18 Vegan Recipes for a Terrific Turkey-Free Thanksgiving (2024)

Whether you follow a vegan diet year-round or took on Beyonce's challenge this month, let this collection of 20 plant-based recipes be your guide for planning an outstanding Thanksgiving meal. Featuring both hearty main courses and indulgent desserts, even your meat-eating guests will fawn over your feast. Even better: Each recipe can be whipped up with ease by well-seasoned and newly minted vegan chefs alike!

MAINS

18 Vegan Recipes for a Terrific Turkey-Free Thanksgiving (1)

Slow-Cooker Marsala Veggie Grain Bowl

Make things easy on yourself by turning to a slow-cooker recipe this Thanksgiving. This grain-bowl is warm, nourishing, and will keep you full throughout all the tofurkey-day festivities. (via Brit + Co)

18 Vegan Recipes for a Terrific Turkey-Free Thanksgiving (2)

One-Pot Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili Recipe

It doesn't get much more comforting and warming than chili. Serve up the vegan version with this hearty and delicious sweet potato and black bean concoction. (via Brit + Co)

Herbed Seitan Vol-Au-Vents

Don't be put off by the fancy name. Instead, think of these beauts as elegant pot pies baked in flaky puff pastry shells. (via May I Have That Recipe)

Maple Hazelnut-Crusted Tempeh Cutlets

A maple-syrup-laced sweet and savory sauce infuses tempeh with a ton of flavor before it's coated in a crispy hazelnut crust. Talk about a terrific turkey alternative. (via Keepin' It Kind)

Stuffed Thanksgiving Burger

These homemade veggie burgers have Thanksgiving written all over them, but they may very well end up in your year-round dinner rotation. (via The Post Punk Kitchen)

Nutty Curry Stuffed Squash

Vegans and omnivores alike will enjoy these spiced, personal-sized squash. Packed with an assortment of filling grains and nuts, they're a superb holiday centerpiece. (via Robin Asbell)

Baked Pumpkin Ravioli With Rubbed Sage Cream

Totally-from-scratch ravioli enrobed in an herbal cashew cream is definitely worthy of this year's Thanksgiving table. (via Olives for Dinner)

Kale-Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Loaded baked potatoes may be a more casual main dish option, but the kale, quinoa and sliced almonds offer a certain amount of elegance to this oh-so-tasty sweet potato. (via Spinach for Breakfast)

Lentil Shepherd's Pie With Parsnip and Potato Mash

Relieve your day-of holiday workload by breaking the prep for this casserole over a couple days. A word to the wise: You may want to double the parsnip-potato mash to be safe — it has a tendency to attract spoons… (via Food52)

DESSERTS

18 Vegan Recipes for a Terrific Turkey-Free Thanksgiving (3)

Vegan Apple Nice-Cream

All the flavors of fall are showcased in this insanely delicious and easy-to-make vegan ice cream creation. Bonus: You only need FOUR ingredients to whip up this decadent dairy-free dessert. (via Brit + Co)

18 Vegan Recipes for a Terrific Turkey-Free Thanksgiving (4)

Apple Pie Tacos

You are *not* going to be able to stop at just one of these completely vegan-friendly dessert tacos. Bonus points for emblazoning "PIE" on the side of each shell. (via Brit + Co)

Cranberry Chocolate Breakfast Cake

We love that this cake can be enjoyed for both breakfast and dessert. (via The Pancake Princess)

Raw Pumpkin Cheesecake

Oven space is often in short supply during the holiday season, so it's especially nice having a few no-bake desserts to fall back on. This cheesecake gets its luscious texture from cashews and a plume of whipped coconut cream on top. (via The Cake Merchant)

Apple Oat Crumble

Enjoy this crumble as a quick and easy alternative to pie. Simply swap out the apples with pears for a whole new experience. (via A House in the Hills)

Coffee Roasted Pumpkin Seed Snack Clusters

Serve up these clusters as a sweet, caffeinated treat at the end of your feast. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Mini Pumpkin Pies (Gluten-Free)

After a large meal, just a touch of dessert is all you need. These bite-sized pies fit the bill perfectly. (via The Colorful Kitchen)

Pumpkin Panna Cotta

It's hard to believe that this silky panna cotta is gelatin- and dairy-free. A sprinkle of pumpkin seed brittle on top lends an awesome textural contrast along with an extra boost of flavor. (via Lands and Flavors)

Are you planning to cook any vegan Thanksgiving recipes this holiday season? A whole feast's worth or just a few? Let us know @BritandCo!

This article has been updated.

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Heather Sage

Heather Sage is a gluten-free recipe developer and freelance writer living in Orlando by way of the Silicon Valley. When she isn’t playing around with alternative flours in the kitchen, she can be found tackling DIY projects around the house or exploring her neighborhood. Check out her gluten-free recipe blog, A Sage Amalgam.

18 Vegan Recipes for a Terrific Turkey-Free Thanksgiving (2024)

FAQs

What to eat for Thanksgiving if you don't like turkey? ›

Whatever the reason, here are 20 Thanksgiving recipes for a turkey-free table.
  • Roast Chicken With Maple Butter and Rosemary. Image. ...
  • Beef Wellington. Image. ...
  • Ombré Gratin. Image. ...
  • Skillet Pork Chops and Apples With Miso Caramel. Image. ...
  • Samosa Pie. Image. ...
  • Maple-Baked Salmon. Image. ...
  • Lasagna. Image. ...
  • Ina Garten's Make-Ahead Coquilles St.
Nov 10, 2022

How to be vegetarian on Thanksgiving? ›

Get the Whole Roasted Cabbage recipe.
  1. Stuffed Butternut Squash. PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE. ...
  2. Polenta With Wild Mushroom Ragú ...
  3. Pumpkin Sage Gnocchi. ...
  4. Sweet Potato Gratin. ...
  5. Mashed Potato Casserole. ...
  6. Parmesan Roasted Green Beans. ...
  7. Easy Cranberry Stuffing. ...
  8. Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Carrots.
Oct 5, 2023

What can replace turkey for a meat? ›

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. Our roast chicken with sourdough stuffing, pomegranate roast chicken, and cranberry stuffed cornish game hen bring a festive Thanksgiving vibe to the table.

Is there a vegetarian version of turkey? ›

The best vegan turkey roast is finally here. This seitan tofu roast tastes just like turkey, with crispy skin and all! This vegan turkey makes the perfect centerpiece for a delicious holiday meal. It's surprisingly easy to make, and most of it can be made ahead of time, so it's a great stress-free option.

Do vegans eat turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

And no, vegans do not eat chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, or even cheese, though they are often asked. But keeping a vegan happy on Thanksgiving is not difficult. Plenty of traditional dishes are (almost) vegan anyway, and the oven is on for baking special treats.

What is a silent vegetarian? ›

Many caterers offer a “silent” vegetarian option which is just part of the package and yet goes unadvertised on your menu (those people that want it would just need to ask for it) so you might want to ask your caterer!

What is the most unpopular Thanksgiving food? ›

The Most Disliked Traditional Thanksgiving Foods
  • Ham — 25.57%
  • Coleslaw — 25.57%
  • Pumpkin Pie — 24.28%
  • Mashed Potatoes — 18.66%
  • Macaroni and Cheese — 17.47%
  • Carrots — 16.98%
  • Apple Pie — 16.29%
  • Corn — 15.50%
Nov 21, 2023

What is your least favorite Thanksgiving dish? ›

Among the many side dishes enjoyed by Americans during Thanksgiving, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, homemade rolls, cranberry sauce, roasted vegetables, sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole made the list of least-liked side dishes.

What else tastes like turkey? ›

Rotisserie or roasted chicken

If you want to stay in the bird family, a good fallback is chicken. From both a nutritional and textural standpoint, it's an excellent sub for turkey. That's to say that it tastes like turkey—and any foodie or chef will tell you the differences between the two is astronomical.

Can you have ham instead of turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

But turkey has some competition on some Thanksgiving tables by another crowd-pleasing main that's big enough to feed a crowd: ham. There are obviously no rules about what to eat on Thanksgiving – there's only tradition, and for some families, that tradition eschews turkey in favor of ham.

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