marthastewart.com
Entertaining
Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
Summer Entertaining
Barbecues
BBQ & Grilling Recipes
Vegetarian Main Course Recipes You'll Want to Grill All Summer Long

Vegetarian Main Course Recipes You'll Want to Grill All Summer Long

Paola + Murray

Enjoy fantastic vegetarian burgers, hearty vegetable entrées, and lots more this season.

Start Slideshow

1 of 19

Paola + Murray

Summer vegetarian entrées doesn't just mean salads! The meatfree main courses here are satisfying, hearty, and something everyone will get on board with, vegetarian or not. We've included the classics, from grilled pizza to eggplant parmesan, but are also thinking outside the box.

If you're looking for recipes that are an all-in-one meal, you'll want to devour Grilled Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers. Want a twist on Pizza Friday fit for herbivores? We've got you covered with delicious white Grilled Asparagus and Ricotta Pizza, West Coast Grilled Vegetable Pizza, and a classic Tomato and Basil Pizza. Using store-bought dough cuts down on prep work, if you're cooking for a large crowd (but it's surprisingly easy to make your own pizza dough, and it's something we love doing). You can also use store-bought sauce or try the asparagus and ricotta pizza which skips tomatoes altogether. After all, who wouldn't agree that cheese is really all you need?

Not surprisingly many of these recipes make vegetables the star of the show which means bright, colorful meals with plenty of farm-fresh produce. This summer, look out for vegetables that are in their peak season like new potatoes, tomatoes, corn, eggplants, and zucchini—and that's not even the half of it! Get to know your local farmer; they'll offer recommendations based on their best crops.

Now that the weather is warm, you can break out your coals (or turn on the gas) and get grilling. These recipes can easily be mixed and matched to create a single, cohesive meal or a bigger, help yourself-style potluck.

Advertisement

Advertisement

2 of 19

Grilled-Eggplant Parmesan

Sidney Bensimon

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Take this Italian-American classic outdoors. By grilling the eggplant rather than breading and frying it, you can taste the true beauty of the aubergine—it makes for a satisfying but less heavy entrée.

3 of 19

Tofu Kebabs with Cilantro Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Marinate tofu cubes and scallions in a zesty purée of cilantro, jalapeño, ginger, and lime juice before threading onto skewers. Grill alongside summer squash kebabs and serve with the leftover marinade for dipping.

Advertisement

4 of 19

Tomato and Basil Pizza

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Grill rounds of homemade pizza dough until lightly charred before adding the toppings. Use the accompanying recipe for tomato sauce or use your favorite store-bought variety, then scatter fresh mozzarella and basil leaves over the top.

5 of 19

Grilled Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

Armando Rafael

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Love stuffed peppers but don't feel like turning on the oven? Pop them on the grill! After the peppers are grilled, they're stuffed with couscous, fresh mint, and feta, and cooked on the grill—in a skillet.

6 of 19

Red-Bean Burgers with Avocado and Lime

Alpha Smoot

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Mashed kidney beans form the base for burgers that cook to a crisp crust, giving this vegetarian main extra oomph.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

7 of 19

West Coast Grilled Vegetable Pizza

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Plenty of vegetables here! Store-bought pizza dough is grilled and then topped with tomatoes, scallions, and goat cheese. Dress fresh spinach and diced avocado with red-wine vinegar and olive oil, and pile onto the pizzas just before serving.

8 of 19

Double-Portobello Burgers with Roasted Tomatoes

andrew parcell

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Portobello mushrooms are cooked until tender, then broiled for a few minutes to make them deliciously caramelized. Layer two mushrooms with sharp provolone cheese on each bun and top with garlicky roasted tomatoes.

9 of 19

Chickpea Burger

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Scallions, cumin, ginger, and peanuts add lively flavor to these chickpea patties. Serve the grilled burgers on whole-wheat English muffins with mayonnaise and Dijon mustard.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

10 of 19

Bean-and-Veggie Sliders

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Kidney beans and rice are blended with aromatics to make these mini burgers inspired by Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches. Serve the pan-fried patties on whole-wheat rolls with chili mayonnaise, red onion, and sliced mango.

11 of 19

Grilled-Vegetable Tostadas

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Grill zucchini, portobello mushrooms, and scallions to top these colorful tostadas. Brush flour tortillas with olive oil and brown them on the grill before topping with feta cheese and fresh salsa.

12 of 19

Black-Bean and Brown-Rice Cakes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Purée canned black beans with scallions, jalapeno, and cumin, then mix with cooked brown rice to make these hearty patties. Serve them as vegetarian burgers or as appetizers, accompanied by cilantro-lime yogurt sauce.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

13 of 19

Mediterranean Veggie Burgers with Mint-Yogurt Sauce and Carrot Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Canned lentils are the secret to these easy, delicious mint-flecked veggie burgers. Top with yogurt sauce and serve with a lemony carrot salad.

14 of 19

Spicy Lentil-Walnut Burgers

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Cumin, coriander, jalapeno, garlic, and toasted walnuts make these lentil burgers rich and spicy. Serve in pita bread with avocado, tomatoes, and yogurt-cilantro sauce.

15 of 19

Black Bean and Goat Cheese Quesadillas

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Black beans, chopped tomato, corn, scallions, goat cheese, and oregano fill these colorful quesadillas. Serve these as a quick appetizer at your next cookout.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

16 of 19

Balsamic Portobello Burgers with Bell Pepper and Goat Cheese

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Portobello mushrooms, a favorite vegetarian burger stand-in, are marinated along with red bell peppers in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and minced garlic. Serve the grilled portobellos and peppers on buns with fresh goat cheese and lettuce leaves.

17 of 19

Grilled Pizzas with Asparagus and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Season asparagus and scallions with sun-dried tomato oil, and grill until they are caramelized and tender. Grill ovals of purchased pizza dough before topping each one with ricotta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and the grilled vegetables.

18 of 19

Grilled Pizza with Fontina and Arugula

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Store-bought pizza dough is a great shortcut for making this easy, sophisticated grilled pizza. Grill the pizza until the fontina cheese melts, then scatter baby arugula over the top and drizzle with olive oil just before serving.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

19 of 19

Tofu with Ginger-Cilantro Sauce

Elizabeth Cecil

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Tofu can be—how do we put it delicately?—tasteless. But in five minutes over medium heat, it becomes a dynamic meatless meal, with the lattice marks to prove it.

Up Next

Advertisement