Weeknight Dinner Ideas: 9 One-Pot Vegetarian Recipes

Vegetarian pasta
Nicole Rupersburg/Thrillist
Nicole Rupersburg/Thrillist

I know, I know, "vegetarian" is not the best meal modifier. But hear me out! Simple doesn't have to mean basic, and vegetarian doesn't have to mean boring. Vegetables, when prepared right, are packed with flavor, and are surprisingly satisfying when there's no meat to be an attention hog. Plus, veggies just cook up much faster, and weeknight dinners demand speed.

Enchilada skillet
<a href="http://damndelicious.net/2014/09/17/cheesy-enchilada-rice-skillet/" target="_blank">Courtesy of Damn Delicious</a>

Think of it as an inside-out enchilada. No rolling, no folding, just throw everything into a skillet. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Rice
  • Corn
  • Beans
  • Enchilada sauce
  • Shredded cheese

 

You can make this curry in 30 minutes. That’s faster than the Thai restaurant’s delivery guy can pedal to your apartment. The recipe’s here.

Key ingredients:

  • Broccoli
  • Carrots
  • Snow peas
  • Curry powder
  • Coconut milk
Shakshuka
<a href="http://www.kailleyskitchen.com/2015/01/15/caramelized-onion-shakshuka-with-crispy-shallots/" target="_blank">Courtesy of&nbsp;Kailley's Kitchen</a>

The best baked eggs come from the Middle East, with plenty of herbs and spices. Get the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Eggs
  • Tomatoes
  • Goat cheese
  • Caramelized onions

 

Grab whatever odds and ends you've got in the fridge and toss them into a pan with rice. Once it bakes, it develops a tasty caramelized crust. Do it yourself here.

Key ingredients:

  • Tomatoes
  • Bell peppers
  • Green beans
  • Saffron
  • Arborio rice
One-pot pasta
<a href="http://gimmedelicious.com/2015/03/08/quick-one-pan-spinach-and-zucchini-pasta-10-minutes-vegetarian/" target="_blank">Courtesy of Gimme Delicious</a>

This hearty vegetable pasta comes together in a mere 15 minutes. The hardest part is boiling water. Get the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Pasta noodles
  • Spinach
  • Zucchini
  • Tomatoes
  • Italian spices

 

There’s so much fresh flavor in this soup, you won’t even miss the chicken. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Chile peppers
  • Cumin
  • Tomatoes
  • Hominy
  • Black beans
Courtesy of Pinch of Yum

Haphazardly throw all ingredients into a slow cooker and a few hours later, you’ve got lasagna. Couldn't be easier. Instructions here.

Key ingredients:

  • Tomato sauce
  • Lasagna noodles
  • Ricotta cheese
  • Kale
  • Mozzarella

 

The lightly toasted garlic croutons are tossed with tomatoes, white beans, spinach, basil, and lots of Parmesan cheese. Get the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Tomatoes
  • Bread
  • White beans
  • Parmesan
  • Garlic
Lentil stew
<a href="http://honeyandfigskitchen.com/2016/01/thyme-chard-lentil-quinoa-stew.html" target="_blank">Courtesy of Honey and Fig's Kitchen</a>

It's warm, it's hearty, and it's mad comforting. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Lentils
  • Quinoa
  • Carrots
  • Tomatoes
  • Chard


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Perry Santanachote is Thrillist's recipes editor. Follow her at @perrysant.