Thanksgiving is all about the food, which is amazing – but that can make it feel a little stressful when you (or your little one) need to be dairy free! Between buttery mashed potatoes, creamy casseroles, and pumpkin pie made with evaporated milk, it can seem like dairy is in just about everything on the table.
But I’m here to help! I’ve rounded my favorite dairy free Thanksgiving recipes from right here on the blog, from appetizers and sides to pies and other desserts. Some are naturally dairy free, and others use simple product swaps. And of course, they all taste great, so no need to worry that these versions are “less than” conventional options.
There are lots of options below but I wanted to quickly highlight my three favorite dairy free Thanksgiving recipes in case you’re short on time:
- Dairy free sweet potato casserole – feels super cozy and perfect for Thanksgiving, and is relatively easy to make!
- Homemade crescent rolls – if you love all the Thanksgiving cooking and making things from scratch, this is a fun recipe to try out
- Dairy free pumpkin pie – a classic for any holiday table!
Alright, here are all the dairy free Thanksgiving recipes! (Quick disclaimer – always check ingredients on products and recipes!).
Side Dishes
1. Homemade Dairy Free Stuffing
No Thanksgiving table would be complete without a big serving of stuffing! This classic version uses dairy-free butter, sweet onion, celery, garlic, and fresh sage and parsley, and it’s as close as you can get to the traditional version. (I know some folks prefer to still stuff their bird, but for food safety reasons, I’m a big fan of cooking the stuffing separately like this in a casserole dish).
2. Apple Cranberry Stuffing
Want a slightly unconventional take on stuffing that’s a bit lighter – and requires no dairy-free substitutes? This one skips the dairy-free butter entirely and is packed with fall flavors – apples, fresh cranberries, sage, and thyme.
3. Dairy Free Pumpkin Soup
A cozy starter or side dish! Pumpkin, apple, onion, and curry powder simmer in vegetable broth, then canned coconut milk adds richness. Serve it in small cups as the initial course of your Thanksgiving meal, or in a big pot on the table for folks to ladle out as a side.
4. Dairy Free Sweet Potato Casserole
This holiday classic swaps out the marshmallow topping for a brown sugar and pecan crumb topping – so much better IMO! The sweet potato mash is made creamy with almond milk and dairy-free butter. Always a crowd pleaser.
5. Dairy Free Twice Baked Potatoes
This is a great one if you enjoy cooking from scratch. This comfort food classic is made dairy free with a homemade cashew sour cream (though a store-bought dairy-free sour cream works too), plus dairy-free butter, oat milk, green onions, and bacon. It’s a fun alternative if you want to switch things up from the standard mashed potato side dish.
Rolls, Breads, and Spreads
6. Dairy Free Cornbread
Rich golden color plus a hint of sweetness from honey = cornbread perfection! Just keep in mind that babies under 1 shouldn’t consume honey, so skip giving slices of this to your littlest littles.
7. Homemade Dairy Free Crescent Rolls
Flaky, buttery, and soft – with no actual butter! These do take a little time (there’s rising and resting involved), but I promise it’s worth it. The recipe makes around 26 rolls, which is perfect for a big holiday crowd.
8. Dairy-Free Hawaiian Rolls
OK, maybe not the most traditional recipe for Thanksgiving, but I just love these sweet fluffy rolls! They’re made with pineapple juice, oat milk, and vegan butter. Perfect slathered with a little dairy-free butter. They are also great to use next-day for turkey sliders!
9. Dairy Free Biscuits
Just seven ingredients and 30 minutes and you’ll have these delicious biscuits on your Thanksgiving table! They’re flaky and taste amazing.
10. Dairy Free Whipped Pumpkin Honey Butter
This is the recipe you never knew you needed at your Thanksgiving table. It gives me serious Texas Roadhouse butter vibes (the store-bought one is actually dairy-free!), but with a fall twist. You’ll whip dairy-free butter with pumpkin puree, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla. Slather it on any of the rolls or biscuits above. It keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days, so it’s an easy one to make ahead.
Pies
11. Dairy Free Pumpkin Pie
The quintessential Thanksgiving dessert! Full fat canned coconut milk takes the place of evaporated milk, and there are no specialty or hard-to-find ingredients. Use a refrigerated pie crust (many are dairy-free) or my homemade dairy-free pie crust recipe.
12. Spicy Chocolate Pumpkin Pie
Looking to shake up the dessert table? This pie combines silky pumpkin puree with dairy-free dark chocolate chips and a kick of cayenne. Kind of gives Mexican hot chocolate vibes. Definitely a unique option that will surprise your guests!
13. Dairy Free Apple Pie with Brown Sugar Crumb Topping
A flaky pie crust, sweet cinnamon apple filling, and brown sugar crumb topping…does it get any better than that?! While I love a good pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, my husband definitely prefers apple so we usually have both on hand for the holiday.
14. Dairy Free Pumpkin Fluff Ice Cream Pie
A fun spin on pumpkin pie that the kids will love! A graham cracker crust is filled with dairy-free ice cream and topped with a pumpkin marshmallow fluff layer. It needs at least 6 hours to set in the freezer, so it’s a great make-ahead option the day before that will allow you to save time on Thanksgiving day.
Other Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas
15. Dairy Free Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip
This is a great low-fuss dessert option. Just mix together dairy-free cream cheese, dairy-free whipped topping, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice. You can make it ahead of time and store in the fridge until it’s time to serve. I love putting this out on a dessert board with sliced apples, graham crackers, and other dippers.
16. Dairy Free Apple Crisp
All the cozy flavors of apple pie with less work. Cinnamon apples bake under a brown sugar and oat topping made with dairy-free butter. Add a scoop of dairy-free ice cream on top for the perfect bite!
17. Pumpkin Olive Oil Cake with Orange Glaze
A naturally dairy free recipe without any expensive substitutes! Pumpkin and olive oil keep this cake tender and moist, and the optional orange glaze adds a bright citrus finish. Ready in about 40 minutes and serves 10. It’s also lovely for a holiday brunch.
18. Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallows
If sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is your favorite part of Thanksgiving, you’ll love these cupcakes! Basically that casserole in dessert form. Soft, spiced sweet potato cupcakes are topped with honey and toasty mini marshmallows instead of frosting.
19. Dairy Free Pumpkin Cookie Cake
If you’re not a fan of pies, this is a great one to try on Thanksgiving. It’s basically a giant pumpkin chocolate chip cookie baked in a cake pan, then dolloped with cinnamon frosting.
20. Butternut Squash Rosemary Cake
Clearly, desserts are where I like to spend my time, haha. I wanted to give one more option for you that’s a little unconventional – this dairy free butternut squash cake. It’s a sweet and savory dessert, thanks to the little bits of fresh rosemary throughout. One of my personal favorites because it’s simple and so flavorful.
Quick Tips for a Stress-Free Dairy Free Thanksgiving Menu
- Plan your turkey. A plain roasted turkey is naturally dairy free, but lots of recipes call for rubbing butter under the skin. I don’t have a recipe on this site yet for your turkey, but you can use just about any popular recipe by swapping the butter for dairy-free butter (or olive oil) instead. If you buy a pre-seasoned or pre-basted turkey, double check the label.
- Make what you can ahead. To make your life easier, think about what you can make the day ahead or even earlier in the day when prepping your menu. For example, many desserts can be made a day ahead and stored until dinner the next day.
- Think about oven time. Similar to above, when planning the menu, think about what recipes will need oven time and for how long. You don’t want to choose too many things that require baking in the couple of hours leading up to dinner, as you might not be able to fit all of them in that time frame.
- Stock up on staples. Dairy-free butter, canned coconut milk, and dairy-free milk (like almond milk or oat milk) show up in a lot of these recipes. Grab ’em when you spot them on sale this month so that you have what you need come Thanksgiving day.
- Always check packaged foods. Because manufacturer formulations vary (and can change at any time), always double check packaged ingredients like boxed stuffing, refrigerated pie crust, store-bought rolls, broth, gravy, and soup mixes.
- Bring a dish (or two). If you’re heading to someone else’s house, offer to bring a side and a dessert. That way you know there will be something safe for you and your family to enjoy.
Bonus: Thanksgiving Leftover Ideas!
Have a fridge full of turkey after the big meal? Check out my 7 Delicious Dairy Free Leftover Turkey Recipes, including leftover turkey curry and leftover turkey shakshuka.
Which dairy free Thanksgiving recipe is going on your table this year? Let me know in the comments!
Feel free to pin this post so you can find it again while you plan your holiday menu!
