Cooking a vegan Thanksgiving feast is easy when you have this list of delicious vegan Thanksgiving recipes + a day by day schedule to follow! All the recipes you'll need from appetizers to dessert + tips to host a stress-free Thanksgiving!
*This list was originally posted on 11/22/17 but I updated it with more recipes and tips on 8/27/19.
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Thanksgiving will be here before you know it but there's no need to stress when you have this list of delicious vegan recipes that you can make for your Thanksgiving feast!
Just in case you're a planner and Halloween hasn't even passed yet, here's my list of 51 Vegan Halloween Recipes!
We're so lucky to be vegan right now because there are delish vegan recipes for all of your favorite classic Thanksgiving recipes! We don't have to miss out on anything anymore! There's even a bunch of options for a vegan turkey replacement. (Keep reading to find out which store-bought vegan turkey substitute I think is the best!)
What is in a Thanksgiving Meal?
A traditional Thanksgiving meal consists of a turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and some type of dessert. Luckily, I've found the best vegan recipes to replace all of these traditional Thanksgiving dishes for you to enjoy!
What Vegans Eat on Thanksgiving?
This is the best part! Vegans can eat everything that I listed above because there is a compassionate veganized recipe for each traditional dish. So, we can also enjoy vegan turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and dessert too!
Whether you're hosting Thanksgiving at your house, having a vegan Thanksgiving for one at home, bringing a dish (or two) to your family gathering, or going to a vegan Thanksgiving potluck with all of your vegan friends, this list has the perfect vegan recipe for you!
What Type of Vegan Thanksgiving Menu Recipes Will You Find Here?
- Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers
- Vegan Thanksgiving Main Dish
- Vegan Thanksgiving Turkey Replacement Options
- Vegan Thanksgiving Stuffing
- Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts
- Vegan Gluten Free Thanksgiving Recipes (The recipes that are GF are labeled as such)
- Kid-Friendly Recipes
- Ultimate Vegan Thanksgiving Menu + Notes (at the end of this post)
Are These Recipes Allergy-Friendly?
Yes, all of these recipes are vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free. Many of the recipes (not all) are also gluten-free.
What is a Vegan Turkey?
A store-bought vegan turkey is made of soy or wheat gluten, depending on what brand you purchase. A vegan turkey doesn't look like the roasted turkey that you associate with Thanksgiving dinner because it doesn't have any bones or skin. It's usually formed into a loaf shape that you can slice and enjoy.
Vegan Thanksgiving Turkey Replacement
After doing tons of product review research, watching multiple youtube comparison videos, listening to fellow vegans opinions, and a few taste tests, we decided that the Gardein Holiday Roast is our favorite vegan turkey option for our Thanksgiving meal.
Normally, we're not big fans of "fake meat" or anything processed but I'm making an exception for a turkey substitute. I don't have time to try to figure out how to make it and frankly, I just don't want to!
Last week, we did a test run of the Gardein Holiday Roast and it turned out quite delicious. It definitely checked all the requirements that we were looking for:
- Flavorful + moist
- It actually looks like a piece of turkey with stuffing
- The stuffing in the middle is tasty
- Prep work only includes baking it
- The texture is very "meat-like"
- Not too expensive
- It tasted very good but we especially loved it smothered in our favorite mushroom gravy!
Vegan Thanksgiving Main Dish Options Besides Turkey
If you're not into a "fake meat" vegan turkey replacement or you don't want to deal with the tofurky jokes from your non-vegan family, here are some tried and true vegan recipes that could easily be the star of your Thanksgiving meal!
- Mushroom Wellington, recipe here.
- Chickpea & Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie, recipe here.
- Whole Roasted Cauliflower, recipe here.
- Lentil loaf, (I love this recipe, It's seriously delicious!)
Ultimate List of Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
The following list of vegan holiday dinner recipes has everything you could possibly need to prepare the ultimate vegan Thanksgiving menu! I also included my personal vegan Thanksgiving menu (if I was hosting) at the end of the post if you need some inspiration.
After you read through this list of the best vegan Thanksgiving recipes, start thinking about planning your vegan Christmas dinner menu next!
Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers
Start your vegan Thanksgiving dinner off right with delicious appetizers like walnut sage stuffed mushrooms, roasted acorn squash hummus, spinach artichoke dip, or a vegan charcuterie board!
(Gluten-Free) Spiced Pumpkin Hummus, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Savory Tooth
Vegan Spinach Puffs, recipe here.
(Gluten-Free) Walnut Sage Stuffed Mushrooms, recipe here.
Vegan Charcuterie Board, recipe here.
(Gluten-Free) Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
Vegan Thanksgiving Menu Soup & Salads
Whether you're having a sit-down meal or a help-yourself buffet, any of these vegan first course options are sure to please everyone at your vegan Thanksgiving feast!
(Gluten-Free) Creamy Ginger Carrot Sweet Potato Soup, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
Mediterranean Farro Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Tasty Ever After
(Gluten-Free) Spicy Kale & Chipotle Chickpea Roasted Butternut Squash Salad, recipe here.
Photo Credit: A Saucy Kitchen
(Gluten-Free) Raw Brussels Sprouts Salad with Dried Fruit, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Lauren Caris Cooks
Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
You can't have a vegan Thanksgiving dinner menu without having lots of classic side dishes, like creamy mashed potatoes or mac and cheese! All of the traditional sides that we all know and love have been veganized to perfection! I bet your non-vegan friends and family members wouldn't even know these dishes are vegan.
(Gluten-Free) Savory Mushroom Gravy, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
Easy Vegan Macaroni & Cheese, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
(Gluten-Free) Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Garlic, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
20-Minute Savory Pumpkin Pasta (Gluten-Free), recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
(Gluten-Free) Zucchini Tomato Pesto Bake, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
(Gluten-Free) Spicy Rosemary Butternut Squash, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Healthy World Cuisine
(Gluten-Free) Cranberry Orange Sauce, recipe here.
Photo Credit: 24 Carrot Kitchen
(Gluten-Free) Cumin Spiced Carrots, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Delightful Vegans
(Gluten-Free) Simple Skillet Green Beans, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Healthy Seasonal Recipes
(Gluten-Free) Easy Garlic Herb Butternut Squash, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Vegan Thanksgiving Stuffing & Casseroles
From vegan green bean casserole and herbed scalloped potatoes to classic vegan stuffing, round out your vegan Thanksgiving feast with a one or two of these delicious and hearty casseroles!
(Gluten-Free) Low-Carb Mashed Cauliflower Green Bean Casserole, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Contentedness Cooking
(Gluten-Free) Pumpkin Vegetable Casserole, recipe here.
Photo Credit: VNutrition
(Gluten-Free) Low-Carb Cauliflower Stuffing, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Wholesome Yum
(Gluten-Free) Sweet Potato Casserole, recipe here.
Photo Credit: A Mind"Full" Mom
Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts
No vegan holiday meal is complete without a crowd-pleasing vegan Thanksgiving dessert! Take your pick of any of these delicious vegan recipes, you can't go wrong! From vegan pumpkin pie to sweet potato pie bars, they're all equally delicious!
Chai Spiced Pumpkin Layer Cake, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Veggie Inspired
(Gluten-Free) Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Healthier Steps
I hope you enjoy these recipes and can mix n' match them to create the perfect Thanksgiving menu for your family!
If you try any of these vegan Thanksgiving dinner ideas, please remember to post a picture on Instagram and tag me @Stacey_Homemaker and use the hashtag #StaceyHomemaker so I can see your meal! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious vegan recipes!
Tips to Host an Easy Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner
- The most important tip that I can give you is to start prepping days in advance, don't wait till the day before or the day of! You want to enjoy the holiday and not be running around like crazy, so try to prep in advance as much as you can.
- On that note, start looking for recipes a few weeks in advance. I wrote out a timeline of the week leading up to Thanksgiving below to help you prepare.
- Don't make a brand new recipe on the big day, always test it out before the holiday just in case you don't like it.
- Ask for help! You can take a lot of stress of yourself if you ask whoever is coming over to bring a dish! Appetizers and desserts are the easiest because they could pick something up from the store if they didn't want to make it from scratch.
- If you're feeling anxious and overwhelmed about doing all of this (hello, welcome to my life!), it's completely okay to order food to pick up. You can pick up a veggie tray from Costco (it's huge!) for an easy appetizer or you could skip all the work and order a Whole Foods vegan Thanksgiving dinner TOGO! They even have vegan pies and cakes if you don't have a local vegan bakery to order from.
- When people start arriving, ask them to help you with something! That way it feels like a team effort to get the meal on the table. I actually love when hosts ask me to help because sometimes I feel a little awkward at first so it gives me a way to interact and get involved. Don't feel bad asking for help!
- Once the meal is over, ask for help cleaning up. Often times, people want to help but don't know what you need to be done. So if you say that you specifically need help clearing the table or loading the dishwasher, then they'll be more likely to help you where you really need it.
Thanksgiving Cooking Schedule
Saturday - If they're not already out, pull out your Thanksgiving decorations and decorate. Also, pull out the table decor, plates, linens, glasses, and silverware that you'll be using for the big day and wash it now so you can just grab it and lay it out on Thursday.
Sunday - Go over all the recipes that you plan on making and make one large grocery list on your phone, just in case you tend to leave paper lists on the kitchen counter like I do. Also, look over the sales flyer and decide which grocery store you'll be going to. Don't forget your reusable produce bags (these are the sturdy produce bags that I use and LOVE)!
Monday - Beat the crowds and go grocery shopping! I used to work in a grocery store and while Monday is still a busy day, Tuesday and Wednesday are much busier during Thanksgiving week.
Tuesday - Start cooking anything that will last a few days in the fridge, like spinach artichoke dip or mushroom gravy. Recipes like these are just as delicious when you heat them up on the big day! Also, start cleaning the house today.
Wednesday - Finish cleaning the house and continue to cook any side dishes that can be made ahead of time. Prep anything you can, like washing lettuce for a salad or peeling and chopping potatoes for mashed potatoes. (Did you know that you can store potatoes in a bowl of cold water in the fridge overnight?)
If you decide to order any store-bought desserts, arrange to pick them up today! Most stores will be closed on Thanksgiving.
Also, make a list of everything that needs to be done the next day and a list of all the dishes you'll be serving. One time, I left the spinach artichoke dip in the fridge (that I made in advance) and forgot to serve it. If I'd had a list that wouldn't have happened!
Thursday (Thanksgiving) - Get up early and make one final sweep of the house. Set the table and get started on any dishes that need to be prepared the day of. Remember to put the vegan turkey in the oven before everyone comes over but it takes a lot less time to cook than a real turkey does, so plan accordingly.
Friday - Relax, you deserve it after all of that hard work!
MORE VEGAN HOLIDAY RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE!
A Vegan Christmas Dinner Mneu that Will Please All of Your Guests!
New Year’s Day Breakfast Clock Bagels
Easy Valentine’s Day Themed Breakfast
If I was cooking a Thanksgiving feast this year, this is what my dream menu would look like and these are the great vegan recipes for Thanksgiving that I would choose:
Vegan Thanksgiving Menu
Ingredients
- 1 Vegan Roast
- 1 Spinach Artichoke Dip
- 1 Cranberry Sauce
- 1 Easy Vegan Macaroni & Cheese
- 1 Mashed Potatoes with Mushroom Gravy
- 1 Mediterranean Farro Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette
- 1 Spicy Rosemary Butternut Squash
- Roasted Balsamic Brussel Sprouts
- 1 Mashed Cauliflower Green Bean Casserole
- 1 Chai Spiced Pumpkin Layer Cake
Instructions
- Vegan Roast - This needs to be cooked fresh so the coating is crisp.
- Spinach Artichoke Dip - You can make this the day before, it reheats really well.
- Cranberry Sauce - Serve at room temperature.
- Macaroni & Cheese - Make this the day of so the sauce stays "saucy." If you need to make it the day before, make sure you add additional vegetable broth or water to the sauce to loosen it up.
- Mashed Potatoes - Make the mashed potatoes the day before or early the day of and keep it warm in a crockpot until dinner.
- Mushroom Gravy - Make the gravy the 1-2 days before and reheat for dinner.
- Farro Salad - You can make this the day before and serve it warm or cold.
- Butternut Squash - This dish can be made up to 3 days in advance and then reheated.
- Mashed Cauliflower Green Bean Casserole - Prepare this right before dinner so the topping stays crisp.
Notes
- The most important tip that I can give you is to start prepping days in advance, don't wait till the day before or the day of! You want to enjoy the holiday and not be running around like crazy, so try to prep in advance as much as you can.
- On that note, start looking for recipes a few weeks in advance. I wrote out a timeline of the week leading up to Thanksgiving below to help you prepare.
- Don't make a brand new recipe on the big day, always test it out before the holiday just in case you don't like it.
- Ask for help! You can take a lot of stress of yourself if you ask whoever is coming over to bring a dish! Appetizers and desserts are the easiest because they could pick something up from the store if they didn't want to make it from scratch.
- If you're feeling anxious and overwhelmed about doing all of this (hello, welcome to my life!), it's completely okay to order food to pick up. You can pick up a veggie tray from Costco (it's huge!), Whole Foods has an entire vegan Thanksgiving meal TOGO or you can order items a la carte, and they even have vegan pies and cakes if you don't have a local vegan bakery!
- When people start arriving, ask them to help you with something! That way it feels like a team effort to get the meal on the table. I actually love when hosts ask me to help because sometimes I feel a little awkward at first so it gives me a way to interact and get involved. Don't feel bad asking for help!
- Once the meal is over, ask for help cleaning up. Often times, people want to help but don't know what you need to be done. SO if you say that you specifically need help washing the dishes or loading the dishwasher they'll be more able to help you where you really need it.
Wow this all looks so amazing. This is my first year being vegan with my husband so this will also be my first time cooking a vegan Thanksgiving dinner. I'm nervous and excited!! I'm going to follow these recipes and your meal plan through out the week! Thank you for posting this, I'm very eager to try it out.
I'm so happy the recipes are helpful to you! Enjoy!
Hi Stacey,
This is the Thanksgiving blog post I've been dreaming of. Hosting this year for the first time and your recipes with schedule combo is going to be beyond helpful to this very amateur hostess. If going totally by the book with your recommendations - when do you recommend making the mac and cheese - like right before dinner?
Hey Michelle! I'm so happy that the menu and tips are helping you! You could make the macaroni and cheese fresh right before you're ready to serve but that could be stressful if you're prepping other dishes at the same time.
I think either of these options would work best for you! 1) Make the mac and cheese 1-2 days prior and then just add about 1/2 - 1 cup (maybe more) of unsweetened coconut milk (or whatever plant milk you prefer) to the pasta when you reheat it. That will help the sauce to loosen up.
2) You can make the cheese sauce ahead of time (make it now and freeze it or make it a few days prior and refrigerate it) and then just warm it up and add it to the hot noodles right before you want to serve it. This is my favorite option because it tastes like you made the pasta fresh! The sauce freezes really well, so you could make it today and knock one dish off your list! That's what I'm doing =)
Hope that helps! Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions! Happy Thanksgiving!
Alrighty then! Google lured me to this page and your great looking recipes kept me here. Will be trying several of these this Thanksgiving.
I'm so glad you found my website, Craig! Welcome! Enjoy the recipes and Happy early Thanksgiving!
I’m really excited about making this fabulous feast this Thanksgiving. This will be the first year to have a completely VEGAN spread. The anticipation is actually, bliss.
Thank you, Stacey.
That's wonderful, Andrea! I'm sure it's going to be incredible! Happy Thanksgiving!
All of these recipes look so yummy! I'm going to use a bunch of them for my Thanksgiving spread this year. Thank you compiling this list and for labeling which recipes were vegan AND gluten-free! That was very helpful and it saved me a lot of time! I'm also going to use your schedule to plan out my week. Thank you very much!
Thank you! Happy to help!
What a fabulous round up! I thought I had my menu complete, but after seeing this, I need to add several items 🙂
Thank you, I'm so happy the list was helpful to you! Happy Thanksgiving =)
Hi Stacey. Is the mac n cheese considered vegan even though it uses pasta?
Yes, it's vegan as long as your pasta is vegan. Don't use egg noodles or anything with dairy.
Hi Stacey! This is the perfect Thanksgiving Round up! All those recipes look so good I wish I could make every single one of them! Thank you for including our Cumin Spiced Carrots!
Thank you, Katie!!
What a fantastic roundup and all these recipes look amazing!!! Already picked out the spicy butternut squash to add to my Thanksgiving menu tomorrow 🙂 Thank you so much for including my farro salad and hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Karrie!
What a delicious menu! What time are you serving? LOL! Thanks for including my Chai Pumpkin Cake. Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving, Jenn! Thank you!