Whether you’re looking for a cozy pasta or a refreshing salad, you’re sure to find a new favorite among these quick and easy vegetarian recipes. The best part? These 30-minute dishes align with the Mediterranean Diet, since they are filled with healthy ingredients like whole grains, fiber-packed veggies, healthy fats and plant-based protein. Options like our Portobello Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches and Chickpea Noodle Soup are full of flavor and will leave you feeling satisfied.
Portobello Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali.
Cheesesteaks are a Philadelphia classic, known for thinly sliced beef piled high and smothered in a gooey cheese sauce. This meat-free twist swaps in meaty portobello mushrooms, capturing all the savory flavor and satisfying texture of the original, no steak required.
Chickpea Noodle Soup
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelesa Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower.
This cozy noodle soup is the kind of simple meal that’s worth keeping in your weeknight rotation. It starts with an aromatic base of carrots, celery and onion simmered in vegetable broth and gets heartiness (plus fiber) from the chickpeas and whole-wheat rotini.
Easy White Bean Skillet
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser.
Sweet onion, tomatoes and garlic form a rich, savory base for creamy white beans. A handful of spinach adds freshness and color, and a sprinkle of Parmesan ties everything together with salty richness. Served alongside toasted whole-wheat baguette slices for dipping, it’s a fast, satisfying dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights or a simple weekend supper.
Lemon-Turmeric Cabbage & White Bean Soup
Photographer: Ali Redmond.
This cozy soup combines tender cabbage and creamy cannellini beans with aromatic spices. A splash of lemon juice brightens every spoonful. It’s light yet satisfying and easy enough for a weeknight.
Broccoli-Cheddar Butter Beans
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood.
This cozy dish will remind you of broccoli-Cheddar soup—in a convenient skillet. Tender butter beans add creaminess and plant-based protein, making the dish filling enough for a main course. Broccoli florets bring color, while sharp cheddar cheese melts in for that classic flavor.
Chickpea Grain Bowl with Feta & Tomatoes
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali.
This grain bowl is a hearty dish that’s packed with plant-based protein, fiber and tons of fresh flavor. Farro, a whole-grain with a nutty taste and chewy texture, forms the base and pairs perfectly with tender chickpeas and veggies.
Grilled Cheese with Spinach & Tomato
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen.
This grilled cheese with spinach and tomato is a flavorful twist on the classic sandwich, cooked to golden perfection on the stovetop. Wilted spinach is infused with plenty of garlic. Juicy tomato slices add color and a fresh bite to the melty mozzarella filling. This sandwich makes for an easy dinner and pairs well with tomato soup or a simple green salad.
Chopped Salad with Italian Vinaigrette
This chopped salad is a crisp, colorful mix of veggies. It’s tossed with a zesty homemade vinaigrette while chickpeas bring on the plant-based protein and fiber. Everything is chopped small for the perfect forkful every time.
20-Minute Chickpea Soup
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Craig Huff, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong.
This creamy chickpea soup comes together in just 20 minutes. Cream cheese adds a velvety texture that feels cozy and comforting. Garnished with cilantro and crunchy tortilla strips, it’s a one-pot meal that’s weeknight-friendly and crowd-pleasing.
Pesto Pasta with Peas & Tomatoes
Ali Redmond
Pasta is cooked alongside frozen sweet peas, then tossed with juicy cherry tomatoes and basil pesto for a fresh, herbaceous finish. A sprinkle of Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon add the perfect final touch.
Marry Me White Bean Soup
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall.
Here, the flavors of Marry Me Chicken (sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, cream and Parmesan) are transformed into a hearty, soul-warming vegetarian soup. Finished with basil and extra cheese, it’s cozy, crowd-pleasing and sure to win hearts at the table.
Creamy Lemon-Garlic Spaghetti & Spinach
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
This spaghetti with lemon-garlic Parmesan sauce is a bright and richly creamy dish, thanks to sour cream that adds a tanginess that blends seamlessly with lemon zest and juice. Meanwhile, the spinach wilts in the pasta water in record time for a fast weeknight dinner. Parmesan cheese adds the bulk of the savory flavor. It’s worth seeking out a block of Parmesan and grating it yourself to maximize the flavor.
No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad
This easy white bean and spinach caprese salad features the classic combination of juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fragrant basil and tangy balsamic vinegar. If you can’t find mozzarella pearls, cut or tear a fresh ball of mozzarella into bite-size pieces instead. If you like your salad with a little kick, try swapping out the spinach for arugula.
Bhel Puri Chaat-Inspired Salad
Ali Redmond
This flavorful salad was inspired by bhel puri, a type of chaat (savory snack) served across India, and features puffed quinoa and lentils for extra protein and fiber.
White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi
Jacob Fox
Sun-dried tomatoes are the star of this recipe—providing texture and umami. Combined with the spinach, they make this dish a great source of vitamins C and K.
Cheesy Spinach-&-Artichoke Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
This spaghetti-squash-for-pasta swap makes for a delicious and creamy casserole with a boost of veggies. It’s worth roasting the squash versus cooking it in the microwave if you have the time: the flavor gets sweeter and more intense.
Vegan Burrito Bowls with Cauliflower Rice
These meal-prep vegan burrito bowls are healthy and flavorful. Make them early in the week for grab-and-go meals when days are busy. We use frozen cauliflower rice, a low-carb substitute for white or brown rice, to cut down on prep time.
Piled-High Vegetable Pitas
Fresh, bright flavors come alive in these easy vegetarian pitas. Give yourself enough time to make the roasted vegetables called for in the recipe—or make them a day or two in advance for a healthy meal that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. These pitas would also work well with whatever leftover cooked veggies you have on hand. No need to warm the roasted veggies up; this recipe tastes great chilled or at room temperature.
Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl
Photography: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabe Greco
This black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We’ve loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.
Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry
To make this 20-minute vegan curry even faster, buy precut veggies from the salad bar at the grocery store. To make it a full, satisfying dinner, serve over cooked brown rice. When shopping for simmer sauce, look for one with 400 mg of sodium or less, and check the ingredient list for cream or fish sauce if you want to keep this vegan. If you like a spicy kick, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce at the end.
Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing
Ali Redmond
Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient lunch for one!
Roasted Vegetable & Black Bean Tacos
These hearty vegan tacos are quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights. They are so tasty that no one will miss the meat or dairy.
Tomato, Cucumber & White-Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
This no-cook bean salad is a delicious way to use cherry or grape tomatoes and juicy cucumbers for a light dinner or lunch. Fresh basil elevates an easy vinaigrette recipe that dresses up this simple salad into something extraordinary.
Dining and Cooking