Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes
Serve a meal made just for veggie-lovers this Thanksgiving with these six meat-free recipes:
Appetizer: Toasted Walnuts with Tart Cherries and Rosemary Side Dish: Chopped Green Bean Salad with Manchego Side Dish: Hasselback Potatoes with Seasoned Bread Crumbs Side Dish: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples, Cherries, and Pecans Main Dish: Pumpkin Mac and Cheese Dessert: Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie
Learn more about each of these delicious vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes below.
Appetizer: Toasted Walnuts with Tart Cherries and Rosemary
You only need six ingredients to kick off your vegetarian Thanksgiving meal. Coat walnuts in butter; mix with salt, pepper, and rosemary; toast until lightly browned. For a hint of sweetness, mix with dried tart cherries, and you’ll have a fun and festive combination. Set these out for guests to snack on (maybe with a few different cheeses and crackers) so they don’t get antsy for dinner to start. It may seem like a simple snack, but it’ll tide everyone over until you bring out your vegetarian Thanksgiving sides and main course. Test Kitchen Tip: If you’re not a fan of walnuts, switch it up and use Marcona almonds or pecans instead. Get the recipe: Toasted Walnuts with Tart Cherries and Rosemary
Salad: Chopped Green Bean Salad with Manchego
Prove all your relatives wrong who say you can’t get enough protein in a vegetarian dish. With 16 grams of protein per serving, this side alone makes sure everyone has the energy they need for the holiday. In this dish, your vegetarian Thanksgiving protein comes from three sources:
Manchego cheese (7 grams per ounce)Almonds (20 grams per cup)Farro (8 grams per cooked cup)
Don’t “chop” this dish from your vegetarian Thanksgiving menu if you’re not a Manchego fan—just switch it out for Asiago or Parmesan if you prefer! Get the recipe: Chopped Green Bean Salad with Manchego
Potato Side Dish: Hasselback Potatoes with Seasoned Bread Crumbs
These potatoes are anything but boring. With a showy appearance and the flavor to back it up, these are proof that you don’t need meat to make a meal memorable. Salted buttery potatoes are enhanced with a crumb mixture that includes bread, cheese, chives, and thyme. Your guests will be thinking about this vegetarian Thanksgiving side dish long after the meal is over! Make-Ahead Tip: These potatoes can be sliced and soaked for up to 24 hours in advance of your vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner. Get the recipe: Hasselback Potatoes with Seasoned Bread Crumbs
Fruit and Vegetable Side Dish: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples, Cherries, and Pecans
You know that roasting vegetables makes them taste amazing, but did you also know you can roast fruits and nuts beside them for a simple sheet-pan side? Step 1: Give your seasoned sprouts a head-start in the oven. Step 2: After 15 minutes of roasting, add in apples, dried cherries, and pecans; roast for 10 minutes more. Step 3: Drizzle with a tasty vinaigrette and toss to coat. The best news of all? This delicious vegetarian side dish can be made in just 30 minutes. Even if you wait until the last minute to start working on your vegetarian Thanksgiving menu, you’ll still have time for this veggie side. Get the recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples, Cherries, and Pecans
Entrée: Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is a dish vegetarians and meat-eaters alike can agree on. Who can resist a scoop of gooey, cheesy pasta that’s reminiscent of childhood? To take it to the next level, this mac and cheese is all grown up now and infused with sophisticated fall flavors like sage and pumpkin. Stir in whipping cream, milk, butter, and plenty of cheese (of course), and this mac and cheese has all the essentials. If you’re declaring your holiday as a vegetarian Thanksgiving, we can’t think of a better entrée to serve than this tasty, comfort-food pasta dish. Get the recipe: Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Dessert: Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie
We love our pumpkin spice lattes (#PSL for life), but it’s time to introduce #PSLP—pumpkin spice latte pie. It has all the elements of classic pumpkin pie, like a flaky crust, sweet brown sugar, and whipped cream topping. This pie gets an update any barista would approve of, with espresso added into the pumpkin filling. A drizzle of caramel sauce and a sprinkle of spice on the whipped cream topper finish the pie just like your favorite latte. This vegetarian dessert may come at the end of the meal, but it’ll still steal the show. Get the recipe: Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie
