The best potato recipes for lunch or dinner range from creamy soups and hearty mains to crispy roasted sides and cool make-ahead salads. Naturally cheap, filling, and available year-round, potatoes are one of the most versatile ingredients you can keep on hand. Below you will find 23 vegetarian and vegan potato dishes, mostly plant-based, that everyone at the table will love. Click any recipe to start cooking.
How to Choose the Right Potato Recipe
Choose your potato recipe by matching the potato variety to the cooking method for the best texture. Starchy potatoes like Russets turn fluffy and are ideal for mashing, baking, and soups, while waxy varieties such as red or new potatoes hold their shape for salads, roasting, and stews. All-rounders like Yukon Gold work almost anywhere. For a light lunch, lean toward soups, tortillas, or salads; for a filling dinner, reach for curries, casseroles, pizzas, or a loaded mashed potato bowl. Consider prep time too, since smashed and roasted potatoes need less hands-on effort than layered bakes.
Jump to a category
Cozy Potato Soups & Stews
Warm up any lunch or dinner with a bowl of creamy, potato-thickened comfort.
Cream of Potato Soup with Carrots
Silky blended potatoes and sweet carrots come together in a velvety bowl that feels indulgent yet stays light. A swirl of herbs and a crack of black pepper finish it beautifully. Blend only half the pot if you want a chunkier, more rustic texture with bites of vegetable throughout.
Get the recipe
Potato Leek Soup
Gently sweated leeks melt into tender potatoes for the classic French bowl that never goes out of style. It is naturally creamy without a drop of cream and tastes even better the next day. Rinse the sliced leeks thoroughly in a bowl of cold water first, since grit loves to hide between the layers.
Get the recipe
Loaded Potato Soup
Everything you love about a loaded baked potato, spooned up hot in one bowl. Think a thick, savory potato base crowned with crispy toppings, green onion, and a smoky finish. For the richest texture, mash some of the cooked potatoes right in the pot and leave the rest in hearty chunks.
Get the recipe
Potato and Carrot Stew with Tarragon
Chunky potatoes and carrots simmer slowly until fork-tender in a fragrant, tarragon-scented broth. It is humble, budget-friendly, and endlessly satisfying over a cold week. Stir in the tarragon during the last few minutes of cooking so its delicate anise aroma stays bright instead of fading away.
Get the recipe
Healthy Vegan Potato Soup
Loaded with leeks, green peas, and a rainbow of vegetables, this brothy potato soup is proof that healthy can taste incredible. A few slices of hot red chili on top wake up every spoonful. Save the starchy potato cooking water and stir a little back in to thicken the soup naturally.
Get the recipe
Hearty Potato Mains for Lunch or Dinner
These filling potato dishes are substantial enough to headline the whole plate.
Potato Curry
Golden potatoes soak up a fragrant, spiced tomato and coconut sauce until every bite is rich and comforting. Serve it over rice or scoop it up with warm flatbread for a satisfying meatless dinner. Cut the potatoes into even cubes so they cook through at the same rate and hold their shape in the sauce.
Get the recipe
Potato Burritos
Soft tortillas wrapped around seasoned, tender potatoes make a portable dinner that fills you up fast. Add beans, salsa, or avocado to build them exactly how you like. Griddle the rolled burritos seam-side down in a dry pan for a couple of minutes to seal them and add a crisp golden exterior.
Get the recipe
Authentic Potato Pizza
Thinly sliced potatoes layered over dough with a luxurious truffle salsa turn a humble tuber into an Italian showstopper. It is crisp at the edges and meltingly soft on top. Slice the potatoes paper-thin with a mandoline so they roast tender in the same time the crust needs to bake.
Get the recipe
Vegan Mashed Potato Bowl
Creamy mashed potatoes form the cozy base for a loaded bowl piled with roasted vegetables, greens, and savory gravy. It is weeknight comfort food that still feels wholesome and balanced. Warm your plant milk before folding it into the potatoes so the mash stays hot and turns extra fluffy.
Get the recipe
Vegetarian Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie
A savory mushroom and vegetable filling tucked under a golden blanket of mashed potatoes, this crowd-pleaser feeds a whole family and wins over picky eaters. It takes a little effort but rewards you with pure comfort. Assemble it a day ahead and refrigerate, then bake straight from the fridge, adding a few extra minutes.
Get the recipe
Baked & Cheesy Potato Bakes
Layered, golden, and bubbling from the oven, these bakes turn potatoes into pure comfort.
Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
This French-inspired Pommes Dauphinoise layers thin potato rounds in a rich, cheesy plant-based sauce that bakes up creamy and golden. It is the ultimate comforting side or meatless main. Let the dish rest for ten minutes after baking so the sauce sets and the layers slice cleanly instead of sliding apart.
Get the recipe
Vegan Potato Tortilla
A completely egg-free take on the Spanish classic, this thick potato tortilla is set with a chickpea-flour batter that turns golden and sliceable. Enjoy it warm or cold for lunch, brunch, or a fancy breakfast. Cook it low and slow, then invert it onto a plate and slide it back to brown the second side evenly.
Get the recipe
Potato Tart with Cheese
Gluten-free and crustless, this potato and cheese tart bakes into a comforting, sliceable round with tender layers and a savory golden top. It works beautifully for lunch, a light dinner, or a picnic. Grease the pan well and line the base with a round of parchment so the crustless tart releases without sticking.
Get the recipe
Famous Crispy Potato Casserole
With just simple seasoning and a good glug of olive oil, this casserole delivers the dreamy combination of soft centers and crackly, crispy edges. It is easy enough for any night of the week. Spread the potatoes in a single layer and avoid crowding the dish so they roast crisp instead of steaming soft.
Get the recipe
Crispy Roasted & Griddled Potatoes
Crank up the crunch with roasted, smashed, and pan-fried potatoes that steal the plate.
Batata Harra | Spicy Roasted Potatoes
These Lebanese-style potatoes are soft inside and crackling crisp outside, tossed with garlic, chili, coriander, and a bright squeeze of lemon. They may just become your favorite way to eat potatoes. Add the fresh herbs and lemon off the heat so the flavors stay vivid and the coriander does not turn bitter.
Get the recipe
Best Smashed Potatoes
Baby potatoes are boiled until creamy, smashed flat, then roasted hot until the craggy edges shatter into golden crisps. They are the ultimate cross between a roast potato and a chip. Press down gently with the bottom of a glass, and let them dry in the oven for a minute before adding oil for maximum crunch.
Get the recipe
Lyonnaise Potatoes
A bistro classic from Lyon, these pan-fried potato slices are cooked with sweet caramelized onions and fresh parsley until deeply golden. They make an elegant side for almost any dinner. Parboil the potato slices first so the insides turn tender before the outsides take on that signature crisp, buttery color.
Get the recipe
Potato Pancakes
Grated potato is griddled into crisp, lacy rounds that are golden outside and tender within. Serve them savory with a dollop of dip or alongside a saucy main for a homey meal. Squeeze the shredded potatoes hard in a clean towel to remove as much liquid as possible, the real secret to pancakes that crisp instead of steam.
Get the recipe
Vegan Hasselback Potatoes in Herby Oil
Fanned into thin accordion slices and roasted in fragrant herby oil, these hasselback potatoes are crisp at every edge and soft in the center. They dress up any dinner plate with almost no effort. Set the potato between two chopsticks or wooden spoons while slicing so your knife stops before cutting all the way through.
Get the recipe
Loaded Hash Browns
Shredded potatoes are pressed crisp and piled high with red peppers, green onions, melty vegan cheese, and plenty of seasoning for a hearty plate any time of day. Think brunch meets dinner. Cook the shredded potatoes undisturbed on the first side until deeply browned before flipping, so the crust holds together.
Get the recipe
Potato Salads & Party Plates
Cool, creamy, and make-ahead friendly, these potato salads are built for sharing.
Vegan German Potato Salad
Warm potatoes tossed in a tangy mustard and vinegar dressing give this German-style salad its signature savory bite, with no mayo required. It is fantastic warm or at room temperature next to almost anything. Dress the potatoes while they are still warm so they drink up the tangy dressing and turn extra flavorful.
Get the recipe
Vegan A La Russe Salad | Olivier Salad
This lightened-up vegan Olivier salad folds diced potatoes, peas, carrots, and pickles into a creamy plant-based dressing for the beloved holiday classic. It is a nostalgic party plate everyone reaches for. Chop all the vegetables to a uniform small dice so every forkful is balanced, and chill it well before serving.
Get the recipe
Creamy Potato Salad
A wholesome twist on the picnic favorite, this creamy potato salad leans on avocado for richness and crunchy cucumber for a burst of freshness. It is bright, satisfying, and free of heavy mayo. Toss the warm potatoes with a splash of vinegar first so they absorb seasoning before you fold in the creamy avocado dressing.
Get the recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best potatoes for lunch and dinner recipes? It depends on the dish. Starchy Russets are best for mashing, baking, and soups because they turn fluffy, while waxy red or new potatoes hold their shape in salads, stews, and roasting. Yukon Gold potatoes are a reliable all-purpose choice when you are not sure.
Are potato recipes healthy? Potatoes are naturally fat-free and rich in potassium, vitamin C, and fiber, especially when you leave the skins on. They become less light mainly through deep-frying or heavy toppings, so baking, roasting, boiling, and steaming keep them nourishing and satisfying.
How do I make roasted potatoes extra crispy? Parboil the potatoes first, rough up their edges, then toss them in a little oil and roast in a hot oven on a single, uncrowded layer. The rough surface and the space between pieces let them crisp up instead of steaming soft.
Can I make these potato recipes ahead of time? Yes, many of them. Soups, stews, casseroles, and potato salads all keep well and often taste better the next day. You can assemble bakes like scalloped potatoes or shepherd’s pie a day ahead, then bake or reheat them just before serving.
What should I serve with potato dishes for dinner? Pair heavier potato mains with a fresh green salad or a simple vegetable to balance the plate. Lighter potato soups and tortillas go well with crusty bread, while roasted or smashed potatoes make an easy side for almost any main course.
How should I store leftover cooked potatoes? Cool them quickly and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three or four days. Reheat roasted and fried potatoes in a hot oven or pan to bring back their crispness, and avoid leaving cooked potatoes at room temperature for long stretches.
