Looking for simple, tasty vegetarian meals? Here’s your new go-to list of beginner-friendly foods!
These beginner-friendly ideas are designed to make your transition easy and enjoyable, helping you whip up delicious, balanced meals without any real cooking skills required.
With just a bit of prep and a handful of flavorful ingredients, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can pull together satisfying, nourishing meals—no recipe-following or fancy cooking techniques necessary.
This post is packed with beginner-friendly meal ideas that take the stress out of cooking and help you enjoy every step of your new veggie journey. Let’s go!
Feeling Overwhelmed?
Making the jump to vegetarianism can be so exciting—you’re embracing a healthier lifestyle, helping the planet, and being kind to animals.
But let’s face it: it can also feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to the kitchen.
I remember when I first transitioned to a plant-based diet, I was overwhelmed by the endless options and the pressure to make the perfect meal every time. I’d scroll through Pinterest for hours, bookmarking gorgeous, complicated recipes with ingredients I’d never heard of—hoping I could make them, but secretly worried I’d mess it up.
I eventually realized the key to sticking with it was to start simple and keep things easy.
You don’t have to make a fancy vegan lasagna or cook from scratch every single day to be a successful vegetarian.
No, instead, the secret to a smooth transition is to focus on easy, satisfying meals that don’t require a ton of ingredients or skills.
When you’re just starting out, your goal is to build a solid foundation of meals that are simple, delicious, and stress-free. Once you have that foundation, then you can get a little more adventurous in the kitchen, tackling those Pinterest-worthy recipes that we all love so much (trust me, I still get excited about those!).
Before we get to the meal ideas themselves, let’s first talk about how to make vegetarian cooking easier in general!
Keep It Simple to Avoid Burnout
I get it—when you’re first starting out, you have tons of motivation and might want to dive headfirst into complicated, gourmet-style dishes. You’ve made this grand declaration to go vegetarian so now your plate has to be Instagrammable at every meal, right?!
But I promise you that thinking this way will lead to burnout fast.
If you’re usually someone who survives on microwaveable Hot Pockets and bologna sandwiches, then thinking that you can flip a switch and be a gourmet cook the minute you go veg isn’t going to work.
You’ll end up spending hours in the kitchen, blowing money on fancy ingredients, and resenting that you have to cook at every meal.
And then you’ll start to blame vegetarianism for being too hard or too expensive rather than getting to the root of the problem – that you went too hard too fast.
When you’re just starting out, it’s important to keep things simple and build a routine that you enjoy.
The more you get comfortable with your new diet, the more confidence you’ll have to try new things and the more intuition you’ll have for cooking.
But in the beginning?
It’s all about finding meals that are easy to make, require few ingredients, and don’t leave you stuck in the kitchen for hours.
Think of these meals as your go-to, feel-good dishes—something you can rely on when you’re too tired or busy to try something new.
Eventually, you’ll feel comfortable enough to get a little more creative, but for now, simple meals are your best friend.
Focus on “Mixed Meals”
A mistake a lot of new vegetarians make is trying to replicate meat-heavy meals (like a steak and potatoes dinner).
But vegetarian meals don’t need to follow that traditional “main dish and side dish” format.
In fact, it’s way easier to think of vegetarian meals as “mixed bowls” of grains, proteins, and veggies.
By mixing and matching these elements, you can build balanced, satisfying meals without much fuss.
For example, start with a grain as your base (rice, quinoa, a tortilla, etc.). Then, add a protein (beans, tofu, lentils), and top it off with some sautéed or roasted veggies.
You can easily build a meal that’s filling, nutritious, and totally customizable!
The great thing about this style of cooking is that it’s versatile—you can swap out ingredients based on what you have in your pantry (check out this list of vegetarian pantry essentials) or what’s in season. Plus it makes meal prep a breeze.
It’s totally OK if your meals are a little “mix-and-match.” The point is to get comfortable with the basics, and once you do, you’ll naturally start experimenting with flavor combinations, new ingredients, and different cooking techniques.
Learn more about creating balanced and healthy meals.
Hacks for Easy Cooking: Store-Bought Ingredients for the Win
I’m a big fan of making life easier in the kitchen, especially when you’re just getting started.
And that means not feeling bad about using store-bought shortcuts!
There are so many amazing ready-to-go ingredients out there that can help you put together a yummy vegetarian meal in minutes.
Think pre-chopped veggies, canned beans, frozen veggies, and store-bought dressings. These ingredients save time and still let you create wholesome, delicious meals.
Canned beans, for example, are a total game-changer. You can throw them into a salad, mix them into a grain bowl, or use them to make veggie chili or tacos. No need to soak and cook dried beans for hours—you’ve got the easy, convenient version!
And don’t get me started on pre-made veggie burgers and falafel. They’re the perfect way to create a quick, tasty meal without any fuss. Do be careful about eating too many processed proteins (whole foods are the better option!) but when you’re just getting started, these definitely help with the ease factor.
Store-bought sauces and dressings are another great shortcut. Don’t bother making tzatziki or that vegan ranch dressing with 28 ingredients. Stick to store-bought basics to get going and then work your way up to healthier (albeit more complicated) homemade versions.
These little shortcuts make cooking faster and more fun, and they ensure you’re not spending all your time in the kitchen.
You’ll Love These Meal Ideas!
A great beginner-friendly vegetarian meal doesn’t require fancy, hard-to-find ingredients or intricate instructions.
Instead, it’s about creating something that’s easy to put together, uses accessible ingredients, and can be customized based on what you like or have on hand.
No need to follow a recipe to the letter—just throw together some grains, veggies, and proteins in a way that feels right. And if you’re in the mood for something different, just swap in a few ingredients to make it your own.
These meals are all about flexibility, ease, and getting you comfortable with your new vegetarian lifestyle, without the stress of complicated cooking.
And if you’re looking to get started with meal planning your easy meals, be sure to check out this starter vegetarian meal plan.
20 Beginner Easy Vegetarian Meals
Here’s a list of 25 beginner-friendly vegetarian meals that are quick, easy, and packed with flavor.
These meals will help you build a solid foundation in your new vegetarian lifestyle.
No fancy cooking skills needed—just a few basic ingredients and a little creativity!
1. Tortellini/Ravioli
Grab a bag of mushroom- or spinach-filled tortellini or ravioli from the store, heat for a few minutes in boiling water, and top with pesto, tomato sauce, or garlic butter and parmesan cheese. Add veggies like asparagus, mushrooms, or broccoli for some fiber and vitamins.
2. Sub Sandwich
A sandwich doesn’t need lunch meat to be good! Get a hoagie roll or baguette and your favorite sliced cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and sub sauce (olive oil, red wine or apple cider vinegar, and oregano). You won’t even miss the ham or turkey!
3. Mac and Cheese
Maybe not the healthiest meal of the bunch, but it can be fast and nutrition with some added goodies. Use a boxed mac and cheese or a frozen from the grocery store and add veggies like peas or broccoli. I personally also like to add plant-based hotdog pieces – just like I used to have as a kid, only better! Another way to spice it up is to fry up some tofu with buffalo sauce and add it in for extra protein and kick.
4. Homemade Pizza
So versatile! Buy a pre-made pizza crust or a store-bought pizza dough, a jar of pizza sauce, and a bag of mozzarella cheese. From there, the topping possibilities are endless! My personal favorites are the combination of green pepper, black olive, mushrooms, and onion or spinach, tomatoes, and feta cheese. And yes, I also enjoy pineapple on my pizza.
5. Soup and Salad
Find a low-sodium canned (or boxed or jarred) veggie, tomato, potato, bean, etc. soup you can heat up in the microwave or on the stove in minutes. Pair with a side salad of your favorite veggies and maybe a piece of bread and you’ve got yourself an easy beginner vegetarian meal.
6. Veggie Burger
Purchase frozen or fresh veggie burgers or black bean burger patties that you can fry up in a pan. Add cheese if you’d like and then top on a bun with your favorite toppings (the more veggies, the better!). Have a side of sweet potato fries or a yummy pasta salad.
7. Wok Noodles
This beginner vegetarian meal is sooo easy. Cook up some ramen noodles (like, real ramen noodles, not the brand Ramen noodles – but you can use those, too, without the seasoning packet). In a separate pan, heat up a bag of frozen wok veggies and add a jar of teriyaki or other Asian cuisine sauce you like. Mix up your veggies and noodles for a tasty dish.
You can also jazz it up by adding more ingredients, like fried eggs, tofu, snap peas, mushrooms, or mini corn. Tons of possibilities!
8. Falafel Pita
Buy fresh pita bread or heat some up from frozen. Cook up some frozen falafel and add them to your pitas. Then you can dress in one of two ways:
The fast food way – add shredded lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and creme fraiche or garlic dressing.
The classic Mediterranean way – add tzatziki, tomatoes, and cucumber, plus any extras you’d like like green pepper, red onion, or olives.
9. Loaded Nachos
Add tortilla chips to a sheetpan and top with shredded cheese and black beans or refried beans. Pop in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts and then top with tomatoes, shredded lettuce, black olives, avocado, corn, sour cream, and salsa. Add some cilantro on top if you’re really feeling festive!
10. Rice and Beans
Cook up some white or brown rice (which is healthier!) in vegetable broth. Once cooked, pour in a can of diced tomatoes and then you can spice it up in different ways:
- Cajun style – Add Cajun seasoning and a can of kidney beans.
- Mexican style – Add taco seasoning and a can of black beans.
11. Hummus Wrap
Choose your favorite type of tortilla (whole wheat, flour, corn, or sometimes you can find ones with spinach or other veggies in them!) and add in some store-bought hummus and tons of veggies – my favorites are red, green, and yellow bell peppers, spinach, and shredded carrots. Add feta or goats cheese if desired and wrap it all up in a healthy and convenient vegetarian meal.
12. Hotdogs
Vegan or vegetarian hotdogs are usually pretty safe meat alternatives – meaning that most are actually pretty tasty! A super quick vegetarian meal is frying up a hotdog in a pan and then adding it to a hotdog bun with ketchup, mustard, and any other hotdog toppings you enjoy. Eat with some fries and a salad to get some veggies in (broccoli salad or tomato salad are always good options!).
13. Omelet
Good for breakfast, brunch, or brinner (breakfast for dinner). Crack some eggs and make a yummy omelet with your favorite cheese and add as many veggies as you’d like. Good ones for omelets are mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and spinach! Eat together with some hashbrowns or whole wheat toast.
14. Smørrebrød (Danish Open-faced Sandwiches)
So I’m from Denmark and the Danes eat these sandwiches literally every day for lunch. Most of them are topped with meat, but there are some yummy and easy vegetarian options that are great for beginners. Start with a slice of dense rye bread and then top with:
Boiled potatoes, fried onions, and mayo.
Hard boiled egg, tomatoes, and mayo (chopped chives if you’re fancy).
Avocado, cottage cheese, and tomatoes.
15. Bagel Sandwich
Use fresh or frozen bagels as your sandwich base and then add cream cheese (garlic or herb ones add a lot of great flavor) and your favorite veggies. I prefer to keep it simple with some red pepper and arugula, but the sky is the limit!
16. Snack Tapas
Sometimes a great beginner vegetarian meal doesn’t really need to be a typical “meal,” you can just throw your favorite snacks together on a sample platter. Make sure to add some healthy fats, proteins, and veggies. My favorite snack tapas usually include crackers and cheese, carrot and cucumber sticks with hummus, olives, pickles, apple slices, and a handful of mixed nuts!
17. Tacos
Use your favorite vegetarian ground beef alternative and heat up with some taco seasoning. Add to a tortilla with your favorite toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, shredded cheese, sour cream, and salsa. Eat together with some tortilla chips and guacamole for a beginner easy vegetarian meal!
18. Simple Spaghetti
It doesn’t get much easier than cooking spaghetti noodles and topping with a jar of pasta sauce! Add some parmesan cheese to dress it up and have some veggies on the side or mixed in (broccoli is a good one!) so you’re getting some vitamins and fiber with your meal.
19. Avocado Toast
The stuff of internet meme dreams. Toast up a piece of whole wheat bread, mash some avocado on top, and add a thick slice of tomato. Add salt and pepper to give it lots of flavor or take it to the next level with some everything bagel seasoning.
20. Grilled Veggie Skewers
Add red, green, and yellow peppers, mushrooms, red onion, zucchini, and haloumi to skewers, drizzle or spray with olive oil, sprinkle salt and pepper and grill those babies up! Dip in a garlic dressing or add to a bed of quinoa for a super yummy and easy vegetarian meal.
Keep It Simple and Join The Club!
I know that starting your vegetarian journey can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be stressful.
By keeping things simple, focusing on easy meal ideas, and incorporating store-bought shortcuts, you’ll find your rhythm in no time. These meal ideas will help you stay on track and keep your meals fun and easy!
And hey, if you want even more beginner-friendly meal ideas, tips, and support, come join The Club!
This is my monthly membership with access to a library of plant-based recipes, meal plans, and cooking tips to help you feel confident and excited about your vegetarian lifestyle. No more feeling lost in the kitchen—let’s make this journey together and keep things fun!
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