25 Vegetarian and Vegan Thanksgiving Main Dish Recipes (2024)

01 of 25

Vegetarian Barley Stuffed Squash

Nutritious whole-grain barley makes a flavorful filling for tenderacorn squash. This vegetarian barley stuffed squash dish makes for a pretty centerpiece and can easily be prepared vegan. Add a handful of dried fruit and toasted nuts if desired.

02 of 25

Vegan Pumpkin Risotto

Risottois a luxurious dish perfect for a special occasion, and the addition of pumpkin makes it a festive holiday dish. Use vegan butter to make this vegan pumpkin risotto totally vegan, and top with thin slices of fresh sage if you have it.

03 of 25

Torta Pascualina - Spinach and Ricotta Tart

A tall, flaky tart reminiscent ofspanakopitamay not be a traditional holiday dish, but this torta pascualina is sure to be a hit. Full of spinach, mushroom, and cheeses and wrapped in puff pastry, it slices up like a dream.

04 of 25

Vegan Quinoa Salad

Thisquinoasalad made with cucumber, bell peppers, broccoli, and tomatoes gets a hint of brightness from a lemon-garlic vinaigrette. The rest of the good news? It's delicious, vegetarian,vegan, gluten-free, and takes about 30 minutes to prepare.

05 of 25

Easy Vegan and Gluten-Free Lentil Loaf

There's no better time to eat comfort food than on Thanksgiving, and a vegetarian meatloaf is all comfort. Lentils and rice create a satisfying texture that can be sliced. Serve this easy vegan and gluten-free lentil loaf with lots of ketchup and a side ofmashed potatoes.

06 of 25

Vegetarian Tofu Chili

Take your holiday meal to the Southwest with a protein-rich chili. With tender beans, tofu, mushrooms, veggies, and lots of spice, this vegetarian tofu chili is perfect served withhomemade cornbread. Offer cheese or sour cream on the side for any non-vegans.

07 of 25

Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash With Cornbread Stuffing

Instead of stuffing a turkey this Thanksgiving, stuff naturally sweet acorn squash. Use your favorite stuffing mix and jazz it up with veggies, herbs, and diced apple. Baked in the oven, the tops gets nice and crispy. Serve this vegetarian stuffed acorn squash with cornbread stuffing withvegetarian gravy.

08 of 25

Vegan "Chicken" Pot Pie

Wow your Thanksgiving guests with a homemade pot pie, made easy with puff pastry and vegan chicken. Fresh herbs and veggies keep this vegan "chicken" pot pie fresh and flavorful.

09 of 25

Curried Carrot and Turnip Soup

Despite its rich, velvety texture, this recipe for vegan curried carrot and turnip soup isdairy-free. Its creaminess is achieved by puréeing the cooked vegetables. This soup makes awonderfully satisfying appetizer or main course when fleshed out with a green salad and hot bread.

10 of 25

Mushroom Wellington

Even the meat-eaters will be clamoring for a taste of this gorgeous vegetarian version of the elegant beef wellington. Puff pastry surrounds a hearty mixture of butternut squash, sweet potato, portobello mushrooms, kale, and faro. Once it is baked until golden brown it served with a light tarragon cream sauce.

11 of 25

Butternut Squash Lasagna

One of fall's star vegetables shines in this delicious lasagna recipe. Butternut squash is roasted with some sage and then mashed before it is layered with bechamel sauce, a ricotta-mozzarella mixture, and fresh lasagna noodles. Grated Pecorino-Locatelli is sprinkled on top and then the pasta dish is baked until golden brown.

12 of 25

Vegetarian Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf

For an extra flavorful vegetarian wild rice and mushroom pilaf, cook wild and brown rice in high-qualityvegetable broth. Sliced mushrooms, onion, garlic, and herbs add depth. Toast your rice first to make it more, well, toasty.

13 of 25

Beet Galette With Feta Cheese and Za'atar

A homemade beet galette with feta cheese and za'atar—basically an open-faced pie—looks fantastic as the center of a dinner spread. A simple homemade pastry is rolled out, filled with feta cheese and sliced beets withza'atar(a Middle Eastern spice mix), and folded over the filling.

14 of 25

Butternut Squash Ravioli With White Wine Sauce

Pasta might be an unconventional choice for Thanksgiving, but this vegetarian butternut squash ravioli with white wine sauce is indulgent in all the right ways. A filling ofbutternut squashand a sauce of white wine, cream, and lemon are sure to please everyone.

15 of 25

Parmesan-Stuffed Mushrooms

These Parmesan cheese stuffed mushrooms are easy to prepare and bake. All you need to make this snack is a package ofwhole mushrooms, a few green onions, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and seasoning. Just sauté some of the filling ingredients, mix with the remaining filling ingredients, stuff the caps, and bake for 15 minutes. That's all there is to it!

16 of 25

Easy Vegetarian Pumpkin Soup

Super quick and easy, this easy vegetarian pumpkin soup can be made vegan if desired. By using unsweetenedcanned pumpkin, the whole dish comes together in no time at all and is a festive shade of orange.

17 of 25

Tomato Tart With Fillo and Feta Cream

For a true centerpiece, make a homemade veggie tart withfillo pastry. Fillo is super flaky, similar to puff pastry, and can be found in the frozen food aisle. If you can't find any decent tomatoes at your supermarket, top this tomato tart with fillo and feto cream with thinly sliced zucchini or bell pepper.

18 of 25

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Homemade pasta isn't as hard as it sounds, especially if you're making gnocchi. Sweet potatoes add sweetness, color, and make the dish Thanksgiving-appropriate. Coat these sweet potato gnocchi in a sauce of your choice, such as brown butter and sage orvegan tomato.

19 of 25

Slow Cooker Barley Casserole

Barley makes such a wonderful side dish. The whole grains are chewy and have a wonderful nutty taste. When properly cooked, barley is tender but still has a bit of a bite, similar to al dente pasta. It cooks very well in theslow cooker.

20 of 25

Hasselback Butternut Squash

For a simple dish with an impressive presentation, makehasselback butternut squash. The technique is easier than it may seem and is sure to impress your guests. A topping of toasted walnuts adds crunch.

21 of 25

Vegetarian Pumpkin Lasagna

This super cheesy vegetarian pumpkin lasagna replaces the typical tomato sauce with a creamy pumpkin puree. Using canned pumpkin means it comes together quickly and bakes while you finish preparing your meal. For a vegan lasagna, trythis versionwith cashew cheese sauce.

22 of 25

Homemade Vegetable Soup

A wide variety of vegetables and high-quality vegetable stock are the secret to making great homemade vegetable soup. It's a meal in a bowl, but will play nice with your festive side dishes. Don't forget thebreadbasket for soaking up broth.

23 of 25

Easy Vegetarian Pumpkin Dumplings

Vegetarian (and easily made vegan) dumplings make a unique and fun Thanksgiving dish. For a hands-on experience, have guests come early to stuff and fold their own dumplings. Serve these easy vegetarian pumpkin dumplings with a sprinkling of cheese, abrown butter sauce, or a soy dipping sauce.

24 of 25

Savory Spinach and Cheese Bread Pudding

Bring the stuffing into the spotlight with gourmet bread pudding with this savory spinach and cheese bread pudding recipe. Rustic cubes of bread are combined with spinach and cheese for a decadent dish that's fit for a special occasion and can feed a crowd.

25 of 25

Baked Acorn Squash

One simple and delicious way to bring on those wonderfully nostalgic fall weather feelings is by serving roasted acorn squash that's been sweetened with honey and brown sugar.