34 Low-Effort Vegetarian Meal Prep Recipes

“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 preps idea for me?” – Yeah, we’ve also been there! For you, we’ve put together this list of our 34 BEST, easy vegetarian meal preps recipes we have in 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!

Vegetarian Meal Prep Recipes: 34 Low-Effort Vegetarian Meal Prep Recipes Ideas

1. Easy Pasta Salad with Avocado

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!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

2. Chickpea Quinoa Salad Meal Prep

This chickpea quinoa salad meal prep is full of good-for-you ingredients, and so easy to prepare!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

3. Parmesan Spinach Mushroom Pasta Skillet

This parmesan spinach mushroom pasta skillet is super quick and impossible to mess up - The ultimate win for vegetarian weeknight dinners!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

4. Healthy Chickpea Quinoa Salad

This chickpea quinoa salad is quick, healthy, and perfect to make ahead!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

5. 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!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

6. Fried Butter 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.
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

7. 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!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

8. Shredded Carrot Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

This shredded carrot salad makes the perfect addition to a potluck or brunch.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

9. Roasted Sweet Potato, Brussels Sprout & Kale Salad

This roasted sweet potato and Brussels sprouts salad with kale is the perfect healthy and satisfying lunch!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

10. 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!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

11. Crispy Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Fritters

The perfect way to sneak in some veggies!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

12. 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.
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

13. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

This Mediterranean chickpea salad recipe is a bright, colorful, and delicious salad perfect for hot summer days.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

14. Cheesy Corn Fritters

These Corn Fritters are crispy on the edges, soft in the middle – A great side dish for a host of dinners! This corn fritters recipe is especially good with fresh corn in the summer
Cooking time: 8 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

15. 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!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

16. Mozzarella Pasta Salad with Parmesan Balsamic Dressing

This mozzarella pasta salad is the perfect side dish or main course for a warm Spring or Summer evening!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

17. Spicy Corn Salad

Easy and delicious corn salad recipe - A great light lunch or side for bbq and grilling.
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

18. Zucchini Noodles in Creamy Tomato Sauce

A low carb comfort dinner that will be on your table in less than 20 minutes!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

19. 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.
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

20. Spinach Risotto with Mushrooms

Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

21. 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.
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

22. Spring Roll Noodle Salad

This easy noodle salad recipe is packed with vitamins and perfect for spring nights.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

23. Teriyaki Zucchini Noodles

This Teriyaki Zucchini Noodles recipe comes together quickly, thanks to a simple prep step. Serve it as a side dish, or add toppings to make it a meal. Ready in 20 minutes or less and 100% gluten-free!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

24. Tortellini Pasta in Garlic Spinach Tomato Sauce

This tortellini recipe is the pasta dish that's the perfect answer to your weeknight dinner prayers!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

25. Lemon Ricotta Pasta

This lemon ricotta pasta is a sure-fire winner of a dish – Only 5 ingredients and ready in 10 minutes or less!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

26. Asian Noodle Salad with the Best Ever Ginger Vinaigrette

This vegan noodle salad is perfect for midweek lunches or larger gatherings.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

27. Creamy Spinach Orzo Pasta

This creamy orzo pasta recipe with spinach is a family favorite for weeknight dinners!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

28. Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

This creamy sun-dried tomato pasta will leave you feeling satisfied and happy with its hearty flavors.
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

29. Spinach Mushroom Quinoa Skillet

This parmesan spinach mushroom quinoa recipe is the ultimate win for vegetarian weeknight dinners!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

30. Garlic Butter Sweet Potato Noodles

This great sweet potato noodles recipe is an easy and fun way to eat more vegetables!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

31. Quinoa Cucumber Mason Jar Salad

A portable, portion-control lunch you can enjoy everywhere on the go.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

32. One-Skillet Mediterranean Gnocchi

This One-Skillet Mediterranean Gnocchi is a super fast and delicious meat-free meal at home.
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

33. No-Mayo Potato Salad

A quick and lighter version of the classic potato salad, with a delicious kick of spice.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

34. Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

This greek orzo pasta salad is so easy to throw together - Light, delicious, and healthy!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

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 wells 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 full of nutrients. The ideal meal prep companion!
• Carrots: Carrots sticks, carrot noodles, carrot slices… if you need something crunchy and filling for cheap vegetarian meal prep, carrot is a great option.
• Celery: Same as carrots. Celery sticks are highly portable and hold very well.
• Cucumbers: you’ll have a lot of cucumber 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 citruses, 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 when you want 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 good-quality containers that you can use to store your pre-made meals. We tend to prefer glass containers for meal prep because they are safer to reheat compared to plastic, and they are also easier to clean up.

3. Make extra
When cooking vegetarian meals, make extra so that you can store some in the refrigerator or freezer for future use.

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!