Weeknight Dinner Planner: A Vegetarian Meal Plan Even Meat-Eaters Will Love

This healthy dinner plan leans on vegetarian staples like sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and broccoli.
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Monday: Chipotle-Sweet Potato Soup

chipotle sweet potato soup

This dinner is super flexible. If you want a thinner soup, you can just add more stock. The same goes for the spiciness: for more spice, add more adobo! 

Recipe: Try our Chipotle-Sweet Potato Soup

Tuesday: Colorful Cauliflower Pasta

colorful cauliflower pasta

Adding roasted cauliflower means you can go lighter on the pasta and still feel totally satisfied.

Recipe: Try our Colorful Cauliflower Pasta 

Wednesday: Roasted Broccolini Hero Sandwiches

Roasted Broccolini Hero Sandwiches

Want an easy way to eat more veggies? Slap 'em on a hoagie with some provolone!

Recipe: Try Rachael Ray's Roasted Broccolini Hero Sandwiches 

Thursday: Sweet Potato, Goat Cheese & Ricotta Cannelloni

sweet potato goat cheese and ricotta cannelloni

Did you know you can make this cannelloni 100% in the microwave?

Recipe: Try our Sweet Potato, Goat Cheese & Ricotta Cannelloni

Friday: Carrot Risotto with Carrot Tops

carrot risotto with carrot tops

This creamy, dreamy dinner uses up every part of the carrot — tops too!

Recipe: Try our Carrot Risotto with Carrot Tops

Shopping List:

For the soup: 

  • Olive oil
  • Onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 large sweet potato (about 1 lb.)
  • 1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, plus more sauce for seasoning (optional)
  • Vegetable stock
  • Fresh cilantro

For the cauliflower pasta:

  • Colored cauliflower florets
  • Olive oil
  • Gemelli pasta
  • Castelvetrano olives
  • Flat-leaf parsley
  • Lemon zest
  • Toasted walnuts
  • EVOO

For the hero sandwiches: 

  • 3 bundles broccolini (about 2 1/4 lbs. total)
  • 3 large shallots
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 2 Fresno or red finger chiles
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 jar (14 to 16 oz.) giardiniera in vinegar
  • 4 Italian-style hero rolls (12 inches each)
  • 12 deli slices provolone
  • 4 large eggs and a couple of pats of butter (optional)

For the cannelloni: 

  • 1 lb. sweet potatoes
  • Red onion
  • No-boil lasagna noodles
  • 4 oz. coarsely crumbled goat cheese
  • Fresh ricotta
  • Golden raisins
  • Panko
  • 1 large lemon
  • Watercress
  • Heavy cream
  • Refrigerated pesto
  • EVOO

For the risotto: 

  • Vegetable stock
  • Carrot juice
  • Butter
  • 1 lb. carrots with greens
  • 1 medium onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • Fennel seeds
  • Arborio rice
  • White wine
  • EVOO
  • 1 orange
  • Shaved Parmesan