45 Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes - Karissa's Vegan Kitchen (2024)

Vegan Thanksgiving recipes from green bean casserole, to a vegan pot roast, to pumpkin cheesecake! Here are a bunch of recipes to choose from to celebrate the holiday.

45 Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes - Karissa's Vegan Kitchen (1)

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Thanksgiving can be a little intimidating for vegans since the main dish is literally a whole turkey, and the sides often contain dairy and more meat. But there are tons of vegan Thanksgiving recipes – and you’re going to LOVE them! Your family and friends will probably love them, too. Prepare for lots of “THIS is vegan!?” comments.

These recipes are broken down by course: Vegan appetizers, main dishes, sides, salads, and desserts. This ultimate list contains 40 recipes to choose from.

If you don’t want to sort through a bunch of recipes and would like a straightforward, no guesswork plan, check out this 3 Course Vegan Thanksgiving Menu.

If you make one of these recipes, I would LOVE to see your recreation! Snap a photo, thentag me on Instagramand use the hashtag #karissasvegankitchen.

Appetizers

Vegan Thanksgiving appetizers to serve before dinner that everyone will enjoy.

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

4.92 from 92 votes

Your favorite game day and holiday dip, made dairy-free! This crowd-pleasing vegan spinach artichoke dip is delicious and so easy to make.

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Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip

4.89 from 27 votes

Delicious vegan buffalo chicken dip with all the classic flavors.

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Creamy Hot Broccoli Dip

4.60 from 15 votes

Move over spinach & artichoke dip, creamy broccoli dip is taking over! This is a simple recipe, and you're eating veggies so…Health!

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Mini Vegan Pigs in a Blanket

4.41 from 79 votes

These vegan mini pigs in a blanket are the perfect appetizer for any holiday or sports party like the Superbowl!

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Vegan Spinach Dip

4.98 from 104 votes

This super easy vegan spinach dip is served cold. Perfect for a Thanksgiving appetizer to feed a crowd. Serve in a bread bowl for ultimate holiday vibes.

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Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms

5 from 7 votes

These mushrooms are stuffed with quinoa, sundried tomatoes, pecans, and more delicious flavors. Top with some vegan parmesan, bake, and serve

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BBQ Cauliflower Wings

5 from 2 votes

These flavorful BBQ cauliflower wings are the perfect appetizer bites for any occasion.

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Main Dishes

Turkey and ham, no thanks! These vegan main dishes are hearty and satisfying. You won’t even miss the meat.

Roasted Glazed Tofu

4.92 from 24 votes

This 5-ingredient glazed tofu roast is the perfect vegan alternative to a traditional ham roast.

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Whole Roasted Cauliflower

4.75 from 227 votes

Oven roasted whole cauliflower made with potatoes, carrots, and a delicious gravy.

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Vegan Wellington

4.92 from 195 votes

Beef wellington, who?! This vegan wellington is an excellent dish to serve as your main Thanksgiving meal!

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Vegan Stuffed Acorn Squash

5 from 31 votes

Vegan Lasagna

4.89 from 17 votes

Classic lasagna flavors, but vegan! This dish might be a little unconventional for Thanksgiving, but who says we have to follow "tradition"?!

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Vegan Impossible Meatloaf

4.98 from 643 votes

This vegan meatloaf made with Impossible burger tastes JUST like your Mom's classic meatloaf. Bonus – it's simple, easy, and made in about 30 minutes!

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Vegan Pot Pie

4.90 from 39 votes

A special holiday calls for a special main dish, and this vegan pot pie made with chickpeas hits the mark. The homemade pie crust is so flaky and "buttery!"

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Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

4.86 from 7 votes

Shepherd's Pie is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for your vegan Thanksgiving! This version uses vegan ground beef, corn, and mashed potatoes.

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Gravy

Gravy is a staple for the holidays. Make one, or make three!

5-Minute Gravy

4.96 from 71 votes

Quick and easy vegan gravy seasoned with sage and thyme. Enjoy with a big bowl of potatoes, over biscuits, or with veggie meatloaf!

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Vegan Onion Gravy

4.67 from 3 votes

Rich and flavorful caramelized onion gravy.

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Vegan Country Gravy

4.78 from 9 votes

Dairy-free cream gravy made with just 5 simple ingredients.

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Vegan Brown Gravy

4.67 from 9 votes

Rich, flavorful vegan brown gravy made with simple ingredients.

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Oil-Free Vegan Gravy

4.89 from 18 votes

This vegan gravy is super rich and indulgent – without all the fat in other gravy recipes!

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Side Dishes

Side dishes are my favorite part of Thanksgiving. Stuffing, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, oh yes. If you don’t want to make a main dish because you’ll be the only one to eat it, a plate full of sides is just as delicious.

Best Vegan Stuffing

4.88 from 149 votes

We always called this stuffing growing up, but a lot of folks call it dressing. Whatever you refer to it as, this classic side dish full of tasty fall flavors and definitely deserves a spot on your vegan Thanksgiving table.

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Vegan Green Bean Casserole

5 from 2 votes

Classic vegan green bean casserole made with a homemade dairy-free cream sauce.

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Healthy Green Bean Casserole

4.56 from 18 votes

Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese

4.85 from 39 votes

Delicious, cheesy, and creamy vegan baked mac and cheese! This recipe is nut-free and soy-free.

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Maple Glazed Carrots

5 from 3 votes

Easy roasted carrots with maple syrup, garlic, and sage.

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Vegan Mashed Potatoes

4.91 from 20 votes

Perfectly fluffy and creamy vegan mashed potatoes seasoned with garlic.

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Vegan Cheddar Biscuits

4.95 from 20 votes

These vegan cheddar biscuits are cheesy, garlicky, and so easy to make!

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Instant Pot Vegan Mac and Cheese

4.76 from 77 votes

You can make this mac & cheese on the stove, too, but I love the Instant Pot method because it frees up some space. The stove and oven are notoriously jammed pack on Thanksgiving.This is the Instant Pot I have.

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Vegan Scalloped Potatoes

4.80 from 120 votes

Great as a side dish (or a main meal, let's be real) these homemade vegan scalloped potatoes are "cheesy" and delicious.

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Easy Vegan Drop Biscuits

5 from 25 votes

Easy, tasty, buttery vegan drop biscuits. No biscuit cutter is necessary to make these fluffy biscuits, which makes holiday cooking more simple.

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Easy Vegan Dinner Rolls

5 from 5 votes

Soft and chewy vegan dinner rolls made with 6 simple ingredients. What is Thanksgiving without a good roll?!

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Soup

Soup can serve as either a side dish or main dish for your holiday table.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

5 from 7 votes

Vegan butternut squash soup made with roasted squash. This simple dairy-free soup is perfect for cold weather days.

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Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Soup

4.93 from 13 votes

Rich and creamy vegan broccoli cheddar soup made in about 30 minutes!

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Vegan French Onion Soup

4.87 from 23 votes

Luscious vegan french onion soup with caramelized onions for a lovely, deep flavor.

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Salads

These vegan salads make for lighter fare.

Apple Lentil Salad

4.82 from 11 votes

Made with classic fall flavors, this apple lentil salad is exploding with deliciousness! It’s vegan, gluten-free, and can work as either a side salad or the main dish!

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Vegan Chopped Salad

5 from 1 vote

Just your classic chopped salad made with vegan cashew "bacon" bits and vegan ranch. The perfect light first course, if your family does that sort of thing, or a refreshing side to offset that heavy Thanksgiving food.

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Vegan Greek Salad

5 from 1 vote

Fresh and simple Greek salad made with vegan feta cheese.

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Desserts

Thanksgiving is that holiday where we make a bunch of desserts and then look at them wide-eyed because we are JUST TOO FULL. But it’s basically mandatory. Just wait a couple hours and then indulge!

Vegan Pecan Pie

5 from 18 votes

This pecan pie recipe is the BEST vegan version out there. I tested it 8 times to make sure it was absolutely perfect!

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Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

4.97 from 66 votes

Your vegan thanksgiving spread is not complete without this incredibly impressive pumpkin cheesecake! So creamy and full of classic pumpkin flavors.

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Vegan Pumpkin Pie

4.78 from 22 votes

Is it even Thanksgiving without the perfect pumpkin pie?! The filling is perfectly sweet and the crust is flakey but sturdy.

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Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole

5 from 10 votes

Delicious vegan sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows and pecans.

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Vegan Cherry Pie

5 from 3 votes

This lattice-topped vegan cherry pie is the perfect holiday dessert with frozen fruit and a homemade crust.

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Vegan Pumpkin Cookies

5 from 6 votes

The best, soft vegan pumpkin cookies! Chose from 2 frosting options: vegan cream cheese frosting (my favorite) or vanilla icing.

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Vegan Cherry Pie

5 from 3 votes

The best, soft vegan pumpkin cookies! Chose from 2 frosting options: vegan cream cheese frosting (my favorite) or vanilla icing.

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Vegan Pecan Pie Bars

5 from 14 votes

A handheld twist on pecan pie, these vegan pecan pie bars with a shortbread crust are easy and perfect for the holidays.

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Vegan Chocolate Cookies

5 from 6 votes

These vegan double chocolate cookies are super moist, fudgy, and best of all: made using 1 bowl!

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Vegan Chocolate Pie

5 from 16 votes

Decadent, creamy vegan chocolate pie made with simple ingredients for those chocolate lovers at your dinner table.

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45 Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes - Karissa's Vegan Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is a vegan substitute for turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

Burmese Tofu (aka Chickpea Flour Tofu)

For an alternative to turkey that's mild in flavor and can be treated like any other protein, turn to Burmese tofu, which transforms chickpea flour, oil, and water into a sturdy tofu-like dish.

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What can I make instead of turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Sometimes, roasting a whole turkey is just too much—too much time, effort, and maybe even too much food. For smaller crowds, swap the turkey with chicken, Cornish game hens, or stuff and roast individual quails for each guest, which is very elegant for a plated meal.

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How do vegans celebrate Thanksgiving? ›

"A traditional Thanksgiving menu has lots of options for vegans and vegetarians: green beans, cranberry sauce, mashed or roasted potatoes, and sweet potatoes and yams—it's a carb-loaded feast, and we will happily lick our plates," says Peart.

Learn More ›

What is the vegan name for turkey? ›

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.

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What meat is healthier than turkey? ›

Beef has more iron, zinc, and vitamin B12, which are nutrients that promote healthy blood, immunity, and nervous system health, than turkey.

What meat is cheaper than turkey? ›

Unsurprisingly, chicken works out as the far cheaper alternative to turkey. With the prices below, we have picked the cheapest whole chickens - if you want something free range, organic, or generally just better farmed, you'll be looking at adding a bit more onto the cost.

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Who makes vegan turkey? ›

Gardein: Plant-Based Turk'y Roast. Myrtle Greens: Vegan Whole Turkey, Vegan Whole Turkey & Vegan Turkey Roll Combo, and Vegan Whole Turkey & Ham Roll Combo. Tofurky: Plant-Based Holiday Feast. Trader Joe's: Breaded TURKEYLESS Stuffed Roast.

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What is cheaper than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Roast chicken is less expensive, easy to roast, delicious, and has less portions than a large turkey, so it is perfect for a single, couple, or small family celebration. A simple chicken stuffed with mirepoix, lemons, fresh herbs (parsley, rosemary, sage) and roasted whole is a great alternative to a large turkey."

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What do vegetarians eat instead of turkey? ›

Whether you're going meat-free or not, these vegetarian mains are sure to steal the spotlight on Christmas day.

1Gluten-free vegetarian lasagne. ...
2Christmas vegeducken. ...
3Tomato, ricotta and olive spelt tart with basil. ...
4Cheesy spelt crepes stuffed with buttered leek. ...
5Lentil nut roast with sugo.

More items...

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What is an adult female turkey called? ›

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

What does Christianity say about vegans? ›

Genesis 1 identifies human beings as uniquely images of God and grants them dominion over other animals, but the end of the chapter prescribes a vegan diet for humans, so this original dominion does not include permission to kill animals for food.

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What religion follows a vegan diet? ›

Pure vegetarianism or veganism is Indic in origin and is still practiced in India by some adherents of Dharmic religions such as Jainism and in the case of Hinduism, lacto-vegetarianism with the additional abstention of pungent or fetid vegetables.

What to eat when you stop being vegan? ›

If you've been avoiding all animal products, start with eggs, yogurt or cheese. Eggs are easily digested by most people. If you're vegetarian, you might find eating fish or other seafood, like oysters, clams and mussels easier. Sipping on chicken or bone broth is another way to ease back in.

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Do vegans eat turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

Tofu turkey: In October many health food stores, and even regular grocery stores, stock up on vegan turkey products. This tofu “turkey” is made from wheat protein and organic tofu and stuffed with mushrooms, herbs, and wild rice. Tofu turkey is 100 percent vegan.

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Is there a plant-based turkey? ›

A vegan turkey roast offers savory flavor and hearty texture without the meat. A quality vegetarian turkey has up to 26 grams of protein per serving — about as much as real turkey.

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Is there a Beyond Meat turkey? ›

Beyond Meat Doesn't Have Plans to Launch an Alternative Thanksgiving Turkey.

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What is the most popular vegetarian alternative to a turkey dinner? ›

Shepherd's pie is the perfect comfort food, and it also makes a great vegan substitute for a Thanksgiving turkey. This shepherd's pie is full of veggies and herbs, and the lentils satisfy the need for protein. Topped with mashed potatoes and parsnips, it's a tasty vegan Thanksgiving dinner in one dish.

Learn More Now ›