50 Vegetarian Quarantine Recipes (2024)

Lockdown, quarantine, self-isolation – whatever you call it – we’re in this together. Separately.

More and more of the population across the world are being forced to hide away to decrease the overall infection rate to protect the vulnerable and elderly – us included.

And of course, we still need to eat. Getting fresh food may not be as easy as it once was for a while, so we may have to rely on ingredients that can be kept in the pantry (or store cupboard or larder) for a while.

Luckily, there are many such ingredients that can be used for kitchen staple recipes.

The following compilation of recipes have been compiled with the help of other food bloggers and websites around the world – and we thank them for their help and recipes in these dark times.

The ideas here are wide-ranging as everybody will have different ingredients available to them, so we hope there is inspiration for all.

We’ve included ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks – we don’t want it to become monotonous after all.

Some recipes include eggs, as we assume these are available to some people, at least for the time being. We’ve split the post into two parts – recipes with eggs, and recipes without.

Pantry Essentials

Ingredients that are often used are in the following list – if you get the chance we highly recommend stocking up on these items.

Tinned or dried:

• chickpeas
• lentils
• beans
• rice
• pasta
• quinoa
• couscous
• bulgur
• seeds – like chia, pumpkin and sunflower
• oils – olive, peanut, canola and avocado
• nuts – peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts and hazelnuts
• dried potato mash

Fresh and last for quite a while in a cool dark place:

• potato
• sweet potato
• onion

Frozen (buy bagged if necessary):

• broccoli
• cauliflower
• carrots
• green beans
• peas

There are also ways to substitute ingredients in our vegetarian lockdown recipes. For example, if you need ginger and don’t have any – use dried. The same goes for many herbs. Tomatoes can be replaced by dried tomatoes in oil.

We highly recommend a few bags of frozen vegetables. No need to find a reason to stop eating that yummy healthy veg 😉

Hopefully these quarantine recipes will help get you through some tough times while still eating nourishing food.

Of course it’s even easier than usual to turn crisps/chips and biscuits/cookies – particularly as comfort foods. But we’ve got this.

And one final note on panic buying / hoarding. Please don’t go too over the top.

There are many elderly and vulnerable people who cannot easily get items from supermarkets, and certainly can’t carry much home.

And if you know any who might need help, perhaps you could think about asking them. From a distance 😉

Vegetarian Quarantine Recipes

Recipes with eggs – Breakfast

Bonus: quick, simple, tasty and nutritious

Potato Farls (also known as potato bread) – an authentic Irish recipe that’s great for breakfast and perfect with any Ulster fry (more easy vegetarian brekkies over here).

Ready in: 35 minutes (just 10 minutes to prepare)
Recipe by: TheForkedSpoon
Bonus: easy, tasty and healthy

Shakshuka is an easy and delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner recipe made from a simple combination of simmered onion, bell pepper, tomatoes, and spices with delicately poached eggs.

Bonus: quick, easy and very yummy pancakes

We all know pancakes rock, and now we know gingerbread pancakes rock too. Light, elegant and with a soft hint of ginger, they’re the new winter treat.

Bonus: incredibly quick, very tasty, simple and nutritious breakfast

Make the best scrambled eggs you’ve ever had with our quick & easy but simple to follow recipe – so good you’ll never look elsewhere again!

Bonus: quick, nutritious and healthy

A modern update to a Spanish classic with less time, less oil and same great taste. Clear and easy instructions mean you’ll nail this Spanish wonder in no time.

Bonus: simple ingredients, healthy and very tasty dish

37.5g of natural protein. Just three ingredients: Cottage cheese, eggs and oats. 12 minutes from start to finish. You won’t be disappointed!

Recipes with eggs – Lunch or Dinner

Bonus: quick, easy, sooo yummy and absolutely recommended 🙂

Make these sweetcorn fritters your new go-to recipe with ingredients you’ll always find in your kitchen. They’re vegan-friendly, too!

Bonus: quick, nutritious, spicy and very tasty

Fiery Dragon Noodles. Our tasty take on the insanely popular and easy spicy Asian dish. The perfect recipe for using up leftover pasta or noodles!

Bonus: quick and tasty, perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner 😉

Noodle omelettes made with ramen and eggs – cheap, nourishing, and inexpensive (check out our cheap vegetarian meals for more like this). Cut the complicated cooking steps and get food to plate, fast!

Bonus: easy, quick and very healthy meal, simple ingredients

Everybody should know how to make veggie fried rice. Hands down one of the most delicious and easiest ways to use up leftovers. Ready in max. 15 minutes!

Bonus: quick, easy, healthy and versatile meal

The perfect Omelette. Just eggs in this deliciously simple and perfect natural omelette. Omelettes the way they should be. Vegetarian, healthy and ready in 7 minutes.

Recipes with eggs – Desserts & Snacks

Bonus: simple ingredients, quick and very tasty

These almond flour muffins stay soft and succulent – and only need five minutes to prep! Bung them in the oven and you’re good to go!

Recipes without eggs – Breakfast

Bonus: tasty, quick and spicy breakfast

A savory pancake begging to be eaten with pickles and chutneys or yogurts and cream. East meets West with this beautifully, wonderfully healthy dish.

Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp
Bonus: super quick, tasty, nutritious and healthy breakfast

This power breakfast inspired by IRONMAN champion Patrick Lange is the perfect vegan way to smash your health targets!

Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: HintOfHealthy
Bonus: mega quick, super tasty, healthy and nutritious breakfast

This filling and satisfying recipe for oatmeal with chocolate and peanut butter is both quick to make in the morning, and tastes absolutely delicious!

Bonus: easy, light, tasty and fluffy 🙂

These no egg pancakes are easy, light and fluffy. Perfect for savoury or sweet toppings, look no further if you need pancakes without egg! Milk and lemon juice works for buttermilk 🙂

Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: RhiansRecipes
Bonus: easy, tasty, healthy and so good

These Oat Flour Pancakes are soft and fluffy, slightly chewy and nutty, and super satisfying. They’re vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar free too.

Recipes without eggs – Lunch or Dinner

Bonus: mega nutritious and incredibly delicious!

Vegan Bolognese. It was about time we veganized the Italian classic (vegan Italian recipes are the best after all). And we’re proud to say we were successful. Please welcome, the amazing Anti Bolognese!

Bonus: healthy, tasty and nutritious, can be stored for a while in the fridge

The sexiest lentil stew you have ever eaten. A nutritional powerhouse, this recipe is here to kickstart your year – and your health.

Bonus: simple ingredients, quick and refreshing

Easy Carrot and Apple Salad – just six ingredients that all combo really, really well together. It’s also animal-friendly and super-quick!

Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: VintageKitchenNotes
Bonus: absolutely simple, nutritious and can be stored for a while in the fridge

You’re three ingredients away from the most wonderful soup ever! It’s low carb, vegan (if you want), nutritious and delicious!

Bonus: quick and delicious, full of health benefits

Flavourful Pea Pulao with Lemon. A zesty yet sweet, light but filling rice dish handed down through generations.

Bonus: very nutritious, easy and quick, full of health benefits

High Protein Black Bean and Corn Summer Salad. Simple recipe ready in just 10 minutes, bursting with summery flavours, protein, fiber and greats source of iron for vegetarians.

Ready in: 40 minutes (just 10 minutes to prepare)
Recipe by: KeepingThePeas
Bonus: tasty, healthy and nutritious dish

American Vegan Goulash made with lentils, whole wheat macaroni, peppers, and onions in a smoky tomato sauce is a comforting one pot meal (sound good? Try all these other delicious vegetarian one pot meals now!).

Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: ThreeOlivesBranch
Bonus: tasty, spicy, easy and so good 😉

Arrabbiata Pasta, also known as “angry pasta,” is traditionally a spicy dish that gets its heat from the garlic and red pepper flakes. Makes this simple yet delicious dish as mild or spicy as you want! Great on its own, or add in some sauteed vegetables or meat of choice.

Bonus: quick, delicious, healthy, can be stored for a while in the fridge

Make the most out of your veg with this Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup – tasty, easy, healthy, full of vitamins and only five mins to prep!

Bonus: simple, creamy and healthy

The simple yet incredibly effective aromatised oil makes these vegan mashed potatoes better than any of their contemporaries. Creamy without the cream.

Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: Cooktoria
Bonus: easy, delicious and full of health benefits

This Ultimate Vegetable Stew is hands down the best, easiest, and tastiest ever (if this sounds good, try our other fave vegetarian stews here!). There are so many ways to serve this scrumptious vegan stew! You need to try it!

Bonus: simple ingredients, quick and healthy dish

Delicious Red Onion Soup. So fine it makes you cry. Simple ingredients and lightning fast. Ready in 20 minutes.

Ready in: 30 minutes (only 5 minutes to prepare)
Recipe by: VeganOnBoard
Bonus: quick, nutritious, tasty and full of health benefits

This rich and flavourful lentil ragu is easy, quick to make and a real hit! Use it as vegan bolognese on spaghetti, in lasagne or calzone, as bread topping or simply on its own.

Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: TiffinAndTeaOfficial
Bonus: easy, tasty and nutritious dish

Really simple Mushroom Pasta that is juicy and delicious! This is a classic dish, one that requires few ingredients and is so easy to make.

Bonus: light, tasty and full of health benefits

This curried parsnip soup is creamy yet vegan, spicy yet not overpoweringly so. It’s also incredibly easy to make – chop, chop cook!

Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: SeitanBeatsYourMeat
Bonus: quick, easy, healthy and versatile

This vegan Spanish rice is full of flavor and can be made with pantry staples in less than 30 minutes. Serve it alongside beans, or make a burrito bowl.

Bonus: quick, tasty and healthy, can be stored for a while in the fridge

So comforting you want to sit in it. Only vegan ingredients, great taste and ready in 20 minutes. High in protein and fiber. You won’t be disappointed!

Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: KellyNeil
Bonus: easy, tasty, can be stored for a while in the fridge

This vegan lentil Bolognese sauce is hearty, nutritious, and only takes 25 minutes to cook! It’s also cheap to make and freezes well.

Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp
Bonus: quick, healthy and tasty, can be stored for a while in the fridge

Follow Kat’s simple instructions for the creamiest vegan mushroom risotto this side of an animal product.

Bonus: healthy, tasty and quick, can be stored for a while in the fridge

This amazing aubergine curry (or eggplant curry) is quick, vegan and soooo tasty. Brought to you by the kings of curry.

Bonus: quick, nutritious and healthy

Turkish Lentil Salad with a honey mustard dressing. Easy and quick, ready in 7 minutes. Full of fiber, protein and vitamin K.

Ready in: 25 minutes (only 5 minutes to prepare)
Recipe by: TheCleverMeal
Bonus: delicious, creamy, healthy and easy 🙂

Pasta with chickpeas, in Italian pasta e ceci, is a delicious one-pot family meal ready in less than 30 mins (check out more vegetarian Italian recipes here!). It’s easy, vegan, creamy, healthy, and so good!

Bonus: easy, delicious, full of health benefits, can be stored for a while in the fridge

Who said meat free recipes can’t deliver? This meatless (aka vegan) chili proves that you can still enjoy your favourite meals, but in a new, animal friendly way.

Ready in: 1 hour (20 minutes to prepare)
Recipe by: ThisHealthyKitchen
Bonus: very delicious, nutritious and healthy meal

This chickpea meatloaf is filling and satisfying. Impress your guests with this delicious main course for your next holiday event.

Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: EasyAndDelish
Bonus: quick and tasty, can be stored for a while in the fridge

A vegetarian One Pot Thai Coconut Noodle Soup that can be prepared in just 20 minutes and that makes for a perfect, healthy weeknight dinner. It can be served with any protein of your choice!

Bonus: easy, simple and spicy dinner

We guarantee you’ve never eaten curried potatoes this good – they’re the perfect fusion of Indian curry and Irish ingenuity. They will not be beaten.

Bonus: very quick, simple and delicious soup

Vegetarian Mushroom Soup – Quick, Creamy, Delicious. We sort out the myths from the facts to make sure you get a great soup each and every time.

Recipes without eggs – Desserts & Snacks

Bonus: mega quick, easy, healthy and very delicious

2 Ingredient Peanut Butter. Just peanuts and oil for this natural peanut butter that’s perfect as a sauce or topping. Vegan, healthy and ready in 3 minutes.

Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: RealAndVibrant
Bonus: super quick, delicious and tasty

Enjoy this eggless edible cookie dough recipe by the spoon! It’s simply delicious and made with a handful of whole ingredients, including almond flour and maple syrup. It’s taste, so easy to make, and comes together in minutes!

Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: LimitlessAllergies
Bonus: simple, delicious and healthy snack

This is a quick and easy recipe of oven roasted chickpeas. It is allergy friendly naturally. You can make it as spicy or mild as you want. It is ideal for snacking. You can pack it easily as a school or work snack or even an after school snack.

Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: TheRisingSpoon
Bonus: easy, quick and super tasty 🙂

A quick & easy recipe for homemade buttermilk drop biscuits that are slightly crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with cheddar cheese + garlic flavor! Bake a batch start to finish in 25 minutes with simple ingredients (no rolling or cutting). Pair them with soup, stew, chili, pot pie, or roasted meats (like chicken, ham, or turkey) for the ultimate comfort food meal!

Bonus: quick, delicious, versatile and so good 🙂

Quick White Bean Spread (vegan pâté). A super fast recipe that works as an appetizer, snack or party dip. Surprise your guests with this awesome spread!

And one more snack with eggs:

Bonus: super-quick, high in protein and tasty, great for breakfast, lunch or dinner 😉

These quinoa egg muffins are incredibly high in protein – and super-quick, too! Perfect any time of the day.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of vegetarian lockdown recipes, and we hope you’ve found a few ideas to try out. We’ve tried to use as many staple ingredients as possible – as always, we greatly appreciated feedback so please leave any comments below. Take care!