ComScore

35 Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Sides That Everyone at the Table Will Love

dairy free thanksgiving sides fluffy mashed potatoes 5011
Minimalist Baker

It may be called Turkey Day, but that doesn’t mean the bird has to be the only star of the show. We’d argue that side dishes are the best part of the feast, but for anyone not eating dairy, it can be tricky to navigate a menu that’s usually loaded with butter, cream and cheese. That’s where we come in: Here are 35 dairy-free Thanksgiving sides everyone at the table will love.

dairy free thanksgiving sides vegetable platter
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Aran Goyoaga

1. Winter Vegetable Platter

If you ask us, it’s just not a holiday without a robust crudités spread.

dairy free thanksgiving sides fluffy mashed potatoes 5012
Minimalist Baker

2. Vegan Mashed Potatoes

Fluffy, creamy, buttery, garlicky and satisfying? Check!

dairy free thanksgiving sides maple cranberry sauce 501
The Bojon Gourmet

3. Maple-Cranberry Sauce

There’s zero refined sugar—just maple syrup, tangerine and cinnamon.

dairy free thanksgiving sides smashed potatoes with garlic herb pesto 501
Minimalist Baker

4. Smashed Potatoes with Garlic Pesto

This pesto gets its cheesiness from nutritional yeast.

dairy free thanksgiving sides brussels sprouts latkes 501
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

5. Brussels Sprouts Latkes

Presenting the crispiest Brussels you’ll ever taste.

dairy free thanksgiving sides turnip fries 501
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

6. Turnip Fries

Why should potatoes get all the attention?

dairy free thanksgiving sides
Jacqui Melville/Apple

7. Cauliflower, Pomegranate and Apple Salad

It’s as festive as it is delicious.

dairy free thanksgiving sides broiled green beans with roasted lemon gremolata 501
A Better Happier St Sebastian

8. Green Beans with Lemon Gremolata

Caution: You might start dipping everything in this spicy, lemony green sauce.

dairy free thanksgiving sides vegan cornbread
The Minimalist Baker

9. Perfect Vegan Cornbread

We like drizzling thick slices of this soft, moist loaf with honey.

dairy free thanksgiving recipes pumpkin soup
Well Plated By Erin

10. Vegan Pumpkin Soup

The right balance of sweet, savory and spicy.

dairy free thanksgiving sides salad
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Aran Goyoaga

11. Radicchio, Lentil and Apple Salad

A creamy dressing sans actual cream? You better believe it.

dairy free thanksgiving recipe with wild rice 501
Pinch of Yum

12. Thanksgiving Salad

Delicious, seasonal, colorful and healthy.

dairy free thanksgiving sides vegan mac and cheese
Minimalist Baker

13. Vegan Gluten-Free Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Yes, you read that correctly—dairy-free mac and cheese.

dairy free thanksgiving sides salmon salad
A New Way to Food

14. Salmon and Fennel Dinner Salad

Plant-based yogurt helps the dressing feel indulgent.

dairy free thanksgiving sides squash rings
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman

15. Delicata Squash Rings with Garlic-Lemon Sauce

Transform store-bought mayonnaise into homemade aioli.

dairy free thanksgiving sides bacon brussles sprouts
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman

16. Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

Make a double batch—they’ll go fast.

dairy free thanksgiving sides dairy free butternut squash fondue
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

17. Dairy-Free Butternut Squash ‘Fondue’

This squash fondue is just as dippable as the real thing.

dairy free thanksgiving sides whole roasted carrots
Erin McDowell

18. Whole Roasted Carrots

Looking for a simple yet elegant side dish with a ton of flavor? Ta-da.

dairy free thanksgiving sides roasted acorn squash wedges
Ellen Silverman/Everyday Dorie

19. Roasted Acorn Squash Wedges

Serve alongside a fancy cut of meat.

dairy free thanksgiving sides chili
Food Faith Fitness

20. No-Bean Chili

Skip the cheese and sour cream.

dairy free thanksgiving sides vegetable bake
Nisha Vora

21. Lentil and Roasted Vegetable Bake

The pine nut topping brings crunch to every bite.

dairy free thanksgiving sides vegan arancini
Vegan in the House

22. Vegan Arancini

They’re easy to whip up (and even easier to devour).

dairy free thanksgiving sides butternut squash soup
Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Nisha Vora

23. Thai Butternut Squash Soup

This recipe is all about big flavor for little work.

dairy free thanksgiving sides vegetables
Minimalist Baker

24. Roasted Vegetable Salad

dairy free thanksgiving sides creamed kale
Fork and Beans

25. Vegan Creamed Kale

Healthy, creamy and a total crowdpleaser.

dairy free thanksgiving sides roasted sweet potatoes with sriracha and lime recipe
Amanda Frederickson/Simple Beautiful Food

26. Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Sriracha and Lime

Bring the heat (just don't forget to warn Aunt Sandy).

dairy free thanksgiving sides baby vegetables with orange and thyme recipe
Ola Smit/Dinner's in the Bag

27. Baby Vegetables with Orange and Thyme

The flavors are classic, but the preparation is not.

dairy free thanksgiving sides roasted beet and citrus salad recipe
Nicole Franzen/Food: What the Heck Should I Cook?

28. Roasted Beet and Citrus Salad

A crisp salad is just the thing to brighten the table.

dairy free thanksgiving recipes carrots in a blanket
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

29. Carrot Pigs in a Blanket

This vegetarian version of the beloved finger food will blow your mind.

dairy free thanksgiving recipes pumpkin hummus
SPOON FORK BACON

30. Roasted Pumpkin Hummus

The recipe calls for a whole sugar pumpkin *and* an entire head of roasted garlic.

dairy free thanksgiving sides everything bagel cauliflower rolls recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

31. ‘Everything Bagel’ Cauliflower Rolls

They're gluten-free, dairy-free and low-carb.

dairy free thanksgiving sides vegan chop salad recipe
Erin Kunkel/Malibu Farm Sunrise to Sunset

32. Malibu Farm’s Vegan Chop Salad

dairy free thanksgiving sides roasted artichokes recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

33. Crispy Roasted Artichokes

The fresh garlic aioli takes them over the top.

dairy free thanksgiving sides tomato and yellow zucchini risotto recipe
Lizzie Mayson/The Italian Deli Cookbook

34. Tomato and Yellow Zucchini Risotto

dairy free thanksgiving sides pommes anna recipe2
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen

35. Pommes Anna


heathgoldmanheadshot 1

Food Editor

From 2017 to 2019 Heath Goldman held the role of Food Editor covering food, booze and some recipe development, too. Tough job, eh?

taryn pire

Food Editor

Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...