This article is for all of my fellow vegetarians out there. Growing up, all I would hear around Thanksgiving time is how all of my friends are looking forward to stuffing their faces with turkey, complete with stuffing and gravy. Some of them would talk about the mouth-watering chicken or the ham that their families are bringing over. I never understood the hype surrounding Thanksgiving food because my Thanksgiving dinner always consisted of brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. While the whole concept of Thanksgiving and being surrounded by family and friends is positive, my experience with Thanksgiving food has never been something to look forward to. At least, that was until I was able to find good vegetarian food that is perfect for Thanksgiving. For all my fellow vegetarians, here are a few dishes, with recipes included, that you can make for Thanksgiving that aren’t just mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables.
- Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto? I can practically taste those iconic autumn flavors on my tongue just thinking about it. This is a dish that even your meat-loving family members will want second servings of.
- As the weather gets colder, soup is a dish you can never go wrong with. This recipe for pumpkin soup even includes instructions on how to roast the pumpkin seeds in order to create a healthy snack out of them!
- This dish is my mom’s speciality for Thanksgiving dinner. I was skeptical about this dish at first – I mean, sweet potatoes and marshmallows? But this dish is definitely one that everyone should try, even the non-vegetarians.
- I’m obsessed with gnocchi, so I’m biased when I say you should definitely make this dish for Thanksgiving. Gnocchi made with the most iconic autumn flavors? It’s a perfect dish for Thanksgiving!
- I cannot stress this enough – I am obsessed with Spinach Artichoke Dip. This side dish is good for all my vegetarians out there that are struggling to find good food to make this Thanksgiving season. This is a side dish that everyone can enjoy.
- Creamed spinach, cheesy gratin, and crispy gnocchi all come together to form this mouthwatering dish. You can be assured that everyone in your family, from vegetarians to those who eat meat.
- I know I promised vegetarian recipes that aren’t just roasted vegetables, but brussel sprouts can actually be really delicious if cooked with the right recipe. As long as they have some flavor, these brussels sprouts are guaranteed to be a hit.
- Is it even a proper vegetarian Thanksgiving if you don’t have a kale salad? This salad even works for all the vegans out there, even though all vegetarians/vegans are sick of salads by now. I highly recommend this tasty kale salad!
- During Thanksgiving dinner, I always find it really hard to find main dishes that I can eat, and I normally end up having to eat a variety of side dishes. This squash and caramelized onion tart is a perfect main dish that everyone can enjoy.
- For all my vegans out there – this recipe is for you. This plant-based green bean casserole works as a good Thanksgiving main dish for all vegans. The recipe does call for butter, but you can use vegan butter or even olive oil as an alternative.
To all my vegetarians out there, don’t suffer to find good food for Thanksgiving dinner. Even if you didn’t like any of the recipes on my list, there are plenty of good vegetarian (and vegan) recipes out there that are perfect for this holiday season! Happy Thanksgiving!