Are you wanting a new topping for your potatoes that’s both flavorful and protein-rich? Look no further – try these ‘Cheesy’ Vegan Lentil Stuffed Potatoes! Using just 12 ingredients, this plant-based dish comes together in under 30 minutes, and is dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, and can be made gluten-free and soy-free. A key secret ingredient in this recipe? It’s butternut squash! Shredded butternut squash gives this dish the classic ‘cheesy’ look, while still making this dish naturally dairy-free. The seasonings and ingredients all combine well into a delicious and crave-worthy mix that can be enjoyed stuffed into potatoes, or even when combined with a cooked whole grain like brown rice, quinoa or buckwheat.

What I love about this recipe is that each nutrient-packed serving already provides 10 grams of protein, 10 grams of fiber, 4 milligrams of iron, 67 milligrams of vitamin C, 81 milligrams of calcium and 7519 International Units of Vitamin A! If you prefer, this recipe can be made gluten-free if tamari sauce is used instead of soy sauce, and this recipe will be soy-free and gluten-free if coconut aminos is used instead of the soy sauce listed in the ingredients. Make these ‘Cheesy’ Vegan Lentil Stuffed Potatoes to enjoy as a comfort meal on a cold day, meal prep this dish for school or work lunches, or simply have it as a lazy dinner or lunch option!

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‘Cheesy’ Vegan Lentil Stuffed Potatoes
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

A plant-powered dairy-free, egg-free and nut-free dish with a 'cheesy' topping to make for yourself or loved ones to enjoy!

Course: Breakfast, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Vegan
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 258 kcal
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil (or other vegetable oil)
  • 2 cups shredded butternut squash [230g]
  • ¾ cup finely sliced onion pieces [70g]
  • ½ cup finely sliced bell pepper [60g]
  • 4 medium potatoes (baked, steamed or microwaved cooked)
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (use more if desired)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast (preferably vitamin B-12 fortified nutritional yeast)
  • 3 teaspoons soy sauce (or tamari sauce or coconut aminos)
  • 1 cup cooked or canned green or brown lentils [150g]
Optional Mix-Ins or Toppings (For Each Cooked Potato):
  • 1-2 teaspoons non-dairy vegan butter or margarine
  • ½ teaspoon ground flaxseed
  • ¼ cup sautéed chopped kale (or spinach or other leafy green vegetables)
  • 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast  (add more if desired)
Instructions
  1. Cook the potatoes using your desired method (e.g., microwaved, boiled, steamed, roasted or baked). To use the microwave method, pierce each washed potato a few times with a fork, then place the potatoes into a large microwaveable bowl. Add a tablespoon of water, then cover the bowl completely with a plate or another bowl. Microwave on a 'high' setting for 4 minutes, then check to see if the potatoes are cooked (pierce a potato with a fork or knife to see if it goes through easily). If the potato still needs cooking, microwave this potato for a further 1-3 minutes, checking each time, until the potatoes are cooked through. (If you have a small microwave, you may only be able to cook 2 potatoes at a time). Once the potatoes have finished cooking, set them aside to let them cool (don’t slit them yet).

  2. Meanwhile, drain and rinse the canned lentils (if not using cooked lentils), then let the lentils sit for 2-3 minutes in a fine mesh strainer or colander to remove any excess liquid. (Note: if you are using home cooked lentils, then after the lentils are drained, mix a cup’s worth of the home cooked lentils with an additional ½ teaspoon of soy sauce (or tamari sauce or coconut aminos) in a small bowl and let this sit to marinate for at least 5 minutes, or until it is used later in this recipe.) However, if you are using regular canned green or brown lentils, you would not need to marinate these lentils with soy sauce, as the canned lentils already contain salt.

  3. Next, wash a small butternut squash well, before cutting it into half. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds inside, then use a fruit peeler to remove the thin outer skin.

  4. After this, grate the exposed butternut squash flesh using a large holed grater or shredder to get 2 cups’ worth for the recipe. (If there is any remaining unused butternut squash left, you can use plastic wrap to cover this unused portion, and store it for at least a few days in the fridge for later use in another recipe.)

  5. In a separate bowl, mix the butternut shreds with a tablespoon of onion powder, ½ teaspoon of balsamic vinegar, ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper, 2 teaspoons of nutritional yeast and 3 teaspoons of soy sauce (or tamari sauce or coconut aminos). Combine well and let this mixture sit to marinate for at least 5 minutes.

  6. Meanwhile, slice the onion and bell pepper into thin strips, then heat a large skillet on medium heat with a teaspoon of oil. Tilt the pan a few times to coat the bottom of the pan well with the oil.

  7. When the oil is heated, add in the finely sliced onions and bell peppers and sauté this mixture for 5 minutes, or until the onion slices are soft and translucent. Stir frequently to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

  8. Now add the grated butternut squash mixture to the skillet and stir well to combine all the contents together. Then let this mixture cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent the contents from sticking to the bottom of the skillet. Turn down the stove heat setting if needed.

  9. 9. After the 5 minutes, taste and adjust seasonings further as needed for the combined skillet mixture. Then move this mixture to one side of the skillet, and place the lentils on the other side of the skillet to heat through (about 1-2 minutes).

  10. Now slit open the cooked potatoes, then mash up the inside of the potatoes with a fork (you can add in 1-2 teaspoons of unsweetened or original flavored fortified plant-based milk to each potato while mashing if the potato flesh is too dry to mash well).

  11. Next, fill each potato with 1/4 cup of the heated cooked or canned lentils. If you like, you can mix in other additions into the lentil and mashed potato filling for each potato, such as more nutritional yeast, a little vegan butter, sautéed kale and/or a ½ teaspoon of ground flaxseed.

  12. Finally, place the seasoned cooked butternut squash mixture on top of each stuffed potato. These stuffed potatoes are ready to be devoured!

Recipe Notes

If you have time, cooking the sliced onions longer until they become caramelized will add even more flavor to your dish.

 

Add other spices/flavorings if desired. The nutritional yeast (if fortified with vitamin B-12) would be a great source of vitamin B-12, and also contributes to a ‘cheesy’ flavor in the baked potato.

 

For an oil-free recipe, use 2-3 tablespoons of a vegetable broth (more if needed) in a heated skilled to cook the onions, butternut squash and bell pepper slices.

Nutrition Facts
'Cheesy' Vegan Lentil Stuffed Potatoes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 258 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 414mg18%
Potassium 1270mg36%
Carbohydrates 54g18%
Fiber 10g42%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 7519IU150%
Vitamin C 67mg81%
Calcium 81mg8%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Our family, from youngest to oldest, love having these for lunch and I have even made these for my husband to bring to work. Feel free to double the amount made for this vegan, dairy-free, egg-free and nut-free dish as the leftover topping mixture can be enjoyed in another sitting or even frozen to be eaten at a later date. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as our family does!

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