9 Delicious Vegetarian Main Dishes to Serve This Thanksgiving
These elegant holiday entrées will never make your vegetarian guests feel like an afterthought.
Photo by Leigh Beisch; styling by Dan Becker
It almost feels like turkey is mandatory at Thanksgiving, but I like to look at it a different way: To me, Thanksgiving is really about sharing a feast, the more rich and filling the better. A centerpiece dish is important, but it doesn’t have to be turkey, or any other kind of meat, for that matter. The important thing is that it be easily shared, adaptable for a crowd, and worthy of a celebration. (Sorry, Tofurky.)
To that end, we’ve come up with some hearty, tasty vegetarian dishes that are perfect for sharing at Thanksgiving. No one will miss a dry old turkey after a bite of cheesy risotto, spicy lentils, or toothsome gnocchi.
When looking to bump turkey from its accustomed position at the center of the table, cheese is a go-to ingredient, providing a burst of fat and flavor, as well as some protein. Unsurprisingly, it features in many of these dishes. Vegetable broth is your friend, too; you can almost always swap it in when meat broth is called for without sacrificing flavor. Flavorful vegetables like caramelized onion or umami-rich mushrooms provide a lot of the same flavor profiles as meat and traditional stuffing and feel satisfying at Thanksgiving while still strictly toeing the vegetarian line.
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If you’re looking for a high-protein substitute for the bird, try some spiced lentils. Or, if you’re looking to achieve that belly-bursting feeling of satiation without necessarily indulging in a lot of fat, consider chewy gnocchi (which literally give you something to sink your teeth into), or pasta-like pearl couscous and fall vegetables.
You really can’t go wrong with any of these dishes, and whatever you end up making, your guests will all be thankful for your choice.
Sweet-Potato Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Spinach
This grand and very colorful vegetarian dish takes a little time to prepare, but you can make the gnocchi ahead and freeze them.
Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi
Browned butter, pine nuts, parmesan, and lemon zest put this vegetarian pasta dish over the top.
Flaky Feta Tart
We created this crisp, cheese- and herb-rich tart as an appetizer, but you can also serve it as a special-occasion vegetarian main dish for 5 to 6.
Caramelized Carrot Risotto
Everyone loves the jewel-like carrot pieces and mix of two cheeses in this elegant risotto. Feel free to swap in vegetable broth for the chicken broth if you’d like to make it vegetarian.
Gorgonzola and Radicchio Risotto
This creamy risotto features a younger, milder version of gorgonzola called gorgonzola dolce. To make it vegetarian, just use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Golden Cauliflower “Risotto”
Robust Italian fontina and white truffle oil add loads of flavor to low-carb “pasta.” The recipe is flexible if you want to increase quantities to serve a bigger group or use vegetable broth instead of chicken so the dish is vegetarian.
Spiced Red Lentils with Caramelized Onions and Spinach
Though the Indian seasonings are a departure from traditional Thanksgiving flavors, the bright vegetables in this vegan main dish are right in keeping with the holiday’s harvest theme. You can easily double it to serve a bigger group.
Pearl Couscous with Fall Vegetables and Caramelized Onions
A fragrant, brothy pile of chewy couscous, spicy Thanksgiving vegetables, and tangy-sweet onions: Move over, turkey!
Essential Thanksgiving Tools
We only recommend things we love. If you buy something through our site, we might earn a commission.
Made In Cookware’s Blue Carbon Steel Roasting Pan
Cheaper than the competition and induction-burner-compatible.
Shun Classic Blonde 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
Don’t bother with the single-purpose carving knife. Buy this chic, blonde, Pakawood-handled, Japanese-made chef’s knife that’s got all the ceremonial swagger but year-round usefulness.
John Boos Cutting Board
You’re going need that little juice groove. Made of antimicrobial maple, it’s handsome enough to use as a rustic serving platter.
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