These vegetarian Thanksgiving casseroles are a delicious compliment to whatever is on your table. Thanksgiving classics like green bean casserole and mashed sweet potatoes get fun, flavorful twists the whole family will enjoy. Recipes like our Carrot Casserole and Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole are healthy, veggie-packed options that perfectly complement any holiday spread.
Carrot Casserole
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Carrot casserole is a great holiday side dish that’s both creamy and savory with just a touch of sweetness from the carrots. Coriander and dry mustard add lovely background flavors to the cream sauce. Microwaving the carrots gives them a jump-start in the cooking process and ensures that they’re cooked through. The carrots should all be sliced thinly so they cook evenly.
Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole
Thanksgiving isn’t complete without a homemade sweet potato casserole. We like to sprinkle chopped pecans on top along with the marshmallows for a bit of texture.
Gruyere Potato Casserole
The potatoes are perfectly tender in this easy Gruyère potato casserole. The cheese gets brown and crispy on the top and sides and the herbs add a nice accent to this savory dish.
Acorn Squash Casserole
This acorn squash casserole is smooth and creamy. The Parmesan cheese gives it the perfect amount of savoriness, while the breadcrumbs add an herby crunch. This easy casserole would be great with any fall meal, and is sure to become a new Thanksgiving favorite.
Broccoli with Gratin
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower
Broccoli au Gratin is the ultimate comfort food, combining tender broccoli florets with a creamy cheese sauce and a golden, crispy topping. This easy dish pairs well as a side for holiday meals but is quick enough even for weeknights. We love the combination of savory Gruyère and Cheddar cheeses, but feel free to use just one or the other or, better yet, your own favorite melting cheese for a unique twist.
Creamy Squash Casserole Recipe
Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ana Kelley, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This squash casserole recipe features sharp Cheddar cheese, yellow squash and a buttery, crispy cracker topping. It is key to cook down the squash in the skillet first, then drain and pat it dry as best you can so the casserole doesn’t become too watery. Yellow squash lends a pretty yellow hue, but bright green zucchini works well too.
Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
If you’re looking for a twist on classic scalloped potatoes, this recipe using roasted sweet potatoes and melty Gruyère has all the creaminess of the original with a new flavor twist. The sweet potatoes and lightened sauce–made with flour and low-fat milk–keep it healthier than butter- and cream-laden versions. Don’t cut your sweet potatoes too thin–they’ll turn mushy under the sauce.
Cauliflower Casserole with Everything Bagel Seasoning
The cheesy-seedy crust that tops this healthy cauliflower casserole recipe evokes everything bagels. Serve for the holidays or as a hearty side dish with roast chicken.
Vegan Green Bean Casserole
Now everyone can enjoy classic Thanksgiving favorites, like this dairy-free green bean casserole. We make a homemade vegan cream of mushroom soup using almond milk for the creamy base that’s combined with fresh green beans. Top it off with classic french-fried onions (we have a vegan recipe for that, too!) for a side dish everyone will devour.
Apple-Cranberry Stuffing
Make this stuffing with an apple variety that holds its shape rather than turns to sauce during the cooking process, so there will be tender bites of fruit throughout. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith or Pink Lady are all easy-to-find options.
Creamed Spinach Casserole
This creamy spinach casserole recipe is a more sophisticated cousin to creamed spinach. It’s perfect for weekend entertaining or as a holiday side dish.
Cheesy Green Bean Casserole
If green bean casserole is a must-have in your family at Thanksgiving but you’re, well, ready for a change, give this cheesy version a whirl.
Butternut Squash Casserole
This simple butternut squash casserole recipe combines sweet butternut squash with a touch of brown sugar and cinnamon and is finished with a buttery, crunchy topping. It’s sure to be a welcome addition to any Thanksgiving menu.
Mashed Potato & Roots Casserole
Rutabaga and/or celeriac give this casserole a more nuanced flavor, but you could also use turnips or kohlrabi—or make it with all potatoes instead.
No-Sugar-Added Sweet Potato Casserole
Instead of loading up this comfort food side with tons of brown sugar and marshmallows, we have turned to sweet spices, vanilla and inherently sweet dried fruit to enhance the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes. A topping of pecans and pepitas replaces traditional marshmallow topping to keep it healthy and add texture and color for a beautiful casserole.
Cauliflower-Broccoli Gratin
This creamy broccoli-and-cauliflower casserole is a hassle-free side dish that just about everyone loves. Our healthier version skips the heavy cream and butter found in most recipes–saving about 160 calories and 12 grams of saturated fat compared to a traditional version.
Meringue-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole
This lightened-up take on the classic Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole is spiked with crushed pineapple and toasted pecans. We top it with an airy, slightly sweet meringue. You can pipe the meringue to make it look fancy or simply spread it neatly with a rubber spatula.
Slow-Cooker Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions
Thanks to fresh green beans, an easy homemade cream sauce and crispy onion topping, this green bean casserole recipe is healthier and more delicious than traditional recipes that use canned soup, beans and onions. Plus, the slow cooker saves you time cooking at the stove. Make sure to use fresh green beans, as frozen green beans will become mushy.
Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
These scalloped potatoes are surprisingly rich and creamy even though they’re made with no dairy (milk, butter or cheese)–vegan comfort food at its best. We use almond milk, herbs and spices to make a flavorful sauce and finish the dish with a crunchy almond topping. This makes a satisfying side dish if you’re cooking for dairy-free or vegan diets.
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