12 Fast and Flavorful Plant-Based Dinners for Busy Parents

Plant-based meals are becoming a staple in many households worldwide. Unfortunately, finding a recipe that appeases everyone can be challenging.

Vegetarian meals are healthier for individuals and tend to have a reduced impact on our environment. If you're struggling to find a bounty of meal ideas for your household, that just means you're not thinking outside the box.

We have scoured the internet for 12 plant-based dinners that are easy to make and something the whole family should love.

Easy Vegetarian Pan-Fried Noodles

This 30-minute noodle dish is easy, delicious, and nutritious. Chewy udon noodles are combined with various vegetables and a savory sauce.

The soy-based sauce balances sweet honey, tangy vinegar, sesame oil, and Asian aromatics for a sticky and delicious flavor. The recipe calls for sriracha to taste, so don’t add any if you and your family don’t like spice.

Get the Recipe: Easy Vegetarian Pan-Fried Noodles.

Lentil Bolognese

Bolognese is an Italian dish traditionally made with beef, similar to spaghetti and meat sauce in America. The sauce has a fresh flavor thanks to a base of celery, carrots, and onions. Overall, there's an amazing depth of flavor infused with red wine and tomatoes.

This lentil bolognese incorporates all the classic flavors with a lentil substitution for a delicious vegetarian dinner.

Get the Recipe: Lentil Bolognese.

Creamy Spinach Pasta

This creamy spinach pasta sauce uses five ingredients to create a delicious vegan sauce. Garlic and spinach provide the main flavor, alongside dairy-free cream.

Nutritional yeast gives the sauce a cheesy taste, rounded out with olive oil for a note of classic Italian. Pair it with your favorite pasta for a convenient and tasty midweek meal.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Spinach Pasta

Vegan Lasagna Soup

Lasagna is a fantastic Italian dish, but preparing it can take forever. This vegan lasagna soup gives you the classic lasagna flavors in a fraction of the time.

Fresh vegetables are sauteed with aromatics, vegan beef, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Lasagna noodles are dropped in directly and simmered until cooked. The result is a super hearty soup the whole family will love.

Get the Recipe: Vegan Lasagna Soup.

One-Pan Mexican Quinoa

This Mexican quinoa recipe is easy to prepare and guaranteed to satisfy your whole family. You only need one pan and several readily available pantry ingredients, such as black beans, corn, and quinoa.

Fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, and red peppers work well in this Mexican-styled dish.

Get the Recipe: One-Pan Mexican Quinoa.

Egg and Asparagus Salad

Chopped hardboiled eggs are combined with roasted asparagus and tossed in a Dijon mustard vinaigrette. The eggs provide protein, and the flavor pairs nicely with the fresh asparagus.

The real star of the show is the Dijon mustard vinaigrette. It's a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors, and the addition of garlic and mustard creates an unforgettably zesty dressing.

Get the Recipe: Egg and Asparagus Salad.

Cilantro Lime Rice with Black Beans

You can make this simple and easy meal in one skillet. It uses fresh, frozen, and canned ingredients for a convenient, flavor-packed meal.

Onions, black beans, corn, tomatoes, and green chiles are tossed with your favorite grain of rice. Cilantro and lime can be added to give the whole dish a fresh flavor. It is then topped with shredded cheese for a delicious and nutritious weeknight dinner.

Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Rice with Black Beans.

Spinach Pasta with Creamy Red Sauce

This recipe uses simple ingredients to create a delicious pasta dish in just 20 minutes. Fusilli pasta is coated in a decadent, cheesy red sauce, which is made from fresh veggies with spaghetti sauce, half and half, and shredded cheddar cheese.

The recipe is super convenient, only requires a single pot, and is full of family-friendly flavors.

Get the Recipe: Spinach Pasta with Creamy Red Sauce.

Vegetarian Moussaka

This vegetarian moussaka uses five ingredients to make a spectacular Greek casserole. Eggplant, potatoes, lentil-tomato sauce, and cheese are alternatively layered until you fill your casserole dish.

The whole casserole is baked until the top layer of cheese is golden brown. The dish has a straightforward, fresh flavor and plenty of nutrition for a healthy dinner.

Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Moussaka.

Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili

This recipe requires very little prep time and is as simple as pour and press. Various canned and frozen beans and vegetables are added to an Instant Pot with stock. You then add chili powder and cumin for that classic chili flavor.

After eight quick minutes, you have a delicious vegetarian chili perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili.

Vegan Tortellini

This vegan tortellini recipe requires little to no preparation since it uses premade or no prep ingredients. Store-bought tortellini is simmered in tangy marinara sauce until beautifully coated.

This simple and delicious dish is topped with basil, vegan parmesan, and olive oil. The recipe is fantastic. However, it’s also a blank slate for incorporating your favorite ingredients.

Get the Recipe: Vegan Tortellini.

Instant Pot Lentil Salad

This recipe consists of perfectly cooked lentils, onions, dates, and cucumbers coated in a tangy lemon vinaigrette. Freshly chopped parsley adds even more herb flavor.

The bright vinaigrette gives the salad a nice, refreshing touch, while the addition of fresh vegetables and lentils increases the nutritional value.

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Lentil Salad.