18 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes to Enjoy All Summer Long

rice salad with tomatoes cucumbers feta

Make the most of eggplant, tomatoes, summer squash, and more with these meatless dishes.

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rice salad with tomatoes cucumbers feta
Paola + Murray

When summer arrives, we're all about dining al fresco, grilling galore, and making use of an abundance of fresh, seasonal produce. You can cook so many different kinds of vegetables as well as pasta, pizza, and veggie burgers for a delicious vegetarian dinner this summer. All of the recipes, which include some grilled recipes and others that you can prep indoors, are family-friendly for a COVID-safe meal during the warm-weather season.

Start with the Rice Salad with Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Feta, pictured here. Long-grain brown rice is sautéed with chopped onions and garlic before being mixed with small heirloom tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, crumbled feta cheese, and a combination of fresh mint and parsley leaves. It's the perfect accompaniment to grilled vegetable burgers for a light and healthy summer meal.

We're also sharing plenty of inspired preparations for cooking store-bought pasta and gnocchi. Dress up basic cheese ravioli or spaghetti, for example, with summer vegetables such as plump cherry tomatoes, zucchini, fresh corn on the cob, and eggplant. The result is a simple, easy dinner that highlights the very best of summer flavors without putting a ton of strain on the chef. Use the same produce to make a rustic, savory summer tart or homemade pizza on the grill. You can make your own pizza dough or use store-bought to save time on busy weeknights.

Another option is to make use of a pressure cooker to make risotto with fresh corn, tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan cheese. It's a loose interpretation of a classic Italian trio that we accessorize with sweet corn on the cob for the perfect summer meal.

Get ready for a season of delicious summer dinners with these vegetarian recipes.

02 of 18

Sweet Corn, Zucchini, and Tomatoes with Bulgur

Sweet Corn, Zucchini, and Tomatoes with Bulgur
Frédéric Lagrange

Three of the season's MVPs star in this healthy grain salad that we want to eat from June through September. Zucchini, fresh corn kernels, and plump beefsteak tomatoes are sautéed, then combined with bulgur and arugula for a crowd-friendly summer starter.

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Whole Grilled Eggplant with Rice Pilaf

whole grilled eggplant with rice pilaf
Christopher Testani

Try this new technique for preparing eggplant. It's charred on a grill until extra crispy on the outside and super tender on the inside. Next, it's filled with a hearty pilaf made with the duo of broken spaghetti and long-grain white rice. The whole dish is topped with an easy lemon tahini sauce and pomegranate molasses.

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Spaghetti with Tomato Sauté

Spaghetti with Tomato Sauté
Frédéric Lagrange

This is not your usual spaghetti and red sauce. It's made with three pints of fresh cherry tomatoes (choose a variety of colors for vibrancy), fresh ricotta cheese, and plenty of grated Parmesan cheese.

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Cheese-Stuffed Portobello Burger

cheese-stuffed portobello burger topped with arugula
Con Poulos

Bored of packaged veggie burgers? Upgrade your meatless Monday with these indulgent burgers made from large portobello mushrooms. They are grilled and the centers are filled with slices of provolone cheese before being layered on brioche buns with arugula and a homemade Garlic-Vinegar Mayonnaise.

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Ravioli with Roasted Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Capers

Ravioli with Roasted Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Capers
Kate Sears

Looking for a way to upgrade store-bought cheese ravioli? We've got you covered with this vegetarian summer dinner recipe that features plenty of seasonal produce, fresh basil, and, of course, Parmesan.

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Grilled Vegetable Pizzas

grilled vegetable pizzas
Christopher Testani

Much as we love ordering pizza from a local joint, sometimes it's fun to make it at home. And for a vegetarian summer dinner, we can't picture anything more apt than these grilled flatbread pizzas topped with a colorful assortment of vegetables such as shiitake mushrooms, zucchini, lacinato kale, and red onion.

08 of 18

Corn, Tomato, and Zucchini Galette

corn tomato and zucchini galette
Dana Gallagher

For an easy, breezy vegetarian dinner for summer, we can't think of anything more appealing than a savory galette. This free-form savory pie is filled with thinly sliced zucchini, fresh corn kernels, roasted tomatoes, and a decadent cheese sauce.

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Tomato-Eggplant Gnocchi

tomato eggplant gnocchi
Ren Fuller

Get dinner on the table in 35 minutes with this quick vegetarian dinner that couldn't be more satisfying for summer, thanks to a zingy combination of sautéed eggplant and tomatoes, plus uber-creamy ricotta cheese.

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Grilled Vegetables and White-Bean Fattoush

Grilled Vegetables and White-Bean Fattoush
Con Poulos

This easy-going presentation of grilled red onions and bell peppers, cannellini beans, and pita bread is a hearty and healthy vegetarian dinner recipe that you can enjoy all summer long.

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Cilantro Rice Bowl with Poached Eggs and Greens

cilantro rice bowl with poached eggs and greens topped with radish slices
Chris Simpson

Plan ahead to make this tasty and healthy vegetarian bowl. It only requires 30 minutes of prep work but you need to allow time for letting the flavors of the pepper vinaigrette evolve. It's drizzled over a bowl of white rice, watercress, poached eggs, and radishes.

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Vegetarian BLT with Roasted Shiitake Mushrooms

Roasted-Shiitake "B"LTs
Ren Fuller

This bacon-free twist on a BLT has plenty of meatiness thanks to umami-rich shiitake mushrooms, which are layered on sourdough bread with all the fixings—mayonnaise, tomato slices, and fresh arugula.

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Mushroom Tacos with Charred-Corn Salsa

mushroom tacos with charred corn salsa
Chris Simpson

Short on time for dinner tonight? We've got you covered with these 35-minute handheld bites for taco Tuesday. Portobello mushrooms are sliced into planks and grilled along with corn on the cob. Once charred, the kernels are cut off the cob and are tucked into corn tortillas with the mushrooms. Top with chipotle sour cream and the juice and zest of fresh lime.

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Tofu with Ginger-Cilantro Sauce

tofu with ginger cilantro sauce served on a black plate
Elizabeth Cecil

Throw out any preconceived notions of tofu being bland or boring with this flavorful grilled preparation that's just right for summer. Sliced extra firm tofu is given the green treatment with a punchy sauce made from fresh cilantro, chopped jalapeño peppers, fresh grated ginger, scallions, and lime juice.

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Pressure-Cooker Corn Risotto

corn risotto with basil and tomato
Marcus Nilsson

Make use of this speedy appliance for the ultimate summer vegetarian dinner—creamy risotto with sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese.

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Grilled-Eggplant Parmesan

grilled-eggplant parmesan
Sidney Bensimon

Instead of breading and frying eggplant, we took a lighter, more seasonal approach to this Italian-American staple by grilling sliced eggplant and tomatoes and then layering them with fresh mozzarella cheese and sliced basil.

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Blistered Green-Bean and Corn Frittata

blistered green-bean and corn frittata plate and fork
Sidney Bensimon

Craving breakfast for dinner? How about this family-friendly summery frittata that's jam-packed with healthy seasonal vegetables?

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Zucchini and Caramelized-Onion Pizza

zucchini and caramelized-onion pizza
Sidney Bensimon

Take store-bought pizza dough on a Mediterranean spin with thinly sliced zucchini and caramelized onions, crumbled feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and fresh mint.

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