Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

from hearty mains to tempting desserts, these plant-based dishes are all animal-free!

By Taysha Murtaugh and Jennifer Aldrich
Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (1)

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Make everyone feel welcome around the table this November with an armful of vegan thanksgiving sides, desserts, and even a main dish that's tasty enough even omnivores'll be making room on their plates. These simple vegan recipes are packed with flavor and are either already vegan, or can be made that way with just a couple substitutions. Bookmark your favorites for the holiday and give 'em a whirl — you can thank us later. 😉

1

Acorn Squash Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette

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For a meal-worthy "salad" that will satisfy everyone, try this combo of roasted squash, chopped dates, crunchy almonds, and baby kale, all tossed in a rich tahini dressing.

Get the recipe for Acorn Squash Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette.

2

Butternut Squash Soup

Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (4)

One of our favorite parts of this yummy fall soup is the spiced popcorn croutons. Genius!

Get the recipe for Butternut Squash Soup.

3

Sweet-and-Sour Onions

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Pearl onions are a time-honored side dish at Thanksgiving tables, but often they're creamed. Our version skips the dairy for a glaze of sugar, thyme, and red wine vinegar. Delicious! Use your favorite nondairy butter or sauté the onions in oil to keep the recipe fully vegan.

Get the recipe for Sweet-and-Sour Onions.

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4

Smashed Acorn Squash and Garlicky Walnut Crostini

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This easy appetizer is a great way to welcome guests as you finish making the meal! You can skip the called-for blue cheese, but we recommend using a nondairy version, such as Follow Your Heart, to make 'em as tasty as possible.

Get the recipe for Smashed Acorn Squash and Garlicky Walnut Crostini.

5

Baked Onions with Fennel Breadcrumbs

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This simple but elegant side dish offers lots of fall flavor, and some unexpected allure to the Thanksgiving plate. Use your favorite nondairy butter, or a high-quality olive oil to keep it vegan.

Get the recipe for Baked Onions with Fennel Breadcrumbs.

6

Bourbon Yams

Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (8)

Slow cooked yams are incredibly sweet already, but mixed with a glug of good bourbon and topped with spiced walnuts, the dish becomes a true sensation. Use your favorite butter alternative to keep it vegan.

Get the recipe for Bourbon Yams.

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7

Kale Salad with Pickled Cranberries and Crispy Quinoa

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The bright pickled berries on a green bed make this impressive seasonal salad look almost like a wreath — but it's the taste that'll guarantee the bowl gets emptied. Use your favorite vegan hard cheese—we like Violife's Just Like Parmesan— in place of the mancheo, or just leave it out.

Get the recipe for Kale Salad with Pickled Cranberries and Crispy Quinoa.

8

Broccoli Steaks with Spiced Tomato Jam

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Looking for a main you can sink your teeth into—and tofurky is not your thing? These gorgeous "steaks" drizzled in tomato jam are it. Use your favorite nondairy parm — or a similar amount of nutritional yeast — to keep it animal-free.

Get the recipe for Broccoli Steaks with Spiced Tomato Jam.

9

Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Star Anise

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Cranberry sauce is a must-have come Thanksgiving. And thankfully it's easy to keep vegan! We love the combination of spices in this version, and the orange juice tempers the natural tartness.

Get the recipe for Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Star Anise.

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10

Roasted Mushrooms and Radicchio

This ultimate fall side dish boasts the rich flavor of mushrooms, a little bit bitter from fresh radicchio, and a sweet note from balsamic.

Get the recipe for Roasted Mushrooms and Radicchio.

11

Wild Rice-and-Cider-Cranberry Pilaf

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Use your favorite wild rice blend to make this apple cider-infused recipe. The additions of cinnamon, garlic, and scallions make every bite extra flavorful.

Get the recipe for Wild Rice-and-Cider-Cranberry Pilaf.

12

Roasted Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

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Looking for a new way to serve a Thanksgiving staple? These hasselback sweet potatoes are the way to do just that.

Get the recipe for Roasted Hasselback Sweet Potatoes.

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13

Roasted Butternut Squash with Cider Vinaigrette

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Apple cider and red onion add extra zippy flavor to this vegan recipe you can make all autumn long.

Get the recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash with Cider Vinaigrette.

14

Classic Cornbread Dressing

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Keep it country-style with cornbread dressing this year! Oil (or your favorite butter substitute) keeps it vegan.

Get the recipe for Classic Cornbread Dressing.

15

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

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This dish is simple and classic, but the best part of this recipe has to be the 20-minute prep time. It doesn't get easier than that!

Get the recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

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16

Thanksgiving Chopped Salad

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This Thanksgiving salad will give guests a break from the heavier fare on the table. Dressed with a simple, tangy red wine vinaigrette and loaded it with crunchy Persian cucumbers, we top it all off with a smattering of local parsley, basil, and fennel.

Get the recipe for Thanksgiving Chopped Salad.

17

Marinated Mushroom-and-Charred Broccolini Salad

Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (19)

This nutritious Thanksgiving side dish packs plenty of zest—sans any animal products.

Get the recipe for Marinated Mushroom-and-Charred Broccolini Salad.

18

Pepita (Pumpkin Seed) Guacamole

Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (20)

Trust us: Guac and chips make a great appetizer while guests are getting ready for the meal. Finish off this traditional avocado mixture with an additional sprinkle of toasted seeds, and serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

Get the recipe for Pepita (Pumpkin Seed) Guacamole.

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19

Savory Pumpkin Soup with Spice Shake

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Warm guests up with a comforting cup of soup that's creamy, yet contains not a drop of cream.

Get the recipe for Savory Pumpkin Soup with Spice Shake.

20

Vegan Thanksgiving Wraps

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Everyone at the dinner table will be reaching for one of these wraps. They're filled with cinnamon-roasted sweet potatoes, crispy baked chickpeas, and toasted pumpkin seeds all rolled in a garlic herb flatbread.

Get the recipe for Vegan Thanksgiving Wraps at Minimalist Baker.

Make Everyone Feel Welcome with These Easy + Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a vegan alternative to Thanksgiving? ›

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 do 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.

What is the most popular vegetarian alternative to turkey? ›

Nut roast is a popular vegetarian alternative to a turkey dinner. It is a savory dish made primarily from a mixture of ground nuts, breadcrumbs, and various vegetables, herbs, and spices.

What food is surprisingly vegan? ›

18 Snacks and Foods You Didn't Know Were Vegan
  • Sriracha Mayo. I'm just as surprised as you are that Flying Goose's brilliant sriracha mayo is completely plant-based. ...
  • Hackney Gelato Dark Chocolate Sorbetto. ...
  • Lotus Biscoff Spread. ...
  • Lindt Excellence 70% Dark Chocolate. ...
  • Ritz Crackers. ...
  • Jacob's Cream Crackers. ...
  • Oreos. ...
  • Twiglets.
Jan 11, 2023

Are marshmallows vegan? ›

Are marshmallows vegan? Most marshmallows on the market contain gelatin, which is often derived from the skin and bones of cows and pigs. It was added to the recipe to give the soft candy more of a stable form. Because gelatin comes from dead animals, marshmallows made with it are not vegan.

Do vegans eat cheese? ›

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

Do vegans eat onions? ›

Yes. Garlic and onion are plants so they are vegan. There might be some vegans who might not eat onion and garlic, but this is most likely due to personal likes and dislikes. Additionally it also might be due to some religious beliefs and practices which we will discuss later in the article.

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.

Why is turkey not as popular as chicken? ›

The price difference and availability influence why people choose chicken over turkey. Turkey is more seasonal and available in November and December, whereas chicken is available year-round in all grocery stores.

What is an adult female turkey called? ›

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

What is America's favorite Thanksgiving side dish? ›

Mashed potatoes are the front-runner to be on the most plates this Thanksgiving. Turkey no longer reigns supreme. Findings showed that over half of the United States would be content to only have sides on their holiday plates and 67% of Americans prefer side dishes to the main entrée!

What do you say instead of "Happy Thanksgiving"? ›

"May all the good things of life be yours, not only on this day but throughout the coming year." "Wishing you a harvest of blessings, good health and good times." "May you enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving, a joyous holiday season and healthful, Happy New Year."

What are 3 vegan non animal dairy alternatives? ›

Plant-Based Milk Alternatives: These alternatives to cow's milk come in various forms, including Almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, and coconut milk. They are typically made by blending the ingredients with water and straining the solids.

What do vegans eat instead of chicken? ›

Vegan Chicken: Delicious vegetarian and vegan-friendly chicken substitutes
  • Tofu. Tofu is one of the most well-known and versatile vegan and vegetarian-friendly foods out there. ...
  • Soy curls. ...
  • Jackfruit. ...
  • Potato. ...
  • Seitan. ...
  • Tempeh. ...
  • Cauliflower.
May 18, 2023

Is there a vegetarian substitute 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.

References

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