You don’t necessarily need meat on your plate to have a filling and satisfying meal. Sometimes all you need are some hearty vegetarian main dishes to complete a meal. This is not only a budget-friendly way to cut down your grocery bill each week, but it’s healthier, too! Best of all, most of these healthy vegetarian recipes are ready in 30 minutes or less!
Serve any of these dishes with some crusty bread or homemade biscuits to fill out the meal!
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Why You Should Be Preparing More Vegetarian-Friendly Foods
There’s no denying the benefits of incorporating more vegetables into your eating regimen. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, fight carcinogens, and decrease digestive problems. It can also positively affect blood sugar levels, which helps regulate appetite.
Vegetables are especially important because they’re naturally low in fructose (aka sugar) and carbohydrates, but rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
I hope this roundup of vegetarian dinner recipes inspires you to prepare more vegetable-centric recipes for your family, both because they taste good and are good for you!
Vegetarian Soup Recipes
Instant Pot Vegetable Soup: Looking for an easy vegetarian recipe to make in the Instant Pot? Then you have to try this soup! It’s a breeze to make and packed with that cooked-all-day flavor we all love in soups, but without the hassle of having to cook it all day. You can make this in just 15 minutes!
Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup: This healthy, yet hearty, soup loaded with tons of your favorite vegetables! Take 15 minutes to prep and let sit in your slow cooker, then come home to a perfect winter soup the whole family will love.
Vegetarian Quinoa Chili: This super healthy chili is loaded with three different types of beans, corn, and quinoa. It’s hearty, thick, filling, and full of flavor. You won’t miss the meat.
Skinny Creamy Broccoli Spinach Soup: This vegetarian main dish recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make and only requires one pot! It’s a light, refreshing healthy soup you can enjoy all year long. Perfect for summer and winter alike!
Creamy Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup: An easy weeknight meal that takes less than 30 minutes to make from start to finish!
Easy Tomato Spinach Tortellini Soup: This dish is a cinch to make and comes together in just 30 minutes. It’s satisfying, healthy, and comforting, especially when the temperatures start to drop!
Vegetarian Pasta Recipes
Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi: All you need is three ingredients – flour, egg and leftover mashed potatoes! Serve them with your favorite tomato sauce, Alfredo, or pesto.
Zucchini “Pasta” with Tomato Sauce: Mixed with a quick and easy homemade tomato sauce, this is a healthy low carb meal that can be made in under 30 minutes. Or try my pesto zoodles recipe with blistered tomatoes!
Mushroom Carbonara: This recipe features rich creamy pasta tossed with mushrooms and fresh parsley. What’s even better is that it’s ready in less than 30 minutes! Serve with a side salad to complete the meal.
Creamy Pesto Risotto: This recipe is super easy to make and fool proof. I’ve included step by step pictures to guide you through making the creamiest pesto risotto ever!
Rainbow Vegetable Noodle Stir Fry: A quick and healthy weeknight dinner that takes less than 20 minutes to make!
Spicy Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese: Made in less than 15 minutes with standard macaroni and cheese ingredients and the addition of tomatoes, jalapeno and pepper jack cheese for some heat.
Vegetarian Sandwiches and Wraps
Grilled Vegetable Panini: This sandwich is loaded with zucchini, bell peppers, and red onion, and then topped with mozzarella and an Italian herb olive oil spread.
20-Minute Rainbow Vegetable Spring Rolls: Colorful and full of flavor, these light spring rolls are served with a sweet and spicy chili sauce and packed with fresh veggies.
Caprese Crostini: Crusty Italian bread slices are layered with homemade pesto, smoked mozzarella, blistered cherry tomatoes, and a homemade balsamic reduction.
Vegetarian Casseroles
Easy Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole: Layered with black beans, corn, green chilies, enchilada sauce and corn tortillas, this is an easy vegetarian meal that’s ready in 40 minutes or less.
Creamy Broccoli Rice Casserole: This dish is made with a rich cheese sauce and loaded with tender broccoli then topped with melty cheddar cheese. Hearty and comforting! Perfect for the holidays or a dinner with family and friends.
Vegetarian Salads
Tomato and Black Bean Quinoa Salad: A light and healthy dish packed with fresh ingredients like sweet corn, tomatoes, black beans, and red onion. Even better, this dish takes less than 30 minutes to make and is both vegan and gluten-free!
Greek Kale Quinoa Salad: Loaded with tons of vegetables and tossed with lemon and olive oil, this Mediterranean quinoa salad makes a great light lunch or healthy dinner. Great for meal-prep!
Mexican Kale Salad: Made with a cilantro lime vinaigrette and loaded with black beans, jalapeno, cotija cheese, corn and red bell pepper.
Watermelon Feta Salad: Loaded with tons of fresh berries and basil, and then drizzled with a simple balsamic vinaigrette, this is the perfect light and refreshing salad.
Serving Suggestions
Pair these vegetarian main dishes with any of these side dishes to complete your meal!
