33 Earth Day Recipes That Might Actually Make You Eat Your Vegetables

If there’s one day to give vegetables a real shot, it’s Earth Day. These 33 recipes put plants front and center in ways that are actually worth eating. They skip the meat without skipping the flavor, showing how easy it is to let vegetables carry the whole plate. Whether you’re cooking for the planet or just trying to clean out the produce drawer, these dishes make it easy.

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

Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Spinach Lasagna Rolls pack all the comfort of traditional lasagna into a meatless format that still holds its own. Rolled pasta filled with spinach and ricotta makes it both satisfying and straightforward to serve. It’s a smart choice for Earth Day, proving you don’t need meat to make a full meal. This is the kind of dinner that keeps the oven — and the planet — working smarter.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Lasagna Rolls

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 turn humble ingredients into something that feels intentional and hearty. Carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes roast into caramelized bites that feel far from basic. It’s an easy way to let vegetables carry the plate without needing anything extra. This side dish proves that Earth Day flavor doesn’t have to be complicated.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Root Vegetables

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 hit the sweet spot between simple and bold. They roast up tender with caramelized edges and a sticky glaze that tastes like more than the sum of its parts. This dish puts vegetables front and center without pretending to be something else. When carrots show up like this, you won’t even think about what’s missing.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Zucchini Noodle Salad

Zucchini Noodle Salad brings crunch, color, and a freshness that makes vegetables hard to ignore. Spiralized zucchini keeps things light while avocado gives it just enough weight to pass as a main. It’s exactly the kind of meal that belongs on an Earth Day table—low effort, plant-forward, and full of real food. This is how you make raw vegetables feel like dinner.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Noodle Salad

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 turns a basic vegetable into a craveable, creamy bake that’s all about comfort. The crunchy topping adds texture without overcomplicating anything. It proves vegetables can do the heavy lifting when meat stays off the menu. This casserole is loud enough to carry the whole meal by itself.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole

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 real comfort without leaning on meat or heavy extras. The dumplings soak up the squash base, giving every bite more flavor than you’d expect from vegetables alone. It’s easy enough for a weeknight but solid enough to stand as a full meal. This is the kind of Earth Day dinner that doesn’t need explaining.
Get the Recipe: Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings

Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash

Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash looks impressive but relies on basic ingredients and a short bake time. With grains, herbs, and a touch of sweetness, the filling makes vegetables feel like a full meal. It’s exactly what Earth Day cooking should be—plant-based, simple, and worth repeating. This is how you fill a plate without missing anything.
Get the Recipe: Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad keeps things crisp and raw while still packing in flavor. The thin slices soak up just enough dressing to make every bite count. It fits the Earth Day theme by proving that even strong-tasting vegetables can shine on their own. This one doesn’t just play along—it leads.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts roast up with charred edges and a sticky, tangy finish that never gets old. They’re fast to prep, quick to cook, and easy to eat by the handful. On an Earth Day table, these stand out by showing what vegetables can do solo. The glaze alone is reason enough to make them again.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

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 crisp on the outside, soft inside, and flavorful enough to serve on their own. They’re simple to prep and make a strong case for skipping the meat. These are the kind of sides that feel like mains when done right. They might be called fritters, but they eat like a full plan.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta

Worcestershire Green Beans

Worcestershire Green Beans cook fast and hit hard with savory flavor that makes them feel more like a main than a side. They hold their snap and soak up just enough sauce to keep things interesting. These are a solid Earth Day choice because they use everyday ingredients to make vegetables front and center. The only thing you’ll regret is not making more.
Get the Recipe: Worcestershire Green Beans

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 roast into caramelized rounds that blur the line between savory and sweet. With cinnamon and ginger baked in, they feel like more than a basic vegetable side. They’re easy to make and come out looking like a lot more effort than they take. These are the sweet potatoes that get people skipping dessert.
Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices

Easy Squash Casserole

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

Easy Squash Casserole makes yellow squash feel like the reason the oven was turned on. It’s quick to prep and finishes with a buttery crust that holds its shape. This dish fits right in for Earth Day by letting vegetables be the most memorable thing on the table. It’s the kind of side that makes you forget there was no meat planned.
Get the Recipe: Easy Squash Casserole

Air Fryer Glazed Carrots

Air Fryer Glazed Carrots finish glossy and crisp with a sticky glaze that clings just enough. They’re fast, flavorful, and don’t need anything fancy to feel complete. These are vegetables that actually taste like they were worth turning on the air fryer for. You might not even make it to the rest of the meal.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Glazed Carrots

Rubbed Kale Salad with Parmesan

Rubbed Kale Salad with Parmesan takes rough greens and turns them into something craveable with just a little prep. Massaging the kale makes it more tender while the cheese brings in extra flavor. This is the kind of Earth Day dish that actually proves you ate your vegetables—and liked it. It’s salad, but it’s got backbone.
Get the Recipe: Rubbed Kale Salad with Parmesan

Citrus Asparagus Couscous

Citrus Asparagus Couscous pulls together crisp asparagus and soft grains in a mix that works hot or cold. The citrus dressing keeps it sharp without overpowering anything. It’s quick to prep and feels like it came straight from a garden. This is how you do meatless meals without repeating yourself.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Asparagus Couscous

Homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli

Homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli layers soft pasta around a rich squash filling that stands in for meat without apology. It takes a little effort, but every bite is worth it. This dish shows that vegetables can carry dinner without needing anything else on the plate. It’s proof that Earth Day meals can still feel big.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli

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 brings vegetables, grains, and salty cheese together in a bowl that tastes like it came straight from a backyard gathering. It’s easy to prep and strong enough to be a full meal. This one makes sense for Earth Day because it skips the meat and still feels complete. It’s plant-based without trying too hard.
Get the Recipe: Greek Quinoa Salad

Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili puts beans, vegetables, and spice into one pot for a meal that doesn’t feel like a backup plan. It cooks low and slow while you do other things. It’s meatless, filling, and perfect for making Earth Day dinner without breaking a sweat. You won’t miss what’s not in it.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

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 mixes fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and pasta into something that holds its own in any season. The light dressing ties it all together without weighing things down. It’s fast, flexible, and doesn’t rely on meat or dairy to make it complete. This is the kind of salad that ends up doing more than its share.
Get the Recipe: Summer Orzo Salad

Veggie Couscous Salad

Veggie Couscous Salad uses crisp produce and quick-cooking couscous to build something that lands between side dish and main. It works straight from the fridge or after a quick warm-up. This one belongs on an Earth Day menu because it proves vegetables can fill the plate—and your stomach. It’s the kind of dish you start making just because it’s in the fridge.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Couscous Salad

Spring Onion Potato Salad

Spring Onion Potato Salad mixes creaminess with crunch in a way that makes it stand out from every picnic version you’ve tried. The sharp onion cuts through and gives it more than just background flavor. This is an Earth Day-worthy side because it actually treats vegetables like the point—not just filler. It’s what you serve when plain potato salad doesn’t cut it.
Get the Recipe: Spring Onion Potato Salad

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 bake up crisp on the outside with soft centers and real flavor soaked in. Garlic, herbs, and lemon give them enough weight to hold up without anything else. These stand alone as much as they pair up, which makes them a smart Earth Day choice. They’re the kind of potatoes that could carry dinner solo.
Get the Recipe: Greek Lemon Potatoes

Easy Oven Asparagus

Easy Oven Asparagus is proof that vegetables don’t need more than salt, heat, and timing. It’s quick, sharp, and doesn’t get in its own way. On Earth Day, it belongs on the plate because it shows how much you can get from so little. When asparagus is this good, the rest of the meal adjusts around it.
Get the Recipe: Easy Oven Asparagus

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions punch through with real flavor and stay crisp even after sitting. The onions bring texture and the garlic keeps things grounded. It’s the kind of dish that gives vegetables a little edge. This one earns space at any Earth Day dinner without needing a sales pitch.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs

Kebabs on a plate with a lemon wedge. — Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs are firm, spiced, and built to be the main attraction—not just a backup option. They grill fast and work with sauces or grains without missing a beat. These skewers show that plant-based doesn’t mean second-tier. They’ve got enough flavor to make the meat look boring.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs

Red Wine Glazed Carrots

Sweet and Spicy Glazed Carrots Recipe with Red Wine. — Red Wine Glazed Carrots. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Red Wine Glazed Carrots roast into a bold, slightly sweet dish with deeper flavor than you’d expect. The glaze adds punch without overwhelming the carrots underneath. It’s one of those recipes that shows just how far a vegetable can go. These don’t just play nice—they lead.
Get the Recipe: Red Wine Glazed Carrots

Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf

Side view of wild rice pilaf with pomegranate and butternut squash. — Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf layers sweet squash and hearty rice into a one-bowl side that fits into any dinner. It works warm or at room temp, and holds its shape well even after reheating. Earth Day is about letting vegetables be the point—and this one gets that right. It tastes like something you’d expect to see at a restaurant, not just your own kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

A baked dish with a golden-brown crumb topping is in a rectangular baking dish, which has a white and blue checkered cloth nearby. A serving is on a round plate to the right. The surface is a light marble texture. — Cheesy Zucchini Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole bakes into a creamy dish that proves vegetables don’t need much help to be dinner. It’s rich without being heavy and comes together without much planning. This is one of those recipes that works year-round but fits Earth Day especially well. When zucchini is in season, this is where it belongs.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel

A plate of pasta with mushrooms and sprigs of dill. — Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel folds vegetables and noodles into something that eats like comfort food with no extras needed. It’s rich, filling, and can hold its own without meat or dairy overload. This Earth Day dish works because it keeps the vegetables center stage. It’s a casserole that actually earns a spot in the main course rotation.
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel

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 softens into something rich and spoonable with barely any work. It’s the kind of dish you set and forget—but still ends up being the star. There’s no meat needed when the vegetables taste this good on their own. This is what Earth Day cooking looks like when you’re not trying too hard.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash

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 skips the dairy but still pulls off a dinner that feels full and finished. The sauce coats every bite, and the baked top adds that extra crunch that makes casseroles worth making. It’s meatless, rich, and built from real ingredients. This is the kind of plant-first recipe that makes skipping the usual stuff feel easy.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Vegan Pasta Bake

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta bring texture and flavor in every forkful with barely any effort. The almonds stay crisp, the feta softens, and the sprouts bring it all together. It’s plant-first without feeling forced. When this hits the table, everything else fades out.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta