16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (2024)

Every year, turkey tends to take center stage at the Thanksgiving table, but it's important to serve a selection of plant-based options as well. Our best vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes boast a little something for everyone, and they incorporate ingredients like winter squash, grains, and all kinds of seasonal vegetables.Some are traditional and others are quite modern, but each is more delicious than the next. So embrace the spirit of the holiday and add a few of these options to your menu this year.

How to Accommodate Your Vegan and Vegetarian Friends on Thanksgiving

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Red Onions Stuffed with Parsley Breadcrumbs

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (1)

Instead of packing your stuffing inside of a turkey, consider adding it to the hollowed out cavities of tender roasted red onions. They slice like butter and the moist stuffing is flavored very simply with fresh lemon and parsley.

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02of 16

Butternut-Squash Roast with Pistachio Yogurt and Grain Relish

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (2)

Seasonal butternut squash doesn't always get the love it deserves during the holidays. This squash is roasted to perfection, served over a bed of creamy pistachio yogurt, and topped with a warm marinated farro and pomegranate mixture.

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03of 16

Green-Bean Casserole with Chestnuts and Buttered Breadcrumbs

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (3)

Seasonal chestnuts are an elegant addition to this Thanksgiving must-have. A mix of meaty mushrooms makes what the traditional side dish worthy of a larger space at the table. It's perfectly rich and creamy and gets a bright finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

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04of 16

Honeynut Squash, Leek, and Brie Gratin

For the ultimate comfort food, make this delectable gratin. The meatless dish is filled with hearty honeynut squash and lasagna noodles that make it a perfect side for the holiday.

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Acorn Squash with Mixed-Grain Stuffing

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (5)

If there was a vegetarian main course designed specifically for Thanksgiving, this would be it. The hues of ruby red pomegranate seeds, chopped parsley, slivered almonds, and bright orange squash resemble the colors of the falling autumn leaves.

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Cauliflower, Red Onion, and Chestnut Tart

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (6)

This stunning tart—with its crimped edges and textured vegetable filling—is just the thing for vegetarians on Thanksgiving. It feels special and indulgent, the way a main course should on feast day, with plenty of might from vegetables and nuts to satisfy.

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Mushroom-Eggplant Lasagna

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (7)

Who doesn't love lasagna? For vegetarians, this silky layered pasta dish is the ultimate main course for a special meal. Bonus: You can assemble the entire lasagna up to a day in advance, then bake just before the holiday dinner.

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Vegetarian Collard Greens

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (8)

Here's a way to achieve the flavor of Southern-style collard greens without meat. Simply simmer the greens in water with a Parmesan rind. The cheese adds a depth of flavor and saltiness to this dark green vegetable that everyone will enjoy.

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Mushroom-Gruyère Tart

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (9)

Wild mushrooms and nutty Gruyère cheese create a creamy filling with plenty of rich flavors in this vegetarian tart. Tahini is the secret ingredient —it adds richness to the classic tart dough.

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Broccoli-and-Potato Samosa Pie

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (10)

This crowd-friendly take on the popular Indian samosa is baked not fried. The smashed-potato filling of our vegetarian slab pie is studded with bits of snappy broccoli, plus taste-bud-tinging coriander, cumin, and mustard seeds.

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Creamed-Spinach Gratin

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (11)

This is a classic, crowd-pleasing steakhouse side that's vegetarian-friendly. Transform easy creamed spinach into an even more delicious casserole by topping the mixture with a golden brown panko breadcrumbs and bake until bubbling.

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Barley Risotto with Mushrooms and Dill

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (12)

With its creamy consistency and rich flavor, risotto is one of the ultimate comfort foods. Here, we've added fresh dill for brightness and a variety of meaty mushrooms for texture and umami.

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13of 16

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (13)

Indulge in this mouthwatering, meat-free version of the traditional British comfort food. French green lentils and sliced cremini mushrooms create a hearty filling that warms the soul.

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Roasted Squash with Shallots, Grapes, and Sage

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (14)

Here's a Thanksgiving main that truly tastes as good as it looks. The filling inside these roasted acorn squash is simple yet inspired. A blend of black and red grapes, shallot, fresh sage leaves, and cooked whole grains (we used barley) are mixed together to fill this favorite fall vegetable.

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Vegan Stuffing with Mushrooms and Leeks

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (15)

Vegan or not, everyone at the table will love this flavorful stuffing. Crusty sourdough bread is a much more exciting choice than country white; leeks add a mild onion flavor and become silky when baked.

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24 Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes That Will Delight Everyone at Your Table

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Cauliflower Steaks with Romesco Sauce

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (16)

Thick slices of golden roasted cauliflower make a spectacular vegetarian entrée when paired with smoky romesco sauce, which is made with red bell peppers, almonds, garlic, tomato paste, and Spanish smoked paprika.

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16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love (2024)

FAQs

What is a good substitute for turkey meat? ›

There are also cuts of beef to consider such as prime rib, beef tenderloin, brisket or pot roast. If beef isn't for you, a leg of lamb will serve as a flavorful stand-in for your November feast. If it is a turkey you're after, the sooner you order it the better.

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

The typical white American family eats white bread rolls with butter, mashed potatoes, roast beef or baked chicken, and peas for dinner, with milk on the side.

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 the healthiest turkey option? ›

Head to the deli counter

Deli-sliced meat will be the healthiest option because of the low ingredient list – take this Boar's Head Premium Lower Sodium turkey, for example, which contains only “Turkey breast, water, less than 1.5% of salt, sugar, sodium phosphate.”

What meat is healthier than turkey? ›

Beef has more iron, zinc, and vitamin B12, which are nutrients that promote healthy blood, immunity, and nervous system health, than turkey.

What is America's favorite Thanksgiving side dish? ›

What is America's favorite Thanksgiving side? Mashed potatoes took home the top spot for this year's favorite side. The top five most popular holiday side dishes include: Mashed potatoes.

What is cheaper than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Roast chicken is less expensive, easy to roast, delicious, and has less portions than a large turkey, so it is perfect for a single, couple, or small family celebration. A simple chicken stuffed with mirepoix, lemons, fresh herbs (parsley, rosemary, sage) and roasted whole is a great alternative to a large turkey."

What do you put in a turkey instead of stuffing? ›

Here are a few ideas:
  1. Citrus fruits: Stuffing a turkey with citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, or limes can add flavor and moisture to the meat.
  2. Herbs and spices: You can stuff a turkey with herbs and spices such as rosemary, thyme, sage, and garlic to infuse the meat with flavor.
Aug 27, 2022

What are the 10 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

Our Top 10 Easy Traditional Thanksgiving Dishes w/ Recipes
  • 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 food was present at the first Thanksgiving but is rarely eaten now? ›

Fish and Shellfish

Culinary historians believe that much of the Thanksgiving meal consisted of seafood, which is often absent from today's menus.

What is the healthiest meat for Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey is a lean protein and the calories won't get out of hand if you choose a flavorful baked recipe, like Ina's classic herb-roasted bird.

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 does 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 is the most popular vegetarian alternative to roast turkey? ›

Nut roast is a popular vegetarian alternative to a turkey dinner. It is a savory dish made primarily from a mixture of ground nuts, breadcrumbs, and various vegetables, herbs, and spices.

How do vegetarians celebrate Thanksgiving? ›

Vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes
  • Stuffed pumpkin. A star rating of 4.3 out of 5. ...
  • Stuffed butternut squash. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  • Easy vegan wellington. ...
  • Pear, walnut & blue cheese tart. ...
  • Roasted stuffed cauliflower. ...
  • Sweet potato parcel. ...
  • Pumpkin curry with chickpeas. ...
  • Feta-stuffed cannellini nut roast.

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