40 Best Meatless Thanksgiving Recipes (Vegetarian Menu) (2024)

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This meatless, vegetarian menu proves you don't need meat to celebrate Thanksgiving. It includes plenty of vegetable-based side dishes, salads, and main dishes that showcase a variety of Fall vegetables: butternut squash, acorn squash, Brussels sprouts, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, green beans, spaghetti squash, and much more!

As a vegetable-lover, you'll find everything you need in this Meatless Thanksgiving menu: Autumn-inspired holiday appetizers, side dishes, salads, main courses, pasta recipes, desserts, and even breakfast. This holiday menu includes some of my most popular holiday recipes (our top 40 Meatless Thanksgiving Dishes) that have been reader favorites for years (I've been publishing recipes on this website since 2012). Impress your family and friends by trying some (or all!) of these dishes for your next Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving party.

This menu will provide you with many tasty, meatless, vegetable-based main dishes to replace regular turkey. The traditional Thanksgiving green bean casserole (that usually includes bacon) is replaced with much fresher and, may I say, more delicious alternatives. This menu features many salads packed with fresh flavors, hearty greens, and Autumn ingredients. You'll love vegetarian side dishes that highlight traditional Fall ingredients that we associate with Thanksgiving: green beans, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, acorn squash, pumpkin, pecans, cranberries, and Brussels sprouts.

40 Best Meatless Thanksgiving Recipes (Vegetarian Menu) (3)

Table of Contents

Jump to:
  • My other Thanksgiving Recipe Collections
  • Thanksgiving Side Dishes
  • Thanksgiving Potato Side Dishes
  • Thanksgiving Appetizers
  • Thanksgiving Salads
  • Thanksgiving MEATLESS Main Courses
  • Thanksgiving Desserts
  • Thanksgiving Day Breakfast
  • What's your favorite meatless Thanksgiving dish?

My other Thanksgiving Recipe Collections

  • If you're looking for Thanksgiving salads, check out my collection of30 Best Thanksgiving Salads.
  • If you're looking for a complete list of my holiday side dishes, don't miss my 60 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes.
  • If you're looking fora complete Thanksgiving menuthat features everything: Fall-inspiredholiday appetizers, side dishes, salads, main courses, pasta recipes, desserts, and even breakfast,check out my50 Best Thanksgiving Recipes (The Complete Holiday Menu).

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

This selection includes my most popular meatless holiday sides that use classic Thanksgiving ingredients, such as butternut squash, acorn squash, Brussels sprouts, green beans, pecans, pumpkin seeds, apples, and more.

  • Butternut Squash Pasta Salad with Brussels Sprouts, Pecans, and Cranberries
  • Green Beans with Pine Nuts
  • Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cinnamon Butternut Squash with Pecans and Cranberries
  • Green Beans for Thanksgiving and Christmas
  • Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
  • Garlic Green Beans with Olive Oil and Parmesan
  • Stuffed Acorn Squash
  • Green Bean Pasta Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries
  • Roasted Acorn Squash
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mandarin Oranges, Walnuts, Cranberries, and Balsamic Glaze
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Maple Butternut Squash, Pumpkin Seeds, and Cranberries
  • Asiago Roasted Broccoli
  • Spaghetti Squash, Quinoa and Parmesan Fritters
  • Parmesan Zucchini and Spaghetti Squash with Pine Nuts
  • Asiago Roasted Brussels Sprouts
  • Sautéed Spinach, Mushrooms, and Caramelized Onions
  • Black Bean Butternut Squash Soup

Thanksgiving Potato Side Dishes

If you want to prepare your holiday potatoes in a slightly different way than regular mashed potatoes, give these delicious recipes a try for your upcoming holiday gathering:

  • Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
  • Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Thanksgiving Appetizers

These meatless Thanksgiving appetizers feature colorful and festive Autumn ingredients, such as apples, cranberries, pomegranate, and pecans.

  • Baked Brie Recipe with Cranberries, Pecans, Pomegranate
  • Baked Brie with Apples
  • Strawberry Baked Brie - 30-Minute Appetizer

Thanksgiving Salads

Thanksgiving salads deserve a separate category on the menu as they are not quite side dishes (even though you can serve them as sides). These festive vegetarian salads will steal the show and will be a hit with your vegetarian friends!

  • Fall Salad with Maple-Lime Dressing
  • Apple Spinach Salad
  • 30-Minute Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
  • Christmas Salad
  • Winter Vegetable Salad with Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts, and Beets
  • Broccoli Cashew Salad with Apples, Pears, and Cranberries
  • Arugula Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Pecans
  • Beet Salad with Spinach and Honey-Mustard Lemon Dressing
  • Fall Harvest Salad with Apples, Pecans, Spinach, and Maple-Lime Dressing
  • Butternut Squash and Spinach Salad with Pecans, Cranberries, Pomegranate
  • Beet Salad with Spinach, Cashews, and Goat Cheese
  • 15-Minute Strawberry Spinach Salad
  • Mango Salad with Spinach and Blueberries
  • Winter Fruit Salad with Maple-Lime Dressing
  • Berry Spinach Salad with Blueberries and Raspberries
  • Spinach and Fruit Salad with Maple-Lime Dressing

Thanksgiving MEATLESS Main Courses

Below is a selection of tried and true vegetarian (meatless) main courses that have been popular with the readers of this food blog. These Thanksgiving mains include Fall ingredients, such as butternut squash and sweet potatoes. You will not miss turkey with this delicious vegetable-based alternatives.

  • Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna
  • Vegetarian Enchiladas with Butternut Squash, Black Beans, and Bell Pepper
  • Black Bean and Butternut Squash Casserole
  • Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce and Pecans
  • Roasted Butternut Squash with Feta and Spinach
  • 30-Minute Ravioli and Sweet Potato Veggie Skillet
  • Creamy Orzo Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach
  • Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Gnocchi (One-Pan, 20 Minutes)
  • Roasted Butternut Squash stuffed with Corn, Zucchini, and Cheese
  • Pumpkin ravioli with brown butter sauce and pecans
  • Pumpkin Chili with Black Beans and Chickpeas
  • Meatless Pumpkin Quinoa Chili with Black Beans and Chickpeas

Thanksgiving Desserts

The Thanksgiving feast is not complete without desserts. Consider adding these simple desserts to your holiday menu:

  • Apple Pumpkin Bundt Cake
  • Cranberry Apple Pecan Bundt Cake
  • Simple Apple Cake
  • Apple cinnamon crepes, or apple pie - in a crepe!
  • Apple Cinnamon Buttermilk Bundt Cake
  • Easy Apple Squares (Cake Bars)
  • Browned Butter Pecan Sandies
  • Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake
  • Mixed Berry Bundt Cake with Lemon Glaze
  • Chocolate Pear Cake

Thanksgiving Day Breakfast

Remember to make something seasonal, Fall-inspired, and unique for the Thanksgiving Day Breakfast. With these vegetarian alternatives, you won't miss traditional bacon or sausage breakfast casseroles. Here is a mix of savory and sweet breakfast recipes that will set you in the mood for the Thanksgiving dinner later.

  • Breakfast Egg Muffins with Mushrooms and Spinach
  • Apple cinnamon yogurt pancakes
  • Blueberry Lemon Bread with Lemon Glaze
  • Breakfast Egg and Gruyere Cheese Tart
  • Pumpkin Pancakes with Caramel Pecan Sauce
  • Pumpkin Banana Bread with Apples
  • Banana bread with walnuts
  • Sweet cooked apples recipe
  • Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Muffins
  • Stuffed Crepes with Ricotta Cheese and Blueberry Filling

What's your favorite meatless Thanksgiving dish?

Maybe it's from this menu, or it's something else. Either way, let me know what you're cooking this Thanksgiving in the comments! Here are my 2 favorite meatless Thanksgiving main courses that I can happily eat any time during the Fall and Winter seasons (not just during the holidays):

Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna

Roasted Butternut Squash stuffed with Corn, Zucchini, Parmesan, and Cream Cheese

40 Best Meatless Thanksgiving Recipes (Vegetarian Menu) (2024)

FAQs

What do vegetarians eat in 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 can I make for Thanksgiving dinner instead of turkey? ›

Thanksgiving Main Dishes That Are Better Than Turkey
  • Roast Chicken With Maple Butter and Rosemary. Image. Credit... ...
  • 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. Jacques.
Nov 10, 2022

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 to host a vegetarian 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 a vegetarian alternative to turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Vegan Turkey Substitutes
  • Burmese Tofu (aka Chickpea Flour Tofu) ...
  • Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Turmeric-Tahini Sauce & Pistachios. ...
  • Vegan Lentil Shepherd's Pie With Parsnip & Potato Mash. ...
  • Vegetarian Mapo Tofu. ...
  • Sweet Potato & Chickpea Cakes. ...
  • Vegan Lasagna With Roasted Vegetables. ...
  • Zucchini Verde Enchiladas. ...
  • Nutty Veggie Burgers.

What can replace turkey for a meat? ›

20 turkey alternatives for Thanksgiving, including duck and pork
  • Pork.
  • Ham.
  • Duck.
  • Chicken.
  • Beef.
  • Squash.
  • Mushroom.
  • Cauliflower.
Oct 30, 2022

How do you make Thanksgiving special without family? ›

You can continue the day by hosting a Friendsgiving dinner or movie night with your pals who are still in town. When it comes to food, you can cook a mini turkey for one or ditch Thanksgiving dinner altogether and order take-out at a local restaurant.

How do you simplify Thanksgiving dinner? ›

I urge you: forego this culinary excess and adopt a simple Thanksgiving menu consisting of main course, a few sides, and a dessert. Just pick your favorites and let the rest slide. For me, a menu of Thanksgiving faves would look like: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie. And done.

What is the least common Thanksgiving food? ›

The Least Popular Thanksgiving Foods, Ranked
  • Sweet Potatoes or Yams — 25.12%
  • Stuffing/Dressing. — 22.33%
  • Pumpkin Pie. — 21.44%
  • Carrots. — 16.95%
  • Mashed Potatoes. — 15.45%
  • Corn. — 14.36%
  • Macaroni and Cheese. — 14.36%
  • Apple Pie. — 12.86%

What is the second most consumed food on Thanksgiving? ›

After turkey, mashed potatoes rank as the most popular Thanksgiving dish as of 2020.

What to cook first on Thanksgiving? ›

Since it's the main event, the turkey should be the first dish you start cooking in the morning. "The resting process is an absolutely imperative part of the cooking process," Holzman said. Many people overcook their turkeys in the oven and overlook letting them rest, rendering the final product dry and rubbery.

What part of Thanksgiving dinner can be made ahead of time? ›

Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, side dishes and desserts can be made ahead of time. And for that, we're grateful. Get inspiration for every celebration right in your inbox!

What do you eat Thanksgiving morning? ›

  • Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Tiramisu Overnight Oats. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Crock-Pot Breakfast Casserole. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Breakfast Cookies. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Homemade Chicken Apple Sausage. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Cranberry Scones. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Cinnamon-Pecan Yeasted Waffles. Caitlin Bensel. ...
  • Sheet Pan Pancakes. Caitlin Bensel.
Jul 27, 2023

Are there vegetarian options in turkey? ›

Turkish cooking is actually very heavily vegetarian. There are a plethora of dishes that showcase the delicious, fresh, seasonal produce so widely available in Türkiye.

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.

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

Planning a healthy vegetarian diet
Food group*Daily amount
Fruits2 cups a day
Grains (mostly whole)6 1/2 ounces a day
Dairy3 cups a day
Proteins3 1/2 ounces a day
4 more rows

How do vegans celebrate Thanksgiving? ›

Seasonal vegetables like squash, beets, and mushrooms are key to making vegan-friendly dishes that are festive for Thanksgiving. Add quinoa, nuts, and beans (like chickpeas or lentils) to create satisfying entrées that everyone at the table will want to try.

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