If someone in your house is dairy-free or you just opened the fridge to find no cheese (been there), these 16 dishes show dinner can still be ridiculously good without dairy. I rounded up the recipes my family loves the most & requests the most. These rely on bold flavors & the fresh produce and pantry staples to create a dish without a cheese pull. I promise, pick one of these and nobody at the table will wonder where the parmesan went.
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1) Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
You would never guess that five simple ingredients would elevate a pasta dish to a restaurant quality level.
Five simple dinners. One grocery list.
No recipe hunting, no messy shopping notes, no complicated chef projects. Just family dinners that fit real weeks.
Ingredients
Method
- Boil spaghetti in salted water until al dente, reserving a cup of pasta water.
- Warm olive oil over low heat and gently cook the garlic until pale gold.
- Stir in red pepper flakes and cook 30 seconds.
- Add drained pasta and a splash of pasta water, tossing to coat.
- Fold in parsley, season with salt, and serve.
Notes
2) Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
For a delightful weeknight dinner, creamy, savory stroganoff hits the spot whether you're having a rainy day or not. The best part of it is that it's totally dairy free!
Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
Ingredients
Method
- Sauté onion in oil over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add mushrooms and garlic and cook until the mushrooms release their liquid and brown.
- Stir in soy sauce and let it reduce for a minute.
- Pour in coconut cream and simmer until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper, then fold in the cooked noodles.
- Serve hot with extra parsley if you like.
Notes
3) Lentil Soup
This hearty lentil soup feeds my entire crew, and somehow, it tastes even better the next day.
Lentil Soup
Ingredients
Method
- Sauté onion, carrots, and celery in oil until softened, about 7 minutes.
- Stir in lentils, tomatoes, and broth.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Cook uncovered 30 to 35 minutes until lentils are tender.
- Season with cumin, salt, and pepper, and serve hot.
Notes
4) Stuffed Bell Peppers
The colorful peppers are a meal in an easy to eat package, no cheese needed.
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375F and place peppers upright in a baking dish.
- Mix rice, black beans, corn, half the tomato sauce, and chili powder.
- Spoon the filling into each pepper.
- Top with the remaining tomato sauce and cover with foil.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes until peppers are tender.
- Let cool a few minutes before serving.
5) Avocado Pasta
Kids won't realize the avocado blended into this no-cook sauce is healthy! It gives the sauce a silky and creamy feel.
Avocado Pasta
Ingredients
Method
- Cook linguine in salted water until al dente, reserving some pasta water.
- Blend avocados, basil, garlic, lime juice, and olive oil until smooth.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper.
- Toss the drained pasta with the avocado sauce, loosening with pasta water as needed.
- Serve immediately while bright green and fresh.
Notes
6) Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
The soup's flavor is sweet and deep because of the roasted tomatoes. An unroasted can of tomatoes would not offer the same flavor.
Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 425F and spread tomatoes, onion, and garlic on a sheet pan.
- Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roast 30 to 35 minutes until caramelized.
- Transfer the roasted vegetables to a pot and add broth.
- Simmer 5 minutes, then add basil.
- Blend until smooth with an immersion blender.
- Adjust seasoning and serve hot.
Notes
7) Coconut Curry Chickpeas
This delicious, fragrant chickpea curry is ready in no time and only requires one pan!
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Coconut Curry Chickpeas
Ingredients
Method
- Sauté onion in oil until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add ginger and curry powder and cook until fragrant.
- Stir in tomatoes and chickpeas.
- Pour in coconut milk and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Cook 15 to 20 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Season with salt and serve over rice.
8) Zucchini Noodles with Pesto
These zucchini noodles are my solution to a hectic summer evening because they are quick, light, and refreshing.
Zucchini Noodles with Pesto
Ingredients
Method
- Blend basil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil into a pesto.
- Season the pesto with salt and pepper.
- Warm the zucchini noodles in a skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Toss the warm noodles with the pesto until coated.
- Serve right away, topped with extra pine nuts.
Notes
9) Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
You can make this salad ahead of time, as it keeps well in the fridge, and is full of protein.
Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Method
- Cook quinoa in 2 cups water until fluffy, about 15 minutes, then cool.
- Combine cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion in a large bowl.
- Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper for the vinaigrette.
- Add the cooled quinoa to the vegetables.
- Pour over the vinaigrette and toss to combine.
- Chill 10 minutes before serving.
10) Mushroom Risotto
Dreamy as it may sound, creamy risotto can be achieved without a hint of parmesan. This earthy version with mushrooms is excellent.
Mushroom Risotto
Ingredients
Method
- Sauté mushrooms in olive oil until golden, then set aside.
- Cook the onion in the same pan until soft, then add the rice and toast briefly.
- Pour in the wine and stir until absorbed.
- Add warm broth one ladle at a time, stirring until absorbed before adding more.
- Continue 20 to 25 minutes until rice is creamy and tender.
- Stir the mushrooms back in, season, and serve.
Notes
11) Black Bean Tacos
Black beans mixed with smoke flavor for tacos, all the work is done for you.
Black Bean Tacos
Ingredients
Method
- Warm black beans in a skillet with cumin, smoked paprika, and a splash of water.
- Mash some of the beans lightly for a thicker texture.
- Char the tortillas over a flame or in a dry pan.
- Fill each tortilla with the spiced beans.
- Top with shredded cabbage and a squeeze of lime.
- Serve right away.
Notes
12) Eggplant Caponata
This Sicilian eggplant relish is beautiful on toast and tastes amazing the next day as well.
Eggplant Caponata
Ingredients
Method
- Sauté the eggplant in olive oil over medium-high heat until browned, then set aside.
- Cook the onion in the same pan until soft.
- Add tomatoes, olives, and capers and simmer 10 minutes.
- Return the eggplant to the pan and stir in the vinegar.
- Simmer 15 minutes more until thick and glossy.
- Cool slightly and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
13) Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla
"Yes, a cheese-free quesadilla works, thanks to a creamy mashed bean layer that holds it all together.".
Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla
Ingredients
Method
- Sauté mushrooms and garlic in oil until browned.
- Add spinach and cook until wilted, then stir in cumin.
- Season the mashed beans with salt and spread onto half the tortillas.
- Top with the spinach-mushroom mixture and fold the tortillas over.
- Cook in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and crisp on both sides.
- Slice into wedges and serve.
14) Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili
This chunky, smoky chili warms up the entire house and the sweet potato makes it sneakily filling.
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili
Ingredients
Method
- Sauté onion in oil until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in chili powder and cumin and cook until fragrant.
- Add sweet potatoes, tomatoes, black beans, and a cup of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Cook 25 to 30 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender and the chili thickens.
- Season with salt and serve hot.
Notes
15) Garlic Lemon Chicken
Quick and easy, this lemony chicken is bright and juicy and it's the recipe I go to all year round.
Garlic Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
Method
- Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and oregano.
- Sear in olive oil over medium-high heat until golden, about 5 minutes per side.
- Remove the chicken and add garlic to the pan, cooking until fragrant.
- Pour in broth and lemon juice, scraping up the browned bits.
- Return the chicken and simmer 5 minutes until cooked through.
- Spoon the pan sauce over the chicken to serve.
16) Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprout skeptics will turn into fans after trying these roasted Brussels sprouts with a sticky balsamic glaze.
Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 425F and line a sheet pan.
- Toss Brussels sprouts with olive oil and salt and spread cut-side down.
- Roast 22 to 25 minutes until crispy and deeply browned.
- Simmer balsamic vinegar and maple syrup in a small pan until syrupy.
- Drizzle the glaze over the roasted sprouts and toss.
- Serve warm.