Have a bounty of vegetables and not sure what to cook? Below are more than 100 dinner ideas that feature vegetables as main ingredients, gathered from a variety of recipe creators and classic preparations. Many of these dishes can serve as either mains or hearty sides—use them for inspiration to plan your next meal.
This collection isn’t strictly vegetarian or vegan, but vegetables play a starring role in every idea. I’ve organized recipes by cooking method and by primary ingredient to help you find something that fits your pantry and mood.
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You can also find these ideas in the book “What to Make for Dinner: A Book of 1000+ Ideas.” Images in this post are a mix of Canva stock images and images generated with DALL-E; some images may not link to specific recipes.
Table of Contents
Dinner Ideas Using Vegetables – By Method of Preparation
Grilled
- Cauliflower Steaks
- Grilled Vegetable Kebabs
- Zucchini Ribbon Skewers
- Grilled Veggie Pizza
- Grilled Eggplant Steak
- Black Bean Burgers
- Portobello Mushroom Burgers
- Grilled Carrot “Hot Dogs”
Baked
- Cherry Tomato Pasta Bake
- Mushroom Lasagna
- Ratatouille Gratin
- Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas
- Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
- Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
- Cheesy Sweet Potato Gratin
- Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche
- Cauliflower Crust Veggie Pizza
- Cheesy Mushroom & Potato Bake
- Veggie Stuffed Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
- White Spinach Pizza
- Sun-Dried Tomato Frittata
- Corn & Black Bean Empanadas
- Potato, Carrot & Peas Pot Pie
- Baked Eggplant Parmesan
- Moussaka / Greek Eggplant Lasagna
- Roasted Eggplant Halves
- Zucchini Frittata
- Zucchini Lasagna Roll Ups
- Veggie Sheet Pan Pizza
- Tomato Tart with Salad
- Cauliflower Gratin
- Baked Spaghetti Squash Pasta
- Crustless Veggie Quiche
- Cheesy Scalloped Potato Casserole
- Rainbow Baked Vegetable Rice Bowls
- Broccoli Mac & Cheese
- Cauliflower Mac & Cheese
Stuffed
- Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
- Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
- Twice Baked Potatoes
- Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms
- Stuffed Artichokes
- Stuffed Tomatoes
- Stuffed Whole Cauliflower
Stove-Top
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Butternut Squash Risotto
- Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables
- Caramelized Onion Quesadillas
- Pineapple Fried Rice With Jackfruit
- Skillet Sweet Potato & Sausage Hash
- Corn Tamales
- Kung Pao Cauliflower
- Sesame Cauliflower
- Korean Vegetable Bibimbap
- Corn & Bean Rice Tacos
- Japanese Omelet with Tomato Rice
- Veggie Burritos with Rice & Beans
- Lentil & Rice Lettuce Wraps
- Spiralized Vegetable Noodles (zucchini, sweet potato, carrot, beet, or butternut)
- Snow Pea Lo Mein Noodles
- Creamy Sweet Potato Gnocchi
- Mushroom Stroganoff
- Butternut Squash Ravioli
- Pasta Primavera
- Vegetable Paella
- Miso Ramen with Vegetable Tempura
Fried
- Air-Fried Potato Croquettes
- Breaded Cauliflower Nuggets
- Eggplant Cutlets & Pasta
- Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
- Vegetable Tempura Rice Bowl
- Falafel Wraps with Pickled Red Cabbage
Slow Cooked
- Eggplant Curry & Naan
- Veggie Stew & Breadsticks
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup & Cheese Sandwich
- Spinach White Bean Soup & Panini
- Creamy Potato Soup & Bread
- Mexican Veggie Soup with Nachos
- Corn Chowder with Cornbread
- Vegetable & Dumpling Soup
- Chickpea Curry & Naan
- Slow Cooker Veggie Rice Soup
- Spicy Bean Chili
Cold / Raw
- Veggie Sushi Rolls
- Spinach and Feta Stuffed Pita Pockets
- Spring Rolls with Cucumbers
- Mediterranean Chopped Salad
- Avocado and Corn Salad
- Tomato and Mozzarella Bruschetta
- Quinoa Salad with Roasted Vegetables
- Roasted Beet Salad
- Falafel Salad
- Grilled Corn Salad
- Shaved Zucchini Salad
- Cucumber Salad
- Grilled Carrot Salad
- Broccoli Slaw Salad
- Couscous Salad
- Mexican Style Black Bean Salad
- Classic Cobb Salad
- Heirloom Tomato Salad
- Roasted Edamame Salad
- Caesar Salad
- Potato Salad
- Egg Salad
- Waldorf Salad
- Salad Niçoise
- Caprese Salad
- Sour Cream Potato Salad
- Three Bean Salad
- Chickpea & Grain Salad
- Lentil & Quinoa Salad
- White Bean and Tomato Salad
- Spiralized Veggie Salad (cucumber, beet, daikon radish)
Dinner Ideas Using Vegetables – By Ingredient
Broccoli
- Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche
- Broccoli Mac & Cheese
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup & Breadsticks
- Pizza with Cheese & Broccoli Topping
- Broccoli & Rice Stir Fry
- Tofu & Broccoli Stir Fry
- Cheesy Broccoli & Pasta Casserole
- Broccoli and Ricotta Stuffed Manicotti
Cabbage (Green or Red)
- Cabbage Stir Fry
- Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
- Falafel Wraps with Pickled Red Cabbage
- Braised Cabbage
- Curried Cabbage
- Stir Fried Cabbage & Noodles
- Cheesy Cabbage Gratin
- Slow Cooked Cabbage Stew
- Tacos with Red Cabbage Slaw
- Asian Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
- Fried Cabbage Pancakes (Okonomiyaki)
Carrot
- Roasted Carrot Salad & Greens
- Carrot Ginger Soup with Breadsticks
- Roasted Carrot “Hot Dogs”
- Potato, Carrot & Peas Pot Pie
- Spiralized Carrot Pasta
- Taco with Pickled Carrot Slaw
- Shredded Carrot Quiche
- Carrot & Chicken Fried Rice
Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Crust Pizza
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Cauliflower Rice & Bean Tacos
- Cauliflower Rice & Bean Enchiladas
- Cauliflower Mac & Cheese Casserole
- Crustless Cauliflower Quiche
- Cauliflower Rice Layered Lasagna
- Cauliflower Gnocchi
- Cauliflower Gratin
- Deep Fried Cauliflower Taquitos
- Whole Roasted Stuffed Cauliflower
- Kung Pao Cauliflower
- Sesame Cauliflower
- Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
- Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
- Blender Cauliflower Alfredo Pasta
Corn
- Corn & Black Bean Empanadas
- Corn Chowder with Cornbread
- Avocado and Corn Salad
- Corn & Bean Tacos
- Creamed Corn Casserole
- Cornbread Topped Cowboy Casserole
- Corn Tortilla Tacos with Veggies
- Fresh Corn Tamales with Pork
Eggplant
- Baked Eggplant Parmesan
- Eggplant Curry & Naan
- Roasted Eggplant Pizza
- Moroccan Stuffed Eggplant
- Grilled Eggplant Burger
- Fried Eggplant Tacos
- Moussaka Eggplant Lasagna
- Grilled Eggplant Panini
- Roasted Eggplant Halves
- Eggplant Cutlets
Mushroom
- Mushroom Lasagna
- Mushroom Medley Pizza
- Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
- Slow Cooked Mushroom Stroganoff
- Portobello Mushroom Burgers
- Baked Mushroom Enchiladas
- Mushroom Cream Soup in Bread Bowl
- Mushroom Ravioli
- Shiitake Mushroom Fried Rice
- Wild Rice Mushroom Pilaf
- Mushroom Marsala Skillet
- Braised Shiitake Mushrooms & Rice
- Japanese Mushroom Hotpot
- Mushroom Stew & Crostini
- Breadcrumb Topped Mushroom Casserole
- Mushroom & Farro Salad
- Mushroom Ramen Noodles
- Mushroom Risotto
Peppers
- Rice & Beef Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Stir-Fried Peppers and Sausage
- Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Stromboli
- Hungarian Chicken Paprikash
- Fajita Veggies
- Roasted Red Pepper Sauce & Pasta
- Cheesy Flatbread with Grilled Peppers
- Jalapeño & Cheese Quesadilla
- Tri-Color Bell Pepper Skewers
- Quinoa Salad with Tri-Color Pepper
- Stuffed Jalapeño Casserole
- Spicy Pepper & Cheesy Rice Bake
- Bell Pepper Fried Rice
- Roasted Red Pepper Soup
- Pasta with Romesco Sauce
Potato
- Potato-Leek Soup & Breadsticks
- Hasselback Potato Gratin
- Potato and Cheese Pierogi
- Aloo Gobi Curry & Naan
- Potato, Carrot & Peas Pot Pie
- Creamy Potato Soup & Bread
- Tater Tot Casserole
- Italian Potato Pizza
- Potato Curry & Samosa
- Korean Potato Pancakes (Gamjajeon)
Spinach
- White Sauce Pizza with Spinach
- Spinach White Bean Soup & Bread
- Spinach and Feta Stuffed Pita Pockets
- Pasta with Spinach Pesto
- Homemade Spinach Pasta in Tomato Sauce
- Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Enchiladas
- Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
- Cheese Stuffed Spinach Ravioli
- Mushroom and Spinach Lasagna
- Spinach Stuffed Braided Stromboli
- Saag Paneer (Spinach Curry) & Rice
- Spinach Gnudi
- Spinach & Cheese Quesadilla
Sweet Potato
- Sweet Potato Enchiladas
- Cheesy Sweet Potato Gratin
- Skillet Sweet Potato & Sausage Hash
- Sweet Potato Gnocchi
- Sweet Potato Flatbread Pizza
- Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger
- Chipotle Fried Sweet Potato Tacos
- Sweet Potato Soup & Breadsticks
- Sweet Potato & Pasta Casserole
- Sweet Potato Ravioli
- Spiralized Sweet Potato Pasta
- Sweet Potato Lasagna
Tomato
- Tomato Pasta Bake
- Baked Stuffed Tomatoes
- Tomato and Mozzarella Bruschetta
- Cheese Ravioli with Tomato Sauce
- Tomato & Egg Fried Rice
- Tomato Quiche & Salad
- Classic Caprese Salad
- Tomato Curry & Rice
- Gazpacho & Bread
- Tomato Tart & Salad
- Heirloom Tomato Salad & Bread
- Shakshuka with Eggs
- Japanese Omelet with Tomato Rice
- Tomato & Cheese Braided Stromboli
Winter Squash
- Braised Butternut Squash Curry
- Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Pumpkin & Bean Chili
- Spaghetti Squash Casserole
- Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
- Pizza with Butternut Squash Topping
- Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells
- Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta
- Pumpkin Gnocchi
- Pumpkin Soup & Biscuits
- Butternut Squash Risotto
- Butternut Squash Stuffed Ravioli
- Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
- Acorn Squash Frittata
- Roasted Squash & Kamut Salad
Zucchini
- Spiralized Zucchini Noodles with Pasta Sauce
- Italian Zucchini Casserole Bake
- Pizza Topped with Zucchini Slices
- Parmesan Zucchini Casserole
- Spaghetti Alla Nerano (Spaghetti with Fried Zucchini)
- Italian Zucchini Tart (Scarpaccia)
- Low-Carb Zucchini Lasagna
- Cheesy Zucchini Gratin
- Zucchini Frittata & Salad
- Zucchini Lasagna Roll Ups
- Zucchini Pan Pizza
- Rotolo di Zucchine (Zucchini Rolls)
Bonus:
Sauces that go well with Veggies
- Balsamic Glaze
- Cheese Sauce
- Chimichurri
- Chipotle Sauce
- Hummus
- Lemon Herb Dressing
- Miso Glaze
- Mustard Vinaigrette
- Peanut Sauce
- Pesto
- Ranch Dressing
- Salsa Verde
- Soy Ginger Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Tahini Sauce
- Yogurt Sauce
- Garlic Butter Sauce
So, what will you make for dinner tonight? Use this list to mix and match vegetables, techniques, and sauces to create meals that suit your time and taste.
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