If you’ve recently gone plant-based and wondering what you’ll eat this Thanksgiving, I’ve got the very BEST vegan Thanksgiving recipes for you! Whether you’re a vegan newbie or veteran, there’s something here for everyone!
This Plant Based Thanksgiving recipe collection was originally published in October 2019. It has been updated to include more recipes, additional content and photos.
Cooking for Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t have to be stressful. This list of delicious plant-based Thanksgiving recipes has everything you’ll need from soups, main dishes, sides, and of course, dessert.
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What do people eat for Thanksgiving?
Traditionally, a Thanksgiving lunch or dinner includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cornbread, gravy, cranberry sauce, PIE, and all things pumpkin!
And I’ve got GREAT news! I have plant-based recipes to replace ALL of these favourites! Woohoo!
What is vegan turkey?
Of course, turkey is not actually vegan. I know many disagree with calling plant-based foods their traditional non-vegan names.
I get it…but hear me out.
Think back to when you first started exploring plant-based foods. When you were trying to figure out what to eat and make.
I know I can’t be the only one who’s searched the web for “vegan chicken burgers“, “vegan meatballs” or “vegan orange chicken“.
Am I right?
So vegan turkey?
You’ve got plenty of store-bought options, often made from soy or wheat gluten and shaped like a roast.
BUT, if you’re looking for homemade (which is probably what led you here to the BEST vegan Thanksgiving recipes), you’ve come to the right place. 😉
What you’ll find here
- Plant-based recipes that are PERFECT for a vegan Thanksgiving.
- They’re all free from animal products.
- And many are also gluten-free and oil-free or include options to make them that way if needed.
Ready for this Thanksgiving feast?
Here we go!
Soups
Make sure you’ve got soup on the menu. A nice warm bowl of vegan soup makes the perfect appetizer, filled with autumn flavours. You’ll definitely want to add a few of these to your collection of vegan Thanksgiving recipes.
Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup
Loaded with all the flavours that SCREAM fall! This warming, nourishing bowl is not only delicious, but vibrant, velvety, and ready in just 30 minutes!
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Butternut Squash Soup
With both Instant Pot and stove top directions, this creamy soup is just what your collection of vegan Thanksgiving recipes needs. If you have an Instant Pot, it's a great way to keep the stress down in the kitchen while this soup cooks itself!
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Carrot Cauliflower Soup w/ Dill & Sage
Carrot and cauliflower make a luscious, creamy soup that's seasoned to perfection. A low calorie option that's ready in about 35 minutes. Instant Pot option available, too.
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Spiced Sweet Potato Soup
Delicious, creamy, and actually SPICY! This spiced sweet potato soup is filling and flavourful, incredibly warming, and perfect for your Thanksgiving dinner.
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Roasted Beet Soup w/ Dill [Oil Free]
Roasted beet soup is beautiful and inviting with its gorgeously vibrant red colour. It's naturally sweet with a little tang from lemon and dill. A perfectly creamy, and absolutely delicious and satisfying soup.
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Slow Cooker Vegetable Pot Pie Stew
For a low-calorie twist on pot pie, try small portions of this stew for your vegan Thanksgiving appetizer. The flavours are remniscent of pot pie, but without the puff pastry.
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Main Dishes
Now for the filling and satisfying main course. Who says it’s not Thanksgiving without turkey? These options are not only filling and satisfying, but flavourful, and delicious! Add these to your favourite vegan Thanksgiving recipes collection.
“Turkey” Roast with Mushrooms [Seitan]
Ultra meaty and filled with umami flavours thanks to mushrooms and miso paste for the ultimate roast that will have you and your guests salivating. It's simple to prepare (10 min prep) and makes a stunning center piece for all your special occasions.
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Seitan “Ham”
Meaty, tender, incredibly flavourful seitan ham topped with a smoky maple glaze!! Serve this stunning roast for the ultimate vegan Thanksgiving. It's omnivore approved and sure to please a crowd.
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Pumpkin Risotto
So creamy, so dreamy, so unbelievably tasty, and it comes together in your hands off Instant Pot (stove top instructions also available). You definitely want this pumpkin risotto in your vegan Thanksgiving recipes collection.
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Chickpea Meatloaf with Smoked Maple Glaze
Hearty, rich and undeniably satisfying, this chickpea meatloaf is perfect for your plant based Thanksgiving! Topped with a mouth watering smoky maple glaze that you'll want to drink from the bowl.
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Lentil Shepherd’s Pie [Oil Free]
Hearty lentils and veggies topped with fluffy, oil free mashed potatoes make a healthy, wholesome, yet absolutely comforting vegan shepherd's pie for your Thanksgiving dinner. This one is freezer-friendly too, so don't worry about leftovers!
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The BEST Vegan Lasagna
If you're Italian (as I am), you've probably had lasagna for Thanksgiving before! This one won't disappoint. Layers of tender noodles, grilled veggies, cashew ricotta cheese and a hearty walnut meat Bolognese sauce!
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Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese
Creamy, luscious, and secretly healthy mac and cheese is loaded with sweet potatoes for a nutrient-dense sauce. Perfect for your vegan Thanksgiving dinner or any autumn meal.
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Healthy Mushroom and Lentil Pie
A wholesome mushroom and lentil pie in a rich and full-bodied red wine mushroom gravy. Then it's topped with creamy mashed potatoes! This one is like Thanksgiving all in one dish!
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Holiday Roast by Seven Roses
An inexpensive holiday roast that smells so incredible, your guests will be running to the table! With just 15 minutes of prep, and just pop it in the oven, leaving you plenty of time for working on some delicious sides!
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Thanksgiving Sides + Vegan Gravy
Compliment your main dish with some of these incredible vegan thanksgiving recipes that make perfect accompaniments.
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes [NO Drain!]
Yes, you read that right! No draining required. Just toss everything into your Instant Pot, mash and serve! It doesn't get easier than this.
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Stove Top Stuffing
It's not Thanksgiving without stuffing, but if you don't have a roast to stuff, no problem! This EASY vegan stuffing comes together in about 30 minutes on your stove top, for the perfect side dish on Thanksgiving Day.
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Onion Gravy
Rich, full bodied, and bursting with flavour thanks to a ton of onions, red wine, and balsamic vinegar! This sauce is the PERFECT solution for a meatless gravy option, this Thanksgiving. No one will miss the meat.
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Oil Free Vegan Cornbread
Here's an oil free, but absolutely delicious vegan cornbread. It's very lightly sweetened (or add more sugar if you like sweeter cornbread) and has both white flour and whole wheat flour options! Your choice!
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Maple Garlic Air Fryer Baby Carrots
A delicious twist on honey garlic brings you these maple garlic baby carrots! They're flavourful, super simple to whip up and a perfect side dish for the holidays, or any day.
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Creamed Corn
This is a MUST-HAVE side dish for your plant based Thanksgiving! This creamed corn is truly the BEST version I've ever tasted. So rich and flavourful, using coconut milk to replace heavy cream. The flavour is completely addictive, but only 6 ingredients are needed!
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Air Fryer Carrots [Two Ways!]
Two ways to make them, sweet or spicy! Both are incredible, which one will you try? Carrots are a must on Thanksgiving, right? Don't miss these! In fact, try both!
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Miso Gravy [in 10 mins!]
A second gravy option for you, because can you ever have too many? It's salty, savoury, incredibly flavourful and on your table in 10 minutes or less. With just 6 ingredients, you can whip this up in a flash.
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Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
Perfectly tender noodles, every single time! Air fryer spaghetti squash is truly the BEST way to cook this big yellow vegetable. You'll never go back to the oven method again. No soggy noodles, just utter deliciousness.
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Cranberry Broccoli Salad w/ Poppy Seed Dressing
Bright, fun and delicious! This cranberry broccoli salad is crunchy, rich, a mix of sweet and tart and absolutely drool-worthy. Perfect for your Thanksgiving dinner.
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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Crisp on the outside and soft and tender in the middle. Make this sweet potato dish in TWO delicious flavours: spicy or sweet! A must have side dish in your collection of vegan thanksgiving recipes.
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Butternut Squash Mac + Cheese [Oil-Free]
This one may not be a classic Thanksgiving side dish, but it should be! This wholesome, flavourful, and delicious vegan butternut squash mac and cheese is incredible and will have all your picky eaters asking for more!
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Air Fryer Butternut Squash [Two Ways!]
Two ways to make them, savoury or sweet! Either way, you'll be very impressed with this roasted butternut squash you can make in your air fryer. Both versions are incredibly delicious and simple to prepare. A perfect addition to your vegan Thanksgiving side dishes.
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Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole by Running on Real Food
As far as sweet potato casseroles go, this one is actually wholesome! It uses whole food ingredients, like oats and pecans, and is sweetened without refined sugar. It's the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving.
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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples by Cadry’s Kitchen
A perfect side dish for Thanksgiving! These roasted brussels sprouts feature apples and caramelized onions with a delicious toasted pistachio topping.
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Healthy Green Bean Casserole by Hummusapien
A healthier vegan version of a classic that's the perfect addition to your vegan Thanksgiving recipes collection. Green beans, mushrooms, and cashew sauce are the stars of this winning dish.
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Air Fryer Acorn Squash
This air fryer acorn squash only requires 4 ingredients, but it's loaded with flavour and will not disappoint. So get this simple side dish on your menu for Thanksgiving or all autumn long.
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Dessert!
Now, what you’ve all been waiting for! Here are some of the best desserts that are perfect for a plant-based Thanksgiving. The perfect end, to a perfect meal. 😉
Whole Wheat Oil Free Pie Crust
A simple oil free pie crust that's vegan, nut free, and made using a mix of white and whole wheat flour (or whole wheat + almond flour) for a healthier dessert option! It's easy to make, and perfect for both sweet and savory pies!
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Healthier Vegan Pecan Pie [No Corn Syrup]
A healthier pecan pie that's incredibly delicious with no corn syrup and no refined sugar. It's rich, sweet, caramel-ly, loaded with pecans and the perfect holiday dessert. Plus, it's so easy to make! No need to blind bake the crust or precook the filling.
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Pumpkin Spice Hummus [Tastes Like Pumpkin Pie!]
If you love pumpkin spice and all things nice, you HAVE to try this pumpkin spice hummus. Serve it with veggies, pita, crackers or chips! Ready in 10 minutes!
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Rich, sweet and indulgent pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! They're secretly healthy, made using wholesome ingredients like oat flour and molasses, but so incredibly delicious, you'd never guess!
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Apple Bread
Moist, sweet and completely mouth watering apple bread with a gorgeous sweet cinnamon swirl. This one just screams fall and would be perfect on the dessert table this Thanksgiving.
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No Bake Peanut Butter Pie
A healthier peanut butter pie that will knock your socks off. It's rich and creamy, sweetened with maple syrup, and utterly delicious. You have to add this to your list of vegan Thanksgiving recipes and don't forget the extra peanut butter drizzle.
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Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
Soft and chewy cookies that are bursting with pumpkin spice flavour for a warming, delicious cookie that pairs perfectly with your coffee or tea. Just one bowl and about 20 minutes needed.
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Vegan Pumpkin Donuts
These pumpkin donuts are bursting with pumpkin-y flavour, spiced with cinnamon and so perfectly moist and delicious. Super easy to whip up with just 7 ingredients, 1 bowl and ready in 30 minutes.
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Strawberry Pie
An incredibly delicious no bake vegan strawberry pie made without Jell-O or oil and low in sugar, without sacrificing flavour! Strawberry isn't your typical Thanksgiving pie, but this one is so good, it's time to break tradition.
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Air Fryer Baked Apples
Sweet, soft, caramel-ly, air fryer baked apples! Tastes like apple pie, but in a fraction of the time. This one is like vegan apple pie, without the crust. So if a quick and easy dessert is what you're searching for, search no more!
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Pecan Butter Cookies
These pecan butter cookies are next level AMAZING. They're moist, buttery soft, a mix of salt and sweet, and so so good! You'll be amazed that these delicious treats are free from oil and butter, and still taste THIS great!
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Vegan Pumpkin Pie by My Quiet Kitchen
Perfectly spiced vegan pumpkin pie that's FREE from oil, wheat, soy, coconut, dairy, eggs, and refined sugar. This pie comes with all of the delicious nostalgia of fall and winter feasts but none of the saturated fat, cholesterol, or sugar crash!
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Pumpkin Nice Cream [Tastes like pumpkin pie!]
If it's warmer where you live, go for pumpkin nice cream! You're going to love this refreshing and delicious no churn dessert. It's naturally (and lightly) sweetened, perfectly creamy, and loaded with pumpkin spice flavour.
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Easy Pumpkin Spice Latte
To pair with all these beautiful vegan Thanksgiving dessert recipes, you'll want this super simple to make and utterly delicious pumpkin spice latte! Trust me, you need this!
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Hope you’ve found tons of new recipes to try that are absolutely perfect for a plant-based Thanksgiving. If Thanksgiving is still a ways away, then save these to your vegan Thanksgiving recipes collection for later!
If you tried this recipe, please let me know in the comments below. I always love hearing from you! Don't forget to Subscribe to This Healthy Kitchen to be among the first to get my new recipes! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube to see more delicious food.
Buon appetito
Rosa
Jim Craner, MD, MPH says
Superb plant-based Thanksgiving recipes! Thank you for compiling these with meticulous instructions and macronutrient values.
Rosa says
You’re most welcome, Jim!