Eating a plant-based Thanksgiving is wonderful, but can sometimes present problems in the entree department! When the classic dish is turkey, the plant-based alternatives get creative to please you and all your guests. We’ve gathered up some entree inspo for you to cook up for your Thanksgiving meal!
Also, don’t forget to check out our ultimate guide to plant-based recipes for Thanksgiving!
1. Stuffed Entrees
Image Source: Roasted Butternut Squash with Mushroom Stuffing
Is anything more appetizing than a squash, eggplant, pepper, or any other veggie stuffed with a fantastic filling? Just looking at it makes you hungry for nourishing, hearty meals on your holiday table. These will feed your family and leave them with a smile on their faces! Get started with this Roasted Butternut Squash with Mushroom Stuffing from Julie Van den Kerchove, complete with an avocado cream drizzle. For another stuffed squash with nutty hazelnuts, walnuts and quinoa, try Kelly Williams‘ Nutty Quinoa Stuffed Delicata Squash!
Another squash dish that combines varieties of flavors for an interesting and delicious meal, this Sweet and Savory Wild Rice Stuffed Squash from Deena Mehta will be a crowd favorite. Not a squash fan? No problem! There are plenty of other awesome stuffed vegetables for you to try, like this Barley, Lentil, and Herb-Roasted Butternut Squash-Stuffed Eggplant from Frankie DeNell, or Stuffed Peppers With Vegetables, Wild Rice, and Lemongrass from Tori Cooper.
2. ‘Steaks’
Image Source: Portobello Steaks with Béarnaise Sauce
These plant-based steaks will blow your guests minds – they bring all the hearty indulgence of the classic dish, with their own veggie twist that is absolutely amazing. Slice these up for a great Thanksgiving plate! We recommend trying any one of these – take a look at these Portobello Steaks with Béarnaise Sauce from The Edgy Veg: 138 Carnivore-Approved Vegan Recipes to begin with. If you prefer gravy to bearnaise, whip up this Oil-Free Portobello Pepper Steak from The China Study Family Cookbook. Maybe you would like a different type of mushrooms for your ‘steak’, and if so, we’ve got you covered: make Courtney West‘s Oyster Mushroom Steaks With Miso Gravy!
If you want to get a little creative with your Thanksgiving flavor profile, look no further than these Teriyaki Glazed Tofu Steaks from Maya Sozer! You could even go spicy and crunchy with Robin Runner‘s Buffalo Cauliflower Steaks.
3. Rice and Risottos
Image Source: Butternut Squash and White Bean Risotto
Rice and risottos are a great thing to serve for Thanksgiving! They’re something most people enjoy, easy to make in large portions for as many guests as you may have, and they taste wonderful. Make them seasonal by incorporating festive ingredients like in this Butternut Squash and White Bean Risotto from Crissy Cavanaugh. Get your greens in (that’s right, even on Thanksgiving) with a Zucchini, Pea, and Spinach Pesto Risotto from Pamela Higgins!
While risotto is amazing, rice can be served in so many different ways, try another dish in addition to your awesome risotto. Whip up this Wild Rice Pilaf With Butternut Squash, Cranberries, and Pecans from Cathy Elton. Make an Italian dish that will become a new staple in your menu if it isn’t already with Simona Malerba‘s Arancini! You could even make a rice dish without rice, as surprising as that sounds, with a Sweet Potato ‘Rice’ Casserole from Alissandra Maffucci.
4. Vegetable-Based Entrees
Image Source: Miso Braised Carrots and Leeks With Cilantro Cardamom Basmati
Vegetables: not just for side dishes anymore. They can make a stellar entree as well as a side! Serve them a variety of ways with a variety of flavors, bases, styles of cooking – you name it. For example, try out these Miso Braised Carrots and Leeks With Cilantro Cardamom Basmati from Courtney West and an Easy Vegetable Roast With Tahini Dressing from Elsa Brobbey for two differently cooked vegetable entrees with different sauces and one with rice – you’ll have variation between the dishes, but they’ll both be delicious!
Decorate your table and have a terrific entree at the same time with Gabriela Lupu‘s Baked Sugar Pumpkin with Mushrooms! Sticking with the pumpkin theme, these Pumpkin Milanesas from Yana Chistyakova will wow everyone. Pack in some protein with this Lentil and Beetroot Salad with Tofu Feta from Aryane Héroux-Blais.
5. Casseroles and Bakes
Image Source: Maple Sweet Potato Casserole With Granola Topping
Casseroles and bakes are a classic holiday dish meant to feed a family, friends, or any other group of guests. You would be amazed at the combinations you can make with casserole ingredients! It always works to stick to seasonal flavors like sweet potato and maple – this Maple Sweet Potato Casserole With Granola Topping from Mitra Shirmohammadi shows how delicious that would be. This Sweet Potato Casserole With Rosemary Pecan Parmesan from Caroline Doucet is also a delicious example of fall ingredients.
These bakes will not only taste great, but they’ll also warm up your home and make your kitchen smell amazing. A Middle Eastern-Style Veggie Bake fromMouthwatering Vegan (Miriam Sorrell) will be a crowd-pleaser, as will this comforting Easy Cheesy Broccoli and Brown Rice Bake from Kelly Williams. Impress your guests with a White Bean Gratin from Power Vegan Meals by Maya Sozer.
Recommended Resources For Thanksgiving:
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