20 Vegetarian Recipes You Can Make on Meatless Monday—and Beyond

Choose from meat-free apps, mains, and more!

Grilled Halloumi Salad
Photo: GREG DUPREE

Meatless summer? We're in! The warm months are maybe the best time to try eating plant-based meals, when summer's bounty is delicious, diverse, and practically begging to star in everything from dips to desserts. Backyard barbecues, beach parties, and park picnics can all be lush with veggies thanks to these excellent summer vegetarian recipes. Scroll down for some meat-free appetizers, main courses, desserts, and more!

01 of 20

Toasted Israeli Couscous With Corn and Herbs

Toasted Israeli Couscous With Corn and Herbs Recipe
Greg DuPree

A salad that's excellent as an appetizer or an entree, this toasted couscous with fresh summer corn offers a pop of sweetness and texture in every bite. Try it with leftover grilled corn for another savory twist.

02 of 20

Corn and Pepper Scramble

Corn and Pepper Scramble
Caitlin Bensel

If you're a gardener, farmer's market frequenter, or CSA (community-supported agriculture) subscriber, you're all too familiar with the abundance of corn and peppers in your fridge come midsummer. Use some of that bright, fresh flavor in a quick breakfast or lunch, and top it with crumbly cheese and hot sauce for an extra boost.

03 of 20

Peanut Butter Ramen

Peanut Butter Ramen Recipe
Antonis Achilleos

This quick vegetarian dinner recipe is super easy to whip up—it takes less than 10 minutes to make, and you can throw in an abundance of raw or cold leftover veggies to dress it up. With endless renditions of these plant-based creamy noodles, they can easily become a new summer staple.

04 of 20

Tomato, Corn, and Red Cabbage Salad

Tomato, Corn, and Red Cabbage Salad
Paul Sirisalee

Whip this up for a picnic or to top any variety of vegetarian proteins, like grilled tofu, seitan (aka vegan chicken), or halloumi. It will add some acidity and bright color to any meal! And if you have leftovers, give this salad a refresh by tossing in your favorite summer herbs.

05 of 20

Grilled Cauliflower Steaks With Romesco and Manchego

Grilled Cauliflower Steaks With Romesco and Manchego Recipe
Victor Protasio

Cauliflower steaks are always a good idea, especially when you can grill them outdoors on a warm night. Just bring all the elements near the grill so you can plate everything once these plant-based steaks are cooked to perfection.

06 of 20

Lemony Chopped Salad with Pita

Lemony Chopped Salad
Victor Protasio

This fattoush-inspired chopped salad is truly stunning to look at, but also way too easy to eat, with the perfect ratios of crispness, crunch, and tangy lemon dressing. Pita croutons are the perfect topping!

07 of 20

Zucchini Pesto Pasta

Zucchini Pesto Pasta Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

Summer and pesto go together like sprinkles and ice cream. Delicious at any temperature, pesto pasta is both healthy and decadent, especially in this recipe that adds zucchini strands to the final dish.

08 of 20

Grilled Halloumi Salad

Grilled Halloumi Salad
Greg DuPree

Don't sleep on halloumi as an excellent summer vegetarian meal! This chewy cheese is amazing on the grill, as a salad topper, or on its own with your own choice of grilled veggies. If you don't want to cook the halloumi in a skillet, try it on skewers instead.

09 of 20

Lemony Cucumber-and-Herb Pasta Salad

Lemony Cucumber-and-Herb Pasta Salad
Greg DuPree

The combo of mustard, garlic, and lemon in this dressing may just make it your summer salad go-to, but first, you need to try it with pasta and cucumbers. Talk about beach picnic goals!

10 of 20

Meatless Meatball Subs

Eggplant-Mushroom Meatball Sub
Caitlin Bensel

Summer is a perfect time for a lighter version of a traditional meal. This vegetarian take on meatball subs features eggplant and umami-filled mushrooms. It's also a great recipe to double, freeze half, and eat the second portion later in a grain bowl.

11 of 20

Mole-Spiced Black Bean and Quinoa Bowl

black-bean-quinoa-bowl-1219din
Jen Causey

You may be used to mole with chicken, but it works equally well to flavor beans, veggies, and dressings. Crispy cauliflower and pumpkin seeds make this bowl a crunchy delight.

12 of 20

Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf With Cranberries

Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf With Cranberries in a Brown Bowl
Gentl + Hyers

White wine and tarragon help to flavor this hearty grain bowl, while the cranberries give it a sweet-tart boost. Top with parsley and enjoy this as a side dish or combined with a salad for a light dinner.

13 of 20

Black Bean Tostadas With Sweet Potato and Poblanos

Black Bean Tostadas With Sweet Potato and Poblanos on a Plate on a Table
Victor Protasio

A rainbow of bright veggies adorns this black bean tostada. Shredded cabbage and radishes add a fresh crunch alongside the sweet potato and poblanos. This dish can be turned into nachos by subbing in tortilla chips for the corn tostadas.

14 of 20

Summer Nachos

Summer Nachos
Greg DuPree

Corn spiced with paprika and golden-seared zucchini top these cheesy nachos. Tie it all together by drizzling a creamy avocado-yogurt dressing over the tray. This works as a meal or as a fun, semi-healthy appetizer at a party.

15 of 20

Mushroom White Pizza

Mushroom White Pizza
Greg DuPree

This pizza's base couldn't be easier to fix: Just mix ricotta, shredded mozzarella, garlic, and oil. Add the sauteed mushrooms and slide into a hot oven for 12 minutes. Serve with a side salad for a light, summer meal.

16 of 20

Cauliflower Tartine With Romesco Sauce

Roasted and Pickled Cauliflower Sandwiches With Romesco
Caitlin Bensel

You'll need a fork and knife to eat this unique, open-faced, vegetarian sandwich. Shallots, garlic, and raisins join two types of cauliflower (roasted and pickled) on sourdough, and it's topped off with a creamy Romesco sauce made from red peppers.

17 of 20

Pistachio Pudding

Pistachio Pudding
Hector Manuel Sanchez

A cold scoop of fresh pudding on a hot day just hits the spot, especially when it boasts a beautiful green hue. And yes, that color is all natural thanks to the healthy pistachios.

18 of 20

Frozen Strawberry Trifle

Frozen Strawberry Trifle
Caitlin Bensel

This make-ahead dessert only uses six ingredients, making it a breeze to prepare and have ready in the freezer for a special occasion. Cutting into the layers for that first bite of ice cream-covered strawberries is just delightful!

19 of 20

Orange Dreamsicle Icebox Cake

orange dreamsicle icebox-cake
Caitlin Bensel

Making a cake crust from flat graham crackers is the ultimate hack, and you just know that dreamsicle anything sparks so much joy. Bring this no-bake cake out at the end of a summer vegetarian meal for the ultimate creamy treat.

20 of 20

Mixed Berry Biscuit Cobbler

Mixed Berry Biscuit Cobbler
Kelsey Hansen

When the weather cooperates and you can turn on your oven, a berry cobbler is the perfect summer treat. The biscuits on top of these berries add a wonderful crumbly layer that can arguably be eaten for breakfast and dessert alike.

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