12 Vegetarian Recipes Even Meat-Eaters Will Love

If you choose recipes that use these products to their fullest potential, you might even trick a few pro-meat folks into trying Meatless Monday or at least sampling the occasional vegetarian dish. For some cooking inspiration, The Daily Meal has rounded up its 12 favorite hearty vegetarian recipes that ditch the meat while satisfying even the staunchest carnivore. 

This is the ultimate vegetarian burger. Hearty black beans are loaded with flavor to deliver a burger that will satisfy the whole family.

For the Black Bean Burger recipe, click here. 

Black Bean Corn Salad

Spicy and fresh flavors are incorporated into this hearty vegetarian salad. Sub out the corn in the fall with roasted butternut squash, or try hearty greens in the winter.

For the Black Bean Corn Salad recipe, click here.

Vegetarian chef Amanda Cohen uses fresh carrot juice to replace water in her dough, giving the Cantonese-style steamed buns their vibrant color and sweet taste. Filled with garlic and ginger-seasoned barbecued carrots, these bite-sized, plump morsels are dipped in a carrot-and-hoisin reduction (the rainbow-like arc across the plate) and paired with a crispy white carrot, cucumber, ginger, and sesame salad.

For Dirt Candy's Carrot Buns recipe, click here.

Everyone will love this addictive summer treat. Cotija is a tangy, crumbly Mexican cheese (also produced in America). If you're unable to find cotija, try using feta instead.

For the Elotes Callejeros recipe, click here.

Lentils' somewhat earthy and savory taste enhances a variety of meals. This dish goes great with sautéed mustard greens, kale, and/or collards.

For the French Lentils with Roasted Roots, Caramelized Onions, and Thyme recipe, click here.

Start the day with some spice with this brilliantly healthy and filling vegetarian breakfast dish. If you like your eggs with cheese, sprinkle a handful of grated Monterey Jack over the top before broiling at the end of step five to melt while the eggs finish cooking.

For the Huevos Rancheros recipe, click here.

These cheesy flautas are a fun and easy appetizer to make, and are completely meat-free for vegetarians. Planning ahead? Make these a day or two in advance, then re-crisp them in the oven before serving.

For the Mini Corn and Leeks Flautas recipe, click here.

Though chili has long been hailed as a meat-lovers' favorite, we've found that if done correctly, the familiarity of th spicee flavors is really what makes people want to eat it all night long. In this vegetarian version, the chipotle compensates for the absence of slow-cooked beef brisket by giving the dish a down-home, rich smokiness.

For the Smokey Chipotle Vegetarian Chili recipe, click here.

The great thing about serving burritos at your brunch is that you can lay out each individual dish of ingredients and encourage guests to build their own. A vegetarian burrito just makes it all the more accessible for your friends and family. 
For the Vegetarian Breakfast Burrito recipe, click here.

Mee hoon, or rice vermicelli, are thin noodles made from rice flour. These noodles are eaten as part of a soup or stir-fry, and can also be made into salad. This version uses tofu, rice noodles, and lots of vegetables to fill your guests' stomachs.

For the Vegetarian Mee Hoon Goreng recipe, click here.

This dish is an absolute must-try for all of you vegetarians who sometimes miss the taste of meat. The rich combination of mushrooms, eggs, and spices more than makes up for the absence of meat from this recipe.

For the Vegetarian Mushroom Shepherd's Pie recipe, click here.

This vegetable paella recipe created by Wolfgang Puck uses a flavorful soffritto and a medley of vegetables, which includes fennel, corn, haricot vert, peas, and fava beans, to make all thoughts of meat disappear from your brain.

For Wolfgang Puck's Vegetarian Paella, click here.