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20 Family-Friendly Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

20 Family-Friendly Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

By Jenna Helwig and Erica Clark

August 06, 2015

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Credit: Greg Dupree

Whether it's Monday, or any other day of the week, eating more plant-based meals can be healthy and delicious. Worried that the carnivores in your family will balk? They won't miss the meat a bit once you serve up one of these hearty, kid-friendly recipes.

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Mushroom and Pepper Fajita Bowl

Credit: Greg Dupree

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Broiled portobello mushroom caps tossed with chili powder and coriander give this main dish all the hearty umami flavor you need.

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Grilled Chayote and Onion Quesadillas

Credit: Greg Dupree

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Swap squash with chayote to freshen up your veggie quesadillas. Tip: When chopping chayote, cut around small center core and then discard core pieces.

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Sweet Potato-Poblano Enchiladas

Credit: Greg Dupree

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Coarsely mashed white beans is the secret to taking these vegetarian enchiladas to the next level without having to add meat.

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Vegetarian Pozole

Credit: Greg Dupree

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Serve with toppings such as lime wedges, jicama matchsticks, shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips, and thinly sliced cabbage and radishes.

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Potato and Vegetarian “Chorizo” Tacos

Credit: Greg Dupree

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Made of soy or seitan, vegetarian “chorizo” adds a kick of flavor!

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Quinoa Tacos

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Everyone loves Taco Night! Protein-packed quinoa stands in for the beef in this family-friendly recipe. Put out bowls of assorted fillings and let the kids build their own.

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Chickpea and Squash Curry

Credit: Yunhee Kim

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Store-bought curry paste adds just a gentle heat to this super-quick, flavorful meal.

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Tofu Tender Supper

Credit: Yunhee Kim

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What You'll Need: Extra firm tofu, eggs, panko breadcrumbs, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, nonstick cooking spray, sweet potatoes, olive oil, fresh rosemary, coleslaw mix, apple cider vinegar, malt vinegar (optional)

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Spaghetti With Lentil Bolognese

Credit: Yunhee Kim

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French green lentils (aka lentilles du Puy) hold their shape better than standard green lentils, giving this Bolognese a texture similar to that of a traditional meat sauce.

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Creole-Style Artichoke Jambalaya

Credit: Yunhee Kim

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Frozen artichoke hearts add heft to this veggie-packed rice dish, while beans add protein. Don’t be put off by the long ingredient list; half of it is spices you likely already have in your cabinet.

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Black Bean and Herb Burgers

Credit: Johnny Valiant

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Vegetarian burgers don't have to be boring. These black bean burgers are filled with flavor, easy to cook, and budget-friendly to boot.

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Baked Ziti Soup

Credit: Katie Webster

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A healthy twist on baked ziti, this hearty tomato basil soup comes together in your slow cooker. It has noodles mixed right in, and we've even topped it off with a bit of gooey cheese. Round out the meal with a green salad and garlic bread for dunking.

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Pizza with Zucchini and Smoked Mozzarella

Credit: Kate Sears

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Sautéed zucchini and smoked mozzarella stand in for pepperoni in this crowd-pleasing entr?e. Raw garlic in the uncooked, ready-in-10-minutes tomato sauce adds punch. If you don't want to wait the hour for the dough to become easier to work with, use a store-bought ready-to-heat flatbread crust and follow the package instructions. For heat-lovers, drizzle the finished pie with chile oil. From the cookbook Meatless All Day by Dina Cheney.

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Pepper and Potato Tacos

Credit: Erica Clark

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Fixing more plant-based meals can be healthier, and it's also a smart way to trim a grocery budget. Serve these tacos deconstructed and let your family members build their own. With so much flavor no one will miss the meat.

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Nutty Tofu

Credit: Kang Kim

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Tofu is a busy mom's best friend. It's a good source of protein, easy to cook, and very budget-friendly. In this recipe the tofu gets tons of flavor from a quick soy sauce marinade and a delicious drizzle of peanut sauce.

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Better-for-You Baked Mac

Credit: Joseph De Leo

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This fontina-cheese mac contains about 70 calories and 13 grams of fat fewer than typical baked mac 'n' cheese versions.

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Lemony Lentil Soup

Credit: Peden and Munk

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Thanks to the lentils, just one portion of this vegetarian soup packs as much energy-boosting protein as a beef burger. And since it's made in the slow cooker you can plug it in and go.

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Vegetarian Fried Rice

Credit: Frances Janisch

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When you first prepare this recipe, use a few of your child's favorite vegetables; then slip in a new variety each time you make it.

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Southwestern Quinoa Burgers

Credit: Katie Webster

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Cooking these vegetarian quinoa burgers in a skillet gives the edges a yummy, unexpected crunch. Kids will really go for the melty cheese and ultra-mild spice.

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Polenta with Mushrooms

Credit: Peter Ardito

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Using a combination of different mushrooms gives this vegetarian dish layers of flavor. The mushrooms are equally delicious on top of risotto or pasta.

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