Make a delicious vegetarian meal for dinner tonight with these recipes. Each serving contains 500 calories or less while still being filling thanks to vegetables like eggplant and squash and proteins like tofu and eggs. These vegetarian recipes are a great option if you're looking to eat more plant-based. Recipes like Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms and Korean BBQ Tempeh Grain Bowl are healthy, veggie-packed and can help you meet your nutrition goals.
01of 34
Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/5694953-c059a8745e444fae84d41ad0c3a5474b.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (1)")
To make this 20-minute vegan curry even faster, buy precut veggies from the salad bar at the grocery store. To make it a full, satisfying dinner, serve over cooked brown rice. When shopping for simmer sauce, look for one with 400 mg of sodium or less and check the ingredient list for cream or fish sauce if you want to keep this vegan. If you like a spicy kick, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce at the end. Source: EatingWell.com, August 2018
02of 34
Salsa-Black Bean Burgers
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/4266156-8f8a09c2b1e9459e9f66c8fb3fb2cdfa.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (2)")
Salsa and some pantry staples give this vegetarian bean burger recipe tons of flavor. We use crushed tortilla chips to bind the burgers together, making them a great vehicle for using up those crumbs that inevitably fall to the bottom of the bag. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2017
03of 34
Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/4473508_1_0-48e9c0f60c724285a0b61ef01b078815.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (3)")
Sliced Brussels sprouts and mushrooms cook quickly and cling to the pasta in our fall version of pasta primavera. Look for presliced mushrooms to cut prep time. Serve with a tossed salad. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2009
04of 34
Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Eggs-in-Tomato-Sauce-with-Chickpeas-Spinach-bc5dc086e0414f709d33ff90556e0046.jpeg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (4)")
Simmer eggs in a rich tomatoey cream sauce studded with chickpeas and silky spinach for a super-fast vegetarian dinner. Serve with a piece of crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Be sure to use heavy cream; a lower-fat option might curdle when mixed with acidic tomatoes. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2018
05of 34
Mexican Cabbage Soup
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/4291857-2e45c89016f7408fb63a8cc37a2cf436.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (5)")
Based on a popular weight-loss plan, this healthy cabbage soup recipe gets tons of flavor and a metabolism-boosting kick from spicy chiles. Source: EatingWell Magazine, Soup Cookbook
06of 34
Thai Spaghetti Squash with Peanut Sauce
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/5571680-cc0403f668954b7b8f8e4f04754e8865.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (6)")
This gluten-free, vegan version of peanut noodles has a high protein content thanks to edamame and peanut butter. Spaghetti squash turns delicately sweet when roasted, which pairs wonderfully with the Thai-inspired peanut sauce. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2018
07of 34
Vegan Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowl with Creamy Green Sauce
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/5647614-785d2a4d095f46dc8b06e2fcc048d899.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (7)")
In a vegan riff on green goddess dressing, cashews provide a creamy base with tons of flavor from herbs and apple-cider vinegar. Drizzle it all over this bowl of quinoa and roasted vegetables to make a satisfying vegan dinner or easy packable lunch that is ready in just 30 minutes. Source: EatingWell.com, August 2018
08of 34
Sweet Potato-Black Bean Burgers
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/8503194-d3a18ad55b2640f693a383dfe21cadc2.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (8)")
These vegan sweet potato-black bean burgers spiced with curry powder are easy to make. Blending the mixture with your hands gives you a soft, uniform texture then the outside gets crispy by cooking in a cast-iron pan. To make this recipe gluten-free too, use gluten-free oats and serve the patty in a lettuce wrap, omitting the bun. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2020
09of 34
Chickpea Curry (Chhole)
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/3879367-77631a6637a14ce89e56d1470cd15890.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (9)")
Made with convenient canned beans, this quick and healthy Indian recipe is an authentic chickpea curry that you can make in minutes. If you want an additional vegetable, stir in some roasted cauliflower florets. Serve with brown basmati rice or warm naan. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2016
10of 34
Om Buddha Bowl
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/4565076-74c41c4002564fde9f89869dcfc7ded0.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (10)")
This beautiful grain bowl is packed with healthy ingredients like quinoa, chickpeas, kale and cauliflower--all drizzled with a lemony tahini sauce. The fast one-bowl meal makes a satisfying weeknight dinner or packable work lunch. If you don't have za'atar, you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon each ground cumin and coriander. Source: EatingWell.com, October 2017
11of 34
Mushroom Shawarma with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/8142279-596083b78c2549639f3cb924a8f1502d.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (11)")
The bold spices and cooling and creamy tahini-yogurt sauce make these vegetarian pitas a home run for lunch or dinner. The meaty, umami-rich mushrooms do enough heavy lifting so that you don't miss the meat at all. Source: EatingWell.com, May 2020
12of 34
Lentil Bowls with Fried Eggs & Greens
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/8115221-d0fa01e4bc484e808ff9cd13e50353ef.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (12)")
Lentils are a quick and easy protein. We like French green lentils, which hold their shape when cooked. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2020
13of 34
Basil-Chickpea Flatbread
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/8115715-f6133ace6ef0491dafbe64d887ba7448.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (13)")
A flavorful combination of chickpeas, cashews, and garlic forms a protein-rich base for this homemade flatbread. Store-bought crust makes prep a breeze. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2020
14of 34
Ricotta-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Arugula Salad
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7972031-5c476f8629054065823752c159aa078d.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (14)")
This easy vegetarian meal gets a double hit of umami from mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes. Grill some crusty bread, then rub it with garlic and drizzle it with olive oil to serve alongside these stuffed portobello mushrooms. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May 2020
15of 34
Korean BBQ Tempeh Grain Bowl
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7680764-923725f579e74aafbce6d5d439f37576.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (15)")
If you're a tempeh skeptic, you've probably never had the firm soy-based slabs slathered with a sweet-and-spicy barbecue sauce. We give this easy BBQ tempeh combo a punch of umami with tamari and add a little heat courtesy of gochujang. It's easy to put your own spin on this recipe; see Variations (below) for some riffs. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2020
16of 34
Basil Pesto Pasta with Grilled Vegetables
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/8115128-34bc7be43d6746fcb0c05dbe9cbdbf95.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (16)")
This dish is an easy way to turn grilled vegetables into a satisfying meal, thanks to hearty whole-grain pasta and a quick homemade pesto. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2020
17of 34
One-Pot Beans & Rice with Corn & Salsa
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/8049948-b8bf77d919e1468fbd305770796be6ba.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (17)")
This one-pot dinner is like a deconstructed burrito bowl--especially when topped with salsa, sliced avocado or a dollop of Greek yogurt for a cool, creamy accent. You can also enjoy it as a meal on its own, or as a vegetarian taco or burrito filling or a side dish on taco night. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2020
18of 34
Blue Cheese & Mushroom Pizza
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7683537-473099071a4f485896729587f8d04473.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (18)")
This sheet-pan technique produces pizza that looks and tastes like it was made in a wood-fired oven. The trick is partially cooking the crust before topping it, then cranking up the broiler to get a golden brown and crispy crust. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2020
19of 34
Vegetarian Bourguignon
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7528803-75b8341f93074b3488459151da505f5b.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (19)")
Carrots and parsnips mingle with meaty mushrooms in this vegetarian spin on the classic French beef stew. Feel free to substitute other root vegetables, such as rutabaga and turnip. Serve over whole-wheat pasta and top with chopped parsley or chives. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2020
20of 34
Grilled Eggplant & Tomatoes with Polenta
The sweet flavor and plump flesh of ripe tomatoes are a natural fit with the silky texture that eggplant gets from grilling. You can get the same effect by broiling the eggplant for about 4 minutes per side. Serve over creamy polenta for an easy healthy dinner, or swap in whole-wheat pasta for the polenta for a faster weeknight supper. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2019
21of 34
Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7690855-adaf75d44e164a19b0caee5bf32877b4.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (20)")
Think of this vegetarian enchilada casserole as a veggie-packed Mexican lasagna with corn tortillas standing in for the noodles! If your peppers are mild and you like heat, opt for spicy pico de gallo. This easy vegetarian dinner recipe is sure to become a new family favorite. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2020
22of 34
Tofu Tacos
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7606818-793e57a0c9b74d79ad268ad8b9b20c0c.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (21)")
These quick vegan tacos, filled with a spicy tofu filling, make a perfect weeknight dinner. To keep them vegan, top them with shredded cabbage, fresh pico de gallo and guacamole. For vegetarians, add crumbled queso fresco. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020
23of 34
Zucchini Noodle Primavera
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7574700-42b354bac8fc45288845b63c3d9f99a5.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (22)")
This primavera recipe cuts carbs by swapping out the pasta for zucchini "noodles." This quick vegetarian dinner is chock-full of colorful vegetables smothered in a light, creamy sauce. We like using prepackaged spiralized zucchini noodles to keep this recipe ultra-fast, but if you have a spiralizer and zucchini on hand, you can easily make your own. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020
24of 34
Edamame Lettuce Wrap Burgers with Peanut Sauce
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7493339-f79af7e9dc1940af99794c3f39783a2e.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (23)")
Edamame make these homemade veggie burgers mean, green protein machines. Peanut sauce, curry paste and quick-pickled carrots give them Thai-inspired flair. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2020
25of 34
Vegetarian Gumbo
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7459007-1765ae2253274038899d588eeed77214.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (24)")
This flavorful vegan dinner is a veggie version of the Louisiana classic. It's chock-full of butternut squash, tomatoes, poblano peppers and okra, to name just a few. This vegetarian gumbo is a quick dinner packed with flavor and spice that's done in only 30 minutes. To make it a meal, serve it with cornbread drizzled with olive oil. Source: EatingWell.com, December 2019
26of 34
Slow-Cooker Tofu Lo Mein
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7111566-6fcf81ffa7374050b21f04eb57d42a4d.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (25)")
Crisp-tender veggies cooked in a sweet Asian sauce and served with noodles and tofu is a refreshingly different slow cooker dinner. Removing the excess moisture from the tofu helps it soak up the sauce, giving the unassuming ingredient full flavor. Source: Everyday Slow Cooker
27of 34
Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Ragout Over Couscous
Hearty and filling, this eggplant and white bean ragout is vegetarian comfort food. Tossing the eggplant with salt draws out excess moisture from the vegetable, making it less bitter and more firm upon cooking. To make this recipe gluten-free, sub rice or gluten-free pasta for the couscous. Garnish with additional chopped flat-leaf parsley or basil, if desired. Source: Everyday Slow Cooker
28of 34
Chickpea Dumplings in Curried Tomato Sauce
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7010618-987c5cf724d246ed9a82cec952bad493.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (26)")
Inspired by a dish served in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India called "dharan ji kadhi," our rendition studs the tender chickpea-flour dumplings with chiles and greens. Serve with naan to sop up the sauce for a healthy vegetarian dinner with plenty of protein. Source: EatingWell Magazine, October 2019
29of 34
Buttermilk Fried Tofu with Smoky Collard Greens
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7010612-4ab743f02ad24315bfabf46a9e9258ca.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (27)")
Dipping tofu in buttermilk makes the coating stick for a crispy pan-fried tofu, reminiscent of fried chicken. Spicing up the collards with paprika coats them with smoky flavor while keeping this dish vegetarian. And this quick, easy and healthy dinner comes together in just 25 minutes, so it's great for busy weeknights. Source: EatingWell Magazine, October 2019
30of 34
Vegetarian Mushroom Stroganoff
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7004880-102a7a1d65574642b282fafc560e678f.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (28)")
This mushroom stroganoff recipe has all of the comforting flavors you love from beef stroganoff, but without any of the meat! This vegetarian dish has incredible depth; the combination of dried and fresh mushrooms makes this main feel unctuous and meaty. The sour cream and mustard add richness, while the herbs add a hit of brightness. Source: EatingWell.com, September 2019
31of 34
Noodle-Less Butternut Squash Lasagna
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/6745543-06e9fa9bba6442e8a83a0f5ddaa98758.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (29)")
Slices of butternut squash stand in for noodles in this veggie-packed lasagna with spinach, mushrooms and a creamy Parmesan cheese sauce. You can make the Parmesan cheese sauce with regular flour or swap in gluten-free flour to make this dish gluten-free. Look for a squash with a long, straight neck for the best results. Serve with a green salad for a vegetarian meal that you'd be happy to serve to company. Source: Eatingwell.com, June 2019
32of 34
Mushroom-Quinoa Veggie Burgers with Special Sauce
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/6683928-bdf4f2c0800d4f32837b36403679b603.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (30)")
These hearty mushroom, black bean and quinoa veggie burgers are a healthy and satisfying homemade alternative to store-bought veggie burgers. And they take just 25 minutes of active time to prep, so while they're special enough for entertaining, they're quick enough for weeknight dinners. Source: Eatingwell.com May 2019
33of 34
Squash Blossom & Corn Tacos
Shake up your taco recipe routine with these corn tortillas filled with corn, summer squash and squash blossoms. Squash blossoms are cooked in great quantities and myriad ways year-round in Mexico. They are very perishable, so it's best to use them within a day of purchasing. Wrap loosely in paper towels and store in the refrigerator. Source: EatingWell Magazine, June 2019
34of 34
Cherry Tomato & Garlic Pasta
View Recipe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/6535785-0384bf60023b489ca8d016c1f6847e78.jpg "34 Vegetarian Dinners with 500 Calories or Less (31)")
This easy and healthy pasta recipe takes just 20 minutes to prep so it's a perfect weeknight dinner. Cooking garlic cloves whole and then mashing them into the sauce not only saves time, it creates a mellow garlic flavor that melds seamlessly into the silky burst cherry tomatoes. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May 2019
