When I want to get stuffed, I’m not talking about eating so much I feel like bursting. Rather, I’m craving morsels of that are stuffed within edible wrappers, bundles of sweet and savory surprises that unfurl themself on the palate. Understated or elaborate, celebratory or simply making ends meet, stuffed foods manage to transform everyday ingredients into something extraordinary. Merely taking one component and putting it inside of another makes it far more special than the equivalent laying side by side.

Those thin leaves of limp cabbage aren’t swampy greens the moment you discover they contain multitudes within. Suddenly, you have stuffed cabbage, packed with flavor, warmth, and comfort. Everything from tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, zucchini, and more become edible vessels for culinary creativity. Whether it’s a quick fix snack or a holiday entree, stuffed foods bring an element of joy, like delivering tiny gifts at every meal.

The category of “stuffed foods” is so vast and diverse, it’s hard to define the group as a classification altogether. Paring it down to just stuffed vegetables and fruits, the following recipes are a few of my favorite examples, created and collected over the past couple years. Clearly, I need to get stuffed much more often, too.
Best Recipes for Stuffed Vegetables and Fruits
Get stuffed! Fill your vegetables and fruits to transform them into edible vessels, bursting with fresh flavors. These are the best plant-based recipes to inspired bold new stuffed creations.
Taco Jalapeño Poppers
Taco jalapeño poppers are a party waiting to happen. This easy plant-based recipe has bold flavor and fun in every bite!
Eggless Omelette Eight Ball Zucchini
Round summer squash stuffed with an eggless custard that falls somewhere between a soft scramble and a tender omelette, bursting with fresh vegetables and simple, comforting savory flavors.
Shishito Pepper Poppers
The gentle sweetness of those orange sweet potatoes both accentuates and mellows the heat of shishito peppers, effortlessly adding another dimension of flavor to this effortless app.
Stuffed Zucchini Bites
Humble Zucchini rounds are filled with a hearty mixture of nuts and beans, plus aromatic herbs and spices. They could just as happily make themselves at home on a dinner plate, as a side or even an entree, thanks to their protein-rich stuffing. Best of all, they’re delicious both warm and cold, and can be prepared in advance.
Stuffed Golden Beets
Naturally rich and full-bodied, it doesn’t take much to dress up a gold beet. Salty, cheesy tofu feta draws attention to the beets’ striking sweetness, which is further accentuated by a spritely twist of citrus.
Lemongrass Basil Stuffed Mushrooms
These baby bellas are filled with everyone’s favorite culinary chameleon: Cauliflower! Simmered until meltingly tender, a quick mashing makes them indistinguishable from less healthy fare. Redolent of vibrant lemongrass and basil, it’s hard to resist eating straight out of the pan by the forkful.
Nut Cheese-Stuffed Shiitake Mushrooms
Juicy, meaty shiitake mushrooms are the umami base for rich herbed nut cheese with a luscious creamy texture that seems to defy its dairy-free components. Vegan yogurt adds a slightly tangy, funky note, like earthy yet mild goat cheese, perfectly paired with the rich umami mushrooms underneath.
Stuffed Cabbage
This vegan stuffed cabbage with shiitake mushrooms offers a savory, plant-based twist on a classic comfort food. Packed with earthy mushrooms, fragrant herbs, and a tangy tomato sauce, this dish is hearty, flavorful, and perfect for a cozy meal that will satisfy everyone at the table.
Sweet Heat Peach-Mango Stuffed Peppers
Sweet and spicy peach-mango salsa makes this satisfying entree a snap! You can't go wrong with beans, rice, and some bold Tex-Mex seasonings.
Karniyarik (Turkish Stuffed Eggplants)
Plant-based karniyarik is more than just classic imam bayildi. This recipe uses shiitake mushroom stems to make a truly meaty filling! Baked instead of fried, it's a healthy yet still hearty rendition that will make anyone fall in love with eggplant.
Zucchini Cups Stuffed with Peas
Zucchini Cups Stuffed with Peas are the retro party starters you never knew you needed. This updated, veganized, and healthified recipe restores them to their full glory.
Quinoa Diablo Stuffed Tomatoes
Quinoa mingles with black beans, roasted red peppers, and beets to create a smoky, spicy, and brilliantly ruby red filling for juicy fresh tomatoes. Melted vegan cheese tops everything off with a rich, gooey finish. You could very happily enjoy just the quinoa as a stand-alone side dish too.
Olive-Stuffed Eight Ball Zucchini
Greek-inspired seasonings pull together this unusual combination of olives, white beans, artichokes, and spinach beautifully, and set these stuffed zukes apart from the rest.
Beluga Lentil-Stuffed Delicata Squash with Cashew Raita
Infused with an aromatic blend of cumin, mustard seeds, and jalapeno, this entree is guaranteed to spice up the traditional feast. Complimenting that distinctive piquancy is a creamy cashew-based raita, replete with cooling mint leaves and crisp diced cucumber.
Tofu Ricotta-Stuffed Delicata
Delicata, tender and sweet, ideal for stuffing and roasting. Creamy tofu-based ricotta make the perfect savory filling that both highlights and harmonizes with that edible vessel.
Papaya Boats
Fresh papayas are hollowed out and stuffed to the brim with granola, yogurt, banana slices, blueberries, and finished with a light shower of chia seeds on top. The contrast between creamy yogurt and crunchy cereal, flavored with the ripe and juicy fresh fruits, is so simple yet so satisfying.
Poached Persimmons
Gently simmered in pineaaple juice spiked the ginger and citrus, these dainty orange orbs are a study in elegant simplicity.
lovely ideas and some new ones for me that I’m going to try!
Thank you bigtime! I just love anything stuffed and cannot wait for a few moments to REALLY get into your recipes! Shall repost to friends if I may – thanks!
Aw, thank you! I’m so grateful for your support. You always may!
I don’t know which one I want to stuff in my face first! However, love your idea of mini zucchini bites with fresh spring produce. A must try!
What a fun and vibrant collection of stuffed recipes!