I am not a vegetarian, but as I get older, I find myself drawn more and more to vegetarian meals. Below are twelve of my favorite vegetarian dinner recipes, delicious regardless of the season.

A collection of easy vegetarian recipes to make year-round.

As you know, I am not a vegetarian, but more and more, I find myself drawn to vegetarian meals. At the end of the night, I love nothing more than a big chopped salad, a mug of lentil soup, or a bowl of polenta topped with roasted ratatouille or sautéed greens. Below are twelve of my favorite easy vegetarian recipes to make year-round.

PS: 9 Favorite Pastas Recipes

1. Sweet potato quesadillas: A friend of my aunt Marcy sent me this recipe, and it has been a favorite ever since.

A board topped with sweet potato quesadillas.

2. Polenta with Sally Schneider’s roasted mushrooms: I love this method for roasting mushrooms; it yields a good amount of brothy sauce as well as crisp, flavorful mushrooms.

A bowl of oven-baked polenta and mushrooms.

3. Chickpea tagine with tomato jam: This dish is inspired by a tagine served at a local Moroccan restaurant, Tara Kitchen.

A bowl of chickpea tagine with tomato jam.

4. Quinoa bake with roasted butternut squash and onions: This quinoa bake combines ALL the Thanksgiving herbs (sage, rosemary, and thyme) with roasted onions, butternut squash, and a mix of Gruyère and parmesan.

Bowls filled with quinoa bake with roasted butternut squash and onions.

5. Curried lentils with coconut milk: From Julia Turshen’s Small Victories, this one, seasoned with turmeric, cumin, coriander, and ginger, has been another favorite since I first made it.

A bowl of curried lentils with coconut milk.

6. Crispy tofu and broccoli with sesame-peanut pesto: From Deb Perelman’s latest, Smitten Kitchen Every Day, this one calls for roasting tofu and broccoli, then topping with a sesame-peanut pesto, a sauce modeled after the ones dressing Deb’s favorite “deliciously inauthentic” take-out noodles.

A bowl of crispy tofu and broccoli with peanut sauce.

7. Oven-baked polenta (a miracle!) with poached eggs: If you’ve never baked polenta, it’s time!

A bowl of oven-baked polenta with soft-boiled eggs.

8. Chickpea taco bowls: Adapted from my favorite taco recipe, this one, for me, is just as (if not more) satisfying.

A bowl of chickpea tacos aside lettuce and cheese.

9. Farro risotto with kale and feta: A favorite Ottolenghi recipe … simplified.

A bowl of Ottolenghi's farro with tomatoes and kale.

10. Crispy tofu and kale with coconut: If you haven’t discovered the joys of baking tofu — no pressing, no marinating, no sticking — it’s time!

Bowls of crispy tofu and kale with coconut

11. Kimchi fried rice: With cooked rice on hand, this recipe is especially weeknight friendly, but because it comes together so quickly, it’s important to have all your ingredients prepped before cooking.

A bowl of kimchi fried rice.

12. Leblebi: Moroccan chickpea stew: Leblebi originates in Tunisia, and is typically served at breakfast with various garnishes: poached or hard-boiled eggs, a sprinkling of cumin or capers, a drizzle of olive oil or harissa, toasted bread, preserved lemon, tinned fish, or pickled vegetables. I like it for dinner with harissa and bread. Yum.

Two bowls of leblebi aside flatbread.
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Chickpea taco bowl.

10+ Easy Vegetarian Dinner Recipes: Chickpea Taco Bowl

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Perfect for busy weeknights, this chickpea taco bowl is easy to prepare and so flavorful. Plus, 11 more easy vegetarian dinner recipes that I know you’ll love.

Ingredients

For cooking the chickpeas:

  • 1 pound dried chickpeas, see notes above
  • 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt

For the chickpea taco bowls:

  • 2 tablespoons oil, grapeseed or olive
  • 2 cups diced onions
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder, see notes above
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes, see notes above
  • 1 tablespoon cider (or other) vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 4 cups cooked chickpeas, from above, or two 15-oz cans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 lime, for juicing, plus more for serving
  • For serving: grated cheese, sour cream, finely shredded romaine lettuce, quick-pickled onions (see notes above)

Instructions

  1. If using dried chickpeas: Dissolve the 3 tablespoons of salt into a large bowl of water (your largest mixing bowl, or about 4 quarts water). Add the chickpeas and soak for 8 to 24 hours. Drain, and place in a pot with the remaining teaspoon of salt. Cover with water by three inches. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and cook at the gentlest simmer for about an hour or until the chickpeas are cooked through. Let chickpeas cool in their cooking liquid. Store chickpeas in their cooking liquid.
  2. Set a large, wide skillet over high heat. Add the oil. When it shimmers, add the onions, stir to distribute evenly, season with a pinch of salt, cover the pan, and turn heat to low. Cook, covered, for 15 minutes. Uncover, letting the water from the lid drip down into the pan. Add the garlic, 1 tablespoon (or less, see notes above) chili powder, and cumin, and cook for 1 minute, stirring until the onions are coated in the spices. Taste. If you want a little more heat, add an additional tablespoon of chile powder, and cook for another minute.
  3. Add the crushed tomatoes, 1 cup water, vinegar, sugar, and 4 cups of the cooked chickpeas (not the liquid). Adjust heat so the mixture simmers. Season with a pinch of salt. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes (the longer the better) stirring occasionally to ensure chickpeas are not sticking to bottom of pan. Taste. Squeeze half a lime over top if desired along with more salt to taste—chickpeas can handle/need salt, so don’t be afraid here.
  4. To serve: Spoon chickpeas into bowls. Top with grated cheese, sour cream, quick-pickled onions, lettuce, and lime wedges.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Mexican, American