28 Whole Grain Dinner Ideas for Next Month

From the Recipe Creator: I love cooking for my husband and this is the first dish of the year that we enjoy out in our back yard. I often include fresh peas and cherry tomatoes, halved. —Amy McDonough, Carlton, Oregon

From the Recipe Creator: The only cooking in this easy bulgur salad is heating the broth and bulgur. You can adapt the recipe to your preference; if you want to add chopped cooked chicken, use chicken broth in place of vegetable broth. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio

From the Recipe Creator: We love this tasty dinner. It’s quick to prepare, making it a great (and yummy!) meal when you’re running late. You’ll love the easy cleanup, too! —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: I love to experiment with different grains and wanted to give wheat berries a try. My whole family goes nuts for this salad, especially my mom. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York. For a satisfying lunch or quick side try these versatile grain salad recipes .

From the Recipe Creator: A traditional Bolognese sauce is meat-based with everything from pork to pancetta. Skipping the meat, I loaded this pasta dish with baby portobellos and veggies. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: Some vegan quinoa recipes are boring, but this one definitely isn't. My daughter’s college asked parents for the best quinoa recipes to use in the dining halls. This healthy quinoa recipe fits the bill. —Lindsay McSweeney, Winchester, Massachusetts

From the Recipe Creator: This recipe combines delicious whole wheat pasta with fresh garden produce. It's tossed with heart-healthy olive oil, and a sprinkling of feta cheese gives it bite. —Angela Spengler, Tampa, Florida

From the Recipe Creator: No question—this is my favorite barley soup! It's so filling that I serve it as a hearty main dish, and I have given the recipe to many of our friends and relatives. It simply tastes too good to keep to yourself! —Diana Costello, Marion, Kansas

From the Recipe Creator: This black bean pasta was something I created as a teenager, back when I was a vegetarian. Now that my daughter doesn't eat meat, she asks for this dinner several times a week. —Ashlynn Azar, Beaverton, Oregon

From the Recipe Creator: Ready to turn over a new burger? I guarantee no one will be missing the beef after tasting these vegetarian burgers. They're moist, tender and full of flavor. —Denise Hollebeke, Penhold, Alberta

From the Recipe Creator: We love how the whole wheat pasta and crisp, raw vegetables blend with the rich and creamy peanut sauce. The addition of fresh lime juice really brightens the flavor of the dish. Some eat it hot, but my husband and I prefer to wait until it's closer to room temperature. —Donna McCallie, Lake Park, Florida

From the Recipe Creator: My friends tell me this is one of the best soups they’ve ever had. One even said it’s “perfect.” No one guesses that it’s healthy!—Sarah Ott, Blanchardville, Wisconsin.

From the Recipe Creator: To get that luscious taste of Thai cuisine, combine ginger, basil, lime and peanut butter in a sauce for linguine. It's so good, we've never had leftovers. —Allil Binder, Spokane, Washington

From the Recipe Creator: I was missing my Russian grandma's barley porridge and beef stroganoff, so I combined the two dishes. Cook the barley using the risotto method to keep the grains whole and irresistibly chewy. —Tatiana Kireeva, New York, New York

From the Recipe Creator: This tart, refreshing salad is a big hit in my home. All the tasty toppings—including red onions, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese and a zesty dressing—give it extra interest. —Judy Roberts, Las Vegas, Nevada

From the Recipe Creator: Mashed squash helps make this chowder creamy but not heavy, and it's a favorite way to get barley on the table. My kids even ask for leftovers for lunch. —Pamela Cleghorn, Campbellsburg, Indiana

From the Recipe Creator: After working hard all our lives and raising a family, we're now enjoying a simpler life. Getting back to the basics means enjoying old-fashioned comfort foods like these stuffed zucchini boats. —Mrs. C. Thon, Atlin, British Columbia

From the Recipe Creator: This couscous salad makes the most of summer's bounty. I used to prepare it with a mayonnaise dressing, but lightened it with lemon vinaigrette. It's even better now! —Priscilla Yee, Concord, California

From the Recipe Creator: My meatless version of Korean bibimbap is tasty, pretty and easy to tweak for different spice levels. —Devon Delaney, Westport, Connecticut

From the Recipe Creator: This hearty beef barley soup is a favorite menu item in our house throughout the year. Everyone savors the flavor. —Elizabeth Kendall, Carolina Beach, North Carolina

From the Recipe Creator: Tabouli is a super fresh, mostly parsley salad with finely cracked wheat, juicy tomatoes, onion, fresh lemon juice, good quality extra virgin olive oil and a hint of fragrant mint. I added a little gluten-free twist to this recipe by replacing the cracked wheat with quinoa and then added some cucumbers for a nice crunch. For a delicious and colorful appetizer, serve in butter lettuce cups or endive leaves. —Nikki Haddad, Germantown, Maryland

From the Recipe Creator: I combined two recipes to create this side with broccoli and pasta. The splash of lemon adds nice flavor. Instead of toasted almonds, you could also sprinkle servings with grated Parmesan cheese. —Beth Dauenhauer, Pueblo, Colorado

From the Recipe Creator: This is a simple pad thai loaded with crisp vegetables and zesty flavor. It’s quick, simple, and fresh-tasting. —Colleen Doucette, Truro, Nova Scotia

From the Recipe Creator: As the family cook, I appreciate how easy this is to throw together on a busy weeknight. Plus, this salad never gets boring. One of my favorite variations is to substitute diced fresh mango for the cranberries, cilantro for the parsley, and lime for the lemon juice and zest. —Mary Shenk, DeKalb, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: I can't think of a better dish to round out a meal. My grain salad features all my favorite nuts, seeds and fruits. Try adding grilled chicken to make it a meal on its own. —Rachel Dueker, Gervais, Oregon

From the Recipe Creator: My kids are picky eaters, but teriyaki and hoisin sauces work wonders with them. They love the meatballs, and I swap the noodles for whole grain pasta. —Kelly Shippey, Orange, California

From the Recipe Creator: My mom picked up this barley soup recipe in her fitness class and passed it to me. It’s loaded with goodness! Sometimes, I substitute ground turkey as the meat and use chicken bouillon instead of beef flavored.—Emily Melton, Prophetstown, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: Quinoa contains more protein than other grains, and that protein is of unusually high quality for a plant food. That makes this a great filling main dish and the blend of flavors and colors will bring everyone at the table back for more. —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey