14 Delicious Vegetarian Thanksgiving and Holiday Recipes (2024)

Thanksgiving can be a weird time for vegetarians, especially at big family gatherings. Because turkey or ham are usually the stars of dinner, it can be awkward to bring up vegetarian options to whoever’s in charge.

The last thing you want to do is assume certain things will be meatless. Stuffing is the only traditional Thanksgiving dish I enjoy (I LOVE it!). One year, I mistakenly assumed the stuffing would be vegetarian, but the person in charge of making it added sausage – talk about disappointment.

Maybe this year you offer to bring your own vegetarian entree to dinner. Or maybe you take the plunge and host your own fully vegetarian Thanksgiving!

Either way, a vegetarian Thanksgiving can and should still have all the fall flavors and traditional holiday ingredients. Here are 14 Delicious Vegetarian Thanksgiving and Holiday Recipes to try…. Who knows, you might even convert some turkey-lovers to the meatless side with how yummy these are!

Note: Any recipe with a (V) after the name is vegan (no dairy, eggs, or animal products)!

Check out some of our other vegetarian and vegan recipe posts:
11 Amazing Vegan Spaghetti Squash Recipes
14 Vegetarian Breakfast Sandwich Recipes
27 High-Protein Vegan Salads
15 Hearty Vegan Chili Recipes
22 Vegan Xmas Cookie Recipes

1. Thanksgiving Stuffed Acorn Squash

If Thanksgiving could be wrapped up in acorn squash, this is what it would taste like. It’s a big shame that acorn squash is so underutilized in fall and winter recipes – it is simply delicious! If you’re tired of the same old butternut or spaghetti squashes, give this one a try.

Squash, farro, chickpeas, cranberries, pecans, and kale make up the bulk of this recipe. Add in some delicious warm spices, and you have yourself a vegetarian Thanksgiving winner.

Get the full recipe here.

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2. Vegan Mushroom Wellington (V)

This is a mushroom lover’s dream! Portobello mushrooms have a great texture that keeps the meatiness of the dish present. And, I don’t know about you, but caramelized onions on literally anything means I will be chowing down.

This is one that both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will enjoy, so make sure to prepare more than needed to account for those that sneak a piece onto their plate next to their turkey and ham. The structure of this recipe makes it excellent to make ahead of time, keep in the refrigerator, and bake later at whatever location you might be.

Get the full recipe here.

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3. Baked Gnocchi with Pumpkin Sauce

Gnocchi might be a little unconventional for Thanksgiving, but don’t knock it til you try it. This recipe still has amazing fall flavors such as pumpkin, nutmeg, and sage.

Any vegetarian recipe with goat cheese is a winner in my book. (Click here for more yummy goat cheese recipes). Plus, it’s another easily transportable and re-heatable recipe, if you are traveling for Thanksgiving.

Get the full recipe here.

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4. Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Cranberry Apple Chutney (V)

These cauliflower steaks could definitely be served as either an appetizer or as an entree. This is a really fun and unconventional way to cut and cook cauliflower, but it works. Its thickness and heartiness truly makes it feel “meat-like” while eating.

While cauliflower is delicious no matter how you cook it, the chutney is what really makes this dish shine. The flavor adds tartness, sweetness, and a warm spiciness, making it perfect for a vegetarian Thanksgiving! The chutney has apples, cranberries, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon.

Get the full recipe here.

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5. Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Crispy Baked Tofu with Honey-Sesame Glaze (V)

I couldn’t make this list without putting at least one tofu recipe on it! Bring a little Asian flair to Thanksgiving with this delicious fully rounded dish. This recipe can be made vegan if maple syrup is used instead of honey.

This is a very simple vegetarian Thanksgiving dish – what you see is what you get. But it certainly doesn’t lack flavor because of it. This has rice, brussels sprouts, tofu, and a delicious glaze that coats the entire plate. Serve it as a main dish or a protein-packed side dish for all to enjoy.

Get the full recipe here.

6. Roasted Carrots with Farro & Chickpeas

I never used to like cooked carrots as a kid. I even specifically (and embarrassingly) remember throwing a fit at the dinner table and being late to basketball practice in middle school because I wasn’t allowed to leave the table until I ate 2 cooked carrots. Yikes.

But now that I’m older, I love how sweet they get after they’ve been roasting for a while. This vegetarian Thanksgiving recipe really shows off that candied flavor of cooked carrots while balancing it with a yummy herbed creme fraiche. The farro and chickpeas provide some hearty substance that completes this dish wonderfully.

Get the full recipe here.

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7. Stuffed Roasted Butternut Squash (V)

While it obviously doesn’t taste like turkey, this is the closest recipe I could find that visually commands the room like a stuffed bird does. This stuffed butternut squash is just beautiful and has all of the traditional Thanksgiving flavors inside. This recipe is sure to be a jaw-dropper when it comes out of the oven, and again when guests put it in their mouths.

Get the full recipe here.

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8. Herby Mushroom Croissant Stuffing

Have you ever heard of a stuffing made out of croissants? Me either, but it sounds totally dreamy, especially with mushrooms in it. This recipe puts a little twist on the traditional stuffing, but in my experience, twists are usually unexpectedly delicious.

Get the full recipe here.

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9. Fall Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Kale Salad

Instead of the usual garden salad served at Thanksgiving, try something a little more in season. Apples, kale pomegranate, feta, pumpkin seeds, and a shallot vinaigrette will darken up your table, but delight your stomach. The recipe calls for prosciutto, which you’ll obviously need to leave out to keep vegetarian. The other ingredients provide enough substance and flavor that meat is not needed.

Get the full recipe here.

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10. Sweet Potato Goat Cheese Appetizer

Sweet potatoes, goat cheese, honey, cranberries, and pecans make the perfect bite of heaven. These are definitely bite-sized, so don’t expect them to last long. Heck, they’re so good, I’ll be making them long after Thanksgiving has come and gone.

Get the full recipe here.

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11. Cranberry Brie Bites

I’m not a big fan of cranberry sauce, and without turkey to put it on, where’s it going to go anyway? Instead, try these easy and yummy cranberry brie bites. Made with crescent rolls, brie, cranberry, pecans, and rosemary… you simply can’t go wrong.

Get the full recipe here.

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12. Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cinnamon Butternut Squash with Pecans and Cranberries (V)

Brussels sprouts are not only nutritious and delicious, but they’re also trendy. With this recipe, you don’t have to visit a restaurant to get a yummy version of the vegetable. Vegetarian Thanksgiving isn’t complete without at least one brussels sprouts dish!

Get the full recipe here.

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13. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Rosemary

Absolutely no Thanksgiving would be complete without potatoes – whether mashed, roasted, or fried. Potatoes are usually vegetarian, which is why I only put one recipe for them on this list. For me, the creamier (more butter), and the chunkier (not all the way mashed), the better.

Get the full recipe here.

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14. Traditional Herb Stuffing

As mentioned above, stuffing is my favorite Thanksgiving dish. There are many recipes and people who make their stuffing with sausage in it – this is wrong. Here’s a classic stuffing recipe without sausage, and all the herbs your little heart desires.

Get the full recipe here.

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14 Delicious Vegetarian Thanksgiving and Holiday Recipes (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 vegetarians eat on Thanksgiving Reddit? ›

There are tons of great veggie roasts (Trader Joe's, Tofurkey, and Field Roast all make one). But tbh my favorite part of Thanksgiving is just eating all the sides! Stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, mashed sweet potatoes, rolls, and a veggie gravy.

What do vegetarians eat instead of ham? ›

Whether you're after sliced vegan ham or a vegan roast ham for the holiday table, it's easy to find different options made from ingredients like seitan, tofu, beans, and more. They all have a similar texture and taste, only without the many environmental, ethical, and health issues that come from the real thing.

What can vegetarians eat instead of meat? ›

Eat beans, pulses, eggs and other sources of protein

Pulses are particularly important for people who don't get protein by eating meat, fish or dairy products. Other non-dairy sources of protein include eggs and meat alternatives, such as tofu, mycoprotein (such as Quorn), textured vegetable protein and tempeh.

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.

Can vegetarians eat cheese? ›

Vegetarians choose not to eat meat, poultry, or seafood but often consume non-meat animal products (NMAPs), such as cheese, eggs, and milk, that can be derived from intensive farming, a process critics claim is cruel.

What is a vegetarian alternative to turkey for Christmas? ›

Whether you're going meat-free or not, these vegetarian mains are sure to steal the spotlight on Christmas day.
  • 1Gluten-free vegetarian lasagne. ...
  • 2Christmas vegeducken. ...
  • 3Tomato, ricotta and olive spelt tart with basil. ...
  • 4Cheesy spelt crepes stuffed with buttered leek. ...
  • 5Lentil nut roast with sugo.

What is a vegetarian who only eats white meat? ›

A pollotarian is someone who eats poultry but not red meat or pork products. People choose this dietary pattern for various reasons. For some, becoming pollotarian is a step towards becoming vegetarian, while others are more concerned about the health and environmental effects of eating red meat.

What are the 3 food groups that vegetarians usually eat from? ›

Planning a healthy vegetarian diet. To get the most out of a vegetarian diet, choose a variety of healthy plant-based foods. These include whole fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Nuts and legumes, such as lentils, beans and peanuts, also are considered healthy plant-based foods.

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.

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? ›

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 most popular vegetarian alternative to a roast turkey? ›

Vegan turkey recipes
  1. Vegan Stuffed Seitan Roast. This stuffed seitan is the perfect replacement for a stuffed turkey joint this Christmas. ...
  2. Vegan Turkey Wellington With Walnut Gravy. ...
  3. Vegan Herb-Crumbed Whole Roasted Cauliflower. ...
  4. Leftover Vegetable Christmas Pie. ...
  5. Festive Vegan 'Turkey' Sandwich. ...
  6. Vegan Seitan Twizzlers.

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