Our Best Meatless Casseroles That Are Hearty Enough To Be the Main Dish

By Southern Living Editors
Updated October 28, 2020
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Southerners truly know how to make-do and make good with the produce from their gardens, and these delicious vegetarian casseroles prove just how delectable meatless recipes can be. Our meatless casseroles are hearty enough to be the star of your meal. From a Savory Tomato Casserole—and no, it doesn’t call for beefsteak tomatoes—to the subtle flavors of feta in an eggplant Parmesan, these recipes are for casseroles that literally celebrate fresh vegetables. The rich Green Bean, Fresh Vegetable, and Spinach-Ricotta Lasagna recipes create warm, filling dishes, while the recipe for Marian’s Savory Vegetable Bread Pudding shows how the vegetables in your pantry can become a dinnertime feast. So enjoy the bounty of fresh produce and devour one of these mouthwatering vegetarian casseroles today.

Start Slideshow

1 of 20

French Onion Soup Casserole

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: French Onion Soup Casserole

We turned the classic soup into a comforting casserole that also happens to be the perfect meatless main dish for any cold day. You can save time by slicing the onions one day in advance of cooking and store them in the refrigerator overnight. 

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 20

Okra and Rice Casserole

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Okra and Rice Casserole

Sautéed okra, sweet corn, Cajun spices, and buttery garlic breadcrumbs give this colorful casserole plenty of flavor. When picking out the okra for your casserole. smaller pods that are 3 to 4 inches long will be the most tender. 

3 of 20

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

This creamy, cheesy dish comes together in just 30 minutes and will convince even the pickiest family members to eat their greens. Pre-chopped kale will help cut down prep time even more. 

Advertisement

4 of 20

Reunion Pea Casserole

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

Recipe: Reunion Pea Casserole

Even though this recipe calls for Italian sausage, you can make it without for a hearty and veggie-packed casserole that will be just as beautiful as the original. 

5 of 20

Zucchini Lasagna

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

Recipe: Zucchini Lasagna

A mandoline slicer will allow you to slice the zucchini into thin strips that resemble noodles. Then just layer and bake. 

6 of 20

Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Veggies are easier to eat when they're in the company of homemade macaroni and cheese. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 20

Lasagna Roll-Ups

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Lasagna Roll Ups

Take a great dish, put it in roll form, and it automatically becomes ten times more popular. You can also make this dish your own with the veggie additions of your choice.

8 of 20

Zucchini Rice Gratin

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

Recipe: Zucchini Rice Gratin

This comforting, yet fresh and clean recipe was inspired by Julia Child's Tian de Courgettes au Riz. 

9 of 20

Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole

The blend of sweet potato, cauliflower, and greens is unique—it’s almost as though three of our favorite sides got together to revolutionize dinner. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 20

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Just skip the last ingredient for a meatless spin and this vegetarian casserole will become your family's new favorite breakfast. 

11 of 20

Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

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

Recipe: Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

The addition of tomatoes turns macaroni and cheese into an acceptable main dish the whole family will love. Make sure to shred the cheese yourself for the creamiest results. 

12 of 20

Spinach Lasagna

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Spinach Lasagna

Everyone will enjoy eating their veggies between layers of noodles, cheese, and pasta sauce. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 20

Savory Tomato Cobbler

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Savory Tomato Cobbler

A scoop of this cobbler will satisfy even the most meat-loving and vegetable-averse of your family members, so it’s a great one to sneak in on the dinner table during a round of meatless Monday.

14 of 20

Green Bean Lasagna

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Green Bean Lasagna

Top this casserole with crushed buttery crackers and French fried onions and you will wonder how you ever enjoyed your green bean casserole any other way. This will be the update that will become your go-to family classic casserole for years to come.

15 of 20

Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna

Credit: Van Chaplin

Recipe: Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna

This top-rated spinach-ravioli lasagna uses convenience items, like store-bought pesto sauce, jarred Alfredo sauce, and frozen cheese-filled ravioli to deliver a delicious main dish with little time and effort on your part. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 20

Eggplant Parmesan with Feta

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Eggplant Parmesan with Feta

Adding feta to traditional eggplant Parmesan takes the flavor up a notch—scratch that—it takes the flavor up several notches. To lighten up the dish a bit, you can substitute part-skim for ricotta cheese in the recipe, if you’d like. The result will be just as creamy and delicious.

17 of 20

Fresh Vegetable Lasagna

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Fresh Vegetable Lasagna

This vegetable lasagna showcases a plethora of fresh veggies from zucchini to mushrooms to red and yellow bell peppers. It’s fresh and flavorful, a great twist on a traditional lasagna that’s sure to please. 

18 of 20

Spinach-and-Herb Pastatta

Credit: Photo: Melina Hammer

Recipe: Spinach-and-Herb Pastatta

We’d like to introduce you to the pastatta. It is a comforting, hearty, beyond delicious casserole that's a unique cross between baked pasta and a frittata.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 20

Zucchini-and-Spinach Lasagna

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Zucchini-and-Spinach Lasagna

Fresh basil, zucchini, and spinach are baked with both ricotta and flavored cream cheese for a hearty casserole that packs a real punch of flavor. No-boil lasagna noodles will help you get this dish on the table in no time.

20 of 20

Marian's Savory Vegetable Bread Pudding

Credit: Tina Cornett

Recipe: Savory Vegetable Bread Pudding

Mix and match vegetables that you have on hand for this recipe—everything from okra and tomatoes to summer squash and mushrooms will taste great. 

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Southern Living Editors