35 Delicious Meatless Main Dishes For Weeknight Meals

Suppers so satisfying you won't miss the meat at all

By

Patricia S York

Updated on July 30, 2024

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

If you want to incorporate meatless meals into your weeknight supper rotation, look at this delicious lineup. Adopting a vegetarian 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 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.

Meatless doesn't have to mean it isn't full of flavor. Here are 31 recipes for every palette, with casseroles, lasagnas, soups, and more.

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Veggie Fajitas

Southern Living Savory Veggie Fajitas on a plate ready to serve — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Peppers, onions, and portobello mushrooms are glazed with a rich sauce made with smoked paprika, cumin, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup. Tuck this meatless filling into some warm tortillas, add some sour cream and cilantro, and you've got yourself a satisfying meatless meal.

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Skillet Pasta Primavera

Southern Living Skillet Pasta Primavera in the pan ready to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Asparagus, peas, and cherry tomatoes combine with basil in this version of the Italian pasta classic. But if you have other vegetables on hand, feel free to use them instead—this dish is as adaptable as it is delicious.

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Farro Salad

Southern Living Farro Salad in a large bowl to serve — Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Costen King, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

This colorful salad is packed with healthy whole grains and fresh vegetables. You can use pearled or whole farro (or another grain), but whole farro will take a little longer to cook.

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Zucchini Pasta

Southern Living Easy Zucchini-Basil Pasta on a plate to serve — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Prissy Montiel

Creamy sauce, tender noodles and squash, and fragrant basil—what's not to love? Even better, it will be on the table in 25 minutes.

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Farmers' Market Frittata

Southern Living Farmers Market Frittata in the pan with a couple of slices cut out on blue plates — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Enjoy breakfast for dinner! Full of kale, red onion, and peppers, the Farmers' Market Frittata is decadent yet refreshing.

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French Onion Pasta

Southern Living French Onion Pasta in a bowl to serve topped with fresh thyme — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Coming together in just one pot, this recipe combines the classic soup with pasta for a dish so comforting you won't even miss the meat. To make the meal vegetarian, you can swap the beef broth for vegetable broth.

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Eggplant Rollups

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

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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Okra And Rice Casserole

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

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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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

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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Sheet Pan Veggie Supreme Pizza

Southern Living Sheet Pan Veggie Supreme Pizza cut and ready to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

A cross between focaccia and pizza, this veggie-covered dish is just what you need. The best part? The dough is store bought but covered in olive oil to make every bite perfectly crispy.

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Creamy Vegetable Pot Pie

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

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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Fettuccine Alfredo

Southern Living Fettuccine Alfredo in a bowl ready to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Get ready to twirl your fork. This easy, creamy fettuccine Alfredo uses basic ingredients from your pantry and fridge to create a homemade sauce that beats any store-bought jar.

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Cheesy Mushroom Sliders

Southern Living Cheesy Mushroom Sliders with fries on the side to serve — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

These mushroom sliders come together quickly in just 30 minutes. They should marinate for 8 to 12 hours so just make sure to allow that time for them to soak up plenty of flavor.

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Baked Tortellini Alfredo With Mushrooms

Baked Tortellini Alfredo With Mushrooms in a cast iron skillet — ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

With this recipe, you can be enjoying the comforting flavors of Alfredo in just 25 minutes. Just make sure to use an oven-safe skillet so you can crisp it under the broiler just before serving.

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Creamy Artichoke, Kale, and Rice Gratin

Creamy Artichoke, Kale, and Rice Gratin — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

With this casserole recipe, you can enjoy the flavors of spinach-artichoke dip for dinner. Plus, it comes together in just 35 minutes.

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Vegetable Soup

Southern Living Vegetable Soup with Cheesy Saltines in bowls to serve with the crackers on the side — Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

In about an hour, this classic, comforting vegetable soup will be ready. With each bite, you'll get a rich, tomato-y soup with loads of tender vegetables.

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Burrito Bowls

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

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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Barbecue Jackfruit Sandwiches

Southern Living Barbecue Jackfruit Sandwiches ready to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This is an old favorite turned plant-based dish that even meat lovers will be pleasantly surprised by. The shredded pork-like texture perfectly pairs with the fresh slaw.

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Butternut Squash Lasagna

Butternut Squash Lasagna — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

While we think this recipe is best with fresh squash, you can also use frozen if needed to save time. It can also be made ahead and stored in the freezer to cook on a busy weeknight.

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French Onion Soup Casserole

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

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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7-Can Soup

Southern Living 7-Can Soup in individual bowls ready to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

The hardest part of this 25-minute soup recipe is opening each of the cans. While meat can be added, it's hearty, delicious, and warm without.

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Slow-Cooker Lentil Soup

Slow Cooker Lentil Soup — Jennifer Causey

Simple, satisfying, and made in the slow cooker, despite the lack of meat this soup recipe is still packed with protein. We like garnishing each bowl with parsley and parmesan cheese.

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Vegetarian Skillet Chili

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

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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Slow-Cooker Black Bean Soup

Slow-Cooker Black Bean Soup Image — Southern Living

This soup recipe is easy as could be. You simply toss everything into the slow cooker and let it do the cooking. Just reserve the tomatoes for the last hour.

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Creamy Kale And Pasta Bake

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake — Hector Manuel Sanchez

This cozy dish gets a kick from a little hot sauce, while the kale keeps it light.

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Zucchini Lasagna

zucchini lasagna — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Tina Stamos

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

southern living roasted broccoli macaroni and cheese — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch

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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Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, And Greens Casserole

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

Who said meat was required for a filling casserole? Not us! The sheer abundance of vegetable goodness 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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Roasted Tomato Macaroni And Cheese

Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese — Victor Protasio

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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Lasagna Roll Ups

Tomato-Basil Lasagna Rolls — Hector Sanchez; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

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

old-fashioned tomato pie on a teal cloth — Iain Bagwell

Old-Fashioned Tomato Pie is summer perfection thanks to garden fresh tomatoes and herbs. A cheesy topping doesn't hurt either.

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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

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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Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna

Easy Pasta Recipes: Spinach Ravioli Lasagna — Van Chaplin

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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Sweet Potato-Carrot Soup

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

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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Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

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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