Oh, and also?! I’m able to use a vegan sausage for my own version, while my meat-eating guy enjoys chicken sausage with his. This sheet pan gnocchi is some one-dish-two-ways gloriousness!

Table of Contents

• Can You Really Cook Gnocchi on a Sheet Pan?!
• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Ingredients
• How to Make Sheet Pan Gnocchi
• How to Make It One Dish Two Ways Style
• Ideas for Success & Variations
• More Sheet Pan Recipes

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Reviews & Comments

Can You Really Cook Gnocchi on a Sheet Pan?!

Yes! I’ve gotta admit, the fact that I could cook gnocchi on a sheet pan was a revelation.

Not only that, but it results in a scrumptious crispy-golden-on-the-outside situation that has made me a sheet pan gnocchi addict for reals.

The Story Behind the Recipe

This sheet pan gnocchi recipe was inspired by a recipe I found on a website called the Green Plate Club. That one had gnocchi, butternut squash, and sage, and it was so good, I just had to find more ways to incorporate sheet pan gnocchi into my life.

I created this Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Veggies and realized how easy it was to make it a one-dish-two-ways situation. Perfect for our mixed carnivore-and-vegetarian household!

Ingredients

For this recipe, we’ve got:

• Gnocchi – just plain old, shelf-stable potato gnocchi. You can find it in the pasta section of most grocery stores.
• Sausage – Go with vegan like Field Roast, or use any meaty sausage you like – or go half and half (I provide directions for one sheet pan for the vegetarians/vegans, and one for the meat-eaters). My guy is partial to Applegate chicken sausages.
• Veggies – Bell peppers, onion, cherry tomatoes
• Seasonings – Garlic powder, thyme, parsley, salt, & pepper
• Olive oil – for tossing it all and helping to develop that crispy sheet pan gnocchi goodness.

How to Make Sheet Pan Gnocchi

Just chop up the veggies and slice the sausage. Add it to a very large sheet pan (or two sheet pans so you don’t crowd the ingredients) along with the gnocchi. Drizzle with olive oil and seasonings, toss well to coat it all, and roast your sheet pan gnocchi with veggies and sausage!

How to Make It One Dish Two Ways Style

For us, to keep dietary worlds divided and create one version with vegan sausage and one with real sausage, I simply break out two large sheet pans, then start chopping. Chop up the onion and divide it between the sheet pans. Then the bell peppers. Divide the tomatoes and the gnocchi between the two. Then cut up the veggie sausage, add it to one pan, and do the same with the meaty sausage on the other.

Finally, drizzle each side with olive oil and sprinkle on the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme. Then toss it all to distribute everything, and then spread it all evenly on the sheet pan.

Ready for the oven!

Bake until golden and bubbling and perfect, then sprinkle on some fresh parsley or other herbs, maybe drizzle a little extra olive oil if that’s your jam, and serve.

You can serve with parmesan cheese for the non-vegans, or without – it’s great either way.

Ideas for Success & Variations

• Don’t crowd the ingredients. Make sure they have plenty of space so that they get nice and golden and crispy.
• If you’re using two sheet pans, make sure your oven is large enough to accommodate both sheet pans at once.
• Make it with just veggies – leave out the sausage if you’d like. Still SO delish!
• Add some basil or sprigs of fresh thyme in addition to, or in place of, the parsley.

More Sheet Pan Recipes

• Sheet Pan Tofu & Veggies
• Sheet Pan Vegetarian Breakfast Hash
• American Flag Sheet Cake

Print

Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage & Veggies Recipe

This easy-to-make dinner boasts veggies, sausage or vegan sausage, and gnocchi roasted to golden, tasty perfection.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword sheet pan meals

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 362kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

• 17.5 ounces potato gnocchi one package; use shelf-stable kind found by the dried pasta
• 1 orange bell pepper seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 yellow bell pepper seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 small red onion cut into eighths
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• sausage or vegan sausage see options below
• 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder divided
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme divided
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided, plus more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper divided, plus more to taste
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped

“Sausage” for the vegan/vegetarian side:

• 2 Field Roast Italian sausages sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds) (product info here

Sausage for the meaty side:

• 2 sausage of your choice we use Applegate chicken sausage, sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds

Garnish/for serving:

• Parmesan cheese for topping optional – skip or use vegan parm for vegan version
• Parsley or other fresh chopped herbs
• Drizzle of olive oil

Equipment:

• Two large rimmed baking sheets

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Set out two large baking sheets. Divide the gnocchi, onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes evenly between the two sheets. Add the veggie sausage to one side and the meaty sausage to the other side. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil each. Over each side, sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Toss until gnocchi, sausage, and veggies are evenly coated and the spices and oil distributed. Spread out in a single layer on the cookie sheets to help ensure even roasting and lots of golden browned bits. 
• Place in oven. Bake until gnocchi and veggies are beginning to take on some color, 15-20 minutes. Remove, stir, and redistribute in an even layer, and cook until there are more golden bits, the sausage is sizzling, and the veggies are tender, 5-10 more minutes. 
• Remove from oven and garnish with parsley and any other fresh herbs if desired. 

Notes

Nutrition information calculated using chicken sausage.

Vegan option:

Make sure the gnocchi you’re choosing is vegan (some have eggs or dairy). I like DeCecco Potato Gnocchi.

If you only have one kind of sausage:

If you’re making a meaty sausage only version or the veggie sausage only version, you’ll still want to use two sheet pans so that the veggies, gnocchi, and sausage have enough space to cook well.

If you’d like to go sausage-free:

If you’d like to leave the sausage out completely, go for it! This one is still plenty delicious with just the gnocchi and veggies. I’d stick with two sheet pans though just to make sure everything has enough space to become golden brown and delicious.

Nutrition

Calories: 362kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 1012mg | Potassium: 278mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1494IU | Vitamin C: 108mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 6mg

The post Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Veggies & Sausage Recipe appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

In fact, vegetarian and meat-eater couple recipes was the premise this food blog was founded upon, all the way back in 2012. We’re talking peace in the kitchen for vegetarians and omnivores eating together – a “Kitchen Treaty.”

Oftentimes, one of us will compromise. He’ll get a big hunk of meat and I’ll eat a hearty side salad for dinner. Or I’ll whip up something vegan for the both of us – no animal products in sight. The very happiest dinners around here, though, are of the one-dish-two-ways variety – the recipe generally starts out as vegetarian or vegan, then a meat add-in satisfies the resident carnivore too. 

Of course, adding a picky kiddo to the mix changed things up for us too. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I often find myself making one dish, three ways. Or two dishes, three ways. Or three dishes period. Yeah … we’re a work in progress.

But today, I’m focusing vegetarian and meat-eater couple recipes. If you’re a family out there like ours, have faith! Believe it or not, there really are tons of meals for vegetarians and meat eaters eating together, and these recipes are proof!

In this Article About Meals for Vegetarians & Meat Eaters

• Pasta
• Chilis
• Soups & Stews
• Sandwiches
• Pizza
• Tex-Mex Faves
• Bowls & More
• Omnivore & Vegetarian Couples: More Ideas for Keeping the Peace

Pasta

Pasta is pretty much universally adored – and delicious with just about anything, meat or not. But it’s especially great in these flexible meals for vegetarians and meat eaters. Here are some faves:

From Kitchen Treaty

• Cheesy Baked Tortellini (lacto-ovo veg with optional ground beef) – I love using individual casserole dishes to serve this up. Having different color dishes helps us tell them apart.
• Tortellini with Butternut Squash, Mushrooms, and Gruyere (lacto-ovo veg with optional sausage) – This is a great, easy recipe that also works well for entertaining.
• Veggie-Filled Enchilada Pasta Casserole (lacto-ovo veg with optional ground beef) – a dinnertime staple for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.
• Ravioli Lasagna (lacto-ovo veg with optional meat) – use a meaty ravioli for the carnivores and a meatless one for vegetarians. Done!
• 20-Minute Peanut Sweet Potato Noodles with Spinach (vegan with optional meat) – Not an official pasta per se, but it works here! This is a really fast, simple, yet complex-tasting base recipe that can be enhanced with either tofu or chicken. 

From other blogs

• Lightening-Fast Cheesy Three-Pepper Ravioli with Italian Sausage (lacto-ovo with optional sausage) from Two Healthy Kitchens – The veggie-loaded skillet and delicious ravioli make for the perfect dish. Just cook up the sausage in a separate skillet for the meat-eaters’ versions. Easy peasy!
• Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad (lacto-ovo with optional chicken) from Snappy Gourmet – Just leave the chicken out of some or all of this one and you still have veggies and flavor to spare. Love the creativity!
• Creamy Spinach Tomato Tortellini (lacto-ovo with optional meat) from Cooking Classy – This recipe starts out vegetarian. Just add some cooked chicken or sausage for the meat-eaters and everyone’s ga-ga!

Chilis

Chili is one of my favorite dinners for several reasons. Delicious? Check. Easy? Check. Simple to customize for vegetarians and meat-eaters? Check check check! So I’ve published several chili recipes here on Kitchen Treaty – each one seems to be a new favorite. I can’t help it!

From Kitchen Treaty

• 20-Minute Vegetarian White Bean Chili (vegan with optional chicken)– The flavors in this one defy the quick cooking time. Just add cooked, shredded chicken to the meat-eaters’ versions. 
• Spicy Chili Verde with White Beans (vegan with optional chicken) – An incredible chili made with tomatillos (so good)! Just add chicken for the carnivores.
• Butternut Squash & Beer Chili (vegan with optional ground turkey) – This comforting chili is flavorful and hearty with or without the turkey. We love this chili over a generous scoop of brown rice.
• Slow Cooker Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili (vegan with optional ground beef) – A traditional chili recipe that’s extra easy and totally hearty whether you add the ground beef or not.
• Slow Cooker Black Bean & Mango Caribbean Chili (vegan with optional pork or chicken) – Black beans and mangoes are a match made in heaven, and in chili? Unbelievably delicious. Try it!
• White Chili (vegan with optional chicken) – This unique chili has a surprise ingredient that gives it a warm, interesting vibe.
• Chili Cheese Stuffed Spaghetti Squash (lacto-ovo veg with optional meat) – Try your chili leftovers scooped into individual squash shells! The individual servings make for easy customization; plus, it’s just darn tasty served up this way.

From other blogs

• Acorn Squash, Beet, and Sweet Potato Chili (vegan with optional meat) from Farm Fresh Feasts – for those that say beans in chili is blasphemy, this bean-free chili for vegans or with beef for carnivores should fit the bill just fine.

Soups & Stews

Cozy, comforting bowlful-meals for vegetarians and meat eaters.

From Kitchen Treaty

• Thai Green Curry Noodle Soup (vegan with optional meat) – A fast, easy, and comforting soup with Thai flavors, rice noodles, and your protein of choice – tofu for the plant-based folk, chicken for the meat-eaters.
• Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli Soup (lacto-ovo veg with optional meat) – A fall favorite around here! I’ve also been known to freeze this one for quick and easy dinners. I add the raw pasta when warming it back up (frozen pasta = gross!)
• Creamy Potato & Kale Soup (lacto-ovo veg with optional sausage) – A comforting winter soup that’s equally hearty with sausage or without.
• Hearty Tuscan Bean Stew (vegan with meat option) – This sort of reminds me of a modern take on the lima beans and ham I was served often as a kid. Love this stuff!
• Vegetarian Pho from Scratch (vegan with optional beef) – This homemade pho recipe starts with a flavorful veggie broth. This one is especially easy for mixed-diet dinners because the super thin-sliced meat cooks right in the bowl after you scoop the broth over it!

From other blogs

• Potato, Beet, & Leek Soup (vegan, lacto-ovo veg, or meat option) from Farm Fresh Feasts – With three easy “bus stops,” this recipe can be made to suit vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores. Love.

Sandwiches

Score one more for individually served-up food! Sandwiches are so easy and, of course, make for endlessly customizable meals for vegetarians and meat eaters.

From Kitchen Treaty

• Hamburgers/Veggie Burgers (vegan, vegetarian, and meat options) – Okay, so this one is from the Obvious Files, but still worth mentioning because hamburgers/veggie burgers are quite possibly THE easiest meal for multi-vore homes. They’re a once-per-week occurrence for us as soon as we roll out the BBQ come spring.
• Bratwursts/Field Roast (vegan or meat options) – This combo is also on permanent rotation for us every summer.
• Roasted Red Pepper, Arugula, & Goat Cheese Sandwiches (lacto-ovo veg with optional bacon) – A decadent yet simple sandwich. A bit of chicken might also do well for the meat-eaters.
• BLTs/TLTs (vegan with bacon option) – Bacon for the carnivores, and tofu for the vegetarians. But not just any tofu. Quick-seared, smoky-seasoned tofu. It’s so good I kinda feel sorry for the bacon-eaters. 😉
• Grilled Summer Vegetable Sandwiches with Pesto (vegan with optional chicken) – I’ll be honest, my guy actually preferred this one without the meat (which does sometimes happen). But it’s an option!

From other blogs

• Chinese Cabbage & Chicken Roll-Ups (vegan with chicken option) from Farm Fresh Feasts – because they’re made individually with separately cooked chicken, these are perfect for the multivore family.

Pizza

Mini pizzas, anyone? Pizza lends itself wonderfully to individual servings and so many customization options. My guy and I used to love ordering half pepperoni and half olive pizzas (olive pizzas = glorious). Now that I’ve had to remove cheese from my diet, we generally go with individual options instead. Pizzas make the perfect meals for vegetarians and meat eaters!

From Kitchen Treaty

• How to Make Heart-Shaped Pizzas (vegan, lacto-ovo, and meat options) – Make ’em any which way. Perfect for Valentine’s Day but also anytime you want to show a little extra love. 
• Roasted Spinach & Garlic White Pizza (lacto-ovo veg with optional chicken) – This cheesy white pizza has tons of roasted garlic. No vampires in sight!
• Gorgonzola Kale & Pear Pizza (lacto-ovo veg with optional bacon) – Kale on pizza makes such a tasty topping. I love the unusual addition of pears; my guy loves the not-as-unusual addition of bacon.
• Brussels Sprouts Pita Pizza (lacto-ovo veg with optional bacon) – With the crusts already made, these cute little pizzas are a snap to make.
• BBQ Chicken/Tofu Pizza (lacto-ovo veg with optional chicken) – This one is a little labor intensive but SO WORTH IT.

From other blogs

• Quick & Easy Grilled Pizza (lacto-ovo veg with optional meat) from Two Healthy Kitchens – One big pizza divided into “safe zones,” customized to each individual’s liking.
• Mini Deep Dish Pizzas + Dessert (lacto-ovo veg with optional meat) from Two Healthy Kitchens – Tiny deep-dish pizzas made individually means each can be customized! No meat, some meat, lots of meat, one olive, 10 olives, veggies galore … make ’em your own! Plus, bake up a few dessert pizzas alongside and you’re good to go for dessert, too. Love this idea.

Tex-Mex Faves

Many Tex-Mex dishes are served up individually – usually in tortillas. Perfect for mixed-diet families!

From Kitchen Treaty

• Refried Bean & Cheese Burritos (lacto veg with optional chicken) – Freezer-friendly and individually made. Life is so much easier when our freezer is stocked with these.
• Beans & Greens Tacos (vegan with optional chicken) – These tacos whip up super fast and taste divine. Chicken adds a meaty touch for the carnivores.
• Grilled Tofu Tacos with Sweet Onion Slaw (vegan with optional chicken) – The tofu and the chicken can be grilled up at the same time (we keep a segregated grill around here), which makes these delicious tacos come together super quickly.
• Grilled Peach Fontina Quesadillas (lacto veg with optional chicken) – Peaches and fontina are a heady combo; perfect during the summer months when juicy peaches are at their peak.
• Taco Salads (vegan, vegetarian, and meat options) – With an easy trick for individual taco shell bowls, it’s easy to dish up a customized salad for each of you.

From other blogs

• Chicken & Sweet Potato Enchiladas (lacto veg with meat option) from The Cookie Rookie – Make it vegetarian by leaving the chicken out of all or half (use two smaller baking dishes, one for the chicken version and one for the veggie version)
• Arepas Rellenas with Black Beans or Shredded Chicken (lacto veg with meat option) from The Wimpy Vegetarian – Homemade corn-based bread stuffed with either beans or chicken and served up individually. Mouth-watering!

Bowls & More

Grain bowls are perfect for vegetarians or vegans and meat-eaters eating together. Because they’re assembled right in the bowl, just add meat and/or cheese to one and leave it off of the other. I’ve also got a few more recipes up my sleeve. See! Lots of options. 

From Kitchen Treaty

• Veggie Roll Sushi Bowl with Sesame-Wasabi Dressing (vegan with optional chicken) – No bamboo rolling mats required! We love these simple bowls. Perfect with a bit of cooked, chopped chicken for the meat-eater. A hunk of salmon might do nicely too!
• Cashew Veggie Stir Fry (vegan option with tofu or meat option with chicken) – Crisp veggies. Crunchy cashews. And tofu for the vegans or chicken for the meat-eaters. All in a savory-sweet, slightly spicy sauce.
• Rustic White Bean & Thyme Pot Pies (vegan with chicken option) – Hearty white beans, carrots, and potatoes in a creamy thyme-flavored sauce. Just add cooked chicken or turkey for the meat-eaters!
• Thai Peanut Spaghetti Squash Boats (vegan with chicken option) – Thai-inspired peanut sauce tossed with spaghetti squash and topped with crunchy peanuts and cilantro. Top individual servings with tofu for the vegans/vegetarians or chicken for the carnivorously inclined.

From other blogs

• Mojito Chicken Quinoa Bowls (vegan with chicken option) from Food Faith Fitness – There’s much more going on in these bowls than just chicken. Like pineapple. And avocado. And macadamia nuts. Just add the chicken to the carnivores’ portions and leave it off otherwise. It’s a complete meal either way.
• Roasted Vegetable Teriyaki Bowls (vegan with chicken option) from The Roasted Root – Super simple yet satisfying. Just add chicken for the meat-eaters!

Omnivore & Vegetarian Couples: More Ideas for Keeping the Peace

• Vegetarians & Carnivores Living Together: Keeping Peace in the Kitchen
• Tips for Hosting a Vegetarian or Vegan on Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving for Special Diets: The Ultimate Guide to Coexisting Deliciously
• Dinner Menu Ideas: A Thanksgiving Feast for (Nearly) Every Diet
• Dinner Menu Ideas: Our Christmas Dinner Menu

What are your go-to recipes for your mixed-diet family? Leave a link in the comments below!

The post 40+ Flexible Recipes for Vegetarians and Meat Eaters appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

With food the center of attention, Thanksgiving can be a bit dicey when it comes to the subject of special diets. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free – almost every family or group of friends has a special-diet guest at the table.

How to enjoy it peacefully? It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Mutual respect

While I talked about it more here, I really think a peaceful meal boils down this: Mutual respect.

Hosts, little extra effort (not a lot! Just a little!) to accommodate your gluten-free or vegan guest can go a long way. What does that look like? Well, usually, it’s about including one or two hearty sides that the special diet guest can eat but that everyone else will still love too. Lots of ideas below – keep reading!

Special-diet guests, bring something that you know you can eat to take some of the pressure off of the host – just make sure you talk to the host about it first so he/she can keep the addition in mind when finalizing the menu. Communication goes hand-in-hand with respect!

If you’re the host AND the person with the special diet (been there many times!) first you’ll need to figure out where you draw your line. If you’re a vegan, for instance, you might have a hard-and-fast rule: NO animal products in your home, period. If that’s the case, and you plan on serving a killer plant-based feast to your fam, great! Just give them a heads-up before the big day. Or perhaps you’re okay with someone bringing a meaty dish for the carnivores, you’re just not up for preparing it yourself. Or maybe you’ll be okay with cooking up the meat yourself – you just won’t want to eat it. Just figure it out and communicate with your loved ones beforehand.

Okay, so now, let’s talk food!

2. Expand your culinary horizons

For this section, I thought I’d point out foods that are off-limits, those that are generally safe, and potential minefields for four common special diets: Vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Keep in mind, just because I’ve listed something as off-limits or as a potential minefield, doesn’t mean there aren’t alternatives! At the end of each section, I’ve linked you to a collection of delicious Thanksgiving recipes that fit into that particular category (but should please everyone else too)!

Go on, get creative in the kitchen! It’s fun!

Vegetarians

Recap: Someone who self-identifies as a vegetarian usually eats eggs and/or dairy, but nothing with meat or meat byproducts.

Off-limits

• Turkey
• Gravy (usually made with turkey drippings or a meat broth)

Generally safe

• Mashed potatoes – without chicken broth!
• Cranberry sauce
• Sweet potatoes
• Veggie sides
• Salad
• Rolls & butter
• Green bean casserole

Potential minefields

• Stuffing – can have sausage or even oysters in it; even if it doesn’t, it might still be made with chicken broth
• Jello salad – has gelatin, something vegetarians usually don’t eat
• Anything with marshmallows – marshmallows also have gelatin! Dandies are a great alternative.
• Pumpkin pie – does the crust have lard in it?

Recipe ideas

• Easy Vegetarian Onion Gravy
• The Best Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Ever
• One-Pot Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
• Sauteed Green Beans with Smoky Shallots
• 15 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Side Dishes that’ll Wow ‘Em All
• 19 Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Vegans

Recap: Vegans eat no animal products whatsoever – no meat, dairy, or eggs.

Off-limits

• Turkey
• Gravy – usually made with one or more: meat drippings, meat broth, butter
• Mashed potatoes – have milk and butter
• Stuffing – made with butter and meat broth
• Green bean casserole – usually contains dairy

Generally safe

• Rolls – made without eggs, milk, or butter
• Veggies – without cheese or other dairy, bacon, or eggs
• Salad
• Cranberry sauce

Potential minefields

• Same as vegetarians

Recipe ideas

• Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Risotto
• Creamy Vegan Butternut Pasta Bake
• Ridiculously Creamy Vegan Shells & Cheese
• Wild Rice & Lentil Stuffed Delicata Squash
• Vegan Golden Mashed Potatoes with Vegan Garam Masala Brown Gravy
• Rustic Sweet Potato & Beet Galette
• Simple Fall Green Salad with Apples & Pecans
• Nutty Chickpea Pilaf
• 19 Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Dairy-Free

Recap: Someone who avoids dairy might do so because they’re lactose intolerant or even allergic. Usually someone who eats dairy-free can still eat eggs if they choose, and, of course, meat. If you’re having a hard time finding dairy-free sides, try searching the keyword “vegan” instead.

Off-limits

• Mashed potatoes – made with milk and butter
• Stuffing – often made with butter
• Pumpkin pie – made with butter and milk

Generally safe

• Turkey
• Veggies – without cheese or other dairy
• Salad
• Rolls – made without milk or butter
• Cranberry sauce

Potential minefields

• Gravy (if made with milk or butter)
• Green bean casserole (could have milk in it)

Recipe ideas

• Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Risotto
• Slow Cooker Sourdough Herb Stuffing
• Vegan Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Garlic & Chives
• Coconut Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Maple Pecan Drizzle
• Dairy-Free Impossible Pumpkin Pie
• 19 Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Gluten-Free

Recap: Someone on a gluten-free diet avoids wheat and all gluten-containing products including pastas, breads, crackers, and evening seasoning mixes.

Off-limits

• Rolls
• Pumpkin pie
• Stuffing
• Gravy (made with flour)

Generally safe

• Turkey
• Mashed potatoes
• Cranberry sauce

Potential minefields

• Cornbread stuffing – though many cornbread recipes are gluten-free, some aren’t

Recipe ideas

• Herbed Wild Rice & Quinoa Stuffing
• Indian Autumn Vegetable Rice
• Three Bean Sweet Potato Salad
• Dairy-Free Impossible Pumpkin Pie (using gluten-free option)
• 10 Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Side Dishes

3. One last gentle suggestion: Put your personal feelings aside

Food can be an emotional thing, and when you put so much effort and love into what you make, its rejection can feel personal. Or when you have ethical concerns about certain food sources, emotions can run high.

So you may have some, shall we say, feelings about your son’s new refusal to eat your family’s time-honored dinner rolls because they’re not vegan.

Or perhaps you’re a vegetarian who’s not so fond of your grandma’s insistence on parading the turkey around the table every year.

Or, maybe, your daughter-in-law claims she can’t have gluten, but you’ve read there’s no such thing unless you’re a true celiac (which you know for a fact she’s not!)

I can’t know about how your family works, but if you’re able to put your feelings aside, I do know that a little grace – in every direction – can go a long way toward coexisting peacefully. Just something to keep in mind. 🙂 Of course, only you know where you have to draw your own line, but I’m just putting it out there.

(Let me just say, I believe that there are a TON of people who have issues with gluten, and not just those with celiac disease. But regardless of my view or yours, let’s keep our eye on the prize: Our families are together and enjoying one another along with some delicious food on Thanksgiving. And isn’t that what it’s all about?!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

More for Your Vegetarian Thanksgiving (and Christmas too!)

We’ve got loads of vegetarian holiday recipes and ideas!

Recipes

• All Thanksgiving recipes
• 100+ Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes – one massive round-up of every kind of meatless holiday option
• 30 Main Vegetarian Dishes for Thanksgiving & Christmas
• 15 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Side Dishes with Wide Appeal
• 19 Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
• 12 Vegetarian Gravy Recipes
• 5 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes for Freezing

Menu Ideas

• An Easy Vegan Thanksgiving Menu (+ a Super Simple Centerpiece Idea)
• A Thanksgiving Feast for (Nearly) Every Diet – a full, epic menu with plenty of options for the carnivores, vegetarians, vegans, AND gluten-free folks at the table!
• And for Christmas, here’s our Christmas dinner menu that I shared few years ago.

The post Thanksgiving for Special Diets: The Ultimate Guide to Coexisting Deliciously appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

Okay, so here’s what’s up. This holiday season has been tough for me blog-wise. This is the first Christmas I’ve been dairy-free, and apparently, at no time is dairy more plentiful than at this time of year. It’s kind of a good thing because it keeps me away from the truffles and the cookies and the what-nots (see also: a terribly horrible thing).

It’s this time of year when I usually share indulgent cocktails and decadent desserts, and without those, I’m really feeling at a bit of a loss. (I’m also avoiding sugar, so it’s a double whammy.)

So I guess I have to apologize, and I hope that by the time the 2016 Christmas season rolls around, I’ll have found my holiday groove.

Meanwhile, I thought I’d share what’s on our Christmas dinner menu this year for our multi-vore family. As usual, I’m taking the traditional route by prepping a meaty main for the carnivores. But then we’ve got some hearty, diet-neutral sides so that I, the lone (now dairy-free) vegetarian in the family, can feel like I got to enjoy a special meal, too. As far as the kid goes, well … she’ll probably get a side of bacon, some bunny mac, and sprinkle-topped vanilla yogurt, if I’m being honest. (Yeah, we tried the “you’ll eat what we eat” thing, and she ended up losing weight that she could not afford to lose on her very petite frame and ended up at the doctor’s office with stomachaches [EAT, CHILD!], so … for now, she continues to get custom-made meals).

Anyway! Here’s our menu …

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The post Our Christmas Dinner Menu appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

Whew!

So what’s a host to do?! Whip up a fantastic and easy Thanksgiving dinner, that’s what!

I’ve posted several Thanksgiving recipes these past couple of weeks with the intent of rounding them up here, along with a few other classics from years past. Together, along with a few other incredible blogger recipes, they make up one terrific Turkey Day (or No-Turkey Day) feast for all. It’s doable – promise!

Here’s what’s on the table:

Appetizers & sippers

A light selection of drinks and snacks with something for every diet.

• Crock Pot Hot Spiced Cider
• Classic Red Sangria
• A selection of olives & nuts
• Hummus with pitas or pita chips and veggies

The main feast

• Turkey – I don’t have any turkey recipes here on Kitchen Treaty, but these look fantastic:
  • White Wine Ginger Thyme Brined Roast Turkey from Boulder Locavore
  • Herb-Roasted Turkey from What’s Gaby Cooking
  • Mom’s Roast Turkey from Simply Recipes
  • Deep-Fried Sriracha Turkey from Tori Avey
• Best-Ever Mashed Potatoes
• Vegetarian Onion Gravy (or Caramelized Onion Gravy from Oh My Veggies)
• Herbed Wild Rice & Quinoa Stuffing
• Sauteed Green Beans with Smoky Shallots 
• Apple Cider Glazed Sweet Potatoes from Oh My Veggies
• Store-bought dinner rolls (made without dairy or eggs)
• Orange Maple Cranberry Sauce

Dessert!

• Vanilla Praline Pumpkin Pie
• Vegan Gingerbread Pear Bundt Cake with Caramel Sauce from Oh My Veggies
• Gluten-Free Cranberry Lemon Tart from Cafe Johnsonia
• Store-bought vanilla ice cream

So who eats what?! Here goes!

Note: I realize I’m over-generalizing here, and that everyone has individual tastes. The generalizations are not meant to be jerky or ignorant, they’re just here to show that one meal really can appeal to – and work for – most everyone!

Meat-and-Potatoes Carnivore

turkey | mashed potatoes & gravy | green beans | cranberry sauce | dinner roll | pumpkin pie a’la mode

Nothing but the classics for this guy (or gal). And that’s cool. Hopefully he or she will be a little open-minded because the stuffing, gravy, and beans are a bit non-traditional, but not over-the-top weird.

Adventurous Carnivore

turkey | mashed potatoes & gravy | herbed wild rice & quinoa stuffing | green beans | cider-glazed sweet potatoes | cranberry sauce | dinner roll | a little of each dessert

Hopefully the Adventurous Carnivore came hungry, because he or she can eat everything at the table!

Vegetarian

herbed wild rice & quinoa stuffing | cranberry sauce |  cider-glazed sweet potatoes | mashed potatoes & gravy | green beans | dinner roll | a little of each dessert

 No turkey for the resident vegetarian, of course, but everything else is fair game.

Vegan

herbed wild rice & quinoa stuffing | cider-glazed sweet potatoes | green beans | dinner roll | cranberry sauce | vegan gingerbread pear bundt cake

It can be tough being a vegan at Thanksgiving – but not with this spread. The hearty quinoa stuffing doubles as the perfect main for the vegans in the house.

Gluten-Free

turkey | mashed potatoes sans gravy | green beans | cranberry sauce | herbed wild rice & quinoa stuffing | cider-glazed sweet potatoes | gluten-free cranberry tart

The gluten-free diner needs to stay away from the dinner rolls, the gravy, and some of the desserts, but otherwise, the feast is on! Another dessert option for gluten-free guests is a scoop of ice cream with caramel sauce.

—

I know it’s easy to feel put off by family and friends with dietary preferences (or necessities), especially if it gets in the way of traditional dishes – and it can feel like more work for the host, depending on how willing the host is to allow others to bring dishes. But here’s the thing: if a little variation, creativity, and compromise helps everyone feel welcome at the table, what a wonderful way to show our thanks for our beloved friends and family. And isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about?!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes & Menu Ideas

Looking for more?

Recipes

• All Thanksgiving recipes
• 100+ Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes – one big round-up of every kind of vegetarian holiday option
• 30 Main Vegetarian Dishes for Thanksgiving & Christmas
• 15 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Side Dishes with Wide Appeal
• 19 Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
• 12 Vegetarian Gravy Recipes
• 5 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes for Freezing

Menu Ideas

• An Easy Vegan Thanksgiving Menu (+ a Super Simple Centerpiece Idea)
• Thanksgiving for Special Diets: The Ultimate Guide to Coexisting Deliciously
• And for Christmas, here’s our Christmas dinner menu that I shared few years ago.

The post A Thanksgiving Menu for (Nearly) Every Diet appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

It’s a disappointed mutter heard on first dates all around the country. And it makes me want to pull my hair out.

As a vegetarian that was single for quite awhile before I met my wonderful meat-eater of a guy, I found myself at the receiving end of this weird sort of prejudice a handful of times.

He’s a WHAT?!

I know there are reasons behind why omnivores might not want to take up with vegetarians and vice versa. But, the fact is, more and more people are going meatless, and that trend is likely to continue. And you know what? I’m here to tell you that, as a vegetarian living with a meat-eater, it’s not that bad. At all. In fact, it can be fun. I promise! My guy would say the same thing.

Yes, of course, it is absolutely your prerogative to make diet a deal-breaker. You know what’s most important to you when it comes to how you spend your time and the people you spend your time with, especially if you’re particularly passionate about your view.

But who knows – you may already be married to your loved one when he opts to go vegan or she decides it’s time to to throw red meat to the curb. Regardless of how you find yourself in this situation, living the multi-vore life really is easier than you may think.

In my experience, it boils down to three things: having an open mind, being willing to compromise a bit, and doing a little creative thinking.

I eat what I want, he eats what he wants. Look how happy we are! Yay!

Open your mind

It comes down to this: you don’t have to understand one another’s choices to respect them. Honestly, I pretty much think meat and seafood are disgusting. My guy feels the exact same way about tofu. We silently acknowledge our differences, we move past it, and we move on, together. No preaching, no trying to convert. I don’t give him grief over eating meat, and he doesn’t lasciviously wave bacon in front of my face.

Okay, okay, I admit that during a weak moment, I did recently text “poor little lamby” when my guy requested I bring home a gyro from our favorite Greek restaurant. And, a couple of months ago, when I asked my guy what he did to make a batch of oatmeal so delicious, he jokingly replied, “bacon grease.”  But we’re several years into this and we’ve established that base of mutual respect. If we do decide to go there occasionally with one another, it’s generally pretty safe.

Yeah, she’s a vegetarian. It’s cool.

Compromise

As a vegetarian, you might have a tough time knowing meat has been cooked in the same skillet as your beloved salt and pepper tofu. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you must banish meat from your kitchen. Consider compromising, if you can. Buy pans that you can sanitize in the dishwasher, or have two sets – one for meat and one meat will never, ever touch.

And if you’re a dedicated meat-eater, you may have never considered that a meatless dinner can be plenty satisfying. But why not give it a go once in awhile? My carnivorous guy’s advice: try that meatless dish your beloved vegetarian just prepared – even if you’re feeling a little dubious. Unless it’s “eggplant tofu bean sprout foo foo” (his exact words), it’s probably going to be worth the compromise. And who knows – you might just discover your new favorite dish didn’t even need the meat. Another point my guy makes: you may already eat more delicious vegetarian meals than you realized, without a second thought about the fact that they’re meatless. Mac and cheese, anyone?

It’s funny. These days, when I offer to add some sort of meat to an otherwise vegetarian dish for my guy, more often than not, he’ll decline. “Doesn’t need it,” he says. Conversely, sometimes all my guy wants for dinner is a big ol’ steak. I make up a side dish or two to go along with it, and make the sides my dinner. (And actually, loaded baked potatoes are all that.)

Once we opened our minds and decided to compromise a bit, we were able to open our hearts and eat our respective salads together happily while smiling at them. Yay!

Get creative

Most of us grew up with chicken or beef the cornerstone of every meal – it’s deeply ingrained that dinner must be built around the cut of meat you’ve chosen. Not so! There are so many ways to make a balanced meal that isn’t centered around meat.

Yes, vegetarian meals are often seen as restrictive because you can’t include meat. Consider, though, the world of possibilities that actually opens up when you don’t have to include that one single category of food – meat – in every single meal.

In our house, of course, meat still factors in. But it’s no longer the star of the show. Many of the recipes I make start out vegetarian, then I divide the dish and add meat to a portion toward the end of the process. Creating and sharing those recipes is one of the reasons Kitchen Treaty exists, but I think it’s easy to come up with these types of meals on your own. Try reading your next recipe a little differently – imagine substituting vegetarian ingredients, then adding meat at the end of the process. It’s doable with a gazillion different dishes – gazillion being an exact number, of course.

And you know what? Just go have some fun in the kitchen. Try a new meatless food or two. Hit the farmer’s market together, ask a few questions, bring that exotic vegetable home, break out the wine, cook it up together. Sounds like a wonderful second date to me.

In fact, you might just find that dating a vegetarian didn’t close off your options – it did quite the opposite. It opened up a whole new world.

Are you a multi-vore family? Leave a comment below to share how you make it work. :: Learn more about vegetarianism and veganism (Vegetarian Resource Group) :: Get the creative juices flowing by reading this story about how to make almost any meal meatless (Oh My Veggies) :: Go shop for cheap and corny stock photography, like what I used above. It’s more fun than you might think!

The post Vegetarians and Carnivores Living Together: Ideas for Keeping Peace in the Kitchen appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

It’s more than likely that the vegetarian in your life would hate to see you go to a ton of extra trouble for him/her.

Here are a few tips to keep everyone – meat-eaters, vegetarians, and the busy host alike – all happy on Turkey Day.

1. Be mindful of your sides: whenever possible, keep them meatless

The Thanksgiving table overflows with dishes. Sweet potatoes, squash, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, rolls, salads … vegetarians and vegans, theoretically, have more than enough options from which to create a satisfying feast with nary a glance at that platter of turkey.

But then we see that the Brussels sprouts are smothered in bacon drippings. And the stuffing’s got sausage in it. And the potatoes were mashed with chicken broth, and the gravy, of course, is made with turkey drippings. A roll, some cranberry sauce, and a pile of green salad – if we’re lucky – will have to do.

No need to change every single family recipe or make a second set of everything sans meat – again, we hate to see you agonize over us – but why not try a new recipe for a perfectly delicious stuffing sans sausage or make the mashed potatoes with milk or veggie broth instead of chicken broth?

Thanksgiving Day side dishes needn’t have meat to be utterly delicious. You’ll learn a new (and possibly healthier) recipe with hardly any additional work, and everyone at the table, no matter their dietary preferences, will still savor every scrumptious bite.

If you can work in an obvious protein source like quinoa or lentils, great! But that’s just a bonus – you’d be surprised how much protein most dishes already have in them.

A few vegan and/or vegetarian Thanksgiving side dish ideas:

• Nutty Chickpea Pilaf with Dried Cranberries (gluten-free and vegan)
• Herbed Wild Rice and Quinoa Stuffing (gluten-free & vegan)
• Vegan Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Garlic & Chives (vegan)
• Turmeric Mashed Potatoes with Garam Masala Brown Gravy (vegan)
• Creamy Artichoke Baked Pasta (vegetarian)
• The Best Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Ever (vegetarian)

And here’s an entire menu that should work for carnivores, gluten-free folks, vegans, and vegetarians alike.

2. When your vegetarian or vegan guest offers to bring a dish, let them!

When your meatless loved one brings something to the table, it’s a win all around. It’s one less side dish for you to make – and nobody goes away with a growling tummy.

Will it mess with your menu? Possibly, but oh well! This is a great time to remember that Thanksgiving dinner isn’t about the perfect menu; it’s about gathering with the loved ones you’re thankful for.  Okay, fine, and gorging yourself too – but we all know you don’t need to live in a Norman Rockwell painting to do that.

3. Please, don’t fret

I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but seriously: it makes most vegetarians feel bad – and possibly even more like an outcast – when the host goes to a ton of extra trouble to create an entirely different menu for one lone palate on Thanksgiving. Don’t get me wrong – we do appreciate the effort and we know it comes from a good place – but nobody likes to feel like a burden.

As I alluded to in tip #1, simply including a meat-free dish or two that everyone can enjoy is ideal. My nephew loves a particular vegetarian tomato and olive pasta dish, so oftentimes my brother and sister-in-law will thoughtfully include that dish when they host family festivities. My nephew gets to enjoy a dish he loves that just happens to be meatless – and so do I (along with anyone else who wishes to partake).

* P.S.: I have nothing against Tofurky. In fact, the Tofurky products I’ve tried are quite good! The sandwich slices in particular are surprisingly delicious.

Do you have a tip for hosting vegetarians on Thanksgiving? Please comment and share your thoughts!

Vegetarian Holiday Recipes & Ideas

Recipes

• All Thanksgiving recipes
• 100+ Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes – one massive round-up of every kind of meatless holiday option
• 30 Main Vegetarian Dishes for Thanksgiving & Christmas
• 15 Vegetarian Thanksgiving Side Dishes with Wide Appeal
• 19 Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
• 5 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes for Freezing

Menu Ideas

• An Easy Vegan Thanksgiving Menu (+ a Super Simple Centerpiece Idea)
• A Thanksgiving Feast for (Nearly) Every Diet – a full, epic menu with plenty of options for the carnivores, vegetarians, vegans, AND gluten-free folks at the table!
• Thanksgiving for Special Diets: The Ultimate Guide to Coexisting Deliciously
• And for Christmas, here’s our Christmas dinner menu that I shared few years ago.

The post Tips for Hosting a Vegetarian or Vegan on Thanksgiving appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

I’ve carved a “V” into the top crust of a vegetarian pot pie and a “C” in the chicken version. I sprinkle a bit of the meat on top of a meat-filled dish. I even try to keep the meatless version on the left at all times because I’m the left-handed vegetarian oddball of the family.

But far and away the best strategy I’ve found, so far, is to use different colored dishes.

A prime example of this tip at work is with these terrific 16-ounce Le Creuset baking dishes. These two little dishes get a lot of use in our kitchen. Green is my favorite color, so green is always mine.

An awesome bonus is I love dishes and bakeware, so it’s a good excuse to shop, too. Score!

Do you have to keep track of mixed diets when you’re cooking? What are your strategies?

The post Tip: Use Color to Keep Track of Mixed-Diet Dishes appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.