17 Delicious High Protein Vegetarian Recipes

After years of pinning “High Protein Vegetarian Recipes” to my board on Pinterest, I finally reached my breaking point. I was tired of being tricked by enticing titles, only to input the meal into MyFitnessPal and find it had a mere 12g of protein… for over 500 calories. That’s barely a dent in my macro goals, and honestly, it made me question if truly high-protein, meatless meals even existed.

The biggest letdowns were always recipes that started strong: lentils, tofu, even tempeh, but were drowned out by coconut milk or loaded with sugar. I wanted clean, powerful fuel, not a blood sugar rollercoaster. That’s when I got serious. I’d already tried all the usual suspects and felt stuck in a loop. But I wasn’t ready to give up. So, I started experimenting and tweaking. Edamame noodles became my secret weapon; 42 grams of protein per serving and super filling. I pair them with lentil or Quorn bolognese and a sprinkle of nutritional yeast. Just that combo alone gets me over 60g of protein under 600 calories.

I also leaned into making tofu & egg stir fry with peanut sauce, powdered coconut milk to reduce fat, and homemade protein bars to round things out. It turns out high protein vegetarian recipes do exist, you just need to build them with intention, double up on the right ingredients, and treat seasoning like a science. If you’re bored or stuck, it’s time to rewrite your recipe book. There’s so much more out below. I present 17 expertly crafted, protein-rich vegetarian recipes, complete with ingredients and directions to help you meet or exceed your 120g protein daily target.

17. Tofu and Edamame Stir-Fry Bowl

Ingredients:

• 200g firm tofu (22g protein)
• 1 cup shelled edamame (17g protein)
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• ½ tsp ginger

Directions:

1. Press and cube tofu. Sauté in sesame oil until golden.
2. Add garlic and ginger; cook 1 min.
3. Add edamame and bell pepper; stir-fry 5 min.
4. Add soy sauce, toss well, and serve warm.

Protein per serving: 39g

16. Chickpea Spinach Stew

Ingredients:

• 1 can chickpeas (15g protein)
• 2 cups spinach
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 tsp cumin
• Olive oil

Directions:

1. Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil.
2. Add chickpeas, broth, and cumin. Simmer for 10 mins.
3. Stir in spinach until wilted. Serve hot.

Protein per serving: 16g

15. Greek Yogurt and Chia Parfait

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Greek yogurt (20g protein)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds (3g protein)
• ½ cup berries
• 1 tsp honey

Directions:

1. Layer yogurt, chia seeds, and berries in a glass.
2. Drizzle with honey. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Protein per serving: 23g

14. Lentil and Quinoa Power Bowl

Ingredients:

• ½ cup cooked lentils (9g protein)
• ½ cup cooked quinoa (8g protein)
• 1 cup kale
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ avocado, sliced

Directions:

1. Toss all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice.

Protein per serving: 17g

13. Scrambled Tofu Breakfast Wrap

Ingredients:

• 150g firm tofu (17g protein)
• 1 whole wheat wrap (6g protein)
• ½ bell pepper
• ¼ tsp turmeric
• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (3g protein)

Directions:

1. Crumble and sauté tofu with turmeric and bell pepper.
2. Sprinkle nutritional yeast. Wrap it up.

Protein per serving: 26g

12. Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp peanut butter (8g protein)
• 1 scoop plant protein powder (20g protein)
• 1 banana
• 1 cup almond milk

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Protein per serving: 28g

11. Cottage Cheese Bowl with Walnuts and Seeds

Ingredients:

• 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese (28g protein)
• 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds (5g protein)
• 1 tbsp flaxseeds (2g protein)
• 5 walnut halves

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.

Protein per serving: 35g

10. Black Bean Sweet Potato Burrito

Ingredients:

• ½ cup black beans (8g protein)
• ½ sweet potato, mashed
• Whole wheat tortilla (6g protein)
• Salsa and spinach

Directions:

1. Layer all ingredients in a tortilla.
2. Roll and toast lightly.

Protein per serving: 14g

9. High Protein Vegetarian Recipes: Tempeh Stir Fry with Broccoli

Ingredients:

• 150g tempeh (30g protein)
• 1 cup broccoli (3g protein)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil

Directions:

1. Sauté cubed tempeh and broccoli in sesame oil.
2. Add soy sauce and cook until golden.

Protein per serving: 33g

8. High Protein Vegetarian Recipes: Vegetarian Chili

Ingredients:

• ½ cup red kidney beans (8g protein)
• ½ cup black beans (8g protein)
• ½ cup corn
• ½ onion
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes
• Chili powder

Directions:

1. Cook onion, beans, corn, and tomatoes in a pot.
2. Add chili powder and simmer for 20 mins.

Protein per serving: 16g

7. High Protein Vegetarian Recipes: Egg and Spinach Omelette

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs (18g protein)
• 1 cup spinach
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Whisk eggs, add to hot pan.
2. Add spinach; cook until set.

Protein per serving: 18g

6. High Protein Vegetarian Recipes: Paneer Tikka Skewers

Ingredients:

• 150g paneer (28g protein)
• Bell peppers, onion chunks
• 1 tbsp yogurt
• Tandoori spice mix

Directions:

1. Marinate paneer and veggies in yogurt and spices.
2. Grill skewers until golden.

Protein per serving: 28g

5. High Protein Vegetarian Recipes: Protein-Packed Overnight Oats

Ingredients:

• ½ cup oats (5g protein)
• 1 scoop plant protein (20g protein)
• 1 tbsp almond butter (3g protein)
• 1 cup soy milk (7g protein)

Directions:

1. Combine all in a jar. Refrigerate overnight.

Protein per serving: 35g

4. High Protein Vegetarian Recipes: Vegetarian Sushi with Tofu

Ingredients:

• 1 nori sheet
• ½ cup cooked rice
• 100g tofu (11g protein)
• Cucumber, avocado

Directions:

1. Layer rice, tofu, and veggies on nori.
2. Roll and slice.

Protein per serving: 14g

3. High Protein Vegetarian Recipes: Seitan Wrap with Hummus

Ingredients:

• 100g seitan (21g protein)
• 1 whole wheat wrap (6g protein)
• 2 tbsp hummus (3g protein)
• Lettuce, tomato

Directions:

1. Fill wrap with all ingredients. Roll tightly.

Protein per serving: 30g

2. High Protein Vegetarian Recipes: Pumpkin Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

• ½ cup red lentils (9g protein)
• 1 cup pumpkin purée
• 1 cup veggie broth
• Garlic, onion, cumin

Directions:

1. Sauté garlic and onion. Add lentils, pumpkin, and broth.
2. Simmer for 20 mins. Blend if desired.

Protein per serving: 13g

1. High Protein Vegetarian Recipes: Crispy Chickpea Snack Bowl

Ingredients:

• 1 cup roasted chickpeas (15g protein)
• Spices of choice (paprika, cumin)

Directions:

1. Toss chickpeas in oil and spices. Roast at 400°F for 25 mins.

Protein per serving: 15g

Conclusion

By strategically combining legumes, soy products, seeds, dairy, and whole grains, reaching or exceeding 120 grams of protein daily is both practical and enjoyable on a vegetarian diet. Use these recipes to build variety into your meal planning and stay energized, satiated, and nutritionally balanced.