Meatless Mains for Weeknight Meals

By Patricia S York
May 11, 2018
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
If you want to incorporate meatless meals into your weeknight supper rotation, take a look at this fabulously delicious lineup. With recipes for tender veggie burgers, grilled kebabs, and even main-dish mac and cheese, your family will be begging for more meatless meals. Most of these recipes are quick and easy, on the table in under an hour. Round out the meals with a simple dessert, and your family will never miss the meat.
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Halloumi-and-Summer Vegetable Kebabs

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Recipe: Halloumi-and-Summer Vegetable Kebabs​​​​​​​

Turn these kebabs into a panzanella and serve family style. Slide the cooked ingredients from the skewers into a large oval serving bowl. Toss with olive oil, lemon juice, and toasted bread cubes.

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Red Beans-and-Rice Veggie Burgers

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Red Beans-and-Rice Veggie Burgers

In Louisiana, a “vegetarian” may not eat meat, but he or she will certainly eat plenty of seafood. Because of a state-wide tendency to favor pescetarians, most Louisiana entrees will include meat, either from the land or from the sea. This vegetarian Mardi Gras recipe doesn’t include meat or seafood, for those who choose not to eat both. A riff off the popular red beans and rice dish, these veggie burgers may give up the typical sausage ingredient, but they certainly do not give up flavor. Full of Creole seasoning and vegetables, topped with Creole mustard, and served on toasted bread, these filling burgers offer the same savory flavors that all Cajun food brings. Stirring the rice as it cooks releases the starch that helps hold the veggie patties together. Want to go beyond vegetarian? Top these burgers with grilled shrimp or sausage.

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Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes

This pasta salad is hearty enough for a main dish during warm summer months. If you want to add some bulk, chicken or seafood are both delicious choices.

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Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls

Here is a tip Test Kitchen tip on cooking with plantains: Plantains are ready to cook when their peels turn black on the outside, so buy them black or let them ripen before cooking. Many grocery stores sell heat-and-serve frozen plantains too. You’ll love the sweet crunch the plantains give this colorful dish.

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Farro Bowl with Curry-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Karen Rankin

Recipe: Farro Bowl with Curry-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts

Mix up your weeknight dinner with this meatless, savory bowl made with tender, fluffy farro—a nutty, ancient wheat grain that is equally tasty when whipped into risottos or tossed into salads. Farro can be prepared up to two days in advance. Just store it covered in the refrigerator, and then reheat before serving.

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Ziti with Mushroom, Fennel, and Tomato Ragu

Ziti with Mushroom, Fennel, and Tomato Ragu

Recipe: Ziti with Mushroom, Fennel, and Tomato Ragu

Ragu is traditionally a meat sauce, but we developed flavors and textures in this sauce using multiple varieties of mushrooms. While any pasta shape will work with this hearty vegetarian dish, we prefer penne or ziti; these noodles help capture every last bite of the chunky sauce.

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Pasta with Beans, Blistered Tomatoes, and Breadcrumbs

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lauren Smith Ford; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Pasta with Beans, Blistered Tomatoes, and Breadcrumbs

Make this pasta dish with vegetable broth (instead of chicken broth) for a satisfying meatless meal.

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Eggplant Rollups

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Eggplant Rollups

This hearty dish only requires five ingredients, plus a few everyday pantry items. Add a tossed green salad to these tasty rollups for a satisfying meatless meal.

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Zucchini Rice Gratin

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Zucchini Rice Gratin

Use some of your fast-growing garden zucchini in this gratin, which is similar to the classic and well-loved cheesy squash casseroles, minus the heavy mayonnaise.

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Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

Victor Protasio

Recipe: Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

For the smoothest, creamiest results, let the white sauce cool slightly before whisking in the shredded cheese. For best results, skip the pre-shredded cheeses available at the grocery store and shred the cheese yourself.

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Mexicali Meatless Tostadas

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Mexicali Meatless Tostadas

Meatless Monday meets Taco Tuesday. You won’t even miss the ground beef when you try this recipe using delicious meatless burger crumbles.

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Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Kale and Pasta Bak

This easy to make casserole is a complete main dish in one pan. Buy pre-chopped, pre-washed bagged kale and pre-shredded cheese to save prep time.

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Stuffed Tomatoes with Pesto Rice

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Stuffed Tomatoes with Pesto Rice

The eggplant serves as the vessel in this delicious rendition of the classic Italian dish. Convenience products are great at reducing prep time, so we call for a jarred pasta sauce in this recipe.

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Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan

Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan

The eggplant serves as the vessel in this delicious rendition of the classic Italian dish. Convenience products are great at reducing prep time, so we call for a jarred pasta sauce in this recipe.

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Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

Southern Living

Recipe: Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

This delicious variation on traditional macaroni and cheese is easy to prepare and perfect for weeknight family dinners and weekend entertaining alike. Add a green salad and fresh vegetables for a hearty, meatless meal.

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Lasagna Roll Ups

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Tomato-Basil Lasagna Roll Ups

Canned artichokes give the rich filling its meaty heft. Feel free to sub sautéed mushrooms or spinach.

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Spring Onion Pie

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Heather Chadduck, Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Spring Onion Pie

This quiche-like pie is a nice choice for a light but filling easy, meatless meal. Serve with fresh fruit.

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Tomato Panzanella

Iain Bagwel

Recipe: Tomato Panzanella

To layer the flavors of this panzanella even further, substitute an unrefined corn oil, which tastes like fresh sweet corn, for some of the extra virgin olive oil.

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Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie

Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie is summer perfection thanks to garden fresh tomatoes and herbs.

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Tortellini-and-Tomato Salad

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Tortellini-and-Tomato Salad

Tomatoes and basil go together like ice cream and apple pie. They brighten up this simple pasta salad and make it delicious enough for a summer weeknight supper or special enough for a backyard party.

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By Patricia S York