25 Best Vegetarian Recipes

Rösti Casserole with Baked Eggs

From fresh garden salads to hearty stews, and even a mock meat loaf, this collection of vegetarian recipes will leave you full, happy, and certainly glad you chose these healthy meatless meals. In honor of our 25th anniversary, we compiled a collection of our editors' and readers' favorite vegetarian recipes from the past 25 years. Based on research from MyRecipes.com, we pulled the Cooking Light recipes that received the most votes and highest star ratings.

First Up: You'll love this Rösti Casserole with Baked Eggs. We have whittled down the calories in this traditional Swedish dish and added our own spin with Greek yogurt and artisan spices. This dish embodies the alluring qualities you'd expect from rösti—shredded potatoes that are cooked until browned and crisp on the edges. Serve with a colorful mixed greens salad.

View Recipe: Rösti Casserole with Baked Eggs

Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas with Ranchero Sauce

Don’t miss out on this Mexican chile sauce dish. The sauce has a kick, but if you want fire, add extra ancho chiles. This meal is filling, flavorful, and a great protein substitute for a meatless diet.

View Recipe: Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas with Ranchero Sauce

Lentil-Barley Burgers with Fiery Fruit

Try this hearty, main dish burger made from lentils, veggies, and seasoning. You can have it sans the bun and topped with spicy, sweet salsa or for a more traditional approach, top with cheese, ketchup, and a sesame bun.

View Recipe: Lentil-Barley Burgers with Fiery Fruit

Vegetable "Meat" Loaf

Vegetarians and carnivores alike will love this ingenious twist on meat loaf. The meaty-flavored, umami-rich recipe received our Test Kitchen's highest rating.

View Recipe: Vegetable "Meat" Loaf

Roasted Asparagus and Tomato Penne Salad with Goat Cheese

“What a great way to use asparagus, tomatoes, and lettuce as a change of pace dish! Everyone loved it - even my 13-month-old granddaughter! I added extra asparagus and tomatoes since we all love roasted veggies! This will be a regular meatless dish for us!” -flowbleu

View Recipe: Roasted Asparagus and Tomato Penne Salad with Goat Cheese

Tuscan White Bean Soup with Escarole

This warming, hearty soup has a zing and is full of healthy proteins and tender veggies. It will surely leave you pleasantly surprised – and warm, of course.

View Recipe: Tuscan White Bean Soup with Escarole

Fontal Polenta with Mushroom Sauté

Earthy, rich, and flavorful – this dish is packed full of savory goodness. Instant polenta makes it fast to create this gourmet treat.

View Recipe: Fontal Polenta with Mushroom Sauté

Brown Butter Gnocchi with Spinach and Pine Nuts

Pair pasta-like potato gnocchi with wilted spinach for a light and flavorful 6-ingredient dish (plus salt and pepper) in minutes.

View Recipe: Brown Butter Gnocchi with Spinach and Pine Nuts

Orzo Salad with Spicy Buttermilk Dressing

This dish is fresh, creamy, and packed with fresh veggies. When the reviews rave this dish is “delicious,” “excellent,” and “a big hit,” why wouldn’t you put it on this week’s menu plan?

View Recipe: Orzo Salad with Spicy Buttermilk Dressing

Eggplant Parmesan

This perfect version of a classic Italian meatless dinner, Parmigiana, will quickly become a family favorite. Add a glass of vino for a Sicilian style date night or a scoop of gelato for a kid-friendly Italian night.

View Recipe: Eggplant Parmesan

Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili

Keep the thermostat down and lose the parka – this recipe is sure to keep you warm. This healthy, nutritious, and hearty vegetarian staple is packed with protein and super low in fat.

View Recipe: Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili

Potato, Turnip, and Spinach Baeckeoffe

Translated from the Germanic Alsatian dialect, baeckeoffe means "baker's oven," as it was traditionally a dish that was brought to the local baker to cook in his oven. Classic versions are loaded with meat, but our vegetarian riff is equally hearty and rich.

View Recipe: Potato, Turnip, and Spinach Baeckeoffe

Poblano, Mango, and Black Bean Quesadillas

The sweetness of the mango balances the snappiness of the chile. Top quesadillas with fat-free sour cream and salsa, and serve with spinach and carrot salad.

View Recipe: Poblano, Mango, and Black Bean Quesadillas

Fall Vegetable Curry

Embrace Indian flavors by making this vegetarian meal that only takes 30 minutes from start to finish.

View Recipe: Fall Vegetable Curry

Grilled Portobello, Bell Pepper, and Goat Cheese Sandwiches

Pungent goat cheese adds a creamy quality to this delicious and filling sandwich. Balsamic, garlic, and oil acts to transcend the main star of the sandwich – the portobello mushroom – to the next level.

View Recipe: Grilled Portobello, Bell Pepper, and Goat Cheese Sandwiches

Phyllo Pizza with Feta, Basil, and Tomatoes

Salty cheese, tomatoes, and basil make this a savory treat. Pair with a tossed green salad for a light summer supper.

View Recipe: Phyllo Pizza with Feta, Basil, and Tomatoes

Baked Eggplant with Mushroom-and-Tomato Sauce

This cheesy, mushroom dish mimics eggplant parmesan, but is baked in tomato sauce until the veggies are tender and savory. Serve over pasta for a main dish, or use as a filling side dish to accompany a light main course.

View Recipe: Baked Eggplant with Mushroom-and-Tomato Sauce

Chili-Glazed Tofu over Asparagus and Rice

This recipe is a great idea for spicing up bland tofu. Cutting the tofu into thin strips, glazing, and cooking it leaves a great tasting, crispy addition to this rice dish.

View Recipe: Chili-Glazed Tofu over Asparagus and Rice

Chickpea and Winter Vegetable Stew

This Moroccan-style dish is warm, comforting, and full of healthy veggies and sharp spices. Have some toasted bread handy to soak up the broth – you won’t want to leave any behind!

View Recipe: Chickpea and Winter Vegetable Stew

Gemelli Salad with Green Beans, Pistachios, and Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

“Outstanding recipe! So delicious! I loved the crispness of the green beans (fresh from the garden), the zestiness of the lemon, the heat from the garlic and shallots, and the crunchiness of the pistachios.” –flowerpot916

View Recipe: Gemelli Salad with Green Beans, Pistachios, and Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

Eggplant, Tomato, and Smoked Mozzarella Tart

With only 260 calories per serving, this tart is perfect for anytime of the day – and maybe even packed lunch tomorrow. Make in advance on a Sunday or think of this hassle-free meal for a quick holiday brunch idea.

View Recipe: Eggplant, Tomato, and Smoked Mozzarella Tart

Lasagna Rolls with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

These rolls require some assembly time but are a nice change of pace from layered pasta. Stuffed with spinach, mushrooms, onion, basil, and cheese, you won’t want to miss out on making this Italian gourmet meal.

View Recipe: Lasagna Rolls with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Korean-Inspired Sautéed Tofu

Serve this as a first course for an Asian-themed meal, or make brown rice and steamed spinach to go with it for an entrée. Draining and pressing the tofu yields a crisp crust when pan-fried; it also helps the tofu absorb more flavor from the zesty pan sauce.

View Recipe: Korean-Inspired Sautéed Tofu

Four-Cheese Stuffed Shells with Smoky Marinara

This dish goes straight from the freezer to oven - no thawing required. The fire-roasted tomatoes in the marinara sauce give the dish a subtle smoky flavor. You can also easily vary the filling by adding basil or oregano and a different cheese. (We tried fontina instead of mozzarella and threw in some arugula for a peppery bite.) Make some garlic bread and a green salad and dinner's on.

View Recipe: Four-Cheese Stuffed Shells with Smoky Marinara

Curried Couscous with Broccoli and Feta

This dish collaborates Mediterranean and Indian flavors with a zesty curry, ginger flavor. Mix up your dinner menu this week with this tasty international dish.

View Recipe: Curried Couscous with Broccoli and Feta