20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Round Out Your Table (2024)

Meatless mains, veggie-packed sides, and dairy-free desserts.

by Melissa JamesonBuzzFeed Staff
20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Round Out Your Table (3)

Charlotte Gomez / BuzzFeed

The best part of Thanksgiving dinner is the variety. 🍽

And if you're looking for vegetarian or vegan recipes, we've rounded up a ton of favorites below — from meat-free mains, to vegetable-forward side dishes, to dairy-free (and gluten-free!) desserts.

gimmesomeoven.com

If you're making this fully vegetarian or vegan, double check that your Worcestershire sauce checks out. (If it doesn't, here's an easy DIY version.)

Recipe: Vegetarian Slow Cooker Portobello Pot Roast

2. Cauliflower Steak With Fresh Pesto

20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Round Out Your Table (4)

themodernproper.com

These roast in the oven at high heat until the edges are crispy — then they're topped with walnut-kale pesto.

Recipe: Cauliflower Steak With Fresh Pesto

deliciouseveryday.com

This vegan-friendly centerpiece may *look* intimidating — but starting with store-bought puff pastry dough means prep is actually a lot easier than you think.

Recipe: Puff Pastry Mushroom Wellington

5. Maple & Walnut Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Round Out Your Table (5)

savorynothings.com

For a lighter twist on sweet potato casserole, try these. They're high in Vitamin A and you can customize the sweetness level.

Recipe: Maple & Walnut Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

minimalistbaker.com

Ready in all of 10 minutes — with no boiling necessary.

Recipe: One-Pan Garlicky Green Beans With Almonds

7. Vegan Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Round Out Your Table (6)

40aprons.com

Besides being vegan, these are also Paleo- and Whole30-friendly. The Instant Pot doubles as a warming station as well.

Recipe: Vegan Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

asimplepalate.com

The trick to making sure the zucchini stays firm (and not flimsy) is quickly salting and drying the zucchini strips before layering them into the pan. Doing so draws out excess water and helps maintain texture as it bakes.

Recipe: Low-Carb Vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna

9. Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie

20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Round Out Your Table (7)

damndelicious.net

Always a hit with carnivores and vegetarians alike, the cranberry, pecan, and maple syrup topping comes together in just a few minutes on the stovetop — all while the brie bakes in the oven.

Recipe: Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie

sweetpeasandsaffron.com

This vegan-friendly side can be made in the slow cooker or on the stovetop — and makes enough to serve eight.

Recipe; Slow Cooker Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash

11. White Beans with Broccoli and Lemon

20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Round Out Your Table (8)

bonappetit.com

If you're keeping this fully vegetarian or vegan, leave out the Parmesan and anchovies. (In the latter's place, you could toss in a few capers!)

Recipe: White Beans with Broccoli, Lemon, and Parmesan

12. Creamy Vegetarian Chickpea Pot Pie

20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Round Out Your Table (9)

liveeatlearn.com

This has plenty of protein — and uses pre-made puff pastry so you don't have to stress about homemade crust.

Recipe: Creamy Vegetarian Chickpea Pot Pie

14. Instant Pot Vegan Chili With Acorn Squash

20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Round Out Your Table (10)

moonandspoonandyum.com

This freezes really well — so stash leftovers for future winter nights.

Recipe: Instant Pot Vegan Chili With Acorn Squash

gimmesomeoven.com

This vegetarian-friendly side ditches the old-school canned soup and packaged fried onions and makes everything from scratch instead.

Recipe: Lighter Green Bean Casserole

realfoodwholelife.com

Rich, warm, and creamy — without using any actual cream.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Tuscan Pumpkin Soup

17. Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing With Cauliflower and Mushrooms

20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Round Out Your Table (11)

gimmesomeoven.com

If you're into salty-sweet stuffing, try this. It's got savory mushrooms, crispy cauliflower, and a bit of sweetness from the cranberries.

Recipe: Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing With Cauliflower and Mushrooms

The all-purpose balsamic marinade works with just about any winter vegetable — like carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, or Brussels sprouts.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Balsamic Roasted Vegetables

rhiansrecipes.com

These soft and chewy cookies are dairy-free and gluten-free — and you don't even need to chill the dough in advance.

Recipe: Vegan Pumpkin Cookies

whatmollymade.com

Fair warning that this ultra-rich tart takes a bit of prep — but the end product is worth it. Don't forget the flaky sea salt on top!

Recipe: Vegan Chocolate Caramel Tart

20 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Round Out Your Table (2024)

FAQs

What do vegetarians eat on Thanksgiving? ›

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Main Dishes
  • Vegetarian Mushroom Wellington. Alexa Weibel. ...
  • Spicy Roasted Mushrooms With Polenta. ...
  • Ombré Gratin. ...
  • Baked Brie and Caramelized Vegetable Pie. ...
  • One-Pot Vegetable Biryani. ...
  • Broccoli Cheese Casserole. ...
  • Butternut Squash and Fondue Pie With Pickled Red Chiles. ...
  • Roasted Mushrooms in Ata Din Din.

What are 4 commonly consumed foods at Thanksgiving other than turkey? ›

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

How many dishes to make for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

How to make your own Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Thanksgiving Day:
  1. Defrost premade bread. ...
  2. Chill wine and beer.
  3. Prepare the stuffing stuffing. ...
  4. Roast the turkey. ...
  5. Prepare other side dishes while the turkey roasts. ...
  6. Remove the fully cooked turkey from the oven and rest it for 1 hour. ...
  7. Make the gravy.
  8. Re-heat anything that needs to be warmed.
Oct 20, 2021

What are the 10 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

Here are our favorite traditional Thanksgiving dishes that are delicious and easy to make.
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes. Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Serves: Up to 4 people. ...
  • Stuffing. ...
  • Green Bean Casserole. ...
  • Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  • Baked Corn. ...
  • Mac and cheese. ...
  • Peas & Water Chestnuts. ...
  • Fresh Rolls.
Oct 28, 2021

What to make for Thanksgiving if you don't like 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 are 5 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer. The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie.

How much stuffing do you need for 20 people? ›

3/4 cup of stuffing per person should be plenty.

How much gravy do I need for 20 people? ›

20 people - 13 cups

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

What is the most important food on a Thanksgiving table? ›

We know that the turkey is the showstopper on the table, but we're mostly here for the stuffing. Check out all of our favorite stuffing recipes; our classic stuffing is the undisputed champ of the bunch.

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

How to be vegetarian on Thanksgiving? ›

Start off your meal with crispy kabocha squash fritters or a flavor-packed caramelized onion dip. For your main, serve a presentation-worthy Greens-and-Cheese-Stuffed Cinderella Pumpkin, Carrot Steaks with Roasted Garlic Hollandaise, or a rainbow gratin with six layers of colorful vegetables.

What is the most popular vegetarian alternative to turkey at Christmas? ›

Nut Roast. The most popular Christmas meal for vegetarians and vegans is the nut roast. This typically describes a mixture of nuts, breadcrumbs, leeks, onions, broth and either oil or butter. However, this recipe is malleable and offers the opportunity for many alterations according to personal preference.

What is a vegetarian that eats chicken and turkey? ›

A pollotarian diet focuses on whole, plant-based foods with the inclusion of poultry in moderation. As it's rich in high-fiber, plant-based foods and reduces red meat and pork intake, it may benefit heart health, aid weight loss, and protect against type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.

Is there a lot of vegetarian food in turkey? ›

Turkey produces lots of wonderful vegetables, but roast lamb or mutton (kebap) is a basis of Turkish cuisine. Most Turkish dishes contain more vegetables than meat, but in the many stews and pilavs, small amounts of meat may be used as a flavoring, so vegetarians need to choose carefully.

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