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47 Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Sides That Even Meat-Eaters Will Love

They’ll never believe that sweet potato casserole is butter-free.

By Korin Miller, Jasmine Gomez and Ashley Martens
dish, food, cuisine, ingredient, produce, vegetarian food, breakfast cereal, american food, dessert, breakfast,
Skinnytaste

Navigating meals as a vegetarian or vegan can be tricky during the best of times, but it gets a lot trickier during the holiday season. Thanksgiving, especially, is associated with an all-out feast of food with meat at the very center. Traditional dishes like mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie typically involves the use of some animal products (hi, heavy cream!). So, it can be challenging to come up with ideas for vegan Thanksgiving sides that are both delicious and appropriate for the occasion.

Vegan dishes gets a bad rep from carnivores because people assume they're bland, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Not only are they a way to make Thanksgiving dinner that much more tasty, but they can also add a healthy boost to the main meal, says Jana Wolff, RD, LDN, the director of nutrition at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

"You can have [everything from] beautiful side salads with quinoa, cranberries, almonds, olive oil, lemon and fresh sage, to a tray of roasted root vegetables with garlic and rosemary, to a roasted acorn squash stuffed with mushrooms, wild rice, and chestnuts," says Wolff. "The options are colorful, healthful and rich with vitamins and minerals."

Consider sharing these vegan Thanksgiving sides with family and friends so everyone at your celebration can enjoy the bounty. Whether you prefer savory, sweet, or something in between, everyone will be asking for seconds after they've tried these vegan recipes. Plus, they're all so good, guests won't even realize they are vegan. (We promise we won’t tell!)

Meet the expert: Jana Wolff, RD, LDN, is the director of nutrition at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

Jenna Appel, RD, is a nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist based in South Florida.

1

Vegan Pumpkin Lentil Curry With Spinach

chunky orange soup with nuts
Marisa Moore

Pumpkin puree, dried lentils, and coconut milk make this savory, creamy dish a great way to mix up your T-giving offering. Sprinkle some spinach and cashews on top for a pretty presentation.

Not that you need any help with this on Thanksgiving, but lentils can also help you feel fuller faster, thanks to all their fiber, says Jenna Appel, RD, the owner of Appel Nutrition.

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Per serving: 293 calories, 8 g fat (1 g saturated), 558 mg sodium, 42 g carbs, 17 g fiber, 10 g sugar, 14 g protein

2

Mushroom Ginger Miso Soup

mushroom soup
Marisa Moore

Cleanse your palate before the big feast with this yummy, ginger-packed miso soup. It features mushrooms, carrots, and chives for bursts of flavor. Ginger, particularly, aids digestion, says Appel, which seems like a good thing to keep in mind after several trips to the Thanksgiving buffet.

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Per serving: 138 calories, 2 g fat (1 g saturated), 25 g carbs, 7 g fiber, 12 g sugar, 10 g protein

3

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

yellow soup
Marisa Moore

Serve this soup up as a starter or side. It's so creamy, no one will have any idea there’s no dairy in this vegan-friendly recipe. Add a drizzle of olive oil for an elevated look (and flavor).

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Per serving: 202 calories, 11 g fat (2 g saturated), 12 g carbs , 4 g fiber, 7 g sugar, 2 g protein

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4

Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing With Cranberries

rice
Marisa Moore

This yummy dish has all the usual ingredients of stuffing—celery, onion, sage, and thyme—but swaps in wild rice for the bread for a more wholesome feel. Dried cranberries also add a nice sweet-tart bite.

P.S. cranberries are superfoods thanks to their disease-fighting antioxidants, says Appel. Tasty and good for you? Call that a win-win.

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Per serving: 138 calories, 3 g fat, 24 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein

5

Roasted Butternut Squash and Apples

roasted butternut squash
Marisa Moore

Whether you chop up your own butternut squash or snag the pre-cut version (no judgment!), this easy-to-make dish is slightly sweet—and a total crowd-pleaser.

Though you can technically serve this up as a side, it can totally pass for a dessert too. (Promise, your guests won't mind!)

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Per serving: 152 calories, 7 g fat (1 g saturated), 24 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 10 g sugar

6

Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

oven roasted brussels sprouts
VO IMAGES//Getty Images

Roasting Brussels sprouts gives them a nice, nutty taste—and adding balsamic vinegar to the mix makes them next-level awesome.

There's a reason why moms everywhere recommend them. Brussels sprouts are full of nutrients and fiber that support digestive health, Appel says.

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Per serving: 195 calories, 6 g fat (4 g saturated), 791 mg sodium, 28 g carbs, 5 g sugar, 3 g fiber, 6 g protein

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7

Agave-Glazed Carrots

grilled honey glazed baby carrots close up
Brycia James//Getty Images

A little vegan butter and a touch of sweetness (courtesy of agave and brown sugar) make this a buttery side dish you can dig into.

And as a plus, carrots have a variety of vitamins and minerals that improve eye and skin health, Appel says. So yep go ahead and grab several servings.

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Per serving: 195 calories, 6 g fat (4 g saturated), 791 mg sodium, 28 g carbs, 5 g sugar, 3 g fiber, 6 g protein

8

Classic Cranberry Sauce

cranberry sauce
It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

This dish uses just four ingredients and only takes 15 minutes to prep, making it a super easy way to add a sweet vegan-friendly side (and some color, you know, for the IG pics) to your table.

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Per serving: 120 calories, 1 g fat (1 g saturated), 3 mg sodium, 31 g carbs, 27 g sugar, 2 g fiber, 1 g protein

9

Vegan Mango Habanero Cauliflower Bites

cauliflower buffalo bites, vegan thanksgiving sides
NutraMilk

Kinda like boneless chicken wings but waaay better, these healthy bites have a perfectly spicy kick. And cauliflower isn't only a master in disguise, it also packs the vitamin C, perfect for the chilly season. "A cup of raw cauliflower provides almost 80 percent of your vitamin C needs for the day," Wolff says.

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*Nutrition information not available

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10

Thyme And White Bean Pot Pies

dish, food, cuisine, pot pie, ingredient, baked goods, quiche, dessert, pie, produce,
Minimalist Baker

You won't miss the chicken (or the butter) in these vegan pot pies. Also FYI: The beans in this dish are good for your gut health. "The fiber provides prebiotics that grow healthier bacteria in your gut (or microbiome)," Wolff says.

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Per serving: 456 calories, 24 g fat (7 g saturated), 46 g carbs, 5 g sugar, 804 mg sodium, 6 g fiber, 10 g protein

11

Vegan Biscuits

biscuits with sausage gravy
MSPhotographic//Getty Images

Yup, it’s possible to have flaky, buttery biscuits on a vegan diet. Here’s proof.

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Per serving: 195 calories, 6 g fat (4 g saturated), 791 mg sodium, 28 g carbs, 5 g sugar, 3 g fiber, 6 g protein

12

Spicy Jamaican Lentil And Quinoa Vegan Patties

yellow patty with fork
Orchids + Sweet Tea

I don't know what's more delicious: the curried lentil, quinoa, and veggie filling or the flaky, parsley-infused crust. Try this dish out for yourself and see if you can name your fave.

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*Nutrition information not available

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13

Vegan Quinoa-Stuffed Acorn Squash

dish, food, stuffed peppers, cuisine, ingredient, acorn squash, stuffing, produce, crumble, punjena paprika,
lauraag//Getty Images

These stuffed squash halves are as pretty as they are satisfying (and nutritious), and that vibrant color isn't a coincidence. "Acorn squash’s color is an indication of high antioxidants including carotenoids (the orange/yellow hue)," Wolff says. Carotenoids aid skin health by protecting it from UV light and aging.

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Per serving: 256 calories, 15 g fat (2 g saturated), 395 mg sodium, 27 g carbs, 19 g sugar, 5 g fiber, 6 g protein

14

Grilled Zucchini

grilled zucchini
Hangry Woman

Need a simple veggie for your table? A little lemon, avocado oil, and oregano make this zucchini dish pop, and also ensure it's very flavorful. "When grilled, zucchini caramelizes, giving a more savory, almost sweet taste that everyone in the family will love," Wolff says.

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*Nutrition information not available

15

Easy Vegan Mushroom Gravy

gravy
It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

The earthy, umami flavor of mushrooms make this gravy mouthwateringly good.

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Per serving: 66 calories, 3 g fat (1 g saturated), 33 mg sodium, 8 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein

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16

Easy Garlic And Herb Butternut Squash

dish, cuisine, food, ingredient, vegetable, produce, vegetarian food, staple food, recipe, butternut squash,
Healthy Seasonal Recipes

Butternut squash is a Thanksgiving classic and this recipe packs loads of flavor.

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Per serving: 98 calories, 5 g fat (1 g saturated), 179 mg sodium, 16 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 2 g protein

17

Chickpea And Broccoli Mashed Potato Bowl

bowl of chickpeas and broccoli
Orchids + Sweet Tea

Creamy mashed potatoes just got a funky makeover with this dish, thanks to BBQ sriracha chickpeas and broccoli.

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*Nutrition information not available

18

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Risotto

woman eating bowl of risotto
What Great Grandma Ate

Whip up this butternut squash risotto, which calls for cauliflower rice instead of regular, in the Instant Pot for a simple first course or side.

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Per serving: 272 calories, 15 g fat (11 g saturated), 378 mg sodium, 29 g carbs, 7 g sugar, 7 g fiber, 10 g protein

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19

Easy Vegan Stovetop Stuffing

stuffing
It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

Toasted bread, a bunch of veggies, and dried cranberries make this stuffing a conversation starter.

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Per serving: 77 calories, 3 g fat, 415 mg sodium, 12 g carbs, 6 g sugar, 1 g fiber

20

Low-Carb Cauliflower 'Stuffing'

food, dish, cuisine, stuffing, ingredient, produce, vegetable, recipe, vegetarian food, side dish,
Wholesome Yum

This cauli-based stuffing is infinitely lighter than the traditional stuff, and totally vegan.

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Per serving: 95 calories, 7 g fat, 7 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 3 g fiber, 2 g protein

Headshot of Korin Miller
Korin Miller
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
Headshot of Jasmine Gomez
Commerce Editor

Jasmine Gomez is the Commerce Editor at Women’s Health, where she cover the best product recommendations across beauty, health, lifestyle, fitness, and more. When she's not shopping for a living, she enjoys karaoke and dining out more than she cares to admit. Follow her @JazzeGomez.  

Headshot of Ashley Martens
Writer


Ashley Martens is a Wellness Writer based in Chicago, Illinois. With a digital marketing background and her knowledge of general nutrition and a lifelong passion for all things health and wellness, Ashley covers topics that can help people live happier and healthier lives. 

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