Vegan for Beginners Food Lent Vegan Easter Religion Recipe Meat Alternatives

40 Plant-Based Lent Recipes (All Vegetarian and Vegan)

Many eat meatless meals during Lent. Try these 40 plant-based Lent recipes, which are also vegetarian and vegan.

Mar 8, 2021

by Megan McFadden

40 Plant-Based Lent Recipes (All Vegetarian and Vegan) — Photo by Grant Whitty / Unsplash

Introduction

Vegan Origins

In 2017, I became vegan on Ash Wednesday. I considered this decision for a while and thought Lent was a great excuse to change my diet and learn more about speciesism. Over time, veganism has become a lifestyle change rather than just a diet.

What Is Lent?

If you aren't familiar with Lent, it's the period of preparation for Easter, which is more than a bunny leaving kids presents. Christians believe someone known in history books as Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross (crucifixion) on a Friday and returned from the dead (resurrection) two days later, almost 2,000 years ago. This preparation involves giving things up. Also, everyone is expected not to eat meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent, but it is acceptable to eat fish and other seafood.

That means many people eat vegetarian and pescatarian meals for religious purposes during certain days of the year. Try any of these 40 meatless Lent recipes, including the following (all vegetarian and vegan).

10 pescatarian soups
10 vegetarian casseroles
10 plant-based seafood alternatives
10 meatless grilled cheese sandwiches
10 plant-based brands (bonus)

Pescatarian Soups (Also Vegetarian and Vegan)

Every Wednesday of Lent, besides Ash Wednesday, my hometown church has a Lenten tradition where people come to the Stations of the Cross and then go to a soup supper afterward. Some soup classics include chicken noodle, cream of broccoli, and vegetable soup. Even though they sound like great vegan options, cream of broccoli soup isn't vegan because of having dairy, while vegetable soup isn't always vegetarian or vegan because it can be made with chicken or bone broth instead of vegetable broth.

Try these 10 meatless soups that are also plant-based, vegetarian, and vegan.

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Here are more soup recipes.

1. Lentil Tortilla Soup

I love Mexican food. Try this vegan lentil tortilla soup from Midwest Foodie. Just use vegan sour cream in your soup because regular sour cream has dairy.

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If you like Mexican food, check out my blog post about vegan Mexican recipes.

2. Minestrone Soup

Olive Garden makes the best minestrone. Give my vegan minestrone soup recipe a try.

3. Italian Wedding Soup

I don't like weddings because they are crowded, loud, and long. They make a better soup flavor. Have some vegan Italian wedding soup from FoodByMaria.

4. Cheeseburger Soup

Who says a cheeseburger can't be a type of soup? Here is some vegan cheeseburger soup from Connoisseurus Veg.

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If you like burgers, check out my blog post about plant-based burger recipes.

5. White Lasagna Soup

Lasagna is so hearty and delicious. I haven't mastered putting it into soup yet, but luckily, Rabbit and Wolves knows how to make vegan white lasagna soup.

6. Jamaican Veggie Soup

I haven't been to Jamaica, but I heard they have some tasty food there. Here is a Jamaican veggie soup from Monkey & Me Kitchen Adventures.

7. Revithosoupa

Many vegan and vegan-friendly bloggers tend to substitute chicken with chickpeas in their recipes. Try some vegan revithosoupa from Real Greek Recipes.

8. Broccoli Sweet Potato Soup

Broccoli soups are classics, but let's change the recipe slightly. Try this roasted broccoli sweet potato soup from My Pure Plants.

9. Wonton Soup

One of my brothers enjoys making wontons in the air fryer but can also be vegan. Have some vegan wonton soup from Cilantro and Citronella (now known as The Stingy Vegan).

10. Gnocchi Soup

My siblings love the chicken and gnocchi soup from Olive Garden. If you like the sounds of that, take out the chicken and then make some spinach and mushroom gnocchi soup from FoodByMaria.

Vegetarian Casseroles (Also Vegan)

Casseroles are pretty easy to make. They can be prepped the night before and put in the oven after a long work or school day. Many casseroles are made with meat and/or chicken broth. Yes, you can remove the meat from any dish to make it suitable for Lent, but often, when you take the meat out, the dish can taste bland because the meat does all the work.

Try these vegetarian casseroles, with flavorful veggies taking center stage instead of meat.

11. Tuna Noodle Casserole

My favorite school lunch was tuna and noodles. Make some vegan tuna noodle casserole from The Hidden Veggies.

12. Tater Tot Casserole

Another food that brings me nostalgia is tater tots. Try this vegan tater tot casserole from Vegan Blueberry.

13. Southwestern Black Bean Casserole

I love Tex-Mex and Southern food. If that is up your alley, From My Bowl has a terrific Southwestern black bean casserole that's perfect for you.

14. Taco Casserole

Who celebrates Taco Tuesday? Make this vegan taco casserole from Namely Marly.

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If you want some more vegan taco recipes, I got you covered.

15. Eggplant Parmesan Zucchini Casserole

My mom likes to make lots of zucchini noodles (zoodles) in the summer. Try this eggplant Parmesan zucchini casserole from Contentedness Cooking.

16. Pot Pie Casserole

When I think of pot pie, I think of chicken pot pie, but not anymore. Give this vegan pot pie casserole a try from Plant Power Couple.

17. Teriyaki Casserole

Who wants to make some Japanese food at home asap? Here's a teriyaki tofu tempeh casserole from The Simple Veganista.

18. Broccoli Quinoa Casserole

I would be horrible if I didn't tell you how to have vegan broccoli and cheese, right? Make this cheesy broccoli quinoa casserole from ElaVegan.

19. Cowboy Casserole

I don't get why a casserole is described as a cowboy. I probably wasn't taking enough mental notes while I watched Westerns with my dad.

Regardless of the reason, giddy up, so you can try some cowboy casserole from Contentedness Cooking.

20. Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potatoes are amazing after you cook them in potato pockets and even better in casseroles. Try some vegan sweet potato casserole from FoodByMaria.

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This recipe is also in my vegan sweet potato blog post.

Plant-Based Seafood Alternatives

I know I said that it's okay for Catholics to eat fish and other forms of seafood during Lent, but shellfish and fish are among the top 10 most common food allergies. That means many people are missing out on how great seafood is because their bodies can't handle it without causing harm.

Here are some plant-based seafood alternatives for those with fish and shellfish allergies, suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

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Here are more fish alternatives.

21. Tofish and Chips

Fish and chips are an English classic. Have some vegan fish and chips from It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken.

22. Crab Cakes

Are you having a crabby day? Here's an idea. Try making some vegan crab cakes from Eat Figs, Not Pigs.

23. Scampi

Who's in the mood for some shrimpy pasta? Have this vegan scampi from Veggie Fun Kitchen.

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Side note, if you are a pasta lover, try making vegan mac and cheese. If the lemon garlic white wine sauce sounds good, have more lemon recipes.

24. Lobster Rolls

Lobsters are expensive unless you're lucky enough to have abundant lobsters, like in Maine. Fortunately, making a vegan version of lobster is relatively cheap. Make these vegan lobster rolls from Labeless Nutrition.

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Lobster rolls are one of many traditional recipes made in America.

25. Fish

This vegan fish recipe looks scrumptious because it resembles McDonald's Filet-O-Fish. Thank you for having my back, The Hidden Veggies.

26. Crab Cream Cheese Wontons

Just to let you know, cream cheese can be made vegan too. Grab some of your favorite vegan cream cheese, and make some vegan crab cream cheese wontons from The Baking Fairy.

27. Po' Boy

The secret to making incredible vegan seafood is substituting the original seafood with mushrooms. Here is a vegan po' boy recipe from Vegan With Curves.

28. Fish Sticks Sushi Bowl

Fish sticks bring up many memories of times during Lent when we threw some fish sticks into the oven and put them in sandwiches.

Since food bowls are a major food trend, make this vegan fish stick sushi bowl from My Eclectic Bites.

29. Fish Tacos

Do I have to remind you how much I love tacos? Try some vegan fish tacos from School Night Vegan.

30. Carrot Lox

Salmon can be pricey like lobster, but what's less expensive? Carrots! Make some vegan smoked salmon from Bianca Zapatka.

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If you love carrots, check out my blog post on vegan carrot recipes.

Meatless Grilled Cheese

One thing people question about me being vegan is why I would put myself on such a limited diet. The truth is, I can have whatever food people can think of, except that these dishes are made entirely out of plants.

In terms of vegan cheese, there are lots of brands that have vegan cheeses, including but not limited to:

Usually, I make grilled cheese with some vegan deli meat, and some vegan deli brands include:

Grilled cheese sandwiches can be meals in themselves or excellent sides for soups. They can be way more things besides cheese inside toasted bread. Make some meatless grilled cheese sandwiches, perfect for those with lactose intolerance and/or milk allergies and vegans.

31. Balsamic Berry Grilled Cheese

I’m a huge berry fan, but I’ve never tried them in a sandwich. Make some vegan balsamic berry grilled cheese sandwiches from NeuroticMommy.

32. Pumpkin Apple Grilled Cheese

Stuff made with apples and pumpkin scream fall. Try some pumpkin apple grilled cheese from Vegetarian Gastronomy.

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Here are some vegan apple recipes and more vegan pumpkin recipes.

33. Buffalo Jackfruit Grilled Cheese

Jackfruit is an extremely common meat substitute for pulled pork and shredded chicken. Have some buffalo jackfruit grilled cheese from Rainbow Plant Life.

34. Caramelized Onion Red Pepper Grilled Cheese

One of my siblings claimed the perfect grilled cheese sandwich has onions. Make some red pepper onion grilled cheese sandwiches from Create Mindfully.

35. Balsamic Sweet Potato Grilled Cheese

I have another sweet potato recipe to share with you. Try some sweet potato grilled cheese sandwiches from The Colorful Kitchen.

36. Zucchini Avocado Grilled Cheese

Avocados are one of the best plant-based dairy alternatives out there. If you don’t believe me, make some vegan zucchini avocado grilled cheese from Stacey Homemaker.

37. Mozzarella and Fig Jam Grilled Cheese

Mozzarella and jam may sound like a weird combo, but apparently, they are a match made in heaven. Try these vegan mozzarella fig jam grilled cheese sandwiches from Connoisseurus Veg.

38. Spinach Dip Grilled Cheese

Dip can be used in more ways besides being food dips. Take out some leftover spinach dip to create some spinach dip grilled cheese from Six Vegan Sisters.

39. Green Goddess Grilled Cheese

As I said, dips can be put into grilled cheese, so salad dressings also work in grilled cheese sandwiches. Have some vegan green goddess grilled cheese sandwiches from Rainbow Plant Life.

40. Pizza Grilled Cheese

I’m also a significant pizza fan. Have some vegan pizza grilled cheese from Rabbit and Wolves.

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As a bonus, here are some vegan pizza recipes.

Bonus: 10 Plant-Based Brands

Did you know that most consumers of meat alternatives and substitutes aren’t on any particular diet? Most eat meat. Lent is an excellent time to try some plant-based brands unless you have a soy allergy. Otherwise, here are ten fantastic plant-based brands that are entirely vegan.

1. Daiya

Daiya makes the best vegan frozen pizza. They also have a variety of plant-based dairy alternatives and some yummy vegan mac and cheese.

2. Gardein

I like Gardein’s vegan ground hamburger, meatballs, and Mandarin chicken. They also produce soup and jerky.

3. Field Roast

Field Roast has terrific sausage links for breakfast time and spicy cheese slices that taste amazing in grilled cheese sandwiches. Additionally, they make burgers, roasts, and mac and cheese.

4. Beyond Meat

I love Beyond Meat brats, and if you don’t believe me on how good they are, some of my non-vegan coworkers think they smell amazing when I bring some for sack lunch. They sell about every red meat alternative on the market.

5. Impossible Foods

A good chunk of the vegan and vegetarian burgers at typical fast food restaurants use burgers from either Impossible Foods (aka Impossible burgers) or Beyond Meat. You can try some Impossible burgers at Burger King and Red Robin.

Note that even though there are more plant-based burger patties at fast food places, many of them aren’t even vegetarian due to cross-contamination while most aren’t vegan due to containing dairy.

6. Meati

If you're looking for a meat alternative that has minimal ingredients and is healthier for you, Meati would be the perfect fit for you. Its main ingredient is mycelium, which is the vegetative part of a fungus.

7. VBites

I’ve never seen VBites in the store, but that might be because this brand is from Europe, instead of America. If you’re from Europe, try finding some of their vegan meat, fish, and cheese at your local grocery store.

8. Upton’s Naturals

Upton’s Naturals has some amazing flavored jackfruit. They also sell jerky, mac and cheese, seitan, prepped meals, and a vegan fish alternative made from banana blossoms.

9. Tofurky

I made one of Tofurky's roasts for Thanksgiving, which was delicious. They also sell a variety of vegan meat alternatives and some vegan pockets (similar to Hot Pockets).

10. Daring

Daring makes plant-based chicken alternatives. You can find Daring products at Sprouts, Fresh Thyme, and Roots Market.

Conclusion

Lent is an excellent time of the year to expand your horizons. I don’t want you to become vegan for Lent like me. Instead, try making some vegan recipes for Lent because you may never know when to make meal accommodations for vegetarians or vegans. If you want to know the differences between being vegetarian and vegan, check out my blog post about what veganism is.

Side note, I apologize if I sounded too preachy. I wrote this blog post for religious Christians to give them ideas on what meals to make at home during Lent. If you want to learn more about Lent and Easter, go to Catholic Answers to get more of a Catholic perspective (a subset of Christianity) or Christianity Today for a general Christian view of Lent and Easter.