10 Hearty Vegetarian Meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner, these meatless miracles are packed with flavor and take no more than 30 minutes hands-on time!

By Jessica Pollack

1. Traditional bennies can weigh you down with fatty meats and buttery sauce. Ours use portobellos for a meaty texture and cheese sauce to cut the butter, revamping the breakfast favorite for a final fat count of just 4.5 grams!

Hands-on time: 15 minutes

See the Clean Eggs Benedict recipe.

2. Did the caramelized bananas catch your eye? This brekkie is worth the 20 minutes of prep – make cooking a family affair! After all, feeding your loved ones a tasty and healthy first meal of the day is a gift that keeps giving…

Hands-on time: 20 minutes

See the Multigrain Waffles with Caramelized Bananas recipe.

3. Thanks to a sweet potato base, this orange wonder boasts eight grams of fiber per serving to fuel your day, not to mention curry and turmeric to keep your palate satisfied!

Hands-on time: 30 minutes

See the Curried Sweet Potato Soup recipe.

4. With a broth composed of five types of onions, this soup is underscored with ample flavor and less than 300 calories!

Hands-on time: 15 minutes

See the Five-Onion Soup with Scallion Crostini recipe.

5. This salad is the perfect lunchtime sojourn to Japan – for your palate, at least – featuring magnesium-rich wakame and filling tofu.

Hands-on time: 30 minutes

See our Wakame Rice Salad with Tofu recipe.

6. Served as the main event for lunch or a side with dinner’s lean protein, the flavors of the Southwest – black beans, cilantro, citrus, corn – are welcome alternatives to your usual quinoa dish!

Hands-on time: 10 minutes

See the Quinoa Party Salad recipe.

7. This freezable take on the classic winter comfort food is completely meat-free, though a smorgasbord of vegetables give the low-fat pie its hearty texture.

Hands-on time: 30 minutes

See the Gardener’s Shepherd Pie recipe.

8. Figs + arugula and pistachio pesto + feta cheese = a whole lot of yum for just 324 calories per serving! Did we mention this meatless meal takes just 25 minutes to make?

Hands-on time: 15 minutes

See the Arugula Pesto Pasta with Roasted Figs recipe.

9. Our reader’s husband couldn’t believe these tacos are vegetarian. Who needs the meat, anyway? Our blend of cauliflower and mushroom is hearty and surprisingly filling!

Hands-on time: 15 minutes

See the Classic Tacos recipe.

10. Fresh basil leaves give our wee pizzas nutritional heft, thanks to bacteria-inhibiting volatile oils, and the quick and easy, thin-crusted pies are ready in just 20 minutes!

Hands-on time: 10 minutes

See the Personal Pizza recipe.

11. Surprise! Make these piquant tofu steaks, massaged with a smoky-sweet spice rub, a regular for Meatless Mondays or your vegetarian repertoire! They’re versatile enough to be incorporated into all kinds of dishes…

Hands-on time: 30 minutes

See the Spice-Rubbed Tofu Steaks recipe.