15 Vegetarian Whole30 + Paleo Recipes to Make Your Meatless Monday Dreams Come True (2024)

You might think vegetarian and Whole30 sort of cancel each other out, with ancestral diets like Paleo emphasizing grass-fed meats and vegetarians avoiding them. But when you imagine what our “ancestors” probably really ate, of course it would have been a plant-based diet. Abundant fruits and veggies are something both eating philosophies have in common. Grains and legumes — go-tos for many vegetarians — are out, but friendly starches like potatoes, yams, cassava and plantains are in, and they’re both tasty *and* filling. Also, if you’re not straight-up vegan-Paleo, you can get your protein from eggs and fish. Starting to sound deliciously doable? Here are 15 Whole30-friendly recipes that’ll have you saying: “I’ve got this!”

1. One-Pot Zucchini Pasta: With summer produce in abundance, this zoodle one-pot dish comes together so easily. It’s light and healthy and bursting with flavor — and cleanup is a breeze. (via Making Thyme for Health)

2. Tomato Mushroom Spaghetti Squash: Spaghetti squash is a tasty, gluten-free alternative to pasta, and this garlic sauce is to die for. Leave out the optional sprinkle of Parm (obvi), and it’s totally vegan-Paleo as well. (via What a Girl Eats)

3. Cauliflower Fried Rice: Soy sauce is out on Whole30, but coconut aminos to the rescue! With lots of veggies and ribbons of scrambled egg, this fried rice tastes just like the real deal. (via Little Bits of…)

4. Whole30 Potatoes With Rosemary: Is there anything more satisfying than thinly sliced potatoes? Serve this up with grilled salmon or a side of eggs, and you’ve got a totally tasty meal. (via Bravo for Paleo)

5. Carrot Ribbons With Rosemary Butter Sauce: You don’t need any fancy equipment to make carrot ribbons. Just grab a vegetable peeler and go for it. These steamed sweet carrots smothered in butter will make you happy you did. (via Do You Even Paleo?)

6. Caramelized Onion Butternut Squash Crustless Quiche: If your mornings go from zero to 60 in the time it takes you to hit the alarm button, you need this quiche in your life right now. Make it on Monday and you can heat up a slice each day for breakfast. Nothing could be easier. (via Physical Kitchness)

7. Creamy Spinach Sweet Potato Noodles With Cashew Sauce: Sweet potatoes make the most delicious vegetable noodles around, and these pair so well with the cashew cream sauce. Even the staunchest carnivores in the house will be begging for seconds. (via Pinch of Yum)

8. Kale and Butternut Squash Breakfast Bowl: Breakfast is the first opportunity of the day to get your veggies in. Get it done the easy way with this delicious kale and butternut squash breakfast bowl. (via The Organic Dietitian)

9. Whole30 Pina Colada Coleslaw: Finding a Whole30-compliant mayo for your cole slaw can be quite the quest — most of us resort to making our own. But this slaw has a simple dressing that calls for coconut milk, pineapple juice and tangy apple cider vinegar that gives shredded cabbage some serious *YUM*. (via Physical Kitchness)

10. Whole30 Potato Salad: If there was ever a Whole30 comfort food, this is it! Take it to your next potluck and it will be the star of the side dishes table. (via Tastes of Lizzy T.)

11. Roasted Vegetables Breakfast Hash: A common challenge of Whole30 is finding new ways to get your protein, and these caramelized roasted root vegetables pair perfectly with scrambled eggs. Make them ahead and they’ll keep well in the fridge, so you can warm them up as you need them. (via What’s Ur Home Story)

12. Cauliflower Rice Tabbouleh: If you haven’t discovered riced cauliflower yet, you’re in for a treat. This delicious dish features all of the same lemon and fresh herb flavor you expect in a tabbouleh, with double the dose of veggies. (via Wholesomelicious)

13. Cauliflower Pizza Bites: If you’re missing pizza, you’ll love these baby quiches, and the recipe could not be easier. Just whip some eggs in a bowl and toss in your favorite pizza mix-ins. Serve with a marinara dipping sauce and you’ll taste yummy pizza flavor in every bite. (via Wicked Spatula)

14. Ratatouille: This time of year, the green market is overflowing with zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes, so take advantage. Slice them thin and layer them like a rainbow. Smothered in your fave marinara, they’ve got that authentic Italian taste that really delivers. (via A Clean Bake)

15. Paleo Eggs in Hell: There are a billion and one versions of this dish floating around, but many require a ton of ingredients. This recipe calls for canned tomatoes, eggs, onions and seasoning. Done and done. (via Wicked Spatula)

Looking for more healthy + vegetarian recipe ideas? Follow us on Pinterest!

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Sally Jones

Sally Jones is a writer and editor living in New York City. She has worked at many websites including iVillage, Ladies Home Journal, More, Parenting, Cosmopolitan, The Knot and YourTango, in jobs ranging from editor to COO. Renovation and interior design are her

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15 Vegetarian Whole30 + Paleo Recipes to Make Your Meatless Monday Dreams Come True (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat cucumbers on Whole30? ›

Pickled Cucumbers are a great condiment! With this quick and easy pickled cucumber recipe, you will want to keep these well-stocked in your refrigerator for all your Whole30 meals. They are a great way to use up all those summer kitchen garden cucumbers, and you can enjoy this dish well into winter.

Can you eat carrots on Whole30? ›

Although sweet and regular potatoes are commonly used to make fries, carrots make an excellent alternative. They contain fewer calories and carbs than potatoes, so they're great for people on low carb diets following Whole30 ( 11 , 12 ).

What is Whole30 vegetarian? ›

What is the Plant-Based Whole30? The Plant-Based Whole30 is a 100% plant-based version of our original 30-day reset, designed for vegans, vegetarians, and anyone curious about adopting a plant-based diet. The program combines the proven benefits of an elimination diet with the science of behavior change.

Can you eat eggs on Whole30? ›

Foods allowed on the Whole30 diet mostly consist of minimally processed foods, including: Meat, eggs, and poultry: beef, veal, pork, horse, lamb, chicken, turkey, duck, etc. Fish and seafood: fish, anchovies, shrimp, calamari, scallops, crab, lobster, etc. Fruits: fresh and dried fruits.

Is olive oil allowed on Whole30? ›

Extra virgin olive oil is approved and Whole30 compliant. Regular olive oil (aka pure olive oil) and light tasting oil are also approved by the authors. While on the Whole30 plan, you should avoid most packaged salad dressings and mayonnaise. Most of these products are made with seed oils and are not compliant.

Is butter OK on Whole30? ›

Clarified butter and ghee are the only sources of dairy allowed during your Whole30, as they've had their milk solids rendered out. Plain old butter is not allowed, as its milk proteins could impact the results of your program.

Are bananas OK for Whole30? ›

What about bananas? Yes, both pickles and bananas are allowed on Whole30. Yet if they are a potential trigger food for you (for instance, the sweetness of bananas sets off a craving for other treats or makes you want to binge on the fruit), then you may consider including them on your “don't eat” list.

Can you eat bacon Whole30? ›

Bacon can be a delicious addition to your Whole30 meals, but you'll need to find bacon without added sugar. Look for Whole30 Approved sugar-free bacon from Applegate, ButcherBox, or Pederson's Natural Farms.

Why are there no beans on Whole30? ›

Whole30 doesn't allow beans based on the idea that they contain "anti-nutrients" like phytates. Phytates are compounds found in plants that can potentially block the body's absorption of important minerals like magnesium, iron, and calcium.

Can I eat tofu on Whole30? ›

Is soy allowed on Whole30? Soy is not allowed on the regular Whole30, but minimally processed forms of soy are allowed on the Plant-Based Whole30 – like tofu, tempeh, natto, and miso. Soy sauce and tamari are not allowed.

Can I eat lentils on Whole30? ›

On the Whole30 diet, you can't have: dairy (say good-bye to cheese), legumes (so no beans, pea, chickpeas, lentils peanuts or peanut butter, soy sauce, tofu, and anything else soy-related), grains (wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, and even gluten-free grains like quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth), added sugars (from ...

Are pickles OK on Whole30? ›

Yes, both pickles and bananas are allowed on Whole30.

What foods are off limits on Whole30? ›

For 30 days, you will cut out all grains, legumes, soy, dairy, alcohol, added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and processed foods containing any of these ingredients; and load up on all sorts of vegetables, fruits, eggs, quality meats and fish, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats.

Can you have Siete chips on Whole30? ›

For most of us, salty, crunchy chips are a bonafide food-with-no-brakes, because these foods were designed to promote overconsumption. For that reason, do not consume any starchy chips during your Whole30 elimination, including potato, sweet potato, tortilla, plantain, cassava, or taro chips.

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