Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes
Thanksgiving is all about comfort on the table but if you eat vegetarian or vegan or you’re hosting vegetarian guests, it can feel tricky to plan a complete vegetarian Thanksgiving menu. So I’ve put together all the vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes mains, classic potato sides, cranberry dishes, appetisers, brunch ideas and desserts all in one place for a plant based holiday feast.

In this post, I am sharing my best vegetarian and vegan Thanksgiving recipes. Everything for your plant-based holiday feast and Thanksgiving table and make it a Happy Thanksgiving!
Start with the master collection here: All Thanksgiving Recipes
- When you’re celebrating Thanksgiving for vegetarians or hosting plant based food lovers
- you’re doing a Friendsgiving,
- or you just want cosy, holiday-style vegetarian food.
How to Build a Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu
A vegetarian Thanksgiving doesn’t need a turkey — it needs one hero dish + comforting sides + something cranberry + dessert.
Formula you can follow:
- 1 showstopper main: like Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce
- 2–3 sides: e.g. Scalloped Potatoes, Irish Colcannon, Air Fryer Parmesan Cauliflower
- 1 cranberry dish: Classic Cranberry Sauce or Cranberry Rice Pilaf
- 1–2 appetisers or dips: Chili Crisp Greek Yogurt Dip, Cheese Balls
- 1 dessert: Eggless Cranberry Walnut Tea Cake or Crinkle Top Brownies
Best Vegetarian Thanksgiving Mains
- Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini sauce is your vegetarian Thanksgiving showpiece. It looks festive, it’s easy to carve at the table. Serve with mushroom gravy and cranberry rice pilaf for a complete plate.
- Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms.
- Crispy Tofu In Easy Satay Sauce
Great for smaller gatherings or when you want veg mains.
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Sides & Potatoes
Air Fryer Thanksgiving Recipe
air fryer thanksgiving recipes, easy vegetarian thanksgiving sides
- Easy Irish Colcannon Recipe: Mashed potatoes + greens perfect to pair with roasted cauliflower.
- Scalloped Potatoes Recipe: Creamy, baked, classic this is my go to vegetarian Thanksgiving side.
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower in Air Fryer.
- You can make this vegetarian gravy two ways
- Mushroom Gravy (Vegetarian): You can serve this mushroom gravy over scalloped potatoes, colcannon or even the roasted cauliflower.
- Mushroom Butter Beans Gravy
Cranberry Recipes for Thanksgiving
- Classic Cranberry Sauce Recipe: Must-have. It can be made ahead and chilled.
- Cranberry Rice Pilaf
Appetisers, Dips & Party Nibbles
- Chili Crisp Greek Yogurt Dip: Serve with veggie sticks, crackers, or put it on a snack board before dinner.
- Cheese Balls Recipe: Easy vegetarian party starter for Thanksgiving guests.
Thanksgiving Weekend Vegetarian Brunch Ideas
If you are planning a brunch for thanksgiving these are a few of my favourites to serve for Thanksgiving brunch table.
Pair Them with Some of my favourite beverages perfect for your vegetarian brunch table for thanksgiving or any other day.
- Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Masala Chai Latte
- Strawberry Matcha Latte
- Vegan Cold Coffee- No Milk Required
- Iced Matcha Latte
- Mango Lassi Recipe
Festive Salads For ThanksGiving
No thanksgiving table is complete without colourful salads to celebrate the seasonal salads here are a few salad recipes for vegetarian thanksgiving menu. You can try more Salads Recipes that are equally delicious.
Desserts For Thanksgiving
- Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies: bake ahead and store in airtight container
- Eggless Cranberry Walnut Tea Cake: Holiday flavour + eggless
- Ultimate Fudgy Crinkle Top Brownie: Good chocolate based dessert to balance cranberry.
Make Ahead, Storage & Reheating Tips
- Cranberry Sauce: make 3–4 days ahead, refrigerate in glass jar.
- Cranberry Rice Pilaf: cook, cool, refrigerate; reheat with 1–2 tbsp stock/water.
- Scalloped Potatoes: bake earlier in the day; reheat covered so the top doesn’t dry.
- Dips/Cheese Balls: make a day before and chill.
- Mushroom Gravy: make, cool, refrigerate; reheat gently and thin with stock/milk.
Most of these vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes can be made ahead, which is useful if you’re cooking in a smaller kitchen or you’re working on just a single oven for vegetarian guests or people who love vegan plant based dishes.
Equipment & Serving Suggestions (Great for Small Kitchens)
- Air Fryer: for the Parmesan roasted cauliflower and other dishes.
- 9×13 casserole baking dish: for scalloped potatoes.
- Heavy pan: Making Dishes
- Dutch oven: for keeping gravies warm.
- Airtight containers: for make ahead cranberry dishes.
- Oven to table serving dishes: saves time and looks festive.
FAQs about Vegetarian Thanksgiving
Are all these Thanksgiving recipes vegetarian?
Yes, this roundup features vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes only, already published on My Tasty Curry. You can build a complete menu from these.
Can I make this menu in a small vegetarian kitchen (small oven / no turkey)?
Absolutely. Most dishes are stove-top, air-fryer or casserole-based. Cranberry rice pilaf is especially good for Indian kitchens.
What’s the best vegetarian main for Thanksgiving?
The Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce is the most festive and works well as a centrepiece.
Can I make these ahead?
Yes! cranberry sauce, pilaf, dips and even potatoes can be prepped in advance. See the make-ahead section above.
More Thanksgiving Recipes on My Tasty Curry
- Main hub: https://mytastycurry.com/thanksgiving-recipes/
- Paginated feed: https://mytastycurry.com/thanksgiving-recipes/page/3/