Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

from hearty mains to tempting desserts, these plant-based dishes are all animal-free!

By Taysha Murtaugh and Jennifer Aldrich
Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (1)

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Make everyone feel welcome around the table this November with an armful of vegan thanksgiving sides, desserts, and even a main dish that's tasty enough even omnivores'll be making room on their plates. These simple vegan recipes are packed with flavor and are either already vegan, or can be made that way with just a couple substitutions. Bookmark your favorites for the holiday and give 'em a whirl — you can thank us later. 😉

1

Acorn Squash Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette

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For a meal-worthy "salad" that will satisfy everyone, try this combo of roasted squash, chopped dates, crunchy almonds, and baby kale, all tossed in a rich tahini dressing.

Get the recipe for Acorn Squash Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette.

2

Butternut Squash Soup

Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (4)

One of our favorite parts of this yummy fall soup is the spiced popcorn croutons. Genius!

Get the recipe for Butternut Squash Soup.

3

Sweet-and-Sour Onions

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Pearl onions are a time-honored side dish at Thanksgiving tables, but often they're creamed. Our version skips the dairy for a glaze of sugar, thyme, and red wine vinegar. Delicious! Use your favorite nondairy butter or sauté the onions in oil to keep the recipe fully vegan.

Get the recipe for Sweet-and-Sour Onions.

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4

Smashed Acorn Squash and Garlicky Walnut Crostini

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This easy appetizer is a great way to welcome guests as you finish making the meal! You can skip the called-for blue cheese, but we recommend using a nondairy version, such as Follow Your Heart, to make 'em as tasty as possible.

Get the recipe for Smashed Acorn Squash and Garlicky Walnut Crostini.

5

Baked Onions with Fennel Breadcrumbs

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This simple but elegant side dish offers lots of fall flavor, and some unexpected allure to the Thanksgiving plate. Use your favorite nondairy butter, or a high-quality olive oil to keep it vegan.

Get the recipe for Baked Onions with Fennel Breadcrumbs.

6

Bourbon Yams

Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (8)

Slow cooked yams are incredibly sweet already, but mixed with a glug of good bourbon and topped with spiced walnuts, the dish becomes a true sensation. Use your favorite butter alternative to keep it vegan.

Get the recipe for Bourbon Yams.

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7

Kale Salad with Pickled Cranberries and Crispy Quinoa

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The bright pickled berries on a green bed make this impressive seasonal salad look almost like a wreath — but it's the taste that'll guarantee the bowl gets emptied. Use your favorite vegan hard cheese—we like Violife's Just Like Parmesan— in place of the mancheo, or just leave it out.

Get the recipe for Kale Salad with Pickled Cranberries and Crispy Quinoa.

8

Broccoli Steaks with Spiced Tomato Jam

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Looking for a main you can sink your teeth into—and tofurky is not your thing? These gorgeous "steaks" drizzled in tomato jam are it. Use your favorite nondairy parm — or a similar amount of nutritional yeast — to keep it animal-free.

Get the recipe for Broccoli Steaks with Spiced Tomato Jam.

9

Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Star Anise

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Cranberry sauce is a must-have come Thanksgiving. And thankfully it's easy to keep vegan! We love the combination of spices in this version, and the orange juice tempers the natural tartness.

Get the recipe for Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Star Anise.

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10

Roasted Mushrooms and Radicchio

This ultimate fall side dish boasts the rich flavor of mushrooms, a little bit bitter from fresh radicchio, and a sweet note from balsamic.

Get the recipe for Roasted Mushrooms and Radicchio.

11

Wild Rice-and-Cider-Cranberry Pilaf

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Use your favorite wild rice blend to make this apple cider-infused recipe. The additions of cinnamon, garlic, and scallions make every bite extra flavorful.

Get the recipe for Wild Rice-and-Cider-Cranberry Pilaf.

12

Roasted Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

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Looking for a new way to serve a Thanksgiving staple? These hasselback sweet potatoes are the way to do just that.

Get the recipe for Roasted Hasselback Sweet Potatoes.

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13

Roasted Butternut Squash with Cider Vinaigrette

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Apple cider and red onion add extra zippy flavor to this vegan recipe you can make all autumn long.

Get the recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash with Cider Vinaigrette.

14

Classic Cornbread Dressing

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Keep it country-style with cornbread dressing this year! Oil (or your favorite butter substitute) keeps it vegan.

Get the recipe for Classic Cornbread Dressing.

15

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

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This dish is simple and classic, but the best part of this recipe has to be the 20-minute prep time. It doesn't get easier than that!

Get the recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

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16

Thanksgiving Chopped Salad

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This Thanksgiving salad will give guests a break from the heavier fare on the table. Dressed with a simple, tangy red wine vinaigrette and loaded it with crunchy Persian cucumbers, we top it all off with a smattering of local parsley, basil, and fennel.

Get the recipe for Thanksgiving Chopped Salad.

17

Marinated Mushroom-and-Charred Broccolini Salad

Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (19)

This nutritious Thanksgiving side dish packs plenty of zest—sans any animal products.

Get the recipe for Marinated Mushroom-and-Charred Broccolini Salad.

18

Pepita (Pumpkin Seed) Guacamole

Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (20)

Trust us: Guac and chips make a great appetizer while guests are getting ready for the meal. Finish off this traditional avocado mixture with an additional sprinkle of toasted seeds, and serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

Get the recipe for Pepita (Pumpkin Seed) Guacamole.

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19

Savory Pumpkin Soup with Spice Shake

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Warm guests up with a comforting cup of soup that's creamy, yet contains not a drop of cream.

Get the recipe for Savory Pumpkin Soup with Spice Shake.

20

Vegan Thanksgiving Wraps

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Everyone at the dinner table will be reaching for one of these wraps. They're filled with cinnamon-roasted sweet potatoes, crispy baked chickpeas, and toasted pumpkin seeds all rolled in a garlic herb flatbread.

Get the recipe for Vegan Thanksgiving Wraps at Minimalist Baker.

Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What do vegans think about Thanksgiving? ›

And while Thanksgiving is supposed to signify gratitude and abundance—the holiday centers around the autumn harvest—for many, it's the opposite. “It's all about eating and the murder of these birds or other animals,” Patty Shenker, a 30-year vegan told the LA Times.

What is a vegan alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

by Gardein

Other protein-filled vegan options that could replace turkey in your vegan Thanksgiving table are tempeh, tofu and seitan.

What is a good substitute for turkey meat? ›

10 Main Course Alternatives to Turkey for Christmas
  • Duck. Another festive bird that offers flavorsome fat is duck. ...
  • Chicken. While chicken might not be the fanciest bird around, it can be a real crowd-pleaser and simple to prepare in a pinch. ...
  • Beef. ...
  • Venison. ...
  • Fish. ...
  • Pork. ...
  • Ham.
Dec 16, 2020

How do vegans do Thanksgiving? ›

"A traditional Thanksgiving menu has lots of options for vegans and vegetarians: green beans, cranberry sauce, mashed or roasted potatoes, and sweet potatoes and yams—it's a carb-loaded feast, and we will happily lick our plates," says Peart.

What does God think of vegans? ›

Genesis 1 identifies human beings as uniquely images of God and grants them dominion over other animals, but the end of the chapter prescribes a vegan diet for humans, so this original dominion does not include permission to kill animals for food.

What is the vegan name for turkey? ›

ofurky, the brilliant brand name that revolutionized Thanksgiving and mock meats forever, makes a lot more than a tofu turkey. But when it comes to a Thanksgiving meatless main course, the wheat and tofu roast filled with a wild rice stuffing is an ideal choice.

Do vegans celebrate Thanksgiving? ›

Every holiday dish can be made vegan, including with meatless roasts, dairy-free mashed potatoes, and no-egg desserts.

Can you eat turkey as a vegan? ›

For this reason, vegans avoid eating foods of animal origin, such as: Meat: Beef, lamb, pork, veal, horse, organ meat, wild meat, etc. Poultry: Chicken, turkey, goose, duck, quail, etc. Fish and seafood: All types of fish, anchovies, shrimp, squid, scallops, calamari, mussels, crab, lobster and fish sauce.

What is cheaper than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Roast chicken is less expensive, easy to roast, delicious, and has less portions than a large turkey, so it is perfect for a single, couple, or small family celebration. A simple chicken stuffed with mirepoix, lemons, fresh herbs (parsley, rosemary, sage) and roasted whole is a great alternative to a large turkey."

What do vegetarians eat instead of turkey? ›

Burmese Tofu (aka Chickpea Flour Tofu)

For an alternative to turkey that's mild in flavor and can be treated like any other protein, turn to Burmese tofu, which transforms chickpea flour, oil, and water into a sturdy tofu-like dish.

What is America's favorite Thanksgiving side dish? ›

What is America's favorite Thanksgiving side? Mashed potatoes took home the top spot for this year's favorite side. The top five most popular holiday side dishes include: Mashed potatoes.

What meat is cheaper than turkey? ›

Chicken tends to be one of the more economical meat options per pound, often being less expensive than turkey or pork. It's a versatile protein source and widely available at various price points, making it a budget-friendly choice for family meals.

Who makes vegan turkey? ›

Gardein: Plant-Based Turk'y Roast. Myrtle Greens: Vegan Whole Turkey, Vegan Whole Turkey & Vegan Turkey Roll Combo, and Vegan Whole Turkey & Ham Roll Combo. Tofurky: Plant-Based Holiday Feast. Trader Joe's: Breaded TURKEYLESS Stuffed Roast.

What meat is healthier than turkey? ›

Beef has more iron, zinc, and vitamin B12, which are nutrients that promote healthy blood, immunity, and nervous system health, than turkey.

Do vegans eat turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

And no, vegans do not eat chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, or even cheese, though they are often asked. But keeping a vegan happy on Thanksgiving is not difficult. Plenty of traditional dishes are (almost) vegan anyway, and the oven is on for baking special treats.

What do vegans struggle with the most? ›

Numerous studies have shown that vegans consume insufficient calcium and vitamin D, not only owing to the absence of dairy products but also due to calcium bioavailability problems in plant-based diets [28]. Vitamin D insufficiency exacerbates calcium shortage further owing to impaired intestinal absorption.

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