Vegan Thanksgiving food represents a beautiful evolution of a traditional holiday feast, celebrating the abundance of plant-based ingredients while honoring the spirit of gratitude and togetherness. However, creating an entirely vegan menu for Thanksgiving can seem like a daunting task, especially when you have important guests to impress.
So, we have curated for you a list of 20 best Thanksgiving recipes that include appetizers, main courses, side dishes, and even desserts.
Cauliflower roast is a plant-based alternative to traditional meat roasts. This will replace the roast turkey as the main dish on the table. Cooked with other smaller vegetables in the oven, it is easy to make and leaves you filling full.
There are different ways you can roast your cauliflower so that it holds the entire menu together. Here are a few cauliflower-roasted methods for you to try.
Made with plant-based ingredients, this dish is loved by both vegans and meat-eaters alike. And the best thing is you won't even have to roast an entire turkey or chicken to make it.
The gravy is made with mushroom, plant-based fat, vegetables, and an array of savory seasonings like garlic, onion, thyme, and nutritional yeast. As the texture gets silky, you can prepare to pour it over your favorite mashed potatoes.
This dish is the perfect way to capture the essence of autumn's harvest. The squash is first hollowed and filled with a mixture of grains like quinoa, wild rice, or couscous, combined with ingredients such as sautéed mushrooms, onions, garlic, and spinach.
This can serve as an impressive centerpiece showcasing the beauty of the autumn harvest.
We are here to prove to you that a delicious creamy mashed potatoes is still possible with vegan ingredients. All you have to do is replace the milk with a dairy-free alternative like almond milk or soy milk.
You can serve these as a side dish along with the roasted cauliflower and not a single person will question these potatoes. Here are some mashed potato recipes for you to try this year.
Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce seems like a very bad idea. Luckily for you, you can easily make this sauce at home without having to worry about the flavor of the canned stuff. The sauce-making process is relatively simple and it can even be stored for a week as the flavors merge in together.
Serve it with your vegan roast and enjoy the contrasting flavors.
Roasted root vegetables are a quintessential side dish for Thanksgiving. This dish transforms humble, earthy ingredients into a beautifully caramelized and flavorful masterpiece that perfectly complements the traditional Thanksgiving spread.
The star players in roasted root vegetables typically include a medley of hearty and colorful choices, such as carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, turnips, and beets. This medley offers a blend of both textures and flavors.
Traditionally, stuffing consists of bread, vegetables, and seasonings cooked inside a roasted bird, but vegan stuffing foregoes any animal products while introducing healthier alternatives. The foundation remains the same with cubed bread.
On top of that are various plant-based ingredients like sautéed onions, celery, mushrooms, garlic, and aromatic herbs such as sage, thyme, and rosemary. Vegetable broth replaces traditional poultry-based broths and there we go! Easy peasy vegan stuffing on the fly.
If you're looking to diversify your Thanksgiving spread with something new, Aloo Tikki should be the way to go. These are made with potatoes (so Thanksgivingy) and are accompanied by a green chutney.
These potato patties are seasoned with a medley of Indian spices and can add a zesty kick to your appetizer spread, If you're seeking to cater to vegetarian or vegan guests during Thanksgiving, pair it with a rich, aromatic Indian curry and you've got a main dish.
You won't have to miss out on the traditional green bean casserole just because of your dietary restrictions. The dish is made with green beans, creamy mushroom sauce, and crispy fried onions. The use of a dairy-free cream in the sauce lends to this dish being not as filling so that you can enjoy it all year round.
Many believe there is no such thing as a delicious vegan mac and cheese but we are here to prove them all wrong. This cream sauce is made with cashews, nutritional yeast, and almond milk with a hint of turmeric. As a result, the sauce perfectly captures the essence of a traditional mac and cheese.
This holiday, be ready to enjoy your favorite side dish without having to worry if it will taste any good.
A good butternut squash soup is synonymous with Thanksgiving in many households. As the holiday season approaches, this rich and velvety soup takes center stage on the festive table. In the vegan version, all you have to do is use coconut milk instead of heavy cream.
If you are in a frenzy as you prepare your Thanksgiving meal, try making it in a slow cooker which is hands-off and extremely easy to make.
Related: 20 Types Of Soups You Should Know How To Make
These stuffed bell peppers are both vegetarian and vegan alternatives on the Thanksgiving table. The peppers are filled with stuffing made with quinoa, vegetables, and aromatic herbs. You can also add dried fruits and nuts like cranberries or pine nuts for a crunchy contrast.
These are also gluten-free which checks yet another box. With high fiber and nutritious ingredients, it is one of the healthier Thanksgiving dishes you can make.
For us, pumpkin pie is a must-have at Thanksgiving. So, it seems imperative to add a vegan recipe to this list. The foundation of this pie typically begins with a dairy-free pie crust made from plant-based fats like coconut oil or non-dairy butter. The filling centers around pumpkin puree, often blended with ingredients like coconut milk or cashew cream.
Sprinkle some warm spices over the pie and you have yourself a delightful addition to your Thanksgiving feast that everyone can indulge in. If you're looking for a different pie to make this Thanksgiving, check out our list of different types of pies you have to try at least once.
If you're looking to add a touch of elegance to your Thanksgiving feast, it should be with this wild rice pilaf. Unlike the traditional stuffing, this dish features wild rice, a nutty, flavorful grain that is native to North America.
The wild rice is known for its striking appearance and rich flavor, while the sautéed onions, garlic, and herbs enhance the dish with depth and complexity. This Thanksgiving side dish not only caters to various dietary preferences, as it is naturally gluten-free and can be prepared vegan, but it also brings a touch of rustic elegance to the table.
We all love a good cornbread, especially to soak up the delicious gravy and sweet cranberry sauce. This vegan version of the dish is made with dairy-free and plant-based alternatives. The cornmeal, however, remains the star of the show lending its distinct corn flavor and crumbly texture.
Serve this with a drizzle of maple syrup and nobody will have anything bad to say about this cornbread.
Small bite-sized crispy veggies mixed with coconut-flavored tofu make for a delightful combination. It offers a departure from the usual turkey-centered dishes while introducing a fusion of Asian-inspired flavors and comforting, homey aromas to the Thanksgiving table.
In this dish, cubes of tofu are marinated to infuse them with a rich blend of coconut milk, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a touch of sweetness, such as agave or maple syrup. The tofu is then pan-fried until it becomes golden and crispy on the outside along with other vegetables. This quick and easy recipe will come in handy even after Thanksgiving for a quick weekday dinner.
We've got you covered even for leftovers. If there are leftovers from the roasted cauliflower from before, try adding them with crisp greens, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and bell peppers to make this delightful salad.
Begin by cutting the cauliflower into bite-sized florets. Mix them with your selection of veggies and pair them with some almonds and pine nuts. The dressing is made with lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, and a touch of honey for balance. Here are a few other types of salads if you're looking to diversify.
Vegan tofu quiche is a plant-based twist on the classic quiche, offering a delicious and cruelty-free alternative to traditional egg-based quiches. Tofu serves as the creamy base in place of eggs. Silken tofu is often used for its smooth and custard-like consistency.
To mimic the flavors of traditional quiche, various seasonings such as nutritional yeast, turmeric (for a yellow hue), garlic, and a medley of herbs are added to the tofu mixture. The filling remains pretty much the same with a colorful array of vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and sun-dried tomatoes.
Here we are with a vegan Thanksgiving dessert! The lemon-pistachio loaf is made with a moist and tender lemon-flavored cake batter. Freshly grated lemon zest and a splash of lemon juice are infused in the loaf. Dotted throughout the batter are crushed or finely chopped pistachios.
As the leaf bakes, it turns a beautiful golden brown color. Finally, add a glossy lemon glaze on top so that it has a certain sweetness and beautiful sheen.
Just like pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup is also non-negotiable during Thanksgiving. It is comfort and autumnal bliss in a bowl. Unsurprisingly, pumpkin soup is not that difficult to make vegan. All you have to do is replace milk and cream with nut-based alternatives like coconut milk and almond milk.
Add a ton of warm spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger to enhance the flavor and you will have yourself a warm bowl of pumpkin soup to get you through the chilly night.
