Even on the most hectic of weeknights, you shouldn’t have to settle for basic, boring meals simply because they’re easy to make. Believe it or not, in just 40 minutes — the time it takes to fix everyday chicken, meatloaf or burgers — you can whip up a three-course meal without breaking a sweat. Though multi-course meals can be heavy and rich, this one is light and seasonal, featuring a veggie-packed pasta dish, simple side salad and fresh, fruity dessert. Check out Food Network’s meatless menu below and surprise your family with this satisfying meal tonight.

Ready to enjoy in just 25 minutes, Food Network Magazine’s Fettuccine With Summer Vegetables and Goat Cheese is a creamy but light pasta that’s filled with good-for-you ingredients, like tomatoes, squash and wax beans. The beauty of this dish is that it requires hardly any cooking. Though you need to boil a pot of water, there’s no additional pan needed. The noodles and beans are cooked in the same water and the tomatoes and squash are left raw until they’re topped with the hot ingredients. The heat of the pasta warms the veggies, slowly melts the cheese and creates a silky-smooth sauce that perfectly coats each noodle. For added decadence, stir in nutty Parmesan and finish each bowl with extra dots of goat cheese.

For a fuss-free side dish, try Rachael’s Romaine Salad With Blue Cheese Vinaigrette that can be made in only five minutes. Far healthier than preservative-laden store-bought salad dressings, Rachael’s flavor-packed vinaigrette can be made with just a handful of ingredients. She mixes fresh garlic, crumbly blue cheese and a pinch of dried oregano with extra-virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar to create a simple dressing that completes her five-star recipe.

If you think there’s no time for dessert on a weeknight, think again. Sunny Anderson’s 10-minute Quick and Creamy Fruit Salad (pictured right) from Food Network Magazine is a satisfying bowl that will curb your after-dinner sweet tooth. To prepare the ultimate fruity dessert, she combines chunks of tart green apples, juicy golden pineapple, cool honeydew and chewy dried cherries with dollops of tangy yogurt and cream of coconut. Flip through this photo gallery to find more of our favorite crave-worthy desserts that can be made in minutes.

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

Related Links:

Grilled Vegetarian Dishes

Our Favorite Fruit Salad Recipes

Our Favorite Frittata Recipes