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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    20 Set It and Forget It Vegetable Forward Dishes We’re Making All Summer Long

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 13, 2025, updated April 10, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Summer is the perfect time to enjoy fresh vegetables, and these 20 easy dishes let you do just that without spending all day in the kitchen. From vibrant soups to hearty casseroles, these recipes are designed to be simple and satisfying, allowing you to enjoy the season's bounty with minimal effort. Whether you're hosting a barbecue or just looking for a quick weeknight meal, these vegetable-forward options will keep your table colorful and delicious all summer long.

    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet-pan dinner is perfect for busy weeknights. With just a little chopping at the beginning, you can let it cook on its own, and it turns out delicious with chicken, veggies, and plenty of sauce all in one pan.

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    Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili

    Instant Pot Vegan Chili (Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili)
    Photo Credit: Hey Nutrition Lady.

    This Instant Pot Vegan Chili is quick and easy to prepare in your pressure cooker. It's filled with butternut squash, quinoa, black beans, and smoky chipotle peppers, making it a healthy and hearty vegetarian dish that's perfect for summer.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

    Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
    Photo Credit: My Quiet Kitchen.

    This vegetable soup is a great choice for a light and healthy meal. It comes together in just 40 minutes with minimal effort, and you can use an Instant Pot or make it on the stove.

    Get the recipe

    Crock Pot Vegetable Tortellini Soup

    Vegetable Tortellini Soup in Crockpot
    Photo Credit: Foodess.

    This light and creamy Tortellini Soup is perfect for summer, packed with fresh green vegetables. With just a few simple ingredients and a little prep time, you can enjoy a tasty meal without much work.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup

    Easy Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup Recipe
    Photo Credit: Scarlati Family Kitchen.

    This slow cooker minestrone soup is a filling vegetarian meal packed with pasta, beans, and zucchini. It's a simple and tasty dinner that everyone in the family will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Lemon Salmon on Veggies

    Baked Lemon Salmon on Veggies.
    Photo credit: Oh Sweet Culture Shock.

    This salmon dish is healthy and simple to make. With fresh lemon slices and herbs, it’s baked to perfection for a juicy and flaky meal that’s great for any night.

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    Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Roasted Vegetables

    A bowl of Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Roasted Vegetables.
    Photo Credit: Dancing Through the Rain.

    Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Roasted Vegetables is a great dinner option that comes together in under thirty minutes. Packed with mushrooms, leeks, kale, and other veggies, this dish is a satisfying meal made all in one pan.

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Beef and Broccoli

    Sheet Pan Beef and Broccoli.
    Photo Credit: In The Kitch.

    This sheet pan beef and broccoli with teriyaki sauce is a simple dinner option perfect for busy evenings. Sheet pan meals are a great way to enjoy a tasty meal with minimal effort.

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    Slow Cooker Camp Stew

    Slow Cooker Camp Stew.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Camp Stew is a classic southern dish that brings comfort to any meal. With tender chicken, tasty vegetables, and a touch of smokiness, this dish is sure to please everyone around the table.

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    Roasted Gnocchi with Veggies

    Roasted gnocchi with veggies.
    Photo credit: FODMAP Everyday.

    This recipe is perfect for gnocchi lovers. Roasting the gnocchi in the oven with olive oil gives it a crispy outside while keeping it soft and tender inside.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Lamb Chops & Veggies

    Baked lamb chops with veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet pan meal is a simple way to enjoy lamb while letting the oven do the work. The lamb chops cook in the flavorful juices from the vegetables, resulting in tender meat that's delicious.

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    Ranch Sheet Pan Chicken & Veggies

    Sheet pan with chicken and veggies.
    Photo credit: Budget Delicious.

    This easy sheet pan chicken dinner with vegetables is great for busy families looking to enjoy a healthy meal. Just toss everything together, bake it, and serve—it's really that simple!

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    Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

    Instant Pot Vegetable Soup.
    Photo Credit: Maple + Mango.

    This Instant Pot Vegetable Soup is packed with flavor and super simple to prepare. It's a light and healthy option that's perfect for a cozy meal.

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    Olive Garden Copycat Minestrone Soup

    Minestrone Soup (Copycat Olive Garden).
    Photo Credit: Belly Rules the Mind.

    This minestrone soup is just like the one from Olive Garden, but you can enjoy it at home. It's hearty, packed with vegetables, and super simple to prepare using either an Instant Pot or a big pot.

    Get the Recipe

    Slow Cooker American Goulash

    Slow Cooker Goulash.
    Photo Credit: Cincy Shopper.

    Slow Cooker American Goulash is a hearty dish packed with beef and vegetables. This simple recipe is perfect for dinner any night of the week.

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    Easy Wonton Soup

    Wonton soup.
    Photo credit: Inquiring Chef.

    This Wonton Soup is quick to prepare using frozen wontons and mostly pre-chopped vegetables. It's a simple dish that comes together in no time, perfect for a busy day.

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    Roasted Gnocchi with Mushrooms & Broccoli

    Roasted Gnocchi with Mushrooms & Broccoli
    Photo Credit: Happy Veggie Kitchen.

    This vegetarian sheet pan gnocchi is a must-have for summer dinners. With just a few ingredients, it’s a fresh and healthy meal that comes together in 30 minutes, leaving you with only one pan to wash.

    Get the recipe

    Cashew Carrot Ginger Soup

    Cashew Carrot Ginger Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Littlest Crumb,

    This instant pot soup is simple to prepare and packed with flavor. It features cashews, carrots, ginger, coconut milk, and a hint of Thai red curry paste, making it a delicious vegan and gluten-free option.

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    One Pan Falafel Bake

    Falafel bake on a baking dish.
    Photo Credit: Happy Veggie Kitchen.

    This easy one-pan dinner is both simple and delicious. With premade falafel, beans, tomatoes, kale, and a cheesy topping, this vegetarian casserole is a comforting dish you'll want to make often.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone

    Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone.
    Photo Credit: Valerie's Kitchen.

    This soup is packed with fresh veggies, ground beef, and pasta. It's a filling and satisfying meal all on its own!

    Get the Recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

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      17 Easy Pasta Dishes Ready in 15 Minutes or Less
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      10 Sweet and Simple Rhubarb Desserts That Are Perfect for Spring
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    • Anaheim stuffed peppers in a skillet.
      34 Quick and Easy Ground Beef Dinners That Hit the Spot

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN  and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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