One of my favorite (read:only) ways to cook these days is the dump and done method. One pot vegan dinner ideas are necessary for me to get my meatless Monday on and also not feel overwhelmed by having to clean all of the pots and pans.
Fun fact. For almost 9 years, I was a vegetarian. My husband was one for nearly 21 years. We both eat meat now, but if we have a choice we’ll opt for the vegetarian/vegan option almost every time. There’s something about how the meatless or plant-based food makes us FEEL! (i.e. better).
But often, coming up with the vegetarian and vegan one pot meals feels overwhelming because it’s not our go-to method of eating anymore. And our kids tend to love their “favorite” chicken and pasta dishes.
But back to the whole idea of cooking dinner at all.
These days are stressful AF.
And Long.
And spending hours in the kitchen is a luxury that many of us just don’t have the energy or emotional bandwidth to navigate.
(How many times have ya’ll ordered pizza in a week since the Pandemic began? Be honest).
Sometimes, to help with this, I use my Lazy Bitch Meal Planner. Check that out here.
Or you can download this editable and printable meal planner template here.
For me, meals that are quick, easy, and brainless to throw together are the go-to move. One of my most popular posts is all about meals to make when I just don’t want to cook anymore.
But I’ve heard from readers that we need more variety. We need more options. We need spins on classic meat dishes for those nights when we don’t have time to defrost a chicken or maybe we just don’t eat meat in this family…you see where I’m going with this.
That’s why I’m here with 21 vegan and vegetarian one-pot meal ideas you will want to add to your meal planning routine.
The Benefits of Going Meatless
On average, if you just spend one meal a week eating no meat you can reap an almost insane amount of benefits.
According to this article provided by the Mayo Clinic, eating mostly meatless typically leads to numerous health benefits.
A plant-based diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, legumes and nuts, is rich in fiber, vitamins and other nutrients. And people who don’t eat meat — vegetarians — generally eat fewer calories and less fat, weigh less, and have a lower risk of heart disease than nonvegetarians do.
Even reducing meat intake has a protective effect. Research shows that people who eat red meat are at an increased risk of death from heart disease, stroke or diabetes. Processed meats also increase the risk of death from these diseases. And what you don’t eat can also harm your health. Diets low in nuts, seeds, seafood, fruits and vegetables also increase the risk of death.
As the article states, you don’ t have to cut out all meat. Just one or two meals. I tend to eat mostly vegetarian during the day – breakfast, lunch…and then one night a week with a vegetarian dish (Usually we opt for veggie tacos or some spin on rice and beans).
Try it out and see how your body FEELS before during and after eating meat and going meatless.
Save the Fucking Planet, Why Don’t You
The science is clear. Eating a mostly plant-based diet reduces your individual contribution to greenhouse gasses by up to 50%!!!
Even if you continue to enjoy eggs and dairy (aka a Lacto-Ovo vegetarian diet) you’re still reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 35%!
That’s a lot.
Where to Save These One Pot Vegetarian Meals
It’s possible you have a sweet system that’s working for when you find a recipe you love or want to try. Save it to a board on Pinterest?
Maybe you print a hard copy out and attach it to your beautifully curated recipe book?
…Or maybe you completely lose what it was you wanted to make about 10 seconds after you close the page or get distracted by your children arguing over playing with something super random? (Or is that just me?)
If you’re sick of playing the chasing game when it comes to staying organized with meal planning you’ll want to check out my system for meal planning here.
Here’s a little sneak peak video of how it works (spoilers, it’s all digital and you can access it between your phone AND your desktop AND order all your groceries online – via Instacart – from the safety of your home or office)
Every single recipe round-up on my site features a trello list for you to easily copy/paste all the recipes (In this blog post for example) to your own personal Trello list.
That alone is worth the investment of time/energy especially if you want to try all of these recipes out.
If you’re not sure what meal planning is, or why to do it, you’ll want to click through to that link you just read;).
One-Pot Vegetarian Meals
But maybe you don’t really care about all of that stuff and just wanna save a bit of money? Or maybe just saving time is your thing. Or all of the above and also being fast, easy, and delicious (along with healthy and kid-friendly?)
You’ve come to the right spot my fellow lazy vegetarian/vegan leaning friend.
Let’s get into it.
This is truly the most addictive roasted artichoke recipe. They only take five minutes to prep and are full of tangy and bright flavors from the creamy artichokes and buttery roasted garlic dipping sauce! With almost zero prep and a handful of ingredients, this is the least laborious way to make artichokes
This homemade broccoli cheddar soup is creamy and extraordinarily rich in flavor. It’s a family favorite and ultimate comfort food. Ready in 30 minutes!
One Pot Vegan Meals
Layers of red lentils in a rich, hearty tomato sauce topped with sliced potatoes and vegan cheese for an insanely cosy weeknight meal everyone will love.
This vegan yellow curry is the perfect weeknight recipe! It’s vibrant, rich, packed with so much flavor and comes together in 30 minutes!
One Pot Vegan Butternut Squash Risotto
This one pot vegan butternut squash risotto is easy to make using a no-stir method. It’s rich, hearty, and so delicious.
Carrot soup made easy with a recipe that gives you a delicious one pot, creamy and thick soup which you will be making again and again. The recipe is also vegan and gluten-free.
Creamy Vegan One Pot Pasta is an incredibly easy dish that comes together in about 30 minutes. You will love the vegan rosé sauce!
This easy vegan chili recipe is spicy, cozy, and comforting. It’s super versatile and great for meal-prepping. Best of all, it’s made in one-pot!
Vegan Thai Green Curry makes a fantastic meal full of warm and comforting vibes. This 20 minutes Thai Green Vegetable Curry recipe is creamy rich and bursting with layers of flavors.
Indian lemon rice is a beautiful, sunshine-yellow dish with anti-inflammatory turmeric and the crunch of roasted peanuts and lentils. This is a simple, one-pot meal ready in 25 minutes in the instant pot.
Sometimes for dinner – I just want to grab one pot and have it do the whole job – this Spanish Rice and Beans recipe is just that! One meal – one pot and you’re going to love it!
This One Pot Creamy Mushroom Pasta is a family friendly dish that’s ready in just 15 minutes. And it only takes a handful of simple ingredients to pull it together.
Dinner doesn’t get much easier than this! This Hummus Pasta is done all in one pot with homemade or store-bought hummus, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and black olives.
This vegan chickpea curry is the ultimate dump and go meal. It’s made from basic pantry ingredients and comes together in less than 30 minutes. With only 1-pot, no chopping, and less than 5 minutes of prep, it’s the perfect meal for a busy weeknight.
This Vegan Pineapple Fried Rice is fruity and tangy, full of flavour and made in one pot! Also gluten-free.
Delicious creamy pasta with spinach and chickpeas that is so creamy, you wouldn’t believe it has no cream in it!
Easy to prepare vegan paella. Try this recipe if you are looking for a vegan alternative for this classic Spanish dish.
This hearty vegan minestrone soup is packed with seasonal vegetables, beans, lentils and whole grains. Perfect comforting vegan soup full of flavor and nutrients!
Slow Cooker One Pot Vegan Chili
This slow cooker vegan chili recipe will delight your taste buds. It’s not only wholesome but delicious and easy to make. A vegan twist on this classic comfort food makes for a healthy dinner packed with nutrients brimming with flavor!
A vegan egg fried rice that is gluten-free, easy to make & is ready in under 30 minutes. A great high protein & healthy meal that only uses pantry staples!
A plant-based tomato pasta that is healthy, easy and is ready in less than 30 minutes. Gluten-free options available and only requires 7 ingredients.
Delicious and fun, this one-pot Vegan Rasta Pasta recipe is inspired by an original Jamaican dish and is an easy, quick meal to make on weeknights or when you’re short on time. Featuring soy curls as a replacement for chicken and surrounded by fettuccine, bell peppers, green onions, Jamaican curry powder, and, believe it or not, vegan parmesan cheese to create a lick-the-bowl meal you’ll be proud to serve.
Is it time to get organized with what you’re making for dinner this week? Check out this meal planner that you can edit and print for only $3.99.
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