A healthy vegetarian dinner that’s ready in under 45 minutes.

Skillet dinners are your stovetops answer to casseroles.

And its ready in less than 45 minutes!

Horizontal view of a large cast iron skillet filled with a butternut squash skillet dinner. Cilantro, quinoa, butternut squash and cotija cheese are visible in the pan. To the left is a yellow napkin with three forks on it. Above the forks are three small bowls. One small bowl of rice, a ramiken of roasted pumpkin seeds and a small platter of cilantro.

Sally Vargas

My prep is done in record time, and Im not skimping on taste!

Who doesnt like a meal with built-in downtime?

Now thats a plan I can live with!

A side view of easy vegetarian skillet dinner on a grey plate with a fork on the upper right. A glass of white wine is above the plate.

Sally Vargas

Peel it if necessary, then cube it.

Repeat with the bulbous end.

Whats the Best Quinoa?

A blue bowl with mexican-style black bean skillet dinner and a spoon resting in it.

Sally Vargas

It is therefore gluten-free, packed with protein, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.

There are three main kinds of quinoa: red, white, or black.

They can be used interchangeably in the recipe.

Red quinoa in a colander sitting over a metal bowl on a marble background.

Sally Vargas

This removes the outer coating of saponin.

While not harmful, this coating can impart a bitter taste.

Suggestions and Substitutions

There are plenty of ways to vary this recipe.

Diced onion and spices in a saute pan on a marble background.

Sally Vargas

Ive provided a few easy and simple swaps below.

Sprinkle it with 1 tablespoon of the oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.

Toss to coat the squash, massaging the oil into the cubes to coat them.

Caramalized chopped onions in a saute pan on a marble background.

Sally Vargas

Remove from oven and let cool.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of oil.

Add the garlic, oregano, chili powder, and cumin, and stir for 1 minute.

Black beans, tomatoes, butternut squash and spices mixed together in a saute pan for easy vegetarian skillet dinner.

Sally Vargas

Stir in the spinach and cook for another minute, or until the spinach wilts.

Transfer to a plate to cool.

(If you leave them in the hot pan, they may burn.)

Saute pan with mexican-style black bean skillet dinner in it and spinach on the top.

Sally Vargas

Fold the squash into the skillet.

Sprinkle with the toasted pumpkin seeds, cheese, and cilantro, and serve.

Silver saute pan on a marble background with raw pumpkin seeds inside.

Sally Vargas

Silver saute pan on a marble background with toasted pumpkin seeds inside.

Sally Vargas

Filling for easy vegetarian skillet dinner in a saute pan on a marble background.

Sally Vargas

Vegetarian Skillet Dinner in a saute pan with a small bowl of pumpkin seeds to the right.

Sally Vargas