25 quick vegetarian dinners
Meat-free does not mean less filling. These vegetarian dinners lean on eggs, cheese, beans, chickpeas, tofu and pasta to make proper, satisfying meals in 20 minutes or less.
Updated October 2026 · ranked by popularity
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1. Stovetop mac and cheese
Creamy, cheddar-coated elbow macaroni made in one pot with evaporated milk, no roux and no oven. Smooth, saucy and ready in under 20 minutes.
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2. Garlic mashed potatoes
Small-diced Yukon Golds boiled with whole garlic cloves, then mashed with warm butter and milk until creamy. Real mashed potatoes in 20 minutes.
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3. Penne alla vodka
Penne in a silky, blush-pink sauce of caramelized tomato paste, a splash of vodka, cream and grated cheese, with a little chile heat. Made as the pasta boils.
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4. Egg fried rice
Classic takeout egg fried rice: day-old rice fried hot with fluffy scrambled egg, peas, carrots, scallions and soy. Ready in about 12 minutes.
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5. Copycat Benihana hibachi fried rice
Rice fried hot and fast in garlic butter with egg, onion, carrot and peas, then finished with soy and sesame. Our take on Benihana's hibachi fried rice.
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6. Pesto pasta with cherry tomatoes
Pasta tossed in a quick blender basil pesto (or a good store-bought one) with juicy cherry tomatoes and Parmesan. An easy vegetarian dinner in 17 minutes.
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7. Copycat Chipotle cilantro-lime rice
Fluffy long-grain rice cooked with a bay leaf, then tossed with fresh lime juice, zest and lots of chopped cilantro. Our take on Chipotle's cilantro-lime rice.
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8. Spaghetti aglio e olio
Spaghetti tossed in olive oil gently infused with sliced garlic and chili, emulsified with starchy pasta water and finished with parsley.
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9. Crispy black bean burgers
Canned black beans mashed with panko, egg, cumin and smoked paprika, pan-fried until crisp outside and served on buns with all the fixings.
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10. Honey glazed carrots
Carrot coins simmered until tender, then cooked down in butter and honey until glossy and lightly caramelized. A sweet, easy holiday side dish.
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11. Garlic butter noodles
Spaghetti or egg noodles tossed in foaming garlic butter, parmesan and a splash of starchy pasta water until glossy. Pantry comfort in 15 minutes.
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12. Parmesan creamed corn
Frozen corn seared in butter until a few kernels turn golden, then simmered with cream, cream cheese and parmesan. A rich skillet side for the holidays.
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13. Creamy Tuscan gnocchi
Pan-fried gnocchi in a garlicky cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, wilted spinach and parmesan. One pan, crisp edges, hardly any dishes to wash.
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14. Creamed spinach
Baby spinach wilted in garlic butter and simmered with heavy cream, cream cheese, parmesan and a pinch of nutmeg. A rich, steakhouse-style holiday side.
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15. Green beans almondine
Crisp-tender green beans tossed in nutty browned butter with toasted sliced almonds, shallot and a squeeze of lemon. A classic holiday side in 15 minutes.
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16. Grilled vegetable skewers with herb oil
Zucchini, bell pepper, red onion, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes on skewers, grilled until tender and charred and brushed with garlicky herb oil.
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17. Chana masala
Canned chickpeas simmered in a tangy onion, tomato and ginger gravy with garam masala and cumin, finished with lemon and cilantro and served over rice.
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18. Chickpea, spinach and coconut curry
Chickpeas simmered in a fragrant tomato and coconut sauce, with handfuls of spinach wilted through at the end. A pantry curry that tastes slow-cooked.
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19. Crispy potato tacos
Tacos de papa: cheesy mashed potato folded into corn tortillas and pan-fried until golden and crackly, topped with lettuce, salsa and crema.
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20. Mushroom stroganoff
Golden mushrooms in a creamy paprika and mustard sauce, spooned over buttery egg noodles or rice. A rich, cozy vegetarian dinner ready in 20 minutes.
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21. Quick bibimbap
Warm rice topped with garlicky sautéed spinach, mushrooms, carrot and zucchini, a crispy fried egg and a sweet-spicy gochujang sauce to mix through.
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22. Red lentil dal
Red lentils simmered with turmeric until soft and creamy, then topped with a sizzling tadka of cumin, garlic, onion and tomato. Comforting, cheap and vegan.
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23. Saag paneer
Golden pan-fried paneer cubes folded into a creamy, gingery spinach sauce made fast with frozen chopped spinach. Served with basmati rice.
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24. Cranberry orange relish
Fresh cranberries and a whole navel orange pulsed in a food processor with sugar. A bright, tart, no-cook relish for turkey and holiday sandwiches.
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25. Quick cranberry sauce
Tart cranberries simmered with orange juice, zest and sugar until they burst into a glossy ruby sauce. Ten minutes on the stove and better than canned.
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Our vegetarian labels describe each recipe as written. Some cheeses, such as traditional Parmesan, are made with animal rennet, so check labels if that matters to you.
Common questions
Are these recipes vegan too?
Some are. Look for the vegan label on each recipe, or see our vegan recipes page.