A Satisfying Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu

We love a good plan—and when it comes to Thanksgiving, having the menu mapped out is the surest way to keep the day both delicious and stress-free. To make it easy (and inspiring), we’ve put together five custom menus designed to help you plan, prep, and savor the holiday. From the decadent vegetarian spread below to a celebratory feast fit for smaller gatherings, you’ll find these—and more—in our Ultimate Guide to Thanksgiving.

I don’t know how this happened, but one day I woke up and realized nearly my entire friend group is vegetarian. The ones that don’t fall within this title (hi, that’s me!) do eat meat, but very little at best. So for the past few years I’ve been making a Thanksgiving menu composed of bold, high-reward dishes that just so happen to be plant-based.

And what I’ve come to realize is that so many beloved holiday staples are actually vegetarian. No, think about it—impossibly creamy mashed potatoes, herbaceous stuffing, pull-apart bread rolls, green bean casserole, gooey mac and cheese—all veg! Below you’ll find the tried-and-true classics, plus a few fresh twists that prove the modern table’s got it all. And the turkey? It won’t be missed, especially when you’re serving Mushroom Bourguignon straight from the Dutch oven. It’s a true centerpiece sure to invite rapturous applause.

Hear me out, this side dish is meant to be on your Thanksgiving plate. It doesn’t look too far off from the green bean casserole you know and love (frizzled shallots, green base), but it takes some delicious detours to amp up flavor with tangy pickled peppers and harissa-stewed chickpeas. Plus it’s got some satiating protein for anyone foregoing the bird.