Cooking for Earth Day doesn’t need to be complicated to make a difference. These 29 recipes focus on ingredients that are easy on the planet and simple to prepare. Whether it’s using seasonal produce, pantry staples, or cutting back on waste, each recipe is built with purpose. This list is all about real food that fits the day—and your everyday life.
Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup
Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup is built on beans, paprika, and pantry staples that cook down into a deeply flavorful meal. It’s an easy way to eat sustainably, using shelf-stable ingredients that reduce the need for frequent shopping. The recipe makes a large batch, perfect for stretching into multiple meals. It’s simple, comforting, and exactly the kind of dish that makes Earth Day cooking practical.
Get the Recipe: Pasulj Serbian White Bean Soup
Cucumber Crispy Rice Salad
Cucumber Crispy Rice Salad transforms day-old rice and fresh cucumbers into a crunchy, refreshing dish. It’s a clever way to cut food waste while still putting something vibrant on the plate. The crisp texture and bold dressing make it feel special with almost no extra work. This salad proves leftovers can be anything but boring.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Crispy Rice Salad
Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé
Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé uses carrots and basic ingredients to create something light, fluffy, and unexpected. It’s a smart way to use produce that might be past its prime. This dish works for brunch, dinner, or even dessert, all while staying plant-forward. It's Earth Day-friendly without trying too hard.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole is built around a vegetable that often grows in excess, making it a great choice for low-waste cooking. The cheese adds comfort, while garlic and herbs keep it savory. It’s simple to prep and makes use of what’s in season. A smart option when you need a hearty side without a long list of ingredients.
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Creamy, Vegan Jerusalem Artichoke Soup With Apples
Creamy, Vegan Jerusalem Artichoke Soup With Apples balances earthy root veggies with a touch of natural sweetness. It’s plant-based, seasonal, and built entirely from whole ingredients. The texture is smooth without relying on dairy. This soup feels thoughtful and fits right into the Earth Day mindset.
Get the Recipe: Creamy, Vegan Jerusalem Artichoke Soup With Apples
Slow Cooker Mushroom Broth
Slow Cooker Mushroom Broth uses stems, scraps, and dried mushrooms to make something rich and reusable. It’s a great way to turn food waste into something functional. Use it to build other meals throughout the week. It’s one of those quiet recipes that makes your whole kitchen work smarter.
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Vegetarian Ukrainian Borscht
Vegetarian Ukrainian Borscht is made from cabbage, beets, and other roots that store well and cook into something bold. It’s meat-free, low-waste, and easy to stretch across meals. The flavor deepens as it sits, making it perfect for leftovers. This soup is both practical and rooted in tradition.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Ukrainian Borscht
Colombian Fruit Salad
Colombian Fruit Salad leans into fresh, raw ingredients to make a colorful dish that needs zero cooking. It’s packed with seasonal fruit and finished with a tart berry dressing. The simplicity is part of the charm—and the sustainability. Skip the packaged sweets and go straight to this instead.
Get the Recipe: Colombian Fruit Salad
Tomato and White Bean Soup with Harissa
Tomato and White Bean Soup with Harissa uses shelf-stable ingredients and turns them into something warm and filling. It’s rich in plant protein and doesn’t require any meat or dairy. The harissa adds depth without complicating the prep. This one works just as well for a casual dinner as it does for a make-ahead lunch.
Get the Recipe: Tomato and White Bean Soup with Harissa
Fennel And Mango Slaw
Fennel And Mango Slaw combines fresh crunch and light sweetness in a raw side dish that takes minutes to throw together. It uses no heat, no extras, and very little time. This recipe shows that Earth Day cooking doesn’t need to be fussy. Fresh produce does the heavy lifting.
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Ukrainian Cucumber Salad
Ukrainian Cucumber Salad makes a case for keeping things clean and simple. With just herbs, cucumbers, and light dressing, it’s refreshingly easy to assemble. There’s no need for bottled dressing or long ingredient lists. It’s a smart pick when you want something quick and low-impact.
Get the Recipe: Ukrainian Cucumber Salad
Butternut Squash Soup with Apple and Coconut Milk
Butternut Squash Soup with Apple and Coconut Milk is a smooth, naturally sweet soup that’s easy to make plant-based. It uses common produce and pantry ingredients to make something cozy. Freeze the leftovers for later or enjoy it fresh. Either way, it fits right into an Earth Day approach.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup with Apple and Coconut Milk
Quinoa Cucumber Salad
Quinoa Cucumber Salad balances protein-rich grains with crisp veggies for a quick, no-cook meal. It’s easy to meal prep, light on packaging, and totally meat-free. The textures stay firm even after chilling. This is the kind of lunch that makes eating sustainably feel easy.
Get the Recipe: Quinoa Cucumber Salad
Berry Salad With Red Onions, Arugula, Nuts, And Pomegranate Arils
Berry Salad With Red Onions, Arugula, Nuts, And Pomegranate Arils pulls together fruits and greens in a dish that feels both festive and fresh. It’s raw, colorful, and takes full advantage of seasonal produce. There's no cooking required, and the textures speak for themselves. It’s proof that Earth Day meals can still be bold.
Get the Recipe: Berry Salad With Red Onions, Arugula, Nuts, And Pomegranate Arils
Winter Dilly Carrot and Zucchini Curry
Winter Dilly Carrot and Zucchini Curry uses what’s already in the fridge and turns it into something fragrant and filling. Coconut milk adds creaminess without dairy, and herbs bring a pop of flavor. It’s a one-pan dish that handles leftovers well. This curry makes Earth Day cooking feel more resourceful than rigid.
Get the Recipe: Winter Dilly Carrot and Zucchini Curry
Little Gem Salad with Herbs, Maple, Lime and Sesame
Little Gem Salad with Herbs, Maple, Lime and Sesame is crisp, light, and built from just a few ingredients. It’s an easy way to use up greens and skip bottled dressing. The maple-lime combo keeps it from feeling flat. Serve it when you want something that’s low-waste and high-impact.
Get the Recipe: Little Gem Salad with Herbs, Maple, Lime and Sesame
Spinach Lasagna Rolls
Spinach Lasagna Rolls pack pasta, spinach, and cheese into easy-to-serve bundles that skip the meat. They’re hearty enough for dinner but simple enough to prep ahead. You can batch these and freeze them too. This is how you do comfort food without straying from the Earth Day theme.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Lasagna Rolls
Oven Roasted Root Vegetables
Oven Roasted Root Vegetables are proof that a tray of chopped produce can become something special. Use whatever’s on hand—parsnips, carrots, sweet potatoes—and roast until golden. It’s flexible, unfussy, and keeps things plant-forward. These are the kind of basics Earth Day is built on.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Root Vegetables
Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings
Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings is rich, smooth, and balanced with soft dumplings that soak up flavor. It’s fully meat-free and uses easy-to-find produce and pantry staples. Great for a chilly evening and even better as leftovers. This is the kind of dish you remember long after Earth Day ends.
Get the Recipe: Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings
Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts
Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts roast up with crispy edges and a tangy finish that needs no dressing. The recipe is simple, fast, and makes the most of a single vegetable. It’s perfect for using up extras or turning skeptics into believers. Earth Day or not, these belong on the table.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts
Citrus Asparagus Couscous
Citrus Asparagus Couscous is bright, herby, and packed with seasonal asparagus. It cooks fast and works as a side or light main. The couscous keeps things hearty without being heavy. Serve it warm or chilled—it fits the Earth Day theme either way.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Asparagus Couscous
Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash
Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash cooks down to soft, spoonable goodness with minimal effort. It’s all about letting the vegetables shine on their own. With just a few ingredients, it’s low on prep and high on payoff. This is what Earth Day cooking looks like on autopilot.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash
Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf
Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf is nutty, hearty, and easy to prep ahead. The squash brings sweetness while the rice makes it filling. You can serve it hot or cold, and it always holds up. A strong side that keeps the focus where it should be—on plants.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf
Greek Quinoa Salad
Greek Quinoa Salad mixes fresh veggies, briny cheese, and protein-rich quinoa into one big bowl of balance. It’s great for meal prep and doesn’t rely on any packaged extras. The flavors hold up in the fridge, which cuts down on food waste. This is a make-ahead win that keeps things meatless and practical.
Get the Recipe: Greek Quinoa Salad
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Mexican Street Corn Salad combines corn, lime, herbs, and a few pantry staples for a veggie dish that stands out. It works just as well with frozen corn, which cuts down on waste. Everything comes together fast and with minimal fuss. This one’s proof that Earth Day food can still have flair.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Salad
Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
Parmesan Roasted Green Beans are quick to make and a smart way to use frozen veggies without them feeling like a shortcut. They roast into crisp bites with just the right touch of cheese. No waste, no frills—just a reliable, crowd-friendly side. A good reminder that sustainability starts with simplicity.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
25 Minute Black Bean Burger
25 Minute Black Bean Burger turns basic pantry items into a meat-free main that’s hearty and easy to prep. The black beans bring protein and texture without needing anything fancy. Cook it in the oven or skillet—it holds together well either way. This is the kind of burger that earns its spot year-round, Earth Day or not.
Get the Recipe: 25 Minute Black Bean Burger
Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots
Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots let a humble vegetable take center stage. With just a few ingredients, the dish comes together quickly and disappears even faster. It’s a simple way to dress up what’s already in your fridge. Recipes like this make skipping processed sides feel like a no-brainer.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots
Ratatouille with an Italian Flair
Ratatouille with an Italian Flair turns squash, zucchini, and tomato into something colorful and complete. It’s one-pan, plant-based, and makes smart use of late-season produce. You can prep it ahead and serve warm or at room temp. It’s a meal that makes Earth Day cooking feel like less of a task.
Get the Recipe: Ratatouille with an Italian Flair
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