21 Easy Vegetarian Recipes So Tasty Even Meat-Eaters Will Want Seconds
Whether you recently decided to cut meat from your diet, haven't even ever had the taste of beef before, or find yourself cooking for a dinner party where meats and poultry are a no-go for one or more of your guests. Vegetarian diets are becoming more and more popular, and that means there's a good chance you might just be looking for some easy vegetarian recipes you can whip up. Not only are our vegetarian recipes easy, low-calorie, and good for you (hello protein!), but they taste so good, even the biggest meat-eaters you know will be coming back for second servings.
Check out these easy to make, oh so tasty vegetarian recipes.
Black Bean Omelet
We're going to say it: an omelet isn't something you should be paying a ton of money for when you're out at a restaurant, especially when you can make a delicious and nutritious one right in your own kitchen. All you need is 10 minutes and you'll have an omelet oozing with black beans and cheese, for only 330 calories. Yes, please.
Get our recipe for a Black Bean Omelet.
Grilled Vegetable Wrap With Balsamic Mayo
Yes, this is proof a wrap can be good for you! Even with a dusting of goat cheese and a spread of balsamic mayo, this wrap is low in calories and will still keep you full, thanks to its generous vegetable filling that combined with the cheese, gives you a nice protein boost.
Get our recipe for a Grilled Vegetable Wrap With Balsamic Mayo.
Caprese Sandwich
The combination of creamy fresh mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and sweet basil is simply too good to resist and this sandwich takes very little time to bring to life. Just toast some bread for two minutes and you're ready to go.
Get our recipe for a Caprese Sandwich.
Hearty Grilled Cheese With Sautéed Mushrooms
A grilled cheese needs substance, which you want to do without making the sandwich high calorie. And that's where the mushrooms and caramelized onions come in. We put this all on rye bread instead of white, too for a better—and tastier—alternative.
Get our recipe for a Hearty Grilled Cheese With Sautéed Mushrooms.
Easy Panini With Provolone, Peppers, and Arugula
We take the classic flavors of the Italian sandwich and turn them into a crispy, melted panini, ditching the bulky bread, the mound of meat, and excessive calories for a light, veggie and cheese-filled sandwich.
Get our recipe for an Easy Panini With Provolone, Peppers, and Arugula.
Warm Goat Cheese Salad
Nearly every restaurant seems to serve their salads with buckets of dressing, adding so many extra calories. That's why we're giving you the perfect recipe to make at home with this warm goat cheese crouton and sweet, crisp pear salad. If you're not a salad fan, this is the one to change your mind.
Get our recipe for a Warm Goat Cheese Salad.
Classic Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Grilled cheese and a cup of warm tomato soup are the perfect comfort food combo. Our version is stuffed with pimento cheese, which diffuses the calories of the cheese with healthy additions like roasted peppers and Greek yogurt. And the soup is pure oven-roasted tomato goodness.
Get our recipe for a Classic Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Soup should always be a healthy choice, but broccoli cheddar is a classic vegetarian option that often focuses heavily on the cheese, making it more of a fondue. In this recipe, we make broccoli the star, adding in just a handful of sharp Cheddar to give this soup a rich, creamy texture.
Get our recipe for Broccoli Cheddar Soup.
Minestrone with Pesto Soup
Minestrone soup is a dream vegetarian dish, as this recipe is a hodgepodge of veggies. Even if you're a meat-lover, your diet could always use a boost of veggies and with a spoonful of jarred pesto, this dish gets kicked up a notch.
Get our recipe for Minestrone with Pesto Soup.
Buttery Red Pepper Fettuccine Alfredo
Fettuccine Alfredo, in its purest form, is pasta, butter, and Parmesan cheese. So say goodbye to the overly creamy sauce you have come to know as Alfredo because in this version, we start with a béchamel sauce that is then blended with roasted red peppers to make for a lighter, brighter, better Alfredo, for a quarter of the calories.
Get our recipe for Buttery Red Pepper Fettuccine Alfredo.
Homemade 3-Cheese Ravioli With Cherry Tomatoes
"Four cheese" anything in the food world usually means it's a whole lot of extra cheese you're being served in one dish. Here, in this ravioli recipe, you get ricotta, mozzarella, and sharp Parmesan, plus a sauce that would make anything taste great for just 510 calories. Perfection.
Get our recipe for Homemade 3-Cheese Ravioli With Cherry Tomatoes.
Pesto Gnocchi With Green Beans and Tomatoes
Pesto at its core is made up of olive oil, basil, garlic, and pine nuts, which are loaded with antioxidants and healthy fats. So pesto in moderation is good for you! In this gnocchi, make sure you keep it at 2 tablespoons of pesto per plate—and throw in some healthy extras like tomatoes and green beans to bring even more substance to the meal.
Get our recipe for Pesto Gnocchi With Green Beans and Tomatoes.
Ricotta and Cottage Cheese-Stuffed Spinach-Artichoke Manicotti
Most pasta dishes you get while dining out are just a mound of calories and sodium, especially if it's a stuffed pasta dish. So we decided to take another approach and keeping on par with the comfort-food level you want from a pasta-based meal, we keep the cheesy stuffing. You get low-fat ricotta, cottage cheese, sautéed spinach, and artichoke hearts all stuffed in this manicotti. You won't lose out on taste with this meal, just on calories.
Get our recipe for Ricotta and Cottage Cheese-Stuffed Spinach-Artichoke Manicotti.
Mozzarella Spiedini
You might just never turn to a mozzarella stick ever again! OK, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but in this vegetarian-friendly version of the traditional Italian spiedini, we take fresh mozzarella cheese, baguette crust, and cherry tomatoes and serve them on rosemary branches for the perfect silverware free treat.
Get our recipe for Mozzarella Spiedini.
Bruschetta, Two Different Ways
Bruschetta is essentially the Italians' answer to chips and salsa, but if you order it at a restaurant, you'll end up consuming a ton of calories before your main course even arrives. We have two different ways to make the dish, both of which are low in calories but high in flavor.
Get our recipe for Bruschetta, Two Different Ways.
Vegetable Fried Rice
Fried rice doesn't have to be bad for you! All you have to do is mix in all of your favorite veggies, making them more of the star and the rice as a bonus. And with this single, just-cooked egg on top of top, you simply just break the yolk and dig in.
Get our recipe for Vegetable Fried Rice.
Mushroom Burger With Mozzarella Cheese
Unfortunately, while many veggie burgers may seem like a healthy option for nonmeat eaters, they're often just as high in calories, fat, and sodium as beef burgers. Here, we go for a portobello mushroom cap as the burger, which is rubbed in olive oil and balsamic, and topped with a crown of melted mozzarella. Delicious and much lower in calories!
Get our recipe for a Mushroom Burger With Mozzarella Cheese.
Stuffed Tomatoes
This is a way to completely elevate the basic tomato. It's sweet, creamy, crunchy, and is filled with the flavors of garlic and fresh basil.
Get our recipe for Stuffed Tomatoes.
Simmered Lentils
Lentils have tons of health benefits, such as the fact that they help to reduce cholesterol, are a great source of protein, increase energy, and are good for your heart and digestive system. So if you're not eating lentils, you should start now! Add in some roasted vegetables to make a heartier, nutrient-rich, lentil stew of sorts if you're feeling up for it.
Get our recipe for Simmered Lentils.
Melted Brie With Vegetables
Who doesn't love the taste of melted cheese? Here, we turn to brie and cover sautéed vegetables in the melted deliciousness.
Get our recipe for Melted Brie With Vegetables.
Caprese Tomato Tower Salad
With one bite, you'll feel like you've been transported to Capri, Italy, with this simple salad. Sweet, acidic tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil come together for a quick salad you can easily whip up in the summer to accompany any meal that will truly wow your dinner guests.
Get our recipe for a Caprese Tomato Tower Salad.
