14 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes to Try Tonight

These vegetarian dinner ideas offer something for everyone!

Courtesy Kiersten Frase

Sloppy Lentils

Sloppy Joe got dumped when Sloppy Jane went meatless in this vegetarian dinner recipe from Oh My Veggies. Protein-rich lentils swirl together with tomato sauce, molasses, and garlic only to be spooned over hamburger buns, or served alongside rice or polenta.

Courtesy cookieandkate blog

Heirloom BLT Salad with Coconut Bacon

Did someone say bacon? Homemade crispy coconut bacon adds a satisfying crunch to this kale salad loaded with whole-grain croutons from the blog Cookie and Kate. (Skip the croutons to make it gluten-free.) Best of all, this vegetarian dinner idea comes together in only 15 minutes’ prep. 

Courtesy Jeanine Donofrio

Spiced Cauliflower “Couscous”

Love & Lemons makes couscous out of pureed cauliflower florets in this inventive vegetarian dinner recipe. Coconut milk, turmeric, curry powder, cinnamon, and salt dress up “riced” cauliflower with a robust sauce.

Courtesy Kiersten Frase

Pizza Quinoa Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms

Portabella mushrooms do double-duty as a pizza “crust” and handy vessel for cheesy-quinoa goodness in these stuffed mushroom caps from Oh My Veggies.

Courtesy Kenan Hill

Goat Cheese Squash Casserole

Add this this casserole from blog Kitchen 1204 to your repertoire, with its top layer of crushed crackers adding texture to the Southern staple that’s been updated to include goat cheese and yogurt.

Courtesy Kiersten Frase

Chickpeas and Dumplings

Chicken and dumplings get a vegetarian makeover in this hearty soup from Oh My Veggies that only requires 15 minutes of prep time. Tender carrots, red potatoes, parsnips, and celery make a nice contrast to firm, flavorful dumplings.

Courtesy Eva Kosmas Flores

Greek Macaroni & Cheese with Roast Garlic and Caramelized Leeks

Traditional mac and cheese gets a Mediterranean infusion from the blog Adventures in Cooking with tangy feta and sun dried tomatoes.

Courtesy Kenan Hill

Quinoa “Fried” Rice with Fried Eggs

Love fried rice? Kitchen 1204 combines protein-rich quinoa with peppers, tomatoes, onions, and squash in this healthy makeover of the classic dish. Top with a fried egg, and for added crunch, garnish with cashews.

Courtesy Eva Kosmas Flores

Smoked Cheddar Grilled Cheese with Granny Smith Apple

Tart Granny Smith apples complement salty, smoky cheddar in this fast grilled cheese sandwich from the blog Adventures in Cooking.

Courtesy Vaishali Honawar

Slow Cooker Lentil Bolognese

If you think going meatless means giving up Bolognese, think again. This vegetarian recipe on Holy Cow Vegan reinvents the classic Italian sauce with lentils, tomatoes, vegetable stock, and herbs, giving the ingredients a chance to harmonize into a thick, savory mixture begging for pasta.

Courtesy Laura Wright

Chili-Lime Cucumber Noodles

A bed of light “noodles” from cucumber ribbons perch on salted watermelon, topped with a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds, chopped mint, and basil in this vegetarian dinner idea from the blog The First Mess.

Courtesy Susan Voisin

Warm Pasta Salad with Roasted Vegetables and Pesto Vinaigrette

If you’re craving a hearty pasta salad, Fat Free Vegan features one with roasted eggplant and zucchini, peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes, tossed in a quick-yet-impressive dressing that blends basil and garlic with a bottled balsamic vinaigrette.

Courtesy Erin Alderson

Butternut Squash, Parmesan, and Pasta

Pasta, butter, and walnuts meet roasted butternut squash and onion in this simple but satisfying vegetarian dinner recipe from Naturally Ella. If you’re working with whole squash, warm it up in the oven for a few minutes to make cutting easier.

Courtesy minimalist baker

Tofu That Tastes Good Stir Fry

Anything but bland, Minimalist Baker creates this vegetarian dinner recipe with carrots and green beans, but feel free to use up whatever veggies you have on hand. The easy five-ingredient sauce combines soy sauce, ginger, brown sugar, agave, and corn starch for a tangy finish.

Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest

Perri O. Blumberg
A former food editor at Reader's Digest, Perri Blumberg is a writer and editor based in New York City. After attending Columbia University, where she received a BA in psychology, she went on to study food at a health-supportive culinary school. Her work has appeared in O Magazine, Men's Journal, Country Living, and on Mind, Body, Green, among others.