Brown Rice,How to Cook QuinoaorInstant Pot Quinoa.
  3. Chop the broccoli.Cut the onioninto thick slices. Dice the potatoes.Dice the red pepper.
  4. Place all the vegetables in a large bowl. Drain and rinse the chickpeas, then add them to the bowl. Mix in the olive oil, garlic powder, Old Bay, Italian seasoning, andkosher saltuntil everything is evenly coated.
  5. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper (we prefer this to silicone baking mats because it results in crispier veggies). Spread the vegetables evenly onto each sheet.
  6. Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes (do not stir!). Remove the pans from the oven, rotate them, and roast another 10 minutes (for 30 minutes total) until tender and lightly browned on one side.
  7. Cut the lemon into wedges, and spritz the veggies with fresh lemon juice to taste. (Required: this step adds just the right zing! Or you can serve with lemon wedges.)
  8. Transfer to a serving bowl or dish and serve immediately with rice or quinoa. Dollop with sour cream,cashew creamor hummus.

Notes

*If you can’t find Old Bay, you could try 1 teaspoon paprika and ¾ teaspoonkosher saltor celery salt.

  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Roasted
  • Cuisine: Meatless

Keywords: Meatless Monday Recipes, Meatless Monday

Published on / Last updated on

Categorized In:

  • Recipe Collections

Tagged with:

  • Meatless Monday
  • Roundup
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Vegetarian Recipes

About the authors

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (30)

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you’ll want to make again and again.

About Us

25 Meatless Monday Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the Meatless Monday diet? ›

Meatless Monday is a healthy eating movement that encourages people to skip meat one day per week (it can be adopted for any day), replacing the animal proteins you'd usually eat with plant-based proteins instead.

What would happen if everyone did Meatless Monday? ›

You'll contribute to the health of the environment

According to extensive research, if everyone went vegetarian for just one day, the U.S would save 100 billion gallons of water, and we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.2 million tons of carbon dioxide.

Is Meatless Monday still a thing? ›

Districts across the country already practice Meatless Mondays, sometimes offering meat alternatives to regular lunch entrees, such as veggie burgers or vegan pizza, so students can still enjoy their favorite meals.

What to eat on the meat free day? ›

12 meatless Monday ideas to start the week off right
  • Southwest Quinoa Skillet. ...
  • Spicy Corn Soup. ...
  • Edamame Burgers with Sriracha Mayo. ...
  • Chipotle Huevos Rancheros. ...
  • Kale, Tomato and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms. ...
  • Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Tomato Sauce. ...
  • Teriyaki Vegetable Noodle Bowl. ...
  • Coconut Red-Lentil Curry.

Can you eat eggs on Meatless Monday? ›

Can my Meatless Monday include cheese or eggs? It's your choice whether to include cheese or eggs, but we encourage you to investigate plant-based options for your Monday meals. Their variety is endless and you're sure to find some delectable new choices in our recipes section.

Can you eat chicken on Meatless Monday? ›

To stick to that, you wouldn't want red meat, pork, chicken, turkey and any high-fat dairy (whole milk or cheese) on your Monday menu. Limit eggs to 1 per day. This isn't a no-protein initiative though; fish and seafood high in omega-3 fats -- such as tuna and salmon -- are encouraged since they help lower cholesterol.

What day we Cannot eat meat? ›

A summary of current practice: On Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent: Everyone of age 14 and up must abstain from consuming meat. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday: Everyone of age 18 to 59 must fast, unless exempt due to usually a medical reason.

What happens if you eat no meat for a week? ›

You may feel tired and weak if you cut meat out of your diet. That's because you're missing an important source of protein and iron, both of which give you energy. The body absorbs more iron from meat than other foods, but it's not your only choice.

Is Meatless Monday healthy? ›

Eating no meat on Mondays will encourage you to increase your veggie, fruit, whole grain, and legume intake. Lower Cancer Risk: Red meat or processed meat may increase the risk of colorectal cancer due to naturally occurring carcinogens.

Who invented Meatless Monday? ›

Meatless Monday is a global movement that encourages people to reduce meat in their diet for their health and the health of the planet. The campaign was started in 2003 by Sid Lerner, the Founder of The Monday Campaigns, in association with the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.

Can you eat fish on Meatless Monday? ›

The only foundational requirement of Meatless Monday involves avoiding meat (pork, chicken, beef, seafood) one day a week. People choose to practice Meatless Monday as vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians. It's an easy way to become more familiar with plant-based foods and kick-start a healthy eating habit.

Are meatless days healthy? ›

And because meat is a calorie-dense food, participating in Meatless Mondays makes it easier to lose or manage weight, greatly improving your overall health. Additionally, eating more fruits and vegetables means you get vitamins, minerals, and fiber that you won't find in meat.

Can you eat shrimp on Meatless Monday? ›

Add tempeh, tofu, or quinoa to any kit for a plant-based Meatless Monday protein boost. Or add chicken, salmon, or shrimp if you don't mind a little animal protein on your table.

Does fish count as meat? ›

According to the conventional definition, meat is any flesh of a warm-blooded animal, such as beef, pork, lamb, and veal. Under this definition, fish is not considered meat because it is cold-blooded. However, other people define meat as the flesh of any animal, which would include fish.

Are eggs considered meat? ›

Eggs are not considered meat by the FDA

The FDA defines meat as "the flesh of slaughtered mammals and birds," and eggs are not considered to be either. This is why eggs are often classified as a separate food group, distinct from meat and dairy.

Why do people do meatless Mondays? ›

Meatless Monday is a global movement that encourages people to reduce meat in their diet for their health and the health of the planet. The campaign was started in 2003 by Sid Lerner, the Founder of The Monday Campaigns, in association with the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.

How much weight can you lose on a meatless diet? ›

Studies have shown that a vegan diet can reduce your weight by an average of 5.6 pounds in 18 weeks, or less or more than a third of a pound per week! In theory, you can lose up to 63 pounds in a year. However, the amount you lose depends on several factors.

Is Meatless Monday vegan or vegetarian? ›

The only foundational requirement of Meatless Monday involves avoiding meat (pork, chicken, beef, seafood) one day a week. People choose to practice Meatless Monday as vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians. It's an easy way to become more familiar with plant-based foods and kick-start a healthy eating habit.

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