25 Vegetarian and Vegan Thanksgiving Main Dish Recipes

Vegan chicken pot pies

The Spruce Eats / Lori Pedrick

Just because you're vegetarian or vegan doesn't mean you can't have an amazing Thanksgiving meal. If you're looking for main dish ideas for your holiday feast, look no further! After you've picked a main attraction (or two), get some side dish and dessert inspiration.

  • 01 of 25

    Vegetarian Barley Stuffed Squash

    Vegetarian Barley Stuffed Squash

    The Spruce / National Barley Foods Council

    Nutritious whole-grain barley makes a flavorful filling for tender acorn 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

    Vegan pumpkin risotto

    The Spruce 

    Risotto is 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

    Torta Pascualina - Spinach and Ricotta Tart

    The Spruce / Marian Blazes 

    A tall, flaky tart reminiscent of spanakopita may 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

    Vegetarian/Vegan/Gluten-Free Quinoa Salad

    The Spruce 

    This quinoa salad 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.

    Continue to 5 of 25 below.
  • 05 of 25

    Easy Vegan and Gluten-Free Lentil Loaf

    Easy Vegan and Gluten-Free Lentil Loaf

    The Spruce

    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 of mashed potatoes.

  • 06 of 25

    Vegetarian Tofu Chili

    Vegetarian Tofu Chili

    katerinabelaya / Getty Images

    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 with homemade cornbread. Offer cheese or sour cream on the side for any non-vegans.

  • 07 of 25

    Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash With Cornbread Stuffing

    Acorn squash recipe

    The Spruce / Victoria Heydt

    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 with vegetarian gravy.

  • 08 of 25

    Vegan "Chicken" Pot Pie

    Vegan chicken pot pies

    The Spruce Eats / Lori Pedrick

    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.

    Continue to 9 of 25 below.
  • 09 of 25

    Curried Carrot and Turnip Soup

    Curried Carrot and Turnip Soup

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

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

  • 10 of 25

    Mushroom Wellington

    mushroom wellington

    The Spruce/Diana Chistruga

    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

    butternut squash lasagna

    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo

    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

    Vegetarian wild rice and mushroom pilaf

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

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

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  • 13 of 25

    Beet Galette With Feta Cheese and Za'atar

    Beet Galette with Feta Cheese and Za'atar

    The Spruce / Anita Schecter

    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 with za'atar (a Middle Eastern spice mix), and folded over the filling.

  • 14 of 25

    Butternut Squash Ravioli With White Wine Sauce

    Butternut Squash Ravioli

    The Spruce

    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 of butternut squash and a sauce of white wine, cream, and lemon are sure to please everyone.

  • 15 of 25

    Parmesan-Stuffed Mushrooms

    Parmesan Stuffed Mushrooms
    Diana Rattray.

    These Parmesan cheese stuffed mushrooms are easy to prepare and bake. All you need to make this snack is a package of whole 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

    Easy Vegetarian Pumpkin Soup

    Sandra O'Claire / Getty Images

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

    Continue to 17 of 25 below.
  • 17 of 25

    Tomato Tart With Fillo and Feta Cream

    Tomato Tart with Filo and Feta Cream

    The Spruce / Anita Schecter

    For a true centerpiece, make a homemade veggie tart with fillo 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

    Sweet Potato Gnocchi

    The Spruce / Molly Watson

    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 or vegan tomato.

  • 19 of 25

    Slow Cooker Barley Casserole

    Barley Casserole

    nata_vkusidey / Getty Images

    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 the slow cooker.

  • 20 of 25

    Hasselback Butternut Squash

    Hasselback Butternut Squash

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney 

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

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  • 21 of 25

    Vegetarian Pumpkin Lasagna

    Vegetarian pumpkin lasagna recipe

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

    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, try this version with cashew cheese sauce.

  • 22 of 25

    Homemade Vegetable Soup

    Easy Homemade Vegetable Soup

    The Spruce

    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 the bread basket for soaking up broth.

  • 23 of 25

    Easy Vegetarian Pumpkin Dumplings

    Easy vegetarian pumpkin dumplings

    The Spruce 

    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, a brown butter sauce, or a soy dipping sauce.

  • 24 of 25

    Savory Spinach and Cheese Bread Pudding

    Savory Spinach and Cheese Bread Pudding

    The Spruce / Molly Watson

    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.

    Continue to 25 of 25 below.
  • 25 of 25

    Baked Acorn Squash

    Baked Acorn Squash on a plate with a knife and fork

    The Spruce Eats / Stephanie Goldfinger

    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.