9 Delicious and Easy Dairy Free Thanksgiving Recipes

Many beloved Thanksgiving foods rely on dairy to achieve their creamy texture and rich flavor. Mashed potatoes are often made with butter and heavy cream. Gravy may include milk or cream to thicken it. Green bean casseroles usually contain cream of mushroom soup made with milk, sweet potato casseroles often have butter mixed into the base, and many other casseroles are topped with cheese. Desserts like pumpkin pie, cheesecake, and custards typically use condensed milk or cream, as well as butter in the crust. Knowing where dairy is traditionally used helps you determine how to make the right substitutions without losing flavor.

One of the best ways to create dairy-free Thanksgiving dishes is by making smart substitutions. Many classic ingredients have plant-based alternatives that work just as well.

• Butter: Use vegan butter, olive oil, or coconut oil for sautéing vegetables and baking.
• Milk: Swap in almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or coconut milk in recipes for mashed potatoes, gravies, and baked goods.
• Cream: Full-fat coconut milk, oat cream, or cashew cream can replace heavy cream in soups, sauces, and desserts.
• Cheese: Nutritional yeast, vegan cream cheese, or cashew-based cheese spreads can impart savory flavor to casseroles and side dishes.

These swaps keep your recipes creamy, flavorful, and satisfying without the dairy.

You don’t need to skip using your family’s Thanksgiving recipes because you’re trying to avoid dairy. Just tweak your holiday favorites by swapping in dairy-free ingredients. You’ll still get the tastes and textures you crave. Here are some non-dairy substitutions for Thanksgiving classics:

• Mashed Potatoes: Instead of butter and cream, whip potatoes with olive oil and unsweetened almond milk to make them smooth and fluffy.
• Green Bean Casserole: Use oat milk for the sauce and top with crispy onions for a dairy-free spin that still tastes comforting.
• Stuffing: If your favorite stuffing recipe calls for butter, replace it with vegan butter or olive oil.
• Pumpkin Pie: Coconut milk can make the filling rich and creamy without any dairy, and you can use a dairy-free crust.

These simple changes allow you to keep traditions alive while making them more inclusive for anyone with a dairy restriction.

Even if you don’t follow a dairy free diet, offering options at your holiday table that don’t contain butter, milk, cream, or cheese can make Thanksgiving more welcoming for everyone. Many people are lactose intolerant and others may follow plant-based or heart-healthy diets. With so many easy swaps and delicious non-dairy options, it’s easier than you think to prepare dairy free Thanksgiving recipes that taste just as rich and festive as your old tried-and-true recipes, without sacrificing flavor or tradition.