When you want something fresh, vibrant, and meat-free, Mediterranean-inspired recipes are hard to beat. Whether you’re a dedicated vegetarian, trying Meatless Mondays, or just looking to eat a little lighter, these dishes have you covered.
Think briny feta and olives, bright lemon, plenty of veggies, tangy yogurt, and good fruity olive oil. From Tuscan Bread Soup and Mediterranean Chickpea Bowls to Easy Spinach-Feta Pasta and Shakshuka, this collection proves you can skip the meat and still feel totally satisfied.
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Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Zucchini, Tomatoes, and Bell Peppers
“But if you’re short on time, and you don’t want to wait for a big pot of water to boil, you should turn to the underrated stars of the pasta family: soft, tender potato gnocchi. Roasted on a sheet pan with sweet onion, meaty slices of bell pepper, tender squash, and sweet-tart cherry tomatoes, and dusted with parmesan, these little potato dumplings make a colorful and flavorful meal!” —Georgia Freedman, Recipe Developer
02 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photography by Morgan Hunt Ward / Prop Styling by Prissy Montiel / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling
Get Recipe: Pancotto (Tuscan Bread Soup)
“Made with stale bread and a handful of aromatic vegetables, pancotto is the kind of soul-warming food that reminds me how satisfying the simplest cooking can be. I make it when the cupboard is bare, or my daughter isn’t feeling well, or I’ve had a horrible day and need a giant bowl of carbs drizzled with olive oil.” —Sara Bir, Former Senior Editor
03 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: One-Pot Caprese Orzo
“To keep the amount of effort as low as possible—it’s a summer recipe after all, and no one wants to spend too much time in a hot kitchen—I decided to make this caprese pasta in just one pot. I also reached for orzo, a rice-shaped pasta that works really well in one-pot preparations due to its small size and quick cooking time.” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer
04 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Sabrina Modelle
Get Recipe: Mediterranean Chickpea Bowls With Tahini Sauce
“One of my favorite parts of this dish is really the bright and creamy tahini sauce. We make this sauce on a regular basis at my house. It’s great drizzled on fresh greens, roasted veggies, or baked sweet potatoes, too!” —Sabrina Modelle, Recipe Developer
05 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Get Recipe: Zucchini Ricotta Pasta
“Whole-milk ricotta cheese is an amazing start for a pasta sauce because it turns silky-smooth if you add some hot water to it. It coats pasta really nicely, with an Alfredo sauce-like texture. It’s basically a one-ingredient pasta sauce and is a great trick to have in your back pocket on busy weeknights.” —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer
06 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
Get Recipe: Shakshuka With Feta, Olives, and Peppers
“Shakshuka is a healthy, hearty meal that works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It’s an all-purpose kind of fast dish that’s guaranteed to brighten a chilly morning or ease the mad dash on a weeknight.” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer
07 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne
Get Recipe: Vegetable Couscous Skillet
“I often throw in a can of drained chickpeas or a handful of toasted almonds. Adding spices like paprika, cumin, and coriander gives the couscous a lovely color and hint of Moroccan flavor. Top with whatever herbs or greens you have around and a sprinkling of cheese, and you’re done.” —Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer
08 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph
Get Recipe: Italian Beans and Greens
“The combination of classic ingredients like good-quality olive oil, punchy garlic, bitter escarole, tender cannellini beans, and plenty of parmesan makes this pure Italian comfort food. And the savory, garlicky broth is perfect for mopping up with bread.” —Julie & Amy Luxemberg, Recipe Developers
09 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Get Recipe: Easy Spinach-Feta Pasta
“To make my pasta-fied version of spanakopita, you’ll make a purée of spinach, garlic, oregano, feta, and olive oil, and spike it with lemon juice. This bright green sauce coats the pasta. It’s delicious tossed with warm penne and served right away or chilled and served as a pasta salad.” —Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer
10 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Nick Evans
Get Recipe: Air Fryer Falafel
“After you process your chickpeas together with your herbs, garlic, and spices, you need to shape them. Typically, falafel takes the form of tablespoon-sized balls that get tossed in a deep fryer. For air frying, though, I think discs work better. They lay flat in the air fryer basket, don’t roll around as they air fry, and cook evenly. Plus, it’s a bit easier to stuff them in a pita if they are flat!” —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer
11 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Get Recipe: Orzo and Dolma Skillet
“Chopped dolmas are folded in for little savory, fragrant bites throughout. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh dill, and you’ve got cozy comfort food that’s hearty and vibrant. Minimal effort and maximum flavor perfectly describes how a weeknight dinner should be.” —Anne Wolf, Recipe Developer
12 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss
Get Recipe: Tuscan-Style Beans
“My favorite recipes contain lots of fiber, protein, and fresh, seasonal flavors, and these 15-minute Tuscan-style beans meet all the criteria. Since the three main ingredients—canned butter beans, sun-dried tomatoes, and red onion—are all pantry staples, I can whip up this recipe anytime.” —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer
13 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens
“How to make a quick-cooking pasta even quicker? Ditch the pot of boiling water! This 20-minute tortellini dinner comes together in a single skillet leaving you with less dishes to wash and more time to sit down and dig in. It’s inspired by the classic Roman pasta dish cacio e pepe, whose creamy and richly pungent sauce is simply made with just two ingredients: salty Pecorino Romano cheese and plenty of freshly ground black pepper.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer
14 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
Get Recipe: Mediterranean Mezze Platter
“My general rules of thumb, depending on how many people you’re serving, is to have two to three dips or spreads, one cheese, a few fresh vegetables, one to two pickled items, fresh or dried fruit (or both), and bread.” —Katie Morford, Recipe Developer
15 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
Get Recipe: Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Mushrooms, Sausage, and Kale
“As someone who cooks and writes recipes for a living, all the dirty dishes that come along with the job are a real bummer. So when the opportunity to create a fuss-free supper with minimal dirty dishes presents itself, I’m all in. And when it turns out to be as delicious as this sheet pan gnocchi, you better believe the recipe goes into my regular rotation.” —Katie Morford, Recipe Developer
16 of 18
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond
Get Recipe: Frittata di Pasta (Pasta Frittata)
“What I love most about this dish is how flexible it is. Sometimes I stir a spoonful of pesto straight into the skillet while the eggs and pasta set. You could also grate some lemon zest into the egg mixture for brightness, or if you love preserved lemons like I do, chop some up and throw them into the egg mixture.” —Shayma Saadat, Recipe Developer
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Credit: Simply Recipes / Julie and Amy Luxemberg
Get Recipe: Greek-Inspired Pita Pockets
“There are so many ways to customize this recipe based on your preferences and what you have to work with in your fridge. Instead of chickpeas, you could use another bean like cannellini or any precooked protein you may have on hand—rotisserie chicken would be great.” —Julie & Amy Luxemberg, Recipe Developers
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Credit: Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman
Get Recipe: Lemon Orzotto With Spinach and Peas
“Orzo—the elongated rice-shaped pasta—has quickly become one of my go-to cupboard staples. It’s quick-cooking, can be paired with many different flavors, and takes on a cozy, creamy texture when simmered. All of these factors make it an ideal stand-in for rice in ‘orzotto.'”—Alexandra Shytsman, Recipe Developer
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