70 Grain-free Vegetarian Recipes - A Calculated Whisk (2024)

70 Grain-free Vegetarian Recipes - A Calculated Whisk (1)

Looking for grain-free vegetarian recipes? I’ve got you covered with this roundup of 70 creative recipes for appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, sides, breakfasts, and snacks that are free of meat and grains.

I often hear from readers who are looking for paleo vegetarian recipes or even paleo vegan recipes. I’m not a vegetarian myself, but I am on a constant quest to eat a larger quantity and variety of vegetables and other plant-based foods and I aim to please all my readers.

I had a wonderful time scouring the web to find 70 of the most delicious-looking recipes that are free of both meat and grains. Thirty of them turned out to be grain-free vegan recipes and 34 of them are Whole30 compliant, so there’s something for just about everyone here.

Two years ago Idid a roundup of 25 grain-free vegetarian recipes, but there’s been so much great new content coming out since then that I thought I’d do an updated post. I asked my favorite bloggers to share links to their best meatless, grainless dishes and was blown away by the response. I initially planned to include just 25 recipes again, but everything looked so good that the number crept up to 50 and then to 70.

I hope you’ll explore this list even if you’re a meat-eater like me, because these dishes are craveworthy regardless of your dietary restrictions. And if you are a carnivore, you could always pair one of these with a meat-centric recipe to round things out (a few of my favorites that are begging to share the plate with some veggies are slow-cooker short ribs, cilantro lime chicken, andsizzling garlic shrimp).

Do you follow a grain-free vegetarian or paleo vegetarian diet? I’d be curious to hear about it in the comments section. And if you have favorite grain-free vegetarian recipes you’d like to share, leave a comment with some links so the rest of us can check them out!

Grain-free Vegetarian Appetizers:

70 Grain-free Vegetarian Recipes - A Calculated Whisk (2)

Samosa Bites with Paleo Raitafrom A Calculated Whisk (Whole30)

Baked Shoestring Carrot Fries with Za’atar from A Clean Bake(Vegan, Whole30)

Easy Instant Pot Deviled Eggs from Recipes to Nourish

Smashed Potatoes with Hatch Chile Tomatillo Crema from A Calculated Whisk

Paleo Tzatziki Sauce from Jay’s Baking Me Crazy(Vegan, Whole30)

Grain-free VegetarianSoups:

70 Grain-free Vegetarian Recipes - A Calculated Whisk (3)

Quick Spinach Egg Drop Soup from Everyday Maven

Creamy Sweet Potato and Leek Soup from The Natural Nurturer(Vegan, Whole30)

Cauliflower Soup with Hazelnut and Mint Pesto from Paleo Diet and Fitness(Vegan, Whole30)

Parsnip and Pumpkin Soup from A Calculated Whisk

Egg Drop Soup from How We Flourish(Whole30)

Mulligatawny Soup from My Heart Beets(Vegan, Whole30)

French Farmhouse Soup from Lavande and Lemonade

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup with Beets and Kale from There’s a Cook in my Kitchen(Whole30)

Grain-free Vegetarian Salads:

70 Grain-free Vegetarian Recipes - A Calculated Whisk (4)

Spinach and Berry Salad with Creamy Poppyseed Dressing from Living Loving Paleo

Summer Veggie Salad with Dairy-Free Pesto from Anya’s Eats(Vegan, Whole30)

Massaged Kale Salad with Almonds and Cranberries from Rubies & Radishes(Vegan)

Belly Dance Beet Salad from Well Fed 2 from Rubies & Radishes (Vegan, Whole30)

Roasted Beet and Carrot Salad with Goat Cheese Vinaigrette from A Calculated Whisk

Curry Cauliflower Salad from Plaid & Paleo (Whole30)

Zucchini Ribbon Salad from Oh Snap! Let’s Eat (Vegan, Whole30)

Tomato Basil Salad from Paleo Gone Sassy(Vegan, Whole30)

Grain-free VegetarianMain Dishes:

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Pesto Zucchini Pasta with Tomatoes and Avocado from Anya’s Eats(Vegan, Whole30)

Sweet Potato Veggie Frittata fromThe Natural Nurturer(Whole30)

Spiralized Zucchini Puttanesca from Wicked Spatula (Vegan option, Whole30)

Courgetti with Vegan Puttanesca Sauce from Greens of the Stone Age (Vegan)

Goat Cheese and Kale Stuffed Sweet Potatoes from Ciao Veggie

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Paleo Pad See Ew from A Calculated Whisk

Paleo Falafelfrom Greens of the Stone Age (Vegan, Whole30)

Punjabi Egg Curry from My Heart Beets (Whole30)

Spiralized Butternut Squash Noodles with Asparagus, Cashews, and Pomegranate from The Movement Menu(Vegan, Whole30)

Eggplant Gratin from A Lady in France

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Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Butternut Squash, Avocado, and Jalapeños from There’s a Cook in my Kitchen

Squash Noodles with Everything Pesto and Fried Eggs from A Calculated Whisk

Vegetarian Sweet Potato Moussaka from Paleo Diet and Fitness(Whole30)

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta from Plaid & Paleo(Whole30)

Winter Vegetable Gratin from A Calculated Whisk

Grain-free VegetarianSides:

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Paleo Flatbread from A Calculated Whisk

Crispy Indian Okra from My Heart Beets (Vegan, Whole30)

Grilled Zucchini with Quick Tomato-Olive Sauce & Feta Cheesefrom An Edible Mosaic

Moroccan Vegetable Tagine from Eat Your Beets (use vegetable stock instead of chicken; Vegan, Whole30)

Nutty Green Parsnip Rice from Real Food with Dana

Blistered Okra with Garlic and Cumin from A Calculated Whisk (Vegan, Whole30)

Sweet Chili Brussels Sprouts from A Girl Worth Saving(Vegan)

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Blueberries and Pecans from Bravo for Paleo

Creamy Broccoli and Mushroom Casserole from There’s a Cook in my Kitchen(Vegan, Whole30)

Caramelized Onion Stuffed Zucchini Boats from A Happy Healthnut

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Cauliflower Rice Tabouleh from The Whole Smiths (Vegan, Whole30)

Brussels Sprouts with White Balsamic, Pomegranate, and Toasted Hazelnutsfrom Greens of the Stone Age (Vegan)

Roasted Mexican Potatoes with Cilantro Gremolata from The Organic Kitchen

Roasted Carrots and Fennel from FlabstoFitness (Vegan, Whole30)

Pesto Cauliflower Bites from What Great Grandma Ate(Vegan, Whole30)

Thyme Roasted Radishes from Montana Homesteader

Paleo Baked Fries from Jay’s Baking Me Crazy(Vegan, Whole30)

Fried Okra with Avocado Crema from A Calculated Whisk

Zucchini Noodle Lo Mein from Get Inspired Everyday

Garlic Ghee Mashed Cauliflower from Anya’s Eats (Whole30)

Garlic Almond Spaghetti Squash from The Good-Hearted Woman

Grain-free VegetarianBreakfasts:

70 Grain-free Vegetarian Recipes - A Calculated Whisk (10)

Pink Grapefruit Green Smoothie from Get Inspired Everyday (Vegan)

Spinach and Artichoke Muffins from Recipes to Nourish

Grain-free Super Protein Almond Butter Pancakes from The Roasted Root

Avocado Green Smoothie from Paleo Flourish Magazine(Vegan)

from A Calculated Whisk (Whole30)

Shakshuka from Comfort Bites(Whole30)

Pesto Frittata from A Calculated Whisk (Whole30)

Sweet Potato Sage Pancakes from Living Loving Paleo

Carrot Cake Muffins from Paleo Paparazzi

Grain-free VegetarianSnacks:

70 Grain-free Vegetarian Recipes - A Calculated Whisk (11)

Baked Beet Green Chips from Eat Thrive Glow (Vegan)

Vanilla Chai Spiced Nut Butter (Vegan, Whole30)

Healthy Brownie Bites from Primally Inspired(Vegan)

Citrus Arugula Pesto from Pure and Simple Nourishment(Vegan, Whole30)

70 Grain-free Vegetarian Recipes - A Calculated Whisk (2024)

FAQs

What are the key ingredients for vegetarians? ›

As a vegetarian, eating a balanced diet based on whole grains, pulses (beans and lentils), vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds, you should easily exceed the guidelines for eating 5-A-Day, and your meals will be naturally higher in fibre and lower in saturated fat.

Can you be a grain free vegan? ›

There's plenty you can eat while grain-free and plant-based. For the most part, you can enjoy most vegetables with the exception of corn. You can consume fruits as well but they shouldn't be the main focus, fill your plate with veggies first then enjoy a small portion of fruits.

What is the difference between a vegetarian and a vegan? ›

Overview. Vegetarians don't eat any food products made from meat, fish, shellfish, crustacea (such as prawns or crab) or animal by-products (such as gelatine or rennet). Vegans don't eat any food products that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.

What are the essential vegetarian foods? ›

These include whole fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Nuts and legumes, such as lentils, beans and peanuts, also are considered healthy plant-based foods. At the same time, cut back on less healthy choices. These include sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juices and refined grains.

What are 3 foods that vegetarians get protein from? ›

If you're considering a vegetarian diet, here are 20 high-quality sources of protein to get you started.
  • Lentils. Lentils may be red, green, black, or brown. ...
  • Edamame. Edamame are soybeans harvested before they mature. ...
  • Beans. Beans are a delicious plant source of protein. ...
  • Split peas. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Peanut butter. ...
  • Oats. ...
  • Quinoa.
Mar 14, 2024

What foods are surprisingly vegetarian? ›

Top Accidentally Vegan Foods
  • Cinnamon Life.
  • Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix.
  • SkinnyPop White Cheddar Flavored Popped Popcorn.
  • Airheads.
  • Cracker Jack.
  • Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili–Flavored Tortilla Chips.
  • Fritos.
  • Fruit by the Foot.

What should I avoid if I am grain-free? ›

Grain-free diets exclude all grains including wheat, bulgur, spelt, farro, quinoa, rice, millet and products made from grains like pasta, crackers, breads, cereals, some plant milks, and more. Many grain-free plans also consider corn and corn products off-limits.

Is rice a grain? ›

What foods are in the Grains Group? Foods made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, grits, and tortillas are examples of grain products. Foods such as popcorn, rice, and oatmeal are also included in the Grains Group.

Is quinoa a grain? ›

Though technically a seed, Quinoa is classified as a whole grain and is a good source of plant protein and fiber. One cup cooked provides about 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.

Do vegetarians live longer than vegans? ›

Thus, there's no definitive link between veganism and lifespan. Furthermore, most studies group vegetarians and vegans together, making it difficult to determine the exact effects of each diet on a person's life expectancy. Therefore, more research is needed solely on vegan diets before strong conclusions can be made.

Can vegetarians eat cheese? ›

Because most cheese is made from cow's or goat's milk, most types are not vegan-friendly. Most vegetarians avoid products that require the slaughter of an animal. Because cheesemaking falls outside of this practice, many vegetarians allow cheese in their diet.

Can vegetarians eat eggs? ›

Well, the short answer is yes! Unless they are vegan (meaning they don't eat dairy products, eggs, or any other products which are derived from animals), some vegetarians do eat eggs and belong to a group known as lacto-ovo-vegetarians which according to the Vegetarian Society is the most common type of meatless diet.

What is the most famous vegetarian dish? ›

Originating in the Middle East, falafel is one the most popular vegetarian foods in the world! As one of the most popular vegetarian foods in the world, falafel needs no introduction! However, the origin of these beloved patties is rather controversial.

What is the most common vegetarian deficiency? ›

The nutrients of concern in the diet of vegetarians include vitamin B(12), vitamin D, ω-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, and zinc. Although a vegetarian diet can meet current recommendations for all of these nutrients, the use of supplements and fortified foods provides a useful shield against deficiency.

What are the 5 main food groups for vegetarians? ›

But here is a guide of the five plant-based food groups that make up a healthy, wholesome and balanced diet:
  • Vegetables. No doubt we all know how amazing vegetables are for us! ...
  • Fruit. Despite what most people seem to believe, fruit is not just sugar. ...
  • Whole grains. ...
  • Legumes. ...
  • Nuts and Seeds.
Sep 9, 2017

What is vegetarian made out of? ›

Vegetarian food is a culinary lifestyle that centers around plant-based ingredients, excluding meat, poultry, and seafood. It celebrates the diverse range of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds found in nature.

What are vegetarian requirements? ›

As outlined in the Eatwell Guide:
  • Eat a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. ...
  • Base meals on starchy carbohydrates. ...
  • Dairy or dairy alternatives are needed for calcium. ...
  • Eat beans, pulses, eggs and other sources of protein. ...
  • Choose unsaturated oils and spreads. ...
  • Limit foods high in fat, salt and sugar.

What do vegetarians need a lot of? ›

No matter the reason, if you eat a vegetarian diet, be sure to get the nutrition you need by including plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes (like beans, soy, and lentils), nuts, and seeds.

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