After a big weekend, I’m looking forward to some fresh and healthy, restorative meals. You, too? You’re in the right place.
Since we have many new visitors here this year (welcome!), I’ve rounded up 29 of the most popular vegetarian main dishes on Cookie and Kate. Keep in mind that all of my recipes are vegetarian, so it wasn’t easy to narrow down the list to a reasonable number.
These recipes are for you if you’re a vegetarian like me, or you’re:
- Trying to eat less meat this year.
- Looking for Meatless Monday recipes.
- Wanting to eat more veggies and whole grains.
- Interested in trying fun and different recipes.
Basically, they’re for everyone! These crowd-pleasing recipes will convince even the most skeptical carnivores that meatless recipes can be delicious and satisfying.
You’ll find more popular options in our “Reader Favorites” category in the sidebar. If you’re looking for something particular, try hovering over “All Recipes” in the menu bar and you’ll find many more categories to explore. Or for an overview of our most recipe recipes, click “View All.”
For more favorite recipes, check out my cookbook, Love Real Food, which has over 100 recipes (most of which you won’t find on the blog). In no particular order, here are the 29 best vegetarian recipes according to readers.
1) Extra Vegetable Fried Rice
Gluten free and easily vegan
“I made this last weekend and love love loved it so I’m making it again this weekend! My husband really liked it too, and it’s a tall order to get him to eat a lot of vegetables so this will be entered into our regular rotation for sure. So glad I found this blog, I’ve email subscribed and have just purchased your cookbook! Thanks Kate!!” – Julia
2) Best Lentil Soup
Gluten free and vegan
“This is one of my favorite recipes ever. I think I could eat it every day. One time when I was eating it while curled up on the couch, I kept saying, “This is sooo good,” after every single bite. The curry powder and lemon juice MAKE IT. Thank you, Kate!” – Lauren
3) Crispy Baked Falafel
Gluten free and vegan
“Ok, these little babies are literally THE best falafels I have EVER had. I will be keeping this recipe, five out of five!! We had them with whole wheat pita, hummus, vegan pesto mayo, tomatoes, kalamata olives and spring greens. OMG sooo good. Thank You!!! You’re the best! I could cry they are so good!” – Connie
4) Epic Vegetarian Tacos
Gluten free and easily vegan
“Wow, just served them for dinner. “Epic” is a great description. As you said, Kate, the pickled onions complement the other ingredients perfectly! I offered all the condiments you suggested and favorites were shredded cabbage and feta cheese. Gonna make up burritos for lunch tomorrow, with the left-overs (I doubled the recipe, fortunately)” – Erikb
5) Peanut Slaw with Soba Noodles
Easily gluten free and easily vegan
“I have made this recipe so many times! Mostly for myself, but I have also brought it to a few potluck-style gatherings and it was a hit every time. Super simple to make and very addicting!” – Diane
6) Pinto Posole
Gluten free and vegan
“Shortly after making this delicious dish that the whole family enjoyed, I was asking my six year old son about his favorite food. He quickly replied, “That dish you made!” (Pinto Posole). Thank you for this and all of your wonderful recipes!” – Mariah
7) Vegetable Paella
Gluten free and vegan
“Fellow KC resident here! I love La Bodega’s paella, so my expectations were pretty high. I made this recipe last night (with the socarrat) and it was amazing. Absolutely loved it and will be making it again soon!” – Toni
8) Best Vegetable Lasagna
Easily gluten free and easily vegan
“I decided to give the recipe a try and I was blown away by the amazing deliciousness. My experience with vegetable lasagnas has been figuring out how to cover up the watery nightmare hiding under the cheese layer. This recipe left me with the best tasting lasagna I’ve ever made. I had some friends over and no one commented that it was missing meat. Everyone was just eating fast to secure a second piece. Also, I bought all the ingredients on a tight budget, so I spent $8.50!” – David
9) Roasted Cauliflower and Lentil Tacos with Creamy Chipotle Sauce
Gluten free and easily vegan
“Success! My carnivorous husband expressed worry with “We’re going to run out of lentils.” My carnivorous ten-year-old stepson, who was at first disdainful of a meatless meal, soon claimed he was going to eat ten tacos and that “This dish could be at a fancy restaurant.” Finally, our two-year-old son kept clamoring, “More cauliflower!” The only thing I will do differently next time is to double the recipe!” – Brooke
10) Classic Minestrone Soup
Easily gluten free and easily vegan
“This is THE best minestrone ever! It is so satisfying all around from delicious flavors to ease of prepping all the ingredients to enjoying the hearty soup! (My family thinks it’s a better recipe than the one from the award-winning bakery/cafe near us!) Thank you for creating a true classic!” – Beth
11) Black Bean Sweet Potato Enchiladas
Gluten free and easily vegan
“This is heavenly! I decided to make dinner for my mom and her boyfriend the night before they left for a vacay to London. Knowing that her boyfriend is vegetarian, I had to turn to google. I came across your page, and I never turned back! The two could not stop raving about this dish. And honestly, either could I! I paired it with Cilantro Lime Rice – perfection. I’m going to be whipping up more of your recipes this coming week. Thank you, Kate!” – Danielle
12) Thai Red Curry with Vegetables
Gluten free and vegan
“Made this yesterday following the recipe quite faithfully. Hubby said it tastes exactly like the red curry at our favorite Thai restaurant! This is a winner and will be bookmarked and made often! The details provided in the recipe such as time to cook at each step ensure that you can’t go wrong with the recipe. And so I would feel confident making this recipe for company too.” – Poornima
13) Lentil Baked Ziti
Easily gluten free
“This was absolutely fantastic! Loved the surprise of the lentil texture it was SO satisfying! Can’t wait for the next recipe… thank you!” – Cait
14) Spicy Kale and Coconut Fried Rice
Gluten free and easily vegan
“I absolutely loved this stir-fry and I’m so happy I stumbled across it! I made it for the first time last week and just made it again today. My husband was not complaining :) I used coconut oil because it was the only oil I had on hand besides olive oil and I used sambal oelek for the chili garlic sauce. This is such a different recipe with unique flavor combinations but it works so well together. Thank you for a fabulous recipe, Kate!” – Moriah
15) Roasted Veggie Enchilada Casserole
Gluten free and easily vegan
“This was soooo GOOD! Thank you for an awesome recipe that was easy to follow for this newbie cook. I did add some diced green chiles for added flavor but it would have been just as excellent without. I love your website, I am new to cooking vegetarian and your recipes and easy to follow instructions are really helping me build confidence.” – Joseph
16) Roasted Carrots with Farro, Chickpeas & Herbed Creme Fraiche
Easily gluten free and easily vegan
“Oh my goodness! This recipe is just SPECTACULAR! I substituted regular carrots and added an extra tablespoon of pumpkin seeds just because I love them so much! This may be my favorite dish by her yet! Thank you Kate!” – Madison
17) Spaghetti Squash Burrito Bowls
Gluten free and easily vegan. This recipe features my go-to method for cooking spaghetti squash!
“I absolutely LOVE this recipe! I made it last night for my family girls night. My 4 year old exclaimed “this is so good mommy!” and “I love this!” once she finally sat still enough to eat more than the purple parts. As for me….just what I needed…fabulous flavor amazing color and pretty fast to prepare for our lenten Friday supper. And my husband was out, so no griping about squash! Wins all the way around.” – Erin
18) Roasted Cauliflower and Farro Salad with Feta and Avocado
Easily gluten free and easily vegan
“OMG!! I made this salad last night and I do not believe there is a recipe from my vast collection that I enjoyed more. I had never even heard of farro before, but there it was, on the shelf at my favourite grocery store! The soft chewiness of the garlic flavoured farro with the roasted cauliflower, sun dried tomatoes and kalamata olives was divine. The feta and buttery avocado was the perfect finish to a stunning recipe. I can’t wait to make it for my friends!” – Linda
19) Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
Gluten free and easily vegan
“This was amazing! It came together really quickly and had the perfect balance of flavours and textures. I love how the juicy, caramelized pineapple blends with the sriracha and soy. Kate, your recipes are so detailed and easy to make. My only complaint is that I didn’t stumble upon your site sooner – I can tell that I’m going to be making a lot of your recipes over the coming weeks and that I’m going to find a lot of favourites to put in my rotation.” – Sarah
20) Easy Brown Rice Risotto with Mushrooms and Fresh Oregano
Gluten free and easily vegan
“This is among the best risotto I have ever eaten. Even my risotto-phobic daughter was sneaking seconds. I’ve made it according to the recipe’s directions, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I have also switched it around and given it a fresh thyme and Sherry flavouring, which was just as delightful. Thank you for such a fabulous recipe. I love when they’re both nutritious and delicious – a common combination on C and K. Thank you again.” – Chelsea
21) Quinoa Vegetable Soup with Kale
Gluten free and vegan
“Absolutely delicious. Had it at my daughter’s home last night and enjoyed it so much I made it today at my home for dinner tonight. I used about 6 cups of veggies and added a little jalapeno and I used red kale. Will be a “do again” many times recipe.” – Michael
22) Spicy Sweet Potato and Green Rice Burrito Bowls
Gluten free and vegan
“I made this last night, and my brother-in-law, a devout meat eater, loved it. But more importantly, the vegetarians present loved it. We were all wowed by the combo of textures and flavors: soft, crunchy, hot, cool. The hint of lime in the beans and the seasoned rice were show-stoppers. I am curious to try other flavored rice, but for now, thank you so much for such a wonderful company dish.” – Juli
23) Thai Mango Cabbage Wraps with Crispy Tofu and Peanut Sauce
Gluten free and easily vegan
“OK, OK, so I’ve always loved this blog and the recipes, but this recipe sent me over the top. It is DELICIOUS. My husband said, “When did you become gourmet?” And then I immediately went and pre-ordered your book. Thanks again for another great recipe.” – Erin
24) Kale, Black Bean & Avocado Burrito Bowl
Gluten free and vegan
“This was a hit at our house! I have 2 little boys who ate this right up, AND asked for seconds. Even the kale. I was amazed. I’m printing it out to make sure I remember to make it when the busy weeknights start up in the fall. It was so quick to make!” – Brittani
25) Veggie Black Bean Enchiladas
Easily vegan
“I made this tonight for some vegetarian friends. My husband, who is not a fan of Mexican or vegetarian food LOVED it, and my guests had three helpings! I served it with home made salsa, sour cream, and a simple green salad. Will definitely be making this again!” – Kate
26) Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash
Gluten free and easily vegan
“I love this! I have made it with chickpeas and without — both are excellent. I made this for the main course of our New Year’s eve dinner and all were impressed. It has a great presentation and hits my check box for comfort food. Thanks, Kate!” – Paul
27) Homemade Vegetarian Chili
Gluten free and vegan
“I used this recipe (sized up for 50 servings) yesterday for a local Chili Cook-off event and won best vegetarian chili-so you truly can say it is the best vegetarian chili recipe!” – Tess
28) Sweet Potato & Black Bean Veggie Burgers
Gluten free and vegan
“3 years ago I became a vegetarian and this was one of the first recipes I tried. It was so delicious, it made me happy to be a vegetarian and I’ve never felt the urge to go back to meat-eating. This is still one of my staples, and even my meat-eating parents love them! Thank you for sharing your recipe!” – Emily
29) Fresh Huevos Rancheros
Gluten free
“The first time making (or even eating) huevos rancheros! This was so delicious and was a great hit with my husband and adult son (who are normally meat lovers!). I’m enjoying discovering new vegetarian recipes on your website.” – Kathy
More resources you might appreciate: 23 make-ahead breakfast recipes and 29 vegan dinner recipes. You can shop my essential kitchen equipment here. Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest for a steady stream of recipe inspiration!
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