19 Simple Vegetable Recipes That’ll Win Over Even the Picky Ones

Getting picky eaters to say yes to vegetables doesn’t have to be a struggle. These 19 simple vegetable recipes are built with real ingredients and no distractions. They’re easy to make, easy to serve, and packed with the kind of flavor that wins people over. If you’ve been looking for vegetable dishes that actually get eaten, this list is the place to start.

A slice of sweet potato casserole with a dusting of powdered sugar is served on a black and white plate. A gold spoon rests beside it. In the background is a casserole dish with more of the dessert and a white and blue towel. — Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings

Two bowls of butternut squash soup on a wooden table. — Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings brings comfort and simplicity together in one easy-to-love bowl. The creamy squash and soft dumplings make it hearty enough to stand alone as dinner. Most of the time is hands-off, letting the slow simmer do the work. It’s a crowd-pleaser that proves vegetables can be the star without any help.
Get the Recipe: Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings

Summer Orzo Salad

Summer orzo pasta salad in a while serving bowl on a whitewashed background next to a bowl of green beans. — Summer Orzo Salad. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Summer Orzo Salad pairs fresh vegetables with pasta and vinaigrette for a dish that works as a meal or side. It’s quick to assemble, easy to scale, and made with ingredients that are familiar and friendly. This is one of those recipes that even picky eaters end up asking for again. A salad like this doesn’t wait in the background—it leads the table.
Get the Recipe: Summer Orzo Salad

Rubbed Kale Salad with Parmesan

Rubbed Kale Salad with Parmesan turns tough greens into something that’s tender and full of flavor. Massaging the kale takes just a few minutes and makes a big difference in texture. Topped with shaved cheese and a light dressing, it’s a salad that doesn’t get left behind. This one proves even the strongest skeptics can come around to kale.
Get the Recipe: Rubbed Kale Salad with Parmesan

Citrus Asparagus Couscous

Citrus Asparagus Couscous combines tender asparagus and bright citrus in a quick-cooking grain dish. It’s light, fast, and full of contrast, making it great for dinners that need something fresh. This one’s ready in under 30 minutes and brings vegetables front and center. Even the most hesitant eaters won’t find much to push aside here.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Asparagus Couscous

Veggie Couscous Salad

Veggie Couscous Salad packs in chopped vegetables, fresh herbs, and a lemony kick in under 20 minutes. It’s colorful, crisp, and easy to prep ahead for lunches or group meals. Serve it cold, warm, or room temp—it holds up no matter the setting. When you want a vegetable dish that actually gets finished, this one shows up strong.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Couscous Salad

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad slices a once-avoided vegetable into something crisp and crowd-pleasing. Tossed with mix-ins that balance the bold flavor, it stands up well even after sitting. It’s easy to prep and even easier to serve with just about any main. This is how Brussels sprouts stop being skipped and start being fought over.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta

Stuffed shells in a cast iron skillet. — Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta layer pasta, cheese, and greens into a meal that feels like comfort without relying on meat. They bake up bubbly, hold together well, and reheat like a dream. Everything about them is familiar, except the fact that vegetables are front and center. No one misses anything when these hit the table.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta

Homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli

Homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli proves you can skip the meat and still serve a pasta dish that earns praise. The filling is sweet, savory, and holds its own from the first bite to the last. While it takes a little time, the result looks and tastes like a weekend win. It’s the kind of dinner that keeps people talking long after it’s gone.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli

Creamy Vegan Pasta Bake

A bowl of pasta salad featuring mushrooms, asparagus, and a creamy green sauce. The dish is garnished with fresh herbs. A small bowl of nuts and some greenery are in the blurred background. — Creamy Vegan Pasta Bake. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Creamy Vegan Pasta Bake bakes up rich and bubbly without using cream or cheese. Layered with sauce and pasta, it delivers texture and flavor that don’t need explaining. It’s simple to prep, feeds a crowd, and doesn’t leave leftovers for long. You won’t need to tell anyone it’s vegetable-based—they’ll just ask for more.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Vegan Pasta Bake

Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash

A dish filled with mashed sweet potatoes topped with chopped nuts, a pat of butter, and a sprig of thyme. The dish is placed on a wooden board, with a few thyme sprigs scattered around. — Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash is about as simple as it gets—just prep, set, and forget. The squash cooks into soft, sweet pieces that work with nearly anything on your plate. It’s a no-hassle side that turns out right every time. When vegetables show up this easy, it’s hard to make excuses.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash

Greek Quinoa Salad

Quinoa salad in a brown bowl, garnished with pita bread. — Greek Quinoa Salad. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Greek Quinoa Salad layers crisp vegetables with quinoa and a tangy vinaigrette in a bowl that eats like a full meal. It’s fast to prep and strong enough to hold its own at lunch or dinner. The mix of textures and flavors makes it easy to like, even for those who claim not to like vegetables. You’ll want to keep this one on repeat.
Get the Recipe: Greek Quinoa Salad

Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Spinach Lasagna Rolls wrap all the comfort of classic lasagna into individual servings that skip the meat. Rolled with greens and cheese, then baked until golden, they’re easy to slice and serve. They reheat well and hold their shape, making them great for both casual dinners and guests. These rolls win people over without needing to explain themselves.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Creamy and Cheesy Butternut Squash Lasagna with Spinach

A baked dish of zucchini lasagna with a golden-brown cheese topping. A wooden spatula lifts a square piece, revealing layers of zucchini, cheese, and spinach. The casserole dish is partly cut, showing more servings. Garnished with herbs. — Creamy and Cheesy Butternut Squash Lasagna with Spinach. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Creamy and Cheesy Butternut Squash Lasagna with Spinach baked up in neat layers that feel indulgent without adding meat. The squash and spinach work together to bring richness and balance that’s both filling and familiar. It slices clean, serves easily, and keeps its structure at the table. It’s the kind of dish that proves comfort food doesn’t need anything extra.
Get the Recipe: Creamy and Cheesy Butternut Squash Lasagna with Spinach

Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Stacks

Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Stacks layer crispy eggplant, tomato, and melted plant-based cheese in a format that feels classic. Baked instead of fried, they bring a crisp texture without the heaviness. These stacks hold their shape and work for anything from casual dinners to party plates. Even eggplant skeptics might be convinced once they try these.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Stacks

My Chickpea Samosas Recipe with Easy Samosa Dipping Sauce

A plate of golden-brown triangular samosas is placed on a marble surface. Surrounding the plate are scattered chickpeas, fresh cilantro, a red pepper, and a cutting board corner. The samosas appear crispy and seasoned. — My Chickpea Samosas Recipe with Easy Samosa Dipping Sauce. Photo credit: My Mocktail Forest.

My Chickpea Samosas Recipe with Easy Samosa Dipping Sauce turns vegetables and spices into crispy handheld snacks. The chickpea filling is bold but balanced, and the dipping sauce adds just enough bite. They’re perfect for making ahead and sharing, especially with guests who claim to hate vegetables. These disappear fast for a reason.
Get the Recipe: My Chickpea Samosas Recipe with Easy Samosa Dipping Sauce

Easy Vegetarian Seven Layer Dip

A person holds a chip topped with diced tomatoes, green onions, cheese, and olives, over a bowl filled with the same ingredients. The background is a light-colored countertop. — Easy Vegetarian Seven Layer Dip. Photo credit: My Mocktail Forest.

Easy Vegetarian Seven Layer Dip stacks beans, guacamole, salsa, and fresh vegetables into a dish that’s always a hit at gatherings. Served cold with chips, it’s quick to build and disappears just as fast. It feels familiar but still manages to put vegetables front and center. This is how picky eaters start reaching for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Easy Vegetarian Seven Layer Dip

Little Gem Salad with Herbs, Maple, Lime and Sesame

A bowl of salad containing leafy greens, fresh herbs, sliced onions, and black sesame seeds on a light surface. Another dish with similar contents is partially visible to the side. There are scattered herbs around the bowl. — Little Gem Salad with Herbs, Maple, Lime and Sesame. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Little Gem Salad with Herbs, Maple, Lime and Sesame combines crunchy lettuce with a mix of sweet, tangy, and nutty flavors. The balance keeps things interesting while the fresh ingredients keep it light. It comes together fast and doesn’t need anything fancy to shine. This is the kind of salad that people actually look forward to.
Get the Recipe: Little Gem Salad with Herbs, Maple, Lime and Sesame

Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé

Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé turns simple carrots into a soft, slightly sweet dish that’s part side, part dessert. The texture is smooth, the flavor is gentle, and the prep is simple. It’s a great way to get vegetables onto the plate in a form that doesn’t feel like a chore. Even the skeptics might forget they’re eating vegetables at all.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé

Quinoa Cucumber Salad

A white plate with a serving of quinoa salad mixed with diced cucumbers, chopped herbs, red onions, nuts, and feta cheese. A gold fork is resting on the plate. The background is a light, textured surface. — Quinoa Cucumber Salad. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Quinoa Cucumber Salad is light, crisp, and fast—ready in minutes with just a few pantry staples. The cucumber keeps it cool while the quinoa makes it feel complete. This one holds up in the fridge, travels well, and works with just about anything. It’s proof that vegetables don’t need much to make a strong case.
Get the Recipe: Quinoa Cucumber Salad