Looking to find the best vegetarian Italian dishes that are quick and easy? You've come to the right place!
We've selected 40 of our best vibrant, fresh, and easy meatless Italian meals - most of which you can serve as weeknight dinners.
Find your favorite recipe by browsing through this list, and take your pick: pasta, pizza, soups, stews, risotto, appetizers, and many more.
Most of these recipes are ready in less than 30 mins, making them perfect for busy families with kids.
Whether you're a beginner vegetarian, omnivore, or flexitarian, we're sure you'll find your new Italian favorite on this list.
Easy Vegetarian appetizers
These Italian vegetarian starters are simple to make, veggie-packed and guaranteed crowd-pleasers.
Eggplant Caponata
The first recipe on our list is naturally vegetarian and vegan (although some regions add sardines).
Caponata is veggie-packed with eggplant, olives, tomatoes, and capers. It's a Sicilian dish that you and your family will love.
Tomato Bruschetta
Tomato bruschetta is crunchy, juicy, garlicky, and perfect as an Italian appetizer, and side dish.
The recipe is simple; you can make it in 10 minutes with a few basic ingredients.
Eggplant Pizza
Here's a scrumptious finger food made with tender eggplants and topped with a tasty tomato sauce and melty cheese.
This recipe is a sure hit with picky adults and kids alike and is a great starter and side dish.
Focaccia
The best way to make focaccia without getting your hands dirty is with a no-knead method.
Add tomatoes or rosemary on top and serve as a luxurious and crispy appetizer.
Italian Rice Balls
Italian rice balls are an irresistible recipe made with a leftover or cooled-down risotto. They are coated in crunchy breadcrumbs and fried until perfectly crisp and golden brown.
A perfect starter for guests and special occasions!
Crostini Recipe
Crostini are small slices of crunchy toasted bread you can eat as an appetizer or easy side dish.
Everyone loves crostini because they are tasty and fun to eat. Top with vegetables, pesto, and cheese to accommodate all eaters.
Fried Eggplant
This fried eggplant recipe is super crunchy outside and perfectly tender on the inside.
We make it with and without eggs, and it's suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Best Italian Vegetarian Dinners
These vegetarian main meals are perfect for guests and family gatherings. All of our recipes include vegan and vegetarian instructions, so you can cook according to your diet preferences.
Tofu with Pizzaiola Sauce
Looking for a quick vegetarian dinner?
Try this 15-min dinner: tofu hugged in marinara sauce. A great main meal and meat substitute.
Tuscan Soup
Beans, cabbage, tomato flavor, and herbs come together in this rustic Italian soup.
Perfect with crostini or sourdough bread and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top.
Tofu Meatballs with Marinara Sauce
Try these vegetarian meatballs with an aromatic marinara sauce and fresh herbs.
Served in a sub or on spaghetti, it's a rich and satiating vegetarian dinner!
Eggplant Risotto
You can make this vegetarian risotto dish in just over 30 minutes and serve it for a delicious and comforting family dinner.
Our recipe has vegan and vegetarian alternatives, plus ideas for cooking leftover risotto.
Pan fried tofu with mushrooms
Instead of chicken with mushrooms, we use tofu for a 30-minute vegetarian meal idea.
It's a protein-rich dish with a restaurant-worthy look and flavor.
Tomato Basil Pasta
This pasta is naturally vegetarian, easy to make, and with the best and simplest ingredients from Italy.
Tomato, pasta, olive oil, and basil, it's a family-friendly dish that everyone will love.
Garlic and Oil Pasta (Spaghetti Aglio e Olio)
Here's how to make garlic and oil pasta in under 15 minutes.
It's a tasty and simple dinner idea where you can easily add your favorite vegetarian toppings; try broccoli, cauliflower, or tofu.
Zucchini Fritters
Zucchini fritters pack a ton of flavor and are an excellent vegetarian meal for the whole family.
Our tip is to top them or dip them with tzatziki sauce, or marinara sauce for a light main dish.
Chickpea crepes - Savoury mushroom pancakes
These savory pancakes are gluten-free, and they're made with simple vegetarian ingredients, yet they are delicious and fulfilling.
Stuffed with sauteed mushrooms and spinach for a chewy and meat-free dinner.
Eggplant Parmigiana
Italian Eggplant Parmigiana is one of the tastiest eggplant dishes ever.
Its simplicity of ingredients, rich tomato flavor, and creamy texture will make you fall in love with this delicious meal.
Vegan Carbonara
Our vegan carbonara is a simple recipe that can be made in 15 minutes.
The taste of our carbonara sauce is similar to the taste of an authentic Italian carbonara but made vegetarian since there is no bacon.
Pasta alla Norma (Eggplant Pasta)
Our pasta alla Norma is a classic Sicilian pasta dish made with a rich and creamy tomato sauce, tender roasted eggplants, and fresh basil.
Top your pasta with grated parmesan cheese for a vegetarian dinner.
Rigatoni Arrabbiata
Rigatoni Arrabbiata is an Italian pasta dish with a spicy tomato sauce.
This is a simple yet tasty recipe that you can make in just about 20 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.
Tofu Pasta (Tofu Bolognese)
Tofu pasta is a delicious vegan recipe with tasty crumbled tofu and a rich tomato sauce.
This is essentially a tofu bolognese that you can put together for a quick, easy, and nutritious meal in less than 30 minutes.
Potato Gnocchi Recipe
To make gnocchi, we follow the authentic recipe for Italian potato gnocchi.
They are easy to make at home, and you'll need just three ingredients and a fork.
Rice Salad
This rice salad is adapted from the Italian rice salad and it's the perfect summer dish, easy to prepare in advance, and bring with you for a picnic outdoors.
Vegetarian "Fish"
This vegetarian tofu "fish" is soft, refreshing, juicy, lemony, and full of Mediterranean flavors.
It's oven-baked with Italian seasoning and wrapped in parchment paper to concentrate its aroma and keep it juicy.
Zucchini Boats
You are going to love our zucchini boats because they are filled with an earthy lentil tomato mixture that tastes so good you won't believe there's no meat in it.
Lentil bolognese
Our lentil bolognese is an Italian classic with an ultra-rich and hearty sauce.
It's perfect with pasta, lasagna, or zucchini noodles. A satiating vegetarian Sunday dinner.
Zucchini Risotto
Zucchini risotto is creamy, tasty, and easy to make in one pot with grated zucchini in just about 30 minutes.
Serve it with grated lemon zest and freshly ground pepper for a restaurant-worthy look.
Lentil Soup
This lentil soup is perfect as an everyday dinner.
Our Italian soup stores for up to 4 days in the refrigerator, and for up to 3 months in the freezer, making it excellent for meal-planning.
Stuffed Eggplant
Our stuffed eggplant is delicious and easy to prepare, made with tender roasted eggplant boats and three different quick and easy stuffing.
Italian Bean Stew
This Italian bean stew is easy, fulfilling, and delicious, made with simple ingredients that you might already have in your pantry.
Roasted butternut squash soup
This soup is dairy-free and vegetarian, and a warming Italian dish for cold autumn and winter nights.
Expect a creamy, tasty, and comforting soup ready in just about 30 minutes.
Asparagus Risotto
Asparagus risotto is creamy to perfection, light, comforting, and nutritious.
If you love asparagus, you'll love it even more with this vegetarian risotto.
Tofu Cacciatore
We might use tofu instead of chicken, but this meal is rich, earthy, meaty, and packed with the cacciatore flavor we all love so much.
You've never had tofu like this!
Tofu and spinach cutlets
These cutlets are easy to make, with really basic, everyday ingredients, mixed together in a food processor, shaped into cutlets, and baked for just over 20 minutes.
Zucchini Pasta
Zucchini pasta, as in pasta with zucchini, is a creamy and easy one-pot recipe you can make as a quick dinner for the whole family.
Couscous with Vegetables
Couscous with vegetables is a delicious way of enjoying couscous.
This is an easy Italian recipe that you can make in less than 30 minutes, with seasonal veggies and herbs.
Mushroom Pasta
Instead of meat, we add sauteed mushrooms to this creamy and veggie-packed pasta.
Ready in just 25 minutes and perfect as an everyday vegetarian dinner.
Lemon Tofu
Inspired by an Italian recipe for lemon chicken, but we replaced the chicken fillet with tofu slices.
The result is a delicious meal that can be prepared in no time.
Panzanella
We finish this list with an Italian rustic salad with leftover bread, tomato, and crispy cucumber.
Panzanella is a delicious appetizer and side dish idea, and it's ideal for the spring and summer season when tomatoes are ripe and juicy.
Pasta e Fagioli
Pasta e fagioli makes the coziest family dinner ever.
You can make it with simple and affordable plant-based ingredients, yet it tastes fantastic, and it's incredibly warming and satiating.
Is Italian food mostly vegetarian?
Traditional Italian food is, due to peasant tradition, influenced by vegetarian traditions such as "cucina povera": kitchen of the poor.
Cucina povera refers to cooking with simple ingredients since poorer families would not have expensive or many ingredients available to them. Examples include:
- Legume-based cooking, such as lentil soup, Tuscan bean soup, and bean stews.
- Bread-based meals and appetizers, such as Panzanella (bread salad), bruschetta, and crostini.
- Rice instead of meat, such as rice filling with stuffed tomatoes and bell peppers.
- Naturally vegetarian pasta, such as aglio e olio, pasta pomodoro, pasta Puttanesca, and penne arrabbiata.
Simple Italian food is amazingly flavorful. In fact, you can easily cook hundreds of tasty Italian recipes without meat and still feel satiated.
How to store Italian Vegetarian Meals
- How to store: you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- How to reheat: reheat your meal (if it's meant to be served hot) in the microwave or on a pan with a teaspoon of oil. On the second day, these meals will be stickier and less creamy.
- How to freeze: you can also freeze some of the meals for up to 3 months. To freeze, let it cool down first, then transfer them to a freezer-friendly container, leaving some space to allow it to expand.
- Thaw in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop. Before serving, garnish with fresh herbs and optionally a drizzle of olive oil.
More Italian meals
If you're also a fan of Italian food, we hear you! After we moved to Italy a couple of years ago, we learned to make a lot of our favorite meals with a vegetarian spin. Here are some of our favorite Italian recipes:
- 25 Chickpea recipe ideas with salads, mains, and dip recipes.
- Easy tofu recipes that can replace chicken and meat.
- Add creaminess to salads and protein with these top sauce recipes.
- Satisfy sweet cravings by making these indulgent plant-based desserts.
For many more 30-minute meal ideas, check out our 30-minute meal category page.
40 Italian Vegetarian Dishes
Ingredients
- Check each individual vegetarian recipe for ingredients required.
- Cook your favorite vegetarian recipe
Instructions
- How to store: Keep these vegetarian meals stored in the refrigerator, ideally in an airtight container, for up to 3 days.
- How to reheat: Warm it up on the stovetop or in the microwave. Before serving garnish with fresh herbs.
- How to freeze: You can also freeze the meals for up to 3 months. To freeze, let it cool down first, then transfer them to a freezer-friendly container, leaving some space to allow it to expand. Thaw in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop. Before serving, garnish with fresh herbs, and optionally a drizzle of olive oil.
Video Recipe
Notes
Nutritional Values
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