Thanksgiving FAQ

61 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes That Will Make You Forget About Turkey

The best vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes, including creamy mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, and more.
61 Best Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes 2021
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton

Vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes are just as delicious than their meaty counterparts. Whether you’re planning a completely vegetarian Thanksgiving or are just looking for a few veggie-friendly dishes, we’ve included all the best meat-free recipes to help you make sweet, tender fall vegetables the star of your Thanksgiving table. Try Thanksgiving vegetable classics likecreamy mashed potatoesand green bean casserole, and even meatless versions of gravy. For a showstopping centerpiece, make a stunning butternut squash tarte Tatin or aVegduckenstuffed with mushrooms and cranberries. With options like these, we’re sure that no one is going to be missing the turkey.

Head this way for more of ourbest vegetarian recipes→

  •
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    3/61

    Our Favorite Apple Pie

    Gently spiced apples are encased in a flaky, all-butter pie crust, which remains tender thanks to cider vinegar. For the bestapple pie, use a mix of Honeycrisp and Braeburn apples, which retain their shape nicely during baking and strike a balance between tart and sweet.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini. Salad Bowl Courtesy of Heath Ceramics.
    4/61

    Torn Potatoes of Many Colors With Chile-Lime Butter

    Add a pop of color to Thanksgiving dinner with this vibrant side dish. Here, potatoes are roasted, torn, and garnished with pomegranate seeds and a chile-lime butter.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    5/61

    Sweet Potato Casserole With Graham Cracker Streusel

    Cocoa powder, vanilla, and maple syrup help to highlight the flavor of sweet potatoes here. Topped with a graham cracker crumble and toasted marshmallows, this Thanksgiving side dish is a must-have. Be sure to look for vegetarian marshmallows!

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
    6/61

    Our Favorite Mashed Potatoes

    These mashed potatoes are one of our favoritepotato recipes: They're light and fluffy yet rich and creamy, with just a hint of garlic, thyme, and tangy sour cream.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
    7/61

    Butternut Squash Vegducken

    Make this stunning main dish the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving. For a hearty entree, butternut squash, eggplant, and zucchini are rolled together then filled with a cheesy mushroom filling.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Christopher Testani
    8/61

    Classic Potato Gratin

    For the best gratin, gently simmer garlic, shallots, and thyme in heavy cream, then pour it over your sliced potatoes and bake until tender and creamy.

    Get This Recipe
  • 图片由亚历克斯·刘,道具样式Kalen卡明斯基,Food Styling by Susie Theodorou
    9/61

    Squash and Radicchio Salad With Pecans

    In this salty-sweet salad, winter squash is roasted and then tossed with hardy radicchio, crisp Asian pear slices, and crunchy toasted pecans.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
    10/61

    Sunflower Seed "Risotto" With Squash and Mushrooms

    To mimic a traditional risotto, this grain-free version first simmers sunflower seeds to soften them to a rice-like texture, then purées a portion of them to create a creamy sauce. You can easily follow the sunflower cooking method for a basic go-to grain-free risotto, then swap in whatever seasonal vegetables you'd like to top it with.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
    11/61

    Butternut Squash Vegducken With Mushroom-Cranberry Stuffing

    A second version of the Vegducken focuses on autumnal flavors with butternut squash, sweet potato, and parsnip filling in for the traditional meats. The mushroom-cranberry stuffing makes use of leftover vegetable scraps, making the dish #wasteless.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
    18/61

    Wild Mushroom and Parsnip Ragout With Cheesy Polenta

    This hearty vegetarian ragout gets a boost of rich flavor from umami-packed tomato and miso pastes. For a cozy main course, serve it atop a bed of cheesy Parmesan polenta.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Anna Surbatovich, Food Styling by Mariana Velasquez
    19/61

    Vegan "Tofurkey" With Mushroom Stuffing and Gravy

    Set aside store-bought faux turkey roasts and place this stunner on your holiday table instead. The vegan loaf is packed with tons of flavor, thanks to miso-infused tofu, a pecan-mushroom stuffing, and a soy-maple glaze. For more vegan Thanksgiving recipes, head here.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by David Malosh
    20/61

    Barley-Stuffed Peppers

    Roasted peppers are a meaty main event when they're stuffed with toasty barley, cheese, and savory mushrooms. To make this gluten-free, simply swap out the barley for quinoa.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Johnny Miller
    21/61

    Roasted Acorn and Delicata Squash Salad

    Spiced pumpkin seeds, caramelized squash, and creamy goat cheese add layers of umami into this salad with arugula and mustard greens.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
    22/61

    Harissa-and-Maple-Roasted Carrots

    These harissa and cumin-spiced carrots—which get a touch of sweetness from maple syrup—will bring a little heat to your Thanksgiving table.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Jonny Valiant
    23/61

    Mushroom and Farro Pie

    If you're hankering for a spectacular centerpiece for a vegetarian meal, look no further than this hearty pie. Flaky pastry gives way to cremini mushrooms and chewy farro bound together by ricotta.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li
    27/61

    Butternut Squash Steaks With Brown Butter–Sage Sauce

    Sear your butternut squash, then baste it in butter, sage, and garlic for a hearty vegetarian main.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    28/61

    Sheet-Pan Roasted Squash and Feta Salad

    This creamy, crunchy, savory, and sweet salad is a perfect Thanksgiving side—but it can also serve as a main course.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Andy Baraghani
    29/61

    Torta Pasqualina

    This double-crusted vegetable pie makes for an impressive vegetarian main no matter what you're celebrating. With ricotta, Parmesan, and a flaky butter crust, this is sure to be a welcome dish at the Thanksgiving table.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    30/61

    Cauliflower Steaks With Coconut-Turmeric Relish

    Thick-cut planks of roasted cauliflower make for a stunning vegetarian entrée, especially when dressed with a sweet-and-spicy, chutney-like relish.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chris Court
    31/61

    Brûléed Bourbon-Maple Pumpkin Pie

    If crème brûlée met pumpkin pie, it would be this stunning fall pie. Maple syrup highlights pumpkin purée's natural sweetness, and a bittersweet chocolate crust keeps the flavor balanced.

    Get This Recipe
  • Romulo Yanes
    32/61

    Spinach Puffs

    Serve these little spinach pies with a main course as your vegetable side and dinner roll in one, or eat a couple for a vegetarian dinner—they're that good.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    33/61

    French's Green Bean Casserole

    Going old-school for the holidays? Then you might be wondering how to make green bean casserole—the quintessential version. In this green bean casserole recipe, creamy mushroom sauce surrounds tender green beans, topped with crispy fried onions.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    34/61

    Sweet Potato Casserole With Easy Candied Pecans

    This is what everybody at the Thanksgiving table is here for. (Sorry, stuffing! See ya, turkey!)

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    35/61

    Butternut Squash and Creamed-Spinach Gratin

    Parmigiano-Reggiano and a generous dose of heavy cream transform butternut squash and spinach into a rich, bubbling gratin.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Romulo Yanes
    42/61

    Wild Mushroom Tart

    Add a savory pie to your Thanksgiving table. This earthy tart is packed with wild mushrooms, shallots, thyme, and gets both creaminess and tang from crème fraiche.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog
    43/61

    Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad

    A bright alternative to heavy sides, this hearty kale salad recipe adds crunchy chopped almonds and crisp shredded brussels sprouts.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Bobbi Lin
    44/61

    Mushroom-Thyme Pot Pies

    Brushing the underside of the dough with egg wash for this pot pie recipe creates an airtight seal so that steam will push the pastry lids into a dramatic dome during baking.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Matt Duckor
    45/61

    Vegetarian Mushroom Gravy

    This rich gravy gives a boost of extra flavor to vegetable broth thanks to an earthy thyme-garlic oil and umani-rich cremni mushrooms. Spoon it over #Vegducken, stuffing, or use it as a base for your next veggie pot pie.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Christopher Testani
    46/61

    Salt-and-Vinegar Rösti

    We transformed the regular hands-on skillet method to a very hands-off oven technique.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    47/61

    Haricots Verts (Thin French Green Beans) With Herb Butter

    Make the vibrant lemon, tarragon, and parsley butter up to three days ahead and then toss with hot blanched green beans for an easy last-second side.

    Get This Recipe
  • 克里斯托弗•Testani丽贝卡Jurke样式的食物vich
    48/61

    Mashed Potato Croquettes

    Got a big crowd coming over for the holiday? Skip these. But if you have a smaller table to feed, fry these—and you'll never go back to mash potatoes again.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Alice Gao, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Diana Yen
    49/61

    Parsnip-Wrapped Devils on Horseback

    This vegetarian version of the classic appetizer uses soy sauce, smoked paprika, and smoked almonds to pack so much savory flavor that no one will miss the traditional bacon. Use Gorgonzola dolce if you prefer a more mild blue cheese flavor.

    Get This Recipe
  • Jonathan Lovekin
    50/61

    Honey-Roasted Carrots With Tahini Yogurt

    Tahini is just the creamy, savory thing to offset the sweetness of these roasted carrots.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    51/61

    Fresh Cranberry Sauce

    This simple cranberry sauce recipe from America's quintessential brand is the perfect complement to Thanksgiving dinner, sure, but we also love it with pork, lamb, and chicken anytime of year.

    Get This Recipe
  • Stephen Hamilton
    52/61

    Roasted Acorn Squash and Honey

    Classic, sweet, and simple, this recipe features deeply roasted squash glazed with honey.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Deborah Jones
    53/61

    Leek Bread Pudding

    This deliciously savory bread pudding makes a wonderful side dish. To make it a vegetarian main, top it with oven roasted tomatoes and poached eggs.

    Get This Recipe
  • Charles Masters, food styling by Chelsea Zimmer
    60/61

    Green Beans With Shallots, Hazelnuts, and Tarragon

    This simple dish employs the French technique of cooking vegetables in a mixture of water and butter. The water eventually cooks out after steaming the vegetables, leaving them glazed with the butter. This is a dish that can be cooked while the turkey is resting.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Andrew Purcell, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell
    61/61

    Caramelized Honey Pumpkin Pie

    Browned butter, caramelized honey, warm spices, and few extra eggs make this a pumpkin pie that's truly custardy and wonderfully delicious.

    Get This Recipe
Read More
43 Thanksgiving Cocktails to Pair With Turkey, Pie, and Beyond
Whether served with hors d’oeuvres or sipped post-pie, these Thanksgiving cocktails make for a more festive holiday.
Our 41 Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes for Your Juiciest Holiday Yet
Get your gobble on.
Recipes From Bon Appétit’s Thanksgiving 2023 Issue
November’s magazine is chock full of new winners and old favorites ready for your holiday table—plus, a few more recipes for the days before and after.
23 Biscuits, Rolls, and Popovers for Your Thanksgiving Bread Basket
Bring on the fluffy rolls.
How Joshua Weissman Makes His Perfect Pizza: Every Choice, Every Step
When it comes to making pizza at home, you have a lot of decisions to make. Today on Epicurious Joshua Weissman explains his choices and process every step of the way as he makes his perfect pizza.
4 Levels of Pasta Carbonara: Amateur to Food Scientist
We challenged chefs of three different skill levels - amateur Joe, home cook Lorenzo, and professional chef Saúl Montiel from Cantina Rooftop - to make us a dish of pasta carbonara. Once each level of chef had presented their saucy creations, we asked expert food scientist Rose to explain the choices each made along the way. Which pasta carbonara would you dig into first?
37 Shrimp Recipes for Quick and Easy Luxury
Quick-cooking shrimp is a weeknight savior. Keep these recipes in your back pocket for dinner emergencies.
43 Sweet and Salty Desserts to Satisfy All Your Cravings at Once
Salted caramel sauce is only the beginning.