18 Vegetable-Based Recipes to Lighten Up Your Thanksgiving Menu (2024)

16 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes Your Meat-Free Guests Will Love

Whole-Wheat-Bread-and-Apple Stuffing

Not only is this stuffing packed full of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables like onions, fennel, and apples, but it utilizes hearty whole-wheat bread instead of more processed sandwich bread. If you want to keep it vegetarian, use a flavorful vegetable broth in lieu of turkey or chicken stock.

Roasted-Squash-and-Parsnip Soup

Whether served as a side or a main, this soup is bursting with fall flavors, thanks to honeynut squash, parsnips, apples, and seasonal herbs like thyme and sage. We like to make it more nutritious by adding a generous sprinkle of heart-healthy seeds on top.

Roasted Kabocha Squash with Tahini and Herb Salad

Seasonal squash like kabocha is at its peak this time of year, so why not use it to make this flavorful side dish? Roast the wedges until tender, then nestle them over a bed of tahini yogurt. Finish the dish with a sprinkle of whatever herbs you’re using for the rest of your meal.

Broccoli, Herb, and Pistachio “Grain” Salad

This may not be the most popular opinion, but each year, we look forward to the salad the most. The lightly steamed broccoli florets in this recipe mimic the texture of a grain salad, and this one is complete with other unequivocally autumnal flavors, like apple and pomegranate.

Simple Braised Leeks

For a dish that only has a few tablespoons of fat, these leeks sure do slice like butter. When braised, leeks become sunken and almost melt into the skillet. Be sure to wash them thoroughly before cooking—the last thing you want is to serve your guests sandy leeks.

Sweet-Potato-and-Sage Tian

In addition to being pretty enough to upstage the turkey, this sweet potato casserole, complete with a creamy sage sauce, smells incredible as it bakes. Use a mandolin for perfect potato rounds or slice by hand and embrace a more organic shape.

Brussels Sprout Salad with Avocado and Pumpkin Seeds

A crisp, raw salad complements warm, roasted dishes on the Thanksgiving table. Here, crunchy Brussels sprout leaves and creamy avocado are tossed in a tart dressing and finished with toasted pumpkin seeds. Bright citrus segments or halved seedless grapes would make a beautiful and tasty sweet addition to this dish.

Acorn Squash with Mixed-Grain Stuffing

They taste as good as they look; for this spectacular vegan main, acorn squash halves are filled with a subtly spiced wheatberry, cremini and button mushroom, and golden raisin stuffing and served with a jewel-like pomegranate relish. If this make-ahead dish is going to be more of a side, fill and slice into quarters, allowing for everyone to add a smaller portion to their plate.

Olive-Oil Mashed Potatoes with Garlic and Sage

Mashed potatoes, a signature Thanksgiving side, gets a healthy and tasty upgrade in this recipe. Skip the heavy cream and finishing the dish with a flavorful sage-infused olive oil instead. For extra flavor, garlic cloves are boiled alongside the potatoes until tender, lending a creamy allium bite to this mash.

Delicata Squash Salad with Kale and Cranberry Beans

A satisfying fall salad that combines raw and cooked elements is just right for the Thanksgiving feast. Here, hearty grains, slices of roasted delicata squash, and tender cranberry beans are tossed with fresh kale and a warm vinaigrette. This side tastes great warm or at room temperature, meaning you can prep and dress it in advance.

Roasted Carrots with Parsley Yogurt

Yogurt infused with parsley, mint, and briny feta bring a burst of freshness to these perfectly roasted and caramelized carrots. Although it's simple to make, this combination of flavors and colors brings major gourmet vibes to the Thanksgiving table.

Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Green Herb Sauce

For those who don't do turkey, this whole roasted cauliflower makes a stunning main (it also makes a stellar side for those who do eat meat). Roasting the head whole achieves dueling textures, caramelized on the outside with nutty brown bits opposed to the super tender inside that can literally be cut with a spoon. Don't skip the green herb sauce but do also serve this with Cranberry Relish—it's a delightful Thanksgiving upgrade.

Farro Salad with Oven-Roasted Grapes and Autumn Greens

A lush yet hearty grain salad starring farro is with pops of sweetness from roasted concord and red grapes and delicate autumn greens. For the prettiest presentation, buy extra grapes and garnish the bowl or platter with a small bunch or two.

Braised Celery

Often overlooked, celery deserves to be the star once in a while; in this recipe, it gets the attention it deserves. Braising tenderizes the beautiful crunchy stalks until they almost melt in your mouth, tempering the celery flavor while adding in notes of thyme and chicken broth. Clocking in at only five ingredients, this easy vegetable side is a no brainer to include on your menu.

Warm Spinach Salad with Shiitake Mushrooms and Red Onion

A mix of textures and flavors keep this warm spinach and mushroom dish fresh and exciting. Most of the spinach is kept raw and just slightly wilted with a drizzle of warm white balsamic dressing, while the remainder is sautéed until silky tender with the shiitake mushrooms. Quick-pickled red onion and toasted sesame seeds add a pop of color and bite to the final presentation.

Mixed Chicories with Persimmons

Cool, crisp green salads offset heavier Thanksgiving fare, here a beautiful mix of fall chicories is combined with persimmons, a fruit that you can only get in season and is well worth seeking out. If you love this salad but aren't seeing persimmon at the market, swap in thinly sliced pear or apple instead.

Miso-Watercress Green Beans

Another fresh way to present green beans, this dish is packed with umami and has a peppery bite. An initial sizzle of the green beans in the skillet boosts flavor, but a quick steam with the lid on tenderizes them before they are tossed with watercress, miso, and lemon.

Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Green Apple, and Honey

Tart apples, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy beets is a culinary combination that never ceases to please. In this colorful salad, the trio are tossed with a sweet and zingy honey-lemon dressing and topped with good-for-you sprouts.