35 Easy Meat-Free Meals to Try This January 2025
Whether you're embracing Veganuary, exploring plant-based eating, or simply looking to add more vegetables to your plate, this collection of 35 meat-free recipes is a great place to get started.
I've rounded up over 30 of my favorite vegetarian recipes, all packed with vibrant ingredients, bold flavors, and nourishing goodness. These dishes prove that going meatless doesn't mean sacrificing satisfaction, from hearty soups and comforting pasta to protein-packed bowls, all of these recipes can be adapted to be completely plant-based and have something for every craving.
January is the perfect time to reset and revitalize your eating habits, and these recipes make it easy to do just that. Whether you're a seasoned vegetarian, a curious flexitarian, or someone just looking for lighter options after the holidays, this roundup has you covered.
35 Easy Meat-Free Meals to Try This January 2025
January is a great time to kickstart some healthy new habits for the new year. If you've been considering eating less meat and animal products in 2025, this round-up lists over 20 delicious, easy vegetarian-friendly dinners that can easily be adapted to a vegan diet.
Whether you want to give up meat altogether, or simply introduce more plant-based dinners into your regular meal rotation, this list is a great place to start.
15-Minute Creamy White Beans with Lemon and Garlic
A quick and easy dish that's light on your stomach and packed with protein and fiber. Creamy white beans are simmered in a lemon, tomato, and basil sauce - serve with crusty sourdough on the side and dig in!
Greek Tofu Bowl
This Greek tofu bowl comes together in under 30 minutes - simply roast your potatoes, tofu, and Mediterranean vegetables, then topped with crumbled feta and tzatziki sauce! A great nutritious meat-free meal.
Gigantes Plaki (Greek Giant Baked Beans)
These Greek giant baked beans - gigantes plaki - are simmered in a rich and hearty tomato sauce, before being baked with feta cheese (use vegan if you prefer). A delicious meal that's been served in Greece for decades!
Spicy Tofu Peanut Noodles
You can't beat a bowl of spicy peanut butter noodles - these are topped with crispy tofu and plenty of fresh cilantro.
Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
A simple 10-minute red pepper pasta, using jarred red peppers for added convenience! Top it with your protein of choice for a delicious and easy dinner.
Easy Vegan Hotpot with Lentils
You'll love this cozy and hearty vegan hotpot with a red lentil ragu - perfect cold weather food!
Easy Lentil Bolognese (Vegan)
Another vegetarian twist on a classic, this lentil bolognese is rich, heart, and easy to bring together. The lentils add a great hit of protein, and taste amazing.
Orzo Mac and Cheese
For when you need something to nourish your soul as much as your body - this creamy orzo mac and cheese is easy and so delicious.
Linda McCartney Meatballs Recipe With Roasted Vegetables
A delicious, balanced dinner - roasted vegetables are paired with an easy tomato sauce and vegan meatballs, served with rigatoni pasta and lots of fresh basil.
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta
This creamy butternut squash pasta is the perfect healthy but cozy comfort food dinner, paired with roasted garlic, sage, and thyme for a rich flavor.
Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie
A filling, nutritious vegan shepherd's pie made with red lentils and topped with creamy, fluffy mashed potatoes and vegan cheese. The perfect healthy and super satisfying vegan dinner.
Honey Garlic Tofu
Honey Garlic Tofu is delicious 15 minute tofu recipe with just 4 ingredients needed for the magic Honey Garlic Sauce! A fantastic protein-packed quick vegetarian dinner idea.
Kumpir (Turkish Stuffed Baked Potato)
This is Kumpir, aka a Turkish stuffed baked potato. Load up your baked potato with fresh ingredients like jalapenos, sweet corn, olives, and a dollop of creme fraiche.
Baked Gnocchi Alla Vodka
This delicious one-pot gnocchi with vodka sauce is acheesy, gorgeous easy dinner idea. Requires just nine ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes.
Chickpea Pesto Pasta
This delicious chickpea pesto pasta uses chickpeas to create a creamy pesto sauce that pairs perfectly with pasta and roasted cherry tomatoes. The perfect quick and easy summer dinner!
Chickpea Gyros
These chickpea gyros are so simple and so delicious. They’re ready in under 30 minutes, and make the perfect light, flavor-packed summer lunch or dinner.
Flatbread Pizza
This flatbread pizza recipe is so simple and so versatile, but it’s a great quick and easy dinner that you can throw together.
Greek Stuffed Sweet Potato
These Greek stuffed sweet potatoes are the perfect healthy summer dinner, loaded with fresh herbs, tangy feta, and creamy baked sweet potato as the base.
One-Pan Skillet Lasanga
This delicious one-pot skillet lasagna is the perfect vegetarian dinner. It's made with lentils in a rich tomato sauce, layers of lasagna sheets, and metly mozzarella.
Creamy Sausage Gnocchi
This creamy sausage gnocchi is ready in under 30 minutes and the perfect one-pot weeknight dinner.
Creamy Butter Beans
These easy creamy btter beans are ready in under 20 minutes and contain just six ingredients. The perfect one-pot recipe!
Sweet Potato Black Bean Quesadilla (Vegetarian)
These sweet potato and black bean quesadillas are a delicious and easy vegetarian meal that can be made in less than 30 minutes.
Pasta e Fagioli (Pasta and Beans)
Pasta e Fagioli - which literally means pasta and beans - is an Italian comfort food classic, the perfect combination of small pasta and borlotti beans cooked in a simple but flavorful soup. It’s ready in under 30 minutes, and the perfect healthy vegetarian dinner.
Crispy Refried Bean Tacos
These crispy refried bean tacos are the perfect quick and easy - but super delicious - vegetarian dinner. Ready in under 30 minutes.
Classic Minestrone Soup
This classic minestrone soup is known to be one of the staple meals of some of the longest-living people in the world in Sardinia. It's packed with goodness and very easy to throw together.
Simple Beans and Greens
This simple beans and greens recipe is a delicious and healthy vegetarian recipe that can be served as a main meal or as a side dish. It’s a traditional Italian dish made from a handful of simple ingredients that come together into an easy, tasty bean dish.
Bean Chilli Recipe
This delicious and healthy bean chilli recipe is a fantastic vegetarian staple dinner, made in one pot and ready in under 30 minutes.
Creamy Sausage Pasta (Vegetarian)
A wonderfully creamy sausage pasta recipe with vegetarian sausages. Ready in less than 25 minutes and the perfect weeknight dinner.
Vegan Spinach Pasta
This creamy vegan spinach pasta recipe is packed with everything you could want: vibrant herbs, zingy lemon, toasted pine nuts and garlic, and a creamy spinach and creme fraiche sauce that pairs perfectly with tagliatelle.
Easy Butter Bean Stew
A super easy and delicious one-pot butter bean stew that's ready in under 30 minutes, with Mediterranean-inspired flavors.
Spicy Gochujang Tofu
This spicy gochujang tofu recipe is sticky, fiery, crispy, and everything a good tofu recipe should be! It contains just a few ingredients and is ready in under 15 minutes for a quick and easy vegan-friendly dinner.
Marry Me "Chicken" Pasta (Vegan)
A beautifully flavored one-pot recipe with cajun spices and a creamy plant-based sauce. Served with a delicious crispy tofu fillet as an incredible chicken alternative.
Vegetarian Taco Bowl
This gorgeous vegetarian taco bowl is a one-pot, easy dinner recipe packed with veggies, protein, and Mexican spices. Ready in under 15 minutes.
Tofu Shawarma
This easy tofu shawarma is a fantastic vegan protein source for wraps and salads, and is packed with delicious earthy spices and flavors. Perfect for meal prepping in 25 minutes.
Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
This creamy, flavorful sun-dried tomato pasta is so easy to make, and the perfect summer dinner. It's a rich, creamy pasta sauce perfect served with fresh basil and mozzarella.



