12 Meatless Recipes to Try, Including Crispy Sesame Cauliflower Wings

When you grow up eating some sort of animal protein—be it beef, chicken, turkey, pork, or fish—in every meal, it's a hard habit to shake. But if you're working on adding more meatless recipes to your weekly lineup in hopes of being more sustainable, you're in luck: We have some delicious options to get you started.

Whether you're craving "chicken" nuggets, a warm and cozy soup, or a takeout-inspired dish, this roundup of meatless recipes truly has something for everyone. Considering nearly 15% of the planet’s greenhouse gases come from the production of animal products, even swapping one meal a week can make a difference.

12 Meatless Recipes to Add to Your Lineup

1. Tofu Nuggets

Who needs chicken when you have tofu? These nuggets are just and crispy and delicious as the real deal. Even the texture is spot-on thanks to a special tofu trick.

2. Lentil Soup

Lentils are a great source of vegan protein with 18 grams of protein per cup. This soup can be made in under an hour, and you can enjoy it all week long. Make homemade vegetable broth with food scraps for your base to make it even more eco-friendly!

3. Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are such a great grab-and-go breakfast option you can easily prep in advance. If you're looking for a great recipe to start with, try one cup old fashioned oats, one cup of plain oat milk, one tablespoon chia seeds, half of a banana (sliced), a handful of chopped strawberries, and a dash of cinnamon.

4. Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Instead of using chicken for your wings, opt for cauliflower for an eco-friendly meatless option. You can even use milk alternatives to make your own dipping sauce. (Pro tip: To make your wings crispier, return them to the broiler after you add the sauce until they're sticky and caramelized.)

5. Creamy Pasta Primavera

Believe it or not, this pasta primavera recipe is completely vegan. The recipe calls for carrots and peas, but depending on what's in season, other vegetables—such as fresh tomatoes or peppers—are great, too.

6. Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Eating meatless doesn’t mean getting rid of comfort food! Try making this broccoli cheddar soup, which is just as delicious and creamy as what you'd find at Panera. Except for this time, the dairy-free (and "cheesy") sauce is made up of veggies and cashews.

7. Tofu Tikka Masala

This spin on chicken tikka masala features tofu marinated in a homemade spice blend and creamy yogurt. After broiling it and coating it in a rich tomato-onion gravy, it's ready to devour.

8. Eggplant “Eel” Unagi

Craving sushi? You can make a meatless "eel" sushi with eggplant. Its soft and meaty texture makes it the perfect faux option for your sushi rolls.

9. General Tso’s Tofu

Takeout just got a lot easier—and more eco-friendly. This dish can be made in just 30 minutes with the help of tofu and a spicy-sweet sauce that features ingredients like tamari, apple cider vinegar, and veggie stock.

10. Vegan Mac and Cheese

This creamy mac and cheese recipe is entirely dairy-free with a cashew-based sauce that gets its "cheesy" taste from nutritional yeast. Topped with panko breadcrumbs and baked in the oven, it's hard to beat.

11. Sticky Sesame Cauliflower

These cauliflower wings have a unique sticky sesame sauce. Enjoy the dish as wings, or serve it alongside rice and broccoli for a takeout-esque dish.

12. Classic Lentil Burgers

Beef gets swapped for lentils in this recipe. The plant-based burger patties are loaded with flavor and protein—12 grams each, in fact! Make them in a skillet, or throw them on the grill.