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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

30 Irresistible Recipes for a Vegetarian Thanksgiving (22)

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

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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

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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)

Follow us on Pinterest for more vegetarian thanksgiving recipes and goodness!

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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

What do vegetarians eat on Thanksgiving instead of turkey? ›

If you really want to serve something that is a nearly seamless substitute for Thanksgiving turkey, there's always Field Roast, a plant-based meat and cheese company that sells soy-free holiday roasts. They are wheat-based vegan stuffed roasts with a sage, rosemary, and bread filling.

What to cook for Thanksgiving if you don't like turkey? ›

Thanksgiving Main Dishes That Are Better Than Turkey
  • Roast Chicken With Maple Butter and Rosemary. Image. Credit... ...
  • 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. Jacques.
Nov 10, 2022

What does everyone cook for Thanksgiving? ›

While there are plenty of creative ways to cook your Thanksgiving favorites, you can't go wrong with classics that everyone knows and loves. Stuffing, cranberry relish, pumpkin pie: there are so many delicious dishes that deserve a place on the table each year—including the turkey, of course!

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

What do vegetarians eat instead of ham? ›

Because of its meaty texture and appearance, seitan is a common ingredient in vegan ham. This recipe combines it with tofu to get a really juicy, chewy result that even looks almost identical to the real deal. You could proudly serve this vegan ham for a holiday feast, slice it up for sandwiches, or both!

What is the least liked Thanksgiving dish? ›

The Most Interesting Discoveries:

Most people over 60 chose Green Bean Casserole as their most hated side dish. Those under 40 also disliked Green Bean Casserole, but they had equal distaste for Sweet Potato Casserole. These two “retro” or “vintage” recipes were the most disliked on the list.

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

Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals.

What is America's favorite Thanksgiving side dish? ›

These are the most popular Thanksgiving sides across the U.S.: Mashed potatoes: The top spot goes to mashed potatoes! While this may be unsurprising (especially with how downright delicious mashed potatoes are), last year the side dish was in second place.

What should you not forget for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Use this list to make sure you're prepared to have the feast you planned for.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk. A number of tasty desserts rely on this often forgotten item. ...
  • Cranberries or Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • Chicken Stock or Broth. ...
  • Simply Done Containers. ...
  • Foil, Parchment Paper, Pastic Wrap. ...
  • Centerpiece. ...
  • Nuts or Dried Fruit. ...
  • Dinner Rolls.
Nov 25, 2019

What two food items were not present at the original Thanksgiving? ›

It is also worth noting what was not present at the first Thanksgiving feast. There were no cloudlike heaps of mashed potatoes, since white potatoes had not yet crossed over from South America. There was no gravy either, since the colonists didn't yet have mills to produce flour.

Is there a vegetarian substitute for turkey? ›

What is alternative turkey and ham made out of? Brands like Tofurky, Field Roast, Gardein, Beyond Meat, Lightlife, and more use plant-based ingredients in the products you can buy for any vegetarian/vegan guests.

What is a good alternative to turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

So go ahead and shake things up this Thanksgiving with one of these flavorful alternatives to cooking up a whole bird this year, like mushroom, Gruyère, & spinach-stuffed pork tenderloin, vegan mushroom pot pie, or a juicy prime rib.

Are there vegetarian options in turkey? ›

Turkish cooking is actually very heavily vegetarian. There are a plethora of dishes that showcase the delicious, fresh, seasonal produce so widely available in Türkiye.

Can you buy vegetarian turkey? ›

Suitable for Vegetarians. Contains: Eggs, Milk, Wheat. There have been rare cases of allergic reactions to Quorn® products, which contain mycoprotein.

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