21 Easy Vegetarian Mains for the Grill

May 27, 2020

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Make a delicious vegetarian recipe using your grill. The grill adds a great smoky flavor to meaty vegetables like eggplant and portobello mushrooms. These main dishes are so filling and tasty that you won’t even notice there’s no meat. Recipes like Grilled Eggplant & Tomato Pasta and Ricotta-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Arugula Salad are healthy, flavorful and easy to make on the grill this summer.

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Grilled Eggplant & Tomato Pasta

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The combination of slightly smoky grilled eggplant and sweet tomatoes is delightful. The eggplant-tomato mixture served over whole-wheat pasta with fresh basil and a bit of salty cheese makes an easy, healthy weeknight dinner. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2019

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Vegetarian All-American Portobello Burgers

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Portobello mushrooms stand in for meat patties in this recipe for veggie burgers with all the fixings. Mushrooms are a source of glutamate, a naturally occurring compound that gives the fungi their umami flavor. But to really give these "patties" a savory boost, we brush them with steak sauce. Add a simple side salad or some grilled veggies for a satisfying and easy dinner on the grill. Source: EatingWell Magazine, June 2019

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Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Almond Pesto & Butter Beans

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Need some new meatless dinner ideas? This vegan recipe for grilled cauliflower steaks with buttery (but butter-free!) butter beans and almond pesto comes together in just 25 minutes but is impressive enough to serve to guests. We're sorry to ask you to buy 2 heads of cauliflower to make this recipe when you only cut a couple of "steaks" from each, but it guarantees the best results. Just think of it this way: having leftovers gives you an excuse to try one of our many other healthy cauliflower recipes! Source: EatingWell Magazine, April 2019

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Grilled Eggplant & Tomatoes with Polenta

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The sweet flavor and plump flesh of ripe tomatoes are a natural fit with the silky texture that eggplant gets from grilling. You can get the same effect by broiling the eggplant for about 4 minutes per side. Serve over creamy polenta for an easy healthy dinner, or swap in whole-wheat pasta for the polenta for a faster weeknight supper. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2019

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Ricotta-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Arugula Salad

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This easy vegetarian meal gets a double hit of umami from mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes. Grill some crusty bread, then rub it with garlic and drizzle it with olive oil to serve alongside these stuffed portobello mushrooms. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May 2020

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Grilled Polenta & Vegetables with Lemon-Caper Vinaigrette

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This healthy grilled vegetarian dinner recipe is super-flexible: substitute any fresh vegetables you have on hand. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2016

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Chicago-Style Carrot Dogs

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Whether you're vegan, vegetarian or none of the above, these plant-based "dogs" are magically delicious--period. This recipe makes these vegan hot dogs Chicago-style, but feel free to doctor them up any way you like. Break with convention and add shredded cabbage, sprouts and cilantro, for example. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2018

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Thai Peanut & Herb Grilled Pizza

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Thai peanut sauce is an addictive base for homemade grilled pizza. Purchase your preferred brand at any large supermarket or Asian grocery store for an easy, veggie-loaded pizza made right at home. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2018

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Vegetarian Pressed Italian Sandwich

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Typically, pressed sandwiches are a celebration of many meats. Here, we've opted for grilled eggplant slices, artichokes and arugula to make a satisfying vegetarian version. Giardiniera, a type of Italian relish typically made from bell peppers, celery, carrots, cauliflower, olives, vinegar and spices, perks up the flavors of any sandwich. You can use convenient prepared giardiniera or homemade. Choose a hot or mild version, depending on your preference for heat. Source: EatingWell.com, May 2018

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Tandoori Grilled Tofu with Red Peppers & Broccolini

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Spiced yogurt does two jobs here as both the marinade and the sauce for this grilled tofu recipe. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May 2020

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Greek Summer-Squash Grilled Pizza

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Spreading roasted red pepper hummus on this easy grilled pizza makes a fast and easy base for tender summer squash and salty chunks of feta. Best of all? This healthy pizza is ready in 20 minutes. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2018

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Grilled Vegetable Quesadilla

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This classic quesadilla recipe uses a reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend and fat-free yogurt, making it a better-for-you lunch or dinner option. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Grilled Tomato Gazpacho

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Grill the vegetables for this refreshing soup earlier in the day or even the night before. We sometimes serve the gazpacho in clear Spanish wine tumblers to show off the rich color. Source: EatingWell Magazine, Soup Cookbook

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Grilled Zucchini & Tomatoes with Polenta

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Two summertime favorites--grilled zucchini and fresh tomatoes--are served over creamy polenta in this easy, healthy dinner. Feel free to swap whole-wheat pasta for the polenta for an even faster meal. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2019

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Smoked Sweet Potato & Escarole Salad

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Sweet and smoky, these sweet potatoes are an exciting flavor foil for bitter escarole. If the weather isn't cooperating for outdoor smoking on the grill, use an indoor stovetop smoker, or skip this step altogether. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November/December 2018

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Tofu Kebabs with Zucchini & Eggplant

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We've divided the tofu and veggies onto separate skewers because the tofu is delicate and sticks to the grill more easily than the eggplant and zucchini. If you like, swap halloumi cheese for the tofu for another twist on this combination. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2018

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Grilled Portobello & Red Pepper Wraps

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In this meatless main dish, grilled marinated portobello mushrooms take center stage. Nested alongside bell peppers in a whole-wheat wrap that's been spread with delicious basil pesto, this dish is perfect for lunch or a light dinner. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Fennel & Fontina Grilled Pizza

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You can make healthy veggie-packed pizza in just 15 minutes with store-bought pizza dough, a few simple ingredients and a hot grill. Slice the fennel as thinly as possible--it'll caramelize and melt into the creamy, nutty fontina cheese. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2018

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Grilled Tofu with Korean BBQ Glaze & Stir-Fried Napa Cabbage

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In this vegetarian grilling recipe, the hot grill gives tofu smokiness and some crispy edges. A BBQ sauce made with gochujang, the hot Korean chile paste, doubles as both a glaze and some sauce to slather on the tofu at the table. Serve with brown rice or farro. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2017

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Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Focaccia

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Eggplant parmesan is always a special treat, but it's even better served up on a slice of grilled focaccia bread! Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Red Cabbage Porterhouse Steaks with Herb Butter

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Give this hearty vegetarian recipe the true steakhouse treatment and serve it with steamed asparagus, french fries and a big, bold cabernet sauvignon. Or serve it as a side dish; it goes really well with... steak. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2018

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