Are you feeling a bit more comfortable with the idea of veggies in your meals and ready to be a bit more daring? Get ready to open your palate to even more veggie-loaded food fun! This list includes recipes with some vegetables you may have less exposure to or might include veggies in a slightly more obvious way. No need to worry about boring salads though! Step 2 gives you MORE options and MORE flavors to choose from from breakfast through dessert. Grab your fork and spoon and get tasting!

Woman holding a mug with produce and muffins on the counter in front of her. The produce on the counter includes broccoli, bananas, a container of radishes, celery, cabbage and cauliflower.

What to learn more about The Veggie-Loaded Roadmap? Just enter your email here and I’ll send you this FREE resource to help you go from veggie-skeptic to veggie-lover in 3 easy steps!

How do I know if I should start at Step 2 in the Veggie-Loaded Roadmap

You might be at Step 2 if…..

  • you are ok with the idea of veggies in your food, but they aren’t yet your “go-to”.
  • you don’t mind seeing vegetables on your plate.
  • you are looking for recipes that make eating veggies more fun—while also expanding the variety and amount of vegetables throughout the day.

Feel like Step 2 isn’t right for you? Check out Step 1 recipes to see if that is a better fit for you!

Tips for transitioning through Step 2

  • Allow yourself to shift between step 1 and step 2 recipes seamlessly (and often!). This is about adding VARIETY rather than limiting yourself to recipes in certain steps.
  • No one step is better than another! You don’t reach some pinnacle of veggie-loaded perfection! Our palates and plates are all unique and change throughout the seasons and years.
  • You do NOT have to like all foods…or all foods in all the ways! Sometimes we like tomato soup but raw tomatoes aren’t our jam. So what?! Rather than gulping something down by force, use this process as a way to discover what you DO like and HOW you like to eat those foods.
  • Don’t force others onto your veggie-loaded journey. Allow your family to try foods in their own way in their own time. It’s easy to want to get our kids to eat more veggies and stress out when they turn their noses up at a food (or our cooking!). Remember—kids have different palates and are still getting used to new tastes and textures. Serve what you make (see next tip!) and let go of any expectations about it being eaten.
  • Sometimes it helps to serve the veggie-loaded foods on the same plate—but sometimes using separate plates can be a game-changer! Or, even consider serving your meal family style (with the serving bowls in the middle of the table) so that everyone can take what they want and skip what they don’t. It being on the table with them still exposes our loved ones to veggie-loaded foods (more important in the journey than you may think!) and giving our family choices EMPOWERS them to try new foods in the future. No meal battles required!

What if different people in my family are at different Veggie-Loaded Steps?

That is the beauty of The Veggie-Loaded Roadmap is that you can easily use recipes from different steps to make meals that the whole family will love. These Step 2 recipes will be delicious and enjoyed by people at Step 1, 2, and 3!

I often will make a Step 2 recipe as part of meal for my 10-year-old daughter and add a Step 3 to the meal for me and my husband. This not only allows my daughter to eat veggie-loaded food that she enjoys and is where she is at on her own veggie-loaded journey, but exposes her to Step 3 veggie recipes for when she is ready.

Table of Contents

  1. Breakfast
  2. Lunch
  3. Dinner
  4. Sides
  5. Desserts
Woman holding a white kitchen towel pulling a muffin tin filled with brown muffins out of the oven.

Breakfast

Peanut Butter Banana Protein Smoothie (with spinach!)

This peanut butter banana protein smoothie is creamy, balanced, and naturally sweet. With just five ingredients (including a scoop of protein powder and a cup of spinach in each serving!), it’s an easy, solid breakfast that comes together in minutes.
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Healthy Morning Glory Muffins

Packed with warm spices, carrots, apples, oats, and flax, these Morning Glory Muffins are hearty enough to actually keep you full while still tasting like a really good bakery muffin. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup or honey and made with less added sugar than many traditional morning glory muffin recipes, they’re perfect for freezer stashing and busy mornings.
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Oatmeal Green Smoothie Muffins

Some call these banana spinach muffins (since those are the real stars of the show!), but to me and the 100+ readers who have given this recipe a 5-star rating, they will forever be Green Smoothie Muffins. Super easy to make, naturally sweetened, oat based, and packed with all kinds of feel-good ingredients (hello, 2 cups of spinach!). We love them as part of breakfast, as a lunch box filling or made as part of meal prep for a veggie-loaded snack.
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Creamy Blueberry Cauliflower Smoothie

Delicious and easy, this Creamy Blueberry Cauliflower Smoothie is going to be a new favorite. Made with just 7 ingredients, this vegan and dairy-free smoothie is the perfect way to get vegetables in at breakfast.
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Crustless Spinach Sweet Potato Quiche

This Crustless Spinach Sweet Potato Quiche recipe is the perfect, easy vegetarian breakfast. With the combination of potatoes, spinach, onion and goat cheese, it is a delicious way to eat more veggies. Naturally gluten free and great for meal prep.
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Healthy Cranberry Orange Carrot Muffins

These Healthy Cranberry Orange Muffins are bursting with fresh cranberry + orange flavor with a little grated carrot worked in for extra moisture and natural sweetness. Made with whole wheat flour, oats, Greek yogurt, and maple syrup or honey, they’re hearty, tender, and basically everything I want in a holiday-season muffin.
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Pink Beet Pancakes

An easy and delicious recipe for feel-good Pink Beet Pancakes. These fun pink pancakes are quickly mixed in your blender, are super kid-friendly, full of nutrient-dense beets, naturally sweetened and can easily be made gluten free.
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Veggie-Loaded Breakfast Cookies

This Veggie-Loaded Breakfast Cookie Recipe is made with grated carrots, zucchini, oats and studded with sweet blueberries. These cookies are easy, naturally sweetened, and perfect for dunking in coffee or for a breakfast on-the-go!
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Zucchini Carrot Instant Pot Oatmeal

Instant Pot oatmeal is the perfect easy breakfast! This pressure cooker oatmeal is made with hearty steel cut oats and has the added boost of zucchini and carrots. Filling, sweet, warm flavors and veggies— the perfect healthy breakfast recipe.
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Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding served in a nice jar

Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding

This Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding is the ultimate feel-good fall treat. It’s cozy, nourishing, and comes together in just a few minutes—no cooking needed! Just mix, pop it in the fridge, and let it set into creamy, pumpkin-spiced perfection. Perfect for an easy dessert or snack that feels a little extra (without any actual effort).
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Filling 5-Minute Berry Beet Smoothie

Filling 5-Minute Berry Beet Smoothie

This berry beet smoothie is thick, creamy, and the perfect healthy breakfast to kick off a busy day. Made perfectly sweet thanks to ripe banana, frozen raspberries + frozen strawberries, this beet smoothie recipe uses a precooked beet for the ultimate of ease. Full of Greek yogurt, milk, peanut butter + chia seeds, this smoothie is truly filling.
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Serving homemade pumpkin baked oatmeal.

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

Jump into fall with this Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal. Warm spices, simple ingredients, and a cozy flavor that makes getting out of bed on those crisp fall mornings totally worth it. This easy, one-bowl breakfast bakes up in 30ish minutes and keeps like a dream in the fridge for the week. Easy to love + even easier to make.
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Lunch

Veggie-Loaded Pizza Muffins looking extra yummy.

Veggie-Loaded Pizza Muffins

These pizza muffins are one of my favorite veggie-loaded wins—easy to make, quick to reheat, and perfect for lunch boxes or busy days. Made with white whole wheat flour and packed with spinach, carrots, and zucchini, they bring a little extra goodness to every bite.
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Healthy Tuna Salad (with added veggies)

This Healthy Tuna Salad is delicious, easy and offers up the perfect amount of crunch from added grated carrots and finely chopped celery! Lighted up by using half mayo and half Greek yogurt, this simple tuna salad is made flavorful from salt, onion power, lemon juice and Dijon mustard. Delicious over greens, on a sandwich or simply on its own. The perfect no-cook meal!
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One-Pot Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Soup

This Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Soup is creamy, and full of delicious, flavorful veggies! This recipe comes together in just one pot and is a warm, comforting vegetarian and gluten free dinner recipe.
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15-Minute Spinach Mac and Cheese served in two bowls

15-Minute Spinach Mac and Cheese

This Spinach Mac and Cheese is a great way to get veggies into a classic family favorite! Easy to make with frozen or fresh spinach, perfectly cheesy, and done in about 15 minutes!
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Hearty Unstuffed Pepper Soup (w/ quinoa!)

This Unstuffed Pepper Soup is the perfect easy dinner to curl up with at the end of the day. Deliciously hearty thanks to ground turkey + quinoa and full of vegetables like bell peppers, flavorful fire roasted tomatoes, onions and frozen riced cauliflower! Done in under 30 minutes in one pot, this is going to be you cozy feel-good soup for those chilly nights.
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25-Minute Sweet Potato Black Bean Quesadillas

This Black Bean Sweet Potato Quesadilla recipe is easy to make, loaded with flavor, and is full of healthy ingredients. Vegetarian and easily gluten free, this is a simple veggie meal that is always a crowd pleaser!
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A bowl of mushroom lentil pasta on a table and topped with cheese and fresh basil, with more pasta in another bowl right next to it.

Hearty Lentil Pasta Sauce with Mushrooms

This hearty lentil pasta sauce combines lentils, finely chopped mushrooms and your favorite pasta sauce into an easy vegetarian dinner that's packed with flavor, fiber, and familiar comfort. Done in 30 minutes, it is freezer-friendly, budget-friendly, perfect for busy weeknights, and even wins over many mushroom-iffy eaters.
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Lentil Veggie Quesadillas

These veggie quesadillas are loaded with spinach, lentils, carrot and lots of cheese! Not only are they quick, they are loaded with flavor, veggies and protein, and are also super adaptable and the perfect healthy meal for lunch or dinner!
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Dinner

Creamy Baked Spinach Artichoke Pasta (with cottage cheese)

So easy and delicious, this spinach artichoke pasta bake is a lick-your-plate-clean kind of dinner packs in spinach, canned artichoke hearts, and your favorite pasta. Cottage cheese adds a little boost of extra power while keeping the dish completely meatless, and the whole thing bakes up into a creamy, cozy dinner in about 35 minutes (start to finish).
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Cheddar Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole

This broccoli chicken rice casserole is one of those flavorful, feel-good dinners that just fits right into a busy weeknight. Chicken, broccoli florets, and cooked rice bake together to bubbly perfection with a simple homemade sauce made from sautéed onions, pantry spices, chicken broth, and a little Dijon and lemon for extra flavor, then finished with melty cheddar on top. It’s hearty, super satisfying, and one of those meals that’s just as good reheated the next day.
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Veggie-Loaded Mini Meatloaves

Flavorful, juicy and full of veggies, these mini meatloaves are a great twist on a classic family dinner recipe. Easy to make, perfectly portioned out, and cooking up faster than traditional meatloaf recipes. Gluten free.
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Roasted Eggplant Pasta Bake with Spinach

This baked pasta with quick-roasted eggplant and spinach is such an easy, family-friendly vegetarian dinner that's done baking in just 35 minutes. The eggplant tucks in with the pasta, red pasta sauce (I love to use my homemade sauce, but your favorite jarred one will work too!) and melty cheese….bringing everything together into a veggie-loaded, comfort-food dinner situation.
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Ground Turkey Tater Tot Casserole (with veggies)

This feel-good twist on Tater Tot Casserole is full of ground turkey, delicious homemade sauce, and easy frozen veggies! This recipe comes together easily and is a hearty, comforting dinner recipe.
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Veggie-Loaded Turkey Tacos ready and served

Veggie-Loaded Ground Turkey Tacos

These ground turkey tacos are one of my tried-and-true, go-to weeknight dinners. Easy to make, full of classic taco flavors, and done in about 30 minutes. The saucy turkey mixture has three veggies (grated carrot, zucchini, and spinach) tucked right in. Such an doable, family-approved twist on a classic that is an awesome way to get a few more veggies into taco night.
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Veggie-Loaded Quinoa Black Bean Casserole

Packed with vegetables, flavor and plant based protein, this vegetarian quinoa black bean casserole is the perfect easy healthy dinner recipe. Gluten free and easily vegan, this healthy casserole will become a new family staple.
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Veggie-Loaded Turkey Lasagna

This veggie-loaded turkey lasagna is delicious, lighter on the cheese, and loaded with all kinds of vegetables. The perfect healthy dinner to feed your family!
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Sides

Holding a bowl of the delicious Pesto Veggie Pasta Salad

Pesto Pasta Salad (with Tomatoes and Spinach)

This easy pesto pasta salad is packed with juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, spinach, basil, and pesto for a fresh, flavorful summer side that comes together in just 15 minutes. Perfect for meal prep, potlucks, picnics, or an easy lunch with shredded chicken added on top.
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Easy Vegetarian Fried Rice

This recipe for easy vegetarian fried rice is loaded with healthy veggies, tons of flavor, and is on the table in about 20 minutes! This is the perfect healthy, easy, veggie-loaded side to any dinner!
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Creamy One Pot Delicata Squash Orzo

This Delicata Squash Orzo is creamy, flavorful, vegetarian, and made in one pot. It's made in a risotto style, but comes together so much faster.
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Easy Homemade Applesauce (with veggies!)

Making your own delicious homemade applesauce is so easy! With just a few ingredients, this recipe is kid-friendly and packed with added veggies. Easy, wholesome and so tasty . They whole family is going to love this healthy recipe!
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Desserts

Wholesome Carrot Cake Bread

This Carrot Cake Bread is easy to make, perfectly moist, and loaded with those warm classic carrot cake flavors. Made with whole grains, lower in sugar, naturally sweetened, and made extra special with optional addition of raisins and walnuts. Its the perfect feel-good sweet treat.
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No-Cook Chocolate Avocado Mousse (with coconut milk)

This chocolate avocado mousse is rich, silky, and loaded with feel-good ingredients. No dairy, no cooking…just ripe avocado, coconut cream, cocoa powder, and maple syrup blended into the dreamiest, creamiest dessert. Kinda chocolate pudding energy with mousse-level vibes, and it comes together in minutes.
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Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Balls

This Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Ball recipe is a healthier twist on a classic holiday treat. Made with just a few simple and easy-to-find ingredients, they taste so much like a “buckeye cookie."
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Refreshing Cucumber Watermelon Popsicles

These Cucumber Watermelon are made with just 3 good-for-you ingredients and are extra refreshing with the addition of cucumber! Prepared in minutes with no added sugar, these healthy popsicles are vegan, Paleo, and the perfect cold treat for kids and adults.
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Carrot Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

Carrot Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars are the ultimate veggie-loaded snack or lunch box goodie. Mixed all in one bowl and made from oats, flax, a cup of grated carrots, and naturally sweetened with applesauce and maple syrup. Made extra delicious with some chocolate chips, these hearty oatmeal bars will be a new favorite snack!
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Blueberry Sweet Potato Bread

Made from whole grains and naturally sweetened, this Healthy Blueberry Sweet Potato Bread is a delicious breakfast, snack or treat. Mixed together in one bowl and into the oven it goes, this recipe will be a new family favorite!
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No-Bake Peanut Butter Carrot Balls in a white bowl

No-Bake Peanut Butter Carrot Balls

These No-Bake Peanut Butter Carrot Balls are ridiculously easy, totally delicious, and loaded up with feel-good stuff. Rolled oats, chia seeds, creamy peanut butter, chocolate chips, a little honey, and finely grated carrots all come together in one tasty little bite. Quick to mix up, fun to eat, and always a hit with the whole fam.
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Oat Flour Beet Brownies (egg-free)

These Beet Brownies are chocolatey, easy to make, delicious, and happen to be egg-free and easily gluten free since they are made with oat flour! While they are amazing at satisfying your sweet tooth, they have less added sugar than most traditional brownies recipes.
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These Gluten Free Brownies (with zucchini) are so fudgy, chocolatey and delicious that no one will ever suspect that they’re healthy! Vegan and flourless with Paleo option!

Fudgy Zucchini Brownies (gluten free + vegan)

These Zucchini Brownies are so fudgy, chocolatey and delicious that no one will ever suspect that they’re loaded with feel-good ingredients! Vegan and flourless with a Paleo option!
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