30 Meatless Mains For Weeknight Meals

Black Bean Burgers with Comeback Sauce
Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

If you want to incorporate meatless meals into your weeknight supper rotation, take a look at this fabulously delicious lineup. Adopting a vegetarian, environmentally-friendly diet isn't as challenging as you think, with recipes for tender veggie burgers, grilled kebabs, and even main-dish mac and cheese. Did we mention the French Onion Soup Casserole? Your family will be begging for more meatless meals, and with the numerous options, there is something to satisfy even your pickiest eater and most ardent meat-lover. If that isn't convincing enough, the best part might be that most of these recipes are quick and easy, on the table in under an hour. Proof? Try the Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna, which comes together with 10 minutes of prep work, thanks to the help of frozen cheese ravioli. Round out the meals with a simple dessert, and you'll find that any sort of meat is a distant memory compared to these hearty, vegetable-laden alternatives.

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Burrito Bowls

Burrito Bowls
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Burrito Bowls

A dash of lime and chopped cilantro keep things fresh, while chili powder and cumin provide the spice. Creamy avocado, sour cream, and queso blanco tie everything together, and the beans provide the hearty protein. You won't miss the meat!

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French Onion Soup Casserole

French Onion Soup Casserole
Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: French Onion Soup Casserole

French onion soup as a casserole? Yes, please. This iconic dish gets a Southern makeover as a casserole, meaning there's more bread to go around. The soup base we know and love is layered over baguette slices and baked. Near the end of the cooking time, you'll broil the cheese for a bubbly, crispy exterior. Strict vegetarians and others will want to sub the beef broth for a vegetable one.

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Okra and Rice Casserole

Okra and Rice Casserole
Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Okra and Rice Casserole

Roll two Southern staples right into a casserole and you can't go wrong. Generous amounts of okra dance with a mixture of tomatoes, onion, celery, and bell pepper. Everything is well-flavored by the garlic and Cajun seasoning, and the rice becomes the vehicle by which you soak up the homey broth.

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Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

This cozy dish gets a kick from a little hot sauce, while the kale keeps it light. Serve it up as a side, or let it shine as your main weeknight dish.

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Zucchini Lasagna

Zucchini Lasagna
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Recipe: Zucchini Lasagna

Replacing some of the lasagna noodles with zucchini strips lightens an otherwise classic dish. You'll stuff the layers with whole-milk ricotta, fresh mozzarella, and good parmesan — so much cheese, you won't miss the meat.

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Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

A beloved pasta dish gets a little makeover with the addition of roasted broccoli florets. Chunks of cheddar cheese, dispersed throughout the dish, create surprise cheesy pockets. The best thing? It's a make-ahead meal.

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Spinach Lasagna

Spinach Lasagna
Alison Miksch

Recipe: Spinach Lasagna

Layers of noodles are bursting at the seams with fresh baby spinach, ricotta cheese, and red bell peppers. Meet a fun variant of the traditional lasagna that will win over even the staunchest carnivore.

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Green Bean Lasagna

Green Bean Lasagna
Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Green Bean Lasagna

Bet you haven't thought about green beans in your lasagna before. This recipe combines French-cut green beans with mushrooms and the usual lasagna culprits, but with the addition of buttery crackers and fried onions. It's green bean casserole with an Italian flair.

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Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna

Easy Pasta Recipes: Spinach Ravioli Lasagna
Van Chaplin

Recipe: Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna

Hello, easiest meatless dinner ever. With the help of frozen cheese ravioli and pre-made pesto, you're well on your way to dinner with just 10 minutes of prep.

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Eggplant Parmesan with Feta

Eggplant Parmesan with Feta
Southern Living

Recipe: Eggplant Parmesan with Feta

The meaty eggplant fills the void in this comforting dish, so much so that you won't even miss the chicken. The feta adds a nice tang that helps brings brightness to the dish.

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Fresh Vegetable Lasagna

Fresh Vegetable Lasagna
Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Fresh Vegetable Lasagna

If you love a good farmers market haul, you absolutely need this recipe. Let your vegetables shine in this lighter lasagna that also substitutes regular ricotta for a fat-free version.

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Spinach-and-Herb Pastatta

Spinach-and-Herb Pastatta
Melina Hammer

Recipe: Spinach-and-Herb Pastatta

What is a pastatta, you ask? The marriage of a frittata and a baked casserole, and in this case, spinach, herbs, and a medley of cheeses take the starring roles.

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Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole

Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole

Who said meat was required for a filling casserole? Not us! The sheer abundance of vegetable goodness (which also includes cremini mushrooms and the salad of your choice — kale, collards, mustard greens) swimming in an easy cheese sauce will have you forgetting about any idea of meat (though there are beans for protein).

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Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes

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

Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls

Here is a 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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Slow-Cooker Veggie Chili

Slow-Cooker Veggie Chili
Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Veggie Chili

Packed with fresh veggies, from zucchini to sliced mushrooms, this easy slow-cooker meal requires less than 30 minutes of hands-on cooking. Thanks to the low and slow cooking method, this chili develops a rich flavor without adding any meat.

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Spaghetti with Meatless Ragù

Spaghetti with Meatless Ragù
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Spaghetti with Meatless Ragù

Ragu is traditionally a meat sauce, but we developed flavors and textures in this sauce using plant-based ground-meat. While any pasta shape will work with this hearty vegetarian dish, we prefer slurping up long strand of spaghetti with this rich sauce.

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Eggplant Rollups

Eggplant Rollups
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

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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Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

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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Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

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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Vegetable Soup with Basil Pesto

Vegetable Soup with Basil Pesto
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Vegetable Soup with Basil Pesto

A dollop of pesto takes this vegetable soup to a whole new savory level. Feel free to mix in whatever seasonal vegetables you might find, from peas in the spring to hearty parsnips in the winter.

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Lasagna Roll Ups

Tomato-Basil Lasagna Rolls
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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Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie

Just Ripe for Summer: 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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Vegetarian Skillet Chili

Vegetarian Skillet Chili
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

Recipe: Vegetarian Skillet Chili

Like traditional chili, this meatless version gets its bold flavor from ingredients like cumin, tomatoes, garlic, and onion. This recipe wastes nothing, incorporating the cilantro stems you would usually discard into the base for added flavor.

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Rigatoni With Grilled Veggies and Mozzarella

Rigatoni with Grilled Veggies and Mozzarella
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Rigatoni With Grilled Veggies and Mozzarella

This pasta dish borrows flavors from the Italian dish caponata, blending grilled eggplant, mozzarella, and tomatoes over rigatoni for a great vegetarian main dish that can be served hot or cold, as a pasta salad.

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Tabitha Brown's Vegan Mac and Cheese

Tabitha Brown's Vegan Mac and Cheese
Greg DuPree, Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Tabitha Brown's Vegan Mac and Cheese

This mac and cheese is not only meatless, it's dairy-free. Don't worry, it's still ooey-gooey and creamy even without the cheese and cream.

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Sweet Potato-Carrot Soup

Sweet Potato-Carrot Soup
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Prissy Lee Montiel

Recipe: Sweet Potato-Carrot Soup

Most soups simmer for hours, this vegetarian soup comes together in only an hour. Not only is it a vibrant color, but it's also endlessly customizable––this simple two-step recipe can be used as guide for turning any root veggies you have on hand into a satisfying soup.

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Terry Sargent's Vegan "Boneless Ribs"

Terry Sargent’s Vegan “Boneless Ribs”
Robbie Caponetto

Recipe: Terry Sargent's Vegan "Boneless Ribs"

Shredded jackfruit is the secret ingredient that makes these vegan ribs mimic the look and texture of pulled pork, while smoked paprika and liquid smoke help give them a barbecued meat flavor without the smoker.

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Black Bean Burgers with Comeback Sauce

Black Bean Burgers with Comeback Sauce
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Black Bean Burgers with Comeback Sauce

A meatless option to make at the next cookout or tailgate. To make them vegetarian, omit the bacon and swap the chicken broth for vegetable when slow cooking the beans.

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Creamy Vegetable Pot Pie

Creamy Spring Vegetable Pot Pie
Johnny Autry; Food and Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Recipe:Creamy Vegetable Pot Pie

A vegetable pot pie so rich, you won't even miss the chicken. Enriched with heavy whipping cream, crème fraîche, whole-grain mustard, and fresh thyme, you'll get all the flavor of the classic and a double serving of vegetables in one dish.

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