20 Fabulous Vegetarian Main Course and Side Dish Recipes for Entertaining

This family-friendly side dish is plenty indulgent thanks to a rich and silky combination of whole milk, heavy cream, and sharp white cheddar cheese.

If you're looking for a crowd-pleasing pasta dish that will wow when you're entertaining, try this hearty Bolognese sauce. Instead of the usual blend of beef, pork, and veal, our meat-free sauce is made with cremini mushrooms.

A typical Cobb salad features bacon, but not this vegetarian version. We serve it with shiitake mushrooms and baked tofu for heartiness, and you'll find that the colorful display will win over any crowd.

Next time you're entertaining, try your hand at making homemade pasta from scratch, then toss the wide noodles with an umami-packed butter sauce made with garlic and an entire pound of porcini mushrooms.

Ready for guests to ooh and ahh at this entrée? Clusters of maitake mushrooms—known as hen-of-the-woods—are roasted with soy sauce and the juice and zest of a lime. They're then served over a combination of Japanese sweet potatoes, turnips, and leeks.

If you're hosting a festive fall gathering, serve this vegetarian side dish that features stunning shingles of thinly sliced sweet potatoes. They cook with sage-infused half-and-half and plenty of finely grated Parmesan cheese.

This special occasion side dish only requires a handful of basic ingredients: Stuff red onions with an aromatic combination of herby breadcrumbs with three cups of fresh parsley, then watch your guests gobble them up.

Come summer, we're all about utilizing fresh corn on the cob and this crowd-pleasing risotto recipe is perfect for when you're entertaining. Two cups of fresh corn kernels—plus a homemade corn stock—bring sweet, juicy flavor to this creamy rice dish.

Between the golden-brown crust, pale yellow cheese filling, and vibrant green leeks, this vegetarian appetizer is the most beautiful tart we've ever laid eyes on.

Inviting a crowd over for brunch this weekend? Try serving this meatless casserole—even without breakfast staples like bacon or sausages, it's plenty hearty thanks to a combination of an entire pound of spinach, fontina cheese, and Yukon gold potatoes.

Start the party with this three-ingredient appetizer—store-bought puff pastry is portioned and placed in a mini muffin tin. Next, they're filled with Dijon mustard and single cubes of Gouda cheese and baked until the cheese has melted and pastry is golden brown.

Upgrade classic baked macaroni and cheese inspired by the traditional southern condiment using a flavor-packed combination of Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, ground nutmeg, and red bell pepper.

Try this genius duo of root vegetables—rutabagas and sweet potatoes—together they make the ultimate vegetarian mash to can accompany a roast turkey or beef, braised chicken, or a tofurky. 

This is no ordinary potato gratin. Potatoes are sliced into wedges and baked; once they're cooked, the soft potato center is scooped out and mixed with butter, sour cream, cream cheese, grated raclette cheese, and milk. The mixture is transferred to a gratin dish and topped with more raclette and the potato skins.

Skip the traditional meat filling and make this hearty vegetarian lasagna. It features layers of chopped cremini mushrooms and eggplant, and a three-cheese blend of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Serve this stunning vegetarian spring appetizer the next time you're entertaining, and we have a feeling you'll be asked to host again and again.

A petite main course or side dish that packs a punch, honeynut or butternut squash is tossed with broken lasagna noodles, thinly sliced leeks, chopped Brie cheese, and heavy cream.

Anyone who is suspicious of spinach will be a convert when they taste this crunchy, creamy, and super cheesy side dish at your next dinner party.

Skip the usual pie dough in favor of an incredible potato crust for this brunch quiche. It serves as a crunchy, silky vessel for an aromatic egg custard.