Our Top 10 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes

Sorry, Butterball. It turns out it’s not just all about you.

A bowl of make-ahead mashed potatoes, topped with melted butter and black pepper
Photo:

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Let’s face it: While we might say that Thanksgiving is all about that turkey, we all know why we gather around that table every year: It’s for those side dishes! And that means veggies of all kinds, from potatoes and squash to corn, mushrooms, and beyond. So, whether you’re feeding that need for delicious side dishes or making sure your vegetarian friends and family members have plenty of options on the holiday, here are Allrecipes’s top 10 vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes.

01 of 10

Jiffy Corn Casserole

A baking dish of Jiffy corn casserole with a serving spoon, with a small plate of corn casserole in the background

Allrecipes/Qi Ai

This casserole has all the makings of a hearty Thanksgiving side: It’s cheesy with veggies like corn tucked in, and it even has a little kick thanks to some diced green chiles. “It's spicy comfort food perfection,” says Allrecipes user JESSIE6381.

02 of 10

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

A bowl of make-ahead mashed potatoes, topped with melted butter and black pepper

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

What’s the best part about this recipe for one of the all-time classic Thanksgiving sides? You can make it ahead of time–up to several days!–leaving you more time to be your best host. “We have made this for many holiday dinners,” comments Allrecipes user LAURENELYSE. “You can also put these in a Crock-Pot for 5 to 6 hours. It's a great way to keep them warm without the hassle of watching over them!”

03 of 10

Mouth-Watering Stuffed Mushrooms

A serving plate of stuffed mushrooms garnished with chopped parsley

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Every Thanksgiving menu needs a few appetizers to keep hungry guests out of the kitchen while you’re finishing  the gravy and bringing platters to the table. These creamy, baked-to-perfection mushroom bites are a sure bet to keep your guests satisfied, and you’ll be thrilled to know that they can be prepped and assembled up to two days in advance. No wonder this veggie standout has more than 4,200 ratings with an average of 4.7 stars.

04 of 10

Best Spinach Dip Ever

A hand dipping a chunk of sour dough bread into a bread bowl filled with spinach dip

Allrecipes/Julia Hartbeck

This dip–nabbing a five-star rating from more than 1,100 Allrecipes users–comes together quickly, is packed with flavor, and looks professional-grade in a bread bowl. It’s also very easy to customize to suit your menu; some users add cheese, others omit the water chestnuts. “I doubled the recipe for a big gathering & it was gone within a few hours with everyone asking for the recipe,” says Allrecipes user Joanne. “Hands down BEST spinach dip I've ever had!”

05 of 10

Squash Casserole

a large scoop of golden-brown yellow squash casserole on a blue plate sitting in front of a blue casserole dish

DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS 

This make-ahead dish is so hearty with its cheesy crust and rich, creamy filling, it could be a main dish. "My husband couldn't get enough of it,” comments Allrecipes community member cookinmadeez, “and it was hinted he wanted it for breakfast.” As a main or a side, this casserole lends itself to creative additions; some Allrecipes community members suggest adding onions, mushrooms, peppers, or bacon (for non-vegetarians) to the filling.

06 of 10

Quick Yeast Rolls

A linen-lined bowl of quick yeast rolls

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

These are the best, easiest dinner rolls to round out your Thanksgiving table, passed down from a great-great-grandmother to DCASH30526. This recipe uses just the essentials to deliver foolproof dinner rolls, easily baked and served in a muffin tin. “This is the yeast roll recipe I’ve wished for for years,” comments Allrecipes community member sbp9cf9xxk. “So easy to come together, great texture, instructions were very clear.”

07 of 10

Old-Fashioned Scalloped Corn

A baking dish of old fashioned scalloped corn with a serving spoon

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Scalloped corn! An all-American Midwestern classic, this recipe featuring cream-style corn and crushed saltines is so true to form that it could have been ripped from the pages of a 1950s grocery store catalog. “I fixed this for Thanksgiving to take to my parents,” comments Allrecipes community member KDEARTH2. “My Grandma (85yo) has been wanting the recipe since then, she states this is the best she has had. She is from the country and I remember visiting when she made everything from scratch… Well, if she said it is the best, then it must be!!!!”

08 of 10

Acorn Squash

high angle looking at two halves of baked acorn squash on a plate

DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS 

The best thing about roasting any squash is that you hardly need a recipe: Squash is so delicious on its own that nature makes it easy. This recipe calls for a little butter and brown sugar to play up acorn squash’s natural nuttiness. But don’t sleep on one Allrecipes user’s suggestion to add a teaspoon of bourbon to each acorn squash half before baking!

09 of 10

Mom's Traditional Creamed Onions

looking down at a bowl of creamed onions
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nostalgia is such a big part of Thanksgiving, and many Allrecipes users recall making this classic holiday side dish with their parents when they were kids. The basic recipe is perfect as is or you can add your own twists: herbs like fresh dill or spices like paprika.

10 of 10

Pineapple Stuffing

A blue, square baking dish of pineapple stuffing with a serving spoon

Allrecipes/Julia Hartbeck

No traditional Thanksgiving is complete without stuffing (or dressing, if you’re from the South), and this recipe gives everyone who loves a baked ham for the holiday the perfect stuffing complement: pineapple. “This stuffing is so good,” comments Allrecipes community member terrygillett, “it's almost a dessert!”

Chef John's Sweet Potato Casserole in a white casserole dish
Allrecipes

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