Here are my 20+ vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes focusing on hearty textures, seasonal flavours, and harvest. Because meat-free Thanksgiving doesn’t mean sacrificing tradition, or grandeur.
Thanksgiving is about gratitude, gathering, and, of course, a glorious feast. For the vegetarian host or the family welcoming meatless guests, crafting a spectacular menu yet fresh can be a fun challenge.
Here are few of my tips that might help you curating a memorable vegetarian Thanksgiving.
- Keep the appetizers light and easy to pick to save room for the main event, but make sure they offer a punch of flavor like a savoury cheese log decorated with sweet cranberries and herbs, creamy dip with crackers, or a comforting soup.
- The key to a successful vegetarian Thanksgiving is having a truly impressive, sliceable, and substantial centerpiece that anchors the meal.
- Thanksgiving sides are often naturally vegetarian , but we can elevate them with better ingredients and bold flavours.
- The sweet finish should honor tradition while catering to all.
The Ultimate Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu 🍂
This comprehensive collection of Thanksgiving recipes covers — from dazzling starters and hearty sides to impressive mains and decadent desserts .
Consider this your one-stop guide to crafting a guaranteed-to-please, completely plant-based Thanksgiving menu!
Kale Apple Salad
Roasted Nuts – 4 Flavours
Mediterranean Lentil Salad
Roasted Pumpkin Soup
Herbed Potato Salad
Balsamic Roasted Carrots
Potato Leek Soup
Air Fryer Pumpkin Salad
Vegetable Minestrone
Green Beans Salad
Roasted Fig Salad
Lentil Stew
Zucchini Fritters
Garlic Roasted Potatoes
Mashed Cauliflower
Air Fryer Green Beans
Cheese Potato Bake
Cauliflower Steak
Vegetable Bake
Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
Pumpkin Sauce Pasta
Mushroom Gravy
Chai Spiced Pumpkin Cake
Chai Spiced Pumpkin Cake
Eggless Tutti Frutti Cake
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This tomato sauce pasta is ready in under 30 minutes and is a fabulous family-friendly vegetarian meal.
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How To Boil Pasta Perfectly
- Watch Tomato Sauce Pasta Video
- Serving Suggestion
- Classic Tomato Sauce Pasta Recipe
I am sharing a classic tomato sauce pasta recipe, or as I like to call it, pasta in red sauce. It is the ultimate definition of comfort food. So easy to make, tastes delicious, and is highly customizable. In fact, you can make it in an instant pot or Indian pressure cooker also.
From shrimp and chicken to beef and vegetables , you can add ingredients of your choice to make a delicious bowl of red sauce pasta just the way you like.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Tomato sauce: I have used homemade marinara sauce flavoured with garlic, onion, and basil for this pasta recipe. But arabiatta, tomato basil, or any other variety of tomato sauce works well for this pasta recipe. A delicious, multi-purpose pizza cum pasta sauce adds deep flavour to the humble pasta.
- Penne pasta or spaghetti perfectly fits the robust red sauce. I love how sauce clings within the tubes of penne pasta, making each bite full of flavours.
- Vegetables: From mushrooms, peppers, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, green peas, to green leafy vegetables, you can add any vegetables .
- Fresh Basil adds so much life to the pasta.
- Cheese: I prefer parmesan, cheddar or mozzarella to sprinkle on my red sauce pasta. For a vegan pasta dish, skip dairy-based cheese and use nutritional or vegan cheese instead.
How To Boil Pasta Perfectly
To cook pasta perfectly you need – a large saucepan or pot, water, salt, tongs, and a metal colander .
- Step 1) Boil water in a large saucepan. If you are using 1 cup of pasta, add at least 6 cups of water. Season the water generously with salt. This way, you will always end up with well-seasoned pasta and not a bland one.
- Step 2) Once the water starts boiling vigorously, add pasta and stir so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Don’t break the pasta; it will soften up within 30 seconds.
- Step 3) Test the pasta by tasting it to check for doneness . Pasta cooked properly should be al dente—a little chewy. Or cook it for a little longer time if you prefer over-cooked pasta.
- Reserve some of the starchy boiled pasta water to flavour the sauce .
- Step 4) Drain cooked pasta in a metal colander. If serving hot, add to the sauce right away. If you’re making a pasta salad, run under cold water to stop the cooking.
Watch Tomato Sauce Pasta Video
Serving Suggestion
Tomato Sauce Pasta is a fulfilling main course dish in itself. A few of my favourite side dishes to serve with it are:
- warm bread such as focaccia or garlic bread
- creamy mushroom soup
- roasted potatoes
- green leafy salad like caesar or Greek.
Are you a pasta lover? Then must try these vegetarian pasta recipes – Garlic Mushroom Pasta , Easy Cherry Tomato Pasta , or the Basil Pesto Pasta .
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Ingredients
- ▢ 200 gram penne pasta
- ▢ 2 Cup tomato sauce/marinara sauce ( see recipe here )
- ▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ▢ 1 teaspoon red chilli flakes
- ▢ ½ Cup finely chopped zucchini
- ▢ ½ Cup finely chopped red bell pepper
- ▢ Salt to taste
- ▢ 4 – 5 fresh basil leaves
- ▢ ¼ Cup sliced black olives
- ▢ ¼ Cup cherry tomato, cut into halves
- ▢ ¼ Cup grated parmesan cheese
- ▢ 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the homemade tomato sauce ( See how to prepare pizza/pasta sauce at home ).
- Next, boil the pasta in salted water till al-dente or cooked as per your liking. Drain water from the boiled pasta and transfer it to a colander. Reserve a cup of the pasta water to flavor the sauce later.
- In a non-stick stir fry pan heat a tablespoon of olive oil. Stir fry zucchini and bell pepper till it for 3 – 5 minutes. Season with salt. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Transfer the tomato sauce to a pan. Turn on the heat. Add the boiled pasta along with the stir-fry vegetables and stir to combine. Add oregano and red chili flakes.
- Cook on a medium flame for 3 – 5 minutes for the pasta to absorb the flavors of the sauce while stirring the pasta occasionally in between. Adjust the consistency of the sauce by using reserved pasta water.
- Before serving the pasta, add fresh basil leaves, olives, cherry tomato, extra virgin olive oil, and grated cheese.
- Serve tomato sauce pasta warm with toasted garlic bread on the side.
Recipe Notes:
- Tomato Sauce for the pasta can be prepared a day or two in advance and store it in the fridge. Watch my video of homemade tomato sauce .
- You can use penne, spaghetti, or any other shell-shaped pasta for the tomato sauce.
- After adding cheese you can bake the pasta as well for 5 – 10 minutes at 180 degrees C, for a crusty, cheesy texture.
- If black olives are not available use green olives.
Nutrition
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