31 of the Best Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dishes

The holiday season is just around the corner. Figure out which vegetarian Thanksgiving dishes to make ahead of time so you can relax and enjoy the time with family.

Thanksgiving is meant to be a wonderful time spent surrounded by loved ones, but it can easily become stressful. Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or for a small and intimate gathering, our list of vegetarian Thanksgiving dishes will definitely help wow your guests. Although turkey is often thought to be the star of the meal, these delicious vegetarian Thanksgiving dishes will steal the limelight and enable you to celebrate a green Thanksgiving. 

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Starter Dishes

A full Thanksgiving dinner already includes plenty of food, so feel free to skip the starter. However, if you want to go for the full three-course meal, we have plenty of vegetarian Thanksgiving dishes to get you started:

• Delicious Crostini Appetizers
• Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms
• Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Vegan Borscht 
• Vegan Paté
• Winter Squash Soup 
• Pumpkin Dip
• Mushroom Soup

These recipes are ideal for your Thanksgiving feast as they focus on seasonal ingredients which you can source locally and organically. 

Vegetarian Side Dishes

Sides are arguably the best part of any large meal, and that’s the case whether you stick to the classics or choose to branch out to less conventional dishes. Traditionally, mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes are part of a Thanksgiving dinner, as are homemade dinner rolls. Other classics include glazed carrots, green bean casserole, and scalloped potatoes, but consider these alternative vegetarian Thanksgiving side dishes: 

• Roasted vegetables like eggplant, beets, cauliflower, butternut squash, or briam
• Homemade vegan gnocchi or pumpkin gnocchi 
• Mashed plantains (mangú)
• Pan-fried Brussel sprouts 
• Vegan hash 

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Main Dishes

Even though turkey is synonymous with Thanksgiving, there are plenty of vegetarian Thanksgiving dishes that can substitute for the main event – you can even make a vegan turkey complete with vegan gravy! Other unique ideas for a vegetarian Thanksgiving main dish include:

• Vegan Chicken Pot Pie 
• Black Bean Lentil Roast 
• Shepherds Pie with Lentils
• Zucchini Boats
• Seitan Steak 

Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas

If you find yourself waiting for the dinner to be over so you can indulge your sweet tooth, know that you aren’t alone in that thought. There are so many autumnal desserts that are the ideal way to end your Thanksgiving feast. You can stick with classics like dairy-free pumpkin, pecan, or vegan apple pie, but you can also expand your horizons with some other seasonal recipes such as:

• Pumpkin Trifle
• Vegan Apple Pudding or Apple Crumble
• Vegan Carrot Cake 
• Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Vegan Pumpkin Cake

Read more: 

• What Is a Plant-Based Diet? Definition and How It’s Different From Vegan
• Easy Vegan Tater Tot Casserole
• Why Wine Isn’t Always Vegan

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Tags: Fall Food Guide Listicles Vegetables Vegetarian