Vegetarian family classics

You can't beat a vegetable pasta bake, and this one is made with pan-fried Mediterranean vegetables, penne pasta and three types of cheese. The panko breadcrumb topping gives plenty of crunch and the bake can even be frozen for up to three months.

For pure comfort food in a bowl, our macaroni cheese has chunks of tender cauliflower and can be prepped in just 10 minutes, making it a midweek lifesaver. If you have a bit more time, go for full-on indulgence with our next level marmite mac 'n' cheese.

Keep it slow and low-calorie with our slow cooker veggie lasagne, which packs in all five of your five-a-day. Alternatively, make our fantastically simple cherry tomato & ricotta cavatappi. It will be on your table in 35 minutes. Cherry tomatoes and ricotta makes for a deliciously creamy bake.

2. Veggie curries

We're always craving a curry. Our easy, adaptable recipes are great for fridge-clearing, too, as you can chuck in a range of your favourite veggies. Our five star-rated Goan-style vegetable curry with kitchari is a classic, fulfilling all five of your 5-a-day in one portion, along with lots of fibre and delicious flavours too.

Save time by using shop-bought curry paste to make the base for our creamy butternut korma, then enhance it with fresh herbs, spices and veg. Serve with mini naan breads for a satisfying family supper. Or try our delicious paneer makhani, no Indian feast is complete without paneer, and this cheesy delight will be a winner with the whole family.

Make our chana masala for a simple storecupboard feast, or try our aubergine & coconut curry for a subtly smoky flavour. Short on time and energy? Go for our cheat's black dhal and we promise not to tell. If you have a bit more time to spare, you could serve your curry alongside soft and fluffy homemade naan bread.

Browse our vegetarian curry collection for even more recipes.

3. Veggie bolognese

Every family has their own definitive Bolognese recipe, but you could try something new with a rich lentil ragu. This healthy family dish gets you four steps closer to your five-a-day – plus it's light and bursting with flavour. You may find that even meat-eaters are converted. Alternatively, make the most of meat-free mince with our easy vegetarian Bolognese.

To add in yet more vegetables, try our courgetti version or get the kids involved in making veggie mince bolognese, which gives you two of your five-a-day. Instead of buying all the vegetables separately and ending up with leftover celery sticks, you can buy a handy sofrito mix from most supermarkets to use in this dish.

4. Veggie chilli

Another dish that lends itself well to a veggie makeover is chilli. You can adapt the ingredients to your liking, batch cook it and stash it in the freezer. Our burnt aubergine chilli is a class act, delivering depth of flavour with soft mouthfuls of veg that add up to four of your five-a-day. Serve with all the trimmings – rice, tortilla chips, soured cream and a dollop of guacamole.

Try a mix of beans for extra protein in our roasted pepper chilli. Great for serving a crowd, this is a healthy option that doesn't skimp on flavour. For a vegan bolognese, our recipe is packed with four of your 5-a-day thanks to nutritious green lentils, three types of mushrooms and carrots.

5. Veggie shepherd's pie

If you think a pie can't be a pie without meat, we're about to blow your mind. Our vegan shepherd's pie is sure to be a hit, dished out warm from the oven with a squirt of ketchup for good measure. This dreamy, low-fat pie is topped with crisp roasties.

For an extra tasty twist, try our veggie shepherd's pie with a sweet potato topping, a dash of red wine and a generous grating of strong cheddar. Alternatively, combine two classics with our recipe for Indian sweet potato & dhal pies, using red lentils and creamy mash. We even have an Italian cottage pie for a Mediterranean revamp of an English classic – it's the perfect budget supper or try a plant-based version with our vegan lentil & sweet potato cottage pie.

6. Veggie burgers

There's no need to wait for barbecue season; rain or shine, just pop a burger in a bun and you're bound to have a good day. These spiced halloumi & pineapple burgers with zingy slaw bring the sunshine flavours with chipotle halloumi and a bright slaw that provides four of your 5-a-day.

Get crafty with the kids and try our spinach-based green burgers. Serve with chunky sweet potato fries to add another helping of veg to your plate.

To add a touch of Middle-Eastern flavour, try our halloumi aubergine burgers with a spoonful of creamy hummus, plus a dash of harissa and roasted red pepper. For extra spice, our Mexican bean burgers should fit the bill; you can tone down the heat for more delicate palates.

Find more inspiration in our guide to the best veggie burger recipes.

7. Veggie Sunday roast

It's a sacred Sunday ritual, but roast dinners can be meat-free and still just as satisfying. Nothing can beat a tried and tested classic like our incredible nut roast. Filled with lentils, chestnut mushrooms and cheese, it’s the perfect centrepiece for a vegetarian roast. It’s also freezable so that it can be reused on multiple Sundays for easy cooking. For a Middle Eastern-inspired twist, try our feta-stuffed cannellini nut roast.

Combine beetroot, sweet potato, chard and celeriac in our multi-layered vegan rainbow pie for a stunning centrepiece that everyone will want to try. For a super-indulgent puff pastry creation, channel that après-ski vibe by baking our melty cheese & potato pie.

Don't forget the trimmings – try one of our winning roastie recipes and why not serve them with roasted cabbage with harissa butter beans & baked feta or roast Savoy cabbage with lemon?

Get more inspiration from our vegetarian Sunday roast collection and more nut roast recipes.

8. Veggie pizza

When it comes to pizza, there are endless exciting veggie flavour combinations to experiment with. Using only a handful of ingredients, including Middle-Eastern flatbreads as the base, this cheap-as-chips veggie pizza can be prepped in 15 minutes, making it an easy midweek meal option. It’s a great way to fill your kids with iron-rich spinach and an egg for protein. Serve with plenty of salad for a wholesome family dish.

Encourage your kids to eat the rainbow with our colourful rainbow pizza, packed with fresh ingredients. Layer a passata base with mozzarella, tomatoes, broccoli and fresh pesto for a flavoursome tri-colour treat. Anyone following a plant-based diet or avoiding dairy need not miss out either with our vegan pizza Margherita.

9. Veggie fajitas

Need a quick and easy family meal? Our flavour-packed vegetarian fajitas can be on the table in just 15 minutes. Let the kids load up their own tortillas with spiced black beans, avocado, peppers and a drizzle of soured cream. If you have smaller children, you could serve these in bowl-shaped tortillas, which are easier to hold.

For a healthy bite, make our chargrilled vegetable tacos, complete with a smoky kiwi salsa. These tasty tortillas pack in all of your five-a-day and can be easily doubled to serve a family of four. Try our easy vegan tacos complete with a sweet and smoky salsa with juicy kiwi fruit.

Find more delicious wrap ideas in our vegetarian fajita and taco recipe collections.

10. Veggie stir-fry

A stir-fry is a great midweek family meal, and those that love a bit of heat will be asking for seconds of this spicy tofu stir-fry. Try a plant-based stir-fry with our sweet & spicy broccoli noodles that take just 25 minutes to make, or make the most of tempeh's nutty flavour and robust texture with this sticky tempeh stir-fry.

This seitan and black bean stir-fry is entirely vegan and low in fat. A great replacement for a takeaway! The sticky sweet and spicy sauce is incredibly moreish – pile on top of your favourite noodles or rice.

Discover more sizzling suppers in our vegetarian stir-fry collection.

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What's your favourite veggie family meal? Let us know in the comments below...