Thanksgiving can be every bit as indulgent and celebratory for vegans as it is for omnivores. Below is a curated roundup of over 40 vegan Thanksgiving recipes—classic holiday favorites given plant-based makeovers alongside creative, crowd-pleasing dishes that will delight vegans and omnivores alike.
Find staples like ultra-savory vegan gravy, fluffy mashed potatoes, and a showstopping wild mushroom stuffing, plus inventive dishes such as chili-ginger Brussels sprouts and baked Japanese sweet potatoes with miso tahini butter. Mix and match starters, sides, mains, and desserts to build your own menu, or use the streamlined five-course Thanksgiving menu that comes together in about three hours if you want a ready-made plan.
Whether you’re hosting a full banquet or preparing a few vegan dishes to bring to a mixed table, this collection will help you create a Thanksgiving to remember—full bellies and full hearts included.
Table of Contents
1. Meet your Vegan Guide
2. Watch: Epic Vegan Thanksgiving in just 3 hours
3. Vegan Thanksgiving FAQs
4. Starters
5. Side Dishes
6. Main Dishes
7. Desserts
8. Want a Thanksgiving with Big Vegan Flavor?
Trust me, I’ve got your back
Here’s why this guide will help you pull off a delicious, low-stress vegan Thanksgiving:
- Experience: I’ve been cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my family since my teens and have shepherded many vegan holiday meals, learning what works (and what to avoid).
- Vegan flavor know-how: My recipes focus on bold, layered flavors that satisfy every appetite.
- Tested and trusted: The recipes here have been developed, refined, and enjoyed by many home cooks—designed to be reliably delicious and approachable.
Watch: Epic vegan Thanksgiving in just 3 hours
If you prefer a compact plan, try the Five-Course Vegan Thanksgiving Menu—designed to be executed in roughly three hours and built from these same well-tested recipes.
Vegan Thanksgiving FAQs
Instead of store-bought vegan roasts, try hearty, home-cooked mains like vegan shepherd’s pie, stuffed butternut squash, pumpkin ricotta stuffed shells, or a layered moussaka. These dishes make satisfying, celebratory centerpieces without trying to mimic poultry.
The biggest help is to prepare as many dishes ahead of time as you can. Many sides and mains reheat beautifully—baked mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and casseroles all benefit from being made in advance so your oven isn’t overbooked on the big day.
Build umami with ingredients like mushrooms, miso, soy sauce, and nutritional yeast. Use fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage) for that classic fall aroma and finish savory dishes with a bright acidic element—vinegar or citrus—to balance richness.
Absolutely. Vegan desserts can be elegant and simple. Classics like apple crisp, pumpkin cream tart, and rich chocolate or pumpkin-based cakes and bars are all perfect for the holiday table and many can be made in advance.
Bring several vegan dishes and focus on items that can double as main or side dishes for omnivores. Preparing dishes ahead of time avoids oven conflicts and gives everyone great options, often turning skeptics into fans.
Starters
Outrageously Good Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
This creamy, cheesy vegan spinach artichoke dip served in a bread bowl is an irresistible Thanksgiving appetizer—rich and indulgent without dairy.
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Roasted Pumpkin Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Roasted pumpkin wedges, a crunchy pumpkin seed topping, and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette make this a refined, autumnal starter or side.
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Creamy Vegan Mushroom Soup
A luxurious, bisque-like mushroom soup that’s deeply savory—an elegant starter for holiday dinners.
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Fennel Orange Salad
Shaved fennel and juicy oranges tossed with a spiced citrus dressing, finished with mint and pistachios for a bright, refreshing course.
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Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Soup
One-pot, silky, and comforting—this cauliflower soup feels indulgent while staying light and wholesome.
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Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Salad
Roasted squash, cabbage, kale ribbons, chickpeas, and a sweet-spicy almond crunch combine for a bold fall salad.
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Thai Pumpkin Soup
A fragrant, spicy-savory squash soup with bold Thai flavors—an inviting way to start a holiday meal.
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Fresh Herb Salad with Sumac Shallots
Cucumber ribbons, tender lettuces, and herbs topped with tangy sumac-marinated shallots—a palate-cleansing starter or side.
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Roasted Beet and Fennel Salad with Walnut Bread Crumbs
Fresh herbs, crunchy walnut crumbs, and a citrus vinaigrette make this roasted beet and fennel salad an elegant choice.
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Side Dishes
The Best Vegan Mashed Potatoes
Fluffy, creamy, and rich—these mashed potatoes use simple techniques to deliver an indulgent texture without dairy.
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Seriously Good Vegan Gravy
A deeply savory, mushroom-forward gravy that’s the perfect finishing touch for mashed potatoes, stuffing, and more.
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Crispy Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese
Silky vegan cheese sauce, elbow pasta, and a crunchy breadcrumb topping make for comforting, crowd-pleasing mac and cheese.
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Ultimate Crispy Roasted Potatoes
Perfectly browned and crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside—these roasted potatoes are holiday table essentials.
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Maple Roasted Carrots
Carrots glazed in a maple-butter-style coating, roasted until caramelized and sticky—simple but elegant.
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Sweet Chili-Ginger Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Brussels sprouts tossed in a sticky sweet-chili and ginger sauce—an exciting, Asian-inspired side for the holiday table.
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Vegan Wild Mushroom Stuffing
Earthy mushrooms, tender bread pieces, and savory aromatics create a stuffing that’s both moist and slightly crisp—an excellent vegan stuffing or festive centerpiece.
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Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole
A grown-up sweet potato casserole with brown butter–style flavors, warm spices, and a crunchy topping.
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Warm Lentil Salad with Delicata Squash and Cilantro Cashew Cream
Hearty lentils and roasted delicata squash finished with a creamy cilantro-cashew drizzle—great warm or room temperature.
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Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Roasted pumpkin and cashews make an irresistibly creamy and autumnal mac and cheese—comfort food with seasonal flair.
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Baked Japanese Sweet Potatoes with Miso Tahini Butter
Sweet, caramelized Japanese sweet potatoes served with a savory miso-tahini butter—simple, indulgent, and crowd-pleasing.
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Main Dishes
Vegan Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
A deeply savory lentil and onion filling topped with pillowy mashed potato and cauliflower—comforting, nourishing, and perfect for a festive table.
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Vegan Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Pumpkin and homemade vegan ricotta combine in a rich, garlicky béchamel to yield comforting stuffed shells that feel like holiday dinner in every bite.
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The Best Vegan Wellington
A flavorful vegan loaf wrapped in flaky pastry—an impressive, elegant centerpiece for a holiday feast.
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Cheesy Vegan Baked Butternut Squash
Butternut squash filled with grains and a cheesy-style Alfredo, baked until melty and golden—rich, hearty, and satisfying.
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Cauliflower Steaks with Caramelized Shallots
An elegant, plant-forward main: roasted cauliflower, crispy chickpeas, caramelized shallots, tahini-herb sauce, and pistachios.
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Creamy Lentil and Vegetable Bake
Roasted vegetables and creamy lentils baked in cashew cream—comforting, hearty, and ideal as a main for a vegan Thanksgiving.
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Vegan Sausage Stuffed Butternut Squash
Roasted squash filled with a savory vegan sausage-style stuffing, drizzled with a creamy garlic sauce—hearty and satisfying.
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Creamy Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
A rich, umami-packed stroganoff that’s impossibly creamy—comfort food that feels special enough for the holidays.
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Creamy Lentil Stuffed Butternut Squash
Roasted squash packed with a flavorful lentil filling and finished with a silky sauce made from the scooped squash—hearty and elegant.
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Vegan Moussaka
Layered eggplant and potato casserole with a rich “meat” sauce and vegan béchamel—decadent, comforting, and perfect for special occasions.
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Desserts
Vegan Apple Crisp
Tender apples with warm spices and a golden oat-pecan streusel—served warm, it’s the quintessential cozy holiday dessert.
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Vegan Gingersnap Pumpkin Cream Tart
A no-bake pumpkin cream filling on a gingersnap crust—elegant, make-ahead friendly, and perfect for Thanksgiving.
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Apple Cinnamon Bundt Cake
Soft, moist, and spiced with apples and cinnamon—an impressive yet easy cake for fall gatherings.
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Vegan Salted Chocolate Cream Tart
No-bake brownie base topped with a creamy salted chocolate filling—gluten-free and indulgent without the fuss.
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Baked Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Ginger-chocolate crust with a creamy pumpkin swirl filling—cheesecake-like richness made vegan and perfect for fall.
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Fluffy Vegan Gingerbread Cake
Light, tender gingerbread with a homemade spice blend and vanilla cream sauce—classic holiday flavor done exceptionally well.
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Vegan Chocolate Mousse
Luxurious chocolate mousse topped with raspberry compote—fancy, quick, and perfect for entertaining.
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The Best Vegan Pumpkin Bread
Moist, tender, and perfectly spiced—this pumpkin bread is a must-make for pumpkin season and holiday breakfasts or dessert.
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Want a Thanksgiving with Big Vegan Flavor?
My cookbook contains many holiday-worthy recipes that complement the ideas above—salads, sides, mains, and desserts that scale well for a festive spread.
Salads
- Shaved carrot salad with pickled shallots and fresh herbs
- Raw beet salad
Sides
- Roasted butternut wedges
- Quick roasted cauliflower
- Lemon-garlic Brussels sprouts with rosemary
- Citrus-braised fennel with white beans
- Maple-roasted squash & chickpeas with mint-pistachio pesto
- Charred sweet potato wedges
- Cheesy herb bread pudding (a great stuffing alternative)
Mains
- Skillet lasagna
Dessert
- Crispy spiced cobbler cake with pears
- Soft and chewy ginger cookies with cardamom sugar
- Spiced wine-poached figs with “honey”
- Sweet-tart plum galette (or swap apples or persimmons)
I hope this roundup gives you inspiration for a memorable vegan Thanksgiving. If you try any of these recipes, enjoy the process and the feast—and savor the compliments that will surely follow.