If you’re tired of hummus and baby carrots, then this collection of vegetarian lunch ideas is for you (although we did include a great recipe for hummus, too). From sandwiches and salads to soups and stews, there is sure to be a meat-free option to get you excited about lunch time.
"I am going to be making this all summer! It would also be great over a salad. The only change I made was to use canned tomatoes, and only because the ones at the store didn't look so nice.”
-Pippy
"There needs to be a 10-star rating, because this is just about the most delicious thing I've ever shoved in my face. Hellman's mayo and some salt and pepper and this is just heaven. In my honest opinion, there's no need to toast the bread, and the whiter and more refined, the better."
-SilverOpera
“I made this exactly as posted but with a full tablespoon of the garlic chili sauce. It was just what I was looking for. I'll tweak it with fresh broccoli next time.”
-Scott B.
"I'm not vegetarian but have been trying to cut down on meat consumption; I've found that all the vegetarian chilis I've tried taste like they're lacking something. Not this one. I think it's the zucchini, which I shredded for this recipe, which gives the chili more body; or maybe it's all the different kinds of beans which give it enough depth of flavor.”
-meridangola
"Wow! What a great recipe! I cleaned out the kitchen sink with this. I froze quite a bit of the leftovers for future use. So far I have had this with pasta, as a pizza base and on a toasted baguette as an open faced sandwich. This recipe is so versatile you can do so much with it, and it is delicious!"
-toohot4u
"This was such a big hit in my family, that I was asked to make it three times in two weeks and my partner is a very picky eater. To help the tofu crisp a little bit i added 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the chili powder as i mixed it into the tofu.”
-Inspiritual
"I'm so happy to have the recipe! I made it last night and it tastes just like the soup at La Madeleine's! It was easy to make and everyone loved it. I used canned, crushed tomatoes and one can of broth with enough tomato juice to equal four cups of liquid. A new family favorite!"
-youngphyl
“My husband loved it, and he's not a big fan of my cooking! That proves this recipe is the real deal. I did use vegetable broth instead of 3 cups of water, and put about 14 fresh spinach leaves in at the last minute. Will definitely make this many times in the future."
-lngtheone
"This was wonderful! I made it crustless, and I used another reviewer's suggestion of thinly sliced Roma tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes. It cooked in exactly 45 min, and it was perfect!”
-EmJoMay
"This is a good basic recipe, but keep in mind that guacamole is like tomato sauce — everybody has a ‘family’ recipe that they like best. If you want creamier guacamole, use a potato masher rather than a fork. I would also add ground cumin and garlic (powdered is fine) and leave out the tomato — in Michoacán, guacamole is very often served without it.”
-Nancy C.
"This is my go-to when I make burgers at home. Since I am a vegetarian, I add an egg to help them stay together, but honestly they stick together pretty well anyway. You can also add about a tablespoon of egg replacer with water if you prefer to keep them vegan.”
-mundaetraversa
“After the cucumbers are sliced you must get as much water out of them as possible! You can do this by laying the cukes out on a plate with another plate pressed on top of it. Leave that in the fridge for at least one hour. If you don't do this your salad will be watery and yucky!"
-mystere2e
"This is my go-to recipe for roasted garlic hummus. I always make it in advance. It has replaced our need to buy garlic hummus from Trader Joe’s.”
-Mishybelle
"Spicy, zingy, bold, yet full of subtle nuance. Incredibly simple to make, and a little goes a long way.”
-Llarion
"Wonderful Recipe. Used it for my daughter's baby shower and everyone wanted the recipe. Very tasty, and by using the lower fat ricotta and part skim mozzarella, calories were lowered.”
-Pilgrim Lady
"I think that the people who thought it was too salty were putting the broth packets into the meatballs, (understandable because the first instruction says to mix all ingredients together, which is really not correct). The broth packets are used later in the recipe and should not be mixed in. I thought they were delicious and not too salty at all; I served them with a sweet & sour sauce."
-mkeen3
“I made this on a Friday afternoon for Saturday lunch, and my friend very wisely suggested that I keep the salad, dressing and pecans separate and mix them just before serving. This is good advice and you should all take it!”
-Mirj2338
"This was very easy to make; I added mushroom with the onions and used a different type of cheese as I didn't have the one recommended but the end result as fantastic. I had never heard of a crustless quiche before i will definitely be making this again."
-Tulip-Fairy
"A little less bulgur and this recipe works great! I found the secret to perfect tabbouli: that is to add some crumbled feta. You will not regret it."
-ManglinYourRecipes
"This is one of my favorite side dishes to make and definitely my go-to quinoa recipe. I've made it well over 15 times and it's always turned out amazing. I prefer to sub broth/stock for the water, but it is still very tasty with just water.”
-ChristineL
“Great! Made this morning to pack into today's lunch box. It worked out perfectly and tasted great come noon. Made as written and will make again.”
-twistedataraxia
"This is an awesome bean recipe. You just throw them in a slow cooker and forget them. They smell wonderful cooking and taste even better. My husband took one bite and said I should make them when his mother comes to visit. High praise, indeed! I will definitely make these over and over again.”
-carol murray
"This recipe is excellent! Perfect for a hot summer day. I didn't have any fresh basil on hand so I used dried and it turned out really well."
-Patty22
"First of all, let me say that I am not a vegetarian. But this is a really great tasting vegetarian loaf. Absolutely outstanding flavor, moist and just as good if not better than any meat loaf I've ever made! You can be sure I'll be making this again and again.”
-Miss Annie in Indy
"I am not a fan of tofu but I made this for a friend who is mostly vegetarian — I liked it and she loved it! Excellent recipe, healthy and a nice change. It may have started to convert me to tofu.”
-Bergy
"The nutritional yeast gives the tofu a bit of a cheesy flavor, which was so good! I usually don't like tofu unless mixed into a soup or casserole, but this is really good. I also liked the texture of the tofu fried.”
-Yogi8
“Delicious! We love sweet potatoes and never even considered using them in a curry. I followed the recipe as written, but I think I would add more spices, including some garlic and pepper flakes. The tomatoes were very tasty.”
-tamalita
"A bit tedious but oh-so-good! I had everyone eating it, even the picky eaters. And to think how nutritious each serving is. It was even better for leftovers.”
-Peachie Keene
"Loved it. Used a can of drained diced tomatoes, but otherwise following the directions exactly."
-jane49423
"These were fantastic! Probably one of my favorite meals now. I made the recipe exactly as it was listed and I wouldn't change a thing next time.”
-Colleen M.
"You would never be able to tell these weren’t made with beef if they were in a pot of spaghetti sauce. They were really good.”
-Tara1183
"This was so amazing! Made it as written except using whole wheat bolillo rolls for the bread. It was absolutely delicious and we will definitely make it again."
-DianaEatingRichly
"This recipe is rather labor intensive but sure has a wonderful presentation. A few suggestions: I would just use a regular pie crust and cook it first. Carrots need to be cut very thin and micro waved for a longer time then you think. Use a tooth pick to hold them together after rolling them until it's time to put them in.”
-jumpdown
“I served this to a friend who doesn't like any vegetables and she absolutely loved it. How can you not like something with mayonnaise and sugar poured over it? I left out the cheese and added raisins and roasted sunflower seeds.”
-Haunani Thunell
"So glad to find this recipe. I had a salad like this, loved it, and looked for the recipe. Thank you. So good! Even better the next day."
-marisa
"Loved this sandwich! I used a store bought tzatziki made with greek yogurt to save a step. Love this sandwich, and ended up making it for quite a few lunches, as I had lots of tzatziki to use.”
-Katzen
"Never thought I'd make a falafel recipe because I don't have a deep fat fryer and don't like to eat high fat foods. So I read the reviews and decided to make this by cooking it at 400F for 20 minutes. It turned out terrific!”
-Kumquat the Cats fr
"Great vegan ranch dressing. If you omit the vegenaise and soy milk and replace it with non-dairy sour cream, you have a great vegan ranch dip. Very versatile recipe."
-cdzapata
“I take this salad everywhere I go for potlucks, especially in the summer months. It's always a huge hit!”
-Chef Doozer
"I give this recipe five stars because it was really simple, very good and everyone enjoyed it. Very nice, very tasty peanut sauce that I can see being used in other stir-fries. It also took less time than I had expected — less than 30 minutes total.”
-Miss Erin C.
“Delicious comfort food! A great idea for a bunch of root vegetables that I never know what to do with. Beer sounded like a good idea to me so I threw in a Sam Adams and it turned out really yummy.”
-JenniferM
“Very flavorful! One of the few veggie sandwiches (without cheese melted on it) that I have truly loved! It seems like too much to put the hummus and tapenade on both pieces of bread but do it; it makes for a very moist and delicious sandwich! I made it a second time on pita and it wasn't quite as good.”
-flower7
"This was a good, fast and healthy lunch. I may add avocados next time I have some.”
-Sharbear23
