Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year
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Because Thanksgiving is a food-focused holiday centered around turkey as the main course, taking your celebration into plant-based territory can feel a bit intimidating. But let us assure you that hosting a vegan Thanksgiving dinner is not only 100% possible, it can feature dishes that are just as satisfying as traditional ones, packed with the same fall flavors we all know and love. The spiciness of pumpkin, the heartiness of a thick gravy, and the warm fluffiness of stuffing can all be accomplished in vegan-friendly ways—believe it or not—and we’re here to show you how.
Below, you’ll find 35 vegan recipes that explore the potential of Thanksgiving cuisine without using a single egg, pat of butter, or dash of milk. And of course, there’s zero meat involved. But if you make a handful of these—from soups to dips to donuts—your guests won’t even notice the winged gobbler missing from the table. We’ll even venture to say you’ll reuse some recipes through the rest of the winter because they’re just that good.
Green Beans with Almond Gremolata
Rosemary, almonds, and orange zest put a lovely Thanksgiving-inspired spin on these delicious, accidentally vegan green beans.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
Mustard-Glazed Brussels Sprouts
A mustard and apricot jam glaze brings the fall flavor, and Brussels sprouts offer anti-inflammatory health perks. It’s a win-win!
Get the recipe from Prevention »
Roasted Butternut Squash with Frizzled Sage
We know sweet potatoes are a Thanksgiving go-to, but butternut squash may be its secret superior, coming in hot with the same sweet starchiness at a fraction of the caloric cost.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
Pomegranate Orange Tart
Vegan desserts can be tricky to master, but this seasonal tart is a no-brainer. Made with pure maple syrup and pomegranate molasses, it’s bound to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
Pumpkin-Carrot Soup
A hearty and warm pumpkin-flavored anything screams Thanksgiving, and this vegan soup ticks all the right boxes. It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser, too.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
Curried White Bean Dip
Appetizers are a Thanksgiving staple and this creamy, fulfilling one won’t last long. Serve it with sliced pita bread, cucumbers, and bell peppers.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
Herb Smashed Root Veggies
A medley of smashed root veggies pack the same comforting warmth of mashed potatoes with tons of extra flavor. This recipe features parsnips, rutabaga, potatoes, and carrots.
Get the recipe from Prevention »
Roasted Pears With Vegan Salted Caramel
A decadent dessert for under 250 calories? Savor the sweetness of roasted pears and a delightfully vegan caramel sauce (all thanks to coconut cream).
Get the recipe from Prevention »
Roasted Cauliflower With Cranberry Vinaigrette
Cauliflower is full of good-for-your-gut fiber, and this version amps things up with a tangy vinaigrette and toasted nuts for crunch. Just leave the goat cheese off your plate (or sub out with your favorite vegan version).
Get the recipe from Prevention »
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Curry powder, coconut milk, and a sprinkle of cilantro give this brightly colored squash soup its show-stopping flavor.
Roasted Sweet Potato, Pear, and Onion
That moment when you take a bite expecting a boring potato—and instead you get a delicious burst of juicy pear! Yum!
Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »
Creamy Roasted Squash Puree
Mmm, roast a butternut squash and then blend with maple syrup, shallots, and thyme for a creamy side dish that will get gobbled up faster than you can say Happy Turkey-Free Day.
Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »
Green Beans With Shallots
This classic Ina Garten recipe is easy to make vegan—just use a plant-based butter, such as Miyoko’s or Earth Balance, and you get the same crunchy, classic taste without the dairy.
Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »
Cranberry Relish
What can we say, it’s a classic! This super-easy recipe gives fresh cranberries the extra citrusy zest of oranges and lemons.
Best Vegan Pumpkin Pie
A crust made of crushed pecans and oats? A topping made from whipped coconut cream? It almost doesn’t matter what’s in the middle, but this scrumptious pumpkin pie will have everyone begging for seconds.
Fall Harvest Quinoa and Kale Salad
Okay, it’s a cliché that vegans love kale—but this salad, sprinkled with quinoa, crunchy pistachios, and sweet apple slices, demonstrates exactly why the powerful green is so addictive.
Get the recipe from Destination Delish »
Mini Vegan Carrot Dogs in a Blanket
Got a lot of kids at your vegan Thanksgiving? Hey, you don’t even need kids as an excuse to make this all-time favorite finger-food app. But these pigs in blankets contain no actual pigs or cows—just tasty baby carrots in disguise. Shh, we won’t tell if you don’t.
Get the recipe from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen »
Parsnip Soup
Parsnips look like a paler, shyer version of a carrot—but they pack a delicious flavor in this soup. Especially when topped with chopped hazelnuts and a drizzle of olive oil.
Get the recipe from Feasting at Home »
Vegan Wellington
Your guests will do a double-take when you unveil this classic British dish at the center of your table. Instead of filling the puff pastry with beef, you’ll whip up a tasty stew of lentils, veggies, and sunflower seeds.
Get the recipe from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen »
Best-Ever Vegan Gravy
No matter what you serve as your vegan main course, it always goes better with gravy. The secret ingredients in this version? Mushrooms and soy sauce.
Get the recipe from Good Housekeeping »
Whole Roasted Cauliflower
This entire head of cauliflower roasted in a soy-and-maple gravy will give turkey breast a run for its money as the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving table. Delicious, filling, and cruelty-free.
Get the recipe from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen »
Orange-Glazed Green Beans With Cranberries
If you like your greens with a little touch of sweetness, you’ll love this classic side dressed up with the double-punch of orange marmalade and juicy crans.
Get the recipe from Cupcakes and Kale Chips »
Best Cauliflower Mash
Sure, you can make mashed potatoes vegan, no prob. But why not show the non-vegans at your table exactly how amazing and versatile veggies can be, with this mashed cauliflower side, made creamy with coconut oil.
Get the recipe from Every Last Bite »
Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
This side salad has almost every one of our favorite ingredients tossed together in one colorful bowl. Pecans? Check. Squash? Check. Pomegranate seeds? Check!
Get the recipe from Flavor the Moments »
Vegan Butternut Squash Risotto
This creamy, dreamy risotto is made with a base of brown rice, but it’s the bright-colored squash (and vegan secret ingredient, nutritional yeast) that gives it the fab flavor.
Get the recipe from Simple Vegan Blog »
Vegan Stuffing
It’s everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving side—but who says it has to actually stuff a bird to be called stuffing? Pick your favorite sourdough or hearty peasant bread and let it go stale for a few days before turning it into this deliciously carb-filled indulgence.
Get the recipe from Simple Vegan Blog »
Wild Rice Stuffing
For a different take on delicious stuffing, try this crowd-pleaser, filled with pecans, cranberries, mushrooms, sage, and thyme.
Get the recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod »
Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Crumble
The creamy sweetness of mashed sweet potatoes topped with the crumbly goodness of pecans, oats, and maple syrup? We’ll have seconds, please.
Get the recipe from Vegukate »
Vegan Shepherds Pie
Well, if you want to go all fancy, you can’t do much better than these individually plated shepherds pies—filled with a mix of sun chokes, mushrooms, parsnips, and carrots, and topped with creamy mashed potatoes, they will make your Thanksgiving plate a dream.
Get the recipe from Feasting at Home »
Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese
Did you think that just because you’re vegan, you couldn’t have cheesy, gooey, lip-smacking, kid favorite mac and cheese on your Thanksgiving table? You thought wrong.
Get the recipe from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen »
Caramelized Leek, Fennel & Onion Gratin
Another option for a creamy and cheesy vegan side dish is this impress-the-guests dish of leek and fennel, baked with almond milk and cashews.
Get the recipe from Every Last Bite »
Vegan Pumpkin Pie With Almond Flour Pie Crust
Nothing says Thanksgiving like a tasty slice of pumpkin pie, and there are so many amazing dairy- and egg-free pie recipes these days. This one tastes just like a bite of autumn.
Get the recipe from Simply Quinoa »
Brussels Sprouts, Sweet Potato, and Lentil Sauté
For a green side dish with a little extra oomph, whip up this easy mix of Brussels, sweet potatoes, lentils, onions, and sweet pomegranate seeds. Chili powder and cumin give it an extra kick.
Get the recipe from Destination Delish »
Vegan Green Bean Casserole
Remember the casserole your mom or grandma used to make, with green beans topped with a big plop of canned mushroom soup and crispy onions? Here is the healthier, vegan version of the same classic side.
Get the recipe from Simple Vegan Blog »
Vegan Baked Pumpkin Donuts
These vegan (and gluten-free!) donuts are so easy to make, the little ones can have a blast helping out. If you don’t finish them all for dessert, save them for the next morning and dunk in your coffee for a perfect breakfast treat.
Get the recipe from Simple Vegan Blog »
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