Here are a few delicious meatless meals for Lent that are family-friendly and won’t break the bank. These are great options if you have one or more teens at home because they can easily make these recipes themselves.
This list of meal ideas includes pasta dishes as well as recipes made with eggs, cheese, and seafood. They are all suitable to make during the Lenten season – or any time of the year.
I also added a few classic breakfast favorites that are perfect for lunch, dinner, or brinner!
For families with picky eaters – like mine – or teens who love to cook, getting them involved in the preparation makes such a difference to their enjoyment of the meal.
Just one quick note before we dive in: This post includes affiliate links. If you decide to buy anything through my links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!
Pasta Dishes Are Easy Meatless Meals for Lent
There is not much that goes down as well as a simple pasta dish, loaded with flavor and tossed in a tasty sauce.
Cheesy Baked Ziti
This is the ultimate in a cheesy, golden, delicious baked pasta. Your kids will love the dreamy combination of marinara and ricotta cheese!
Steps:
- Cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions.
- Mix cooked pasta with marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, and shredded mozzarella.
- Top with grated Parmesan cheese and bake until bubbly and golden brown.
Note: the exact amounts of pasta, sauce, and cheese vary depending on how much ziti you want to make. Typically, though, I use 1 lb of ziti, 2 26-oz jars of sauce, a 16-oz container of ricotta, and a 16-oz bag of mozzarella.
Pasta Primavera
Primavera means “spring” but this veggie dish could be served at any time of the year. It’s made with simple ingredients and you can easily swap out the veggies for any other your family likes.
Steps:
- Sauté a variety of vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli in olive oil.
- Toss cooked pasta with sautéed vegetables, a splash of lemon juice, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
This meal is so simple. Pair it with a fresh green salad or this 3-ingredient appetizer.
Steps:
- Toss cooked pasta with homemade or store-bought pesto sauce.
- Add halved cherry tomatoes and grated Parmesan cheese for a burst of flavor.
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (Garlic and Oil)
You’ve got to try this easy-to-make pasta. It is so delicious!
- Cook spaghetti according to package instructions.
- When pasta is almost ready, sauté chopped garlic in olive oil until golden brown. Be careful not to burn it!
- Drain water from the pasta using a colander and put back in pot. Remove garlic from oil – unless you or your kids like chewing on garlic – and add the garlic-infused oil to the pot with pasta. Give a quick stir and serve.
Fettuccini Alfredo
I love creamy pasta dishes but this one is actually one of my daughter’s favorite meals.
Steps:
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
- To make the sauce, melt the butter, and add heavy cream to bring it to a simmer. Let it cook for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in grated Parmesan cheese into the cream and butter mixture. Continue to stir until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain it well and add it directly to the saucepan with the Alfredo sauce. Toss the pasta gently in the sauce until it’s well coated.
Gnocchi And Tomato Sauce
I love gnocchi but will likely never make it from scratch. I found a brand on Amazon that tastes just like homemade.
My kids love to eat gnocchi simmered in my simple tomato sauce.
Steps:
- Cook the gnocchi according to the package instructions until they float to the surface, typically about 2-3 minutes.
- You can use your favorite sauce – just make sure it is heated through before tossing in the gnocchi.
Three-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
To make this meal a little special – top it with a layer of breadcrumbs!
Steps:
- Combine cooked macaroni with cheddar, mozzarella, and Gruyere cheese sauce.
- Bake until golden and bubbly for a comforting meal.
Cheese Ravioli or Tortellini
Ravioli and tortellini look and taste special occasion-worthy, yet it takes under five minutes to prepare either of these delicious pastas.
Steps:
- Cook ravioli or tortellini according to their package instructions.
- Serve with your favorite pasta sauce.
Recipes with Eggs
Eggs are such a great way to add protein to a meal. They are a quick and easy to make and budget-friendly too. Here are a bunch of my family’s favorite egg dishes:
Pepper and Egg Sandwich
This is a classic sandwich with a super simple and versatile filling.
Steps:
- Sauté sliced bell peppers – any color you like, I prefer green – in a pan with a little olive oil or butter until a little soft.
- Season with salt and black pepper.
- Beat the eggs in a bowl, add a splash of milk, then add to the pan with the peppers.
- Cook as if you were making scrambled eggs.
- Fill a French roll, hoagie bun, pita bread, or even tortilla with the pepper and egg mixture.
Vegetable Frittata
This tasty meal falls somewhere between an omelet and a quiche.
Steps:
- Whisk eggs with milk, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the egg mixture into a greased skillet and add sautéed vegetables like spinach, bell peppers, and mushrooms.
- Sprinkle grated cheese on top and bake until set.
- Or you can do what my mom does and carefully FLIP IT – like a pancake – to cook the other side. I will write a separate post on how she makes a frittata.
Spanish Tortilla
This is a great option if you have leftover cooked potatoes from the night before!
Steps:
- Cook sliced potatoes and onions in olive oil until tender.
- Pour beaten eggs over the potatoes, cook until set, then sprinkle with grated cheese.
Eggs In Purgatory
Here is my adaption for eggs in purgatory.
Instead of poached eggs, this is how my mom taught me to make this recipe. She prefers the yolk to be cooked through like scrambled eggs, and not “runny”.
- Pour tomato sauce into a pan or skillet and bring to a low boil over medium heat.
- Crack each egg into a bowl and add it to the tomato sauce. If you are confident in your egg-cracking skills and know you won’t get any shells in the sauce, feel free to crack the eggs directly into the pan.
- Optional: Break each yolk so they cook through. If you prefer your eggs to be “sunny side up” you can skip this step.
- Gently stir the eggs into the tomato mixture, using a spatula, until the eggs are cooked to your desired consistency. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes.
Seafood Dinner Ideas
Fish and seafood are the ultimate alternative to meat-based meals. Here are some seafood dinner ideas that are easy enough for teens to make.
Garlic Butter Shrimp
This shrimp dish only takes a few minutes to cook. Keep an eye on the shrimp while cooking. Overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery and difficult to chew.
Steps:
- Sauté shrimp in garlic-infused butter until pink and cooked through.
- Serve over pasta or rice, sprinkled with parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
Lemon Herb Tilapia
Tilapia is a quick-cooking, mild-tasting fish. Most kids love it because it is mild and not overly fishy.
Steps:
- Season tilapia fillets with lemon juice, garlic powder, and dried herbs.
- Bake until flaky and serve with a side of steamed vegetables and rice.
Tuna Melt – Or Just a Sandwich
A tuna melt is so easy to make. But with a few picky eaters in my family, not everyone likes their sandwich made the same way.
Steps:
- Drain canned tuna (we buy this one with olive oil) and add to a bowl with mayonnaise. For one of my sons, this is where it ends for him. He toasts two slices of bread and is content. He opts out of putting cheese on his sandwich.
- Next up: my daughter and me. We toast two slices of bread and put it on a microwave-safe plate. Add the tuna and a slice of American cheese. Put it in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds or until the cheese starts to melt. Enjoy!
- My mom and other son: NO MAYO. They put the drained tuna in a bowl, add Italian giardiniera and halved cherry tomatoes. My mom toasts her bread, my son does not.
Brinner Ideas
Who doesn’t love eating breakfast foods for dinner? They are easy, delicious, and anyone can make them – even kids!
Pancakes, Waffles, and French Toast
Forget breakfast, it is almost like eating dessert for dinner!
Steps:
- Pancakes and waffles come from the same box recipe. Make them according to package instructions using a pan, griddle, or waffle maker.
- For French toast: dip slices of bread in a mixture of eggs and milk. I also sprinkle some ground cinnamon. Cook in a pan or skillet, with melted butter, until golden brown.
- Serve any or all of these with your favorite toppings like maple syrup, fresh fruit, chocolate chips, Nutella, whipped cream, etc.
Options for Picky Eaters
Here are 3 basic recipe ideas for our bundles of joy that refuse to eat what everyone else is eating.
Cheese Pizza
Pretty basic, I know but it is a winner every time and easy enough that my kids can make it themselves.
Steps:
- Provide pre-made pizza crusts, marinara sauce, shredded cheese, and, yes, some vegetable toppings. You never know when they might want to try something different. Some suggestions: sliced (or diced) bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, onion, pineapple (obviously not a vegetable, but some kids love it on pizza).
- Teens can customize their pizzas and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich or Cheese Quesadillas
These are both super simple to make and ready in just a few minutes.
Steps:
- Grilled Cheese: Butter the “outside” of two slices of bread. Put butter-side down in a heated pan or skillet, add one or two slices of cheese. Then, the other slice of bread goes on top with butter-side up. Flip when you see the edges start to turn golden brown.
- Quesadillas: Fill tortillas with your favorite shredded cheese and cook in a skillet until crispy and the cheese is gooey. You could also put them on a microwave-safe plate and cook for 15-20 seconds on each side.
BONUS MEAL
Baked Potato
This one is technically a side dish but can be made into a full meal, depending on the toppings you add. It doesn’t fit in any of the food categories above but is still very easy to make.
Steps:
- Preheat oven to at least 375 degrees.
- Wash and dry your potatoes. One of my kids eats the whole thing – skin and all. Everyone else only eats the fluffy insides.
- Tightly wrap potatoes in aluminum foil.
- Bake for about an hour. Potatoes are ready when you can give them a quick “squeeze” – use a pot holder or oven mitt! – or a fork can easily be inserted and taken out.
- Remove the foil and slice open the potatoes, use caution, the steam will be HOT!
- Add your favorite seasonings and toppings such as salt, pepper, butter, cheese, sour cream, broccoli, chives, etc. Anything except meat!
You May Also Like
- Need a unique dessert idea for Easter Sunday? Try making this cupcake cake in the shape of a cross.
- If you are curious, find out why I said I will likely never make gnocchi from scratch.
- This pasta with peas is another easy, meatless meal to make during Lent.
Wrapping It Up
I hope some of these recipes help with planning your meatless meals during Lent. Do you or your kids have a favorite meal without meat?
