14 Meatless Dinner Ideas That Are Still Hearty and Full of Flavor

Hearty Vegetable Cacciatore

Translated from Italian, cacciatore means "hunter." So it stands to reason that the classic Italian entrée's centerpiece is normally braised rabbit or chicken. For this healthy no-meat recipe for dinner, allow meatlike portobello mushrooms, buttery fingerling potatoes, and chewy fava or soy beans to steal the show. Simmered in a sauce of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and wine, it tastes every bit as hearty and satisfying as the original dish.

Original Pizza Margherita

Make pizza a little fresher—and vegetarian—by skipping the greasy sausage or packaged pepperoni. Instead, sprinkle your favorite pizza dough with garden-fresh basil and grape tomatoes, and top things off with melty mozzarella cheese. The kicker: This, one of our best meatless dinners, can be on the table in just 30 minutes; quicker than most delivery pies.

"Beef" Picadillo-Style Tacos

Shake up some margaritas and prepare to dive into a vegan taco night that tastes just as good as (maybe even better than!) all fiesta feasts you've had before. A poblano chile, cumin, and coriander seasoning flavors the plant-based meat just as it does in your favorite taco recipe so you won't notice there's zero beef. This Meatless Monday idea turns up the flavor volume even more with almonds, green olives, and potatoes—all elements inspired by picadillo, a classic dish in many Latin American countries.

Veggie Shepherd's Pie with Stout

Lentils, mushrooms, carrots, and rich stout beer beef up this meatless dinner idea so it's wildly cozy—even sans meat. Don't worry: The peas, tomatoes, and potatoes are still invited to the savory pie party! To sneak in even more nutrition, follow our tip for mixing the spuds with parsnips and cauliflower.

Greek Spinach-Veggie Burgers

Skip the fast-food hamburger tonight and head to the Mediterranean! Well, at least you can take your taste buds on a trip there with this Meatless Monday meal that takes just 30 minutes. Herb stuffing mix, spinach, and feta cheese make a healthy hamburger alternative, even when loaded with your favorite toppings.

Black Bean-Chipotle Tostadas

Nutty farro and filling black beans make a substantial topping for this easy meatless dinner idea. Corn, lime, cumin, salsa, and chipotle in adobo sauce bring major south of the border flair to this crowd-pleasing Mexican recipe. Try one as a starter for a meal (with a side of chips and guac, naturally).

Mushroom-Sweet Potato Moussaka

Typically built around ground beef or lamb, this Greek casserole is the epitome of comfort food. With a foundation of tomatoes, beef, and eggplant, it's traditionally coated in a thick layer of egg-thickened béchamel sauce and baked until bubbly. This lighter meatless dinner recipe rendition is completely vegan, showcasing a cashew cream sauce, garlicky roasted mushrooms instead of meat, and a luscious mashed sweet potato topping. Oh yes, and an impressive 20 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber to boot.

Mile-High Meatless Lasagna Pie

Struggling to choose between deep-dish pizza or a lasagna recipe tonight? We say, choose both. This hearty springform Meatless Monday dinner idea gets its 26 grams of protein from a variety of cheeses (ricotta is a strong source).

Buy It: Nordic Ware Spring Form Pan ($13, Target)

Chickpea Alfredo with Spring Veggies

Even if you're used to chicken-loaded restaurant Alfredos, this meatless dinner idea will win you over from first slurp. No one will guess it's completely vegan! (That is, if you skip the optional Parm garnish.) The hearty and super-silky Alfredo sauce made with chickpea flour, cashews, and a couple cloves of garlic is almost indistinguishable from Alfredo sauce made with dairy, especially once you toss it with fettuccine noodles, spinach, asparagus, and peas.

Vegetarian Chili

This healthy Meatless Monday recipe is chock-full of beans and spices, so it tastes surprisingly similar to the classic stew (and is super-hearty). Volume eaters (aka those who try to eat large quantities of food without a lot of calories), listen up: You can scoop up a full 1½ cups for just 256 calories, and that portion has more protein than 2 eggs. Serve the vegetable-loaded chili recipe with corn bread, toasted bread, or a dinner roll to complete the meal.

Barbecue Jackfruit Sandwiches

With a similar texture and appearance to pulled pork, jackfruit makes a great sub for barbecue meat. Especially once it's slathered in barbecue sauce! Even the meat eaters at your table won't be able to tell the difference once they take a bite of this easy meatless dinner idea.

Hearts of Palm Cakes

Like a mash-up of falafel and crab cakes—minus the seafood—this Meatless Monday idea is packed full of fiber and flavor. Hearts of palm, a slightly nutty vegetable that's low in carbs and somewhat reminiscent of artichokes, star in the Creole-seasoned patties. Pair with our easy vegan rémoulade sauce and try the panko-coated crabless cakes over leafy greens or as the filling for a wrap sandwich.

Buy It: Reese Hearts Of Palm ($6, Target)

Cajun-Seasoned Vegetarian Gumbo

This vegetarian-friendly Southern favorite needs just seven ingredients, including beans, tomatoes, okra, and frozen stir-fry veggies. Even better news? This, one of our best meatless dinners, takes just 10 minutes to prep before it essentially finishes itself in the slow cooker.

Buffalo Cauliflower Salad

Cauliflower is having a comeback. Roast florets of the versatile vegetable, then toss with a lemon juice-spiked cayenne pepper sauce for a Meatless Monday-friendly twist on Buffalo wings. Pile atop a bed of veggies—including carrots and celery, of course. Add almonds and an easy avocado dressing and you have an entrée salad that might just inspire everyone to say, "Who gives a cluck about chicken?"