9 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes

Being the only vegetarian in my family, Thanksgiving can be a tough time. This holiday is defined by eating Turkey so it's often hard to find much to eat at Thanksgiving dinner as a vegetarian.

If you are looking to make a vegetarian thanksgiving feast or if you want to make something special for the vegetarian in your life this thanksgiving, try these delicious vegetarian thanksgiving recipes. This is my menu for a cruelty-free thanksgiving!

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes - Garlic Tofurky

That's right, it's vegetarian turkey. I have this every year instead of traditional turkey. You can just cook the Tofurky as it is or you can spice it up with this, the king of all vegetarian thanksgiving recipes.

Ingredients:

1 Tofurky Roast

2-3 tablespoons garlic, minced

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Combine the garlic, oil and soy sauce in small bowl.

Place the Tofurky on a sheet of aluminum foil, big enough to wrap the entire thing and place into a baking pan.

Spoon the sauce over the Tofurky, wrap in aluminum foil as tightly as possible and roast for 1 ½ - 2 hours or until cooked through.

When it comes to vegetarian thanksgiving recipes, Garlic Tofurky is at the top of the list for taste and similarity to traditional thanksgiving dishes.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes - Vegetarian Cornbread Stuffing

It's just not thanksgiving without the stuffing. My mother makes this for me every thanksgiving and it's one of the most delicious vegetarian thanksgiving recipes I've found.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 cup mushrooms, chopped

1 cup celery, chopped

¾ cup prepared cornbread, cubed

1 ½ cup vegetable broth

½ teaspoon sage

½ teaspoon thyme

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:

Add olive oil to a warm skillet. Add onion, mushrooms and celery and sauté until the veggies are tender, about four or five minutes.

Remove the skillet from the heat and add all the remaining ingredients. Mix well, making sure that the cornbread cubes are completely moistened.

Grease a casserole dish with olive oil or spray with cooking spray. Spoon the stuffing mixture into the dish and pack down tightly.

Brush the top with olive oil and cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 375 degrees F for fifty-sixty minutes.

Some vegetarian thanksgiving recipes are better. I've tried tons of different vegetarian thanksgiving recipes over the years and this stuffing is the best out there.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes - Ranch Mashed Potatoes

This is one of those vegetarian thanksgiving recipes that everyone loves; children, vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.

Ingredients:

4-6 medium potatoes, with or without skins

1 package ranch dressing mix

½ - ¾ cup milk

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

Directions:
Dice potatoes and boil in salted water until tender. Drain.

Add ranch dressing mix, milk and butter. Beat until desired consistency is attained.

Most of these vegetarian thanksgiving recipes can be made anytime, not just Thanksgiving, including these ranch mashed potatoes.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes - Vegetarian Wild Rice Pilaf

This is a delicious wild rice pilaf that my mother invented for our thanksgiving dinners. This is one of the vegetarian thanksgiving recipes that everyone will enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 cup raw wild rice

¼ cup butter

½ cup chopped onion

¾ cup chopped celery

¼ cup chopped carrots

1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced

3 cups vegetable broth

¼ cup slivered almonds

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Toast almonds by placing them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the wild rice and vegetables. Sauté until the veggies are thoroughly cooked.

Add the vegetable broth, cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until rice is tender.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Top with toasted almonds before serving.

My family enjoys vegetarian thanksgiving recipes such as these throughout the year. This rice pilaf is great anytime but fits in especially well with a vegetarian thanksgiving.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes - Vegan Green Bean Casserole

This is an alternative method for making green bean casserole, that delicious thanksgiving staple. This is one of the vegetarian thanksgiving recipes that are suitable for vegans.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 large container French fried onions

1 1/12 cups soy milk

1 vegetable bouillon cube

3 tablespoons cornstarch

3 tablespoons water

1 (10 oz.) can green beans, any style

1 cup onion, diced

½ cup carrot, chopped

¾ cup mushrooms, chopped

½ teaspoon garlic

½ teaspoon basil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat the soy milk and vegetable bouillon cube in a sauce pan. Stir constantly until bouillon is dissolved. Be careful not to boil the soy milk.

Warm vegetable oil in a large skillet and add the fresh vegetables. Sauté until the veggies are tender.

Add garlic, basil, salt and pepper to taste. Mix well to coat the veggies.

In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water. Add to the soy milk mixture. Stir well and quickly add the can of green beans, the veggies, and about 1/3 of the container of French fried onion.

Pour the mixture into a casserole dish and top with the remaining French fried onions. Bake for 15 minutes or until the casserole begins to brown.

Using vegan ingredients, as is the case in some of these vegetarian thanksgiving recipes, can make most any dish vegan as opposed to vegetarian.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes - Vegan Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is always present on the Thanksgiving table. Try one of these vegetarian thanksgiving recipes for cranberry sauce that are suitable for vegans as well.

Ingredients:

1 (14 oz.) bag frozen cranberries

½ cup water

1 ¼ cup sugar

1 lemon, juiced

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except sugar in a medium sauce pan. Cover and cook over medium heat for ten minutes.

After ten minutes, add the sugar to the cranberry mixture. Stir to dissolve the sugar and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Chill for at least two hours before serving. I usually make this the day before and allow it to chill overnight.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes - Vegan Cranberry Sauce Variation

If you prefer a smoother cranberry sauce, you can use the above vegetarian thanksgiving recipe for vegan cranberry sauce but before adding the sugar place the cranberry mixture into a food processor or blender. Process until smooth, then return to the pan, add sugar and cook for 2-3 more minutes. Chill as advised above. This is my favorite of the two vegetarian thanksgiving recipes for cranberry sauce. It makes a jellied-type sauce.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes - Tofu Pumpkin Pie

If you think you don't like tofu, wait until you try this pie. This is one of the most requested vegetarian thanksgiving recipes at my house. My family doesn't even realize it's made out of tofu.

Ingredients:

1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree

1 ¼ cup brown sugar

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon allspice

1 (10 oz.) package soft tofu

1 (9 inch) graham cracker pie crust

1 container whipped topping

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine tofu, pumpkin and sugar in a food processor or blender. Process until the mixture is creamy.

Add salt and spices and mix thoroughly.

Pour the pumpkin mixture into the pie crust and bake for 55 minutes.

Cover and chill for at least two hours before serving. I usually make it the night before and chill overnight.

Serve with a dollop of whipped topping.

These are vegetarian thanksgiving recipes that you can fool your family with! No one will suspect they are eating tofu when they try this!

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes - Chocolate Pecan Pie

This is a variation of the traditional pecan pie, made for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. This is one of the best vegetarian thanksgiving recipes for a dessert my family has found.

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs

1/3 cup melted butter

2 cups pecans, chopped

1 cup chocolate chips*

½ cup maple syrup

¼ cup coffee liqueur such as Kahlua

4 tablespoons milk or soy milk

2 tablespoons corn starch

2 tablespoons molasses

½ teaspoon salt

*You can substitute the chocolate chips for carob chips to make this one of the best vegetarian thanksgiving recipes for vegans.

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix the crumbs with the melted butter and press into the bottom and sides of a 9" pie pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes and then remove from the oven.

Meanwhile, combine soy milk and cornstarch in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk the mixture until frothy.

Add the syrup, molasses, liqueur and salt. Mix well.

Add chocolate chips and pecans and combine thoroughly.

Pour the mixture into the pie crust and bake for 45 minutes. Let cool completely before serving.

These vegetarian thanksgiving recipes are sure to please everyone!