5 Veggie-Centric, Meat-Free Dinner Recipes for Summer

two veggie pizzas
Photo: Brie Passano

An abundance of fresh produce makes summer the optimal time to try more veggie-centric, meat-free meals. Omnivores and vegetarians alike can dig into these veggie-forward, protein-packed recipes. Scroll through to get five of our favorite vegetarian dinner recipe ideas.

01 of 07

Roasted Veggie Grain Bowl

two roasted veggie grain bowls
Brie Passano

Tempeh is a meat alternative made from fermented soybeans. It's similar to tofu but has a denser texture. Find it in the refrigerated health food section of your grocery store. Don't have bulgur? Use 1 ¼ cups cooked brown rice or quinoa. "I used buckwheat instead of bulgur to make this gluten-free. Typically, I go to great lengths to avoid cooked fennel, but this is really tasty," according to Allrecipes Allstar Buckwheat Queen.

02 of 07

Naan Veggie Pizzas

two veggie pizzas
Brie Passano

"A fast and tasty weeknight dinner! I baked these in the oven 10 minutes (I did not prebake the naan.) Then I broiled them 1 minute to brown the cheese," according to Allrecipes Allstar the4taals.

03 of 07

Pesto-Stuffed Grilled Portobellos

plate with stuffed portobello mushrooms
Brie Passano

"I used pistachios instead of pine nuts. I like to put them in a burger bun for a heartier meal," according to reviewer Maureen318. Editor's tip: complete the meal by serving this with rice or pasta.

04 of 07

Spinach, Nectarine, and Halloumi Salad

All Recipes

Halloumi is a semihard, brined cheese typically made from goat's or sheep's milk. It stands up to high heat and will brown without melting. If you can't find it, you can also use paneer, queso para freir (cheese for frying), queso fresco, or fresh cheese curds. Baked or pan-fried firm tofu is a good vegan alternative.

05 of 07

Fresh Summer Corn Chowder

bowls of fresh summer corn chowder
Brie Passano

Sop up every last bit of this creamy broth with slices of crusty bread. For more heat, sprinkle with jalapeño slices or crushed red pepper. Vegan-ize this dish by replacing the butter with olive oil and substituting plain unsweetened soy or coconut milk for the dairy milk. "This was a great recipe. My only change was using basil in place of the cilantro," according to reviewer Patti Kasal.

06 of 07

More Inspiration

Lentil Bolognese in a ceramic bowl
Lentil Bolognese. Buckwheat Queen
07 of 07
allrecipes magazine covers

This article originally appeared in the June/July 2021 issue of Allrecipes Magazine.

Was this page helpful?