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  1. Midwest Living
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  3. 30 Meatless Main Dish Recipes

30 Meatless Main Dish Recipes

By Midwest Living editors Updated December 26, 2022
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Cauliflower Chickpea Bowl with Cilantro Yogurt
Credit: Carson Downing

Veggie, beans and grains make a nutritious meatless main dish in bowls, pizza, pasta, salads, frittata, quiches and more.

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Cauliflower Chickpea Bowl with Cilantro Yogurt

Cauliflower Chickpea Bowl with Cilantro Yogurt
Credit: Carson Downing
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Load up on nutrients (and flavor) with this healthful, all-in-one weeknight dinner starring cauliflower and chickpeas.

Related: Top Vegetarian Recipes

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Verde Con Maize Pizza

<p>When life leaves you one lonely ear of sweet corn, make this pizza, topped with green salsa, corn and goat cheese. It's a favorite at Millsap Farm's Pizza Club parties in Springfield, Missouri.</p> <p>  Related: Homemade Pizza Recipes</p>
Credit: Carson Downing
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When life leaves you one lonely ear of sweet corn, make this pizza, topped with green salsa, corn and goat cheese. It's a favorite at Millsap Farm's Pizza Club parties in Springfield, Missouri.

 
Related: Homemade Pizza Recipes

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Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes and Lentils

dish and plate of Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes and Lentils
Credit: Brie Passano
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This is a lazy Sunday—or tired Tuesday—recipe from chef Abra Berens' book Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables. Don't be alarmed by cooking beans this long. Make it vegetarian by using vegetable broth and skipping the Parmesan.

 
Related: Hearty Vegetable Recipes from Midwest Chef Abra Berens

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Tomatoey Parmesan Beans

<p>This sleeper hit of a weeknight dinner comes from Food Network star Molly Yeh's cookbook Home is Where the Eggs Are—and is basically a vehicle for Parmesan and garlic toast.</p> <p>  Related: Molly Yeh Chats About Her New Cookbook, Restaurant and Why You Should Visit East Grand Forks</p>
Credit: Chantell and Brett Quernemen
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This sleeper hit of a weeknight dinner comes from Food Network star Molly Yeh's cookbook Home is Where the Eggs Are—and is basically a vehicle for Parmesan and garlic toast.

 
Related: Molly Yeh Chats About Her New Cookbook, Restaurant and Why You Should Visit East Grand Forks

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Baked Stuffed Zucchini

Baked Stuffed Zucchini
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Savory cremini and nutty porcini mushrooms, along with cheese, soft bread crumbs and herbs, fill zucchini to make a hearty dish for a meatless Monday.

 
Related: Easy Zucchini Recipes

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Curried Cauliflower Apple Melt

<p>Glam up your grilled cheese with curry mayonnaise, skillet-roasted cauliflower, and sweet apple—it's a delicious combo that's far more than the sum of its parts.   Related: Creative Cauliflower Recipes</p>
Credit: Carson Downing
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Glam up your grilled cheese with curry mayonnaise, skillet-roasted cauliflower, and sweet apple—it's a delicious combo that's far more than the sum of its parts.
 
Related: Creative Cauliflower Recipes

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Roasted Mushrooms con Queso Tamales

<p>Tamales often feature meaty fillings, but this earthy recipe from chef Jorge Guzmán of Petite León in Minneapolis is vegetarian. The dark color comes from huitlacoche, a fungus that grows on corn and has been used in Mexican cooking for centuries. (You can buy it canned online or at some Mexican markets.)</p> <p>  Related: Chef Jorge Guzmán's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tamales</p>
Credit: Kevin Miyazaki
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Tamales often feature meaty fillings, but this earthy recipe from chef Jorge Guzmán of Petite León in Minneapolis is vegetarian. The dark color comes from huitlacoche, a fungus that grows on corn and has been used in Mexican cooking for centuries. (You can buy it canned online or at some Mexican markets.)

 
Related: Chef Jorge Guzmán's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tamales

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Green Veggie Pasta

Green Veggie Pasta
Credit: Brie Passano
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Go green with three superfood veggies—collard greens, asparagus, and peas. It's delicious as a meat-free meal, but if you like, add some ham for extra flavor and protein.

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Crisp Portobello Mushroom and Spring Carrot Salad

Crisp Portobello Mushroom and Spring Carrot Salad
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Goat cheese and chives top golden skillet-cooked mushrooms and cooked carrots in this recipe from Sarah Stegner of Chicago. Homemade honey-mustard vinaigrette adds a pleasing tang.

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Tomato Galette

Tomato Galette
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Tender Parmesan-pepper pastry cradles heirloom tomatoes, shallots, goat cheese and fresh herbs in a fold-over tart that's ideal for weekend brunch. Serve it warm or at room temperature, though the leftovers taste great cold—if you have any!

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Risotto with Asparagus and Shiitakes

risotto with asparagus and shiitakes
Credit: Carson Downing
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Tender asparagus cozies up with brothy rice with mushrooms, chives, and Parmesan in this luxurious risotto. Pair it with a glass of white wine and a chunk of crusty bread.

 
Related: Asparagus Recipes You'll Love

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Roasted Pear Salad with Farro and Arugula

Roasted Pear Salad with Farro and Arugula
Credit: Carson Downing
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This creamy, whole-grain salad earned raves in our test kitchen. It's hardy enough to be a meatless main, or enjoy it as a festive side dish or cold-weather potluck star. 

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Zucchini and Feta Frittata

zucchini and feta frittata with parsley and arugula salad
Credit: Carson Downing
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Although you can eat it warm, this fresh frittata can also be a make-ahead brunch dish. Serving it at room temperature means the salad on top won't wilt (and your cooking work is done before the guests arrive).

 
Related: Easy Frittata Recipes

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Grilled Portobellos

Grilled Portobellos
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Doug Heiken, a winter griller in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, prefers his meals meatless, so he especially likes grilling vegetables. Big, meaty portobello mushrooms fit naturally on a grill rack. To serve, the grilled portobello mushrooms can be eaten like steaks, sliced and tossed with pasta, or served in a salad, rolled in tortillas with grilled red sweet peppers, or slipped between slices of grilled focaccia or in sandwich buns.

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Chard and Sweet Potato Frittata

Chard and Sweet Potato Frittata
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Breakfast, brunch or dinner—this colorful meat-free frittata is a 30-minute meal that tastes nutritiously delicious any time.

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Winter Squash, Mushrooms and Arugula with Parmesan

pan of Winter Squash, Mushrooms and Arugula with Parmesan on table
Credit: Brie Passano
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This dish hovers between stir-fry and salad —both light and wholesomely satisfying. Chef Abra Berens cooks squash and mushrooms in a skillet, developing great caramelization in minutes. The recipe comes from her book Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables.

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Mushroom-Arugula Pizza

Mushroom-Arugula Pizza
Credit: Carson Downing
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Pizza night just got an upgrade. Use purchased fresh pizza dough for ease and top it with fresh mushrooms and peppery arugula.

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Arugula-Lentil Salad with Poached Eggs

Arugula-Lentil Salad with Poached Eggs
Credit: Carson Downing
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When you're not in the mood for lentil soup, put the quick-cooking pulse to good use in this nutritious, meat-free salad.

 
Related: Sensational Salad Recipes

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Peperonata with Potatoes and Egg

two bowls of Peperonata with Potatoes and Egg on counter
Credit: Brie Passano
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This classic Italian braised-pepper stew freezes beautifully. Abra Berens suggests heaping it over potatoes (or even pasta, polenta or couscous) and topping it with a poached or boiled egg. This recipe is from her book Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables.

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Vietnamese Grilled Eggplant

Vietnamese Grilled Eggplant
Credit: Carson Downing
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Eat this peak-summer dish as a side or a meatless main. Eggplant and bell peppers are grilled au naturel—all the fun comes in the finish, when the vegetables are showered in mint, basil and peanuts and drizzled liberally with a sauce called nuoc cham.

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Roasted Broccoli with Wheat Berries, Blue Cheese and Cranberries

Roasted Broccoli with Wheat Berries, Blue Cheese and Cranberries in oval dish
Credit: Brie Passano
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The birds fly south. The bears hibernate. Where does broccoli salad go for the winter? Right here, says Abra Berens in her book Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables. Enjoy it fresh from the oven and at your desk the next day.

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Baby Spinach Salad with Cumin Couscous and Bulgur

Baby Spinach Salad with Cumin Couscous and Bulgur
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Grain salads can sometimes be a bit heavy, but this one is surprisingly light-tasting, thanks to a tangy yogurt-mint dressing, crisp apple chunks and fresh spinach.

 
Related: Hearty, Healthy Salad Recipes

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Mushroom-Lentil Meatless Shepherd's Pie

Mushroom-Lentil Meatless Shepherd's PIe
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Worcestershire sauce and mushrooms are rich in umami —the savory flavor our brains associate with meat. We used both in our shepherd's pie, a low-fat, high-fiber, 'tater-topped casserole that delivers 100 percent of your daily comfort.

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Mexican Sweet Potato-Veggie Medley

Mexican Sweet Potato-Veggie Medley
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Create a meatless main dish in minutes by sauteing sweet potatoes, then adding canned corn and black beans. Top with a chipotle-flavor sour cream, avocado slices and fresh cilantro.

 
Related: Sizzling Mexican and Tex-Mex Recipes

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Tomato Salad with Edamame Succotash

Tomato Salad with Edamame Succotash
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Protein-rich edamame makes this salad a nutritious meal, especially when paired with whole-grain bread.

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Heirloom Tomato and Onion Quiche

Heirloom Tomato and Onion Quiche
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Serve this savory egg pie with a mixed greens salad for brunch or a light dinner.

 
Related: Quiche Recipes You'll Love

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Sweet Corn Pizza

Sweet Corn Pizza
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Cutting fresh corn from the cob is a must for these cheery summer pizzas. It adds flavor and texture that you can't get from canned or frozen corn. Beyond that, feel free to play: There's lots of room for improvisation in the varieties of pesto, cheese or veggies used.

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Squash and Tomato Bake

Squash and Tomato Bake
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Bake squash under a layer of spiced tomatoes and cheese, and everyone will love eating their vegetables.

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Tomato Pasta with Arugula and Parmesan

Tomato Pasta with Arugula and Parmesan
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Light, no-cook lemon-garlic sauce dresses a tangle of linguine and vegetables. Mix red and yellow cherry tomatoes for the prettiest dish.

 
Related: Pasta Recipes with Pizzazz

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Eggs Goldenrod

Eggs Goldenrod
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Hard-boiled eggs are stirred into a creamy white sauce and served over flaky biscuits in this breakfast recipe.

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    1 of 30 Cauliflower Chickpea Bowl with Cilantro Yogurt
    2 of 30 Verde Con Maize Pizza
    3 of 30 Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes and Lentils
    4 of 30 Tomatoey Parmesan Beans
    5 of 30 Baked Stuffed Zucchini
    6 of 30 Curried Cauliflower Apple Melt
    7 of 30 Roasted Mushrooms con Queso Tamales
    8 of 30 Green Veggie Pasta
    9 of 30 Crisp Portobello Mushroom and Spring Carrot Salad
    10 of 30 Tomato Galette
    11 of 30 Risotto with Asparagus and Shiitakes
    12 of 30 Roasted Pear Salad with Farro and Arugula
    13 of 30 Zucchini and Feta Frittata
    14 of 30 Grilled Portobellos
    15 of 30 Chard and Sweet Potato Frittata
    16 of 30 Winter Squash, Mushrooms and Arugula with Parmesan
    17 of 30 Mushroom-Arugula Pizza
    18 of 30 Arugula-Lentil Salad with Poached Eggs
    19 of 30 Peperonata with Potatoes and Egg
    20 of 30 Vietnamese Grilled Eggplant
    21 of 30 Roasted Broccoli with Wheat Berries, Blue Cheese and Cranberries
    22 of 30 Baby Spinach Salad with Cumin Couscous and Bulgur
    23 of 30 Mushroom-Lentil Meatless Shepherd's Pie
    24 of 30 Mexican Sweet Potato-Veggie Medley
    25 of 30 Tomato Salad with Edamame Succotash
    26 of 30 Heirloom Tomato and Onion Quiche
    27 of 30 Sweet Corn Pizza
    28 of 30 Squash and Tomato Bake
    29 of 30 Tomato Pasta with Arugula and Parmesan
    30 of 30 Eggs Goldenrod

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