Healthy Living

Make a satisfying and tasty meal with these vegetarian dinner recipes. These dishes feature cauliflower, a highly-versatile cruciferous vegetable packed with prebiotic fiber and antioxidants. Whether you slice it into steaks, turn it into rice or roast it, these delicious recipes are the perfect pick for dinner tonight. Dishes like our Cauliflower alla Vodka and our Cauliflower Spanakopita Melt are flavorful, nutritious and can be paired with a side salad for a balanced meal.

01 of 20

Cauliflower alla Vodka

This cauliflower alla vodka is the plant-based meal you need right now! Cauliflower soaks up the creamy vodka sauce beautifully, making it a satisfying alternative to pasta. For an easy shortcut, you can swap the homemade sauce for a jarred vodka sauce. It saves time without sacrificing that signature velvety texture and bold, tangy taste. If you go that route, just be aware that it could add extra sodium to the dish.

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02 of 20

Creamy Caramelized Cauliflower Pasta

This creamy cauliflower pasta is the ultimate comfort food—rich, velvety and flavorful. With simple ingredients and quick prep, it’s a satisfying dish that feels fancy without the fuss and is the ideal meal for a cozy weeknight dinner. Add a squeeze of lemon or a pinch of chile flakes to elevate this easy, comforting classic even more!

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03 of 20

Cauliflower Spanakopita Melt

This cauliflower spanakopita melt is a dream come true! It blends the flavors of the Greek spinach pie, spanakopita, into the hand-held comfort and convenience of a grilled cheese sandwich. Chopped roasted cauliflower brings a healthy, veggie-packed twist. We cook these sandwiches in a skillet, but if you have a sandwich press, you can use that to crisp them up instead.

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04 of 20

Buffalo Cauliflower Grain Bowl

This Buffalo cauliflower grain bowl is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional Buffalo wings, packing plenty of gut-healthy fiber and plant-based protein. It features a variety of fresh and colorful vegetables on a bed of precooked brown rice to keep prep speedy. Feel free to swap out the rice for another whole grain.

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05 of 20

Spiced Cauliflower & Whipped Ricotta Pitas

Spiced cauliflower bites sit atop a bright and nutty walnut spread layered with creamy whipped ricotta in this delicious open-face sandwich. The cauliflower bites are flavored with shawarma seasoning, a complex Middle Eastern spice blend that can include cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric and more. These cauliflower bites blend seamlessly with the flavors of both spreads on pita bread, but you can make the cauliflower bites separately and serve them as a side dish or appetizer.

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06 of 20

Cauliflower Steaks with Poached Eggs & Pesto Hollandaise

This weekend-worthy dish features cauliflower “steaks” flavored with Italian seasoning and topped with sautéed kale, a poached egg and pesto-flavored hollandaise. No need to fret over finicky homemade hollandaise—our blender method simplifies the process, bypassing the stovetop hassle with a creamy stable sauce that won’t break or separate. Look for medium heads of cauliflower with compact florets for the best “steaks.” The center-cut slices hold their shape best. Use any extra florets from the sides to make cauliflower rice or roast them separately for a salad.

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07 of 20

Cheesy Cauliflower Steak Pizzas

We ditch traditional pizza crust in favor of cauliflower “steaks” for these cheesy pizzas. The steaks are cooked just enough to develop a sweet roasted flavor that pairs beautifully with the toppings. While we love this veggie-packed version, you can top your cauliflower-steak pizza with just about anything. You’ll have leftover cauliflower after cutting the steaks. Enjoy it raw in a chopped salad, or save the florets for roasting the following day.

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08 of 20

Chile-Lime Cauliflower Quesadillas

Poblano peppers add a touch of heat to these vegetarian quesadillas, but a sweet bell pepper is tasty, too, if you want something milder. Start these quesadillas in the oven and finish them off in a skillet for melty cheese and crispy tortillas.

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09 of 20

Cheesy Chipotle-Cauliflower Mac

You'll barely notice the cauliflower in this comforting skillet pasta--it's pureed and mixed into the creamy cheese sauce.

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10 of 20

Curried Cauliflower Salad Sandwiches

The creamy cauliflower mixture in this vegetarian sandwich was inspired by the flavors of Indian raita. A combination of yogurt, cashews and mustard round out the spices in the curry powder, with pomegranate arils adding a juicy pop of sweetness. Buy cauliflower florets in a bag instead of the whole head and look for containers of pomegranate arils to keep prep simple.

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11 of 20

Easy Cauliflower Tacos

These easy vegan cauliflower tacos with chili powder, red onion and creamy avocado garnish are perfect for taco night.

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12 of 20

Cauliflower Stir-Fry

This easy cauliflower stir-fry has a great balance of textures and flavors with bright and colorful tender-crisp veggies. Try substituting broccoli for the cauliflower or snap peas for the snow peas for another variation on this quick dinner.

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13 of 20

Sriracha-Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

This recipe for spicy Buffalo cauliflower bites is a great vegetarian alternative to Buffalo wings. Roasted cauliflower stands in for chicken and provides more fiber and fewer calories.

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14 of 20

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

There's no pasta here, but this gluten-free and low-carb cauliflower "mac & cheese" is as comforting and creamy as your family's favorite cheesy dish.

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15 of 20

Cauliflower Fajita Skillet

Thinly sliced cauliflower florets mimic the signature shape of fajita meat in this dish. We cook it in a cast-iron skillet for that tableside sizzle you'd get at a restaurant.

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16 of 20

Mushroom-Cauliflower Risotto

Easy homemade cauliflower rice stands in for arborio rice in this healthy vegetable-based risotto, reducing both the calories and carbs in this comforting dish. To make this a vegetarian meal, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

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17 of 20

Spiced Cauliflower Chraime

Chraime is a spicy North African fish stew, popular with Sephardic Jews for Rosh Hashana, Passover and Shabbat. The word “chraime” has roots in an Arabic word meaning “hot.” This meatless version highlights cauliflower, stewed until tender, studded with plump and juicy golden raisins and drizzled with date syrup. Served over couscous, rice or quinoa, this sweet and spicy tomato-based stew is a great weeknight meal. Excerpted from Nosh: Plant-Forward Recipes Celebrating Modern Jewish Cuisine, by Micah Siva. Copyright 2024 by Micah Siva. Published by The Collective Book Studio. Reprinted with permission.

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18 of 20

Red Lentil & Cauliflower Curry

This cauliflower curry recipe also features red lentils, which turn yellow when cooked. Curry powder, onions, cumin and other seasonings give this vegetarian dinner tons of flavor. Serve over rice to complete the meal.

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19 of 20

Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Tacos

In this vegetarian taco recipe, cauliflower is tossed with a smoky-tangy sauce made with honey, lime juice and chipotles in adobo sauce before being roasted. Serve with more hot sauce, if desired.

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20 of 20

Roasted Cauliflower & Potato Curry Soup

In this healthy cauliflower soup recipe, roasting the cauliflower first adds depth and prevents the florets from turning to mush. A little tomato sauce and coconut milk give the broth a rich, silky texture. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt, if desired.

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Savory, hearty mushrooms are combined with rich and creamy pasta in these four- and five-star rated recipes. From shareable lasagnas to simple, one pot meals, these recipes are the perfect, comforting dinner to make when you have mushrooms on hand. Try our Baked Feta-Mushroom Pasta or our Mushroom Piccata Pasta and see why EatingWell readers are such big fans.

01 of 12

Baked Feta-Mushroom Pasta

This feta-mushroom pasta bake brings together the creamy tang of melted feta with the earthy, savory notes of cremini mushrooms. The convenience of pre-sliced cremini mushrooms makes this dish a timesaver, but you can easily switch things up by incorporating other varieties like oyster, shiitake or maitake mushrooms for added depth and complexity.

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02 of 12

Baked Spinach & Mushroom Ravioli Lasagna

This inside-out spinach ravioli lasagna is the ultimate weeknight comfort food. Cremini mushrooms add a savory note to this easy plant-based dinner. Fresh mozzarella adds creaminess on top. You can swap it out for shredded mozzarella in a pinch or use an Italian cheese blend for a different flavor profile.

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03 of 12

Mushroom Piccata Pasta

In this vegetarian rendition of chicken piccata, a medley of mixed mushrooms steps in as a substitute for chicken, maintaining the zesty caper-infused sauce. The combination of oyster, cremini and shiitake mushrooms adds the most flavor, though you can choose a single mushroom variety if you have a preference. Streamline your prep by opting for pre-sliced mushrooms, a timesaving hack for this flavorful dish.

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04 of 12

Mushroom-Miso Pasta

This miso pasta features mushrooms, another umami-forward ingredient that takes this quick vegetarian recipe to the next level. We use white miso, which is light and slightly sweet. Whisking the miso into the reserved cooking water makes it easier to incorporate into the pasta.

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05 of 12

Creamy Shrimp & Mushroom Pasta

Cashews are the base of this delicious shrimp pasta dish. Blending the nuts helps thicken the sauce and provides creaminess—no actual cream required! Straining the cashew mixture removes any unwanted large pieces. Chopped rosemary adds freshness to break through the creaminess of the dish.

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06 of 12

Chicken, Mushroom & Ricotta Pasta

Ricotta cheese is the key to this easy pasta dish. Combined with Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and a little bit of pasta cooking water, it adds richness and texture that clings to the pasta and veggies perfectly. For the smoothest results, use freshly grated Parmesan—pre-grated cheese often contains cellulose that can prevent melting.

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07 of 12

High-Protein Penne with Ground Turkey & Mushrooms

This ground turkey pasta with mushrooms is a delicious, protein-packed meal, thanks to its powerhouse ingredients. Lean ground turkey teams up with cottage cheese, which not only boosts protein but also adds creaminess without relying on heavy cream. Mushrooms bring a savory depth of flavor while being low in calories, and whole-grain penne contributes fiber for a hearty and balanced meal!

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08 of 12

Mushroom Orzo with Lemon & Parmesan

This mushroom orzo with lemon and Parmesan is a creamy dish, rich with flavor thanks to mushrooms and a velvety smooth sauce. Enjoy this cozy pasta dish with a glass of wine.

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09 of 12

One-Pot Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Pasta

This creamy chicken and mushroom pasta recipe makes for an easy weeknight dinner. Using store-bought rotisserie chicken saves time when cooking, and leftover chicken would work just as well.

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10 of 12

Spaghetti with Baked Brie, Mushrooms & Spinach

Melted Brie cheese coats pasta and roasted veggies in this rich vegetarian pasta dish. We bake the Brie on a square of parchment paper so you can remove it from the oven early if it’s melted before your vegetables are done. White-wine vinegar and balsamic glaze add tang and a hint of sweetness in this easy weeknight dinner.

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11 of 12

20-Minute Balsamic Mushroom & Spinach Pasta

This 20-minute veggie pasta dish is super savory, thanks to meaty mushrooms, while the natural sweetness from the balsamic vinegar, basil and pistachios brighten up this quick, healthy vegetarian dinner.

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12 of 12

Baked Tomato, Mushroom & Goat Cheese Pasta

Cherry tomatoes and mushrooms bake along with goat cheese to form the base of the sauce that cooks the pasta right in the baking dish—no stovetop required.

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