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9 Thanksgiving vegetarian and vegan main recipes that may eclipse that turkey

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It’s true that we love our Thanksgiving sides, but vegetarians and vegans no longer need to fill a plate with only those to get their fill at the table. We’ve got plenty of delicious main dishes suitable for those abstaining from meat. And who knows? Even if you eat turkey, you may decide that these vegetarian mains are even better.

Here are some options from our archives:

Sheet Pan Persian-Style Stuffed Delicata Squash With Broccolini and Carrots

(Pictured above.) We love a sheet-pan dinner every other day of the year, so why not have one for Thanksgiving, too? On just one pan, you’ll add your rice-stuffed squash on a bed of carrots and broccolini, a pileup of warm, autumnal flavors. Get the recipe.

Roasted Portobello Mushroom, Pecan and Chestnut Wellington

Impressive, decadent but also easy to assemble. (See just how simple it is in this video.) The filling can be refrigerated for up to five days; the assembled dish can be refrigerated for up to three days before baking. You can make this vegan by finding a vegan puff pastry (such as Pepperidge Farm) and using a nondairy cream to seal the pastry. Get the recipe.

Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Almond Brown Butter

What pushes this dish over the top is the almond brown butter, which adds crunch and decadence to the humble vegetable. Get the recipe.

Lentil and Pecan-Stuffed Acorn Squash

An individual stuffed-squash half with a hearty filling of flavorful lentil and pecan? Sign us up! Get the recipe.

Vegetable and Bean Pot Pies With Sweet Potato Crusts

Individual little pies are an elegant option. Forgo pastry on top for thinly sliced sweet potatoes. Get the recipe.

Pumpkin, Walnut and Sage Crostata

This is the savory tart to end all savory tarts, the dish that sets a very high bar for what a celebratory vegetarian main should look like. Creamy, earthy pumpkin in a crisp, buttery crust. Besides which, it’s a gorgeous dish for the center of the table. Get the recipe.

Take the potential stress out of roasting and stuffing a squash by roasting the squash on its own before filling it with glazed onions, mushrooms and a nutty, fruity rice blend. You can make all the components up to a week in advance, and then assemble and do the final roast on Thanksgiving. Get the recipe.

Lentil-Mushroom Farmer’s Pie With Turmeric Cauliflower Mash

This hearty, golden riff on shepherd’s pie means you don’t have to bother making mashed potatoes, thanks to mashed cauliflower on top! Get the recipe.

Stacks of vegetables, flavored with sage-infused pesto and smoked cheese, are served on a bed of couscous or orzo. (Make it vegan by substituting a vegan cheese.) The whole thing can be roasted and refrigerated for up to three days, then reheated (wrapped in several layers of foil) for about 30 minutes in a 300-degree oven. Watch how the whole thing comes together in this handy video. Get the recipe.

These seasonal beauties are warmly spiced, fragrant and stunning. We liked this best with small kabocha squash, but you can use a variety of small squash for visual impact. The first round of baking the pumpkins can be done up to three days in advance. Get the recipe.

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