30 Delicious Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes – A Couple Cooks

Welcome to your new favorite vegetarian Thanksgiving recipe: Butternut Squash Lasagna with Sage! The flavors are impeccable: creamy ricotta, punchy Pecorino, and fresh sage envelop the sweet squash in a cozy embrace. In fact, an embrace is just what it feels like when you take a bite! Every bite is a bit of sweet, savory, creamy, herby, and altogether irresistible.

The creamy squash is roasted until tender, then it’s draped in a toasted pecan rice stuffing that makes your kitchen smell like a fall paradise! You know that scent of onions, celery and leeks cooking in butter? Well, this recipe delivers it in spades. It’s vegetarian, easily made vegan, and naturally gluten-free, so it works for all sorts of eaters. Even better: it’s seriously crowd pleasing. Everyone we’ve served it to becomes a believer…and then immediately asks for the recipe.

This is one of our most popular vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes—and recipes in general! The mixture of nuts, vegetables, and cheese has the flavor and texture of meat, pleasing even the most passionate meat lovers. You won’t believe it until you try it yourself!

Creamy mashed potatoes with rosemary top this cozy filling of lentils and mixed veg. The filling is flavored with fennel, which brings a savory, almost meaty flavor. It takes a bit of time to prepare, but it’s a perfect project for the friends and family to help pitch in! It makes enough to feed a crowd, and it’s a fitting dish for a special occasion.

Another variation? Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie with French Lentils

What’s more festive than a pot pie? And this vegetarian pot pie is a show stopper. It’s got a ton of veggies, pesto and Parmesan in the filling, which makes for a filling that smells (and tastes) incredibly savory and earthy. Top that with a crispy, flaky crust, and it’s crazy delicious.

Looking for vegan? This Vegan Pot Pie with Sage Crust is a fan favorite.

The smell alone of this butternut squash risotto bubbling away is reason to make it. The tender, caramelized roasted squash makes sweet pockets in the creamy Parmesan rice dotted with sage. And that smell of shallots sautéing in butter, with a splash of white wine? DIVINE. It’s a stunner in our Thanksgiving recipes.

Next up in our vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes: baked gnocchi! The gooey gnocchi are drenched in savory pumpkin sauce with creamy pockets of goat cheese—need we say more? We’ve made it for a few occasions and it gets rave reviews. If you’d like to make this gluten-free, pick up some gluten-free gnocchi (while potato based, traditional gnocchi contain flour).

More with pumpkin sauce? Pumpkin Pasta Sauce with Penne

Want a delicious vegetarian Thanksgiving main dish recipe that also works as a side side? Try stuffed butternut squash! It’s not as common to stuff this popular squash as its cousin the acorn squash. But baked until it’s tender and sweet, it comes out just as tasty (or even more!). This recipe stars a vegetable and rice stuffing with garlic, kale, sage and pecans: fall flavors that accentuate the orange squash perfectly. 

In this cozy bake, pumpkin is mixed with ricotta cheese and a bit of fresh sage for a savory, gooey filling. It’s baked in a marinara sauce that’s homey and complex in flavor. It takes a bit of effort to put together, so pull in some friends and family for the assembly. It’s a filling meatless main that would pair well with Thanksgiving sides.

So many vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes feature squash…why not eat it as mac & cheese? Here it’s served in the shell for a beautiful presentation. The spaghetti squash strands are drenched in a Béchamel sauce with Gruyere cheese, which gives it a sophisticated flair. A glass of tart white wine is a perfect complement to the rich creaminess. Our 9-month-old son Larson devoured this, so it’s a hit with the younger crowd.

This is one of our favorite vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes. Instead of topping sweet potatoes with marshmallows and brown sugar like the Thanksgiving tradition, these are made up as a main dish. They’re baked, then the filling is removed and mixed with goat cheese. It’s topped with French lentils, goat cheese crumbles, and celery leaves for an aromatic twist.

Here’s a rich and delicious side dish that will have everyone talking about it: this perfect Brussels Sprout Casserole! Because what’s better than making Brussels that taste like mac and cheese? Bake up those tender sprouts with a rich and creamy white cheddar cheese sauce, then top it with crunchy breadcrumbs toasted until they’re golden brown.

Cranberry sauce is beyond easy to make homemade! Turns out, all you need is a handful of ingredients and 10 minutes to make this classic Thanksgiving dish. There’s really no need for canned, folks! This easy fresh cranberry sauce recipe comes together quickly with the flavors of brown sugar, orange, and cinnamon.

“Best mashed potatoes recipe” is a bold claim, but we stand behind it. These really are the best mashed potatoes and make everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish. They’re swirled with fresh garlic sauteed in butter, milk, and a little sour cream, then mashed into fluffy oblivion. (Use up leftovers in potato pancakes or potato waffles!).

How to make gravy without meat? We’ve got you. This brown gravy is vegan and seriously tasty. Pour it on all sorts of vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes and prepare to be amazed! The secrets: soy sauce and fennel seed, which add a meaty and savory undertone.

Next up in our vegetarian Thanksgiving side dishes: green bean casserole! But this ain’t your mama’s green bean casserole: it’s a fresh spin made all from scratch! It’s got crisp tender green beans and real mushrooms. The creamy sauce coats each of the beans, but isn’t gloppy. And it’s got a new take on the traditional fried onion topping: using crushed potato chips!

This colorful sweet potato salad recipe is irresistibly satisfying! Tender roasted potatoes, crisp greens, cranberries, and feta make the ideal sweet and savory mix. This is one of our top fan favorite fall salads!

This Baked Brie is such a fun and easy appetizer for Thanksgiving! Here’s everything you need to know about making a melty, delicious pile of brie. We like topping with honey, jam and pistachios.

Here’s a fun vegetarian Thanksgiving recipe: this brilliant Pear Salad! It’s a study in contrasts: fresh, juicy pear against funky gorgonzola cheese; bright pomegranate against savory shallot. Throw in some toasted pecans and cover it in tangy poppy seed dressing, and well: it’s absolutely irresistible. 

Here’s a side dish that will blow you away with its bold, sweet flavor: Butternut Squash Puree! Start with baked butternut squash, then whip it into a light and fluffy puree. Serve your turkey on top of a bed of this bright orange puree, and each bite is a pop of sweet and savory flavor! Also try Mashed Butternut Squash: all you need is a potato masher!

Here’s an ideal vegetarian Thanksgiving recipe: Apple Salad with Maple Vinaigrette! Crisp tart apple slices pair with pops of pomegranate seeds, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy, cinnamon spiced pecans. Toss them all over fresh greens with a zingy maple and apple cider vinegar dressing, and it’s truly salad perfection. 

Here’s a hearty vegetarian Thanksgiving recipe just begging to jump onto your table: wild rice salad! This mix of rice with crunchy veggies, pecans, cranberries, and feta cheese crumbles is ideal for any occasion, from the holidays to a simple cozy dinner. A maple Dijon vinaigrette dressing infuses a tangy flavor throughout, punctuated by bursts of fresh parsley. It’s pretty simple to put together, and easy to make ahead. 

These braised vegetables taste like they’ve been roasting under a chicken all day long! But they’re fully plant based and healthy, bursting with flavor that takes cozy to the next level. They’re the perfect side dish to any main, with the jewel toned purple onion and orange carrot.

What’s better for Thanksgiving than roasted Brussels sprouts? These are the exact opposite of the soggy canned version, and you won’t be able to stop eating them. Watch out for those salty, crunchy leaves that fall off onto the pan! It’s a winning Thanksgiving side dish.

These are the absolute best roasted sweet potatoes, diced and mixed with a hint of garlic powder, salt and olive oil. Bake them in a very hot oven until they’re caramelized, and they’re the perfect vegetarian Thanksgiving recipe!

This apple cranberry crisp is a stunning Thanksgiving dessert! The tartness of fresh cranberries melds with sweet, comforting crisp apples in a cinnamon-spiced fruit layer. The berries add a zingy flavor and a bright red hue to the fruit, which shines topped with golden buttery crisp crumbles.

Here’s a Thanksgiving dessert that we like even better than pie: Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting! It’s beautifully thick and moist, scented with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. The best part? A layer of tangy, fluffy cream cheese frosting is its ideal flavor match. It’s so classic and irresistible, you’ll want to make it for every gathering.

Try pumpkin pudding for Thanksgiving! The sweet custard is made like a traditional homemade pudding, with added pumpkin puree and cozy spices. To serve, add crushed gingersnaps or graham crackers and top with whipped cream! It’s like pumpkin pie filling in a glass: but a mini version with all the fun and none of the fuss.

This really is Grandma’s recipe: we worked with Alex’s mom to adapt her famous fall favorite for your home kitchen. Tender, cozy-spiced apples are baked up in a flaky pasty crust with a spiced brown sugar syrup. The result is a revelation: there’s a reason Grandma is famous for these!

What makes this vegan pie incredible? It tastes just like your favorite pumpkin pie, but it’s 100% plant based! This vegan pie is so full of pumpkin-spiced sweetness and the flavors are so delightfully elevated, no one will guess there’s no dairy.