20 veggie meals meat-eaters will love

• Grilled vegetarian tacos
• Eggplant parmesan
• Stuffed mushrooms
• Grilled ratatouille
• Pizza Margherita
• Vegetarian pad thai
• Vegetarian dumplings
• Gnocchi in tomato cream sauce
• Pulled jackfruit sandwiches
• Mac and cheese
• Vegetarian burrito bowl
• Curried pumpkin soup
• Grilled cheese
• Mushroom risotto
• Stuffed peppers
• Huevos rancheros
• Spinach lasagna
• Impossible Burgers

Even for the most dedicated meat eaters, there’s plenty of excellent reasons to mix in a veggie dish once in a while: health, sustainability, but most important of all… flavour. With the right vegetables, spices, and herbs, even the strictest carnivore is sure to love these meals.

Grilled vegetarian tacos

Just because the meat is being put away doesn’t mean the grill needs to be! Roast up some mushrooms, peppers, and corn before mixing all those ingredients together into some soft-shell tacos. Add avocado, feta, and your hot sauce of choice to get an amazing mixture of textures, flavours, and healthy veggie goodness.

Eggplant parmesan

An Italian classic. Few things beat the delicious mixture of flavours and gooey cheese found in a good eggplant parmesan. Best of all, it can easily be made in bulk and creates wonderful leftovers for those who love to meal-plan. You’ll be happy you switched things up when you open the fridge and see that delicious pan waiting for you.

Packed with spinach, chunks of fresh cheese, and spices, this dish is an Indian classic. In fact, paneer cheese is so beloved in India that McDonald’s even has an entire sandwich on their menu just for it. Next time you’re feeling chilly, a hearty bowl of saag paneer can warm you up as quickly as it fills you up.

Stuffed mushrooms

Get a portobello mushroom, stuff the cap with your cheese of choice, sprinkle on some veggies, garnish and spices to taste. Making stuffed mushrooms is really that easy. This delicious meal is perfect for customizing just the way you like it and can easily be eaten with your hands to cut down on that pesky cleanup time afterward.

Grilled ratatouille

This delicious dish is more than just a fun movie. Grilling up this medley and mixing it with oil, basil, parsley, thyme, garlic and salt will bring out the flavours of every single vegetable. It’ll be hard to pick a favourite as the eggplant, zucchini, onions, and tomatoes all fight to give your taste buds the biggest explosion of flavour.

Pizza Margherita

Shockingly to many, not every pizza needs to be topped with pepperoni! Pizza Margherita is another Italian classic, and one that has just about taken over New York City. For all the minimalists out there, it’s proof that less can often be more—especially when that ‘less’ consists of just a few quality ingredients.

Vegetarian pad thai

Thick brown noodles, red peppers, yellow onions, green zucchini—this dish is as beautiful as it is tasty. The mix of colours is matched only by the blend of flavours as this popular stir-fry dish continues to win over meat eaters. With proper frying, many won’t even realize the lack of meat until they’re already on their second helping.

Vegetarian dumplings

Dumplings are a universal food that can be made in a variety of ways and with endless types of filling. So why not try some veggies next time? A mix of cabbage, peppers, onions, carrots, and ginger will give that delicious explode-in-your-mouth flavour that makes eating dumplings so delightful.

Gnocchi in tomato cream sauce

Gnocchi is a restaurant staple and yet it can be made with only potatoes, flour, and eggs or tofu. These little potato bites are considered a dumpling of their own, yet eat more like a pasta. They can be served on a bed of mixed greens or tossed into the sauce of your choice.

Pulled jackfruit sandwiches

From appearance alone, pulled jackfruit sandwiches will have people thinking this is pulled pork and the flavour of it won’t disappoint them one bit. The jackfruit is one of the world’s most popular meat replacements due to its delicious flavour and has quickly become a foodie trend even amongst meat eaters.

Mac and cheese

A classic comfort food—and one that doesn’t have to be only a side dish at the family barbecue. Mac and cheese has become a staple for everyone from young children to flavour-loving adults. It can be moved into the world of entrées as is or it can be dressed up with some peppers, cauliflower, or grilled veggies of choice.

Vegetarian burrito bowl

Burritos are another dish that just about everyone seems to love. So next time you crave one, replace the chicken or beef with some grilled avocado, mushrooms, or a chili blend. Toss it all into a bowl for a wonderful experience of texture and tastiness harmonizing together, exploring unique flavours with every forkful.

Curried pumpkin soup

Pumpkin spice is for more than just Starbucks orders. Pumpkin and squash mixed together with a curry-inspired blend of herbs and spices and then finished with coconut milk is going to make you curse how often pumpkin flavour was wasted on a latte. It’s the perfect seasonal meal for those chilly autumn evenings.

Grilled cheese

Another comfort food classic. Don’t let yourself be satisfied with plain white bread and American cheese slices. Turn your grilled cheese adventure into an art form by experimenting with types of bread, cheeses, and even dips. If you’re feeling really brave, you can add some tomato slices or jalapenos into the sandwich to turn it into a melt that’s full of flavour.

Falafel

A food that’s almost as fun to say as it is to eat. Falafel is a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean staple made from chickpeas and blended herbs. It can be served over rice, in a pita, or dipped into a variety of sauces. The flexibility of falafel is only part of its appeal as these protein-packed balls will leave you energized for more.

Mushroom risotto

Anyone who’s watched Hell’s Kitchen knows that Gordon Ramsay takes his risotto very seriously, and so should you! Many chefs call risotto one of those dishes that can be used to impress just about anyone when you learn to make it right. So next time you have company over, shock them all by busting out this delicious veggie meal.

Stuffed peppers

Much like mushrooms, stuffed peppers are a versatile dish that can be suited to your flavour needs. The deeper peppers allow for even more experimentation and can be filled with rice, quinoa, or sautéed veggies, and then topped with cheese, breadcrumbs, or even walnuts. It’s a dish that has origins from across the planet, and should probably visit your kitchen next.

Huevos rancheros

For the breakfast lovers out there, huevos rancheros is a Mexican staple that translates to “rancher’s eggs.” It’s a hearty, filling way to start your day that’s far easier to make than spending 20 minutes burning yourself with bacon grease. Top it with feta, avocado, or the herbs and veggies of your choice to start your day off right.

Spinach lasagna

Lasagna is another wonderful dish that can be stuffed and filled as you see fit. Next time, mix it up with some spinach, ricotta, and béchamel sauce to add more colours and flavours to the meal than you may be used to seeing. Then while you’re eating you can try to solve the internet’s favourite puzzle.

Impossible Burgers

The story of why these are so great is right in the name—it doesn’t seem possible! Meat lovers everywhere have been falling in love with impossible burgers as more and more fast-food joints add Impossible and Beyond Meat burgers as an option to their menus. These plant-based creations look and taste just like beef burgers and will leave you firing up the grill for more.