25+ Vegetarian Dinner Recipes That Don’t Take Forever to Make (2024)

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Kelli Foster

Kelli FosterSenior Contributing Food Editor

Kelli is a Senior Contributing Food Editor for Kitchn. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, The Probiotic Kitchen, Buddha Bowls, and Everyday Freekeh Meals. She lives in New Jersey.

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updated Nov 30, 2023

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Our arsenal of 30-minute meals is your ticket to getting a satisfying dinner on the table, fast, no matter what dietary restrictions you might have. For you vegetarians, here are 25+ veggie-filled weeknight dinners — from stir-fries and curries to pastas and salads— you can get on the table in half an hour or less.

In This Article

  1. Pastas
  2. Soups and Salads
  3. Stir-Fries and Curries
  4. Tortillas and Flatbread
  5. Quick Vegetarian Dinner: Breakfast for Dinner

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Pastas

1

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7

Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi and Veggies

A one-pan dinner of roasted gnocchi and vegetables that doesn't even require you to boil the dumplings.

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2

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7

Tuscan Tortellini Skillet

A quick tomatoey tortellini skillet dinner that calls for just 5 ingredients.

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3

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7

Pasta with Hummus, Olives, Feta, and Red Pepper

A quick vegetarian pasta that's tossed in a creamy hummus sauce and filled with olives, feta, and roasted red peppers.

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4

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7

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Fettuccine

Goat cheese is a one-ingredient shortcut in this seriously decadent sauce and easy weeknight pasta.

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5

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7

Lemony Broccoli Pasta

A weeknight-friendly pasta made with broccoli, peas, and lots of olive oil.

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6

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7

Creamy Tortellini with Sweet Potato and Spinach

The more vegetables you throw into the skillet with your pasta, the better the dish tastes in the end.

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7

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7

Herbed Gnocchi and Mushrooms

If I had to sum up my ideal weeknight dinner, this recipe is as close as it gets.

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Soups and Salads

1

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5

Tomato Tortellini Soup

This creamy, tangy tomato soup is studded with tender tortellini and comes together in just 20 minutes.

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2

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5

Red Lentil Sweet Potato Soup

You only need a handful of pantry-friendly ingredients to make this hearty vegan soup.

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3

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5

Easy Green Minestrone

Here’s an easy minestrone that can be made almost any time of year, as long as you have a few vegetables in the fridge and some broth to cook them in.

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4

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5

Vegetarian Taco Salad

How about a taco salad that really celebrates an assortment of raw, crunchy vegetables? Let’s make a no-lettuce taco salad instead.

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5

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5

Chickpea Waldorf Salad

This simple chickpea Waldorf salad takes a lighter approach with flavors that take you from the warmer weather into fall and winter.

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Stir-Fries and Curries

1

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7

Weeknight Vegetable Stir-Fry

This easy weeknight veggie stir-fry is more template than recipe. Make it once a week to clear out the crisper and ensure you're eating your veggies!

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2

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7

Vegan Stir-Fried Cabbage in Peanut Sauce

In this vegan dish, sweet, tender Napa cabbage simmers in a coconut-peanut sauce. One bite and you’ll wonder why you don’t cook cabbage more often.

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3

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7

Cauliflower Fried "Rice"

This finely chopped cauliflower is one of those cheater ingredients that actually tastes legit.

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4

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7

Weeknight General Tso's Tofu

If you’re tempted to order takeout tonight from your favorite Chinese restaurant, squash that urge and try this sweet and spicy tofu stir-fry instead.

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5

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7

Quinoa Bowl with Kung Pao Edamame

With quinoa, edamame, and peanuts, it’s supremely satisfying, but more importantly this is the most flavorful grain bowl I’ve ever made.

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6

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7

Quick Butternut Squash Curry

Saucy Thai curries always hit the spot, and this one is no different. Store-bought red curry paste instantly infuses the dish with a heap of earthy flavor, while a little extra fresh ginger and garlic add a pungent edge.

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7

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7

In just 30 minutes you’ll have a meal that’s nothing short of hearty, fresh, and satisfying.

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Tortillas and Flatbread

1

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5

Chickpea and Cheddar Quesadillas

To make these quesadillas desk-lunch-friendly, we ditched the wedge cut for a technique that keeps the chickpeas and cheese nestled in a closed tortilla.

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2

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5

10-Minute Black Bean Tacos

You’re starving and cranky and you need dinner fast, after all. Luckily there’s a fourth option: these 10-minute tacos.

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3

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5

Spinach and Refried Bean Quesadillas

Stuffed into quesadillas, adding a much-needed dose of green vegetables to a normally cheese- and meat-heavy dish.

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4

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5

Huevos Rancheros Tacos

Pile cheesy scrambled eggs, roasted red peppers, and black beans and you've got a kid-friendly dinner made in minutes.

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5

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5

Trader Joe's Flatbread Pizza

Easy artichoke, pesto, and spinach flatbread personal pizzas made from Trader Joe's ingredients.

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Quick Vegetarian Dinner: Breakfast for Dinner

1

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3

Spinach and Feta Frittata

This classic spinach and feta frittata is made with fresh greens, cheese, and dill, and is just as delicious straight from the oven as it is chilled.

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2

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3

Mushroom-Asparagus Frittata

It’s a one-skillet meal that’s easy to clean up, and with the perfect combination of protein and vegetables, it’s absolutely satisfying and delicious.

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3

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3

Savory Vegetable Pancakes

These savory vegetable pancakes make an even better (and healthier) treat.

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25+ Vegetarian Dinner Recipes That Don’t Take Forever to Make (2024)

FAQs

What to cook when you don't want to cook vegetarian? ›

No-Cook Vegetarian Dinners
  1. 1 / 10. Mediterranean Chickpea and Feta Wraps. ...
  2. 2 / 10. Vegetarian Taco Salad. ...
  3. 3 / 10. Greek Panzanella. ...
  4. 4 / 10. Tomato Chickpea Salad. ...
  5. 5 / 10. Summer Rolls. ...
  6. 6 / 10. Pesto and Egg Baguette Sandwich. ...
  7. 7 / 10. Anna Jones' Raw Thai Citrus Crunch Salad. ...
  8. 8 / 10. Zucchini Noodles with Tomatoes and Corn.

What are vegetarian foods examples? ›

Vegetarian Diet
  • Rainbow of fruits and vegetables.
  • Whole grains.
  • Nuts and seeds.
  • Beans and legumes.
  • Soy products such as tempeh and tofu and other non-soy meat substitutes.
  • Eggs and dairy products (if you choose to eat them)
  • Extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil and other nut oils.
  • Nutritional yeast.

What do vegetarians eat to replace meat? ›

How to get protein without the meat
  • Pulses. Pulses are an inexpensive protein choice, are high in fibre and a source of iron. ...
  • Soya beans. ...
  • Quinoa. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Seeds. ...
  • Cereals and grains. ...
  • Quorn™ ...
  • Dairy.

What is the easiest meat to eat as a vegetarian? ›

Start with fish and poultry.

Begin with either fish or poultry and work your way up to heavier meats. This gives your body time to adjust so that you won't feel any discomfort. If you do experience discomfort, start even lighter, such as with a chicken broth.

What is the most famous vegetarian dish? ›

Originating in the Middle East, falafel is one the most popular vegetarian foods in the world! As one of the most popular vegetarian foods in the world, falafel needs no introduction! However, the origin of these beloved patties is rather controversial.

What should vegetarians eat most? ›

Planning a healthy vegetarian diet
Food group*Daily amount
Vegetables2 1/2 cups a day
Fruits2 cups a day
Grains (mostly whole)6 1/2 ounces a day
Dairy3 cups a day
4 more rows

What to eat instead of meat? ›

Whole soy foods, such as edamame, tofu, tempeh, soy milk and soy nuts, are great sources of lean protein. Unlike most vegetarian proteins, soy is a complete protein, providing all the essential amino acids for optimal use by your body.

What is a typical vegetarian menu like? ›

What to Eat on a Vegetarian Diet
  • Beans and lentils.
  • Nuts, nut butters and seeds (including chia and flax)
  • Whole grains (quinoa, bulgur, freekeh, whole-wheat, oats, brown rice and more)
  • Soy (tofu, edamame, tempeh)
  • Fruits.
  • Vegetables.
  • Dairy (yogurt, kefir, cheese and milk)
  • Eggs.

What do Americans eat for dinner vegetarian? ›

Classic American Vegetarian Food
  • Southern mac and cheese.
  • Fried green tomatoes.
  • Hush puppies.
  • Red beans and rice.
  • New York pizza.
  • Tomato soup.
  • Classic apple pie.
  • Creamed spinach.
Apr 28, 2023

What sounds good for dinner vegetarian? ›

Easy Vegetarian Dinner Ideas
  • Coconut Curry Ramen. ...
  • Crock-Pot Vegetable Lasagna. ...
  • Roasted Cauliflower Tacos. ...
  • Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta. ...
  • Three-Ingredient Tomato Sauce.

How do you cook when you don't want to cook? ›

You can fill in with salads or fruit or cooked frozen vegetables to make a somewhat balanced meal.
  1. Pasta with Butter and Parmesan Cheese. ...
  2. Rotisserie Chicken. ...
  3. Embellished Baked Potatoes. ...
  4. French Bread Pizza. ...
  5. Bertolli Frozen Penne Pasta with Chicken. ...
  6. Quesadillas. ...
  7. Fried Rice. ...
  8. Amy's Frozen Cheese Enchiladas.
Jan 29, 2023

What are some foods that don't need to be cooked? ›

Lunch or Supper
  • Processed cheese or cheese spreads*
  • Canned vegetables*
  • Peanut butter.
  • Canned meats, fish, poultry*
  • Canned beans (baked beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, etc. )*
  • Raw vegetables, such as carrots, celery, etc.
  • Fruits (canned or fresh)
  • Bread, crackers, cookies.
Jun 3, 2014

How can I eat more vegetables without cooking? ›

Set out guacamole, hummus, or any party dip with ONLY slices of sweet peppers, celery, cucumbers, carrots, blanched broccoli, and other cut-up veg. Since you can't eat dip without a dipper, these nutritious vegetables will disappear quick.

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