Give your rotation a Mediterranean-style upgrade with these flavorful, satisfying, and healthy vegetarian dinner recipes! Includes our best easy vegetarian dinner recipes, soups, stews, pastas, vegan recipes, gluten-free recipes, and more.
Photo ofCauliflower Steaks with Chermoulaby Elana Lapkowski
In this collection, you’ll find our most-loved vegetarian dinner recipes–from easy vegetarian dinner for busy weeknights to hearty soups, stews, and pastas, including vegan and gluten-free options. Each recipe is packed with bold Mediterranean flavors and plant-based proteins. They’re sure to please a crowd, or simply nourish you when the day winds down.
If you go to the market with a Mediterranean grandma–or nonna , abuela , yaya , anneanne , or teta depending on where you are–you will likely see her grab as many bags as she can hold and fill them to the brim with vegetables of every color. You see, one of the basic principles of the Mediterranean lifestyle is how much we love our vegetables!
As an essential part of the Mediterranean Diet , we give them the full treatment, loading them with as much comfort and flavor as they deserve. We eat with the seasons so their natural perfection shines bright!
Easy Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
Turn to these vegetarian dinner recipes when you have little time to get food on the table but still want a healthy, satisfying meal. Faster than takeout!
Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Kırmızı Mercimek Çorbası)
Creamy, comforting, gluten-free and completely vegan! Red lentils are a rich source of plant-based protein and essential nutrients. What’s best: they’re inexpensive and they get luxuriously velvety in just 15 minutes. Here, they simmer with veggies and Mediterranean spices like cumin, coriander, andAleppo pepper. Simply delicious! Serve on its own, or withSimit (Turkish Sesame Bread Rings)for dipping.
Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Roasted Vegetables
Did you know you can bake gnocchi on a sheet pan straight from frozen? And you can certainly usehomemade gnocchi, but we give our list of favorite store-bought options as well. This nutritious recipe, with spinach, onions, and peppers, only takes 15 minutes of hands-on time! You don’t need any sides (the beauty of a sheet pan meal!) but you can throw together alemon parmesan lettuce saladin the final 5 minutes of baking for an easy side.
Cacio E Pepe
You only need 20-ish minutes and 4 ingredients (including salt and pepper) to make this beloved Roman classic! Oh and a little elbow grease, so to speak–a strong, vigorous stir makes all the difference. Serve with an easy side likeRoasted Broccoli with Lemon.
Butter Beans With Garlic, Lemon And Herbs
A protein-packed pantry meal that takes less than 15 minutes! And you can use any white beans you have on hand, including Cannellini, Navy, or Great Northern. I like to serve this one with crusty bread to sop up the juices. If you’re avoiding gluten, serve with a crunchy salad likebell pepper saladorGreek salad.
Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
These Italian-style stuffed mushrooms are generously filled with a blend of creamy ricotta, fresh spinach, and sliced tomatoes, then topped with crispy breadcrumbs for that perfect crunch. They’re a hit with vegetarians and meat lovers alike! And they take just about 15 minutes of hands-on time. While the mushrooms roast and soak up all the decadent flavor, make a crunchyPanzanella saladto round out the meal.
Garlic Mushroom Pasta
White wine, garlic, and a touch of butter make this pasta so decadent without any heavy cream! Parmesan and mushrooms bring restaurant-level umami flavor in just about 30 minutes! Very weeknight-friendly, but if you’re making this for company start with a pepperyradicchio salad.
Protein-Packed Vegetarian Dinner Salads
Adding grains and legumes to salads give these vegetarian dinner recipes enough oomph for a full meal, no meat necessary!
Balela Salad
In this childhood favorite of mine, layers of fresh veggies, chickpeas, and herbs come together to make a flavor party in a bowl. It’s healthy, and filling, takes only 15 minutes to make, and is great for packing in workday lunches or bringing to your next get together.
Butternut Squash Salad With Farro, Kale, And Creamy Goat Cheese
Farro is an ancient whole grain that’s high in protein, fiber, and iron. And it’s great for getting ahead! It keeps its pleasantly chewy texture and nutty flavor for days. Serve on its own as a satisfying dinner salad or alongside soup.
Lentil Salad With Roasted Eggplant And Pomegranate Dressing
This stuffed eggplant “salad” is pretty enough to be a dinner party main! And it’s filled with nutrient-rich lentils and sweet-tart Mediterranean flavor. Serve withtaboon (Palestinian flatbread)orpita bread.
Wild Rice Salad With Apples, Pomegranate, Cranberries, And Walnuts
This colorful salad is the epitome of a festive holiday salad, but I love it all winter long. Wild rice is rich in protein and naturally gluten-free. And this satisfying salad is vegan (you can swap thehoneyfor maple syrup if you’d like). It’s a great option for satisfying a wide range of dietary needs.
Roasted Vegetable Salad With Halloumi
This roasted vegetable salad finds that sweet spot where light and healthy meets satisfying and hearty. Fresh veggies and chickpeas are roasted in the oven until tender and bursting with flavor, then topped with savory fried Halloumi cheese.
Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables with Barley
This filling, fiber-packed salad recipe is great for meal prep! My spices of choice for this recipe are all-natural harissa spice and smoked paprika, which adds depth and plays up the sweetness of the roasted veggies and the earthiness of the barley.
Vegetarian Soups & Stew Recipes
The key to vegetarian dinner recipes that are satisfying and comforting is to pack in plenty of heft. Plant-based protein like chickpeas and lentils and herbs and spices to build deep flavor without an all-day simmer. (Be sure to check out our Vegetarian Soup Recipes round up for more!)
Roasted Cauliflower Soup
Made with whole milk, this vegetarian soup is nice and creamy but not heavy. With two whole heads of cauliflower, this simple recipe easily feeds 6 with no sides needed. But I like to start with a fresh and tartorange beet saladto balance the richness of the cauliflower.
Roasted Carrot Soup
Carrots are oven-roasted to add an intensely delicious depth of flavor in this otherwise simple recipe. Warming Mediterranean spices like coriander, allspice, and freshly grated ginger add a good kick! To start the meal, I usually add a bigFattoushsalad–the crunch goes nicely with the creaminess of the roasted carrot soup.
Tomato Basil Soup
Spiked with fresh aromatics and warming spices, it this flavorful, vegan soup is fragrant and delicious. Serve withmozzarella and feta pita grilled cheesefor a Mediterranean-style twist on the classic combination.
Easy Ratatouille (One Pot Vegetable Stew)
In this easy recipe, I adapted the famous slow-simmered Provençal stew to fit a busy weeknight! I keep all the flavor and veggie-packed goodness but it’s ready in 45 minutes or so. And it just gets better the next day! Serve any way you like–hot, room temperature, straight from the fridge, with afried eggon top or on its own.
Healthy Potato Soup
A healthy twist on classic cream of potato soup! Fresh herbs and warming spices bring a welcome depth of flavor and whole milk adds a velvety quality without weighing it down. Serve this vegetarian soup with a bright and crunchy salad like ourradicchio salad.
Lablabi (Tunisian Chickpea Stew)
This vegetarian version of a hearty North African stew is made with chickpeas, rustic bread, warming spices, andharissais traditionally served at breakfast, but I love it any time of day. Serve on its own for an easy vegan meal.
Hearty One-Pot Lentil Stew
A medley of vegetables and warming spices make this vegan stew so cozy and nourishing. Potatoes and lentils are very filling, so a sprinkling of fresh parsley and lemon juice just before serving is all you need. But if you’d like to round out the meal, crisp salad likeMaroulosalataandpita breadgo well alongside.
Homemade Vegetable Soup
This easy homemade vegetable soup is packed with zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, chickpeas, and fresh herbs. It’s a textbookMediterranean diet recipeand an easy way to increase your vegetable intake! It’s cozy, comforting, vegan, and gluten-free, but carnivores will love this vegetable soup as much as veggie lovers do.
Simple Vegetarian Minestrone Soup
This Italian-style vegetarian minestrone soup is brimming with vegetables, beans, and a little pasta. The draw here is in the flavorful tomato broth with lots of fresh herbs. Minestrone is meant to be adapted, so feel free to make this recipe your own by using what vegetables you have on hand, and use gluten-free pasta or leave it out to fit your dietary needs.
Ribollita (Tuscan White Bean Soup)
Tuscan bean and vegetable soup thickened with day-old bread. Ribollita is a hearty and especially flavorful vegetarian soup thanks to the use of one secret ingredient: Parmesan rind. I like to use kale in this soup, but you can do spinach or another leafy green.
Easy Greek Red Lentil Soup
Red lentils combined with onions, garlic, and sweet carrots in a tomato-based broth. It’s infused with oregano and rosemary and finished with lemon juice and fresh herbs. Keep it vegan, or add a sprinkle of creamy feta!
Easy Moroccan Vegetable Tagine
One of my new favorite one-pot meals! This simple stew is vegan, gluten-free, and packed with so much flavor thanks to bold Moroccan spices and dried fruit. Serve on its own or over a bed of fluffybasmati rice.
Centerpiece-Worthy Meatless Mains
These vegetarian dinner recipes are show-stopping enough for a dinner party–the perfect way to make the vegetarians at the table feel just as special! And many of them are easy enough for a simple weeknight dinner.
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers With Basil Vinaigrette
Finished with a vibrant greenbasil vinaigrette, these stuffed peppers look absolutely beautiful on a platter! Warm orzo, pine nuts, and chickpeas give them plenty of heft, and tangy Kalamata olives and creamy feta cheese bring a delicious Mediterranean flair. They take just about 40 minutes! Serve with a lemony arugula salad on the side for a fresh, healthy, and satisfying vegetarian dinner.
Acorn Squash Stuffed With Tomatoes, Spinach, And Goat Cheese
With its combination of creamy and crunchy textures and sweet, savory, and tangy flavors, this squash recipe is a total crowd-pleaser! It’s healthy and keeps well, making it great for healthy dinner meal prep. Gluten-free and easily vegan if you leave off the cheese! For balance and an added layer of freshness, serve with a simple green salad dressed withbalsamic vinaigrette.
Butternut Squash Risotto
This creamy, rich risotto is like a big, warm hug on a chilly autumn evening. Sweet butternut squash is scented with just a hint of rosemary and sage–it’s Northern Italy in a bowl! Like ourmushroom risotto, this vegetarian dinner recipe does require some attention–you have to stir for 30 minutes or so to get the perfect texture. It’s a labor of love! And it transforms simple ingredients into something truly special. I love aroasted Brussels sprouts saladon the side to balance the rich risotto.
Roasted Cauliflower Steaks With Harissa And Chermoula
These big slabs of cauliflower pack a smoky, spicy, and citrusy punch! A North African condiment calledharissa pastetransforms the humble cauliflower into a juicy, gluten-free, and vegetarian delight. And you can usestore-bought chermoulato save time (red or green chermoula both work). Serve with a hearty salad, likeMediterranean couscous saladorloaded chickpea salad.
Zucchini Parmesan
In this lighter vegetarian twist on classic chicken parmesan, slabs of sliced zucchini are layered with rich tomato sauce and cheese and baked until bubbly, tender, and delicious. With no breading or frying involved, it’s just as satisfying and surprisingly simple to make! A bright, vinegar-forward salad goes well with the velvety, cheesy baked zucchini.Marinated cherry tomato saladand freshly bakedfocacciafor dipping would be delightful.
Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Lemony Whipped Feta
This simple vegetarian dinner recipe turns the humble cauliflower into a wow-worthy centerpiece fit for a special occasion. Glazed with golden turmeric and saffron, finished with a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds, and resting in a bath of creamy-tangy whipped feta, this vegetarian main is as delicious as it is visually striking. Serve withpita breadto take full advantage of the whipped feta.
Easy Eggplant Parmesan
Gluten-free, vegetarian, and SO comforting! All of the comfort with no breading and frying! Make a crunchypanzanella saladwith juicy tomatoes to serve alongside in the summertime, or a crispfresh fennel and orange saladin the colder months.
Easy Greek-Style Eggplant
One of my most beloved vegetarian dinner recipes! This simple vegan recipe with tomatoes, chickpeas, and globe eggplant cubes is comfort food at its finest. With warming spices and other pantry staples, this wholesome one-pot stew is a must-try. Serve overcouscousor with a side of warmpita bread. For a creamy element, add a dollop of Greek yogurt ortzatziki sauce.
Vegetarian Moussaka
Moussaka is pretty much the epitome of Greek comfort food! And this meatless version of the classic bursts with flavor and heft from roasted eggplant, potatoes, zucchini, and a chunky tomato-lentil sauce–all topped with creamy bechamel. Keep the Greek theme by starting with atraditional Greek salad!
Briam: Traditional Greek Roasted Vegetables
Greek Briam takes roasted vegetables to a whole new level of deliciousness. You need just a few simple pantry ingredients: potatoes, zucchini, red onions, and tomatoes. But the Greek flavors from spices, fresh garlic, parsley, and a generous drizzle ofexcellent olive oilmake all the difference. For a vegan entree, just add a side offarro.
Spanakopita Recipe (Greek Spinach Pie)
This beloved classic is one of Greece’s most famous dishes, and for good reason! Simply fill store-bought phyllo dough with spinach, feta cheese, and herbs. The crispiness of the pastry contrasts beautifully with the creamy, herby filling, and you’d be surprised how easy store-bought phyllo dough is to work with. This savory pie never fails to impress!
Vegetarian Pastas
You won’t miss the meat with these decadent vegetarian pastas! These vegetarian dinner recipes span the Mediterranean, with Italian classics, twists on Greek favorites, and more.
Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
You canroast the peppers yourselffor vibrantly red and super flavorful sauce, or use store-bought and this lightly smoky, bright, and luxuriously creamy vegetarian sauce is ready in less than 10 minutes!
Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina (Baked Gnocchi With Tomato Sauce And Mozzarella)
This cheesy, comforting baked gnocchi is layered with so much delicious flavor–it’s a hit with the whole family! If you’re looking for a fun project on a rainy Sunday, trymaking the gnocchi from scratch. You can even make extra and freeze for it to use later. Mix gnocchi withbasil pestoor spaghetti sauce, and more.
Manicotti (3-Cheese Stuffed Pasta)
In this Italian-American classic, big beautiful manicotti pasta shells are stuffed with a creamy three-cheese filling and baked until melted and bubbly. I love this recipe for a cozy Sunday night in, but it’s great for a weeknight too–use your favorite store-boughtspaghetti sauceand it’s on your table in 40 minutes. And you don’t need a pipette (or anything fancy for that matter!) Just a zip-top bag and a pair of scissors.
Spanakopita-Style Baked Mac And Cheese
Classic mac and cheese but with my Mediterranean makeover! You’ll love how tangy feta, creamy bechamel, loads of spinach, and fresh herbs bring baked mac to the next level. Serve with a crispGreek salad(I would just leave off the feta on the salad.)
Pasta E Ceci (Pasta With Chickpeas)
This comforting Italian dish lives somewhere between a soup, stew, and pasta. It’s loaded with veggies, protein-packed canned chickpeas, and both kids and adults love it. Serve with a side ofCaprese saladin the summer andlemon parmesan lettuce saladin cooler months.
Spaghetti Aglio E Olio
This traditional Italian dish is made with just a handful of pantry staples: pasta, garlic, simple seasonings, and extra virgin olive oil. And it takes just 20 minutes!
Creamy Orzo With Garlic, Parmesan, And Blistered Tomatoes
This one-pan dinner reminds me ofrisottowith half the time and effort. Fresh tomatoes cook in garlicky olive oil (I used our butteryItalian Nocellara EVOO) until they burst. Then stir in Greek yogurt and grated parmesan. It’s luxuriously creamy (but uses no cream).
Pasta Primavera
Al dente pasta and a lighter primavera sauce let the tender roasted veggies do all the talking in this perfectly simple recipe. The best part? I make it year-round with seasonal vegetables so it’s never quite the same way twice!
Vegetarian Lasagna Roll Ups
My family calls this “fancy lasagna,” but it’s actually so easy to make. It’s way lighter than traditional lasagna but still feels like a treat! I use easy homemade spaghetti saucewhen I have it on hand, or store-bought when I don’t.
Pasta Pomodoro (Spaghetti With Tomato Sauce)
This pantry pasta packs on delicious basil and parmesan flavor with just 5 minutes of prep work! Allow yourself an hour to let the pasta happily bubble while you relax. Or, toss together aneasy spinach saladto serve on the side.
“Date Me“Creamy Tomato Pasta with Chickpeas
This rich, velvety tomato sauce uses just pantry staples and a touch of cream. And it’s highly customizable: Use milk instead of cream or go vegan with unsweetened oat creamer and vegan cheese.
Vegetarian Baked Ziti
Think of ziti as lasagna’s more relaxed cousin. Just as delicious, with much less effort! This is a great recipe option if you’re looking for something hearty to cook without meat. If you can’t find ziti pasta, penne works just fine! (It’s actually what I use, because I don’t come across ziti very often.)
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