Thanksgiving is about togetherness, and the food and wine you serve at Thanksgiving dinner should be as well. Whether you’re preparing an entire menu or a few simple side dishes, creating foods that all guests can enjoy is important. Since many traditional Thanksgiving dishes aren’t suitable for guests with alternative diets, consider cooking one of the dishes listed below to create an all-inclusive meal that everyone will be able to enjoy.
Thanksgiving Alternatives
When preparing Thanksgiving dinner for a crowd, consider the following types of diet restrictions guests may abide by and prepare one of these alternative Thanksgiving dinners.
- Vegetarian: Pumpkin gnocchi
- Vegan: Cauliflower steak
- Gluten-Free: Chipotle-maple glazed turkey
- Dairy-Free: Deep-fried turkey
- Low Carb: Spaghetti squash pasta
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu
A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, as well as some additional animal products. While some vegetarian diets allow for eating eggs and varieties of butter, many others don’t. If you are unable to confirm your guest’s exact restrictions, simply stick with menu selections full of grains, dairy, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. Check out the following vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes to create the perfect vegetarian Thanksgiving menu!
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Appetizers
- Stuffed mushroom caps
- Pumpkin soup
- Spinach and artichoke dip
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Winter salad with frisee
- Vegetable tarte
- Macaroni and cheese
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Entrees
- Pumpkin gnocchi
- Pumpkin ravioli
- Stuffed acorn squash
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Desserts
- Chocolate pear cake with salted caramel
- Candied kumquat and cheesecake tartlets
- Brown sugar cinnamon bread pudding
Vegan Thanksgiving Menu
Vegans refrain from consuming any food products produced by an animal. This means that along with meat, vegans avoid foods like eggs, honey, dairy, and any other animal byproducts. If you plan on preparing vegan Thanksgiving meals, it’s important to stick to dishes rich in plants and grains. Additionally, you’ll have to find alternative sources of plant-based protein, such as nuts, legumes, and beans for your vegan Thanksgiving recipes.
Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers
- Apple chips
- Olive tapenade
- Corn fritters
Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Roasted butternut squash
- Israeli couscous with in-season roasted vegetables
- Pumpkin or squash vegan bisque
Vegan Thanksgiving Main Dish
- Vegan shepherd’s pie
- Cauliflower steak
- Mushroom and lentil loaf
Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts
- Chocolate dipped pear
- Sweet potato casserole
- Pumpkin mousse
Gluten-Free Thanksgiving
Some people choose to adopt a gluten-free diet to reduce their intake of grains and carbs, while others must refrain from eating gluten due to gluten intolerance or Celiac disease. Because gluten is not as obvious to detect as meat or dairy, it’s important to be on the lookout for the potential allergen. Sources of gluten that are commonly found during the holidays include pasta, gravy, pie crusts, biscuits, stuffing, cream sauces, beer, salad dressing, and some meat substitutes.
To embrace gluten-free cooking and baking methods, consider preparing the following gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes:
Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Appetizers
- Hummus with vegetables or gluten-free crackers
- Butternut squash soup
- Gluten-free dinner rolls
Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Burrata salad
- Swiss chard with bacon
- Twice-baked potatoes topped with sour cream and bacon
Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Entrees
- Pumpkin risotto
- Grilled leeks with brown butter and spiced hazelnuts
- Spinach and artichoke dip
Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Desserts
- Buckwheat cherry crumble
- Pumpkin creme brulee
- Caramel pecan cheesecake macarons
Dairy-Free Thanksgiving
Lactose is a sugar found in dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and ice cream. If someone is lactose intolerant, it means that their body has difficulty digesting lactose. Because of this, many lactose-intolerant people must adopt dairy-free diets, or at the very least limit their consumption of dairy by using dairy-free alternatives.
Traditional Thanksgiving dishes that may be an issue for lactose-intolerant guests include mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, frosting, and vegetables cooked in butter. Below are great dairy-free recipe ideas for a dairy-free Thanksgiving:
Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Appetizers
- Pumpkin cornbread
- Squash and apple salad
- Pumpkin tarte
Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Sweet potato casserole
- Maple-glazed winter vegetables
- Pumpkin pasta
Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Entrees
- Pineapple-glazed ham
- Sheet pan turkey breast
- Moroccan tagine with lamb and butternut squash
Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Desserts
- Pumpkin spice pudding
- Chocolate orange torte
- Apple pie bars
Low-Carb Thanksgiving
An emerging trend in recent years has been low-carb and keto diets. Because you could be serving guests who are looking to stick to their diet over the holidays, it’s important to identify what foods to avoid when creating your Thanksgiving meal alternatives.
Common carbohydrate culprits include dinner rolls, cornbread, macaroni and cheese or other kinds of pasta, anything breaded, gravy, cranberry sauce, and desserts which should be avoided when preparing keto Thanksgiving recipes. When cooking low-carb Thanksgiving recipes, try to create dishes that are high in fat and protein. There may be some differences for guests who are looking for keto Thanksgiving meals versus those who are just following a low-carb diet, so be sure to label all of your alternative Thanksgiving dishes.
Low-Carb Thanksgiving Appetizers
- Pumpkin soup
- Goat cheese and herb spread
- Parmesan-crusted fried green beans
Low-Carb Thanksgiving Sides
- Stuffing made with riced cauliflower
- Almond flour biscuits with compound butter
- Creamed collard greens
Low-Carb Thanksgiving Entrees
- Cauliflower onion mash with cheddar
- Brussels sprouts gratin
- Applewood smoked turkey
Low-Carb Thanksgiving Desserts
- Sugar-free pumpkin pie
- Cranberry cheesecake with an almond flour crust
- Cranberry parfait
Whether you're making a Thanksgiving catering menu or hosting a meal at your restaurant, creating dishes around your guests’ dietary restrictions provides an excellent opportunity to reevaluate old traditions for new Thanksgiving dinner alternatives. Use this time to play around with your favorite recipes and make some new and creative substitutions with these Thanksgiving food alternatives. Your guests will appreciate the added care that went into making their meals, and you may discover a new favorite holiday dish.