49 Italian Recipes for Vegetarians

Homemade Potato Gnocchi

My Italian mother remembers her mother making this potato gnocchi recipe for special occasions. She still has the bowl Grandma mixed the dough in, which will be passed down to me someday. —Tina Repak Mirilovich, Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Also, check these best vegetarian recipes to give an interesting twist to your veggies.

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Mediterranean Salad

This versatile Mediterranean salad recipe, made with crunchy romaine lettuce tossed with plenty of vegetables, briny feta and a bright red wine vinaigrette, is both healthy and delicious.

Pizza Margherita

This homemade pizza margherita, named for Queen Margherita of Italy, shows off the colors of the Italian flag with red tomatoes, white mozzarella and fresh green basil. You’ll be glad the recipe makes not one but two 13-inch pizzas! —Loretta Lawrence, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Want to try more variations? Try this delicious vegan pizza.

Stuffed Shells

This stuffed shells recipe includes a savory, creamy filling of four cheeses and spinach. Topped with rich tomato sauce, it's an easy vegetarian main dish the whole family will gobble up.

Dreamy Polenta

I grew up eating polenta, so it’s a must at my holiday gatherings. Traditional recipes require constant stirring, but using my handy slow cooker allows me to turn my attention to the lineup of other foods on my spread. —Ann Voccola, Milford, Connecticut

If you’ve ever wondered about when to use grits vs. polenta, or when to substitute plain old cornmeal, we’ve got some answers!

Eggplant Rollatini

Want to learn how to cook eggplant? Here’s where to start. These authentic eggplant roll-ups may take some time to prepare, but the end result is restaurant-quality. Your family will request this recipe time and again. —Nancy Sousley, Lafayette, Indiana.

Don’t feel like cooking? Here’s our round up of the best Italian restaurant in every state.

Arborio Rice and White Bean Soup

Soup is the ultimate comfort food. This hearty, satisfying soup with arborio rice is low in fat and comes together in less than 30 minutes. —Deanna McDonald, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Summer Zucchini Pasta

I'm always experimenting when my garden is cranking out zucchini and summer squash. This simple and healthy pasta dish is one of my latest wins. It's meatless, but you can add shredded chicken or grilled salmon for a heartier dish. —Beth Berlin, Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Marinated Cheese

We blend cheddar and cream cheese and marinate it in an herb-infused, zesty vinaigrette for a fun appetizer or an ingredient you can use in many tasty ways.

Garden Vegetable Tomato Sauce

I make this vegetable tomato sauce regularly and store containers of it in my freezer. It's a tasty substitute for regular pasta sauce, and the extra vegetables make it healthier. I also use it when I make pizza. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts

Pull-Apart Herb Bread

The ingredients for this recipe are so simple and the results so spectacular that I'm always willing to share the secret. It's actually a variation of a doughnut recipe I made years ago, using refrigerated biscuits. The best part of having this bread is tearing it apart and eating it warm. —Evelyn Kenney, Hamilton, New Jersey

Slow-Cooker Minestrone

This slow-cooker minestrone soup recipe offers all the comfort and deliciousness of a homemade soup. It's incredibly easy to make and requires very little attention once it's in the slow cooker. How's that for a great meal idea?

Ziti Bake

My children have frowned upon many of my casserole recipes, but they give a cheer when they hear we're having baked ziti for supper. I've tried to incorporate more meatless meals into our menus, which is how this recipe got started. No one misses the meat. They even like the leftovers! —Charity Burkholder, Pittsboro, Indiana

Marinated Tomatoes

In just about 10 minutes, you can prepare these tasty marinated tomatoes, a quick, light and family-friendly recipe.

Pepper Ricotta Primavera

Garlic, peppers and herbs top creamy ricotta cheese in this meatless skillet meal you can make in just 20 minutes. —Janet Boulger, Botwood, Newfoundland and Labrador

Garlic-Buttered Green Beans

These dressed-up beans are simple to make but look and taste special. They're a perfect side dish for nearly any meal.

Grilled Caprese Quesadillas

Here's a quick and easy summer lunch that makes great use of garden-grown tomatoes. Feel free to make your quesadillas heartier by adding grilled chicken. —Amy Mongiovi, Lititz, Pennsylvania

Tuscan Portobello Stew

Here’s a healthy one-skillet meal that’s quick and easy to prepare yet elegant enough for company. I often take this stew to my school’s potlucks, where it is devoured by teachers and students alike. —Jane Siemon, Viroqua, Wisconsin

Sweet Potato Panzanella

This is my favorite lunch dish during the fall season. Every bite is filled with flavor and texture, but it isn't too high in calories. —Mary M. Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina

Olive Oil Dip

Combine a blend of herbs to create this mouthwatering mix. Plumping the herbs in water before stirring into olive oil enhances the flavor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Manicotti Shells

These manicotti shells are actually crepes, made in a skillet, then filled with ricotta and herbs, smothered in savory tomato sauce and baked till crispy.  

Spaghetti Sauce Without Meat

Ditch the store-bought marinara for this spaghetti sauce without meat. You can prepare a batch to toss on pasta, eggplant Parmesan or a pizza.

Penne All’Arrabiata

Pasta all’arrabiata, a classic Italian recipe, is my comfort food be it summer or winter. My kids and I love sprinkling pangrattato (fried bread crumbs) on top of the arrabiata sauce. —Smitha Haridasan, Ganapathy, India

Cherry Tomato Mozzarella Saute

This side dish is full of flavor and so quick to put together. The cherry tomatoes and mozzarella are perfect alongside almost any main dish you can think of. —Summer Jones, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Slow-Cooker Ratatouille

Not only does this classic recipe make a phenomenal side dish, you can also serve it with sliced French bread for a warm and easy appetizer. Try it in the summer with your garden-fresh vegetables. —Jolene Walters, North Miami, Florida

Pressure-Cooker Caponata

This Italian eggplant dip preps quickly and actually gets better as it stands. Serve it warm or at room temperature. Try adding a little leftover caponata to scrambled eggs for a savory breakfast. —Nancy Beckman, Helena, Montana

Caprese Salad

A Caprese salad is the tastiest way to make use of all those tomatoes and basil that seem to multiply in your garden overnight. Just add fresh mozzarella and a homemade vinaigrette, and you're set!

Over-the-Rainbow Minestrone

This vegetarian soup features a rainbow of vegetables. You can use any multicolored pasta in place of the spirals. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado

Sweet Potato Tortellini with Hazelnut Sauce

Using wonton wrappers instead of fresh pasta dough makes homemade tortellini easy to prepare. For more formal dinners, this makes an impressive vegetarian entree. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida

Artichoke Caprese Platter

I dressed up the classic Italian trio of mozzarella, tomatoes and basil with marinated artichokes. It looks so yummy on a pretty platter set out on a buffet. Using fresh mozzarella is the key to its great taste. —Margaret Wilson, San Bernardino, California

Acini di Pepe Salad

Looking for a quick lunch idea? Blend veggies, tiny pasta and juicy pineapple bits to make my favorite acini di pepe salad recipe. —June Herke, Watertown, South Dakota

Ravioli with Creamy Squash Sauce

Store-bought ravioli speeds assembly of this cozy, restaurant-quality dish that tastes so good your family won't notice it's meatless. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Vegetable Lentil Soup

Vegetarians and veggie-curious eaters will both love this vegetable lentil soup that's equal parts healthy and tasty.

Nonni’s Fritole

My Italian grandmother was famous for her fritole and made these treats for her family and friends. Years later we found her recipe card and tried making them without success for several years. We finally figured out the missing part of this recipe–the self-rising flour! Now we can have these as often as we like. It brings back so many wonderful memories. — Ann Marie Eberhart, Gig Harbor, Washington

Pressure-Cooker Sicilian Steamed Leeks

I love the challenge of developing recipes for the fresh leek from my garden, a delicious but underused vegetable. This Italian-flavored dish is a family favorite. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California

Balsamic Asiago Salad

You can toss this tasty salad together in 10 minutes flat. Simply drizzle bottled dressing over the colorful blend of greens, tomato and peppers. Then add a quick sprinkle of garlic-seasoned cheese and serve. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Herbed Bread Twists

A blend of herbs and a special shape dress up ordinary frozen bread dough in this unbelievably easy recipe. —Deb Stapert, Comstock Park, Michigan

Mamma’s Caponata

This is fabulous as an appetizer, but you can easily turn it into a meal. Instead of having it on bread, serve it over warm pasta. —Georgette Stubin, Canton, Michigan

Mushroom Panzanella

My fresh take on classic Italian bread salad pairs well with grilled or roasted meats. —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia

Great Garlic Bread

Garlic bread may be the go-to accompaniment to any pasta dish or Italian-style soup—but there’s no reason it has to be run-of-the-mill! This tasty garlic bread topped with cheese adds the wow factor to any entree. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Portobello Mushroom Sandwiches

We're always looking for satisfying vegetarian meals, and this one tops the list. These melts are especially delicious in the summer when we have tons of homegrown tomatoes. —Amy Smalley, Morehead, Kentucky

Cauliflower Gnocchi

Rosemary Focaccia

The savory aroma of rosemary as this classic bread bakes is irresistible. Try this bread as a side with any meal, as a snack or as a pizza crust. —Debrah Peoples, Calgary, Alberta

Orange and Olives Salad

My grandmother made sure this orange and olives salad was on our holiday table every year. It's so light and simple to make. And it looks pretty on the table! —Angela David, Lakeland, Florida

Olive and Red Pepper Linguine

With 16 grandchildren, I find that someone is always hungry. This is a quick dish to fix. I sometimes serve garlic bread alongside it for an easy meatless meal. —Betty Carpenter, Hookstown, Pennsylvania

Caprese Skewers

Light, satisfying and healthful in one impossibly easy-to-make dish? Yes, please! Enjoy these Caprese skewers as an app, side dish—truly perfect paired with grilled meat or poultry—or a convenient snack. Every bite is a little taste of summer.

Italian White Bean Soup

Have a refrigerator full of vegetables and a can of beans? That's all you need for a pot of hearty Italian white bean soup.

Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad

The fresher the ingredients, the tastier this tomato cucumber mozzarella salad will be. What's more, you can mix and match parts of this recipe to fit your preferences and use up what's already in your kitchen.