30 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Add To Your Holiday Spread

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A lot of people would say Thanksgiving has to revolve around the turkey, but we’d like to say otherwise. You could do a ham, or a roast chicken, or even NO MEAT AT ALL. Whether you’d like your whole meal to be meat-free or are just looking for inspiration for that vegetarian friend or cousin (they’ll be SO grateful you thought of them), we’ve got ideas here for you.

Check out our 30 vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes—we bet you won’t even miss the meat.

No matter the reason you and yours are vegetarian, it’s not hard to see the benefits of skipping the turkey this Thanksgiving. From epic turkey fails to intense family arguments over who gets the drumsticks, there are lots of reasons to ditch the bird.

The absolute best part is that, since you’re not spending HOURS on a bird that takes up your whole oven, you can instead focus on all the real best parts of the meal. Yep, we’re saying it: Thanksgiving sides are what it’s really about, and if you’re skipping the turkey, you can have them ALL.

Most of the classic sides are inherently vegetarian (and for those that aren’t, like stuffing or gravy, we’ve got you covered), so rather than include all of those here, we’re instead focusing on some alternatives to the main attraction. Feeling the loss of the turkey centerpiece? Swap it for something equally stunning, like our Thanksgiving cauliflower, our whole roasted cabbage, or our stuffing-stuffed pumpkins.

Don’t need your vegetarian dish to be the center of attention but still want it to be special? Try making our chicken fried cauliflower, our beet Wellingtons, or our vegan mushroom pot pie. They’re just as delicious as their meaty counterparts and are sure to thrill any vegetarian crowd.

Want more Thanksgiving inspiration? Check out our top plant-based meals (it’s YOUR holiday, make whatever you like), our best Thanksgiving cocktails, and our favorite Thanksgiving pies too.

You don't need meat to make a stuffing everyone will love. This vegetarian option is filled with everyone's favorite Thanksgiving flavors—apples! cranberries! sage! thyme!—if anyone complains about meatless stuffing, just send them home without dessert.

This gorgeous, whole-roasted stunner is the perfect holiday substitute for vegetarians. It's savory, sweet, and salty on the outside and super-tender on the inside. Topped with lots of silky mushroom gravy, we doubt anyone at your table will be missing meat.

After baking brown-sugar-butter-slathered squash until perfectly tender, you'll top the squash with a hearty filling of quinoa, kale, and chickpeas. Flecked with dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds, the savory pilaf has the perfect balance of texture, flavor, and pops of color. It's sweet, savory, protein-packed, and filling—what more could you want for Thanksgiving?

Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will be piling this flavor-packed gravy on top of all the Thanksgiving sides. This gravy comes together in minutes—and you won't miss roasting a whole turkey or chicken to make it.

Even though we love the stewy eggplant and squash interior here, our favorite part might just be the layered potatoes with melty cheese. We used Gruyère, as it's the melty cheese of choice in many French dishes, but feel free to use your favorite cheese to add to this bubbly baked dish.

When it's cold out over Thanksgiving, a steaming hot pot pie filled with creamy, flavorful gravy, sweet and tender veggies, and topped with a shatteringly flaky crust is EVERYTHING. Here, mushrooms replace meat and are every bit as satisfying as their meaty counterparts.

A whole roasted cauliflower makes for a fantastic vegetarian main dish. This one is roasted around extra veggies and has a slightly sweet balsamic glaze over it. It's easy to throw together and will leave you feeling full, not heavy. Win!

Just because you're not serving a real turkey doesn't mean you can't get in on the theme. Enter: this adorable cheeseball. We used carrots, pecans, pretzels, and bell peppers to create the iconic look, but feel free to sub out for different ingredients for what you have on hand. Serve it with crackers and use the decorations as dippers too!

Fans of creamed spinach will absolutely love this hearty, creamy kale and gnocchi bake that puts the classic side dish front-and-center on your plate with gnocchi as the main attraction. It's quick to put together since the gnocchi cook right in the sauce, making them extra-creamy and delicious.

At first, pumpkin lasagna might not seem as sexy as, say, lasagna bolognese, but don't be fooled: With layers of melty fontina and mozzarella and notes of sage and nutmeg, you'll definitely be wanting seconds of this veggie-filled lasagna.

If you love baked spinach dip, you will love these baked puff pastry puffs. They're filled with a mixture of sautéed onion, garlic, spinach, and cream cheese and baked inside little puff pastry cups in a muffin tin. We bet you can't eat just one!

This hearty "meat" loaf is made mostly out of chickpeas and baby bella mushrooms. We're in love! Serve it with a side of vegan mashed potatoes and green beans for the most comforting, vegetarian Thanksgiving meal.

Creamy, sweet, and pleasantly orange, butternut squash adds extra body, richness, and color to mac & cheese. A little thyme does some heavy lifting, making the homey comfort classic a little fancy, and bringing some fall flavors to the table that are chef’s kiss.

Never fear, this lightened-up green bean casserole is here to help you save room for pumpkin pie. Forgoing canned cream of mushroom for a quick homemade mushroom gravy, we'd argue this version is healthier and more delicious than the classic. We dig the sautéed and panko-ed onion topping, but if you can't part from French's fried onions, we won't judge ya.

Make this showstopper with a custom blend of your favorite funghi! If wild mushrooms are not accessible, creminis or button mushrooms would also work perfectly. The ragú can be made up to three days in advance (perfect for a busy Thanksgiving!); just reheat gently on the stovetop while you make the polenta.

Our love for crescent roll recipes is no secret. Why make dough from scratch when everyone loves the canned stuff?! These are a fan favorite every fall. They always disappear within minutes, probably because the combo of salty, creamy brie, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, and crunchy pecans is PERFECT.

We took note of how chicken fried steak is prepared and modeled this recipe after that. (Vegetarians, we see you, and you're welcome.) Serve this with some hot honey for a delectable holiday main—trust, no one will miss the turkey.

Making pasta dough from scratch does require extra effort, but it's 100% worth it. And honestly? It’s not that difficult (plus, if you're not making a turkey, you've got the time!). Trust us, knowing that you made this butternut squash pasta from scratch will make it taste 10x better.

A lot of butternut squash risotto recipes call for roasting the squash first. Not this one. Here, everything cooks in the same pot, which means the butternut squash kind of becomes the sauce too. The results are insane.

Beet lovers, rejoice! This is the ideal fall salad: creamy goat cheese (sub feta if you prefer it), roasted beets, avocado, and arugula. The secret is that instead of buying precooked beets, you simply wrap them in foil and bake them like a baked potato. It takes about an hour, but the resulting beets will be tender, earthy, and slightly sweet in a way that no store-bought beet can.

Vegan mashed potatoes that are just as creamy and delicious as the real thing? You betcha! Toasted sesame oil adds tons of flavor and creaminess. Green onions and extra sesame seeds round them out for some of the best mashed potatoes we've ever made.

Meaty oyster mushrooms stand in for steak in our indulgent take on this Southern classic that's as good for a vegetarian Thanksgiving as it is any time of year. Buttermilk is a must for fried chicken, so we made our own with almond milk and vinegar.

Creamed spinach is a simple side dish that is also the perfect way to use up an abundance of dying spinach. The creaminess pairs perfectly with meatloaf and will make you (and your vegetarian guests) forget you're eating greens!

With no meat to get in the way, this lasagna isn't messing around in the cheese department. Follow our top tips for getting it perfect every time.

When it comes to the big Thanksgiving feast, we consider the roast turkey and the sweet potato casserole as sides to the STUFFING. A good stuffing makes or breaks Thanksgiving dinner, particularly if you're throwing a vegetarian one, so follow our tips to make it the best you can.

This meatless, dairy-free take on shepherd's pie is packed with veggies (mushrooms! butternut squash! parsnips!) and loaded with flavor. It's also incredibly hearty, thanks to lentils.

The dried cranberries and balsamic vinegar add some sweetness and tartness, while the pecans add a crunch to these holiday-worthy vegetables. We use Brussels sprouts and carrots, but feel free to add extra vegetables or swap in some of your favorites.

Why bake your stuffing in a boring ol' baking dish, when you could bake it in a pumpkin?! This autumnal recipe utilizes the sweetness of pumpkin and butternut squash for a super-flavorful stuffing that tastes just as good as it looks.

Forget turkey—this impressive whole roasted cauliflower is the only centerpiece you'll need this Thanksgiving. We've included a mushroom gravy recipe here as well. It's so good, no one will miss the meat.

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30 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes To Add To Your Holiday Spread

Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Check out our 30 vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes—we bet you won’t even miss the meat.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving

No matter the reason you and yours are vegetarian, it’s not hard to see the benefits of skipping the turkey this Thanksgiving. From epic turkey fails to intense family arguments over who gets the drumsticks, there are lots of reasons to ditch the bird.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Don’t need your vegetarian dish to be the center of attention but still want it to be special? Try making our chicken fried cauliflower, our beet Wellingtons, or our vegan mushroom pot pie. They’re just as delicious as their meaty counterparts and are sure to thrill any vegetarian crowd.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Want more Thanksgiving inspiration? Check out our top plant-based meals (it’s YOUR holiday, make whatever you like), our best Thanksgiving cocktails, and our favorite Thanksgiving pies too.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving

You don't need meat to make a stuffing everyone will love. This vegetarian option is filled with everyone's favorite Thanksgiving flavors—apples! cranberries! sage! thyme!—if anyone complains about meatless stuffing, just send them home without dessert.

Easy Cranberry Stuffing

This gorgeous, whole-roasted stunner is the perfect holiday substitute for vegetarians. It's savory, sweet, and salty on the outside and super-tender on the inside. Topped with lots of silky mushroom gravy, we doubt anyone at your table will be missing meat.

Whole Roasted Cabbage

Stuffed Butternut Squash

Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will be piling this flavor-packed gravy on top of all the Thanksgiving sides. This gravy comes together in minutes—and you won't miss roasting a whole turkey or chicken to make it.

Vegetarian Mushroom Gravy

Even though we love the stewy eggplant and squash interior here, our favorite part might just be the layered potatoes with melty cheese. We used Gruyère, as it's the melty cheese of choice in many French dishes, but feel free to use your favorite cheese to add to this bubbly baked dish.

Vegetable Casserole

When it's cold out over Thanksgiving, a steaming hot pot pie filled with creamy, flavorful gravy, sweet and tender veggies, and topped with a shatteringly flaky crust is EVERYTHING. Here, mushrooms replace meat and are every bit as satisfying as their meaty counterparts.

Vegan Mushroom Pot Pie

A whole roasted cauliflower makes for a fantastic vegetarian main dish. This one is roasted around extra veggies and has a slightly sweet balsamic glaze over it. It's easy to throw together and will leave you feeling full, not heavy. Win!

Balsamic-Glazed Roasted Cauliflower

Turkey Cheeseball

Fans of creamed spinach will absolutely love this hearty, creamy kale and gnocchi bake that puts the classic side dish front-and-center on your plate with gnocchi as the main attraction. It's quick to put together since the gnocchi cook right in the sauce, making them extra-creamy and delicious.

Creamy Kale & Gnocchi Bake

At first, pumpkin lasagna might not seem as sexy as, say, lasagna bolognese, but don't be fooled: With layers of melty fontina and mozzarella and notes of sage and nutmeg, you'll definitely be wanting seconds of this veggie-filled lasagna.

Pumpkin Lasagna

If you love baked spinach dip, you will love these baked puff pastry puffs. They're filled with a mixture of sautéed onion, garlic, spinach, and cream cheese and baked inside little puff pastry cups in a muffin tin. We bet you can't eat just one!

Spinach Puffs

This hearty "meat" loaf is made mostly out of chickpeas and baby bella mushrooms. We're in love! Serve it with a side of vegan mashed potatoes and green beans for the most comforting, vegetarian Thanksgiving meal.

Vegan Meatloaf

Creamy, sweet, and pleasantly orange, butternut squash adds extra body, richness, and color to mac & cheese. A little thyme does some heavy lifting, making the homey comfort classic a little fancy, and bringing some fall flavors to the table that are *chef’s kiss*.

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

Healthy Green Bean Casserole

Polenta with Wild Mushroom Ragú

Our love for crescent roll recipes is no secret. Why make dough from scratch when everyone loves the canned stuff?! These are a fan favorite every fall. They always disappear within minutes, probably because the combo of salty, creamy brie, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, and crunchy pecans is PERFECT.

Cranberry Brie Bites

We took note of how chicken fried steak is prepared and modeled this recipe after that. (Vegetarians, we see you, and you're welcome.) Serve this with some hot honey for a delectable holiday main—trust, no one will miss the turkey.

Chicken Fried Cauliflower

Making pasta dough from scratch does require extra effort, but it's 100% worth it. And honestly? It’s not that difficult (plus, if you're not making a turkey, you've got the time!). Trust us, knowing that you made this butternut squash pasta from scratch will make it taste 10x better.

Butternut Squash Ravioli

A lot of butternut squash risotto recipes call for roasting the squash first. Not this one. Here, everything cooks in the same pot, which means the butternut squash kind of becomes the sauce too. The results are insane.

Butternut Squash Risotto

Roasted Beet Goat Cheese Salad

Vegan mashed potatoes that are just as creamy and delicious as the real thing? You betcha! Toasted sesame oil adds tons of flavor and creaminess. Green onions and extra sesame seeds round them out for some of the best mashed potatoes we've ever made.

Toasted Sesame Oil Mashed Potatoes

Meaty oyster mushrooms stand in for steak in our indulgent take on this Southern classic that's as good for a vegetarian Thanksgiving as it is any time of year. Buttermilk is a must for fried chicken, so we made our own with almond milk and vinegar.

Chicken-Fried Mushrooms & Gravy

Creamed spinach is a simple side dish that is also the perfect way to use up an abundance of dying spinach. The creaminess pairs perfectly with meatloaf and will make you (and your vegetarian guests) forget you're eating greens!

Creamed Spinach

With no meat to get in the way, this lasagna isn't messing around in the cheese department. Follow our top tips for getting it perfect every time.

Vegetarian Lasagna

When it comes to the big Thanksgiving feast, we consider the roast turkey and the sweet potato casserole as sides to the STUFFING. A good stuffing makes or breaks Thanksgiving dinner, particularly if you're throwing a vegetarian one, so follow our tips to make it the best you can.

Classic Stuffing

This meatless, dairy-free take on shepherd's pie is packed with veggies (mushrooms! butternut squash! parsnips!) and loaded with flavor. It's also incredibly hearty, thanks to lentils.

Vegan Shepherd's Pie

The dried cranberries and balsamic vinegar add some sweetness and tartness, while the pecans add a crunch to these holiday-worthy vegetables. We use Brussels sprouts and carrots, but feel free to add extra vegetables or swap in some of your favorites.

Holiday Roasted Vegetables

Why bake your stuffing in a boring ol' baking dish, when you could bake it in a pumpkin?! This autumnal recipe utilizes the sweetness of pumpkin and butternut squash for a super-flavorful stuffing that tastes just as good as it looks.

Stuffing Stuffed Pumpkins

Forget turkey—this impressive whole roasted cauliflower is the only centerpiece you'll need this Thanksgiving. We've included a mushroom gravy recipe here as well. It's so good, no one will miss the meat.

Thanksgiving Cauliflower

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Creamy, sweet, and pleasantly orange, butternut squash adds extra body, richness, and color to mac & cheese. A little thyme does some heavy lifting, making the homey comfort classic a little fancy, and bringing some fall flavors to the table that are chef’s kiss.