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 is a vegan alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

by Gardein

Other protein-filled vegan options that could replace turkey in your vegan Thanksgiving table are tempeh, tofu and seitan.

What is a good substitute for turkey meat? ›

20 turkey alternatives for Thanksgiving, including duck and pork
  • Pork.
  • Ham.
  • Duck.
  • Chicken.
  • Beef.
  • Squash.
  • Mushroom.
  • Cauliflower.
Oct 30, 2022

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.

What is healthier than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Try it out on Thanksgiving by substituting tofu for your turkey. Tofu can be cooked in a variety of flavorful ways and comes with a ton of nutritional benefits including a lot of calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin B, and protein.

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."

What is celebrated instead of Thanksgiving? ›

The National Day of Mourning is an annual demonstration, held on the fourth Thursday in November, that aims to educate the public about Native Americans in the United States, notably the Wampanoag and other tribes of the Eastern United States; dispel myths surrounding the Thanksgiving story in the United States; and ...

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. I'm a nutritionist, and here are 4 of the best vegan turkey substitutes that also taste good.

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

Vegan turkey recipes
  1. Vegan Stuffed Seitan Roast. This stuffed seitan is the perfect replacement for a stuffed turkey joint this Christmas. ...
  2. Vegan Turkey Wellington With Walnut Gravy. ...
  3. Vegan Herb-Crumbed Whole Roasted Cauliflower. ...
  4. Leftover Vegetable Christmas Pie. ...
  5. Festive Vegan 'Turkey' Sandwich. ...
  6. Vegan Seitan Twizzlers.

What meat is healthier than turkey? ›

Beyond saturated fat, beef has a little more iron, zinc and selenium than does turkey. Turkey has slightly more potassium and phosphorus, and turkey and beef provide similar amounts of protein. The take-home message is that both turkey and beef can be part of a healthy diet.

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 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.

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