These meatless ideas are essential—and ready in 20 minute or less.
48 Vegetarian Recipes Ready in 20 Minutes or Less
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Homemade Guacamole
Nothing is better than freshly made guacamole when you’re eating something spicy. It is easy to whip together in a matter of minutes and quickly tames anything that’s too hot. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Also, check these best vegetarian recipes to give an interesting twist to your veggies.
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Basil-Tomato Grilled Cheese
The tastes of summer abound in this easy Italian-style grilled cheese sandwich. Not only is it delicious, it's super-fast, so you can get back to those summer outdoor activities. —Sylvia Schmitt, Sun City, Arizona
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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
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Meatless Taco Salad
This colorful entree combines popular taco ingredients—minus the ground beef. And you won't miss the meat at all! I top each serving with a creamy guacamole dressing, crunchy corn chips and cheese. —Kimberly Dray, Pflugerville, Texas
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Minty Peas and Onions
Mother always relied on peas and onions when she was in a hurry and needed a quick side dish. Besides being easy to prepare, this recipe was loved by everyone in our family. It was handed down to my mother by my grandmother. —Santa D’Addario, Jacksonville, Florida. If you’re looking for more dishes, then you must check out our collection of vegetarian recipes.
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Grandma’s Tomato Soup
This recipe is my grandmother’s. Originally, she even made the tomato juice in it from scratch! Gram had this recipe cooking on the stove every time I visited her. She enjoyed making this tomato soup and other favorite dishes for family and friends, and she made everything with love. —Gerri Sysun, Narragansett, Rhode Island
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Strawberry Bliss Omelet
Instead of the usual ham and cheese, try dressing up eggs with strawberries and cream cheese. I first tasted this dish while vacationing at the beach. —Selina Smith, Frostburg, Maryland
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Sauteed Mushrooms
Hold on to your caps! We'll teach you how to saute mushrooms in three simple steps.
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Onion Orange Salad
People always enjoy the bold flavors in this delightful salad. It’s both delicious and beautiful. —Zita Wilensky, North Miami Beach, Florida
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Roquefort Pear Salad
Guests at a barbecue we hosted one summer brought this cool, refreshing salad. Now it's a mainstay at many of our gatherings year-round. The mingling of zesty tastes and textures instantly wakes up the taste buds. —Sherry Duval, Baltimore, Maryland
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Onion Cheese Soup
I made a few adjustments to this savory soup recipe I came across in a community cookbook. It's rich, buttery and cheesy, plus it's so quick to prepare. —Janice Pogozelski, Cleveland, Ohio
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Nutty Cheese Tortellini
I like to plant Italian flat-leaf parsley in a long terra-cotta planter so I always have some on hand. It adds bright, fresh flavor to this pasta dish. —Barbara Penatzer, Vestal, New York
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Strawberry Feta Tossed Salad
A neighbor served this light, wonderful salad at a summer barbecue. I’ve since tried it with many ingredient combinations, but this one draws the most compliments. -Lisa Lesinski-Topp Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
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Hearty Multigrain Pancakes
Oats and whole wheat flour make these tasty pancakes extra hearty. Try them with applesauce spooned on top! —Jeri Tirmenstein, Apache Junction, Arizona
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Red Potatoes with Beans
You can serve this homey blend of fresh green beans, potato wedges and chopped red onion hot or cold. Either way, this easy side dish makes a pleasing accompaniment to Mom's meat loaf or almost any other meat. —Daria Burcar, Rochester, Michigan
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Easy Onion Crescent Rolls
Here's a deliciously easy way to dress up a tube of crescent roll dough. These golden bites are one of our favorite recipes—and they're a nice addition to any buffet. We like them so much, I usually triple the recipe. —Barbara Nowakowski, North Tonawanda, New York
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Honey Poppy Seed Fruit Salad
This colorful fruit salad with poppy seed dressing pairs well with any morning entree and takes just 10 minutes to prepare. The subtle honey sauce in this salad steals the show. —Dorothy Dinnean, Harrison, Arkansas
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Fresh Veggie Pockets
One summer I worked at a health food store that sold sandwiches. We were close to a college campus, so I made lots of these fresh-filled pitas for the students. Crunchy with crisp vegetables and nutty sunflower kernels, they're a fast-to-fix lunch when you're on the go. -Linda Reeves, Cloverdale, Indiana
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Tomato Feta Salad
Fresh, vibrant tomato feta salad brings together the best of summer’s flavors in every bite.
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Spinach Rice
I like to serve this Greek-style rice dish alongside steaks with mushrooms. It makes an elegant side that can be doubled for guests. —Jeanette Cakouros, Brunswick, Maine
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Sweet Carrots
Here's a flavorful way to dress up carrots without a lot of fuss. Simply steam the good-for-you veggies, then season with butter, brown sugar, vinegar and a sprinkling of chives. The carrots are not only colorful, but they're tasty, too. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Pumpkin Ravioli
Start this pumpkin ravioli recipe by taking a hayride to a pumpkin patch to pick out a pie pumpkin. It's a labor of love to cook the squash into a velvety herbed puree, and even more so to make and fill fresh pasta by hand. The result, tender ravioli bursting with autumnal flavor, will be worth it.
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Makeover Deluxe Grilled Cheese
You might not have known healthy grilled cheese was possible. But with a few simple tricks, we actually boosted the fantastic toasty taste of these mouthwatering sandwiches, but slashed fat, calories and cholesterol to less than half! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Asparagus and Green Beans with Tarragon Lemon Dip
Tarragon balances the tangy flavor from lemon in the creamy sauce covering colorful asparagus and green beans. I serve this as a side dish as well as an appetizer. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
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Easy Grilled Squash
This is one of the best ways to prepare butternut squash and is great alongside grilled steak or chicken. As a bonus, butternut squash is full of vitamin A. —Esther Horst, Monterey, Tennessee
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Cool Beans Salad
This protein-filled dish could be served as a colorful side dish or a meatless main entree. When you make it, double the recipe because it will be gone in a flash! The basmati rice adds a unique flavor and the dressing gives it a bit of a tang. —Janelle Lee, Appleton, Wisconsin
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Hummus & Veggie Wrap-Up
I had a vegan wrap that was similar to this once when I stopped at a diner while on a long and arduous walk. I enjoyed it so much that I modified it to my own taste and now have it for lunch on a regular basis. Everyone at work wants to know how to make it. —Michael Steffens, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Spicy Edamame
Edamame are young soybeans in their pods. While I love to get them with my sushi when I go out, they are also so easy to make at home. —Mark Neufang, Bayshore, Wisconsin
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Watermelon Cups
This lovely appetizer is almost too pretty to eat! Sweet watermelon cubes hold a refreshing topping that showcases cucumber, red onion and fresh herbs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Hearty Asian Lettuce Salad
This meatless version of your favorite restaurant salad packs 13 grams of protein per serving and is bursting with juicy flavor. It's a brilliant choice for lunch or a busy-day dinner. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Ruby Raspberry Slaw
Give ordinary coleslaw a "berry" tangy twist. It's sure to get raves at your next picnic or potluck. —Deborah Biggs, Omaha, Nebraska
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Open-Faced Egg Sandwiches
I always experiment with different herbs on my eggs, since I eat them every morning. This one became one of my favorites! —Valerie Belley, St. Louis, Missouri
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Chickpea Fritters with Sweet-Spicy Sauce
Chickpeas are a common ingredient in many dishes in Pakistan, where I grew up. I have combined the light spice of Pakistani foods with the love of deep-fried finger foods that many Americans, including my daughters, enjoy. To eat, dip this chickpea recipe in chilled yogurt. —Shahrin Hasan, York, Pennsylvania
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Greek Brown and Wild Rice Bowls
This fresh rice dish tastes like the Mediterranean in a bowl! It is short on ingredients but packs in so much flavor. For a hand-held version, leave out the rice and tuck the rest of the ingredients in a pita pocket. —Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas
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Harissa Sweet Potato Fritters
I had leftover sweet potatoes and had to think up a new way to use them. We love spice, so I flavored these fun fritters with harissa, just enough for flavor but not too spicy. If you want more heat, you can always adjust the spice to please your taste buds. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
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Oatmeal Pancakes
These oatmeal pancakes contain all the joy of a morning pancake stack while also including wholesome ingredients like oats and whole-wheat flour.
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Swift Strawberry Salad
A simple blend of syrup, orange juice and caramel topping forms the light dressing for the fresh berries and the crunchy cashews found in this sensational salad. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Zesty Sugar Snap Peas
Lemon-pepper seasoning and garlic make these crisp-tender sugar snap peas flavorful and an ideal accompaniment to a variety of entrees. You'll come to rely on this six-ingredient dish. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Cucumber Melon Salad
This colorful salad is tangy and delicious. The unexpected combination is such a pleasant surprise. You can use whatever type of melon you have on hand. —Edie Farm, Farmington, New Mexico
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Snappy Green Beans
The buttery and citrus flavors in this brightly colored side dish go with just about any entree. I enjoy it most when green beans are in season. —Tammy Neubauer, Ida Grove, Iowa
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Marinated Broccoli
This festive side dish couldn't be easier to throw together. But because it's so pretty, it's perfect for special occasions. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana
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Spinach Fruit Salad
The unexpected matchups in this spinach fruit salad make a winning team. Feta with oranges, grapes and walnuts? Who knew? But we're glad someone did.
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Pickled Eggs and Beets
Red beets act as a natural dye for these pickled eggs and beets. They look gorgeous on salads and make the most vibrant deviled eggs for Easter appetizers or snacks.
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Festive Corn ‘n’ Broccoli
This recipe is delicious and versatile. I often substitute a tablespoon of minced fresh basil for the dried, and two to three ears of sweet corn (about a cup cut fresh from the cob) for the Mexicorn. —Lucile Throgmorton, Clovis, New Mexico
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Cucumber Party Sandwiches
This is one of my favorite appetizers. We have lots of pig roasts here in Kentucky, and these small sandwiches are perfect to serve while the pig is cooking. —Rebecca Rose, Mount Washington, Kentucky
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