Do you avoid meat on Fridays during Lent? You need a list of meatless meals for Lent at your fingertips to make it easy. Luckily, that’s just what I have for you.
I have a complicated relationship with Lent. You see, I grew up Presbyterian but went to Catholic school from kindergarten through 12th grade. Lots of things were the same, but lots of things were different, including how to celebrate the Lenten season. As a kid, one of the most obvious differences during Lent was the food. The Presbyterian church doesn’t really have food rules during Lent, but the Catholic church does. Chief among them is that you aren’t supposed to eat meat on Fridays during Lent.
As an adult, I no longer have anything to do with the Catholic church, but no-meat Fridays seemed to have been burned into my soul. If you’re a Catholic or you just follow the rule of meatless meals for Lent and you typically eat meat, it can be hard to think of things to eat on Fridays. My default has always been grilled cheese and tomato soup. Although this is certainly a good option, maybe you don’t want to eat the same thing every Friday until Easter.
If this sounds about right, I’ve made a list of meatless meals for Lent that you can turn to all season long. I’ve tried to go for variety here. This list includes comforting favorites, meatless spins on carnivore staples, and interesting meals that might pique your interest. I hope you can find a few good options for your Friday meals!
Meatless Meals for Lent
Grilled cheese & soup
My childhood go-to Lenten meal was always grilled cheese and soup, almost always tomato soup. This was an easy Friday dinner and an offering at the Catholic school cafeteria every Friday during Lent. A grilled cheese usually looked like two pieces of white bread with American or cheddar cheese and the soup was the condensed version. And guess what? There is nothing wrong with a basic grilled cheese and tomato soup as a staple on your list of meatless meals for Lent. If you want to stick with this childhood favorite, but plus it up a bit, here are a few ways you can make a grilled cheese and soup a little bit fancier.
Grilled cheese
Want to make a grilled cheese a little bit more exciting? Consider adding some other meatless ingredients to put it over the top.
Tomatoes – fresh or jam
Apples
Fruit preserves – might I recommend fig?
Caramelized onions
Herbs
Fancy bread – seeded varieties, sourdough, rye
Extra cheese – Gruyere, Fontina, Brie
Soup
Grilled cheese loves tomato soup, sure, but don’t feel limited to tomato soup from a can when you’re planning your meatless meals for Lent.
Pizza
Another classic meatless meal for Lent is pizza. A lot of us really like meat-heavy pizzas, but there are some absolutely delicious meat-free pizza options as well. I’ve made a whole blog post about pizza topping ideas, and there is a whole category in that post for vegetarian options. I’ll share some of my favorites here in case you don’t want to click over to read that whole post.
Pesto pizza
Vodka sauce with fresh mozzarella
White pizza with spinach
Margherita
Fig and goat cheese
Fish
When most of you think of meatless meals for Lent, you probably think of fried fish. And look, I love a good church fish fry as much as the next guy. If you’re jonesing for some fried fish during Lent, I highly suggest patronizing your local church. If you’re looking to have fish at home during Lent, skip the mess of frying and go with something a little more interesting.
Fish tacos – use a cast iron pan on the grill to skip the stinky house side-effect
Fish sticks – not just for the kids, but they love these!
Pasta
Especially if you’re feeding kids, pasta will be your best friend if you’re looking for meatless meals for Lent. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like pasta, and there are so many absolutely delicious meat-free options! The world is truly your oyster when it comes to meatless pasta dishes, but I’ll share some of my favorites to get you started.
Lasagna roll-ups – My kids’ #1 requested dinner.
Pesto pie – A little labor intensive, but so absolutely satisfying.
Cacio e pepe – I love when I can find a way to satisfy my cottage cheese obsession while eating one of my favorite meals. This isn’t authentic, but it’s easy.
Butternut squash tortellini – The classic flavor combo of brown butter and sage tossed with tortellini and butternut squash. It’s as good as you think it will be.
Gnocchi
If you want something pasta-adjacent, gnocchi is a great choice. Just like pasta, there are a ton of delicious meat-free gnocchi recipes that will provide hearty and satisfying meatless meals for Lent.
Tomato basil gnocchi
Dump uncooked gnocchi, halved grape tomatoes, olive oil, pesto, and traditional Italian seasonings on a sheet pan and toss to combine. Roast at 425°F for 20-25 minutes, top with Parmesan cheese, and enjoy!
Sundried tomato gnocchi
This sundried tomato gnocchi is the definition of comfort food. There will be no leftovers if you make this.
Lemon pesto burrata gnocchi
If you aren’t in a tomato mood, this lemon pesto burrata gnocchi is bright, creamy, and the perfect early Spring meal.
Burgers
Just because you need meatless meals for Lent doesn’t mean you have to give up burgers on Friday nights. There are lots of meatless burgers that hit the spot too!
Black bean burger
My favorite black bean burger is smoky and packed with corn. It doesn’t taste like a regular hamburger, but it is its own kind of delicious.
Salmon burgers
My husband likes a salmon burger occasionally. It can make a nice meatless swap when you want something that you can sink your teeth into.
Enchiladas
My go-to enchiladas are of the chicken variety, but I have had several meatless enchiladas that rival them for top spot in my enchilada-loving heart. I crave two meatless enchilada recipes in particular, especially on Fridays during Lent.
Spinach enchiladas
I discovered these spinach enchiladas when I was cooking for a friend of my husband’s who happened to be a vegetarian. I was meeting him for the first time and trying to make a good impression. Lucky for me, I picked a great recipe. I’ve been making these for a solid decade and they never disappoint.
Butternut squash & black bean enchiladas
You definitely won’t miss the meat in these butternut squash & black bean enchiladas. They’re so hearty and delicious!
Quiche
Quiche is a dish I go back to time and time again. It’s easy to make, super customizable, and my kids love it. Although some of the quiche recipes I make often include meat, many of them don’t so they make great meatless meals for Lent that I know everyone will happily eat.
White pizza frittata
Want all the flavors of pizza with an extra hit of protein? This white pizza frittata (close enough to a quiche) is for you! This is one of my son’s top five favorite things I make, so your kids might like it too.
Pimento cheese quiche
I was so pleasantly surprised by this pimento cheese quiche the first time I made it. My kids inhale this, and my husband and I love it too. Especially if you have some Southern in you, give this a try.
Other posts
Looking for more meal inspiration? I’m full of easy, tasty ideas!
I hope this list of meatless meals for Lent helps you celebrate this special season a little bit more peacefully. What are you making on Fridays for the next several weeks? Please share below or over on Instagram @sarainseason.