Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (2024)

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (1)

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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.

1

Green Beans with Almond Gremolata

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (2)

Rosemary, almonds, and orange zest put a lovely Thanksgiving-inspired spin on these delicious, accidentally vegan green beans.

Get the recipe from Prevention »

2

Mustard-Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (3)

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 »

3

Roasted Butternut Squash with Frizzled Sage

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (4)

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 »

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4

Pomegranate Orange Tart

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (5)

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 »

5

Pumpkin-Carrot Soup

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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 »

6

Curried White Bean Dip

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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 »

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7

Herb Smashed Root Veggies

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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 »

8

Roasted Pears With Vegan Salted Caramel

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (9)

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 »

9

Roasted Cauliflower With Cranberry Vinaigrette

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (10)

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 »

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10

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

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Curry powder, coconut milk, and a sprinkle of cilantro give this brightly colored squash soup its show-stopping flavor.

Get the recipe from Delish »

11

Roasted Sweet Potato, Pear, and Onion

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (12)

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 »

12

Creamy Roasted Squash Puree

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (13)

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 »

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13

Green Beans With Shallots

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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 »

14

Cranberry Relish

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (15)

What can we say, it’s a classic! This super-easy recipe gives fresh cranberries the extra citrusy zest of oranges and lemons.

Get the recipe from Delish »

15

Best Vegan Pumpkin Pie

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (16)

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.

Get the recipe from Delish »

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Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (17)

16

Fall Harvest Quinoa and Kale Salad

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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 »

17

Mini Vegan Carrot Dogs in a Blanket

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (19)

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 »

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18

Parsnip Soup

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (20)

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 »

19

Vegan Wellington

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (21)

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 »

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (22)

Marisa Cohen

Deputy Editor

Marisa Cohen is an editor in the Hearst Lifestyle Group’s Health Newsroom, who has covered health, nutrition, parenting and culture for dozens of magazines and websites over the past two decades.

Try These Vegan (and Delicious!) Thanksgiving Recipes at Your Holiday Table This Year (2024)

FAQs

What do vegans eat on Thanksgiving instead of turkey? ›

Other protein-filled vegan options that could replace turkey in your vegan Thanksgiving table are tempeh, tofu and seitan. Choose one of these plant-based turkey alternatives, or combine more than one in your table, complimenting with veggies, rice, salads, or any other plant-based whole foods ingredients you want.

How do vegans celebrate Thanksgiving? ›

Seasonal vegetables like squash, beets, and mushrooms are key to making vegan-friendly dishes that are festive for Thanksgiving. Add quinoa, nuts, and beans (like chickpeas or lentils) to create satisfying entrées that everyone at the table will want to try.

Is there a vegetarian version of turkey? ›

The best vegan turkey roast is finally here. This seitan tofu roast tastes just like turkey, with crispy skin and all! This vegan turkey makes the perfect centerpiece for a delicious holiday meal. It's surprisingly easy to make, and most of it can be made ahead of time, so it's a great stress-free option.

What is turkey like for vegans? ›

Staples like beans and rice are easy to find in most small shops, as well as in the big supermarkets, and they're cheap. Bulgar wheat is big in Turkey if you're into that, and oats are easy to find too. As I said, the fresh fruits and veggies are so good.

How to survive Thanksgiving as a vegan? ›

Eating Plant Based on Thanksgiving: A Survival Guide
  1. Give Your Host a Heads Up. ...
  2. Make a List of Thanksgiving Dishes You Can't Live Without. ...
  3. Bring Enough For Yourself and Everyone Else. ...
  4. You Don't have to Tell People it's Vegan. ...
  5. Keep Your Cool. ...
  6. Remember, It's Dinner, Not a Debate.
Nov 20, 2022

Do vegans eat cheese? ›

Vegans do not eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.

Why do some vegans quit? ›

Some people may experience burnout from activism, doubts about the effectiveness of veganism, or personal values that change over time. These realisations can lead them to reevaluate their eating habits and ultimately walk away from veganism, seeking alternative ways to make a positive impact on our world.

What is an adult female turkey called? ›

Adult female turkeys are called hens. Juvenile females are called jennies.

What is healthier than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Try it out on Thanksgiving by substituting tofu for your turkey. Tofu can be cooked in a variety of flavorful ways and comes with a ton of nutritional benefits including a lot of calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin B, and protein.

What can I do instead of Thanksgiving? ›

Here are six ways you can have the best alternative Thanksgiving ever:
  • Laugh. TRADITION: Arguing with family | ALTERNATIVE: Comedy show. ...
  • Relax. TRADITION: Turkey coma | ALTERNATIVE: Costa Rican yoga retreat. ...
  • Exercise. TRADITION: Lying on the couch | ALTERNATIVE: Move your feet. ...
  • New foods. ...
  • Soccer. ...
  • Service.

Which country is 100% non vegetarian? ›

Which Country is 100% Non Vegetarian? As per our findings, there's no country where 100% of the population is non-vegetarian. However, some countries have a higher consumption of meat because of cultural or religious factors, i.e., China, Brazil, and the USA, among others.

Is there fake turkey meat? ›

What is alternative turkey and ham made out of? Brands like Tofurky, Field Roast, Gardein, Beyond Meat, Lightlife, and more use plant-based ingredients in the products you can buy for any vegetarian/vegan guests.

What country is all vegetarian? ›

No other country or part of the world has anywhere close to the number of vegetarian people as India, either in percentage of the population or in total number. India is the unique outlier. Going by percentage of the population, Mexico is the second most vegetarian country, at 19%, then Brazil and Taiwan at 14%.

What is a vegan turkey called? ›

Tofurky is the brand name of an American vegan turkey replacement (also known as a meat analogue, or, more specifically, tofurkey) made from a blend of wheat protein and organic tofu.

Is there a Beyond Meat turkey? ›

It's about getting meat eaters to consume a bit less meat. So, don't expect a non-meat replacement for the Thanksgiving turkey anytime soon. But if your family recipe calls for sausage in the stuffing, Beyond Meat does sell that.

What is the most popular vegetarian alternative to turkey at Christmas? ›

Nut Roast. The most popular Christmas meal for vegetarians and vegans is the nut roast. This typically describes a mixture of nuts, breadcrumbs, leeks, onions, broth and either oil or butter. However, this recipe is malleable and offers the opportunity for many alterations according to personal preference.

What is Tofurky made from? ›

Tofurkey (a portmanteau of tofu and turkey) is a plant-based meat substitute patterned after turkey, in the form of a loaf of vegetarian protein, usually made from tofu (soybean protein) or seitan (wheat protein) with a stuffing made from grains or bread, flavored with a broth and seasoned with herbs and spices.

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