30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (2024)

Thanksgiving seems centered around turkey. From the hearty stuffing to the thick ‘n’ juicy gravy, almost everything is made with or around the turkey and its drippings. So, how do vegetarians get by? Easily! Meatless lasagnas make for a great main, stuffing can be made delicious without the bird, and those perfectly cooked veg sides can be hella filling. See for yourself with these 30 tempting vegetarian-friendly holiday recipes.

Turk'y Wellington with Mushroom Stuffing

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (1)

With an oyster mushroom stuffing, you won't miss the turkey in this delicious and savory main meal by Farm Sanctuary Cafe Chef Gail Patak. Try the mashed potatoes and gravy recipes included too! (via Farm Sanctuary)

Vegan Meatloaf

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (2)

Image via Jessica in the Kitchen

Loaded with chickpeas and lentils, this hearty cheatloaf makes for a perfect main to go alongside all of those tasty sides. (via Jessica in the Kitchen)

Green Beans With Brown Butter, Crispy Shallots, and Hazelnuts

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Image via Two Peas and Their Pod

This recipe kicks your regular ol’ green beans up a few notches by adding crispy fried shallots, crunchy hazelnuts, and browned butter. (via Two Peas and Their Pod)

Roasted Squash, Pecan, and Pomegranate Salad

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (4)

Image via Minimalist Baker

With minimal prep, this mouthwatering squash and sweet potato salad is the perfect addition to your holiday spread with sugared pecans and a drizzle of pomegranate molasses dressing. (via Minimalist Baker)

Kabocha Squash Lasagna

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (5)

Image via Umami Girl

Not into “tofurky?” Don’t worry, because this veggie-layered lasagna is delicious, filling, and meets all the requirements of being a Thanksgiving main with its autumnal flavors and comforting textures. (via Umami Girl)

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup with Fried Sage and Halloumi

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (6)

Image via Floating Kitchen

Throughout the cooler months, a starter soup is the way to go — especially if it’s a silky butternut squash soup slightly sweetened by apples. (via Floating Kitchen)

Veggie Pot Pies with Crispy Potatoes

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (7)

Image via Evergreen Kitchen

These vegan and GF pot pies are brimming with robust mushrooms, carrots, and wholesome greens, then topped with crispy potatoes. (via Evergreen Kitchen)

Vegan Caramel Apple Galette

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (8)

Here are four vegan desserts from Farm Sanctuary Chef Patak, including Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Bread pudding, Sweet Ricotta and Pine Nut Tart, and this delightful Caramel Apple Galette to satisfy all the sweet cravings.

Vegan Spiral Thanksgiving Tart

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (9)

Image via The Colorful Kitchen

Impress your fam and friends with this jaw-dropping tart filled with mashed potatoes, eggplant, carrots, cabbage, earthy rosemary, and your favorite plant-based gravy. (via The Colorful Kitchen)

Caramelized Onion Gravy

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (10)

Image via This Wife Cooks

This savory gravy pairs well with a number of other Thanksgiving dishes. Its rich flavor is a show-stopper and its made with vegan butter instead of the typical kind. (via This Wife Cooks)

Porcini Mushroom, Greens, And Forbidden Rice Gratin

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This comfort food is so flavorful and is made with black rice, mushrooms, greens, and rice gratin. It is good for you and can also be made gluten-free! (via Vanilla and Bean)

Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (12)

Image via Vanilla and Bean

This moist and tender cornbread is the perfect mix of sweet and savory. It's so easy to whip up and can be stored in the freezer for future indulgence! (via Vanilla and Bean)

Tempeh Sausage-Stuffed Squash

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (13)

Image via Hummusapien

Replace the iconic stuffed turkey by packing a flavor-filled tempeh sausage stuffing into soft roasted acorn squash boats. (via Hummusapien)

Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Carrots

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (14)

Image via Crowded Kitchen

These carrots are expertly coated in a sweet and sticky glaze that is seriously so delicious. The pomegranate seed garnish adds an extra layer of flavor and a pop of color. (via Crowded Kitchen)

Mashed Potatoes

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Image via Gastro Plant

These vegan mashed potatoes are oh-so-creamy and savory. They're the ultimate Thanksgiving staple! (via Gastro Plant)

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (16)

Image via Joy Food Sunshine

This crave-worthy side tops a velvety sweet potato and apple sauce blend with crunchy pecans for a fall-inspired dish. (via Joy Food Sunshine)

Curry-Roasted Brussels Sprouts

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (17)

Image via The Missing Lokness

Roasted to a golden crisp, these Brussels sprouts bring warming spices and a hint of sweetness to your plate with curry powder and dried cranberries, and it.is.awesome. (via The Missing Lokness)

Nut Roast

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (18)

Image via Two Spoons

This meat-free dish is savory and satiating. It's made with wholesome ingredients, including mushrooms, nuts, brown rice, and fresh herbs. (via Two Spoons)

Stovetop Mac and Cheese

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (19)

Image via Earthly Provisions

This stovetop mac and cheese is the ultimate Thanksgiving comfort food. It utilizes raw cashews instead of cheese, which may sound questionable, but trust me it's so good. (via Earthly Provisions)

Butternut Squash Dal

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (20)

Image via Cook with Manali

Stock up on naan, because you’ll want to dig into this vegan and GF dal all evening with its combination of lentils, onions, tomato, cumin, and curry leaves. (via Cook With Manali)

Wellington

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Image via Crowded Kitchen

This delicious recipe swaps out the classic beef tenderloin for a savory mushroom filling. It's packed with flavor and equally as yummy as the original! (via Crowded Kitchen)

Cranberry Sauce

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Image via A Virtual Vegan

This vegan cranberry sauce is loaded up with flavor. It has orange juice, orange zest, rosemary, cinnamon, and a splash of booze (but that last one can be swapped out for orange juice)! (via A Virtual Vegan)

Cheesy Scalloped Hannah Sweet Potatoes

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (23)

Image via No Eggs or Ham

Thinly sliced sweet potatoes in a thick, cheesy, and sweet white pepper sauce? Sign me up! (via No Eggs or Ham)

Vegan Dinner Rolls

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (24)

Image via Veggie Society

It's not Thanksgiving without a basket of fresh, light, and fluffy biscuits. These Italian-style ones are mouth-watering and are sure to be a hit. (via Veggie Society)

Simple Cornbread Sage Stuffing

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Image via The Full Helping

This recipe puts a vegan spin on a Thanksgiving fave so that *everyone* can enjoy it. Made with vegan cornbread, it’s packed with all the right flavors. (via The Full Helping)

Holiday Festive Falafels

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Image via Two Spoons

These yummy falafels are a must-have for your Thanksgiving spread. They're cozy, crispy, vegan, and gluten-free. (via Two Spoons)

Thanksgiving Mushrooms and Potatoes

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Image via Veggie Society

These vegan and gluten-free mushrooms and potatoes are made with chanterelles, caramelized onions, and crispy sage. They're seriously flavorful and something the entire group will enjoy. (via Veggie Society)

Pecan Pie

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Image via The Edgy Veg

This easy recipe tastes just like the traditional pecan pie recipe, just with vegan ingredients that allows the entire group to dig in! (via The Edgy Veg)

Bread Pudding

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Image via Crowded Kitchen

If you're looking for a warm and comforting dessert to enjoy after your scrumptious Thanksgiving meal, this vegan bread pudding is a winner. It has dried fruit, bourbon, cinnamon, and vegan custard. (via Crowded Kitchen)

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Dana Sandonato

Born in Canada and now living in the beautiful state of North Carolina, Dana is a coffee-reliant food writer with a healthy appetite, a taste for culinary adventure, a thirst for good beers, and an endless hunger for food photography. When not writing for Brit + Co, she can be found pouring herself into her blog-turned-webzine, Killing Thyme, or taste-testing at local breweries with her husband. Dana's ideal down time includes pizza, marathoning on Netflix, or watching her fave flicks from the 80s and 90s - no matter how great or awful they are!

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (2024)

FAQs

How to be vegetarian on Thanksgiving? ›

Get the Whole Roasted Cabbage recipe.
  1. Stuffed Butternut Squash. PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE. ...
  2. Polenta With Wild Mushroom Ragú ...
  3. Pumpkin Sage Gnocchi. ...
  4. Sweet Potato Gratin. ...
  5. Mashed Potato Casserole. ...
  6. Parmesan Roasted Green Beans. ...
  7. Easy Cranberry Stuffing. ...
  8. Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Carrots.
Oct 5, 2023

What do Pescatarians eat on Thanksgiving? ›

Here are a handful of delicious recipes you can sink your pescatarian teeth into, and be thankful for, this Thanksgiving!
  • Grilled Trout Bruschetta. ...
  • Instant Pot Lemon Pepper Salmon. ...
  • Maple-Glazed Acorn Squash. ...
  • Fish Chowder. ...
  • Tilapia Fish Cakes.
Nov 17, 2022

What are essential Thanksgiving foods? ›

We've broken Thanksgiving dinner down to its essential elements. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and potatoes, of course.

What are 5 meat alternatives for vegetarians? ›

Vegetarian Meat Alternatives Ranked From Best to Worst
  • Texturized Soy Protein. This is a no-brainer – texturized vegetable protein, also known as texturized soy protein, wins in overall meat-like texture and taste. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • King Oyster Mushrooms. ...
  • Seitan. ...
  • Jackfruit. ...
  • Tempeh. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Beans and legumes.
Apr 21, 2022

What are the 3 main vegetarian alternatives to meat? ›

The 10 best vegan meat alternatives
  • Tofu. Tofu is the classic meat alternative and has been one of the basic sources of nutrition in Asia for centuries. ...
  • Soy protein. Soy chunks and mince are very inexpensive ingredients that are easy to prepare. ...
  • Tempeh. ...
  • Seitan/wheat protein. ...
  • Lupin protein. ...
  • Green spelt. ...
  • Oat flakes. ...
  • Black beans.
Nov 11, 2019

Is there a vegetarian version of turkey? ›

The best vegan turkey roast is finally here. This seitan tofu roast tastes just like turkey, with crispy skin and all! This vegan turkey makes the perfect centerpiece for a delicious holiday meal. It's surprisingly easy to make, and most of it can be made ahead of time, so it's a great stress-free option.

What is a vegetarian that eats chicken and turkey? ›

The term "pollo-vegetarian" was first used in nutritional textbooks in the 1980s to describe a semi-vegetarian diet that incorporates poultry. Historian Rod Preece describes pollotarians as "those who refrain from mammals but are willing to eat the flesh of birds notably chickens."

Can vegetarians eat cheese? ›

Given that dairy — including cheese — does not require the slaughtering of an animal, it's usually permitted by lacto- and lacto-ovo-vegetarians, as well as some pescatarians. On the other hand, vegans avoid all animal products or animal byproducts, including dairy and milk.

What is a good substitute for turkey? ›

20 turkey alternatives for Thanksgiving, including duck and pork
  • Pork.
  • Ham.
  • Duck.
  • Chicken.
  • Beef.
  • Squash.
  • Mushroom.
  • Cauliflower.
Oct 30, 2022

What can I serve on Thanksgiving instead of turkey? ›

Whatever the reason, here are 20 Thanksgiving recipes for a turkey-free table.
  • Roast Chicken With Maple Butter and Rosemary. Image. ...
  • Beef Wellington. Image. ...
  • Ombré Gratin. Image. ...
  • Skillet Pork Chops and Apples With Miso Caramel. Image. ...
  • Samosa Pie. Image. ...
  • Maple-Baked Salmon. Image. ...
  • Lasagna. Image. ...
  • Ina Garten's Make-Ahead Coquilles St.
Nov 10, 2022

What is it called when you only eat turkey and fish? ›

A pollotarian diet is a type of semi-vegetarianism in which chicken is allowed, but red meat and pork are not. Some pollotarians may also include eggs and dairy in their diet. Those who eat fish and seafood are considered pesce-pollotarians.

What are the 12 most popular Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Scroll through to take a look at our most popular Thanksgiving recipes.
  • 01 of 24. Perfect Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 24. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 24. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • 04 of 24. Homemade Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 24. Sweet Potato Pie. ...
  • 06 of 24. Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll. ...
  • 07 of 24. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. ...
  • 08 of 24. Cream Corn Like No Other.
Oct 26, 2023

What are the 3 most popular food dishes served on Thanksgiving? ›

The 10 Most Popular Thanksgiving Dishes
  • Roast turkey. We've already filled you in on how to carve a turkey like a chef. ...
  • Stuffing. Good stuffing is key to a successful Thanksgiving dinner. ...
  • Mashed potatoes. ...
  • Green bean casserole. ...
  • Corn casserole. ...
  • Sweet potato casserole. ...
  • Honey-glazed Brussels sprouts. ...
  • Cranberry sauce.
Nov 2, 2022

What is a good Thanksgiving menu? ›

Step 2: Select your lineup from the following categories...
  • Ideas: whole turkey, turkey breast, braised turkey thighs, mushroom lasagna, whole stuffed squash. ...
  • Ideas: stuffing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, potato gratin, corn casserole, rolls.
Aug 30, 2023

What is a good alternative to turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Whatever the reason, here are 20 Thanksgiving recipes for a turkey-free table.
  • Roast Chicken With Maple Butter and Rosemary. Image. ...
  • Beef Wellington. Image. ...
  • Ombré Gratin. Image. ...
  • Skillet Pork Chops and Apples With Miso Caramel. Image. ...
  • Samosa Pie. Image. ...
  • Maple-Baked Salmon. Image. ...
  • Lasagna. Image. ...
  • Ina Garten's Make-Ahead Coquilles St.
Nov 10, 2022

What is the popular alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals. This is collaborative content from Food & Wine's team of experts, including staff, recipe developers, chefs, and contributors.

What is the most wanted alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

Prime rib, also referred to as standing rib roast, is a beautiful piece of meat. Whenever we need a truly showstopping holiday roast, we turn to it. A well-cooked prime rib is juicy, full of flavor, and not at all difficult to make.

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