25 Veggie Dishes That Are Better Than Your Favorite Meat Recipe

Spring vegetables are at their best right now, and these recipes make the most of every bite. With bold flavors, crisp textures, and just the right amount of freshness, these dishes prove you don’t need meat to make a meal feel complete. Whether you’re planning a weeknight dinner or a seasonal spread, these 27 spring veggie recipes deliver. They’re the kind of meals that turn into favorites before the plate even cools.

A glass baking dish filled with baked squash casserole. — Easy Squash Casserole. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts roast until crisp and coated in a tangy glaze that sticks just right. The balance of vinegar and caramelization adds depth that rivals heavier dishes. With just a few ingredients, they come together fast and hold their own on any plate. These are the sprouts that could make steak feel like a backup plan.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Steamed Artichokes with Spicy Peach Mango Sauce

Steamed Artichokes with Spicy Peach Mango Sauce bring heat, sweetness, and texture to the table without needing anything on the side. The sauce punches above its weight and transforms a basic veg into something worth remembering. It’s easy to make and impossible to overlook. This dish proves that veggie starters can outshine any roast.
Get the Recipe: Steamed Artichokes with Spicy Peach Mango Sauce

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 all about contrast—crisp edges, creamy feta, and crunchy almonds. It’s a simple prep that turns into something big on the plate. Every bite feels layered and full, like something you’d expect from a main dish. These are the kind of vegetables that don’t need backup.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

Zucchini Noodle Salad

Zucchini Noodle Salad puts texture and freshness front and center, with herbs and light dressing pulling it all together. It’s a no-cook recipe that holds its own next to anything else on the table. Easy to prep ahead and even easier to eat. This is the kind of dish that makes skipping meat feel like an upgrade.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Noodle Salad

Easy Oven Asparagus

Easy Oven Asparagus uses minimal ingredients and lets the vegetable shine with just a touch of seasoning. The roasting brings out flavor without weighing things down. It’s fast, simple, and never needs a meat dish to complete the plate. When asparagus shows up like this, it becomes the reason to set the table.
Get the Recipe: Easy Oven Asparagus

Screaming Skillet Green Beans

Screaming Skillet Green Beans hit with garlic and chili for a quick-cooked dish that doesn’t hold back. They stay snappy, full of heat, and deliver more flavor than you’d expect from a side. It’s a bold dish that doesn’t lean on anything else to make its mark. These green beans could make a burger feel unnecessary.
Get the Recipe: Screaming Skillet Green Beans

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 come out tender and sweet, with edges that crisp just enough to stand up on their own. The glaze adds depth without overcomplicating things. They’re ready in under 30 minutes but feel like they took all day. This is the kind of dish that wins a dinner without trying.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions deliver a combo of crunch and flavor that tastes like it came from something heavier. The fried onions add texture and depth that turn these into more than just a side. Prep is fast, cleanup is minimal, and results speak for themselves. These are green beans that don’t need meat to shine.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Veggie Couscous Salad

Veggie Couscous Salad is light but loaded, with crisp bites of vegetables tucked into every spoonful. It’s ready in no time and holds up through picnics, lunches, or main meals. The flavor is clean and vibrant without needing any extras. This salad makes skipping meat feel like an upgrade.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Couscous Salad

Citrus Asparagus Couscous

Citrus Asparagus Couscous brings together bright citrus and earthy asparagus in a dish that feels just right for spring. It works warm or cold and comes together fast enough for weeknights. The couscous makes it filling enough to stand on its own. This is what dinner looks like when the vegetables take the lead.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Asparagus Couscous

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes turn a familiar favorite into something bold and layered. The garlic and browned butter create a depth that meat dishes usually lean on. Creamy but not heavy, this dish feels like comfort without compromise. When these are on the table, everything else feels like a side.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

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 use a low-effort method to get high-reward flavor from carrots, parsnips, and more. Roasting brings out natural sweetness and texture that needs nothing extra. It works in any season but feels especially right when you’re skipping meat. This is how you make vegetables the star of the plate.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Root Vegetables

Worcestershire Green Beans

Worcestershire Green Beans bring in bold, savory notes with barely any effort. The sauce adds that meaty depth without using anything but veg. It cooks fast and lands big on flavor. This is one of those quiet hits that people ask about after dinner.
Get the Recipe: Worcestershire Green Beans

Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta

A hand dips a fried zucchini fritter into a small bowl of white cream sauce on a gray plate. Other fritters and lemon wedges are arranged around the bowl on a marble surface. — Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta are fast, crispy, and loaded with enough flavor to stand on their own. The salty cheese and soft veggie center make each bite count. They’re great hot but hold their own at room temp too. These fritters could pass as the whole meal, not just the first bite.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta

Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks With Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze

A stack of crepes topped with crumbled feta cheese and drizzled with balsamic glaze, served on a white plate. — Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks With Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks come out golden at the edges and tender inside, layered with goat cheese and balsamic for contrast. They cook quickly but taste like you planned all day. With strong flavor and satisfying texture, they don’t need a sidekick. This is cabbage reintroduced as the main event.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks With Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze

Spring Onion Potato Salad

Spring Onion Potato Salad cuts through with fresh onion flavor and creamy potatoes that don’t weigh the dish down. It’s easy to prep and perfect for spring, served chilled or just slightly warm. Great for feeding a crowd or keeping things simple. When this hits the table, meat starts to feel like an afterthought.
Get the Recipe: Spring Onion Potato Salad

Instant Pot Creamy Mushroom Soup

A bowl of creamy mushroom soup garnished with croutons, a drizzle of olive oil, and fresh herbs. A golden spoon lies nearby, and sprigs of thyme are placed on the table beside the bowl. — Instant Pot Creamy Mushroom Soup. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Instant Pot Creamy Mushroom Soup leans on mushrooms and potatoes for depth and body that doesn’t miss the meat. Herbs round it out, and the pressure cooker makes it fast and fuss-free. It’s a meal in one bowl, no extras needed. This is soup that holds its own at any table.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Creamy Mushroom Soup

Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé

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.

Carrot Soufflé brings a sweet-savory flavor and texture that plays just as well at dinner as it does with dessert. The airy middle and golden top make it feel more special than a typical side. It’s simple to prep and bakes beautifully every time. This is the kind of dish that earns repeat requests.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé

Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Parmesan Crusted Potatoes go crisp on the outside, soft inside, and bold all the way through. The crust adds salt and crunch that makes each bite stand up. They’re easy to scale up and disappear fast once served. With these on the table, no one’s asking where the meat went.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Tomato and White Bean Soup with Harissa

A black pot filled with a tomato-based stew containing white beans, bell peppers, and other vegetables. The pot rests on a dark cloth with a silver spoon nearby. A bowl of couscous sits beside the pot on a white surface. — Tomato and White Bean Soup with Harissa. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Tomato and White Bean Soup with Harissa hits with heat, depth, and enough body to feel like a full meal. The beans make it hearty, and the harissa keeps it interesting. It cooks quickly and lands hard on flavor. This is a soup that doesn’t need a sandwich next to it.
Get the Recipe: Tomato and White Bean Soup with Harissa

Greek Lemon Potatoes

Greek Lemon Garlic Potatoes in a black dish with lemon in the background. — Greek Lemon Potatoes. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Greek Lemon Potatoes roast up with crispy edges and bold flavor from garlic, herbs, and fresh lemon. They’re cooked long enough to soak in all the seasoning but stay firm on the plate. Every bite delivers something sharp, comforting, and filling. These are potatoes that can outdo the protein.
Get the Recipe: Greek Lemon Potatoes

Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole

A baked dish with a large serving of cheesy cauliflower in a glass baking dish is next to a white plate holding a portion of the same dish. The background is a light wooden surface. A fork is visible beside the plate. — Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole layers tender cauliflower under a rich cheese sauce with a golden top that hits just right. It feels indulgent but keeps things simple on the prep. The texture alone could carry a full plate. This is a veggie dish that doesn’t just stand in—it takes over.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Small baking dish with scalloped potatoes. — Easy Scalloped Potatoes. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Easy Scalloped Potatoes bake up soft in the middle with that creamy, comforting finish that brings everyone back for seconds. It’s easy to put together and feels like something you waited all day for. Serve it as a side, or let it own the whole plate. This is one dish where meat doesn’t even make the guest list.
Get the Recipe: Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Baked Feta and Egg Salad

Two slices of bread topped with egg salad and garnished with fresh herbs are placed on a gray plate. A small dish with lemon slices is partially visible in the background on the left. The surface below is light-colored. — Baked Feta and Egg Salad. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Baked Feta and Egg Salad skips the mayo and bakes instead, giving it a melted, rich texture that adds more to the table. It’s unexpected but easy, and the results feel far from plain. This dish works for brunch, lunch, or dinner—no backup needed. It’s the kind of comfort that doesn’t need explaining.
Get the Recipe: Baked Feta and Egg Salad

Easy Squash Casserole

Easy Squash Casserole bakes up with tender squash and a buttery crust that brings just enough texture. It’s fast to prep and works well for both small dinners and larger gatherings. The balance of soft and crisp makes it a dish people go back to. When this comes out of the oven, it never stays full for long.
Get the Recipe: Easy Squash Casserole