Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

Dairy-Free Vegan Butternut Squash Soup — The Spruce / Bahareh Niati

While turkey might be the most iconic Thanksgiving dish, it's easy to build a satisfying holiday meal without the giant bird. Ingredients packed with protein like beans and tofu can be used to make flavorful mains like loaves, or try serving a show-stopping pot pie. When planning a Thanksgiving dinner, there's plenty of options whether you're vegan or want to make your vegan guests feel welcome.

We've made your meal planning easy with ideas, plus the tools and gadgets you need for every course. From delectable dishes like risotto and green bean casserole to memorable desserts like pumpkin pie, you'll find plenty of vegan Thanksgiving ideas and then some in this expansive menu.

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Pumpkin Hummus

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Adding pumpkin purée to hummus gives the dip an extra creamy texture and a lovely hue. This recipe begins by sautéing garlic and fresh sage before blending all of the ingredients together, adding a nice autumnal flavor.
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Herbed Vegan Mushroom Pate With Fresh Parsley

The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

For a more affordable and totally meat-free alternative to paté, use mushrooms, breadcrumbs, and garlic to make a savory paste. Mushroom paté is delicious spread on crackers or pieces of toast.
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White Bean Hummus Dip

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Gluten-free and vegan, this white bean dip also happens to be incredibly tasty. It takes just 20 minutes to make and can be prepared ahead of time, so it's ideal for a busy Thanksgiving meal. Serve with toasted pita, veggie sticks, or chips.
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Apple and Walnut Salad

The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

Light and flavorful, this fall salad takes just minutes to throw together while still being worthy of a holiday meal. Use a nice, crunchy apple and good-quality balsamic vinegar for the best experience.

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Gluten-Free Creamy Vegan Carrot Soup With Coconut

The Spruce

Turn a few simple ingredients into a creamy, festive orange soup in 30 minutes flat. Carrot soup can be made ahead of time and reheated for a quick and easy first course.
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Tossed Salad With Homemade Croutons

The Spruce

This classic tossed salad with crunchy homemade croutons is worthy of a fine dining restaurant. The croutons and dressing can be made ahead, saving you time for the main meal. Serve as a first course or side.
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Dairy-Free Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

The Spruce / Bahareh Niati

The natural sweetness of winter squash really shines in this vegan butternut squash soup. It's a lovely first course and prelude to the rest of your meal. Top with pumpkin seeds, croutons, or fresh herbs.
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Pomegranate Apple Salad With Poppy Seed Dressing

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Crisp apple and ruby red pomegranate seeds make this salad extra festive. Use a food processor or blender to make the naturally creamy poppy seed dressing—no dairy or eggs involved.

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Homemade Vegetarian Tofu Turkey With Stuffing

The Spruce

For a show-stopping vegan main course, plan ahead and make tofu turkey with stuffing. Be sure to press the tofu first and then drain the puréed mixture well before stuffing and baking.
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Vegan Pot Pie

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike will be reaching for more of this rustic pot pie. Made with seitan and mushrooms, it has a surprisingly meaty flavor and texture. Make your own vegan pie crust or save time by buying pre-made.
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Easy Vegan and Gluten-Free Lentil Loaf

The Spruce

While meatloaf isn't the most traditional for Thanksgiving, you won't see your guests complaining. This vegan take on the classic comfort food pairs perfectly with holiday sides like sweet potatoes, green beans, and Brussels sprouts.
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Vegan Quinoa-Stuffed Acorn Squash

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Brightly colored and naturally sweet winter squash is always a nice addition to a Thanksgiving meal. Whether served as a main dish or side, these stuffed acorn squash are sure to impress.

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Vegan Pumpkin Risotto

The Spruce

A creamy pumpkin risotto turns a meal into something really special. Made with arborio rice and pumpkin purée, there's no need to add cream or butter. Serve as a main dish or next-level side.
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Vegan Stuffing

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Vegan stuffing swaps the butter for olive oil and the eggs for ground flax, which helps bind the bready mixture together. It has all of the flavors of classic stuffing with the added health benefits of flax. Dry out the bread overnight to skip the toasting step.
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Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash, and Cranberries

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Enjoy the flavors of fall in one colorful side dish. Roasted butternut squash and Brussels sprouts are topped with dried cranberries and crunchy pecans for lots of sweet, savory, tart, and nutty flavors.
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Vegan Mashed Sweet Potatoes With Coconut Milk

belchonock / Getty Images

The natural sweetness of sweet potatoes marries nicely with creamy coconut milk in this easy mash. The recipe is ready in about 20 minutes and you can cover and keep it warm for several minutes if needed. No one will miss the marshmallows.

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Basic Vegan Gravy

The Spruce

Vegan gravy is even easier to whip up than standard gravy. Use a flavorful vegetable broth (preferably homemade) for the best results. Serve it warm for drizzling over stuffing, mashed potatoes, and more.

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Quick and Easy Vegan Biscuits

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

A carb overload is a Thanksgiving requirement. These light, fluffy vegan biscuits are the perfect accompaniment to a wide range of mains and side dishes, and no one will know they're dairy and egg-free.
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Vegan Green Bean Casserole

The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

Green bean casserole is usually made with canned cream of mushroom soup which, as the name suggests, contains dairy. This homemade vegan version is more sophisticated while still easy to make.
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Oven-Roasted Rosemary Thyme Potatoes

The Spruce / Teena Agnel

Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, roasted potatoes are a welcome addition to any meal. Make sure to spread them out in a single layer on the baking sheet so they brown evenly.

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Easy Vegan Caramelized Carrots

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Brown sugar and vegan butter make a sweet and savory sauce for crisp-tender carrots. This recipe uses baby carrots and sliced carrots for a lovely presentation. Sprinkle with fresh parsley as a finishing touch.
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Vegan Creamed Corn

The Spruce / Nita West

Creamed corn is always a family favorite, and this vegan recipe has all of the same flavors without a touch of dairy. Use fresh corn if you can find it, but frozen will work in a pinch.
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Raw Vegan Cauliflower Mashed "Potatoes"

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

For a side dish that will appeal to raw food fans and leave your stove free for other dishes, make raw cauliflower mash with parsnips and nutritional yeast. Include nama shoyu if you have it, a raw version of soy sauce.
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Gluten-Free Vegetarian Rice Stuffing

The Spruce

This gluten-free take on stuffing featuring mushrooms and almonds will satisfy a range of diets. Celery, vegetable broth, and poultry seasoning add the Thanksgiving flavors you want from stuffing.

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Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole

The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

Sweet potato casserole is a classic Thanksgiving dish, and this vegan recipe tastes just as good as the standard version. Topped with a brown sugar and pecan crumble topping, adults and kids alike will gobble it up.
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Roasted Brussels Sprouts

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Brussels sprouts are a classic Thanksgiving side, and arguably the easiest and best way to prepare them is by roasting. This recipe contains plenty of variations for adding extra flavor like garlic, sweet chili, and lemon.
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Vegan Creamed Spinach

The Spruce / Kelly Ryan

This vegan take on the usually dairy-laden side dish is just as flavorful and creamy as the original. A handy packet of onion soup mix makes vegan creamed spinach extra easy. You can swap Swiss chard for the spinach if desired.
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Dairy-Free Pretzel Rolls

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Pretzel rolls capture the texture and flavor of soft pretzels in the form of a dinner roll. They're easier to make than pretzels since you don't have to twist and shape them and kids will love the crusty, chewy bread.

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Rich and Creamy Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin

The Spruce

Nutritional yeast is a favorite ingredient among vegans for good reason—it tastes amazingly similar to Parmesan cheese. It makes a flavorful sauce for vegan potatoes au gratin, fulfilling your Thanksgiving potato requirement.
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Vegan and Vegetarian Miso Gravy

The Spruce / Sonia Bozzo

White miso adds a rich, savory flavor to this easy vegan gravy. Pour it on mashed potatoes, stuffing, tofu—anything that would benefit from a hit of umami. Use unsalted or low salt vegetable broth to keep the gravy from getting too salty.
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Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Made with a combination of silken tofu, canned pumpkin, and vegan cream cheese, this vegan pumpkin cheesecake will knock everyone's socks off. It's actually easier to make than regular cheesecake—just get it good and cold before slicing.
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Vegan Pumpkin Pie

The Spruce

Vegan pumpkin pie has the flavors and texture of classic pumpkin pie without any egg or dairy. Use your favorite vegan pie crust recipe, a store-bought crust, or make using a graham cracker or cookie crust.

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Vegan Whipped Cream

The Spruce / Danielle Moore

Full-fat coconut milk and a little powdered sugar are all you need to make vegan whipped cream. Chill the cans of coconut milk to make separating the cream and water easier. Serve alongside pie, cobbler, and more.
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Super Moist Vegan Carrot Cake

The Spruce

While pie is the most common choice for a Thanksgiving meal, sometimes only cake will do. This moist, fluffy, perfectly spiced vegan carrot cake is a crowd-pleaser. Top with vegan cream cheese frosting.
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Vegan Pumpkin Pudding

The Spruce

Quicker and easier than pie and great for making ahead of time, vegan pumpkin pudding still delivers all of the fall flavors you're looking for. It's also a great option for gluten-free guests.

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