Every year, I hear from readers asking for vegan Thanksgiving recipes. I always write back with an idea or two, but I never quite feel like my response is enough. I think one of the most joyous things about Thanksgiving is crafting a menu that you and your friends or family will love. So instead of sending a couple suggestions to each person who writes in, I wanted to create a whole collection of vegan Thanksgiving recipes for you to explore. And finally, it’s here! Below, you’ll find over forty of my best vegan Thanksgiving recipes. They include everything you need to create a plant-based holiday feast: vegan riffs on classic side dishes, inventive entrees, decadent desserts, and more! I hope you have fun going through them, and if one makes its way onto your Thanksgiving table, I hope it’s a hit. Happy Thanksgiving!
Classic Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
If you love traditional Thanksgiving side dishes, you’re in the right place! Below, you’ll find plant-based versions of classics like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy.
Sweet Potato Casserole A savory pecan topping covers a creamy layer of ginger-spiced sweet potatoes in this vegan riff on sweet potato casserole. You won’t miss the marshmallows one bit!
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes Jack might be the world’s #1 mashed potato lover. He grew up eating the kind that’s laden with sour cream, cream cheese, and butter, but when he tried these vegan mashed potatoes last fall, he was hooked. They have a wonderful creamy texture, and roasted garlic fills them with rich, nutty flavor.
Mushroom Gravy This easy vegan gravy will take your mashed potatoes to a whole new level! Even meat eaters will fall for its velvety texture and savory, umami flavor.
Cranberry Sauce Cranberry sauce is nearly always free of animal products, so it’s a great addition to any vegan Thanksgiving dinner. I sweeten mine naturally with maple syrup and add orange zest for bright depth of flavor. Trust me, you’ll never get the canned kind again!
Vegan Stuffing Mushrooms and kale add extra veggie power to this plant-based riff on my mom’s classic stuffing. It’s crisp on top, soft in the middle, and packed with savory flavor.
Butternut Squash Casserole This vegan stuffing doesn’t just taste good; it looks good too! Cubes of roasted butternut squash and pearl onions add bright pops of color to this delicious vegan Thanksgiving side dish.
Main Dish Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
These vegan Thanksgiving recipes are hearty, memorable, and delicious. Each one would be a show-stopping main course for a holiday feast.
Stuffed Acorn Squash Stuffed acorn squash is one of my go-to vegan Thanksgiving recipes. It’s satisfying and delicious, and it puts peak-season produce at the center of the plate. In this recipe, I pile the creamy squash with an aromatic tempeh and mushroom filling.
Cozy Vegan Mushroom & White Bean Potpie, page 141 of Love & Lemons Every Day Light, flaky pie crust surrounds a tangy mushroom, herb, and white bean filling. Who else wants seconds?
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta Pasta for Thanksgiving? Yes, please! Fresh sage and thyme fill this luscious vegan sauce with cozy autumn flavor. It’s so surprising and comforting that it’ll earn a permanent place on your Thanksgiving table.
Cauliflower Steaks with Lemon Salsa Verde, page 145 of Love & Lemons Every Day Here, I serve roasted cauliflower “steaks” over a bright puree that gets its creamy texture from – yep! – more cauliflower! Topped with a refreshing lemon salsa verde, it’s an elegant vegan Thanksgiving main dish.
Creamy Mushroom Polenta Good vegan Thanksgiving recipes don’t have to be complicated, and this one is here to prove it! The combination of sautéed mushrooms and creamy polenta is simple, but it’s still comforting and delicious.
Quinoa, Apple & Sage Stuffed Acorn Squash, page 191 of Love & Lemons Every Day This recipe shows off some of the season’s best produce: squash, kale, apples, and pomegranates. Cooked quinoa and hazelnuts round out the fresh filling, and an apple cider and sage dressing ties it all together.
Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells Roasted butternut squash and a creamy spinach “ricotta” fill these enticing vegan stuffed shells. This recipe has been a Love & Lemons fan favorite for years – try it to see why!
Vegetable Side Dishes
There’s a whole world of vegetable side dishes outside of green bean casserole. This Thanksgiving, pile your table with fall veggies like beets, squash, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes!
Roasted Delicata Squash I love spaghetti squash, acorn, and butternut, but if I had to choose a favorite winter squash, delicata would be it. Here, the sweet, creamy squash mixes with kale, apples, fresh herbs, and an apple cider vinaigrette. It’s a veritable explosion of fall flavor!
Roasted Beets Squeeze these simple roasted beets with fresh citrus juices to infuse them with bright flavor.
Creamed Spinach This lighter twist on classic creamed spinach features fresh spinach instead of frozen and coconut milk instead of heavy cream. It comes together in just 15 minutes, so it’s a quick and easy addition to a Thanksgiving feast.
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts Maple syrup and balsamic vinegar create a sweet and tangy glaze for crispy roasted Brussels sprouts.
Vegan Cauliflower Gratin, page 227 of Love & Lemons Every Day This gratin tastes decadent, but it’s lighter than you’d expect. Instead of cheese or heavy cream, the rich sauce gets it luscious texture from blended cauliflower and cashews.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes I love everything about this recipe – the cozy baked sweet potatoes, the refreshing broccoli filling – but without question, my favorite part is the sauce. Made from the scooped-out sweet potato flesh, rosemary, and lemon juice, it has an irresistible sweet and savory flavor.
Oven Roasted Potatoes Three reasons to make this recipe: 1. Crispy Skins. 2. Creamy Middles. and 3. An uh-MAZING lemon and rosemary dressing. What are you waiting for?!
Maple Roasted Acorn Squash Maple syrup and fresh sage infuse creamy roasted squash with cozy autumn flavor. It’s a simple, elegant vegan Thanksgiving side dish.
Vegan Thanksgiving Mashes
No potatoes? No problem. Add one of these inventive mashes to your vegan Thanksgiving menu instead!
Mashed Cauliflower This cloud-like mash is one of my favorite vegan Thanksgiving recipes. It’s delicious on its own, but I like it even more with vegan mushroom gravy on top.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes This super smooth and creamy mash is blissfully easy to make. Bake the sweet potatoes, pop them in the food processor with ginger, rosemary, and olive oil, and puree!
Parsnip Puree If you ask me, parsnips should be just as popular as broccoli or cauliflower! They add complex, nutty flavor to this ultra-creamy holiday mash.
Kale & Olive Oil Vegan Mashed Potatoes My kind of mashed potatoes! Sautéed kale and scallions add bright flecks of green to this rustic mash.
Salads
Balance out comforting vegan Thanksgiving recipes like stuffing and mashed potatoes with a refreshing salad! Here are a few of my favorites:
Pomegranate Rice Salad A spiced citrus dressing adds aromatic flavor to this festive pomegranate salad. For a heartier side dish, top it with a handful of crispy roasted chickpeas.
Apple Radish Slaw, page 11 of The Love & Lemons Cookbook This simple slaw will pep up any Thanksgiving menu! Seasoned with lime and cilantro, it’s not a traditional holiday side dish, but it still contrasts beautifully with classics like roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potato casserole.
Roasted Cauliflower Salad My favorite thing about this roasted cauliflower salad is how the tangy pickled red onions play off sweet dried apricots and briny olives. Tossed in a lemony tahini sauce, it’s a delicious way to brighten your Thanksgiving table.
Roasted Delicata Squash Kale Salad Fall in a bowl! I toss the sweet, creamy roasted squash with crispy chickpeas, farro, apples, pepitas, and kale. A sprinkle of dried cranberries and a drizzle of maple tahini dressing take the whole thing over the top.
Cozy Soups
When it’s cold outside, I’m constantly craving soup…even at Thanksgiving! These cozy, autumnal soups would be fantastic vegan Thanksgiving starters or side dishes.
Butternut Squash Soup It’s a classic for a reason! Sage, rosemary, and ginger add warm, earthy flavor to this delectable, easy vegan soup.
Wild Rice Soup This hearty wild rice soup gets its creamy texture from blended white beans, cashews, and miso paste. Chock-full of autumn veggies, it’s savory, comforting, and nourishing.
Pumpkin Soup Spice up your Thanksgiving table with this curried pumpkin soup! I like to make it with kabocha squash, but buttercup, red kuri, or even butternut squash would work well too.
Bread Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
Until Jack started baking, I never would have guessed that dinner rolls, focaccia, and crusty bread were easy to make at home. Turns out, they are, but shhh! Don’t tell. These recipes are sure to impress at a vegan Thanksgiving dinner.
Homemade Dinner Rolls Soft, fluffy, and flavorful, this vegan recipe for dinner rolls is just as tasty as one made with butter and eggs.
Rosemary Focaccia Bread Rosemary, olive oil, and roasted garlic fill this chewy bread with rich, savory flavor.
No Knead Bread This recipe will make any novice baker look like a pro! It’s a breeze to make, and it always yields a crusty, golden loaf with a perfect soft interior.
Jack’s Garlic Pretzel Knots, page 79 of Love & Lemons Every Day These cute little knots are a Thanksgiving-worthy version of good old soft pretzels. We brush them with a garlic-lemon oil to give them an extra layer of flavor.
Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts
Round out your vegan Thanksgiving feast with a little something sweet!
Apple Crumble It’s ten times easier than pie, but every bit as delicious! This recipe is our pick for our November Cooking Club. If you make it, send us a picture by the end of the month to enter a Visa gift card giveaway. Find the details here!
Apple Crumble Pie As Jack says, I have a soft spot for soft apples. To me, no vegan Thanksgiving is complete without a slice of this warmly spiced apple pie.
Pumpkin Pudding Toasted pecans replace the crust in these pumpkin pie-inspired pudding parfaits. Top them with coconut whipped cream for an adorable, decadent finish.
Creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Pudding I love pumpkin pie when other people make it, but if I’m the one doing the cooking, this easy pudding is my #1 pick. It’s sweet, rich, and perfectly spiced. Good luck not going back for seconds!
