20 Cozy Vegetarian Dinners You’ll Crave on Cold Nights

These meals will warm you up from the inside out.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published January 23, 2026
Theodora Kaloudis
Overhead shot of lentil shepherd's pie in a skillet, with a serving spoon having scooped a serving of the dish out on a plate to the right of the skillet

Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless

If you're vegetarian and looking for dinner inspiration, or simply want to incorporate more meat-free meals into your repertoire, you're in the right place. Regardless of your dietary preferences, this handpicked collection of hearty, veggie-forward dinners is perfect for a cold winter night. With recipes like Lentil Shepherd's Pie, 20-Minute Pumpkin Black Bean Tostadas, and Vegetarian Moussaka, these dishes will definitely hit the spot.

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  • 20-Minute Pumpkin Black Bean Tostadas

    Two tostadas topped with refried beans black beans diced tomatoes onions and herbs on a plate with a lime wedge nearby

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "I love adding chipotle peppers or a bit of cinnamon and cocoa powder (just a tiny amount), which adds a subtle sweetness to complement that big gourd flavor." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Daal Palak (Lentil & Spinach Curry)

    Bowl of Daal Palak over Rice Topped with Onions and Yogurt, and Served with a Piece of Papad, and in the Surroundings, More Daal Palak in a Dutch Oven, a Bowl with More Papad, a Bowl of Pickled Onions, and a Plate with Another Serving of Daal Palak

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

    "Traditionally the recipe calls for toor or tuvar daal (also called pigeon pea lentils). Here I have used moong daal (also known as split mung beans or green gram), but you can use red lentils to make this curry. Whichever you use, make sure to start cooking the daal in room temperature water, without salt. This allows the lentils to cook until soft without having any graininess." —Annika Panikker, Recipe Developer

  • Creamy White Bean Soup with Sage Gremolata

    Two Bowls of Creamy White Bean Soup with Sage Gremolata, Surrounded by Slices of Bread on the Counter, a Bowl of Sage Gremolata, and Spoons on a Kitchen Towel

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "Creamy doesn’t always need to equate to cream, and this totally dairy-free soup is proof. Undrained canned white beans are blended with slow-cooked aromatics and vegetable broth to result in a luscious vegan soup that’s anything but boring." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

    Bowl of Roasted Sweet Potato Salad Topped with Crumbled Feta Cheese and Lime Wedges, Surrounded by a Plate with Some Salad, a Small Bowl of Salt, and a Kitchen Towel

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "It’s tempting to want to check on the sweet potatoes a few times while they’re roasting and give them a toss each time. Leave them be and toss them only once, halfway through, and they’ll brown and crisp significantly better than they would if you fiddled with them." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 20 below

  • Sheet Pan Fried Rice

    Sheet Pan Fried Rice on a Spoon

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Once you get comfortable with this sheet pan technique, you’ll see how easy it is to make it your own. Broccoli and carrots can be swapped out for combinations of cauliflower, cabbage, asparagus, or peppers—whatever you have in the veggie drawer." —Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer

  • Vegetarian Moussaka

    Eggplant and zucchini moussaka in casserole

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "Cut the eggplants and zucchini into 1/2-inch slices and roast them in the oven. The vegetables in moussaka are typically fried. Roasting them is less messy, easier, and some of the moisture is released as it roasts, preventing the moussaka from becoming soggy." —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

  • Matar Paneer

    Plated matar paneer
    Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan.

    Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan

    "Paneer is a fresh cheese made from buffalo milk or cow's milk. It is mild in flavor with a soft texture. In many Indian meals, paneer functions as a protein and is often added to curries and gravies. You can purchase paneer at most supermarkets or Indian grocery stores." —Karishma Pradhan, Recipe Developer

  • Spicy Tofu Stir-fry

    One Pot Vegetarian Stir Fry with tofu served in a bowl.
    Jessica Gavin

    "For this quick vegetarian version, I used cubes of extra-firm tofu lightly pan-fried to create a beautiful, crispy, golden crust. The inside remains soft and the contrasting texture is lovely! I finish it off with fresh, colorful vegetables like shiitake mushrooms, sugar snap peas, and chopped bell peppers." —Jessica Gavin, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 20 below

  • Creamy Vegetable Dumpling Soup

    Bowl of creamy vegetable dumpling soup with a spoon, and in the surroundings, a plate of salad, a glass of water, and dinner rolls on a grey and black kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "Creamy vegetable dumpling soup was born from a simple idea—to swap the usual pasta with dumplings and take a clever shortcut along the way. Prepared potato gnocchi stands in for homemade dumplings, and cooking them directly in the broth infuses them with flavor. " —Julie & Amy Luxemberg, Recipe Developers

  • Farro, Mushroom, and Egg Grain Bowls

    Farro, Mushroom, and Egg Grain Bowl with a Utensil

    Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan

    "Farro is an ancient grain with a nutty, earthy flavor and a slightly chewy texture. Not to be confused with spelt, farro is a versatile option for salads, stews, risottos, and grain bowls. Here, farro simmers in a flavorful base of mushrooms and vegetable stock until tender in a sort of simplified risotto fashion." —Karishma Pradhan, Recipe Developer

  • Black Bean Burrito Bowl

    Elise Bauer

    "Wow! This recipe is a keeper. It's colorful and visually appealing. It has a great blend of flavors and textures. It makes a ton of food, and I love having leftovers after going to the effort to cook something from scratch." —Sarah, Reader

  • Black Bean and Egg Bake

    A round baking dish with the black bean and egg bake recipe, next to a plate of blistered corn tortillas and garnish of cilantro and fresh cheese

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Pearl Jones

    "The egg bake is delicious straight out of the oven, scooped up with warmed tortillas, tostadas, or tortilla chips. To make it even better, add some cheese and greenery on top—my favorites are crumbled cotija and fresh chopped cilantro." —Coco Morante, Recipe Deveoper

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  • Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

    Meatless tortilla soup in a bowl topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, and tortilla strips.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "This soup has a light tomato-based vegetable stock instead of the more classic chicken stock. It’s loaded with bell peppers, onions, jalapeños, black beans, and corn. Corn tortilla strips are used twice: Once in the soup as it simmers to give it body and also crispy baked ones on top for serving." —Sharon Lehman, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Vegetarian Chili

    Alison Bickel

    "Fantastic! I'm eating a bowl now. I didn't have bulgur so I used quinoa. A little cheddar and sour cream on top and it's delicious." —Suzanne, Reader

  • 5-Ingredient Lentil Shepherd’s Pie

    Overhead shot of lentil shepherd's pie in a skillet, with a serving spoon having scooped a serving of the dish out on a plate to the right of the skillet

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless

    "Since this is a meatless recipe, a boost from a few umami-rich ingredients helps to add meaty flavors to the filling. Sautéed mushrooms (buy them pre-sliced for ease!), a good dose of tomato paste, and a dash of soy sauce build on the flavors in the soup to offer the perfect meaty bite with lots of savory flavor." —Afton Cyrus, Senior Recipe Editor

  • Mediterranean Chickpea Bowls with Tahini Sauce

    Sabrina Modelle

    "Once you get the hang of the dressing, you might find yourself craving it often. If so, try mixing it up with different spices. (I particularly love it with turmeric, which makes the dressing extra-tasty and turns it a beautiful shade of gold!)" —Sabrina Modelle, Recipe Developer

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  • Easy Chickpea Curry

    Easy Chickpea Curry in a bowl with a spoon, naan on the side

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "The beauty of this chickpea curry lies in its simplicity and adaptability; it is perfect for a busy weeknight. It’s packed with such lovely flavors (ginger! garlic! turmeric!) and the coconut milk gives it creamy depth. Plus, it requires just one pot, making cleanup a breeze." —Shayma Saadat, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Vegetable Lo Mein

    Nick Evans | Art Banner Credit: Andy Christensen

    "I stick with classic stir fry vegetables for this version: mushrooms, red pepper, cabbage, and carrot. But don’t let that limit you! So many vegetables would go just fine in this stir fry." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Roasted Root Vegetables With Tomatoes and Kale

    Elise Bauer

    "I didn't expect this to be as delicious as it was! We added a can of butter beans and served it with grated pecorino and crusty bread. Absolutely delicious, will definitely make again." —Lizzie, Reader

  • Tomato, White Bean, and Fennel Stew

    A bowl of tomato, white bean, and fennel stew on a kitchen counter

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Andrew Bui / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    "A simple combination of fresh fennel, canned beans, and canned tomatoes, this stew can be turned into a complete meal by serving it with pasta, rice, polenta, or garlic bread." —Julia Turshen, Cookbook Author

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