“What should I make for lunch tomorrow that’s plant-based and EASY? What are some good, delicious vegetarian meal preps I can make in a cinch? Could I just pay someone to come up with an easy vegetarian meal prep idea for me?” – Yeah, we’ve also been there! For you, we’ve put together this list of batch-friendly vegetarian meal prep recipes from our recipe index. They’re all over the map: some are easy vegetarian recipes, some are a little more indulgent, some are more suited for meal prepping than others, but they’re unified by their low effort. So here you have it! Our absolute best, easy vegetarian meal prep recipes—all in one place. Enjoy!
Easy Corn Avocado Pasta Salad
Pasta salad with creamy avocado slices is so easy to make! the best Pasta salad to add to your dinner table. - One bowl of this healthy pasta salad will delight even the pickiest eaters!
Chickpea Quinoa Salad Meal Prep
This chickpea quinoa salad meal prep is full of good-for-you ingredients, and so easy to prepare!
Parmesan Spinach Mushroom Pasta Skillet
This parmesan spinach mushroom pasta is an easy 20-minute dinner with sautéed mushrooms, fresh spinach, garlic, and plenty of parmesan.
Healthy Chickpea Quinoa Salad
This chickpea quinoa salad is quick, healthy, and perfect to make ahead!
Garlic Butter Mushrooms and Gnocchi in Foil Packets
This gnocchi recipe is a light yet nutritious dish that does not skimp on flavor. You'll love these gnocchi foil packets!
Fried Gnocchi with Garlic & Parmesan
Comfort food at its finest! This easy skillet gnocchi recipe takes only 15 mins to make and is perfect for weeknight dinners.
Apple Feta Spinach Salad
This healthy spinach salad recipe is crunchy, sweet, and full of fresh flavors. A perfect vegetarian spinach salad for lunch or a light dinner!
Shredded Carrot Salad
This Carrot Salad recipe is my go-to for lunch or a quick meal prep salad
Sweet Potato, Brussels Sprout & Kale Salad
This sweet potato and Brussels sprouts salad with kale is the perfect healthy and satisfying lunch!
White Bean and Carrot Salad
A warm white bean carrot salad recipe with a 2-ingredient lemon maple sauce as a dressing! This white bean carrot salad is easy to make and full of bright flavors!
Crispy Parmesan Zucchini Fritters
Crispy zucchini fritters are a perfect healthy snack with fresh zucchini!
Garlic Broccoli Stir-Fry with Pasta
This broccoli stir fry recipe with pasta cannot get easier or quicker! It's loaded with flavor and ready in less than 30mn.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
This Mediterranean chickpea salad recipe is a bright, colorful, and delicious salad perfect for hot summer days.
Tomato and Spinach Pasta
Our Tomato and Spinach Pasta is perfect when you need a quick dinner on the table. Try it tonight!
Cheesy Corn Fritters Recipe
These Corn Fritters are crispy on the edges, soft in the middle – A great side dish for a host of dinners!
One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta with Spinach and Mushrooms
One-pot garlic parmesan pasta skillet with spinach and mushrooms is super delicious and quick to make. This pasta recipe is the ultimate win for easy weeknight dinners
Mozzarella Pasta Salad
This mozzarella pasta salad is the perfect side dish or main course for a warm Spring or Summer evening!
Spicy Corn Salad
Easy and delicious corn salad recipe - A great light lunch or side for bbq and grilling.
Zucchini Noodles in Creamy Tomato Sauce
These zucchini noodles in creamy tomato sauce make an easy 20-minute low-carb dinner with garlic, herbs, parmesan, and a touch of cream.
Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice with Kale
This cauliflower rice and kale skillet is done in only 15 minutes and can be served as a quick lunch, or as a side dish.
Spinach Orzo Pasta Salad
Orzo pasta, tangy feta, and fresh spinach combine to create a light and refreshing salad. Tossed with a zesty dressing, this orzo salad is perfect for lunch or a summertime picnic!
Spinach and Mushrooms Risotto
Baked Swiss Chard Potato Cakes
Swiss chards, like all dark leafy green vegetables, are one of the most nutritious, inexpensive and easy to cook real foods! You can easily freeze the patties and use them for a quick lunch or as a side dish for a festive dinner.
Spring Roll Noodle Salad
This easy noodle salad recipe is packed with vitamins and perfect for spring nights.
Teriyaki Zucchini Noodles
This Teriyaki Zucchini Noodles recipe comes together in 20 minutes or less and is 100% gluten-free! Serve it as a side dish, or add toppings to make it a full meal.
Tortellini Pasta in Garlic Spinach Tomato Sauce
This tortellini pasta with spinach and tomatoes makes an easy 20-minute dinner with garlic, parmesan, and a simple fresh tomato sauce.
Lemon Ricotta Pasta
This easy lemon ricotta pasta needs just 5 ingredients and comes together in 15 minutes for a fresh, creamy pasta dinner.
Asian Noodle Salad
This Asian noodle salad is perfect for midweek lunches or larger gatherings.
Creamy Spinach Orzo Pasta
This creamy orzo pasta recipe with spinach is a family favorite for weeknight dinners!
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
This creamy sun-dried tomato pasta will leave you feeling satisfied and happy with its hearty flavors.
Spinach Mushroom Quinoa Skillet (Healthy 20-Minute Dinner)
This 20-Minute Healthy Meatless spinach mushroom quinoa Skillet is the ultimate win for vegetarian weeknight dinners!
Feta Chickpea Salad
Our Feta Chickpea Salad is perfect as a light vegetarian main or a refreshing side. Whip it up in minutes and enjoy!
Garlic Butter Sweet Potato Noodles
This great sweet potato noodles recipe is an easy and fun way to eat more vegetables!
Quinoa Cucumber Mason Jar Salad
A portable, portion-control lunch you can enjoy everywhere on the go.
Baked Mediterranean Gnocchi
This baked gnocchi skillet is a super fast and delicious meat-free meal at home.
No-Mayo Potato Salad
A quick and lighter version of the classic potato salad, with a delicious kick of spice.
Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
This greek orzo pasta salad is so easy to throw together - Light, delicious, and healthy!
Creamy Mushroom Pasta
This 30-minute creamy mushroom pasta is the perfect weeknight indulgence for any pasta lover!
What is a good vegetable to meal prep?
Vegetables are, of course, the base for any vegetarian meal prep recipes. Raw vegetables are great because they retain all the nutrients and are highly portable. Here is a quick list of veggies that are ideal for meal prepping for your coming week:
- Asparagus: Blanched, roasted, steamed… You can enjoy cooked asparagus cold or reheated for your meal prep.
- Brussels sprouts: Roasted Brussels sprouts are chunky pieces of nourishing goodness that will fill you up!
- Broccoli: Raw broccoli works well in vegetarian salads, while you can cook broccoli for your vegetarian stir-fries
- Butternut squash: Some like raw butternut squash noodles, but we recommend steaming them beforehand. They are great spiralized in a salad you can pack for lunch.
- Cabbage: Well, no need to introduce the classic coleslaw here…
- Cauliflower: You can enjoy cauliflower raw in salads, or as a garnish: think cauliflower rice. It is very easy to reheat a dish full of nutrients. The ideal meal prep companion!
- Carrots: Carrot sticks, carrot noodles, carrot slices… if you need something crunchy and filling for a cheap vegetarian meal prep, carrots are a great option.
- Celery: Same as carrots. Celery sticks are highly portable and hold very well.
- Cucumbers: You’ll have a lot of cucumbers in vegetarian and vegan meal prep bowls and salads. That’s for a reason!
- Fennel: Fennel has a lot of flavors and will complement your salads. You can also sauté it in a pan for a nice stir-fry with citrus, pine nuts, and spices.
- Green beans: We prefer cooked green beans, chopped in salads. They tend to hold better this way.
- Kale: The king of nutrition. Raw kale holds very well in a wide variety of salads.
- Lettuce: Think lettuce for a light lunch or meal prep. Keep the dressing apart so the lettuce leaves don’t get soggy.
- Peppers: Raw or stir-fried, peppers bring color and vitamins to your vegetarian lunch.
- Potatoes: Potato salads make a wonderful, creamy, and satisfying vegetarian meal. Avoid chopping potatoes ahead of time without cooking them because the starch will change color in less than an hour.
- Sweet potatoes: Pre-chop and pre-cook your sweet potatoes for meal prepping. They are great in salads and quick stir-fries.
How to make vegetarian meal prep easier?
Meal prepping for a vegetarian diet is quite simple. Keep in mind to add a variety of vegetables to your meal instead of relying on only one: This way, you’ll feel fuller and more satisfied while drawing from a richer combo of nutrients. Here is a few tips to make vegetarian meal prep easier:
1. Choose meals that are easy to prepare
Look for vegan and vegetarian meals that require minimal prep work, such as salads, soups, stir-fries, and casseroles.
2. Invest in meal-prep containers
Invest in a few high-quality containers to store your pre-made meals. We tend to prefer glass containers for meal prep because they are safer to reheat than plastic and easier to clean.
3. Make extra
When cooking vegetarian meals, make extra so you can store some in the refrigerator or freezer for later.
4. Invest in a slow cooker
Slow cookers make it easier to make large batches of veggie stews and soups that can be stored for later.
5. Take advantage of pre-cut vegetables
If you don’t have time to cut and chop vegetables, opt for pre-cut and pre-washed options–They are now pretty common in every grocery store chain.
6. Use your leftovers creatively
Vegetarian leftovers can be repurposed into new meals like veggie burgers, burritos, or omelets.
7. Prepare your sauces in advance
Save time by preparing sauces and dressings in advance. Store them in mason jars with tightly fitting lids and keep them in your refrigerator.
8. Use frozen vegetables
Frozen vegetables are a great time-saver, as they are peeled, pre-cut, and require minimal preparation. Frozen veggies work best for stir-fries, soups, and stew, but not so much for raw dishes like salads.
Did you make one of these vegetarian meal prep recipes? Please share on your social media using our hashtag #eatwell101!
