Whether you recently decided to cut meat from your diet, haven't even ever had the taste of beef before, or find yourself cooking for a dinner party where meats and poultry are a no-go for one or more of your guests. Vegetarian diets are becoming more and more popular, and that means there's a good chance you might just be looking for some easy vegetarian recipes you can whip up. Not only are our vegetarian recipes easy, low-calorie, and good for you (hello protein!), but they taste so good, even the biggest meat-eaters you know will be coming back for second servings.
Check out these easy to make, oh so tasty vegetarian recipes.
Black Bean Omelet
Per 1 serving: 330 calories, 8 g fat (6 g saturated), 480 mg sodium
We're going to say it: an omelet isn't something you should be paying a ton of money for when you're out at a restaurant, especially when you can make a delicious and nutritious one right in your own kitchen. All you need is 10 minutes and you'll have an omelet oozing with black beans and cheese, for only 330 calories. Yes, please.
Get our recipefor a Black Bean Omelet.
Grilled Vegetable Wrap With Balsamic Mayo
Per 1 serving: 240 calories, 13 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 450 mg sodium
Yes, this is proof a wrap can be good for you! Even with a dusting of goat cheese and a spread of balsamic mayo, this wrap is low in calories and will still keep you full, thanks to its generous vegetable filling that combined with the cheese, gives you a nice protein boost.
Get our recipefor a Grilled Vegetable Wrap With Balsamic Mayo.
Caprese Sandwich
Per 1 serving: 300 calories, 17 g fat (4.5 g saturated), 410 mg sodium
The combination of creamy fresh mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and sweet basil is simply too good to resist and this sandwich takes very little time to bring to life. Just toast some bread for two minutes and you're ready to go.
Get our recipe for a Caprese Sandwich.
Hearty Grilled Cheese With Sautéed Mushrooms
Per 1 serving: 340 calories, 12 g fat (6 g saturated), 570 mg sodium
A grilled cheese needs substance, which you want to do without making the sandwich high calorie. And that's where the mushrooms and caramelized onions come in. We put this all on rye bread instead of white, too for a better—and tastier—alternative.
Get our recipefor a Hearty Grilled Cheese With Sautéed Mushrooms.
Easy Panini With Provolone, Peppers, and Arugula
Per 1 serving: 350 calories, 12 g fat (4 g saturated), 1,010 mg sodium
We take the classic flavors of the Italian sandwich and turn them into a crispy, melted panini, ditching the bulky bread, the mound of meat, and excessive calories for a light, veggie and cheese-filled sandwich.
Get our recipefor an Easy Panini With Provolone, Peppers, and Arugula.
Warm Goat Cheese Salad
Per 1 serving: 370 calories, 22 g fat (6 g saturated), 660 mg sodium
Nearly every restaurant seems to serve their salads with buckets of dressing, adding so many extra calories. That's why we're giving you the perfect recipe to make at home with this warm goat cheese crouton and sweet, crisp pear salad. If you're not a salad fan, this is the one to change your mind.
Get our recipefor a Warm Goat Cheese Salad.
Classic Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Per 1 serving: 320 calories, 17 g fat (8 g saturated), 490 mg sodium
Grilled cheese and a cup of warm tomato soup are the perfect comfort food combo. Our version is stuffed with pimento cheese, which diffuses the calories of the cheese with healthy additions like roasted peppers and Greek yogurt. And the soup is pure oven-roasted tomato goodness.
Get our recipefor a Classic Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Per 1 serving: 190 calories, 8 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 16 g sugar
Soup should always be a healthy choice, but broccoli cheddar is a classic vegetarian option that often focuses heavily on the cheese, making it more of a fondue. In this recipe, we make broccoli the star, adding in just a handful of sharp Cheddar to give this soup a rich, creamy texture.
Get our recipefor Broccoli Cheddar Soup.
Minestrone with Pesto Soup
Per 1 serving: 200 calories, 5 g fat (1.5 g saturated), 490 mg sodium
Minestrone soup is a dream vegetarian dish, as this recipe is a hodgepodge of veggies. Even if you're a meat-lover, your diet could always use a boost of veggies and with a spoonful of jarred pesto, this dish gets kicked up a notch.
Get our recipefor Minestrone with Pesto Soup.
Buttery Red Pepper Fettuccine Alfredo
Per 1 serving: 390 calories, 12 g fat (7 g saturated), 730 mg sodium
Fettuccine Alfredo, in its purest form, is pasta, butter, and Parmesan cheese. So say goodbye to the overly creamy sauce you have come to know as Alfredo because in this version, we start with a béchamel sauce that is then blended with roasted red peppers to make for a lighter, brighter, better Alfredo, for a quarter of the calories.
Get our recipefor Buttery Red Pepper Fettuccine Alfredo.
Homemade 3-Cheese Ravioli With Cherry Tomatoes
Per 1 serving: 510 calories, 16 g fat (6 g saturated), 790 mg sodium
"Four cheese" anything in the food world usually means it's a whole lot of extra cheese you're being served in one dish. Here, in this ravioli recipe, you get ricotta, mozzarella, and sharp Parmesan, plus a sauce that would make anything taste great for just 510 calories. Perfection.
Get our recipefor Homemade 3-Cheese Ravioli With Cherry Tomatoes.
Pesto Gnocchi With Green Beans and Tomatoes
Per 1 serving: 490 calories, 22 g fat (7 g saturated), 830 mg sodium
Pesto at its core is made up of olive oil, basil, garlic, and pine nuts, which are loaded with antioxidants and healthy fats. So pesto in moderation is good for you! In this gnocchi, make sure you keep it at 2 tablespoons of pesto per plate—and throw in some healthy extras like tomatoes and green beans to bring even more substance to the meal.
Get our recipefor Pesto Gnocchi With Green Beans and Tomatoes.
Ricotta and Cottage Cheese-Stuffed Spinach-Artichoke Manicotti
Per 1 serving: 450 calories, 11 g fat (4 g saturated), 810 mg sodium
Most pasta dishes you get while dining out are just a mound of calories and sodium, especially if it's a stuffed pasta dish. So we decided to take another approach and keeping on par with the comfort-food level you want from a pasta-based meal, we keep the cheesy stuffing. You get low-fat ricotta, cottage cheese, sautéed spinach, and artichoke hearts all stuffed in this manicotti. You won't lose out on taste with this meal, just on calories.
Get our recipefor Ricotta and Cottage Cheese-Stuffed Spinach-Artichoke Manicotti.
Mozzarella Spiedini
Per 1 serving: 160 calories, 10 g fat (4 g saturated), 270 mg sodium
You might just never turn to a mozzarella stick ever again! OK, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but in this vegetarian-friendly version of the traditional Italian spiedini, we take fresh mozzarella cheese, baguette crust, and cherry tomatoes and serve them on rosemary branches for the perfect silverware free treat.
Get our recipefor Mozzarella Spiedini.
Bruschetta, Two Different Ways
Per 1 serving: 240 calories, 7 g fat (2 g saturated), 410 mg sodium
Bruschetta is essentially the Italians' answer to chips and salsa, but if you order it at a restaurant, you'll end up consuming a ton of calories before your main course even arrives. We have two different ways to make the dish, both of which are low in calories but high in flavor.
Get our recipefor Bruschetta, Two Different Ways.
The easy way to make healthier comfort foods.
Vegetable Fried Rice
Per 1 serving:360 calories, 12 g fat (2.5 g saturated), 390 mg sodium
Fried rice doesn't have to be bad for you! All you have to do is mix in all of your favorite veggies, making them more of the star and the rice as a bonus. And with this single, just-cooked egg on top of top, you simply just break the yolk and dig in.
Get our recipefor Vegetable Fried Rice.
Mushroom Burger With Mozzarella Cheese
Per 1 serving: 370 calories, 16 g fat (4 g saturated), 540 mg sodium
Unfortunately, while many veggie burgers may seem like a healthy option for nonmeat eaters, they're often just as high in calories, fat, and sodium as beef burgers. Here, we go for a portobello mushroom cap as the burger, which is rubbed in olive oil and balsamic, and topped with a crown of melted mozzarella. Delicious and much lower in calories!
Get our recipefor a Mushroom Burger With Mozzarella Cheese.
Stuffed Tomatoes
Per 1 serving: 160 calories, 8 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 360 mg sodium
This is a way to completely elevate the basic tomato. It's sweet, creamy, crunchy, and is filled with the flavors of garlic and fresh basil.
Get our recipefor Stuffed Tomatoes.
Simmered Lentils
Per 1 serving: 160 calories, 4.5 g fat (0.5 g saturated), 540 mg sodium
Lentils have tons of health benefits, such as the fact that they help to reduce cholesterol, are a great source of protein, increase energy, and are good for your heart and digestive system. So if you're not eating lentils, you should start now! Add in someroasted vegetables to make a heartier, nutrient-rich, lentil stew of sorts if you're feeling up for it.
Get our recipefor Simmered Lentils.
Melted Brie With Vegetables
Per 1 serving: 310 calories, 10 g fat (5 g saturated), 610 mg sodium
Who doesn't love the taste of melted cheese? Here, we turn to brie and cover sautéed vegetables in the melted deliciousness.
Get our recipefor Melted Brie With Vegetables.
Caprese Tomato Tower Salad
Per 1 serving: 170 calories, 13 g fat (6 g saturated), 290 mg sodium
With one bite, you'll feel like you've been transported to Capri, Italy, with this simple salad. Sweet, acidic tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil come together for a quick salad you can easily whip up in the summer to accompany any meal that will truly wow your dinner guests.
Get our recipefor a Caprese Tomato Tower Salad.
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