Crowd Pleasing Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (Even Non-Vegans Will Love!)
This post is all about the best vegan Thanksgiving recipes to enjoy this holiday season!
Whether you’re vegan, hosting vegan guests, or want a lighter Thanksgiving meal this year, this list of all the best vegan Thanksgiving recipes will ensure that everyone around your holiday table is well fed!
I wanted to create this collection of simple Thanksgiving recipes that includes vegan appetizers, sides, desserts, and a couple of entrees to ensure you have plenty of options when creating your own vegan Thanksgiving menu.
Trust me, your vegan friend or family member will be so touched that you created one of these meat-free Thanksgiving recipes rather than a simple salad and bread.
Let’s dive into the Thanksgiving recipes I’ll be serving at my table this season, and I hope you will too!
Best Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
Vegan Thanksgiving gravy recipe
Thanksgiving gravy is a must for any Thanksgiving meal, even vegan ones! It’s perfect to smother on your Thanksgiving sides and entrees for a boost of flavor and cohesion between all of the different recipes.
This plant-based gravy recipe is a must have for leftovers as well! Another bonus to this gravy recipe is that it’s oil-free and fat-free.
Get the vegan gravy recipe here.
Other vegan gravy recipes you may love:
Vegan Thanksgiving Entree Ideas
Vegan Thanksgiving Turkey
When it comes to vegan Thanksgiving main dish recipes, you can’t forget turkey! Of course, regular Turkey isn’t included in a vegan Thanksgiving menu, but there are plenty of herbs and substitutes that can mimic the original flavor!
Top it off with a bit of gravy, and it won’t taste exactly the same, but it will be a delicious main that your guests will devour.
Best of all, this turkey roast is incredibly easy to slice up.
Get this vegan turkey roast here.
Vegan pumpkin curry
If you aren’t into making meat alternatives and just want a filling and fresh option, pumpkin curry is perfect for you.
The star of the show is pumpkin, but you can always add in any of your other favorite fall vegetables.
I love this dish over rice, but you can make it into a stew with a little bit less liquid and serve it over potatoes instead. I think having it over mashed potatoes would work great, but baked potatoes work as well!
Get this vegan pumpkin curry recipe here.
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Vegan mushroom wellington
I absolutely love the mixture of a flaky crust with a savory, warm inside that you’ll find in this mushroom wellington. Mushrooms are the perfect base to absorb all of the flavors that you add to your inside mixture.
It feels a bit lighter than meat, but this ensures you have plenty of room for dessert! Make sure to make these on Thanksgiving day so that they are perfectly crispy and flaky.
Get this vegan mushroom wellington recipe here.
Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dish Ideas
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
Aren’t the colors in this side dish just gorgeous? I love the blend of colors and textures that you’ll find when whipping up this dish.
The soft sweet potatoes mixed with the crunchy nuts and pomegranate seeds just balance perfectly. Personally, I could eat a pound of this stuff just on its own.
This is the kind of Thanksgiving recipe that will 100% shock meat eaters. It’s always funny seeing the look on someone’s face when you tell them something like this is actually vegan!
Get this sweet potato and brussels sprouts side dish here.
Vegan mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a classic Thanksgiving dish that I just couldn’t leave out of this list! Vegan butter is the ultimate vegan substitute that always surprises me with how similar it tastes to the original!
Mashed potatoes are pretty simple, and I love that this is a dish you can easily make ahead of Thanksgiving Day.
Get this vegan mashed potato recipe here.
Vegan butternut squash soup
Soup can be tricky because it works great as an appetizer or a side dish! I decided to put this specific soup in the Thanksgiving side dish category because it is perfectly filling.
I love a thicker soup just as a meal itself, but offering this vegan soup in some small bowls is the perfect complement to the entrees above. The perfect addition to this soup is a nice, thick piece of bread to dip!
Get this vegan butternut squash soup recipe here.
Vegan Thanksgiving casserole
Vegan green bean casserole recipe
A little something green on a day geared towards feasting can’t hurt! Thanksgiving dinner is not the time for kale salads, but a few green beans can slip their way in.
Top it off with a thick layer of crunch and you have the perfect casserole to serve alongside your mains!
Get this vegan green bean casserole recipe here.
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Butternut squash apple casserole
If you’re looking for a sweeter casserole to balance out the savory dishes on this list, you can check out this butternut squash apple casserole, too!
It’s not so sweet that it tastes like a dessert, but it can still be made ahead of time like other casseroles! Don’t forget to use your leftover cranberries to make a delicious vegan cranberry sauce recipe.
Get this vegan butternut squash apple casserole recipe here.
Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizer Ideas
Vegan puff pastry tart
Nope, it’s not pizza! Just a simple tart that guests can grab a slice of as they catch up and wait for the main Thanksgiving entree to be ready. Instead of a boring bowl of bread, kick it up a notch with this beautiful veggie and flavor-filled tart!
Best of all, this dish is easily customizable depending on your family’s favorite flavors. I think thin slices of pumpkin could work beautifully, rather than the tomatoes, if you want to stay more fall-themed.
Get this vegan puff pastry tart recipe here.
Vegan cheese ball appetizer
Cheese balls are a go-to holiday appetizer, but of course, they aren’t vegan! This vegan version is the perfect blend of creamy and crunchy and will leave your guests satisfied yet craving the rest of your creations.
I love that you can serve it with simple crackers and veggies, yet it still feels elevated.
Get this vegan cheese ball appetizer here.
Best Vegan Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Vegan apple crumble bar
Leave a bit of room after your Thanksgiving meal for these apple crumble bars! The natural sweetness of the apples mixes with a blend of varying textures to create bite-sized pieces of fall goodness.
It’s so easy to slice these up and serve with coffee or warm tea for the perfect end to your Thanksgiving feast!
Get this vegan apple crumble bar recipe here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
What do vegans eat for Thanksgiving instead of turkey?
There are plenty of hearty and satisfying main Thanksgiving dishes like lentil loaf, stuffed squash, mushroom wellington, or plant-based roasts like Tofurky or Gardein. Although they aren’t Turkey, they have similar herbs and flavoring additions that mimic the classic Thanksgiving main.
Some vegans even opt to forgo finding a faux Thanksgiving turkey and branch out to classic dinner entrees that include fall flavors. For example, pumpkin curry includes pumpkin, which is a popular fall food, but it is still flavorful, festive, and a great centerpiece for the holiday table!
Can non-vegans eat (and actually enjoy!) vegan Thanksgiving food?
Of course! Vegan Thanksgiving dishes are full of flavor and will probably shock your non-vegan guests.
Some vegan Thanksgiving swaps may be a harder sell, though. For example, vegan turkey is simply not the same. I used to eat meat and am now plant-based, and even I will admit that. But that’s totally ok, because there are plenty of other wonderful vegan dishes that guests will not only enjoy but may ask you for the recipe!
Recipes like roasted vegetables, creamy mashed potatoes, stuffing casseroles, and apple crisp are a hit in any crowd and are easy to make vegan.
Get this vegan cornbread stuffing here.
How can I make classic Thanksgiving dishes vegan?
It’s much easier than you may think! If you are struggling to transition to being a vegan or you just miss the nostalgia of a classic Thanksgiving dinner, you’re not alone! Luckily, it is pretty easy to swap in things like vegan butter, plant-based milks, and flax or chia seeds for baked goods (these mimic eggs in baking).
Many of the recipes above use foods like mushrooms, potatoes, and seiten to enhance the flavor of the dishes and to diversify the texture. It might take a bit more creativity and jumping out of your comfort zone, but there are plenty of ways to create plant-based Thanksgiving dishes that still make your holiday meal feel special.
Are there make-ahead vegan Thanksgiving dishes?
Of course! Just like classic Thanksgiving menus, there are plenty of options to make Thanksgiving Day less hectic by prepping ahead.
You just have to be mindful of how prepping ahead will affect flavor and marination of flavors. Dishes like soups, casseroles, desserts, and salads can be reheated or freshed up the day of your Thanksgiving dinner party!
I am all for cutting down on time and stress so you can enjoy more time with your loved ones! Many vegan recipes actually taste better the next day.
What are easy dairy-free Thanksgiving desserts to make?
After a heavy Thanksgiving meal, it’s really nice to be able to have a light, refreshing, and sweet vegan Thanksgiving dessert to finish it off! Similar to the other vegan dishes on this list, you can easily swap out traditional ingredients with things like coconut milk, silken tofu, and avocado to create vegan desserts!
Here are a few dairy-free vegan Thanksgiving desserts:
Vegan pear crumble with cranberries and pecans
Plant-based Thanksgiving recipes and foods
Whether you’re hosting a fully plant-based Thanksgiving or just want to include a couple of vegan Thanksgiving dishes on your table, these recipes prove that you don’t need meat or dairy to enjoy an incredible holiday meal! As long as you include plenty of fresh fall produce, you can create unique, healthy, and satisfying recipes that everyone gathered around your table will enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving!
What are some of your favorite Vegan Thanksgiving foods you have tried? Let us know in the comments below! It’s always nice to find more vegan holiday recipes!
Stay well,
Maggie
This post was all about the best vegan Thanksgiving ideas.
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