Family-Style Meals — Meatless Monday

macaroni and cheese

Barefoot Contessa's Mac and Cheese

Photo by: Tara Donne ©Food Network

Tara Donne, Food Network

On busy weeknights, there’s just no time to fuss with intricate, individually plated meals or time-sensitive dishes. Instead, you want to reach for recipes that encourage simple, family-style eating, in which there’s a big-batch dish in the middle of the table and your family can help themselves. Check out our three rustic, wonderfully informal dinners below and let us know what you’re making for Meatless Monday tonight.

Ina’s classic, deliciously gooey Mac and Cheese (pictured above) is a five-star fan favorite with almost 700 user reviews. She prefers a combination of Gruyere and extra-sharp cheddar cheeses to form the basis of her family-friendly recipe — the rich, nutty Gruyere balances the bite of the cheddar. Before baking, she arranges sliced fresh tomatoes atop her pasta-cheese mixture and dusts it with white breadcrumbs to add a barely there crunchy texture.

Giada’s Vegetable Casserole is another family-favorite recipe that can feed a crowd. She tops a layer of hearty potatoes, carrots, yams and peppers with sweet onions, chopped zucchini and tomatoes, and bakes this healthful dish until the veggies are tender and the Parmesan cheese topping golden brown. A final sprinkle of fresh basil finishes the dish before serving.

Loaded with spiral-shaped noodles, fresh vegetables and a mix of creamy ricotta, mozzarella and pecorino cheeses, Food Network Magazine’s Baked Cavatappi With Artichokes and Fennel is one pasta dish that parents and kids will both enjoy. Once you take this casserole out of the oven, let it rest for just 15 minutes, so that the cheeses have a chance to harden a bit.

Meatless Monday , an international movement, encourages people everywhere to cut meat one day a week for personal and planetary health. Browse more Meatless Monday recipes.

Next Up

Skillet Lasagna — Meatless Monday

Prepare Food Network Magazine's lasagna on the stove and serve with Giada's Mixed Green Salad With Sherry Vinaigrette and Rachael's Garlic Bread.

Roasted Zucchini Flatbread — Meatless Monday

Learn how to make this Roasted Zucchini Flatbread for Meatless Monday.

Scrambled Egg Subs — Meatless Monday

Switch up your usual breakfast-for-dinner menu with Food Network Magazine's quick-fix sandwich.

Ina’s Zucchini Gratin — Meatless Monday

Ina uses zucchini as a seasonal vegetable to replace potato in her gratin. When baked, this dish gets a beautiful golden crust from breadcrumbs and Gruyère cheese.

Skillet Lasagna with Butternut Squash — Meatless Monday

This easy-to-make lasagna from Food Network Magazine comes together in only 35 minutes, all thanks to a few welcome shortcuts.

Fettuccini Alfredo With Zucchini Ribbons — Meatless Monday

Ellie uses low-fat milk to lighten up this decadent dish, but she adds garlic and creamy parmesan cheese to maintain its full flavors and traditional textures.

Whole-Wheat Cherry Tomato Zucchini Pan Pizza — Meatless Monday

Fresh summer produce stars in this cheesy, meatless pan pizza.

Slow-Cooker Lasagna with Spinach and Mushrooms — Meatless Monday

Yes, it's possible to make lasagna on a hectic weeknight. All you need is a trusty slow cooker to help you.

These Handmade Frozen Dumplings Are My Family’s Favorite Meal on the Fly

This impossibly perfect dinner comes together in a matter of minutes.