This time of year many people are on the hunt for meatless meals that are a step up from fish sticks, tuna casserole, and cheese pizza. I have a few ideas that we’ve used over the years for meatless meals that you might enjoy as well.
I don’t prepare fish at home, so all my ideas are vegetarian or can be made vegetarian through easy substitutions (veggie broth for chicken broth) or omitting a garnish (bacon).
Zucchini Parmesan Sliders from Shutterbean. So delicious and the texture of the breaded zucchini is amazing.
Million Dollar Mac and Cheese from Carlsbad Cravings. If you love cheese, this recipe is THE ONE! Use veggie bouillon instead of chicken. I’ve made this an embarrassing amount of times and it’s always a hit. It makes a very large casserole and there will be plenty. It’s truly a great dish for sharing…make it in 2-8”x8” pans instead of one large 9”x13” pan and give some to a neighbor.
These Soy Sauce Noodles from Love and Olive Oil will bring you to tears. So flippin’ good. With some vegetable egg rolls on the side. Mmmmm.
The Cozy Cook outdid herself with this Spinach Pie. The earthly spinach, gooey cheese, buttery pastry. I’m drooling just thinking about it.
My kids ask for Spanakopita from Dinner at the Zoo all the time. I’ve had one kid ask for it as a birthday meal; it’s that good.
Mujadara from Cookie + Kate. If you’ve never tried this Middle Eastern dish, you may want to give it a shot. It’s the crispy caramelized onions for me.
Half Baked Harvest has some veggie burgers that are out of this world. Two family favorites are this Crispy Quinoa Burger and this Roasted Zucchini Burger with Whipped Garlic Feta. If you’re craving burgers on a meatless day…these will not disappoint.
Grilled Goat Cheese Stuffed Zucchini Boats from How Sweet Eats. Tangy goat cheese, zucchini that still has some bite to it and the crispy breadcrumbs on top. That’s a boat I’ll happily sail away on.
How Sweet Eats comes in with her chickpea pitas and sent me on a flavor journey. These Crunchy Roasted Chickpea Pitas are really something else. Endlessly adaptable. And if you search around her site you’ll find some others like BBQ Chickpea Pitas that will blow your mind.
Looking for soup? Gal on a Mission has this delicious and comforting One-Pot Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup. Use veggie broth instead of chicken broth…it’s so good.
How about Budget Bytes Easy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup? Budget friendly and filling. You will not feel deprived after eating this hearty soup.
Next up - Cheesy Corn Chowder. Use veggie broth and skip the bacon (though absolutely do have it on another day with the bacon!). How Sweet Eats hooked me on food blogs with this recipe many years ago and her site has been a go-to for me ever since.
Lastly, Averie Cooks really nailed it with this Best Broccoli Cheddar Soup. We love it served up in fresh Bread Bowls (Love Bakes Good Cakes has this banger of a recipe). No worries if you don’t have time for the bread bowls, though, I have to say, these are spectacular bread bowls; I’d eat this soup out of an old boot if I had to.
XO
-Mrs. Amen
