Top 10 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes

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.

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Got an Instant Pot? Try Instant Pot Acorn Squash

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.

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.

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

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. While this meatless main dish could work for any meal, it’s especially lovely on the Thanksgiving table.

Acorn squash is Thanksgiving perfect: it’s a tender, sweet squash with edible skin. Here, we’ve chopped it into quarters and topped it with a Mediterranean-style wild rice stuffing. The tender grains are mixed with pistachios, kale and feta. It’s a delicious main dish that’s showy and crowd-pleasing.