56 healthy vegetarian recipes for weight loss you’ll love

A vegetarian diet can be rewarding and healthy, whether you follow it for the sake of the environment, animal welfare, or yourself. 

But vegetarian cooking can be a bit intimidating, especially if you’re trying to lose weight. You don’t want to go overboard on high-calorie dishes, but you also don’t want to eat carrot sticks all day. 

That’s why we’re sharing these low-calorie vegetarian recipes that even famed chef James Beard would love—but you don’t have to be James Beard to make. 

Enjoy these delicious vegetarian meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts. (All these recipes are less than 500 calories.)

Note: Always consult with your health care provider before making dietary changes.

Vegetarian breakfast recipes to start your day

Avocado toast and eggs are delicious, but it’s easy to burn out on the same thing week after week. Mix things up with this collection of sweet and savory vegetarian breakfasts. 

Banana-Nutella crepes from Eat This (260 calories)

Low-carb breakfast egg muffins from Hurry the Food Up (219 calories)

Healthy chia pudding from Olive (238 calories)

On hectic weekday mornings, you can whip up one of these healthy dishes in 10 minutes or less. 

Peanut butter oatmeal from Eat This (320 calories)

Berry cottage cheese breakfast bowl from Skinnytaste (232 calories)

Spiced apple yogurt sorghum bowl from Food Network (348 calories)

Healthy yogurt parfait from Hurry the Food Up (277 calories)

Banana nut pancakes from Skinnytaste (146 calories)

For a weekend treat, you can spend a little more time (but still less than an hour) on one of these flavorful and filling meatless breakfasts. 

Sweet potato and kale frittata with goat cheese from Vegetarian Times (298 calories)

Shakshuka from Feasting at Home (250 calories)

Huevos rancheros from Cookie and Kate (333 calories)

Lunch recipes for a vegetarian midday recharge

When you’re trying to lose weight, lunch can be tricky—whether you’re eating vegetarian or not. A lot of grab-and-go foods are highly processed and offer too little nutrition with too many calories. 

Try one of these healthy vegetarian lunch recipes when you just can’t look at another PB&J. (Don’t get us wrong—we love PB&Js. Just not every day.) 

Open-face tomato-basil sandwiches from Vegetarian Times (203 calories)

Veggie lover’s club sandwich from Food Network (389 calories)

Quorn rice bowl from Good to Know (177 calories)

Mashed chickpea and dill sandwich from Pick Up Limes (439 calories)

Gazpacho from A Couple Cooks (223 calories)

Tangy veggie wrap from Hurry the Food Up (339 calories)

Forget the boring bowls of lettuce. Kick things up a notch—and still reach your weight-loss goals—with one of these flavorful and satisfying salads.

Caprese pasta salad from Eating Well (289 calories) 

Mediterranean orzo pasta salad from Ahead of Thyme (136 calories)

Southwest black bean quinoa salad from Feasting at Home (454 calories)

Watermelon, arugula, and feta salad from Skinnytaste (158 calories)

When you want something a little fancier than a sandwich or salad, try this Asian-inspired recipe. These spring rolls are fresh, filling, and sure to impress your guests. 

Vegetarian spring rolls from Food.com (176 calories)

Easy, hearty vegetarian dinner recipes 

These easy weeknight meals prove that comfort food doesn’t need meat—or hours of preparation. You can please even the pickiest eaters with one of these healthy vegetarian dinners.

Cauliflower tacos from Ahead of Thyme (164 calories)

Quick four-cheese pizza from Good to Know (200 calories)

Slow-cooker vegetable lasagna from Food Network (479 calories)

Tofu stir-fry with broccolini and mushrooms from Feasting at Home (359 calories)

Red lentil soup with saffron from Eating Well (280 calories)

Pumpkin ravioli with pesto from Eat This (271 calories)

Tempeh-Thai lettuce wraps from Vegetarian Times (112 calories)

Vegetarian pie from Good to Know (303 calories)

Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) are a vegetarian staple, and for good reason: they’re easy, delicious, versatile, and fill you up with nutritious fiber. To save money and time, cook up a big batch of dried chickpeas on Sunday to use in these recipes during the week.

Chickpea and coriander burgers from BBC Good Food (344 calories)

Chickpea Milanese from Skinnytaste (320 calories)

Mushroom and chickpea coconut curry from Pick Up Limes (371 calories)

Easy cheesy pasta and bean casserole from The Spruce Eats (316 calories)

Sweet and savory vegetarian snack recipes

Bypass the vending machine and power through the afternoon with energy from nutritious, whole foods in these homemade vegetarian snacks. 

Roasted chickpeas from The Wimpy Vegetarian (48 calories)

Baked plantains from Healthier Steps (109 calories)

Grapefruit avocado salad from The Herbeevore (220 calories)

Get a head start by making a batch of these nutritious nibbles over the weekend to keep you going all week. 

Homemade granola from A Couple Cooks (289 calories)

Peanut butter protein bars from The Spruce Eats (305 calories)

Quick pickled cucumber salad from Eat This (60 calories)

Dried apples from A Couple Cooks (71 calories)

Easy cinnamon crunch protein bites from Jar of Lemons (148 calories)

Pecan pie energy bites from Pinch of Yum (142 calories)

Pretzel-stuffed dates from Pick Up Limes (84 calories)

What better way to get in those nutrient-rich leafy greens than in a crispy, salty snack? None that we can think of—especially when it’s as simple to prepare as this recipe.

Smoky paprika kale chips from Men’s Health (109 calories)

Vegetarian desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth

Lower calories doesn’t have to mean skipping dessert. Enjoy these vegetarian delights without going over your calorie budget. 

Vanilla grilled pineapple and rum sauce sundae from Eat This (290 calories)

The very best chocolate cookies from Pinch of Yum (325 calories)

Chocolate-covered bananas from A Couple Cooks (48 calories)

Lemon tofu cheesecake from Vegetarian Times (212 calories)

5-ingredient healthier peanut butter cups from Eating Bird Food (208 calories)

Plum and apple cobbler from BBC Good Food (454 calories)

Peanut butter bliss bites from A Couple Cooks (213 calories)

Fluffy key lime pie from Taste of Home (194 calories)

On busy weeknights, you can make one of these tasty treats in less than 20 minutes. 

No-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies from A Couple Cooks (134 calories)

Strawberry nice cream from Homemade Mastery (118 calories)

Coconut, mango, and passionfruit trifle from Pick Up Limes (375 calories)

Find more healthy vegetarian recipes for weight loss—and personalized support—with Noom

Losing weight while eating vegetarian can be tricky when you go it alone. 

Noom Weight is here to help. Along with delicious vegetarian recipes, you’ll get coaching, food tracking, and daily lessons based on psychology to help you eat more mindfully—all within the app. 

Learn more about how Noom works for vegetarians here.