A vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner doesn't just have to be mashed potatoes and rolls! Check out this complete menu of delicious (and meatless) holiday worthy recipes.
I hope you've enjoyed the week of vegetarian Thanksgiving posts that I put together with Rikki!
I've gotten so used to working on my own as a blogger that it's nice to collaborate with someone else once in a while and see my food through another photographer's eyes (or camera lens).
And Rikki isn't just an amazing photographer, but she's also a great friend and mentor who totally gets my food, so I can't imagine working with anyone else.
I'm totally thrilled with how all of her photos turned out in these vegetarian recipes for a vegetarian thanksgiving menu!
Here's our complete menu of vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes:
Quinoa-Stuffed Acorn Squash Rings
Roasted acorn squash rings stuffed with quinoa, apples, cranberries, sage, and cheddar. A main dish for vegetarians that also works as a side dish for everyone else!
Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Creamy mashed sweet potatoes lightly sweetened with browned butter and topped with a stovetop pecan granola. The perfect alternative to the typical marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole.
Rosemary Roasted Carrots
Heirloom carrots make this simple Thanksgiving side dish a showstopper.
Green Beans & Lemon Parmesan Panko
Tender roasted green beans are finished with a crunchy lemon parmesan panko topping.
Wild Mushroom Gravy
Don't forget the gravy! This Wild Mushroom Gravy is the perfect accompaniment to your favorite mashed potato recipe.
Gluten-Free Vegan Stuffing
This is my favorite recipe from our Thanksgiving line-up. I'm usually not a big stuffing fan, but between the Whole Grain bread and fresh veggies, this was the best gluten free stuffing-no, the best stuffing, period-I've ever had.
Ginger Orange Cranberry Sauce
The secret ingredient in this cranberry sauce is ginger ale! Don't be too intimidated to make your own cranberry sauce--it couldn't be easier.
Easy Vegan Bread Pudding
Make this easy dessert a day in advance and let the bread pudding cook while you eat dinner, and this dessert is completely stress-free. Loaded with flavor from maple syrup, chopped nuts, and blueberries.
I hope we've been able to show you that a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner doesn't have to be about sacrifice or bland food or sad meat substitutes.
As I like to say, when the food you're eating is good, you focus on what's on your plate, not what's missing from it! Thanksgiving is about gratitude, family, and friends - not turkey.
And if you're still planning that menu, be sure to check out our new Vegan Thanksgiving Cookbook too!
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
Looks wonderful! I want that pumpkin bread asap...and of course most everything else. I need to eat breakfast. Enjoy your time off slacker. HA! I keed, I keed. Seriously have a great week!
Kiersten says
Yeah, I will probably spend some time everyday working still. But not a lot!
CJ at Food Stories says
Wow ... I love all these dishes but I think I just have to have those Quinoa-Stuffed Acorn Squash Rings 🙂
Kiersten says
They definitely make a great Thanksgiving main dish! 🙂
Meg @ Beard and Bonnet says
You have done such an AMAZING job with this Thanksgiving meal! You totally deserve time off to enjoy the holiday. These pictures are stunning and I bet that you and Rikki ate your hearts out after that awesome photo shoot!
Kiersten says
Thank you! After spending so much time on Thanksgiving recipes, I'm feeling like I will probably want takeout on Thanksgiving next week. 😉
Kare @ Kitchen Treaty says
What a stunning Thanksgiving meal! I loved this week of posts. So many scrumptious recipes that proved time and again a dish doesn't have to contain meat to be marvelous. Enjoy your time off next week - you've been working hard!
Kiersten says
Thank you! I'm so looking forward to the 4 day weekend. 🙂
BusyWorkingMama says
Looks delicious!! I could go for a plate.
Shirley says
Beautiful table, and I wouldn't mind a plate right now! Fantastic collaboration.
Jennifer says
I am completely dying over this post! The carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce! I need to add these to my list of Thanksgiving recipes. I know I can't make them this year but you better believe next year these will all be on my table!
Kiersten says
Thank you! 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
A fantastic Thanksgiving menu. I love those stuffed acorn squash rings and carrots the most!
Jennifer The Quirky Momma says
Again, I thank you for your beautiful food. You have inspired me to become mostly vegetarian. I feel so much healthier and alive when I do not consume meat. I'm still eating the stuffed acorn/spaghetti squash rings and they are so amazingly delicious!
Can you tell that I'm overly excited about your recipes!?!?!? I could gush all day!
Kiersten says
I am so glad to hear that! People always think it's so hard to be vegetarian or that you spend every meal wishing you were eating steak or a hamburger, but it's so not true. 🙂
Cassie | Bake Your Day says
This is such a great menu. To be honest, the turkey has always been my least-favorite part of the menu, everything else is so vibrant and flavorful. You just got me excited for Thanksgiving this year!
Courtney Rae Jones says
Based on these recipes, I think it's due time I start celebrating American Thanksgiving 🙂 Everything looks so so delicious! Love this menu. Great recipes and beautiful photos.
Kiersten says
Thank you, Courtney!
sarah@thesweetlife says
looks stunning! i can't imagine even the most carnivorous person being able to pass this up! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times to show off how good vegan/vegetarian food can be.
Kiersten says
Thank you! And yes, I really feel like with all the amazing things there are to eat on Thanksgiving, the turkey is the LEAST impressive. At least, that's how I always felt when I was a kid!
gem says
That all looks divine, but my fave would be the pumpkin bread pudding =)
Kiersten says
That was my husband's favorite too!
Rachel (Two Healthy Plates) says
What a delicious spread and gorgeous too! I'd be happy to eat all of this and wouldn't miss meat even a tiny bit!
Kiersten says
Thank you! That's kind of the ulterior motive with my blog. Distract everything with tasty food so they forget there's no meat in anything. 😉
Rachel (Two Healthy Plates) says
Nice! I was vegetarian for a long time so I can take it or leave it without thinking a thing. It's crazy though - so many people I know have to have meat at every meal or they don't consider it a complete dish.
Jessi says
Congratz! It came out beautifully!
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
What a wonderful looking dinner!
Robin says
As a matter of fact, I have enjoyed your Thanksgiving posts over the past week. I actually sent your link to my sister-in-law, who is a vegetarian, because you post some great stuff over here 🙂
Kiersten says
Thank you! And feel free to tell everyone you know about my blog. 😉
Parsley Sage says
OHMIGOSH! Can I come over to your house for Thanksgiving?! What an incredible spread. The Wild Mushroom Gravy made my brain go 'waaaaaaaah!?'
Kiersten says
Well, I think we will probably get takeout for Thanksgiving after I spent the past few months working on these recipes--LOL! It's been Thanksgiving here since September. 😉
Shell Fruscione says
Those whipped sweet potatoes look so good! I may make those to bring to Thanksgiving!
Kiersten says
They are crazy easy to make too! Which is always a good thing, right?
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says
Serious Yum! I am seriously going to need a fork lift to move me to the couch after Thanksgiving next week.
Kiersten says
I'm trying to watch what I eat now so I can eat more on Thanksgiving, but I'm sure it won't work out that way--ha.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
Except for the mushrooms, I'd eat every bite. Truly delicious!
Brenda Williams says
Such a beautiful spread! Wow everything looks so good. Awesome job!
Maureen @ Wisconsin Mommy says
Oh my gosh, that looks so delicious!! I don;t think anyone would miss the meat!
luv what you do says
Everything looks incredible! My mouth is watering looking through all of your pictures!
Kiersten says
Thank you! Rikki did such an amazing job with the photos--I can't believe that's my food! 🙂
Crista says
OMG all of this looks so amazing. I may make many of these dishes on Black Friday when I do my (annual) vegan Thanksgiving meal. Thank you for the great ideas and the beautiful photography!
Kiersten says
Thank you! I hope you enjoy them! 🙂