Whether you’re a full-fledged vegetarian or are simply looking to cut back on meat, poultry and fish, Giada De Laurentiis offers a wealth of hearty and delicious veggie-packed dishes, from creamy butternut squash lasagna to meaty mushroom Parmesan.
Goat Cheese Lentil and Brown Rice Rolls
Rich, flavourful goat cheese and lentils are combined with brown rice and marinara, then wrapped in softened Swiss chard leaves to create this delectable dish.
Baked Penne With Roasted Vegetables
Even dedicated carnivores will enjoy this meat-free baked pasta that includes sweet peppers, zucchini, summer squash and cremini mushrooms, tossed with penne, marinara and two cheeses, then topped with more cheese and baked until bubbly.
Veggie Meatloaf with Checca Sauce
Bursting with fresh ingredients and loaded with herbs and spices, this lentil meatloaf is a colourful meat-free dish that pairs perfectly with fresh rolls and potato salad sides.
Tomato Vegetable Casserole
Take a mélange of veggies, including yams, carrots, potatoes, bell peppers, zucchini and red onion, add thickly sliced tomatoes, and top with grated Parmesan and bread crumbs — then cook in the oven until the veggies are roasted to perfection and the cheesy topping is crispy and golden brown.
Creamy Farfalle with Cremini, Asparagus and Walnuts
Rich, opulent and oh-so-creamy, Giada combines bowtie-shaped farfalle pasta with walnuts, mushrooms and sautéed asparagus to create a dish that’s absolutely to die for.
Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella
Large portobello mushrooms serve as edible “bowls” filled with chunky cubes of ripe tomatoes and mozzarella, an ideal vegetarian dish to grill up on the barbecue.
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Rich, opulent and oh-so-creamy, Giada combines bowtie-shaped farfalle pasta with walnuts, mushrooms and sautéed asparagus to create a dish that’s absolutely to die for.
‘ Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella
Fried Zucchini
If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to French fries, Giada’s got you covered with this easy yet undeniably delicious recipe for crispy fried zucchini sticks.
Butternut Squash Lasagna
Any lasagna lover — vegetarian or otherwise — will certainly to enjoy Giada’s mouth-watering take on this classic dish.
Quinoa Roasted Eggplant and Apple Salad with Cumin Vinaigrette
This hearty and healthy salad blends flavourful roasted eggplant with crispy fresh apples, walnuts dried cranberries, watercress and quinoa, with a cinnamon-spiced vinaigrette that is bound to be a lunchtime and dinnertime favourite.
Frittata With Asparagus Tomato and Fontina
A dish that’s as at home on the dinner table as it is at a holiday brunch, this delectable frittata is flavour powerhouse.
Vegan Artichoke Arancini
These wonderful Arancini — Sicilian rice balls coated with breadcrumbs and fried — are bursting with the full-bodied flavour of marinated artichoke hearts.
Roasted Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips and Brussels Sprouts
When seeking a savoury side dish, you can’t go wrong with this mouth-watering mix of root vegetables, Brussels sprouts and potatoes, which is as hearty they come.
Vegetable Parmesan
Giada mines her Italian heritage for this savoury combo of eggplant, zucchini and fennel, topped with a generous layer of mozzarella and Parmesan, bread crumbs and a zesty marinara sauce.
Butternut Squash Soup with Fontina Cheese Crostini
There’s nothing more satisfying on a cold day than a hot bowl of creamy butternut squash soup, and Giada’s interpretation of this fall favourite needs to be tasted to be believed!
Spicy Parmesan Green Beans and Kale
Adding a dash of red pepper flakes to this combo of kale, green beans and cremini mushrooms gives this dish “a happy little kick,” says Giada.
Get the recipe for Giada De Laurentiis’ Spicy Parmesan Green Beans and Kale
Artichoke and Tomato Panzanella
We’re certain you’ll agree with Giada about her satisfying panzanella salad recipe: “I love my Artichoke and Tomato Panzanella,” proclaims Giada. “It is a great go-to recipe because I always have the ingredients in my pantry. All the colours and flavours of the tomatoes, artichokes, basil and olives make this a tasty and vibrant dish.”
Moroccan-Inspired Swiss Chard Rolls
Imagine a vegetarian cabbage roll but wrapped in Swiss chard instead of cabbage, flavoured with Moroccan spices such as cumin and curry along with sweet coconut milk, and you get the gist of this exotic dish that you’ll want to make way more than once.
Mushroom Parmesan
This tasty vegetarian dish from Giada de Laurentiis can be served as a main or a side. Prep ahead of time and pop in the oven just before serving bubbly hot and fragrant.
Butternut Squash Tortellini with Brown Butter Sauce
These cute squash and ricotta-filled tortellini are served with an incredibly fragrant brown butter, sage sauce laced with walnuts and cranberries.
Giada's Pasta Primavera
This herb-infused pasta dish is bright, fresh, and delicious — perfect summer meal.
Grilled Vegetable Herb and Goat Cheese Sandwiches
Combining fresh summer veggies with creamy goat cheese, garlic and sundried tomatoes makes for a satisfying sandwich served on toasty pieces of warm baguette.
Italian Lentil Salad
You’ll be surprised by just how filling this grape, bell pepper and lentil salad really is, while still remaining one of those simple, guilt-free meals.
Basic Parmesan Pomodoro
The secret to this simple Italian dish? Pasta water! Make sure to reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water to add to the sauce. The starch in the water will create a creamier sauce and help it stick to your pasta.
Eggplant and Asparagus Napoleons
Fresh asparagus, basil and lightly grilled eggplant are layered with creamy whole milk ricotta to make a simply delicious layered appetizer.
Whole-Wheat Linguine with Green Beans, Ricotta, and Lemon
This creamy, dreamy pasta only takes 20 minutes to make, and packs well for leftovers the following day.
Rigatoni with Eggplant Purée
Pine nuts, Parmesan and meaty eggplant work wonders together in this meat-free pasta main.
Tomatoes Stuffed with Rice
Hearty rice, fresh herbs and heaps of Parmesan fill these juicy baked tomatoes that double as a weeknight dinner main, or as a side when entertaining.
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Maple Cinnamon Sage Brown Butter
Sweet potato and ricotta gnocchi are swirled in a rich maple, cinnamon and sage brown butter sauce in this comforting sweet-meets-savoury meal from Giada De Laurentiis.
Lentil Burgers with Lemon Basil Mayonnaise
Even if you’re not a fan of veggie burgers, one bite of Giada’s savoury lentil burgers will change your mind.
Brent Furdyk is a freelance writer in Vancouver.