Vegetarian cooking doesn't have to be fussy or overly complicated to taste delicious. A meatless recipe can come together in a snap. Sometimes, you can even prepare a vegetarian recipe faster than its non-vegetarian counterpart, because you can simply skip the step of waiting for the meat to cook fully. If you're short on time but want a home-cooked meal, there are plenty of options.
Frittata
Vegetarian frittatas offer a way to incorporate plenty of vegetables and meatless protein into your meals. Frittatas take only about 5 to 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
Vegetable and Cheese Frittata
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons olive oil or canola oil
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced into half-moons
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound assorted chopped vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli florets, or bell peppers
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup shredded Swiss or Cheddar cheese
Instructions:
- Heat the oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, or other ovenproof pan, over medium-high heat. Add the onions, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft, about three minutes. Add vegetables, reduce heat to low, and cook, covered, until vegetables are tender, about six to eight minutes. Pour in the beaten eggs and cook until eggs are almost set but still runny, about two minutes more. While eggs are cooking, preheat the oven broiler.
- Sprinkle the cheese over the eggs and place the pan under the oven broiler until cheese is melted and browned on top, about three to four minutes. Remove frittata from oven, slide onto a plate, and cut into wedges to serve.
Pizza
Pizza is a dish that's both versatile and easy, especially if you buy pre-made refrigerated pizza dough at the supermarket. Experiment with toppings by trying different cheeses, like goat cheese, feta or blue cheese, or experiment with different sauces, like pesto or puréed squash instead of marinara sauce.
Portobello and Goat Cheese Pizza
Serves 8
Ingredients:
- One 16-oz package refrigerated pizza dough
- 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 cups portobello mushrooms, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup jarred marinara sauce
- 1/3 cup red onion, diced
- 8 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
- 2 cups baby spinach
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 450 F. Coat a 12-inch round pizza pan or baking sheet with cooking spray. Roll out pizza dough and set in pan.
- Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the portobello mushrooms and cook five minutes, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender. Add minced garlic, salt, and pepper, and cook 30 seconds, stirring often. Stir in the vinegar and remove pan from heat.
- Brush the crust with remaining two teaspoons olive oil. Spread the marinara sauce evenly over the crust. Scatter the mushroom mixture on top of the sauce, then sprinkle with raw red onion. Arrange the goat cheese crumbles evenly on top.
- Bake 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the cheese has melted. Scatter fresh baby spinach on top. Cut into slices and serve.
Other 30 Minute Vegetarian Recipes
Here is a short list of other quick meatless meal ideas. Use your imagination, and have fun!
- Onion Soup (Thick) Recipe
- Summer Casserole Recipe
- Macaroni with Cream Sauce Recipe
- Spanish Omelet Recipe
- Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce Recipe
Menu Planning
Whether you're adopting a vegetarian lifestyle or simply cutting back on meat, you can mix and match these and other quick, 30-minute-or-less vegetarian recipes for a full week or month's worth of easy meals. Try to vary the source of protein, and for a healthy diet, be wary of relying too heavily on cheese or carbohydrates. Don't forget about beans, lentils, and nuts. Add quick, easy side dishes to round out a meal: pair a pizza with a light garden salad, and serve fresh or lightly steamed vegetables such as broccoli or asparagus alongside a frittata.
