25 Make-Ahead Vegetarian Meals for Busy Nights

Read Time: 12 mins

25 Make-Ahead Vegetarian Meals for Busy Nights1/25 Smoky Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My hearty, delicious and nutrient-packed vegetarian dish is amazingly healthy. Everyone I’ve made it for has loved it—even carnivores! I always make two batches and freeze one. You’ll want to eat this every week! —Elizabeth Lindemann, Salem, Massachusetts Nutrition Facts: 2 enchiladas: 399 calories, 14g fat (7g saturated fat), 34mg cholesterol, 843mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 8g fiber), 18g protein. 2/25 Stuffed Shells

3/25 Vegetable Strata 5 Reviews Test

9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: More cheese, please! You’ll get your fill from saucy jumbo pasta shells loaded with four kinds—mozzarella, Asiago, ricotta and cottage cheese. Do the prep work, and then freeze according to the recipe directions to have a ready-to-bake meal for a future busy night. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Nutrition Facts: 3 stuffed shells: 376 calories, 14g fat (9g saturated fat), 49mg cholesterol, 959mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 4g fiber), 25g protein. 3/25 Vegetable Strata 5 Reviews Test

4/25 Cheddar Bean Burritos 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste

Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 55 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We always serve food at our Bunco games, and since one of us is a vegetarian we like to make fun meatless dishes we can all enjoy. This strata can easily be doubled and tastes fantastic hot or at room temperature. —Doris Mancini, Port Orchard, Washington Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 677 calories, 36g fat (15g saturated fat), 244mg cholesterol, 940mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 5g fiber), 35g protein. 4/25 Cheddar Bean Burritos 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste

5/25 Easy Chana Masala 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved DAN ROBERTS

of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My family goes meatless several nights a week, and this recipe is one of our favorites. I usually puree a can or two of chipotle peppers in adobo and freeze them in ice cube trays so I can use a small amount when I need it. —Amy Bravo, Ames, Iowa Nutrition Facts: 1 burrito: 410 calories, 16g fat (7g saturated fat), 23mg cholesterol, 726mg sodium, 50g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 8g fiber), 16g protein. 5/25 Easy Chana Masala 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved DAN ROBERTS

It makes weeknight dinners feel a little more special

FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love this quick and healthy Indian-inspired dish so much I always make sure to have the ingredients stocked in my pantry. It makes weeknight dinners feel a little more special. —Janeen Judah, Houston, Texas Nutrition Facts: 0.750 cup garbanzo bean mixture with 3/4 cup rice: 359 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 616mg sodium, 64g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 9g fiber), 10g protein. 6/25 Cabbage Barley Soup 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cabbage Barley Soup Recipe photo by Taste of

My vegetarian soup was the clear winner

Home Total Time 6 hours 30 min Servings 8 servings (3 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My neighbor had an abundance of cabbage, so a group of us had a contest to see who could come up with the best cabbage dish. My vegetarian soup was the clear winner. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 197 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 678mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 9g fiber), 11g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 starch, 1 lean meat. 7/25 Garden Vegetable Tomato Sauce 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Garden Vegetable Tomato Sauce

I also use it when I make pizza

Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 25 min Servings 16 servings (2 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I make this vegetable tomato sauce regularly and store containers of it in my freezer. It’s a tasty substitute for regular pasta sauce, and the extra vegetables make it healthier. I also use it when I make pizza. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 81 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 317mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 1/2 fat. 8/25 Three-Cheese Quiche 2 Reviews

Guests often comment on how tall, light and fluffy this crustless entree is

Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Try eggs and cheese at their best. Guests often comment on how tall, light and fluffy this crustless entree is. You’ll love it! —Judy Reagan, Hannibal, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 449 calories, 37g fat (21g saturated fat), 524mg cholesterol, 316mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 22g protein. 9/25 Tomato Tortellini Soup 101 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved SARAH TRAMONTE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 25 min Servings 10 servings (2-1/2 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: No one

will guess that you cheated by using canned tomato soup

will guess that you cheated by using canned tomato soup. This lovely soup tastes homemade all the way! —Sandra Fick, Lincoln, Nebraska Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 245 calories, 11g fat (6g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 756mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 2g fiber), 10g protein. 10/25 Pumpkin Lasagna 64 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Pumpkin Lasagna Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I especially like this comforting fall dish because it’s vegetarian. Even friends who aren’t big fans of pumpkin are surprised by this delectable

Canned pumpkin and no-cook noodles make it a cinch to prepare

lasagna. Canned pumpkin and no-cook noodles make it a cinch to prepare. —Tamara Huron, New Market, Alabama Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 310 calories, 12g fat (6g saturated fat), 36mg cholesterol, 497mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 5g fiber), 17g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 fat, 1 lean meat. 11/25 Slow-Cooker Minestrone 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 6 hours 50 min Servings 12 servings (4 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: There’s nothing quite like the comfort of warm homemade soup, and it’s even better when your slow cooker will do most of

the work for you!

the work for you! This minestrone is easy to put together but has all the flavor of a high-effort dish. —Erin Raatjes, New Lenox, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 1-1/3 cups: 165 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 813mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 6g fiber), 7g protein. 12/25 Veggie Calzones 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Bread dough makes it a breeze to assemble these savory turnovers. If you have a favorite pizza dough, use it instead. These freeze well and once they

are frozen, they can be heated in half an hour

are frozen, they can be heated in half an hour. —Lee Ann Lowe, Gray, Maine Nutrition Facts: 1 calzone: 503 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 953mg sodium, 67g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 6g fiber), 23g protein. 13/25 Tomato & Garlic Butter Bean Dinner 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Tomato & Garlic Butter Bean Dinner Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: On the days I get home late and just want a warm meal, I stir together tomatoes, garlic and butter beans. Ladle it over

noodles if you’re in the mood for pasta

noodles if you’re in the mood for pasta. —Jessica Meyers, Austin, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1-1/4 cups (calculated without pasta and cheese): 147 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 353mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 9g fiber), 8g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 lean meat, 1/2 fat. 14/25 Five-Cheese Ziti al Forno 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Five-Cheese Ziti al Forno Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: After having the five-cheese ziti at Olive Garden, I tried to make my own homemade version—and I

think I got pretty close

think I got pretty close. I always double this and freeze the second one for another meal. —Keri Whitney, Castro Valley, California Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 449 calories, 15g fat (8g saturated fat), 32mg cholesterol, 960mg sodium, 59g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 4g fiber), 21g protein. 15/25 Whole Wheat Pancakes 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 20 pancakes Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: To fix a large batch of tender pancakes for my five children, I rely on this quick and wholesome recipe. It calls for whole wheat flour and buttermilk, which make the pancakes

filling but also light

filling but also light. Serve them with hot chocolate for a breakfast that’s sure to delight little ones. —Line Walter, Wayne, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 2 pancakes: 157 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 335mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 4g fiber), 9g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1 fat. 16/25 Cheese Enchiladas 42 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Cheese Enchiladas Recipe photo by Eric Kleinberg for Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You won’t bring home leftovers when you take these easy enchiladas to a potluck.

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