This is the ultimate list of easy vegan and vegetarian dinner ideas for Thanksgiving, for those who skip the turkey! From hearty veggie mains to the best vegan side dishes, you’re sure to find some inspiration among these tasty holiday recipes.
Main Dishes
From savory veggie casseroles to vegan pot pies, these hearty and filling, easy vegan and vegetarian Thanksgiving mains are sure to impress (and feed!) your holiday crowd.
Vegan Turkey Roast
This plant-based main course wonderfully replicates the taste of turkey, with rich, savory flavors that will make your mouth water.
Vegetable Ravioli Lasagna
A little creativity goes a long way, especially at Thanksgiving! This inventive version of vegetarian lasagna cuts out boiling the pasta layers by using store-bought ravioli instead. Plus, like only the best lasagna recipes, this one is brimming with fresh ingredients and made to feed a holiday crowd!
Vegan Shepherd’s Pie with Whipped Sweet Potato
This dreamy shepherd’s pie featuring lentils, quinoa and tons of vegetables topped with smooth and creamy sweet potato puree. Hearty and comforting, this seasonal version of the classic dish will have guests licking their plates clean!
Nourishing Vegan Buddha Bowl
Imagine a holiday main dish that’s made all on a single sheet pan! This nourishing bowl of fall-inspired goodness is brimming with caramelized vegetables, baked tofu and crisped chickpeas, drizzled with harissa tahini. An all-in-one vegan dish that’s perfect for Thanksgiving.
Pesto Mac and Cheese
Imagine the best, creamiest mac and cheese recipe ever, and now imagine it again – with pesto! Dreamy pesto mac and cheese is a flavorful twist on a favorite comfort food, and great as a filling vegetarian main dish for the holidays.
Nourishing Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup (Vegan)
Soup as a main? You can count on it with this ultra nourishing, flavor and ingredient-packed wild rice soup made with veggies and pumpkin. Vegan friendly and good for the soul, you’ll love centering your Thanksgiving meal around this cozy fall soup.
Spinach and Cheese Strata
This cheesy croissant strata is decadent enough for the Thanksgiving table! Buttery croissants are baked with garlicky spinach, melty mozzarella and parmigiano-reggiano cheese. You can assemble it the night before for an effortless vegetarian Thanksgiving meal.
Brown Butter Roasted Artichokes
A savory and delicious recipe for oven roasted artichoke halves cooked in wine and browned butter, then served under flakes of parmesan cheese and a dusting of fine herbs. Swap the chicken broth in this recipe for veggie broth, and you have a vegetarian dish that will be the center of attention this Thanksgiving!
Pear, Blue Cheese & Walnut Flatbread
A delicious flatbread loaded with seasonal ingredients – sweet pears, bold blue cheese, crunchy walnuts and fresh arugula – is a creative option to serve as a vegetarian-friendly main. All the flavors of fall wrapped into one delicious dish!
Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
This hearty vegan shepherd’s pie is a healthy and delish vegetarian-friendly main dish. A filling of mushrooms and lentils is topped with flavorful garlic mashed potatoes that are crisped up to golden perfection.
Pumpkin Eggplant Parmesan Casserole with Burrata
A seasonal pumpkin twist on a classic dish that never fails to impress or satisfy a crowd! An unconventional but comforting vegetarian Thanksgiving main, made with succulent eggplant medallions coated in a pumpkin mascarpone sauce and topped with burrata cheese. Decadent and delicious!
Baked Ziti Recipe
This baked pasta recipe absolutely nails the ultimate ratio of ziti pasta to fresh homemade marinara sauce and cheese. A filling vegetarian main made with ricotta, mozzarella, tomatoes, chopped parsley and egg.
Black Beans & Corn Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Jumbo, meaty portobello mushrooms stuffed with a Mexican medley of blackbeans and corn are an easy vegetarian main! This is the only stuffed mushroom recipe you’ll ever need for the holidays and beyond.
Vegan Pot Pies
These single-serving, veggie pot pies are ideal for serving as a vegetarian or vegan main dish thanks to a generous and healthy filling made with mushrooms, carrots, peas and fresh herbs. Add cheese into the sauce to make this vegan dish into a vegetarian delight!
Broccoli Cheese Casserole Recipe
Fresh broccoli is tossed with cream cheese sauce and then baked for a savory and super easy casserole recipe! Ready in 30 minutes, this is a veggie dish made for the Thanksgiving bustle.
Butternut Squash Stew
Build your holiday menu around a party-sized batch of this homemade, fall-inspired stew recipe. Featuring seasonal butternut squash, tomatoes, and cannellini beans amidst the classic fall flavors of rosemary and garlic, plus a splash of citrus. This is the perfect easy main for a fall celebration!
Side Dish Ideas
Guests are sure to love these easy and delicious, vegan-friendly and vegetarian Thanksgiving side dishes. Healthy veggies, creative flavors and old favorites – there’s something for everyone!
Vegan Gravy
5 minutes and 8 ingredients is all it takes for this delicious gravy, made without the turkey drippings. Full of umami flavor with a smooth and velvety texture, Thanksgiving won’t be the same without this easy vegetarian gravy!
Easy Roasted Vegetables
You can’t go wrong with simple, perfectly roasted veggies as a vegetarian side dish. A vegetable medley deliciously seasoned with lemon and thyme and roasted with olive oil and walnuts.
Squash Casserole
A classic Southern dish, this creamy and cheesy squash casserole couldn’t be easier to make. Yellow squash and rustic flavors make this a delicious Thanksgiving veggie casserole!
Warm Fall Farro Salad with Maple Dijon Dressing
This is one epic holiday salad! Hearty farro grains provide the base for a delicious mix of roasted butternut squash, fresh arugula, dried cranberries and pepita seeds, tossed together with a mouthwatering maple dijon dressing.
Roasted Acorn Squash
A specially seasoned take on a humble roasted squash; cinnamon and nutmeg bring the warm fall feels, and the addition of smoked paprika gives a deliciously unexpected smokiness to this super easy side dish.
Cranberry Apple Stuffing
Enjoy everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish with the addition of sweet apples and tart seasonal cranberries – this stuffing recipe is super simple, utterly delicious and easy to adapt for vegetarians.
Mushroom and Wild Rice Stuffed Peppers
Baked sweet bell peppers filled with a savory and nutritious medley of wild rice and mushrooms are a hearty side dish that can also serve as a vegetarian main.
Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Chimichurri Sauce
Roasted cuts of cauliflower are a delicious and hearty alternative to a traditional steak. Simple seasoning and a nice charred flavor really set the stage for a zesty, spicy chimichurri sauce. Never underestimate cauliflower as the star of the show!
Creamy One Pot Mushroom and Leek Pasta
Orzo tossed together with mushrooms and leeks along with Boursin cheese is a creamy and delectable combo! Super easy to put together in 30 minutes or less, this easy dish is both savory and filling.
Sweet Potato Tortilla Pie
A satisfying version of a vegetarian quiche baked with tortillas in place of crust. This sweet potato pie packs favorite fall vegetables into a cheesy and delicious egg filling.
Loaded Sweet Potatoes with Shredded Zucchini, Mushrooms, and Onion
Let a healthy, tasty, and fully loaded sweet potato be the star this Thanksgiving! A perfect paleo recipe that’s loaded with veggie goodness and filled with the flavors of garlic and spices.
Butternut Squash Tart with Caramelized Onion
Why not try a delicious and savory tart recipe as a vegetarian dish this Thanksgiving? Featuring fresh herbs and three different cheeses, this is a creamy tart perfect for sharing.
Crockpot Minestrone Soup
Another hearty soup recipe that isn’t playing around – loaded with vegetables, noodles and comforting Italian flavors, minestrone soup is a filling dish in its own right!
Sautéed Garlic Butter Green Beans
A favorite veggie side dish featuring crisp and tender sauteed green beans in a delicious garlic butter. This easy bean recipe brings a nice pop of color and a burst of cozy flavor to your Thanksgiving plate!
Crispy Roasted Potatoes with Sage Salsa Verde
These aren’t your average roasted potatoes! Tender seasoned potatoes are crisped up in the oven then topped with a flavorful Salsa Verde made with fresh sage, rosemary and zesty lemon juice.
The Best Green Bean Casserole
Use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock to make this classic French’s Green Bean Casserole a star at your vegetarian Thanksgiving table. Fresh green beans are tossed in a homemade cream of mushroom soup and then topped with crispy French’s fried onions.
Crispy Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic
Sometimes the simplest recipes can elevate an ingredient to next-level tastiness – and that’s exactly the case with this 3-ingredient recipe for easy roasted Brussels sprouts. Cook Brussels sprouts to tender, golden perfection for a fresh and light Thanksgiving side.
Scalloped Potatoes
A classic Thanksgiving side dish made with layers of Yukon gold potatoes, savory onions and rich cheddar cheese. Baked to tender perfection, you’ll love this comforting vegetarian casserole perfectly suited for the holidays.
Creamy Pumpkin Soup
A classic fall recipe for pumpkin soup is the wonderful warm up appetizer or side dish, filled with healthy blended vegetables. Including coconut milk and spices gives this soup side dish a rich fall flavor and velvety, creamy consistency.
Easy Creamed Corn Recipe
A simple and tasty, effortless creamed corn recipe that really lets the corn kernels shine! Combined with cream cheese and the savory flavors of garlic and onions, this creamy and easy corn recipe is a versatile Thanksgiving side dish.
Honey Glazed Carrots
A no-fuss, one-pot recipe for beautifully glazed carrots coated in the flavors of maple and herbs. Tender carrots sweetened with maple syrup and sprinkled with chopped cashews is the stuff of side dish dreams!
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
Swapping beef broth for vegetable broth instead, French onion soup is perfect as a vegetarian side dish! Caramelized onions in a flavorful broth made with red wine and fresh herbs, topped with a melted gruyere crostini is a cozy and easy side dish or starter. This soup is easy to make in a slow cooker!
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