50 Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes: Mains, Sides, Desserts, and More

Hosting a vegan Thanksgiving might seem impossible with turkey and gravy at the center of the meal. But plant-based cooking has come a long way since the days of the Gardenburger. It’s come so far, in fact, that we’ve found 50 delicious vegan Thanksgiving recipes, from mouthwatering sides and appetizers to crave-worthy mains and desserts. 

And no, this isn’t just a list of weird, unrecognizable vegetarian dishes and meat substitutes. We’ve got all the traditional Thanksgiving recipes, including mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, and even a vegan turkey roast. So, whether you have a vegan friend, partner, or family member, these recipes will ensure that you’re set to celebrate Thanksgiving without using a single animal product.

Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers

1. White Bean Pumpkin Hummus

This is a delightful fusion of creamy white beans and pumpkin, brightened with lemon and enriched with a hint of tahini. This hummus offers a smoky and savory experience with hints of garlic and sage. It's not only a crowd-pleaser but can also be whipped up in just 10 minutes, making it a perfect autumn treat.

Recipe: Minimalist Baker

2. Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms With Ricotta and Spinach

These umami-rich appetizers feature mushrooms brimming with a mix of vegan ricotta, spinach, and garlic, finished with a sprinkle of vegan parmesan. A dairy-free, gluten-free, and irresistibly tasty treat for all.

Recipe: Happy Kitchen

3. Curried Cauliflower, Grape, and Lentil Salad

Minimalist Baker presents a 30-minute salad with greens, lentils, grapes, and curry-roasted cauliflower. It's accentuated by a creamy dressing combining green curry paste and tahini, making it perfect for weeknights, prepared lunches, or the holidays.

Recipe: Minimalist Baker

4. Sweet Potato Fries

Guests won’t be able to keep their hands off these addictive fries, which are seasoned with garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper. One fan suggests preheating the baking sheet to make them extra crispy. Want to go beyond fries? Check out our roundup of 50 sweet potato recipes. 

Recipe: New York Times Cooking

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5. Vegan Cranberry Pecan Cheeseball

A beautiful, multi-colored cheese ball — without the cheese. If you’re in a hurry, use store-bought vegan cream cheese; otherwise, you can make your own. Serve with crackers, pita chips, or vegetables.

Recipe: Nora Cooks

6. Vegan Pimiento Cheese

A creative collection of ingredients — pickle brine, pimientos, nutritional yeast, and other flavorful additions — ensure that this tofu-based Southern “cheese” will have guests coming for seconds … and thirds.

Recipe: Food and Wine

7. 5-Minute Macadamia Cheese and Vegan Crudite

While the entire crudite takes 30 minutes to assemble, the macadamia nut cheese comes together in just five minutes. The rest of this vegetable platter involves a slew of healthy veggies: radishes, cucumbers, carrots, and beets.

Recipe: Minimalist Baker

8. Easy Vegan Mushroom Crostini

Elena Szeliga's vegan mushroom crostini is a delightful appetizer, blending the crunch of a baguette with the flavors of caramelized onions and mushrooms. Enhanced with a touch of balsamic and Dijon mustard, it's perfect for festive occasions.

Recipe: Happy Kitchen

Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes

9. Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash and Apples

This is a delightful medley of vegetables and fruits caramelized to perfection, enhanced with hints of hazelnuts, pomegranate seeds, and parsley, making it a splendid choice for both holiday spreads and everyday meals.

Recipe: Delish

10. Roasted Beet Salad With Horseradish-Cashew Cream

In this salad, multicolored beets are paired with aromatic garlic and rosemary, while a crunchy trio of flax, chia, and poppy seed crisps add texture. The dish is elevated with a velvety horseradish-cashew cream, creating a harmonious blend of earthy and tangy notes. Perfect for those seeking a vibrant, vegan delight.

Recipe: Food and Wine

11. The Best Damn Vegan Mashed Potatoes

The secret to excellent plant-based mashed potatoes? Minimalist Baker says it’s all about the potatoes and mix-ins. The recipe site recommends adding roasted garlic, salt, pepper, and vegan butter to a fluffy mash of Yukon gold potatoes, making for a “super creamy, luxurious, dairy-free” Thanksgiving side dish.

Recipe: Minimalist Baker

12. Easy Vegan Gravy

Even if you’re vegan, you can still enjoy gravy with your mashed potatoes. This tasty recipe — a mixture of spices, herbs, and veggie stock — goes from pot to table in just five minutes.

Recipe: Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen

13. Classic Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole

For a unique side dish that tastes like fall, look no further than My Darling Vegan’s sweet potato casserole. Autumnal spices cinnamon and nutmeg come together with pecans, brown sugar, and sweet potatoes for a Thanksgiving crowd-pleaser.

Recipe: My Darling Vegan

14. Wholesome Butternut Squash Casserole With Sweet Potato

As Olga from Healthy Taste of Life writes, butternut squash is the star of this casserole, which is a balance of savory and sweet flavors. Ingredients like brown rice and wild rice add depth to this dish, while balsamic vinegar, dried fruits, and sweet potato add a touch of sweetness.

Recipe: Healthy Taste of Life

15. Vegan Green Bean Casserole

Leave it to the New York Times to come up with a vegan green bean casserole packed with flavor. Fried onions, shallots, and mushrooms are the stars of the show, though the creamy, non-dairy base brings this traditional Thanksgiving side together.

Recipe: New York Times Cooking

16. The Best Easy Vegan Cranberry Sauce

This is the best vegan cranberry sauce recipe, requiring only four ingredients and taking just 15 minutes to prepare. It strikes a perfect balance between sweet and tart, enhanced by a hint of lemon zest.

Recipe: It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken

17. Simple Vegan Stuffing

A vegan adaptation of a cherished family stuffing recipe, this dish uses lentils, flax eggs, and vegetable broth. With a moist interior and crispy exterior, it's made from 10 simple ingredients, perfect for holiday feasts.

Recipe: Minimalist Baker

18. Roasted Brussel Sprouts With Garlic

This five-star side dish is the New York Times’ most popular roasted brussel sprouts recipe. Although some guests might find brussel sprouts repellent, these sweet, carmelized morsels will “make a believer out of anyone.”

Recipe: New York Times Cooking

19. Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

As long as you have a blender, this butternut squash soup is easy. It starts with a base of ginger, garlic, onion, and cilantro, a flavorful mixture that blends together with coconut milk and butternut squash.

Recipe: Bon Appetit

20. Vegan Dinner Rolls

This recipe nails the classic dinner roll — fluffy and buttery — without using an ounce of dairy. How? It’s all thanks to soy milk and vegan butter. The only downside is that this recipe takes a bit of planning since you have to let the dough rise for one hour.

Recipe: Nora Cooks

21. Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

Everyone has that relative who just hates vegan food. Well, let them try this vegan dip, which is made with gooey vegan mozzarella. We’re confident that it’s so creamy, cheesy, and delicious that they won’t be able to tell it’s plant based.

Recipe: It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken

22. Vegan Lentil and Walnut Sausage Rolls

These are like pigs in a blanket … except way fancier and made with lentils. Just be sure to use vegan puff pastry, as not all of them are vegan.

Recipe: Talida Voinea

Vegan Thanksgiving Mains

23. Vegan Ham Roast With Maple Glaze

Make this maple-glazed vegan ham for plant-based skeptics. While it won’t taste like meat, Nora Cooks promises it will be “meaty” and “smoky” thanks to the well-seasoned chickpea-based ham.

Recipe: Nora Cooks

24. Quinoa-Stuffed Acorn Squash

Fill a few hollowed-out acorn squashes with a mix of onion, celery, garlic, mushroom, sage, thyme, and other flavorful ingredients, and you’ll have an “all-in-one meal” fit for the festivities.

Recipe: Vegan Huggs

25. Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

OK, this isn’t a classic Thanksgiving main, but who cares? It’s perfect for a cozy, fall day, and it’s hearty enough to please even the biggest carnivores. It’s also one of the few recipes on this list that uses store-bought vegan meat (if you’re into that).

Recipe: Nora Cooks

26. Best Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen swears that this roasted cauliflower recipe tastes like a traditional pot roast — except, of course, it’s vegan. The key ingredients? Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and smoked paprika, all of which give the dish its “umami oomph.”

Recipe: Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen

27. Mixed Mushroom Ragout

We know what you’re thinking. This isn’t vegan! While that’s technically true, all it takes to make this rich sauce plant-based is a bit of vegetable stock instead of chicken broth. Pair it with pasta, spread it on bread, or put it on, well, anything really.

Recipe: Food and Wine

28. Best Vegan Turkey Roast

The perfect vegan turkey roast made from seitan and tofu mimics real turkey with a crispy skin. It's easy, can be prepared ahead, and offers a flavorful, stress-free holiday centerpiece.

Recipe: It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken

29. Potato-Tomato Gratin With Horseradish

If you want to impress your guests with a showstopper, consider this jammy gratin. Unlike traditional gratins, this light dish uses olive oil and tomatoes to get that classic rich texture.

Recipe: Bon Appetit

30. Vegan Stuffed Jumbo Shells

Spinach ricotta, made with raw cashews and tofu, is the star of this deceptively easy dish. First, you cook a box of jumbo shells, and then you fill them with your homemade cheese. Add a jar of store-bought marinara, and you’ve got an impressive main that’s ready in less than an hour. 

Recipe: Nora Cooks

31. Turmeric and Coconut-Braised Cabbage With Chickpeas

With cabbage wedges “​​bathed in a turmeric-accented coconut milk,” this vegan recipe is plenty rich despite its lack of cheese or milk. Sure, it’s not exactly a traditional Thanksgiving dish, but no one will care once they dig in.

Recipe: Bon Appetit

32. Lentil Mushroom Stew Over Mashed Potatoes

This super filling, hearty, and festive main incorporates creamy mashed potatoes and a mushroom and lentil gravy. And despite having to make two things — gravy and mashed potatoes — you can have it plated in just 40 minutes.

Recipe: Minimalist Baker

33. Vegan Thanksgiving Wraps

Made in just 30 minutes, these delectable wraps blend the flavors of the holidays into a convenient, easy-to-enjoy dish. Begin with a base of pillowy garlic herb flatbreads, which can be made gluten-free if preferred. The wrap is generously filled with cinnamon-roasted sweet potatoes and crispy baked chickpeas, providing a rich, hearty taste with every bite

Recipe: Minimalist Baker

34. Vegan Lentil Nut ‘Meat’ Loaf

Enhanced with a savory ketchup glaze, this mushroom- and sweet potato-based dish promises a hearty and satisfying meal, perfect for festive occasions or cozy nights in. Pair with vegan gravy and mashed potatoes for a complete dining experience.

Recipe: Minimalist Baker

35. The Best Vegan Lasagna

When you get down to it, a Thanksgiving meal is really just made up of comfort food. For that reason, a hefty vegan lasagna makes a lot of sense even if it isn’t traditional. This vegan variation gets its flavor from cashew cream, mushrooms, and marinara sauce.

Recipe: Cookie and Kate

36. Gluten-Free Winter Squash Gnocchi

If you’ve got gluten-intolerant guests and vegans at Thanksgiving, then consider this gnocchi. Thanks to its squash puree and buckwheat flour base, you can skip the eggs. What’s more, they’re the perfect color for fall.

Recipe: Food and Wine

Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts

37. Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie

The internet’s most popular plant-based pumpkin pie comes from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken (incredible name, right?). Not only is this fan-favorite the site’s most popular recipe since its debut in 2015, but it also has a five-star rating. Rather than using eggs and milk, this recipe calls for full-fat coconut milk.

Recipe: It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken

38. Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie

You can’t please everyone … or can you? This pumpkin pie is free of animal products and gluten, so it’s suitable for the pickiest of eaters, whether they have allergies or don’t eat dairy. Plus, reviewers say it tastes amazing.

Recipe: Minimalist Baker

39. Perfect Vegan Apple Pie

Apart from butter (and the occasional egg wash), apple pie is a vegan-friendly dessert. Nora Cook’s comes up with a flaky, buttery pie crust that uses vegan butter and a few tablespoons of non-dairy milk to emulate those missing ingredients.

Recipe: Nora Cooks

40. Vegan Sweet Potato Pie

The Almond Eater’s vegan sweet potato pie is delicious and easy to make, especially since most of it comes together in a blender. The filling is made up of almond milk, spices, and mashed sweet potatoes, while the crust is a simple mixture of vegan butter, flour, sugar, and water.

Recipe: The Almond Eater

41. Vegan Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

Indulge in a rich and flavorful chocolate pecan pie, a unique twist on the classic dessert. This pie boasts a mouthwatering maple-chocolate aroma, toasted pecans, and hints of bourbon, creating a symphony of taste in every bite. It’s best enjoyed with a dollop of non-dairy vanilla ice cream.

Recipe: The Curious Chickpea

42. Vegan Apple Crumb Pie

The Hummusapien’s vegan apple crumb pie is a star dessert, especially for sweet tooths that love a good cinnamon sugar crumb topping. To save time, use a store-bought crust.

Recipe: Hummusapien

43. Easy Pear Crisp

Indulge in a heartwarming fall dessert with this easy pear crisp. Ripe pears meet a spiced oat streusel topping, creating a harmonious blend of sweet and aromatic flavors. Gluten-free and sugar-free variations ensure everyone can partake in this delectable treat.

Recipe: Plant Based on a Budget

44. Vegan Whipped Cream

Non-dairy whipped cream is a breeze to make. All it takes is 10 minutes and three ingredients: coconut cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.

Recipe: Loving It Vegan

45. Roasted Spiced Cranberry Pie

Looking to impress your guests with something that’s at once festive and unusual? This cranberry pie is made with cranberries and Korean chile flakes (gochugaru), the latter of which helps this pie live up to its name.

Recipe: Food and Wine

46. Vegan Apple Cider Donuts

This show-stopping dessert is a plant-based take on the northeastern tradition of cider donuts. The trick, Short Girl Tall Order says, is to reduce the apple cider, thereby concentrating the flavor. Apart from being vegan, these donuts are also healthier thanks to their lack of oil.

Recipe: Short Girl Tall Order

47. Vegan Cornbread

Nora's vegan cornbread recipe is a game-changer. Moist and slightly sweet, it's made effortlessly in one bowl, making it the perfect complement to a hearty Thanksgiving dinner.

Recipe: Nora Cooks

48. Vegan Apple Bourbon Layer Cake

Embrace the flavors of fall with this scrumptious vegan apple cake, complete with aromatic spices, a bourbon-apple compote, and vegan cinnamon frosting. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving or any autumn celebration.

Recipe: My Quiet Kitchen

49. Ginger Pear Bundt Cake

Packed with juicy pear chunks and zesty crystallized ginger, this cake promises a fluffy, warmly-spiced bite perfect for fall gatherings. Simple to make, yet undeniably impressive.

Recipe: The Baking Fairy

50. Pumpkin Cheesecake

This cheese-less pumpkin cheesecake benefits from a flavorful filling, a mix of pumpkin puree, spices, coconut milk, and blended cashews. Loving It Vegan also offers a gluten-free variation on the ginger cookie crust.

Recipe: Loving It Vegan