7 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dishes Way Better Than Turkey (Recipes)

Ingredients

Hey there vegetarians! Do you get nervous that there will be nothing else to eat but plain mashed potatoes or mac and cheese on Thanksgiving? While, granted, both of these things are delicious, there's no doubt that you'll want a little more on your spread than that.

Don't worry! I've got you covered. Whether you're hosting (Awesome! You can make sure nobody sneaks chicken broth into the communal food!) or just bringing your own dish or two to make sure you don't get left out, you're sure to find something way better than the usual spread here. 

Even the most carnivorous of your family members may neglect their turkey and ham when they see what you've made.

Feel free to top everything with generous portions of The Best Vegetarian Gravy, for added flavor insurance.

1. Mushroom Stout Pot Pies with Sweet Potato Crusts

Mushroom Stout Pot Pies with Sweet Potato Crusts

These gorgeous, rich and filling pot pies go beautifully with the traditional Thanksgiving flavors, and the personal sizes make it great if you're bringing a few "alternative" dishes for the vegetarians to munch on while everyone else gets turkey. Just be sure to make a few extras, because there's a good chance the meat-eaters will envy these! (Similarly, this Shepherd's Pie is also super delicious.)  

2. Butternut Squash Lasagna with Shiitake Mushrooms

Butternut Squash Lasagna with Shiitake Mushrooms

There are seven different lasagna recipes attached to this link, so if you want to switch things up a little (Gluten free? Fat free? Craving white sauce? I've got you!) you'll find all kinds of ideas to further jazz up this flavorful, savory main.

3. Veggieducken (aka Squashleekotato Roast)

​Veggieducken (aka Squashleekotato Roast)

Everyone knows about the glory of the Turducken, but you can totally make your own (cheaper!) veggie version that gets wrapped up in squash for all kinds of fun. Stuffing keeps everything moist and robust, though if you want to add an extra dose of deliciousness, you can also throw in your favorite protein -- vegetarian sausage or chorizo would be awesome!

4. Vegetables Wellington

roasted carrots, mushrooms, cashews

This one is similar to the Veggieducken above. Cram a bunch of goodies like roasted carrots, mushrooms, cashews and beans (or whatever you want, really) into a big log of phyllo dough and bake the whole thing for an irresistible way to forget about your grandma's ham. I mean, doesn't puff pastry make everything better?

5. Wild Rice, Farro, and Tangerine Salad

Wild Rice, Farro, and Tangerine Salad

This is probably the only salad I'll eat on Thanksgiving, honestly. With broth-cooked hearty grains, herbs and sweet tangerines, you're getting a super-flavorful dish. Plus, you can serve it room temperature and cook the rice and farro the day before to make things even easier for you!

6. Baked Polenta with Mushrooms

This flavor-packed, cheesy layered wonder cooks up in a flash, and it's hearty enough to fill people up if you're worried that you're going to be low on food -- which you should never be on Thanksgiving!

7. Roasted-Parsnip Bread Pudding

Roasted-Parsnip Bread Pudding

Stuffing is lovely, and it's super easy to make vegetarian. But if you want to mix things up a little -- maybe you're looking for a few non-traditional sides to steer dinner away from the usual turkey or ham centerpiece -- this tender, flavorful, hearty take on stuffing is the way to go.

Instructions

Print This Recipe

Hey there vegetarians! Do you get nervous that there will be nothing else to eat but plain mashed potatoes or mac and cheese on Thanksgiving? While, granted, both of these things are delicious, there's no doubt that you'll want a little more on your spread than that.

Don't worry! I've got you covered. Whether you're hosting (Awesome! You can make sure nobody sneaks chicken broth into the communal food!) or just bringing your own dish or two to make sure you don't get left out, you're sure to find something way better than the usual spread here. 

Even the most carnivorous of your family members may neglect their turkey and ham when they see what you've made.

Feel free to top everything with generous portions of The Best Vegetarian Gravy, for added flavor insurance.

1. Mushroom Stout Pot Pies with Sweet Potato Crusts

Mushroom Stout Pot Pies with Sweet Potato Crusts

These gorgeous, rich and filling pot pies go beautifully with the traditional Thanksgiving flavors, and the personal sizes make it great if you're bringing a few "alternative" dishes for the vegetarians to munch on while everyone else gets turkey. Just be sure to make a few extras, because there's a good chance the meat-eaters will envy these! (Similarly, this Shepherd's Pie is also super delicious.)  

2. Butternut Squash Lasagna with Shiitake Mushrooms

Butternut Squash Lasagna with Shiitake Mushrooms

There are seven different lasagna recipes attached to this link, so if you want to switch things up a little (Gluten free? Fat free? Craving white sauce? I've got you!) you'll find all kinds of ideas to further jazz up this flavorful, savory main.

3. Veggieducken (aka Squashleekotato Roast)

​Veggieducken (aka Squashleekotato Roast)

Everyone knows about the glory of the Turducken, but you can totally make your own (cheaper!) veggie version that gets wrapped up in squash for all kinds of fun. Stuffing keeps everything moist and robust, though if you want to add an extra dose of deliciousness, you can also throw in your favorite protein -- vegetarian sausage or chorizo would be awesome!

4. Vegetables Wellington

roasted carrots, mushrooms, cashews

This one is similar to the Veggieducken above. Cram a bunch of goodies like roasted carrots, mushrooms, cashews and beans (or whatever you want, really) into a big log of phyllo dough and bake the whole thing for an irresistible way to forget about your grandma's ham. I mean, doesn't puff pastry make everything better?

5. Wild Rice, Farro, and Tangerine Salad

Wild Rice, Farro, and Tangerine Salad

This is probably the only salad I'll eat on Thanksgiving, honestly. With broth-cooked hearty grains, herbs and sweet tangerines, you're getting a super-flavorful dish. Plus, you can serve it room temperature and cook the rice and farro the day before to make things even easier for you!

6. Baked Polenta with Mushrooms

This flavor-packed, cheesy layered wonder cooks up in a flash, and it's hearty enough to fill people up if you're worried that you're going to be low on food -- which you should never be on Thanksgiving!

7. Roasted-Parsnip Bread Pudding

Roasted-Parsnip Bread Pudding

Stuffing is lovely, and it's super easy to make vegetarian. But if you want to mix things up a little -- maybe you're looking for a few non-traditional sides to steer dinner away from the usual turkey or ham centerpiece -- this tender, flavorful, hearty take on stuffing is the way to go.

7 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dishes Way Better Than Turkey (Recipes)

Hey there vegetarians! Do you get nervous that there will be nothing else to eat but plain mashed potatoes or mac and cheese on Thanksgiving? While, granted, both of these things are delicious, there's no doubt that you'll want a little more on your spread than that.

Don't worry! I've got you covered. Whether you're hosting (Awesome! You can make sure nobody sneaks chicken broth into the communal food!) or just bringing your own dish or two to make sure you don't get left out, you're sure to find something way better than the usual spread here. 

Even the most carnivorous of your family members may neglect their turkey and ham when they see what you've made.

Feel free to top everything with generous portions of The Best Vegetarian Gravy, for added flavor insurance.

1. Mushroom Stout Pot Pies with Sweet Potato Crusts

Mushroom Stout Pot Pies with Sweet Potato Crusts

These gorgeous, rich and filling pot pies go beautifully with the traditional Thanksgiving flavors, and the personal sizes make it great if you're bringing a few "alternative" dishes for the vegetarians to munch on while everyone else gets turkey. Just be sure to make a few extras, because there's a good chance the meat-eaters will envy these! (Similarly, this Shepherd's Pie is also super delicious.)  

2. Butternut Squash Lasagna with Shiitake Mushrooms

Butternut Squash Lasagna with Shiitake Mushrooms

There are seven different lasagna recipes attached to this link, so if you want to switch things up a little (Gluten free? Fat free? Craving white sauce? I've got you!) you'll find all kinds of ideas to further jazz up this flavorful, savory main.

3. Veggieducken (aka Squashleekotato Roast)

​Veggieducken (aka Squashleekotato Roast)

Everyone knows about the glory of the Turducken, but you can totally make your own (cheaper!) veggie version that gets wrapped up in squash for all kinds of fun. Stuffing keeps everything moist and robust, though if you want to add an extra dose of deliciousness, you can also throw in your favorite protein -- vegetarian sausage or chorizo would be awesome!

4. Vegetables Wellington

roasted carrots, mushrooms, cashews

This one is similar to the Veggieducken above. Cram a bunch of goodies like roasted carrots, mushrooms, cashews and beans (or whatever you want, really) into a big log of phyllo dough and bake the whole thing for an irresistible way to forget about your grandma's ham. I mean, doesn't puff pastry make everything better?

5. Wild Rice, Farro, and Tangerine Salad

Wild Rice, Farro, and Tangerine Salad

This is probably the only salad I'll eat on Thanksgiving, honestly. With broth-cooked hearty grains, herbs and sweet tangerines, you're getting a super-flavorful dish. Plus, you can serve it room temperature and cook the rice and farro the day before to make things even easier for you!

6. Baked Polenta with Mushrooms

This flavor-packed, cheesy layered wonder cooks up in a flash, and it's hearty enough to fill people up if you're worried that you're going to be low on food -- which you should never be on Thanksgiving!

7. Roasted-Parsnip Bread Pudding

Roasted-Parsnip Bread Pudding

Stuffing is lovely, and it's super easy to make vegetarian. But if you want to mix things up a little -- maybe you're looking for a few non-traditional sides to steer dinner away from the usual turkey or ham centerpiece -- this tender, flavorful, hearty take on stuffing is the way to go.