With summer upon us, we look forward to dining outdoors, grilling, and using plenty of fresh, seasonal produce. With so many options in the garden, creating vegetarian summer recipes is not only easy, but it also delivers amazing taste sensations to your tongue without the need for meat. From burgers to pasta to salads with a twist, these summer dinner ideas can all be prepared indoors and are family-friendly, sure to please meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.
Vegetarian Chili with Avocado Cream
A hearty vegetarian classic chili that can be made up to 4 days ahead and served reheated with a drizzle of avocado cream – perfect for meal prep or potlucks.
Rice salad with tomato, cucumber and feta
Who doesn’t love this Greek salad? Long-grain brown rice is sautéed with chopped onion and garlic and mixed with small heirloom tomatoes, sliced cucumber, crumbled feta cheese, and fresh mint and parsley leaves. It’s the perfect side dish for grilled veggie burgers for a light and healthy summer meal.
Grilled vegetarian stuffed peppers
A variety of textures and flavours, including raisins, tomatoes and feta, come together for a simple, hearty summer dish. For a nuttier taste, try using bulgur instead of couscous.
Pinto Bean Burger
Many vegetarians struggle to get enough protein in their diet. Luckily, this meatless burger recipe packs in the protein with toasted almonds, breadcrumbs, roasted red peppers, and feta cheese. Not a fan of pinto beans? No worries! Any canned beans will do, just make sure you drain any added water.
Grilled eggplant with parmesan
Try this lighter, summery take on the classic eggplant parmesan, skipping the breading and doing it all on the grill, then topping it with fire-roasted tomatoes, shallots and melted mozzarella. It’s a meal that’s anything but basic.
Spaghetti with sauteed tomatoes
This isn’t your typical spaghetti and red sauce: it’s made with three pints of fresh cherry tomatoes (pick a variety of colors for vibrancy), fresh ricotta, and plenty of grated Parmesan.
Portobello Burger with Cheese
Bored with pre-packaged veggie burgers? Elevate your Meatless Monday with this decadent burger made with large portobello mushrooms. The grilled burger is stuffed with a slice of provolone cheese in the center and served on a brioche bun with arugula and homemade garlic vinegar mayonnaise.
Roasted eggplant, tomato and caper ravioli
Looking for a way to elevate store-bought cheese ravioli? Check out this vegetarian summer dinner recipe, packed with seasonal ingredients, fresh basil, and of course, Parmesan cheese.
Grilled vegetable pizza
Although we love ordering pizza from our local place, making it at home is just as fun, and we can’t think of a better vegetarian summer dinner than a grilled flatbread pizza topped with colorful veggies like shiitake mushrooms, zucchini, kale, and red onion.
Vegetarian Enchilada Swiss
When it comes to an easy vegetarian summer dinner, it’s hard to think of anything more appealing than enchiladas. This one-skillet dish is loaded with veggies, creamy cheese, and soft corn tortillas drenched in green salsa and baked to perfection.
Tomato and eggplant gnocchi
The tangy combination of sautéed eggplant, tomatoes, and creamy ricotta creates a satisfying, easy vegetarian dinner perfect for summer that can be on the table in 35 minutes.
Fattoush with kidney beans, green beans and sweet onions
A light serving of kidney beans, sherbet, cucumber and feta, this fattoush (Middle Eastern pita bread and vegetable salad) is the perfect easy dinner for summer evenings.
Roasted vegetables and brown rice bowl
This balanced, heart-healthy, plant-based meal requires only ready-to-eat brown rice and some easy-to-roast veggies like broccoli and eggplant – a healthy summer dish ready in minutes.
Coconut Miso Mushroom Soup
Cool summer evenings call for something comforting and tasty, and here we take those humblest of mushrooms—inexpensive and readily available button and cremini mushrooms—and toss them with miso and coconut milk to create a smooth vegetarian dish.
Mushroom tacos with charred corn salsa
Short on time for dinner tonight? For Taco Tuesday, we have a quick 35-minute meal. Slice portobello mushrooms into slabs and grill them with the corn. Once browned, separate the kernels from the corn and stuff them into tortillas with the mushrooms. Top with chipotle sour cream and the juice and zest of fresh lime.
Tofu with ginger and coriander sauce
Forget about tofu being bland and boring with this flavorful, summertime grilled dish. Sliced extra-firm tofu is topped off with a punchy sauce made with fresh cilantro, chopped jalapeño, grated ginger, scallions, and lime juice for a green finish.
Corn risotto made in a pressure cooker
Use this speedy cooker to create the ultimate summer vegetarian dinner, such as a creamy risotto with sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and Parmesan.
Roasted eggplant sandwich with soy lime glaze
Who doesn’t love a delicious, hearty sandwich? Reminiscent of the traditional Vietnamese banh mi, this sandwich features slices of roasted eggplant gently smeared with a sweet and sour sauce and topped with a generous amount of pickled vegetables. It’s the perfect recipe for a hearty, hearty summer dinner.
Green Bean and Corn Frittata
Want breakfast for dinner? How about a family-friendly summer frittata loaded with healthy seasonal veggies?
Zucchini Quesadillas
If you’re in the mood for a quick Mexican dinner, try our vegetarian quesadillas, loaded with cheese and cooked veggies like zucchini, served with sliced avocado, lettuce, and salsa.
