Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 14 Summer Vegetarian Recipes You Can Make on Meatless Monday—and Beyond Choose from meat-free apps, mains, and more! By Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner Instagram Twitter Website Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner is a writer and recipe developer. She's a regular contributor to The New York Times, Time Out New York, Forbes, and many more publications. She also writes the food newsletter, Specialty. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on March 28, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email 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! Interested in a Flexitarian Diet? Try These 5 Recipes 01 of 14 Gazpacho With Goat Cheese Salsa David Prince get the recipe This classic cold soup is super easy to make, and full of bright flavors that are accentuated by crumbled goat cheese on top. Pack it in a Thermos for a refreshing sip on a warm day. 02 of 14 Toasted Israeli Couscous With Corn and Herbs Greg DuPree get the recipe A salad that's excellent as a 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. 03 of 14 Corn and Pepper Scramble Caitlin Bensel get the recipe If you're a gardener, farmers market frequenter, or CSA 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. 04 of 14 Peanut Butter Ramen Antonis Achilleos get the recipe 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. 05 of 14 Tomato, Corn, and Red Cabbage Salad Paul Sirisalee get the recipe Whip this up for a picnic or to top any variety of vegetarian proteins, like grilled tofu, seitan, 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. 06 of 14 Grilled Cauliflower Steaks With Romesco and Manchego Victor Protasio get the recipe 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. RELATED: 6 Terrific Sources of Plant Protein for an Added Boost of Fuel 07 of 14 Lemony Chopped Salad with Pita Victor Protasio get the recipe 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! 08 of 14 Zucchini Pesto Pasta Caitlin Bensel get the recipe Summer and pesto go together like sprinkles and ice cream. Delicious at any temperature, a pesto pasta is both healthy and decadent, especially this recipe that adds zucchini strands to the final dish. 09 of 14 Grilled Halloumi Salad There are a few reasons why this delicious grilled halloumi cheese salad is going to become your summer dinner fave. First, it’s easy to throw together after work, and still manages to be super filling. Second, it hits all the right flavor notes, from briny olives to spicy garlic and cool, crunchy cucumbers. But, the most important reason to make this salad is to eat grilled halloumi, a firm cheese that can stand the heat of a grill or grill pan. The taste is salty like feta, but you can cut into the planks of crispy, melty cheese with a knife and fork like you would tofu or a portobello mushroom. Get the recipe: Grilled Halloumi Salad. Greg DuPree get the recipe 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. 10 of 14 Lemony Cucumber-and-Herb Pasta Salad Greg DuPree get the recipe 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! 11 of 14 Pistachio Pudding This creamy, gently sweet pistachio pudding has a whimsical (and natural) light-green hue that's sure to put a smile on your face. Finish each cup with a dollop of whipped cream. Hector Manuel Sanchez get the recipe 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. 12 of 14 Frozen Strawberry Trifle Caitlin Bensel get the recipe 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! RELATED: 17 Delicious Desserts Perfect for Peak Summer 13 of 14 Orange Dreamsicle Icebox Cake Caitlin Bensel get the recipe 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. 14 of 14 Mixed Berry Biscuit Cobbler Kelsey Hansen get the recipe 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit