Meatless Mains for Weeknight Meals

Recipe: Tomato-Herb Panzanella

Side dish or main dish? It's up to you. This Panzanella calls for a rustic boule, chopped. In it goes with assorted lettuce, refreshing English cucumbers, and dreamy heirloom tomatoes. Season with black pepper, capers, and garlic before finishing with a drizzle of Dijon mustard. It's the ideal light summer dinner.

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!

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 may want to sub the beef broth for a vegetable one.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Recipe: Marian's Savory Vegetable Bread Pudding

No one said bread pudding is strictly sweet, so we suggest you try this savory version, which incorporates a mélange of vegetables with some fluffy ciabatta for a pudding that can easily be tonight's dinner.

Recipe: Salmon Burger

With our Salmon Burger, you won't miss out on any of the cookout fun. The patties are easy to make, using cucumber for some crunch and chile paste for a surprise kick.

Recipe: Tomato Salad with Grilled Shrimp

Excellent tomatoes are essential here, so choose ones whose flavor you love. The delicate flavor and bright colors of heirloom tomatoes make them ready candidates. Add a spray of fresh herbs (dill, basil, mint, and chives are yours for the picking) and you have a delicious pescatarian dinner on your hands.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Recipe: Pasta with Beans, Blistered Tomatoes, and Breadcrumbs

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Recipe: Tomato-Basil Lasagna Roll Ups

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

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie

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