25 non-salad recipes to help you eat your fruits & vegetables (2024)

Deb Lindsey for the Washington Post/Getty Images

Avocados are superfoods, meaning you can get a heaping helping of essential vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants from a single source. On that note, let’s keep things relatively simple with a quick and easy (but very satisfying)recipe for avocado toast three ways, courtesy of California Avocados. You can always class it up with a more complex version too, as there are countless recipes out there!

Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

There’s no replacing Buffalo chicken. We know that. But when you’re a vegetarian, trying to slim down, or just need to get some vegetables in your diet,this Buffalo cauliflower recipefrom the Food Network is quick and painless (unless you use super potent hot sauce, of course). Plus, they even show you how to make homemade blue cheese dressing!

Deb Lindsey For The Washington Post via Getty Images

If you’re staring at this pizza photo and wondering why you can’t see the cauliflower, it’s because it’s in the crust! In a little treat for our gluten-free friends, this pizza uses mashed cauliflower in place of dough. The “crust” is then baked before the toppings are added. As you can see, this one is covered in meat, but you add or substitute some extra veggies if you want a healthier or vegetarian pie.Detoxinista has the recipe here, plus a special trick to help ensure your crust comes out perfect.

Deb Lindsey For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Think coleslaw can only include carrots and cabbage? Prepare to have your mind blown withthis recipe from All Recipesthat calls for the addition of red bell peppers and two types of apples. It might seem odd at first, but we think you’ll love this dish, which is perfect for summer cookouts! (Just don’t leave it in the sun for too long… there’s still mayo in there, after all.)

SensorSpot/Getty Images

It might sound a bit far-out, but you can actually mix avocado and dark chocolate, roll it into a ball, and serve it as dessert. Don’t believe us? Check outthis simple no-bake recipe from Spoon Universityand try it for yourself!

Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/MCT via Getty Images

Fajita ingredients can vary based on the recipe and the chef, but most will include peppers (red, yellow, and green), onions, and sometimes tomatoes, in addition to all the savory spices. If preparing sizzling fajitas seems akin to standing in a sauna, you’ll lovethis slow-cooker recipe from Amuse Your Bouche. Feel free to add mushrooms (like in the photo), or steak, chicken, shrimp, etc. To cool things down further and give your meal a superfruit boost, throw in some avocado or guacamole too!

CreatiVegan.net/Getty Images

Instead of buying packaged ice pops made with a ton of sugar and who knows what else, try making your own at home.This recipe from All Recipessuggests using blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and bananas, as well as plain or vanilla yogurt.

Education Images/UIG via Getty Images

Sure, you could make banana bread, but why limit yourself to just one type of fruit? Check outthis recipe from Food.comand you’ll learn how to make fresh-baked bread with strawberries, blueberries, and/or peaches... and we’re sure you can add bananas too, if you insist. There are also instructions in there for prune bread and cranberry bread!

LauriPatterson/Getty Images

Frittatas, which are basically Italian omelets, are an easy way to add vegetables to your diet because you can throw in almost anything you want (including meat, for our carnivorous readers). As a bonus, you can also prepare frittatas in a slow cooker, which will help you avoid extra heat in the summer months. For instructions, trythis slow-cooker frittata with broccoli, ham, and Swiss recipefrom Kalyn’s Kitchen.

Adél Békefi/Getty Images

If eating fruit isn’t your thing, try drinking it instead. You can turn almost any fruit into a smoothie and mix and match to discover some new combinations to add to your arsenal of recipes. If you’re not a boss when it comes to using the blender,here are some instructions from All Recipesto get you started. This one uses bananas, strawberries, peaches, and orange-peach-mango juice, but feel free to substitute any of your favorite fruits.

MelindaSiklosi/Getty Images

If your goal is to get more greens down your gullet, take a tip from the healthy-eating pros and sneak it into a smoothie. As 100 Days of Real Food suggests, the best ratio for green smoothies is 2 cups leafy greens (kale, spinach, romaine, bok choy, etc.), 2 cups liquid base (water, coconut water, coconut milk, almond milk), and 3 cups fruit (banana, mango, and basically any other kind). They’ll get you started with their“Beginner’s Luck Green Smoothie” recipe right here.

Sally Anscombe/Getty Images

Did you know you can grill fruit on the barbecue? Not only is it doable, but it makes them taste even better. Simply skewer your favorite fruits - pineapples, peaches, watermelon, cherries, strawberries, grapefruit - and then toss them on the grill. And, asthis recipe from Epicurious suggests, you can also cover them in a spicy maple cumin glaze!

LauriPatterson/Getty Images

Obviously you can put fruits and vegetables into a variety of sandwiches and wraps, but where’s the fun in that? Instead, try a grilled pita wrap, which combines marinated chicken, romaine lettuce, fresh tomato slices, onion, and tzatziki sauce (with freshly chopped cucumber). You can probably figure out how to make one yourself, butthis recipe from The Food Networkwill help you prepare the homemade marinade and tzatziki sauce, and also give you tips on grilling the pita.

Elizabeth Livermore/Getty Images

This one’s great for picky kids (and picky adults), as it’s not mac and cheese mixed with summer squash pieces, but instead summer squash in a cheese sauce! The secret is turning the squash into a puree first, andSuper Healthy Kids has all the info and instructions you need.

Paula Sierra/Getty Images

There’s so much pasta, sauce, and cheese in lasagna, you’ll barely even notice if vegetables are added. And by “vegetables” we mean more than just spinach. In addition to Popeye’s favorite food,this vegetable lasagna recipe from Betty Crockeralso includes yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, and zucchini - and you can make it in your slow cooker! (Side note: Does anyone else think of “Seinfeld” anytime they hear the words “vegetable lasagna”?)

Marieclaudelapointe/Getty Images

If regular fruit salad seems boring to you, mix things up with a parfait. Gather all your favorite fruits together and layer them in between scoops of yogurt and granola. You’ve now added some sweetness, texture, and variety to your breakfast while still keeping things healthy - plus, you can make as much or as little as you want.This recipe from Williams Sonomasuggests drizzling in some honey too!

Gordon Chibroski/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

Okay, I know we said no salads, but we don’t consider salad and pasta salad to be all that similar (if you do, just be cool for a minute), even when you substitute the pasta for zucchini noodles or “zoodles.” While you could easily top these bad boys with your favorite tomato sauce, we decided to take it in a more summery direction and suggest zoodle pasta salad. And before you say no, we’d like to point out thatthis recipe from The Kitcheneeruses pancetta, which is basically Italian bacon.

istetiana/Getty Images

Quesadillas are so cheesy that it’s super easy to sneak some veggies in there. You can be creative and original, but for inspiration,this recipe from the Food Networkuses corn, scallions, and red peppers. We know you probably don’t need a recipe to make quesadillas, but if you do, it’s okay; we won’t judge. Just don’t forget the guac!

Adventure_Photo/Getty Images

It’s not quite rice, but it’s not quite pasta: it’s risotto! This Italian dish is a cinch to make, and it can be customized with whatever vegetables, meats, and seafood you like. The Wimpy Vegetarian hasa great slow-cooker-friendly recipe right herethat includes leeks and asparagus.

Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images

It doesn’t really matter what veggies you stuff into this meal, as the cupisthe vegetable, making this dish healthy, well-contained, and adorable-looking. For some guidance, be sure tocheck out this recipe from Vigothat uses yellow rice, onions, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pork or beef (optional).

Sbossert/Getty Images

Sushi isn’t all about fish and crab, some varieties just include fruits and vegetables. (For those of us allergic or averse to seafood, this is a lifesaver at sushi restaurants!) Stuff your sushi rolls with whatever you like, buthere’s a recipe from Epicurioususing cucumbers, carrots, and avocados to get you started.

LauriPatterson/Getty Images

You’re probably familiar with shrimp or chicken tempura, but you can also add veggies to the mix for more crispy goodness.This recipe from Giada De Laurentiis and the Food Networkincludes both green beans and asparagus – but zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli, and cauliflower all work too. Sure, it’s essentially deep-fried vegetables, but we never said these recipes had to be totally healthy!

Debbie Noda/Modesto Bee/MCT via Getty Images

DebbiSmirnoff/Getty Images

We didn’t want to include more than a dessert or two here, but how could we leave out pie? It may not be particularly healthy, but it’s one of the best ways to get fruit into almost anyone’s diet. To make the most of this opportunity, we opted fora mixed berry pie recipe from Taste of Homethat uses four different types of berries: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Follow the link to find out how to make it at home!

Gmatsuno/Getty Images

Zucchini bread is the perfect breakfast, snack, or side dish for any meal. If you’ve never tried it before, trust us, you’ll barely even notice the zucchini. (It worked when our moms made it back when we were picky little children.) Since warm weather is upon us, there’s no better time to utilize this summer vegetable!Get the recipe here, courtesy of Epicurious.