19 Veggie Recipes That Had Boomers Begging for More

These aren’t your average vegetable recipes. Each dish brings big flavor, simple prep, and crowd-pleasing results. Whether you’re after a fast weeknight side or a potluck favorite, these 19 veggie recipes have been known to win over even the toughest critics. You won’t miss the meat with veggies like these.

Screaming skillet green beans in a white bowl on a wooden table. — Screaming Skillet Green Beans. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices

Baked sweet potato slices on a cutting board with a spoon. — Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices are tender, slightly crispy, and full of natural sweetness. Made with sweet potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a touch of olive oil, they bake in about 35 minutes. The flavor is a warm balance of sweet and savory with a caramelized edge. This side is satisfying and easy to pair with nearly any main dish.
Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices

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 is a chilled, zesty dish packed with color and crunch. It takes about 30 minutes to make and features quinoa, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, red onion, and olives. The taste is fresh and tangy with a citrusy vinaigrette tying it all together. It works well for lunch or as a crowd-pleasing side.
Get the Recipe: Greek Quinoa Salad

Loaded Cauliflower Mash

Loaded Cauliflower Mash is creamy, hearty, and full of comforting flavor. It takes around 30 minutes to prepare with cauliflower, sour cream, cheddar cheese, green onions, and bacon. The texture is smooth like mashed potatoes but with fewer carbs and a subtle veggie taste. This dish is satisfying enough to stand in for traditional mash.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Cauliflower Mash

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

A bowl of roasted brussels sprouts. — Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta are nutty, tangy, and a little crispy around the edges. Ready in 40 minutes, they’re made with fresh Brussels sprouts, sliced almonds, and crumbled feta. The flavor is bold and savory, with crunch from the nuts and sharpness from the cheese. It’s a solid upgrade to a classic vegetable side.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns

An overhead shot of breakfast casserole next to a single serving and a toppings bar. — Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns is hearty and great for feeding a crowd. It includes hash browns, eggs, cheese, milk, and breakfast sausage, and takes about an hour including baking time. The taste is rich and savory with a golden, cheesy top. You can prep it the night before and bake it fresh in the morning.
Get the Recipe: Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns

Sweet Potato Fritters with Sweet & Spicy Sauce

A serving basket of sweet potato fritters next to a bowl of dipping sauce and a single serving on a plate. — Sweet Potato Fritters with Sweet & Spicy Sauce. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Sweet Potato Fritters with Sweet & Spicy Sauce are crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. They’re made with shredded sweet potatoes, flour, eggs, and seasonings, and take about 30 minutes. The flavor is slightly sweet with a gentle heat, especially when dipped in the spicy sauce. These work well as a snack, starter, or side.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fritters with Sweet & Spicy Sauce

Oven Roasted Root Vegetables

A dish of beets, sweet potatoes, and parsnips roasted in the oven with sprigs of sage. — Oven Roasted Root Vegetables. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Oven Roasted Root Vegetables are rustic, colorful, and full of deep earthy flavor. This dish comes together in about 45 minutes using carrots, parsnips, potatoes, and beets. The taste is lightly sweet with caramelized edges and a bit of natural saltiness. It’s simple, nourishing, and good for any season.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Root Vegetables

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes are rich, silky, and layered with savory depth. Taking 35 minutes to make, this recipe uses Yukon gold potatoes, garlic, butter, and sage. The brown butter adds a nutty twist that elevates the usual mashed texture. It’s a comforting side that’s anything but basic.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Veggie Couscous Salad

Veggie Couscous Salad is light, colorful, and full of Mediterranean flavor. It takes just 25 minutes to make with couscous, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and herbs. The lemony dressing adds brightness while the veggies keep it crisp and fresh. This chilled dish is great for meal prep or summer picnics.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Couscous Salad

Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts are bold, toasty, and packed with warming spices. Made in under 30 minutes, this recipe includes Brussels sprouts, olive oil, garam masala, and a touch of maple syrup. The flavor is savory with a sweet-spice finish that lingers. It’s a unique way to serve a familiar vegetable.
Get the Recipe: Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Red, yellow, and orange honey glazed carrots on a slate board. — Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots are fork-tender with a sweet and sticky coating. They take about 35 minutes using carrots, honey, olive oil, and fresh herbs. The flavor is slightly sweet, balanced with earthy depth from the roast. These make a bright, tasty addition to any dinner plate.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Easy Oven Asparagus

Easy Oven Asparagus is crisp-tender and full of clean, green flavor. It’s ready in just 20 minutes with asparagus, olive oil, salt, and pepper. The flavor is simple, slightly nutty, and goes with nearly anything. This is a no-fuss side that fits into any weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Easy Oven Asparagus

Worcestershire Green Beans

Worcestershire Green Beans are snappy, savory, and full of umami. Made with fresh green beans, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and olive oil, they’re ready in about 25 minutes. The taste is a little tangy, a little salty, and totally addictive. It’s a fast way to add flavor to your veggie rotation.
Get the Recipe: Worcestershire Green Beans

Zucchini Noodle Salad

Zucchini Noodle Salad is cool, crunchy, and full of fresh flavor. This raw dish takes just 20 minutes and uses zucchini noodles, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and a light vinaigrette. The taste is clean and bright with a satisfying texture that mimics pasta. It’s perfect for warm weather meals or light lunches.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Noodle Salad

Rubbed Kale Salad with Parmesan

Rubbed Kale Salad with Parmesan is tender, slightly tangy, and full of bold green flavor. It takes about 20 minutes using kale, lemon juice, olive oil, and shaved parmesan. The massaging step softens the kale, making it more pleasant to eat. This is a go-to salad that holds up well even after sitting.
Get the Recipe: Rubbed Kale Salad with Parmesan

Honey Garlic Carrots

Honey Garlic Carrots are glazed, slightly sweet, and infused with savory garlic. They cook in about 30 minutes using carrots, honey, garlic, and a little butter. The flavor hits both sweet and salty notes with a soft, tender bite. This side goes well with everything from poultry to plant-based mains.
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic Carrots

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions are crunchy, flavorful, and packed with texture. Ready in 25 minutes, this recipe uses green beans, garlic, and crispy fried onions. The taste is bold, salty, and satisfying with a hint of nostalgia. It’s a side that’s easy to dress up or down.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Grilled Zucchini Roll Ups

A blue plate with neatly arranged zucchini and yellow squash roll-ups filled with diced vegetables and herbs. Small bowls of ingredients and fresh parsley are visible in the background. — Grilled Zucchini Roll Ups. Photo credit: My Mocktail Forest.

Grilled Zucchini Roll Ups are smoky, soft, and layered with creamy filling. They take about 30 minutes to make using zucchini, ricotta, herbs, and olive oil. The taste is light but savory with just the right amount of char from the grill. These work well as appetizers or sides at any summer meal.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Zucchini Roll Ups

Screaming Skillet Green Beans

Screaming Skillet Green Beans are spicy, crispy, and full of bite. Cooked in about 20 minutes, they feature green beans, red pepper flakes, garlic, and oil. The flavor is hot and garlicky, perfect for those who like a little heat. This side adds a kick to any basic meal lineup.
Get the Recipe: Screaming Skillet Green Beans