Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
Make a satisfying and tasty meal with these vegetarian dinner recipes. These dishes feature cauliflowera highly-versatile cruciferous vegetable packed with prebiotic fiber and antioxidants. Whether you slice it into steaks, turn it into rice or roast it, these delicious recipes are the perfect pick for dinner tonight. Dishes like our Cauliflower alla Vodka and our Cauliflower Spanakopita Melt are flavorful, nutritious and can be paired with a side salad for a balanced meal.
01 of 20
Cauliflower alla Vodka
This cauliflower alla vodka is the plant-based meal you need right now! Cauliflower soaks up the creamy vodka sauce beautifully, making it a satisfying alternative to pasta. For an easy shortcut, you can swap the homemade sauce for a jarred vodka sauce. It saves time without sacrificing that signature velvety texture and bold, tangy taste. If you go that route, just be aware that it could add extra sodium to the dish.
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02 of 20
Creamy Caramelized Cauliflower Pasta
This creamy cauliflower pasta is the ultimate comfort food—rich, velvety and flavorful. With simple ingredients and quick prep, it’s a satisfying dish that feels fancy without the fuss and is the ideal meal for a cozy weeknight dinner. Add a squeeze of lemon or a pinch of chile flakes to elevate this easy, comforting classic even more!
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03 of 20
Cauliflower Spanakopita Melt
This cauliflower spanakopita melt is a dream come true! It blends the flavors of the Greek spinach pie, spanakopita, into the hand-held comfort and convenience of a grilled cheese sandwich. Chopped roasted cauliflower brings a healthy, veggie-packed twist. We cook these sandwiches in a skillet, but if you have a sandwich press, you can use that to crisp them up instead.
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04 of 20
Buffalo Cauliflower Grain Bowl
This Buffalo cauliflower grain bowl is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional Buffalo wings, packing plenty of gut-healthy fiber and plant-based protein. It features a variety of fresh and colorful vegetables on a bed of precooked brown rice to keep prep speedy. Feel free to swap out the rice for another whole grain.
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05 of 20
Spiced Cauliflower & Whipped Ricotta Pitas
Spiced cauliflower bites sit atop a bright and nutty walnut spread layered with creamy whipped ricotta in this delicious open-face sandwich. The cauliflower bites are flavored with shawarma seasoning, a complex Middle Eastern spice blend that can include cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric and more. These cauliflower bites blend seamlessly with the flavors of both spreads on pita bread, but you can make the cauliflower bites separately and serve them as a side dish or appetizer.
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06 of 20
Cauliflower Steaks with Poached Eggs & Pesto Hollandaise
This weekend-worthy dish features cauliflower “steaks” flavored with Italian seasoning and topped with sautéed kale, a poached egg and pesto-flavored hollandaise. No need to fret over finicky homemade hollandaise—our blender method simplifies the process, bypassing the stovetop hassle with a creamy stable sauce that won’t break or separate. Look for medium heads of cauliflower with compact florets for the best “steaks.” The center-cut slices hold their shape best. Use any extra florets from the sides to make cauliflower rice or roast them separately for a salad.
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07 of 20
Cheesy Cauliflower Steak Pizzas
We ditch traditional pizza crust in favor of cauliflower “steaks” for these cheesy pizzas. The steaks are cooked just enough to develop a sweet roasted flavor that pairs beautifully with the toppings. While we love this veggie-packed version, you can top your cauliflower-steak pizza with just about anything. You’ll have leftover cauliflower after cutting the steaks. Enjoy it raw in a chopped salad, or save the florets for roasting the following day.
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08 of 20
Chile-Lime Cauliflower Quesadillas
Poblano peppers add a touch of heat to these vegetarian quesadillas, but a sweet bell pepper is tasty, too, if you want something milder. Start these quesadillas in the oven and finish them off in a skillet for melty cheese and crispy tortillas.
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09 of 20
Cheesy Chipotle-Cauliflower Mac
You’ll barely notice the cauliflower in this comforting skillet pasta–it’s pureed and mixed into the creamy cheese sauce.
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10 of 20
Curried Cauliflower Salad Sandwiches
The creamy cauliflower mixture in this vegetarian sandwich was inspired by the flavors of Indian raita. A combination of yogurt, cashews and mustard round out the spices in the curry powder, with pomegranate arils adding a juicy pop of sweetness. Buy cauliflower florets in a bag instead of the whole head and look for containers of pomegranate arils to keep prep simple.
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11 of 20
Easy Cauliflower Tacos
These easy vegan cauliflower tacos with chili powder, red onion and creamy avocado garnish are perfect for taco night.
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12 of 20
Cauliflower Stir-Fry
This easy cauliflower stir-fry has a great balance of textures and flavors with bright and colorful tender-crisp veggies. Try substituting broccoli for the cauliflower or snap peas for the snow peas for another variation on this quick dinner.
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13 of 20
Sriracha-Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
This recipe for spicy Buffalo cauliflower bites is a great vegetarian alternative to Buffalo wings. Roasted cauliflower stands in for chicken and provides more fiber and fewer calories.
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14 of 20
Cauliflower Mac & Cheese
There’s no pasta here, but this gluten-free and low-carb cauliflower “mac & cheese” is as comforting and creamy as your family’s favorite cheesy dish.
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15 of 20
Cauliflower Fajita Skillet
Thinly sliced cauliflower florets mimic the signature shape of fajita meat in this dish. We cook it in a cast-iron skillet for that tableside sizzle you’d get at a restaurant.
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16 of 20
Mushroom-Cauliflower Risotto
Easy homemade cauliflower rice stands in for arborio rice in this healthy vegetable-based risotto, reducing both the calories and carbs in this comforting dish. To make this a vegetarian meal, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
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17 of 20
Spiced Cauliflower Chraime
Chraime is a spicy North African fish stew, popular with Sephardic Jews for Rosh Hashana, Passover and Shabbat. The word “chraime” has roots in an Arabic word meaning “hot.” This meatless version highlights cauliflower, stewed until tender, studded with plump and juicy golden raisins and drizzled with date syrup. Served over couscous, rice or quinoa, this sweet and spicy tomato-based stew is a great weeknight meal. Excerpted from Nosh: Plant-Forward Recipes Celebrating Modern Jewish Cuisine, by Micah Siva. Copyright 2024 by Micah Siva. Published by The Collective Book Studio. Reprinted with permission.
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18 of 20
Red Lentil & Cauliflower Curry
This cauliflower curry recipe also features red lentils, which turn yellow when cooked. Curry powder, onions, cumin and other seasonings give this vegetarian dinner tons of flavor. Serve over rice to complete the meal.
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19 of 20
Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Tacos
In this vegetarian taco recipe, cauliflower is tossed with a smoky-tangy sauce made with honey, lime juice and chipotles in adobo sauce before being roasted. Serve with more hot sauce, if desired.
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20 of 20
Roasted Cauliflower & Potato Curry Soup
In this healthy cauliflower soup recipe, roasting the cauliflower first adds depth and prevents the florets from turning to mush. A little tomato sauce and coconut milk give the broth a rich, silky texture. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt, if desired.
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