Summer is a good time to keep meals lighter and let fresh ingredients shine. These vegetarian dinners are built around produce, simple flavors, and a mix of pastas, grains, and vegetables that fit the season. They’re great for warm nights and don’t leave you feeling weighed down. From zucchini noodles to stuffed mushrooms, everything here leans fresh without being fussy.
Lemon Feta Spinach Pasta
This pasta brings together lemon, feta, and fresh spinach for a dish that feels bright and balanced. It’s perfect for summer when you want something light that still feels like dinner. Serve it hot or cold and pack up the leftovers for an easy lunch.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Feta Spinach Pasta
Sheet Pan BBQ Tofu & Vegetables
Tofu gets coated in BBQ sauce and roasted with sweet potatoes, peppers, and broccoli for a colorful dinner that works great in warm weather. Everything cooks on one sheet, and it holds up well for leftovers the next day.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan BBQ Tofu & Vegetables
Smashed White Bean Quesadillas
These quesadillas are filled with mashed white beans, kale, and melted cheddar, then topped with a quick BBQ sauce. They’re rich without being heavy and make a great vegetarian option for summer when you want something a little more filling.
Get the Recipe: Smashed White Bean Quesadillas
Cheddar Cauliflower Burgers
These veggie burgers are packed with cauliflower and cheddar and topped with pickled red cabbage and cilantro pesto. They’re a great summer dinner that doesn’t weigh you down and can hold up to your favorite sandwich sides.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Cauliflower Burgers
Curry Roasted Eggplant Burgers
Roasted eggplant seasoned with curry and stacked into a burger with a yogurt hummus sauce makes a strong case for skipping the meat. These burgers are perfect for summer nights when you want something with bold flavor that still feels fresh.
Get the Recipe: Curry Roasted Eggplant Burgers
Lemon Ricotta Pasta
This pasta is creamy from the ricotta but keeps things light with fresh basil and juicy tomatoes. It’s a great go-to for a fast summer dinner that tastes good hot or at room temperature.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Pasta
Lentil Pasta with Garlicky Greens
Red lentil pasta and sautéed kale come together in this easy meatless meal. It’s packed with protein, quick to make, and works well for a light but filling dinner on a hot night.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Pasta with Garlicky Greens
Lentil Stuffed Eggplant
Eggplant halves are filled with a hearty mix of lentils, tomatoes, and greens. It’s a solid plant-based dinner that works well in summer when you want something filling but still fresh.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Stuffed Eggplant
Pasta Checca with Burrata
This cold pasta dish is tossed with fresh tomatoes and creamy burrata, making it perfect for hot weather. It’s one of those meals that tastes like summer and doesn’t need anything else on the plate.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Checca with Burrata
Simple Summer Lasagna
This no-boil, no-cook lasagna is layered with fresh vegetables and creamy cheese. It’s lighter than the usual version and great when you want comfort food that still fits a summer vibe.
Get the Recipe: Simple Summer Lasagna
Vegetable Bean Skillet
This skillet meal is packed with fresh vegetables and two kinds of beans, making it a great meatless option that still feels complete. It’s perfect for summer nights when you want something simple, light, and full of texture.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Bean Skillet
Vegetable Cheddar Quesadilla
These quesadillas come together fast with frozen or fresh vegetables and a layer of melted cheddar. They’re easy to customize and great for nights when you want something quick without turning on the oven.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Cheddar Quesadilla
Zucchini Noodles with Avocado Cream Sauce
Zucchini noodles tossed in a creamy avocado sauce make a great summer dinner or side. It’s light, cool, and works well when it’s too hot for anything heavy.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Noodles with Avocado Cream Sauce
Zucchini Noodles with Creamy Tomato Sauce
This dish uses summer zucchini and roasted tomato basil sauce for a fresh take on noodles. It’s a great way to use up produce and still get something creamy and satisfying without feeling weighed down.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Noodles with Creamy Tomato Sauce
Dandelion Greens and Beans
Dandelion greens sautéed with cannellini and kidney beans make a simple but solid vegetarian meal. It’s on the table in under 30 minutes and works well when you want something plant-based and light.
Get the Recipe: Dandelion Greens and Beans
Creamy Mushroom Risotto
This dairy-free risotto gets its richness from mushrooms and peas without feeling too heavy. It’s a great choice for summer when you want something comforting but not over the top.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Risotto
Kung Pao Chickpeas
This chickpea version of Kung Pao brings bold flavor without the meat. It’s fast, filling, and makes a great plant-based dinner that works well for summer when you’re craving something saucy but not greasy.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Chickpeas
Tofu Fried Rice
Tofu fried rice is a great clean-out-the-fridge meal and easy to load up with fresh vegetables. It reheats well, comes together quickly, and works for dinner or lunch throughout the week.
Get the Recipe: Tofu Fried Rice
Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
These mushrooms are packed with spinach, cheese, artichokes, and sun dried tomatoes. They’re rich but not too heavy, making them perfect for a meatless summer dinner when you want something you can cut into with a fork.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
