25 Easy and Delicious Vegetarian Recipes

September 11, 2020
Caitlin Bensel
These easy vegetarian recipes are sure to impress even the biggest meat lover. Whether you're in the mood for a healthy twist on classic comfort food (this Extra-Crispy Veggie-Packed Pizza and this Roasted Veggie Mac and Cheese never fail to impress) or a simple meatless soup or stew (may we recommend this 6-ingredient vegetarian chili?), we've got the easy vegetarian recipes you're looking for.       
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Vegetarian Burrito Bowls

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps
Vegetarian Burrito Bowls Recipe

These easy, delicious veggie bowls can be on your table in less time than it takes to drive to the local taco joint.

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Extra-Crispy Veggie-Packed Pizza

Caitlin Bensel
Extra-Crispy Veggie-Packed Pizza Recipe

Our taste testers loved this pizza’s crunchy crust and zingy zucchini salad, but the real hero was the halloumi—a dry, salty cheese similar to feta (which you could sub if you can’t find halloumi). Sodium amounts vary among brands, so check the label.

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Cauliflower Masala with Tofu

Photo: Romulo Yanes
Cauliflower Masala with Tofu Recipe

Try an Indian-inspired meatless dish for dinner tonight. We suggest serving with lime wedges and warm naan.

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Avocado and Marinated Zucchini Veggie Sandwich

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Adam Dolge
Avocado and Marinated Zucchini Veggie Sandwich Recipe
Incredibly colorful and packed full of flavor, this loaded veggie sandwich is something to behold. Amping up store-bought hummus with avocado makes for an insanely tasty spread that you can use on all sorts of sandwiches throughout the week while marinating the raw zucchini slices softens is crunch and infuses it with flavor.

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Risotto Primavera

Photo: Whitney Ott; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Risotto Primavera Recipe
Upgrade option: Soak 1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms in 1/2 cup boiling water for 10 minutes. Reserve the liquid, and add to stock in place of water; cook porcini with button mushrooms.

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Cheesy Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Victoria Cox
Cheesy Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
With ricotta and parmesan, this cheesy pasta dish is a weeknight favorite.
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Veggie Bowl with Tofu Scramble

Jennifer Causey
Veggie Bowl with Tofu Scramble Recipe

Last night’s soup powers this morning’s breakfast; just cook off most of the liquid to give the soup a porridge-like texture. The seasoned, sautéed tofu is just about a dead ringer for scrambled eggs, especially if you opt to add golden turmeric.

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Roasted Veggie Mac and Cheese

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
Roasted Veggie Mac and Cheese Recipe
Freshly grated cheese—not preshredded—is key to achieving the creamiest sauce. The anti-caking ingredients in preshredded cheese make your sauce less creamy.

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Easy Butternut Squash Casserole

Photo: Alison Miksch; Food Styling: Mary Clair Britton and Kady Wohlfarth; Prop Styling: Prissy Lee
Easy Butternut Squash Casserole Recipe

This delightful twist on sweet potato casserole is sweet, warm, and comforting. If you're short on time, use Whole Foods' canned butternut squash purée instead of roasting your own. Marshmallows are optional, but recommended. 

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Vegetarian Asian Lettuce Wraps 

Sara Tane
Vegetarian Asian Lettuce Wraps  Recipe
Crisp lettuce wraps make for a light and delicious dinner that comes together quickly. This recipe features hearty mushrooms and vegetarian ground beef for the filling, and spices things up with bold, Asian-inspired flavors.

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Get Crispy Veggie Quesadillas in an Air Fryer

Karen Rankin
Get Crispy Veggie Quesadillas in an Air Fryer Recipe
Filling but not heavy, air fryer quesadillas make a quick and satisfying weeknight supper. Black beans bring protein and fiber to the party; peppers and zucchini bring color, crunch, and up your daily veggie count.

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Quick and Easy Meatless Chili

Quick and Easy Meatless Chili Recipe
This 6-ingredient meatless chili is about as simple as it gets: Just combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer. What else could you want in a quick and easy dish?
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Spaghetti with Vegetarian “Meat” Sauce 

Sara Tane
Spaghetti with Vegetarian “Meat” Sauce  Recipe
There’s nothing more comforting than a warm bowl of meaty, cheesy pasta. This version is just as meaty as its beef-based counterpart, but uses vegetarian ground “beef” in place of the animal protein. We mixed in fresh spinach for added veggie goodness, and portobello mushrooms for a next-level umami flavor and meaty texture.

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Baked Ziti and Summer Veggies

Photo: John Autry and Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr
Baked Ziti and Summer Veggies Recipe

Add pops of color to this 40-minute baked ziti with summer veggies like squash, zucchini, and tomato.

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Asian Stir-Fry Quinoa Bowl

Photo: Squire Fox; Styling: Carla Gonzales-Hart
Asian Stir-Fry Quinoa Bowl Recipe
A stir-fry quinoa bowl brimming with fresh veggies and tofu is a healthy replacement for the days you just can't kick the craving for takeout.
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Vegetarian Chipotle Nachos

Susan Byrnes
Vegetarian Chipotle Nachos Recipe
Meatless soy crumbles are an easy replacement for ground beef in Tex-Mex dishes like nachos, tacos, and burritos. Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce add a rich smokiness to these main dish nachos.

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Black Bean Burrito Bake

Photo: Lee Harrelson
Black Bean Burrito Bake Recipe
Try this vegetarian version of a favorite Mexican dish. Chopped chipotle chiles add smoky heat to the filling, made from black beans, corn, and sour cream.

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Grilled Eggplant Provolone

Photo: James Baigrie
Grilled Eggplant Provolone Recipe
If you're tired of eggplant parmesan, liven up your dinner table with this grilled variation, complete with homemade Grilled Salsa.
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Chili-Glazed Tofu over Asparagus and Rice

Randy Mayor; Jan Gautro
Chili-Glazed Tofu over Asparagus and Rice Recipe
Pack healthy protein, green veggies, and brown rice into one meal with this five-star tofu dish.

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Summer Veggie Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Summer Veggie Salad Recipe

If meatless Monday is part of your weekly menu, try Summer Veggie Salad. Pine nuts and Manchego cheese add protein to the salad. You can swap in less-expensive walnuts and Parmesan, if desired.

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Black-Eyed Pea Cakes with Adobo Cream

Photo: Beau Gustafson; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Black-Eyed Pea Cakes with Adobo Cream Recipe
Dishes made mainly from legumes, like black-eyed peas, are easy on the pocketbook and nutritious to boot. Serve with rice and basil-topped sliced tomatoes.
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Grape Tomato, Olive, and Spinach Pasta

Photo: Jason Wallis; Styling: Cindy Barr 
Grape Tomato, Olive, and Spinach Pasta Recipe
We love small, sweet grape tomatoes in this quick meatless pasta dish, but you can sub cherry tomatoes or larger tomatoes that have been seeded and diced.

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Two-Tomato, Basil, Goat Cheese Frittata

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Two-Tomato, Basil, Goat Cheese Frittata Recipe
Juicy grape and plum tomatoes combine with fresh basil and creamy goat cheese for a wow-worthy breakfast or brunch dish.

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Greek Eggplant Skillet Dinner

Caitlin Bensel
Greek Eggplant Skillet Dinner Recipe
Protein-rich tofu teams up with meaty eggplant in this Greek-inspired skillet supper. Pick up San Marzano tomatoes if you can find them; their sweet flavor and low acidity balance the flavors of this dish.
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