63 High Protein Vegetarian Recipes: Meals for Fitness

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Hi everybody,

In this post we’ve put together 63 vegetarian recipes to help you get enough protein into your diet.

We vegetarians often run into the trap of turning into a “carbatarian” – someone who mostly eats foods high in (refined) carbohydrates. This often happens when we replace meat with the “wrong” stuff.

Simply put: too much white bread, pasta, rice and heavily processed foods like breakfast cereals, frozen pizzas and other snacks.

But fret no more!

Whether you’re on a weight-loss journey or building muscle programme, these well-tested recipes will help you achieve your goal. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, we’ve covered it all!

Before we dive into the recipes let’s quickly answer how much protein we actually need and what vegetarian foods provide a proper amount of protein.

How much protein do we need?

The RDA, recommended daily allowance, is at a minimum of 0.36g of protein per pound of body weight (0.8g per kg bodyweight).

By percentage that would be roughly 10% of your daily caloric income. Note that is the minimum requirement for a non-active sedentary person to avoid a protein deficiency and get sick as a result. That means a full-on couch potato would just get by on that daily intake.

But how much protein does an active person need?

Of course this depends on your goals. But in general you can safely say if you want to build muscle you need more protein than that basic daily recommended allowance.

A higher protein intake is also likely to be beneficial for weight loss.

So, if you’re an active person, who does sports regularly, a healthy recommendation would be between 0.75g-1g of protein per lb of bodyweight per day (about 1.6-2.2 grams of protein per kg bodyweight).

By percentage that would be roughly 20-30% of your daily caloric income.

This is based on studies that have investigated the rates of something called muscle protein synthesis (essentially, new muscle being created) and how it differs depending on protein intake.

How much protein per vegetarian meal is realistic?

For most people, reasonably sized healthy meals have around 600kcal, give or take 200kcal.

If we want to hit protein requirements and aim to eat a wide variety of foods (not just cheese and processed meat replacements), here are the protein amounts we believe a vegetarian meal should at least have to be considered “high protein”:

Meal size	Protein
~300kcal	12.5g+
~400kcal	16.5g+
~500kcal	21g+
~600kcal	25g+

NOTE: high-protein vegetarian meals can easily go up to 35g+ protein per 600kcal, if using cheese, eggs and processed meat replacements.

We purposefully took lower numbers per meal as a benchmark, because it allows for a wider variety of foods while still hitting protein goals even for sporty people.

And let’s be honest, to make protein account for 20%+ of your daily caloric intake, you have to make compromises as a vegetarian.

This means either a heavy focus on eggs, cheese, soy, seitan and other meat replacements or including protein shakes in your diet.

Make sure to check out our free meal plans, where all the calculations are done for you:

–> 7-Day High Protein Meal Plan
–> 7 Day Weight Loss Meal Plan

We created them with “protein in mind” 🙂

What vegetarian foods are high in protein?

Cheese, eggs, yogurt, lentils, seeds, nuts, quinoa, tofu and seitan are all high in protein and make excellent vegetarian choices.

Below is a table full of even more high protein veggie foods.

High Protein Veggie Foods	Protein per 100g	Kcal per 100g
Lentils, cooked	9.02	116
Chickpeas, cooked	8.86	164
Black beans, cooked	8.86	132
Oats	16.9	389
Quinoa, uncooked	14.1	368
Peanuts	25.8	567
Peanut butter	24	590
Almonds	21.2	579
Walnuts	15.2	654
Hazelnuts	15	628
Hemp seeds	31.6	553
Sunflower seeds	20.8	584
Flax seeds	18.3	534
Chia seeds	16.5	486
Seitan (vital wheat gluten)	75.2	370
Nutritional yeast	60	400
Tempeh	20.3	192
Firm tofu	9.08	80
Chicken egg, medium	12.6	143
Cheddar cheese	23.3	409
Mozzarella, whole milk	22.2	299
Feta cheese	14.2	265
Plain Skyr	11.33	73
Cottage cheese, lowfat, 2% milkfat	11	82
Greek yogurt	8.78	94
Whole milk yogurt, plain	3.47	61
Whole milk, 3.25% milkfat	3.15	61

As you can see there are many protein rich vegetarian foods around. But notice that some foods also come with a high amount of calories, like seeds and nuts.

But this list should help as a rough guideline. So, if you’re prepping a meal without a recipe make sure to use one or more of these ingredients for a protein boost.

How can I add protein to my vegetarian meal?

To an already-finished meal think of sprinkling nuts, cheese or nutritional yeast over the top. To replace meat within the meal try tofu, seitan, lentils or different types of cheese.

You can also add chia seeds to virtually any pancake batter – you’ll get a nice omega-3 boost, too!

Of course, the recipes below can use all types of the food in this list.

Let’s go!

Breakfast Ideas

Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp
Bonus: works as a breakfast or snack

Boasting 22 grams of protein per serving due to the smoked tofu, cheddar cheese and eggs. Ever had a French Tarte Flambee? That’s what these egg muffins taste like!

Bonus: Swap Greek yogurt for “skyr”, if you have it available in your location for an extra protein boost.

This yogurt dish is relatively low in calories at roughly 303 kcal per serving. That’s enough to make a filling breakfast and still leave you plenty of calories left for the rest of your meals, if you are on a weight loss diet.

Bonus: works well for breakfast, lunch or dinner 😉

Hearty and filling Farmer’s Breakfast. Full of protein and energy to keep you going. Perfect any time of the day. Ready in 30 mins. Embrace your rustic side.

Bonus: very quick and easy, can be stored for a while in the fridge, sooo yummy 🙂

This deliciously smooth cashew milkshake can be made any way you like – just follow the simple instructions and you’ll be drinking a mega shake in five minutes!

Bonus: many different protein sources

Spinach, chickpeas, eggs and feta make this dish a premium protein source for vegetarians. On top it’s easy, delicious and super healthy- a breakfast your body will thank you for!

Bonus: great way to use up old bread

Looking for a new breakfast treat? Try our bread pudding breakfast – a healthy, high protein take on the classic dessert!

Bonus: vegan, quick and something different

This tempeh sandwich is THE new vegan sandwich. Mega tasty and super nutritional, it sets the new bar for all sandwich lovers out there. Whole grain sandwich bread is a great option to increase protein a little more.

Bonus: flax seeds for some omega 3

After a cool and refreshing summer drink that is healthy too? Try our pineapple and spinach smoothie with fresh mint! Greek yogurt, flax seeds and cashews give this smoothie a serious protein boost!

Bonus: new take on pancakes

Love pancakes, but looking for something new? Try our couscous kaiserschmarrn recipe- healthy, delicious shredded pancakes!

Bonus: nutritionally rich and super quick

Not sure whether lentils really work in a pancake batter? We’ve tried and tested this recipe and can say these pancakes are not only delicious, but this is also a clever way to increase the amount of protein per serving.

Bonus: works nicely with any fresh fruit

This yogurt parfait is rich with fruits and nuts and is a deliciously quick way to start the day. Never get bored of breakfast again!

Bonus: eggs and beans for breakfast are an excellent weight loss dish

Try breakfast beans and eggs, for a hearty breakfast that will satisfy you until lunchtime, and quench the urge to snack!

Bonus: chia seeds for some omega 3, perfect meal prep recipe

Oats, soy milk and nuts make for a powerful natural vegan protein punch! High in fiber, great against diabetes and heart disease.

Bonus: very quick and nutritious, suitable any time of the day

Make the best scrambled eggs you’ve ever had with our quick & easy but simple to follow recipe – so good you’ll never look elsewhere again!

Bonus: omega 3 kick due to the chia seeds!

Blueberry Banana Protein Smoothie. A superior blueberry and banana smoothie with a huge protein kick! Try it, love it. And thank us later.

Lunch Ideas

Bonus: great way to use up old bread

This simple vegan recipe works very well as a quick lunch or dinner. It features cashews, lentils and whole grain bread, all great sources of protein!

Bonus: simple ingredients and quick to make

Red lentils belong to the legumes with the highest amount of protein. They’re also super quick to cook making them one of the “most efficient” plant based protein sources out there. Luckily, this soup is a staple in the Turkish cuisine, not because of its high protein content, but because of its good taste.

Bonus: suitable for a quick lunch, nice party snack

If you are looking for a satisfying high protein alternative to hummus and give this recipe a bash. This dip is also very versatile. Out of black beans? Use white or kidney beans instead!

Bonus: works as a side, but excellent as a main dish for a quick lunch

With feta, spinach, and chickpeas, this salad features a few of the best high protein ingredients the vegetarian diet has to offer. But not only that, the dressing is the secret star of this recipe. I was hooked for months!

Bonus: excellent time-protein-taste ratio

Looking for a high protein meal that’s easy and vegan? Try this tabbouleh with lentils – a protein packed take on the classic dish!

Bonus: gluten-free and versatile

This tangy tempeh salad is quick, tasty and packed with protein. And better yet – use whatever you have in the fridge!

Bonus: great for any time of the day

Upgrade your vegetarian sandwich offerings with this chickpea salad sandwich! It’s simple and speedy with 20g of protein!

Bonus: light, creamy and versatile

Fresh, easy and delicious vegetarian wedge salad with creamy cashew dressing makes a perfect high protein lunch in a jar.

Bonus: easy to make and flavourful

Greek Pitas Recipe. Ready in 10 minutes. High in vitamin A, C and iron. Bursting out with delicious ingredients, perfect as a snack or healthy meal.

Bonus: very versatile lunch or dinner classic

With some mozzarella, spinach and whole grain tortillas you’ll get in a proper amount of protein. Granted, not the healthiest of all dishes in this list, but delicious nonetheless.

Bonus: a recipe with history!

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

Bonus: very simple, but very satisfying soup

This ramen soup comes with a proper amount of vegetarian protein (egg, tofu, edamame, sesame seeds). What I really like about it though is the versatile spicy Thai style broth. Try it out with any veggie combo you like! Delicious.

Bonus: colourful, full of flavour and filling

Looking to up your salad game? Try this healthy egg salad recipe with quinoa and beets – the perfect weight loss lunch!

Bonus: light, colourful and easy

Looking for a light lunch or snack? Try our vegan lettuce wraps, inspired by Korean ssam & filled with crispy tofu!

Bonus: full of veggies, simple and tasty

Need a new couscous recipe? Try this Mediterranean couscous bowl with a soy yogurt dressing. The perfect lunch, side or dinner!

Bonus: very quick, tasty go-to lunch recipe

The real star of this recipe is the honey mustard dressing! It’s such a good fit for the red onion, red bell pepper and lentils. Make this dish vegan by using maple syrup instead of honey. Wanna add some carbs? I love adding some simple microwaved potatoes as a side!

Bonus: easy, healthy and flavourful

Indulge with this smoky and savory Buddha Bowl. The combination of smoked tofu, hummus, and turmeric rice makes for a perfect vegan lunch (or dinner!)

Bonus: new, fresh, tangy, works as a side dish or main meal

With beets and oranges as main ingredients this dish is best eaten in autumn and winter. Chickpeas and sunflower seeds contribute as a protein source. But hey, a salad is only as good as its dressing and this parsley dressing kicks ass, if I may say so!

Dinner Ideas

Bonus: easy and very healthy meal, simple ingredients

These feta and spinach pancakes are quick and easy – and cover a whole range of important nutrition and health topics!

Bonus: super quick preparation, delicious and healthy, enjoy it 🙂
20 g protein per serving

This low-carb pie that’s keto-friendly is incredibly tasty – and the best thing – it takes only five minutes to prep! Seriously!

Bonus: quick and nutritious, easy to make, full of health benefits

Full of protein, fiber and loads of other nutrients this halloumi salad will keep you feeling full for hours – and you’ll secretly be looking forward to more!

Bonus: healthy and tasty, super versatile meal, full of health benefits

The beets are bangin’ in this eye-catching dish. Highly nutritious, beetroots are an awesome addition to any pasta meal – including this beauty!

Bonus: tasty and nutritious, can be stored for a while in the fridge

Vegetarian toad in the hole paves the way for a meat-free future – why eat meat when you can have this instead?

Bonus: amazingly tasty and nutritious, can be stored for a while in the fridge

This is the perfect vegetarian food for a busy weeknight dinner. 10 minutes prep time, then for 20 minutes in the oven. High in vitamins A, C and B6, protein and fiber.

Bonus: delicious meal for the whole family

These veggie lentil tacos are our new go-to meal. SO TASTY and stacked with lentil protein and fiber, it’s time to take dinner up to the next level.

Bonus: can easily be made vegan, just swap Greek yogurt for soy yogurt.

In this healthy burrito bowl we’ve got quinoa, black beans, avocado, pineapple, tofu and Adobo sauce for a sizzling taste bud fiesta!

Bonus: filling and flavourful

Vegan stuffed peppers featuring tempeh, nutritional yeast and quinoa, three vegan sources high in protein. Quinoa is particularly cool, because it’s one of the few vegan foods that contain all nine essential amino acids!

Bonus: super healthy and interesting

Vegan Bolognese. It was about time we veganized the Italian classic. And we’re proud to say we were successful. Please welcome, the amazing Anti Bolognese!

Bonus: comforting, filling and flavourful

Fill up and power up on our hot vegetarian kale and white bean soup. It’s an absolute pearl for your healthy slim down diet.

Bonus: healthy, satisfying and low effort

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

Bonus: fun, versatile and creative

These pizza pancakes are perfect for lunch or dinner – super simple and full of the most exciting base and taste combos make it the best of both worlds!

Bonus: only one casserole dish needed to make this dish

This healthy high protein vegetarian moussaka is a true veggie delight with Greek soul and full of flavour and texture!

Bonus: healthy and low effort

This traybake meal features two of my favorite ingredients, quinoa and halloumi. The latter is not only tasty but works as a pretty good meat replacement due to its consistency.

Bonus: juicy, flavoursome and healthy

After the perfect cauliflower steak? Try this simple & delicious roasted cauliflower steak with ricotta and pepper sauce!

Bonus: high in both protein and fibre, comforting

Dal khichdi is a very traditional Indian dish that works nicely as a weight loss dinner! It’s healthy, light but still filling, and a source of complete protein.

Bonus: Super versatile dish: don’t have kidney beans at home? Just use black beans.

Who said meat-free recipes can’t deliver? This meatless (aka vegan) chili proves that you can still enjoy your favourite meals, but in a new, animal friendly way.

Bonus: simple, healthy and delicious

Another healthy vegetarian traybake dinner with plenty of protein featuring broccoli, lentils and halloumi. So easy to make and 32 grams of protein each serving!

I think you should give this recipe a shot, how about writing the ingredients onto your shopping list right now? The recipe is right below! 🙂

Alright, that’s it for this post!

If you’re still on the recipe hunt, check out even more high protein recipes over here.

Let us know how you liked this collection of high-protein vegetarian recipes! Was there anything you liked and want to see more of? Leave us a comment below 🙂