30+ Vegetarian Recipes For Beginners: 2023 Edition

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Are you a freshly-minted vegetarian, on the lookout for easy vegetarian recipes to try out? Has your well of best ideas to keep yourself fed on a plant-based diet run dry?

Are you a beginner cook, daunted by the wealth of complicated-looking recipes out there that just seem out of your reach?

Beginner vegetarian cooks! Reveal yourselves! (You rock!)

I have vegetarian recipes that will keep even the most newbie cooks of you happy, recipes that are easy to put together, full of healthy ingredients, and do not need a background in nutritional science to translate.

Easy (and tasty!) recipes for those new to vegetarian cooking to enjoy – that’s the mandate. And boy, do I have some tasty AND easy vegetarian recipes for you or what?

I love my vegetarian recipes. They are a great way of getting my 5-a-day. Whether you are looking for a simple, delicious meal or a healthy vegetarian recipe for the next Meatless Monday, I got you covered.

I have quick vegetarian recipes for the whole family to enjoy!

Whether it is your first time cooking or you are a seasoned professional new to vegetarian cooking, I have plenty of delicious ideas to keep your taste buds happy.

If you are new to the wonderful world of vegetarianism and are stuck, unsure how to get going, I have an easy primer to get you going.

Now, on to my selection of vegetarian recipes for beginners!

Easy for beginners to master, not too much faff, and good for the whole family to enjoy – that’s a promise!

Veggie Breakfasts for Beginners

Bonus: a foolproof recipe that even a brand-new cook can master!

Mastering the art of the perfect omelet is a basic kitchen skill that shouldn’t be overlooked. This tomato omelet recipe provides you with step-by-step instructions for making a filling breakfast or simple supper that is cooked to perfection, every time.

Bonus: what an easy and delicious way to break your fast!

This simple vegetable frittata is full of veggie goodness and packed with protein. Give it a go, we dare you!

Bonus: the 5-minute breakfast you will be able to do in your sleep!

Avocado Toast with a creamy, cheesy twist! Cottage cheese is the perfect partner to the creamy avocado and makes for a tasty and healthy breakfast.

Bonus: a simple and satisfying way to start your day

Healthy and easy breakfast that you can make in a jiffy! Even when you’re feeling pressed for time, you will have healthy options to turn to.

Bonus: dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, vegan, AND ready in 6 minutes!

Want a breakfast smoothie that will actually fill you up? Try our super-charged, protein-packed avocado spinach smoothie!

Bonus: quick and easy traditional Mexican breakfast

A simple and easy meal that will fill you up with all the good stuff and keep you full through to lunch, so you don’t have to snack between meals.

Bonus: could anything be easier than a no-cook recipe?

What’s the next best thing to someone bringing you breakfast in bed? Collecting a ready-made breakfast from the fridge, obviously! This delicious, Vegan Overnight Oats in a Jar only takes a couple of minutes to throw together, then ‘cook’ themselves overnight.

Bonus: banana + egg = pancake!

Seriously, a 2-ingredient pancake deserves the “World’s Easiest” crown and every vegetarian beginner cook should have it in their repertoire.

Veggie Lunches for Beginners

Bonus: a winner of a recipe from just a handful of ingredients

When you need only 15-20 mins to put together a colorful, tasty, and healthy salad that you will keep going back for more, it has got to be a keeper, right?

Bonus: delicious, warming, and ready in under 30 mins!

Tired of soups that leave you feeling hungry? Try our fiber and protein-packed leek and potato soup with white beans now!

Bonus: the hardest part of this recipe is ensuring you got ripe avocado!

After something different for lunch? Try this avocado and citrus salad with feta – it’s sweet, and sour & packs a punch! And takes only 10 mins to put together!

Bonus: 10 mins recipe that every vegetarian beginner cook can rely on

High in vitamins A, C, and iron. Bursting with fresh tomatoes, this quick vegetarian recipe is perfect as a snack or healthy lunch.

Bonus: delicious, high in protein, and really easy to make!

Need a tasty sandwich that’s healthy too? Try our vegetarian banh mi, light and healthy take on the Vietnamese classic!

Bonus: super fun DIY lunch or snack to enjoy with friends or family

Looking for a light lunch or snack? Try our vegan lettuce wraps, inspired by Korean ssam & filled with crispy tofu! Make it your own by adding your favorite toppings!

Bonus: classic Middle Eastern dish that’s healthy and involves minimal cooking

Looking for an easy tabbouleh recipe? Get a load of our lentil tabbouleh – a protein-packed take on the classic dish!

Bonus: fruity and fresh salads that can be made in ten minutes are a must for lunch

This exceptionally quick and easy watermelon and feta salad is incredibly tasty – and we even include a guide to picking the right watermelon! Nothing stopping you from giving it a go right away, is there?

Bonus: made from just six simple ingredients

It’s time to make the humble lunchtime cheese sandwich something to be proud of again!

Veggie Dinners for Beginners

Bonus: super simple, 5-minute recipe for those lazy summer evenings

Tomato Mozzarella Bread. Easy to make Italian tomato and mozzarella bread. High in calcium and Mediterranean flair. Proof that vegetarian dinners can be easy AND delicious.

Bonus: cheesy and easy weeknight dinners are here!

Looking for healthy comfort food options? This vegan broccoli casserole is hearty, filling & surprisingly light! One of the best vegetarian meals there is! Try it now!

Bonus: light, healthy, and quick to whip up

Tender sweet potatoes and warm tortillas come together to give taco night a healthy twist! Don’t let the ingredient list scare you – these bad boys can be whipped up oh so easily!

Bonus: a high protein, high fiber meal ready in 7 minutes!

The PR person of the salad world, eating this salad once is enough to turn salad-haters into fans and to open up a whole new world of flavourful, filling salad possibilities.

Bonus: easy vegetarian meal loaded with delicious chili and ginger

Love spice? Love noodles? Love to not slave over a hot stove? How about all these things in one healthy package? Try our delicious spicy dragon noodles now!

Bonus: the perfect comfort food for those cold nights

A dump-and-bake dish that will please everyone, this bean and pasta vegetarian casserole makes a perfectly healthy dinner.

Bonus: want to seem like a seasoned chef with minimal effort? Stop scrolling!

Egg-free, gluten-free, and ready in 20 minutes, this meal is one you can just throw together with minimal effort.

Bonus: a 5-star recipe for all the noobs out there!

Our awesome vegan take on the insanely popular dish. Ridiculously tasty and nutritious – just look at all that protein, fiber, and iron.

Bonus: really quick and easy to make

Wrap and roll, baby! These are really easy to make, super tasty, and oh-so-satisfying. We’ll even show you how to roll them properly!

Veggie Snacks

Bonus: channel your inner Ina Garten with a fraction of effort!

Sweetcorn fritters can be made for any weeknight tea with the family. Served as a main or side dish, they’re so yummy!

Bonus: posh sandwiches made easy!

The ultimate guide to cucumber sandwiches. Know the traps to avoid and the tricks to making the best cucumber sandwiches available in polite society.

Bonus: a super simple dish that won’t let you down

Tangy and tasty guacamole with crispy nachos that are healthy, vegan, and very easy to make. High in good fats, fiber, vitamin C, and iron. 10 minutes.

Bonus: zero cooking necessary!

A dollop of cool, creamy yogurt, a sprinkling of your favorite dried fruits, a garnish of some nuts and toasted seeds, and hey presto! One happy belly!

⚡️ Unlock 6 more meals for sporty people 💪🏽

The following recipes are the upgraded high-protein versions of our meals 😎

Questions That Need Answers

How do you plan a vegetarian menu?

By referring to websites like ours! 😉

Seriously though, a good vegetarian menu contains plenty of leafy greens, fresh vegetables, fresh herbs, lentils & beans, and plenty of flavorful sauces to add some pizzazz. Like our buddha bowls, which are so delicious you will not miss the meat and are so simple to put together.

Here’s a two-day menu plan to get you started. If this whets your appetite (heh!), take a look around the rest of our website, where we have plenty of menu ideas.

What is the easiest vegetarian recipe for a beginner to follow?

I’d say, vegetarian fried rice. And I will tell you why it is the easiest – you make it with leftovers. Cut up your favorite vegetables, toss in some scrambled eggs, maybe some canned black beans for added body and it is the easiest stir fry in the world.

If you are looking for more, check out this collection.

I am a meat eater and want to transition to a vegetarian diet. How can I do this?

My wonderful colleague, HTFU’s very own Hauke, has written the definitive guide to going vegetarian. It is a veritable masterclass in all this vegetarian full of the whys and wherefores of becoming vegetarian, as well as helpful tips and the pitfalls to be avoided.

From there, you can browse through our site to select your favorite vegetarian meals to try out and enjoy.

Just remember to be open to trying new things!

Can vegetarians eat eggs and dairy?

Yes, and they are known as lacto-ovo-vegetarians. Plant-based meals form the bulk of their diet and they get the added nutrients from eggs, milk, yogurt, cream and cheese, and other dairy products.

As a vegetarian, my favorite vegetarian recipes are meatless recipes. If you are struggling to come up with ideas for tasty meals cos you are on a budget, I have some good news for you! We also have put together a handy compilation easy for students or if you are looking for cheap vegetarian meals.

So there you go! A quick and easy collection of vegetarian recipes for beginners to try and master. Give them a test drive and come back here and tell me all about it!