30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (2024)

These vegan and vegetarian dinners will help you shake up your routine and eat healthy at the same time. These heart-healthy recipes are high in fiber and low in saturated fats, so you can have a filling meal that meets your nutrition goals. Plus, they showcase ingredients like beans, lentils, leafy greens and whole grains that can bump up your "good" cholesterol levels and keep your "bad" cholesterol under control. Recipes like our Cauliflower Fajita Skillet and Winter Vegetable Mulligatawny Soup are tasty ways to prioritize your heart health.

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Chickpea Pasta with Mushrooms & Kale

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (1)

Loading up your pasta with vegetables like the kale and mushrooms here is not only delicious, it also makes the meal more satisfying.

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Butternut Squash & Black Bean Enchiladas

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (2)

A crisp, citrusy slaw contrasts nicely with the enchiladas' creamy squash filling.

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Red Lentil Soup with Saffron

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (3)

This hearty red lentil soup uses spices common in Persian cuisine: turmeric, cumin and saffron. Enjoy it with a warm baguette or steamed rice.

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Winter Vegetable Mulligatawny Soup

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (4)

Our meatless version of the Indian-inspired British colonial soup includes parsnip and squash to keep it hearty and satisfying.

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White Bean Soup with Pasta

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (5)

We use mirepoix—a combination of onion, celery and carrots—to flavor this soup. Keep a store-bought bag of the mixture in your freezer to ensure you always have some on hand without worrying about it going bad.

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Cauliflower Fajita Skillet

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (6)

Thinly sliced cauliflower florets mimic the signature shape of fajita meat in this dish. We cook it in a cast-iron skillet for that tableside sizzle you'd get at a restaurant.

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Sheet-Pan Balsamic-Parmesan Roasted Chickpeas & Vegetables

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (7)

A tangy, balsamic dressing and nutty Parmesan cheese combine to coat tender roasted vegetables and chickpeas in this springy vegetarian dinner. To keep it vegetarian, serve it over quinoa or, for meat-eaters, serve with roasted chicken or pan-seared fish.

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Sweet Potato-Black Bean Burgers

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (8)

These vegan sweet potato-black bean burgers spiced with curry powder are easy to make. Blending the mixture with your hands gives you a soft, uniform texture then the outside gets crispy by cooking in a cast-iron pan. To make this recipe gluten-free too, use gluten-free oats and serve the patty in a lettuce wrap, omitting the bun.

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Chopped Veggie Grain Bowls with Turmeric Dressing

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (9)

In about 10 minutes, you can prep a week's worth of lunches using 4 simple ingredients from your local specialty grocery store. To minimize prep, we're taking advantage of prechopped fresh veggie mix and frozen quinoa (which heats in the microwave in under 5 minutes). These crunchy chopped salad bowls are high in fiber but lower in calories, making them perfect for those following a reduced-calorie diet.

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Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (10)

A bold, smoky marinade elevates roasted cauliflower in this meal-prep version of our popular Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Tacos (see Associated Recipes). To cut down on prep time, look for precut cauliflower in the produce department. You can also save time by using microwaveable quinoa pouches (you'll need one 8-ounce pouch for this recipe) instead of cooking quinoa.

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Chickpea & Potato Curry

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (11)

This fast Indian-style curry comes together with ingredients you most likely have on hand, like frozen peas and canned tomatoes and chickpeas. Plus, using these spices shows how simple it is to make a curry sauce for an easy vegetarian recipe. Serve with whole-wheat naan to sop it all up.

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Falafel Burgers

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (12)

Pureed chickpeas, seasoned with the characteristic flavors of falafel, make excellent veggie burgers. We use a two-stage method for cooking the patties, first browning them in a skillet and then finishing them in the oven. Garnish the burgers with tzatziki or tahini sauce (see associated recipes), pickled red onions, lettuce and tomatoes.

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Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (13)

Fresh pasta cooks up faster than dried, making it a must-have for fast weeknight dinners like this luscious yet healthy meal. Eggs are the base of the creamy sauce. They don't get fully cooked, so use pasteurized-in-the-shell eggs if you prefer.

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Tofu Tacos

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (14)

These quick vegan tacos, filled with a spicy tofu filling, make a perfect weeknight dinner. To keep them vegan, top them with shredded cabbage, fresh pico de gallo and guacamole. For vegetarians, add crumbled queso fresco.

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Stuffed Eggplant with Couscous & Almonds

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (15)

Smoky almonds, meaty eggplant and whole-grain couscous with herbs make this meal plenty satisfying. Harissa gives the creamy sauce a little kick.

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Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (16)

Sliced Brussels sprouts and mushrooms cook quickly and cling to the pasta in our fall version of pasta primavera. Look for presliced mushrooms to cut prep time. Serve with a tossed salad.

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Four-Bean & Pumpkin Chili

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (17)

This healthy vegetarian chili has a fragrant touch of cinnamon for added flavor. Let diners top it with whatever suits their taste.

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Roasted Vegetable & Black Bean Tacos

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (18)

These hearty vegan tacos are quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights. They are so tasty no one will miss the meat or dairy.

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Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (19)

Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient lunch for one!

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Sichuan Ramen Cup of Noodles with Cabbage & Tofu

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (20)

The Sichuan province in the southwestern corner of China is known for its fiery dishes. Here, the richness of tahini tempers the spicy chile paste in this cup-of-noodles-style mason jar soup recipe. You can grind the Sichuan peppercorns in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, or crush them with the bottom of a heavy skillet.

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Veggie & Hummus Sandwich

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (21)

This mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables depending on your mood.

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Chickpea & Quinoa Grain Bowl

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It seems grain bowls have as many variations as there are stars in the sky, and there is no wrong way to build one! But we prefer to keep things classic and simple with hummus, quinoa, avocado and loads of veggies!

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Sweet & Savory Hummus Plate

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (23)

Fresh veggies with dip, juicy fruit and even a sweet treat make up this easy-to-make picnic dinner that's great for packing up or enjoying at home. Plus, this combo excludes the most common allergens and food intolerances (it's free from dairy, eggs, soy, nuts and gluten) so just about everyone should be able to enjoy it without worrying.

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Hearty Tomato Soup with Beans & Greens

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (24)

Garlicky kale and creamy white beans elevate simple canned tomato soup into a 10-minute lunch or dinner that really satisfies. Use a soup with tomato pieces for a heartier texture. Look for a brand that's low- or reduced-sodium, with no more than 450 mg sodium per serving.

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Curried Chickpea Stew

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (25)

Who says a meatless meal isn't filling? Packed with fiber-rich vegetables and chickpeas, this fragrant stew satisfies.

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Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (26)

This vegan burger recipe is one you'll want to make again and again. Savory chickpea and zucchini patties are topped with a creamy, herb-flecked tahini ranch sauce, juicy tomato slices and peppery arugula for a satisfying and healthy homemade veggie burger. Serve them on buns or stuff them in pitas. We recommend making extra sauce--it's a great dip for veggie sticks and, thinned with a little water, it makes a wonderful salad dressing.

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Quinoa, Avocado & Chickpea Salad over Mixed Greens

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Protein-rich quinoa and chickpeas add staying power to this zesty and healthy salad recipe.

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Bean & Butternut Tacos with Green Salsa

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (28)

Beans and roasted butternut squash make an outstanding vegetarian taco filling. For the best flavor, use fresh, good-quality chili powder and Mexican oregano. Look for both at Latin markets or in the bulk spice section at well-stocked natural-foods stores.

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Vegetarian Sliders with Black Beans, Chard & Poblanos

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (29)

These vegetarian sliders are filling, flavorful and make for a great protein-packed main dish. Take your time patting the beans dry: it keeps the sliders from falling apart. You can make 8 larger patties, to fit regular-size buns, but try to keep them about 1/2 inch thick so they'll heat through under the broiler without burning.

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Black Bean & Chipotle Tostadas with Creme Fraiche

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30-Day Plant-Based Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan (30)

If you love breakfast burritos or huevos rancheros, you'll love this tostada with seasoned black beans on crispy tortillas with scrambled eggs on top. Pass salsa or hot sauce to go with it.