As a vegetarian for over 7 years now, I understand how difficult it can be to get enough protein while keeping calories low, especially for dinner. But with some planning and strategic ingredient swaps, it is possible to create delicious and satisfying high-protein, low-calorie vegetarian meals perfect for staying fit in 2024! Read below about “9 High-Protein, Low-Calorie Vegetarian Dinners to Keep You Fit in 2024”.
Over the years, I’ve experimented extensively in my kitchen to come up with easy weeknight dinner recipes that provide at least 15-20g of plant-based protein per serving while keeping the calorie count under 500. These meals provide sustained energy, keep you full longer, and help build lean muscle mass when paired with regular exercise.
Table of Contents
9 High-Protein, Low-Calorie Vegetarian Dinners to Keep You Fit in 2024
Here are 9 of my favorite high-protein, low-calorie vegetarian dinner recipes to keep you strong and healthy in 2024:
Lentil Walnut Tacos
Loaded with protein from lentils and walnuts, these flavorful tacos pack 19g of protein and only 385 calories per serving. They’re quick to make on a weeknight but taste like you spent all day in the kitchen! The combination of taco seasoning and lime juice gives the lentil-walnut taco meat a rich flavor. Serve in warmed corn tortillas with all your favorite taco toppings.
Tofu Vegetable Stir Fry
A stir fry is one of the easiest ways to get a high-protein dinner on the table fast. This one pairs protein-packed tofu with tons of fresh vegetables like broccoli, carrots, bell peppers and mushrooms. With 18g of protein and just 179 calories per serving, it makes for a satisfying meatless meal. The ginger, garlic and soy sauce give it lots of flavor without adding many calories. Serve over brown rice or quinoa.
Portobello Mushroom Fajitas
Meaty portobello mushroom caps marinated in a smoky fajita seasoning and grilled until tender are the star of these easy fajitas. At just 228 calories and 15g of protein per serving, they make a healthy weeknight dinner. Load the protein-packed grilled mushroom fajitas into a warm tortilla with sautéed peppers and onions for a filling meal.
Curried Chickpea Salad Wraps
Made with fiber-rich chickpeas, crunchy vegetables and a light curried mayo dressing, these chickpea salad wraps deliver 19g of vegetarian protein for under 400 calories each. They’re easy to pack for lunch too. I love the combo of curry powder, raisins and cashews in the chickpea salad for lots of flavor and texture. Wrap it up in a whole wheat tortilla or lettuce leaves for a portable, on-the-go dinner.
Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
A quick vegetarian dinner doesn’t get much easier than this. Simply load up whole grain bread with hummus, cucumber slices, tomatoes, sprouts, avocado and whatever other veggies you have on hand. The hummus provides a whopping 15g of plant-based protein to keep you full. For under 400 calories per serving, this high protein sandwich makes the perfect meatless meal or snack any time of day.
Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry Over Quinoa
This healthy stir fry is ready in 20 minutes but tastes like you’ve been cooking all day. Pan-fried tofu gets tossed with fresh broccoli florets, carrots, garlic and ginger. Served over a bed of fluffy quinoa, it provides 19g of protein for just over 300 calories per serving. The combination of quinoa and tofu gives this stir fry a complete vegetarian protein profile.
Lentil & Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie gets a high-protein, vegetarian makeover in this hearty and comforting recipe. It’s made with a base of lentils, cremini mushrooms and veggies topped with creamy mashed potatoes. Each serving has 19g of protein and only 262 calories. Make this on the weekend and enjoy the leftovers throughout the week for satisfying plant-based meals. It’s pure vegetarian comfort food at its best.
Black Bean Enchiladas with Avocado Crema
These easy baked enchiladas are stuffed with a flavorful black bean and vegetable filling that provides 17g of protein per serving. Topped with a tangy avocado crema sauce, they contain only 358 calories each. Make the filling and sauce on the weekend so putting together these protein-packed enchiladas is a breeze on busy weeknights.
Quinoa Power Bowls
Build your own quinoa power bowl by loading up cooked quinoa with your choice of high protein toppings like chickpeas, edamame, tofu, tempeh, nuts, seeds and more. Not only will you get at least 15g of vegetarian protein, but you’ll also get lots of fiber from the quinoa and mix-ins. With so many possible combinations, these are never boring. The basic formula of grain + protein + veggies makes assembly easy.
Conclusion
There you have it – 9 nutritious and delicious high-protein, low-calorie vegetarian dinners perfect for staying strong and healthy in 2024. As a vegetarian, it’s completely possible to get sufficient protein at dinnertime without going overboard on calories.
Focus on incorporating vegetarian protein sources like beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, edamame, nuts, seeds, and more into your meals. Pair them with plenty of fresh vegetables and whole grains for fiber and you’ll stay satisfied on fewer calories. I hope you like reading “9 High-Protein Low-Calorie Vegetarian Dinners to Keep You Fit in 2024”.
With a little creativity and advance meal planning, eating vegetarian dinners that are high in protein doesn’t have to be complicated or boring. These recipes prove that plant-based eating can be both healthy and delicious. Give them a try and let me know your favorites!