Here's your premier source for vegan Thanksgiving recipes and menus to create a memorable dinner—suitable for any vegetarian guests as well! Create mix-and match vegan Thanksgiving menus from the following recipes, from soup to dessert, complete with vegan stuffings and main dishes—all the holiday traditions you adore, updated for a compassionate plant-based feast. Shown above, Butternut Squash With Whole Wheat, Wild Rice, & Onion Stuffing; photo by Hannah Kaminsky.
For even more recipes and menus for vegan Thanksgiving and other major holidays, see Nava’s book, Vegan Holiday Kitchen). Enjoy, and share the blessings! Would you like these choices narrowed down a bit? Here’s a link to our absolute favorite vegan Thanksgiving recipes.
Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
SOUPS AND BREADS
Thanksgiving dinner is a big meal, and for some, serving soup might not seem necessary. But if you're having extra guests and want to stretch the central part of the meal, a warming soup can be a nice first course. Consider serving one of these lighter seasonal soups that feature sweet potatoes squashes, and corn with a homemade quick bread, then taking a break (a brisk walk is always nice!) before settling in for the main meal.
- Sweet Potato Soup
- Squash, Sweet Potato, and Corn Chowder
- Creamy Golden Potato-Squash Soup
- Curried Pear and Squash Soup
- Chunky Sweet Potato Bisque
- Green Chili Cornbread
- Sweet Potato-Spelt Biscuits
- Coconut Butternut Squash Soup with a Garnish of Greens
- Pumpkin Peanut Soup
- Chunky Sweet Potato Bisque (pictured below)
MAIN DISH OPTIONS
Everyone wants to know—what do vegans like to eat as the main dish for Thanksgiving? What do we think of Tofurky? (Answer: not our personal choice, but we have no problem with it if that's what vegans want. Holidays are about nostalgia and familiar fare, and it's certainly a more compassionate choice than the bird). We like to focus on the ingredients that were actually celebrated at the first Thanksgiving—beans, corn, and squash. Stuffed squash dishes are our absolute favorite! And sometimes we go a bit further afield from the traditional holiday ingredients with other classic holiday favorites, our vegan versions of shepherd's pie and pot pie, listed below. If you'd like to see our absolute favorites, see VegKitchen's Best Vegan Thanksgiving Main Dish Recipes.
- Butternut Squash With Whole Wheat, Wild Rice, & Onion Stuffing
- Butternut Squash and Mixed Mushroom Lasagna
- Rice and Pecan-Stuffed Squash
- Creamy Pasta and Butternut Squash Casserole
- Winter Squash Stuffed with Mashed Potatoes and Peas
- "Three Sisters" Stew (pictured below)
- Pueblo Corn Pie
- Lentil and Mushroom Shepherd's Pie
- Roasted Sweet Potato and Mushroom Lasagna
- Quick Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili
- Black Bean and Zucchini Tortilla Casserole
- Cranberry Stuffed Delicata Squash (From our friends at Oh My Veggies)
- Hearty Vegetable Pot Pie
- Tempeh Stew with Wine and Shiitake Mushrooms
- Tempeh Stew with Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
- Thanksgiving Torte (with wild rice, mushrooms, and nuts)
- Sweet Potato and Edamame Shepherd's Pie
VEGAN STUFFINGS
Is there anyone who doesn't love stuffing? But as crave-worthy as it is, it seems like it's not the kind of thing anyone thinks to make for any occasion other than holidays. So don't forget this tasty and comforting side dish when planning your vegan Thanksgiving dinner!
- Walnut-Apple Stuffing
- Old-Fashioned Potato-Bread Stuffing
- Sourdough Stuffing with Pine Nuts and Raisins
- Cranberry-Pear Wild Rice Stuffing (pictured below)
- Vegetable Bread Pudding
- Bread Stuffing Casserole
- Our Six Favorite Vegan Stuffings
SEASONAL SALADS
Salad isn't the first thing that comes to mind when planning a vegan Thanksgiving meal; but we're of the mind that a salad—even a simple one—is an essential part of any occasion. Here we feature salads with seasonal ingredients—jicama, wild rice, cranberries, kale, greens, nuts—making them a perfect fit for your holiday table.
- Jicama Coleslaw
- Jicama Salad with Oranges and Watercress
- Jerusalem Artichoke Salad with Greens and Herbs
- Wild Rice Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts
- Kale and Delicata Squash Salad (From our friends at Oh My Veggies)
- Cranberry Slaw
- Massaged Kale Salad with Cranberries and Cashews
- Cranberry Kale Salad
- Mixed Greens with Apples, Carrots, and Pickled Beets
- Quinoa Salad with Fennel and Cranberries
- Spinach, Orange, and Red Cabbage Salad (pictured below)
- Pear and Toasted Walnut Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
SIDE DISHES
Back in the day, vegetarians and vegans at the Thanksgiving table pretty much relied on side dishes; and they weren't even that great. Things like plain mashed potatoes (we needed to hold the gravy) and overcooked green beans. Today, side dishes are an essential part of the Thanksgiving table. Our top three side dish veggies are brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and corn. And we've even got a vegan green bean casserole for you, too. If you'd like a curated list of our favorites, here are 10 favorite vegan Thanksgiving side dishes.
- Wine-Glazed Brussels Sprouts
- Chard with Brussels Sprouts and Red Peppers
- Maple-Sriracha Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberry Wild Rice
- Baked Sweet Potatoes and Apples
- White Bean Scalloped Potatoes
- Maple and Tarragon Sweet Potatoes
- Contemporary Candied Yams
- Mouthwatering Mashed Potatoes with Groovy Onion Gravy
- Red Quinoa Pilaf with Kale and Corn
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pecans
- Rosemary Roasted Carrots (From our friends at Oh My Veggies)
- Festive Kale with Fennel, Cranberries, and Walnuts
- Scalloped Corn
- Corn Pudding
- Glazed Baked Onions
- VegKitchen's Six Favorite Brussel Sprout Sides
- Vegan Green Bean Casserole
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts in Balsamic Glaze (pictured below)
SAUCES
This short and sweet category brings you the essentials—a delicious mushroom gravy, and three variations on cranberry sauce.
- Easy Mushroom Gravy (great for mashed or smashed potatoes)
- Cranberry-Apple Relish
- Cranberry Chutney
- Cranberry-Orange Sauce (pictured below)
DESSERTS
By the time you finish Thanksgiving dinner, even if it's all vegan, healthy fare, chances are that you're really full. So you don't need a lot of desserts, just one or two good ones. Pumpkin pie is so easy to make in a vegan version, and for many, that's a must-have. But we've also got some other alternatives, including fruit cobblers and even a pumpkin ice cream, to end your compassionate holiday meal on a sweet note!
- Double-Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Chocolate Pumpkin Pie
- Vegan Praline Pecan Pumpkin Pie (Gluten-Free)
- Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream
- Pumpkin Bread Pudding
- Vegan Maple Pumpkin Parfaits (From our friends at Oh My Veggies)
- Apple-Walnut Cobbler (wheat-free)
- Pear and Apple Crumble
- Vegan Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding (From our friends at Oh My Veggies)
- Cranberry Upside-Down Cake
- Cranberry-Walnut Pie with Nutty Wheat Pie Crust
- Low-to-No Sugar Desserts
- Our Eight Favorite Cranberry Desserts
- Easy Vegan Pumpkin or Squash Pie (pictured below)
- Here are more tips for keeping a vegan Thanksgiving and making the Holidays and Special Occasions healthy!
- Too busy? Here's a Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner in Less Than an Hour
- Enjoy 6 Vegan Stuffings for Thanksgiving and Beyond
Jane says
The three sisters stew and black bean chili are delicious. I make them every year.
Esther says
I'm filling a pumpkin with stuffing and fake meat this year and baking it! 🙂
Sabita says
Thank you so much for posting this. I'm vegetarian and was wondering what should i cook for TG.
Erin says
Thanks! ^^ This'll be a great help.
Austin says
thanks for posting this article. will be very useful, and great piece to share 🙂
Icare says
Great site! Thx for these great recipes!
Jean Aly says
Can't wait to make this! We are so fortunate to be able to have a Vegan Thanksgiving. So cool!
Jackie says
Thanks gonna do the Quick Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili this year.
Crosby M. says
Have been looking for an ultimate resource for vegan holidays! Tired of just eating boring standard side dishes at my family's Thanksgiving. Love that there are lots of ideas with flavor profiles that fit in with traditional Thanksgiving flavors!
Nikita says
I always feel like my youngest sister and her family get left out at TG because they are the only ones in the fam whom are vegans. when I ran across your website and your delicious recipes, I knew that TG dinner would never be the same in our family!
Nava says
Thanks, everyone; that's what VegKitchen is here for — to make Thanksgiving (and everyday) meals easy, tasty, and compassionate!
erica gold says
man this Thanksgiving menu looks a million times better than the traditional meat infested ones, no comparison!! cant wait to make it this year!! thanks so much for posting all the recipes 🙂
roseatta @ vegetarianbreakfastrecipes.net says
I'm planting kale in the garden and looking for recipes to use it. Your Festive Kale and Fennel sounds amazing and super nutritious. I'm going to test it out this week. Thanks.......great site
Kate says
What a wonderful list, thank you. Many Orthodox Christians start fasting on Nov 15 until Christmas Day. It's so hard to celebrate Thanksgiving and yet keep the fast! This list will help!
Karen says
Any ideas for main dishes that aren't loaded with carbohydrates? I'm hypoglycemic, and can't handle a meal based on pumpkin, potatoes, and wild rice. Something heavy on lentils, mushrooms, and/or nuts might work. I'm not trying to complain about the recipes here--they look quite tasty. I'm just frustrated with the general carb-loadedness of all the vegan holiday recipes I'm finding.
Nava says
Karen, you're right that Thanksgiving is a very carb-heavy holiday! Take a look under the main dishes at Lentil and Mushroom Shepherd's Pie (you can replace the potato layer with soft polenta if need be) or Pueblo Corn Pie. Tempeh Stew with Wine and Shiitake Mushrooms might work, too. Under Side Dishes, see Red Quinoa Pilaf with Kale and Corn. With added black beans, that would be a good main dish as well. I hope that helps!
Vegan4lyfe says
Thank you, thank you! We're also doing sweet potato/chard fritters with nutmeg & brown sugar. Yum!
Angela says
Hi.
Thanks so much. I wanted to try something different. I'm vegan & eating with traditional families. I'm making the Jicama salad with Orange slices & Watercress & Wine-Glazed Brussels Sprouts. It sounds yummy! I've never used Jicama before so I'm glad to try something new. I've tried the faux Turkey & not a fan of the texture of faux meat. It makes me think I'm eating the real thing. Weird, but I'm a veggie-girl all the way. So, thank you again for this post!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
butcher says
WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for vegan pumpkin pie
Chris Mulholland says
These recipes look wonderful. I am anxious to try them, and I love to read reviews from others.
Jackie says
I was so inspired by your recipes. This is my first vegan Thanksgiving and I am really looking forward to it now. I will have all of November to test cook the recipes I've chosen and whittle them down to 4 or 5 of my favorites. Thanks for the inspiration and I enjoyed the comments made by your more experienced cooks.
Ali says
Thanks ... This is a fantastic collection of vegan dishes and they are not just for Thanksgiving ...
ella shul says
WOW! It looks so yummy! I will definitely try the wallnut-apple stuffing this year! BTW - I found a great vegan wine at Whole Foods Market, it is called "Deccolio Prosecco" and it will be great aperitif to the holiday dinner.
chris says
I have a vegan daughter coming for Tday. Can the 3 sister stew be made early in the week and be heated just before the meal? Can it be frozen after the meal for future use? Love your recipes....doing for meat eaters and vegans is a little hard with limited kitchen space. Thanks
Nava says
Chris, you can make this on Tuesday and it will still be just as good on Thursday. And it does freeze very well. I hope that your mixed group of eaters enjoy all that you're making for them!
Roz says
Great recipes!! However, MAJOR turnoff to have to see an ad on the side of the page featuring a cooked TURKEY!!!! Talk about a total disconnect!!!
Nava says
Roz, sometimes these ads slip through on the ad networks and I can block them. Thanks for letting me know! I totally agree!
Kristina says
First year as vegan, really anxious for family get together! Family is typical turkey dinner! Also no suger diet! Help!
Steve says
Awesome site! Plan to make several of these recipes for the omnivore family.
Nathan says
Thank you for a great list of vegan recipes. I'm trying to make the switch over to vegan and this would be my first vegan Thanksgiving. For me, becoming vegan is a health issue, not a moral issue. I grew up on a farm, so it gives me a different perspective.
Nevertheless, it looks like I'll have fun cooking and being healthy at the same time! 🙂
Sally says
Hi! Great recipes-- I made your sourdough stuffing last year and it was a great hit. But I tried to click the link this year and it's dead 🙁 http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes/sourdough-stuffing-with-pine-nuts-and-raisins/
Nava says
Hi Sally — you're the 2nd person who is missing that recipe! When we did a new stuffings round-up, it seemed to overlap a couple of them. Take a look at this round up: http://www.vegkitchen.com/uncategorized/6-savory-and-comforting-vegan-stuffings/ — it's probably closest to the Classic Bread Stuffing. Hope you find something you like here.
Shanasy says
THANK YOU so much for this wonderful list. I will share this will my FB group '10 Minute Plant Based / Vegan Activism. It will make a great tip to recommend people to pass on these wonderful plant based recipes!
Carol says
I love the cookbook - Vegan Holiday Kitchen and am glad this list is here at the website. So many wonderful, delicious, creative choices. Nava, you never disappoint! - Thanks!
Nava says
Thank you, Carol! And thanks for being such a longtime reader.
Carol says
Ty for sharing vegan thanksgiving recipes
Ric CheckYourFood says
Wonderful list. This article will help a lot of vegan people, but not only vegans. I can't wait to try some of these recipes. Thanks for sharing this delicious dishes.