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       If you're looking for low-carb, high-protein dinners that don't require cooking for hours, these recipes got you covered. These dinner options are ready to serve in 3 steps or less so you can meet your nutrition goals easily. Each recipe l meets our nutrition parameters, with less than 14 grams of carbs and more than 15 grams of protein, without wasting on flavor. Recipes like 20-Minute Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Pesto Sauce and Cheesy Ground Beef Cauliflower Casserole are delicious options for you to get a healthy meal on your table in no time.  Read More
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  6. 23 Vegetarian Dinners with 5 Steps or Less

23 Vegetarian Dinners with 5 Steps or Less

Alex Loh
Alex Loh Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD August 01, 2020
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Cauliflower Gnocchi Caprese

Make a filling and tasty dinner with these vegetarian recipes. These dinners are easy to make as they require just five steps or less. You'll get a satisfying meal full of fresh veggies like mushrooms, peppers and spinach. Dinners like Cauliflower Gnocchi Caprese and Balsamic Mushroom Pasta are healthy, delicious and a great choice any day of the week.

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Zucchini Noodle Primavera

Zucchini Noodle Primavera
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This primavera recipe cuts carbs by swapping out the pasta for zucchini "noodles." This quick vegetarian dinner is chock-full of colorful vegetables smothered in a light, creamy sauce. We like using prepackaged spiralized zucchini noodles to keep this recipe ultra-fast, but if you have a spiralizer and zucchini on hand, you can easily make your own. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020

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Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps

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Stuff crisp lettuce leaves with a savory filling inspired by PF Chang's famous lettuce wraps. These low-carb wraps made with tofu, mushrooms and daikon radish are an easy vegetarian dinner that beats takeout! Garnish the wraps with julienned carrots for added crunch. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020

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Chickpea & Potato Curry

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This fast Indian-style curry comes together with ingredients you most likely have on hand, like frozen peas and canned tomatoes and chickpeas. Plus, using these spices shows how simple it is to make a curry sauce for an easy vegetarian recipe. Serve with whole-wheat naan to sop it all up. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November 2019

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Balsamic Mushroom Pasta

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This vegan pasta dish is chock-full of earthy mushrooms. A mix of wild mushrooms can elevate the flavors of this easy dish, but simple cremini or button mushrooms work well too. To save on prep time, look for packages of mushrooms that have already been sliced. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2020

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Spinach, Feta & Rice Casserole

spinach, feta & rice casserole
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This one-pan recipe is the casserole version of spanakopita! It's hearty enough to enjoy as a vegetarian lunch or dinner, yet versatile enough to serve alongside just about any protein. To make it extra creamy, top each serving with a dollop of sour cream. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2020

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Vegan Shepherd's Pie

vegan shepherd's pie
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Lentils take the place of ground meat and vegan butter adds creaminess to the mashed potatoes in this easy vegan shepherd's pie recipe. If you want to cut down on the cooking time, use precooked lentils and omit most of the vegetable broth, adding some in only if the mixture seems dry. Source: EatingWell.com, December 2019

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Cauliflower Gnocchi Caprese

Cauliflower Gnocchi Caprese
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This super-easy dish is perfect for summer. Store-bought frozen cauliflower gnocchi are crisped up in a pan, then tossed with mozzarella cheese, plenty of basil and balsamic vinegar for a hearty and healthy spin on the classic caprese salad. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2020

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Vegetarian Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers

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Chipotle chiles, black beans and pepper Jack cheese give a flavorful boost to this zippy vegetarian dinner. We've sped things up by steaming the peppers and using quick-cooking quinoa. We like the look of tri-colored quinoa, but any quinoa you have on hand will work. If possible, choose peppers that will stand upright. Source: EatingWell.com, June 2020

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Sweet Potato-Black Bean Burgers

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These vegan sweet potato-black bean burgers spiced with curry powder are easy to make. Blending the mixture with your hands gives you a soft, uniform texture then the outside gets crispy by cooking in a cast-iron pan. To make this recipe gluten-free too, use gluten-free oats and serve the patty in a lettuce wrap, omitting the bun. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2020

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Sesame Instant Ramen Noodles with Broccoli & Soft-Boiled Egg

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Jazz up basic ramen noodles with toasted sesame oil, quick-cooked broccoli and a jammy soft-boiled egg. To cut back on sodium, look for ramen varieties with less than 600 mg sodium per serving or use less of the seasoning packet. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2020

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One-Pot Beans & Rice with Corn & Salsa

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This one-pot dinner is like a deconstructed burrito bowl--especially when topped with salsa, sliced avocado or a dollop of Greek yogurt for a cool, creamy accent. You can also enjoy it as a meal on its own, or as a vegetarian taco or burrito filling or a side dish on taco night. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2020

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Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce
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To avoid a watery sauce, choose tomatoes that are fleshy and have few seeds. Romas (aka plum tomatoes) fit the bill, but there are plenty of heirlooms with a similar flesh-to-seed ratio. The addition of cherry tomatoes brings a burst of sweetness to the dish. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July / August 2020

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Basil-Chickpea Flatbread

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A flavorful combination of chickpeas, cashews, and garlic forms a protein-rich base for this homemade flatbread. Store-bought crust makes prep a breeze. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2020

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Tempeh & Mushroom Tacos

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Tempeh is a vegetarian protein that crumbles easily; here it stands in for ground meat in this tempeh taco recipe. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2020

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Basil Pesto Pasta with Grilled Vegetables

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This dish is an easy way to turn grilled vegetables into a satisfying meal, thanks to hearty whole-grain pasta and a quick homemade pesto. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2020

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One-Pot Coconut Milk Curry with Chickpeas

One-Pot Coconut Milk Curry with Chickpeas
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The assortment of vegetables in this vegan one-pot dish add varying textures and flavors to make each forkful exciting. The sweet potato balances the savory spices nicely. Serve this bright and flavorful curry with rice or rice noodles. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2020

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Ricotta-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Arugula Salad

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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Cauliflower Parmesan

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This vegetarian version of chicken Parmesan uses cauliflower "steaks" in place of chicken, and has all the classic comforting flavors, without the meat! The steaks are cooked until just tender and topped with a rich sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Despite their names, classic Italian-American chicken Parm and eggplant Parm don't always contain Parmesan cheese. If it's not "Parm" to you without Parm, feel free to sprinkle on a little grated Parmesan after you add the sauce to the cauliflower cutlets. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2020

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Bulgur Pilaf with Eggplant, Pepper & Tomatoes (Hondros me Melitzanes)

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On Crete, this pilaf is often made with xynohondros, or cracked wheat simmered in soured goat's milk. A sprinkling of feta pays homage to that flavor. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2020

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Blue Cheese & Mushroom Pizza

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This sheet-pan technique produces pizza that looks and tastes like it was made in a wood-fired oven. The trick is partially cooking the crust before topping it, then cranking up the broiler to get a golden brown and crispy crust. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2020

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Korean BBQ Tempeh Grain Bowl

Korean BBQ Tempeh Grain Bowl
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If you're a tempeh skeptic, you've probably never had the firm soy-based slabs slathered with a sweet-and-spicy barbecue sauce. We give this easy BBQ tempeh combo a punch of umami with tamari and add a little heat courtesy of gochujang. It's easy to put your own spin on this recipe; see Variations (below) for some riffs. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2020

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Plant-Based Smashed Burgers

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Learning how to make smashed burgers is as simple as its name. Smashing burgers into thin patties not only makes them quick-cooking, it also creates irresistible crispy edges. Topping them with the caramelized onion relish adds extra deliciousness. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2020

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Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole

vegetarian enchilada casserole
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Think of this vegetarian enchilada casserole as a veggie-packed Mexican lasagna with corn tortillas standing in for the noodles! If your peppers are mild and you like heat, opt for spicy pico de gallo. This easy vegetarian dinner recipe is sure to become a new family favorite. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2020

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    1 of 23 Zucchini Noodle Primavera
    2 of 23 Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps
    3 of 23 Chickpea & Potato Curry
    4 of 23 Balsamic Mushroom Pasta
    5 of 23 Spinach, Feta & Rice Casserole
    6 of 23 Vegan Shepherd's Pie
    7 of 23 Cauliflower Gnocchi Caprese
    8 of 23 Vegetarian Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers
    9 of 23 Sweet Potato-Black Bean Burgers
    10 of 23 Sesame Instant Ramen Noodles with Broccoli & Soft-Boiled Egg
    11 of 23 One-Pot Beans & Rice with Corn & Salsa
    12 of 23 Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce
    13 of 23 Basil-Chickpea Flatbread
    14 of 23 Tempeh & Mushroom Tacos
    15 of 23 Basil Pesto Pasta with Grilled Vegetables
    16 of 23 One-Pot Coconut Milk Curry with Chickpeas
    17 of 23 Ricotta-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Arugula Salad
    18 of 23 Cauliflower Parmesan
    19 of 23 Bulgur Pilaf with Eggplant, Pepper & Tomatoes (Hondros me Melitzanes)
    20 of 23 Blue Cheese & Mushroom Pizza
    21 of 23 Korean BBQ Tempeh Grain Bowl
    22 of 23 Plant-Based Smashed Burgers
    23 of 23 Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole

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    23 Vegetarian Dinners with 5 Steps or Less
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