I love a good meatless meal – loading my plate with veggies or even just having a huge salad for dinner is a great way to mix things up. My kids are not the best veggie eaters, but I sneak them in.
Lent is here and as Catholics, my family follows the “no meat” rule on Ash Wednesday as well as every Friday throughout Lent until Easter. This leads me to look for meatless meals that are not only delicious, but also kid-friendly! So if you are looking to cut out a little meat in your diet for whatever your reasoning is (whether it be spiritual, moral, financial or dietary), try one of these amazing kid-friendly meatless meals!
Meatless Meal Ideas
Cheese Tortellini/ Cheese Ravioli – I use Bertolli brand – easy, delicious & budget-friendly. I make a salad and garlic bread to go with it.
Broccoli & Cheddar Soup – My all-time favorite soup is the Broccoli Cheddar Soup from Panera – it is filling and delicious. I found a copycat on Pinterest and it is AMAZING!
Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup – A classic that never gets old.
Fettucine Alfredo – Another super simple meal – to jazz it up I’ll add peas or asparagus to the pasta.
Macaroni and Cheese – My kids love Mac and Cheese, it’s a staple in my house.
Meatless Stir Fry – Another easy one to make – I’ll grab teriyaki sauce and a bag of frozen stir fry veggies and throw it over rice.
Pasta Primavera – One of my personal favorites
Cheese or Veggie Pizza – Whether its frozen, homemade or delivery – do you!
Breakfast for Dinner – (Pancakes, Waffles or French Toast) and I’ll cut up fruit to have with it.
Shrimp Scampi – My oldest daughters favorite because she loves shrimp.
Buttered Noodles – Pasta, butter, parmesan cheese & done.
Tuna Noodle Casserole – Another classic, my mom used to make this all the time.
Pierogies
Quesadillas with Rice and Beans
Classic Lasagna
Garlic Parmesan Breaded Flounder – I pair this with some oven fries or rice and a veggie.
Black Bean Stuffed Peppers – This is healthy, filling and delicious.
Vegetarian Fajitas – Another hearty option even without the meat.
Stuffed Shells
Minestrone Soup, Salad & Breadsticks – Another family favorite in my house. My kids love minestrone soup.
I try to keep every Friday different. Ordering pizza every single week gets on the expensive side and there is always a huge wait on Fridays during Lent. Most of the meals listed here are meals my kids have eaten and loved, so I know if I pick one of these, it is sure to be a hit. I am not a seafood lover, but I do eat it from time to time. I am a little odd when it comes to fish and will only purchase it fresh from the fish market to be made that same day. It’s just my preference.
Hopefully this list gives you some good ideas for some meatless dishes. Do you have a favorite meatless meal? Leave a link below!
