A vegetarian Thanksgiving meal may leave some of your family members puzzled, but they won’t even be thinking about the bird while they’re filling up on these delicious, meat-free side dishes.
These maple cinnamon sweet potatoes are seasoned with cozy flavors and roasted to perfection—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They’re easy to prepare and packed with flavor, tossed in a glaze consisting of olive oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, salt and pepper.
You just put everything in a pot and give it a few stirs as it simmers—the berries will burst and cook down into a thick, gorgeously-colored sauce. After popping it into the refrigerator for a few hours, it’ll be ready to serve! You can even make it a few days in advance.
Roasted Acorn Squash with Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Stuffing
For someone who doesn’t like stuffing, this is phenomenal! Once you sauté the onions, garlic, pepper, and mushrooms, you just add the quinoa and toppings and serve. You won’t miss the bland, old breaded stuffing one bit.
Green Beans with Caramelized Shallots and Almonds
Add some green to your Thanksgiving menu with this flavorful recipe for crisp and fresh-tasting green beans coated lightly with coconut oil, a little sweetness from caramelized shallots, and a pop of flavor from finely chopped parsley.
Mashed Potatoes with Wild Mushroom Gravy
You won’t miss traditional gravy one bit! Paired with your favorite mashed potato recipe, the mushrooms give off a nice umami flavor—a great substitute for the fat and juices from turkey.
French Bread Stuffing with Swiss Chard and Caramelized Red Onions
This stuffing combines the perfect amount of flavor to saturate the bread before it is baked and browned in the oven. The Swiss chard and caramelized red onions are what make this stuffing so good!
Roasted Cauliflower with Dates, Pine Nuts, and Thyme
As side dishes go, this roasted cauliflower couldn’t be easier. Chop up your cauliflower into florets, toss with olive oil and spices, and place into the oven. While that’s cooking, toast some pine nuts and chop a handful of dates.
Spinach, Pear, and Feta Salad with Walnuts and Pomegranate Arils
Sweet pears, tangy feta, crunchy pomegranates, and mellow walnuts—the easiest salad to throw together. You can arrange the salad by layers or toss it all together. Once it’s set, drizzle the salad with dressing just before serving.
With nearly three pounds of leafy greens, this dish is as dense and hearty as it gets. Unlike most au gratin dishes that are soupy, this dish has just enough sauce to bind and flavor the spinach with a high-quality Monterrey Jack or Gruyere cheese.
Your vegetarian Turkey Day doesn’t have to be about bland food or sad tofu substitutes because when the food you’re eating is good, you focus on what’s on your plate—not what’s missing from it.