The Ultimate Vegan Thanksgiving Menu: 30+ Recipes to Wow Your Guests

Planning a Thanksgiving menu can be stressful, and making it entirely plant-based can feel like a whole new level of challenge. How do you create a feast that satisfies lifelong vegans, impresses skeptical relatives, and still feels like classic, comforting Thanksgiving?

I get it. For years, I’ve been perfecting recipes to answer that exact question.

The secret isn’t about finding bland substitutes; it’s about celebrating the incredible, rich flavors of plant-based ingredients to create dishes that are genuinely delicious in their own right. This guide is your complete playbook for a stunning and stress-free vegan Thanksgiving.

We’ll explore over 30 recipes for every course, provide sample menus to eliminate guesswork, and walk through a game plan to make your day in the kitchen smooth and joyful.

Need a Little Inspiration? Try These Curated Menu Ideas

Decision fatigue is real, especially when planning a holiday menu. To make things easier, here are a few curated menus designed for different styles and guest preferences.

Mix and match as you please!

The Classic Comfort Menu (For the Traditionalists)

This menu focuses on nostalgic flavors that will taste familiar and satisfying to everyone at the table.

• Appetizer: The Best & Easiest Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Main: The Best Vegan Meatloaf with Vegan Gravy
• Sides: Perfect Vegan Mashed Potatoes, The Best Vegan Stuffing, Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Dessert: The Only Vegan Pumpkin Pie You’ll Ever Need

The “Wow, I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan” Menu

Designed to impress even the most skeptical guests with rich, complex flavors and textures.

• Appetizer: Vegan Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
• Main: One-Pot Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon over Mashed Potatoes
• Sides: Vegan Scalloped Potatoes, Festive Kale Salad with Pecan Parmesan
• Dessert: Double Layer Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

The Quick & Easy Menu (Ready in Under an Hour)

For when you want a fantastic meal without spending the entire day in the kitchen.

First Impressions: Crowd-Pleasing Vegan Appetizers

Start the celebration off right with appetizers that are easy to prepare and designed for grazing. Many of these can be made a day ahead to save you time on Thanksgiving day.

Festive Vegan Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball

This is the perfect holiday centerpiece for your appetizer spread. It’s incredibly simple to make with only a few ingredients, yet looks and tastes gourmet.

The sweetness of cranberries and the crunch of pecans are a classic combination.

The Best & Easiest Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

Who doesn’t love a hot, creamy, cheesy dip?

This crowd-pleasing version uses a cashew cream base to achieve its signature texture. Serve it bubbling hot from the oven with tortilla chips, crackers, or bread for dipping.

Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

Warm, velvety, and full of autumn flavor, this soup is a light and elegant way to begin the meal. It’s quick to make and can be kept warm on the stove until you’re ready to serve.

A swirl of coconut cream on top makes it extra special.

5-Minute Oh-So-Creamy Hummus

When you need a reliable, fast, and delicious option, classic hummus is the answer. This classic dip is a staple in many healthy eating patterns, including the Mediterranean diet.

Using just a few simple ingredients, you can whip this up in minutes. Serve it in a beautiful bowl drizzled with olive oil and a sprinkle of paprika.

The Main Event: Hearty Plant-Based Centerpieces

Every great feast needs a centerpiece. These main dishes are hearty, savory, and satisfying enough to take the spotlight on any Thanksgiving table.

They are packed with flavor and texture that will leave everyone feeling full and happy.

The Best Vegan Meatloaf

This isn’t your average meatloaf.

Made with a savory blend of lentils, vegetables, and oats, it has a wonderfully “meaty” texture and rich flavor. Topped with a tangy glaze or smothered in gravy, it’s a true comfort food champion.

One-Pot Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon

For a touch of elegance, this rich and savory stew is a fantastic choice. Hearty mushrooms, carrots, and onions are simmered in a red wine sauce until tender.

It’s incredibly flavorful and pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes. As a bonus, cooking it in one pot simplifies cleanup.

Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

The ultimate cozy meal. This dish features a savory filling of lentils and mixed vegetables in a rich gravy, all topped with a fluffy cloud of creamy mashed potatoes baked until golden brown.

It’s a complete meal in one dish.

Layered Vegan Lasagna

A guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

This lasagna is built with layers of a savory red lentil marinara, fresh spinach, and a creamy tofu-cashew ricotta that mimics the classic cheese filling perfectly. It’s an excellent make-ahead option.

Unforgettable Sides (The Real Stars of the Show)

Let’s be honest—Thanksgiving is all about the sides! From creamy potatoes to savory stuffing, these are the dishes that truly make the meal feel like a feast.

Here are the must-have classics, all made without any animal products.

Perfect Vegan Mashed Potatoes

You can’t have Thanksgiving without them.

The key to creamy, fluffy vegan mashed potatoes is using a good quality plant-based butter and unsweetened almond or soy milk. They are simple, classic, and absolutely essential.

Research from the University of Copenhagen highlights how specific starches in potatoes break down during cooking to create that desired creamy texture.

The Best Vegan Stuffing

This stuffing recipe delivers everything you love: golden, crispy edges and a soft, flavorful, herb-filled center that isn’t the least bit mushy.

It’s buttery, savory, and packed with traditional Thanksgiving flavor.

Vegan Scalloped Potatoes

For an ultra-creamy, cheesy, and garlicky potato dish, look no further.

Thinly sliced potatoes are baked in a rich cashew cream sauce until tender and bubbly. It’s a decadent side that often steals the show.

The Best Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Learn the secret to Brussels sprouts that are perfectly crisp and caramelized on the outside while remaining tender on the inside. A little olive oil, salt, and balsamic glaze is all you need to transform this humble vegetable.

5-Minute Vegan Gravy

No Thanksgiving plate is complete without a generous ladle of gravy. This ridiculously easy recipe comes together in minutes and has a rich, savory flavor that’s perfect for pouring over everything.

Sweet Endings: Delicious Vegan Desserts

End your holiday meal on a sweet note with these incredible vegan desserts. Whether you’re a fan of classic pumpkin pie or rich chocolate treats, there’s something here to satisfy every sweet tooth.

The Only Vegan Pumpkin Pie You’ll Ever Need

This is the classic for a reason. This pie features a silky, perfectly spiced pumpkin filling made with coconut milk for richness, all nestled in a flaky, buttery crust.

It’s surprisingly easy to make and tastes just like the original.

Double Layer Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

Why choose between pumpkin pie and cheesecake?

This dessert gives you both. It has a spicy gingersnap crust, a layer of plain cheesecake, and a layer of pumpkin cheesecake, creating a show-stopping dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. For another festive treat, try these easy vegan pumpkin cake bars.

Perfect Vegan Apple Pie

A timeless classic. With a flaky, buttery homemade pie crust and a tender, cinnamon-sweet apple filling, this is the only apple pie recipe you’ll ever need.

Serve it warm with a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream.

1-Bowl Vegan Apple Crisp

If you want the flavors of apple pie with half the effort, an apple crisp is the perfect solution.

Tender, sweetened apples are topped with a buttery, crispy oat mixture. It’s rustic, comforting, and best served warm from the oven.

What About Festive Drinks?

Don’t forget the festive beverages! Offering a special drink makes the meal feel more complete and celebratory.

• Warm Spiced Apple Cider: Simply simmer apple cider on the stove with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and a star anise. It will make your whole house smell like autumn.
• Cranberry Ginger Sparkler: For a non-alcoholic bubbly drink, mix sparkling water or ginger ale with a splash of cranberry juice. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary for a festive look.
• Vegan Hot Chocolate: If you’re celebrating in a colder climate, a rich and creamy hot chocolate made with oat milk and high-quality cocoa powder is a cozy treat for all ages.

Your Stress-Free Thanksgiving Game Plan

The key to a relaxed Thanksgiving is a solid game plan. A little organization goes a long way.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests that planning meals ahead of time is a cornerstone of healthy and stress-free eating, a principle that is especially true for big holidays.

Two Days Before: The Big Shop & Pie Crusts

• Do all your grocery shopping.
• Make your pie crusts. Both the apple and pumpkin pie crusts can be made, shaped in their pans, and stored covered in the refrigerator.
• Make the cranberry sauce.

One Day Before: Prep, Prep, Prep!

This is your most important prep day.

• Make Desserts: The pumpkin pie, cheesecake, and apple crisp can all be fully made a day in advance.
• Make Appetizers: The cheese ball and spinach dip can be fully assembled. Store the dip in its baking dish, covered, in the fridge.
• Chop Your Veggies: Chop all the onions, celery, carrots, and other vegetables for your main dishes and sides. Store them in airtight containers.
• Assemble Casseroles: You can fully assemble dishes like the lasagna or scalloped potatoes. Cover them tightly and refrigerate, then add 15-20 minutes to the baking time tomorrow.

Thanksgiving Day: Cooking & Timing

• Morning: Assemble the stuffing and get your main dish (like the meatloaf or lentil loaf) ready for the oven.
• Mid-Day: Begin baking your main dish and any sides that require a long cook time. This is also a good time to make the mashed potatoes; they can be kept warm on the stove or in a slow cooker.
• One Hour Before Serving: Bake any casseroles that were assembled yesterday. Reheat anything that was made ahead. Make the 5-minute gravy right before serving.
• Last 15 Minutes: Warm the dinner rolls, toss the salad with dressing, and put out the appetizers for guests to enjoy while you do the final plating.

Your Vegan Thanksgiving Questions Answered

Have a few lingering questions? Here are answers to some of the most common queries about hosting a plant-based Thanksgiving.

What can I serve as a vegan substitute for turkey?

Instead of trying to imitate turkey, focus on a hearty and delicious centerpiece that stands on its own.

Dishes like Vegan Lentil Loaf, Mushroom Bourguignon, or a savory Shepherd’s Pie are fantastic, flavor-packed options that provide that satisfying “centerpiece” feel.

How do I handle guests who are skeptical of vegan food?

Don’t make a big deal out of it! The best approach is to simply serve delicious food.

When they rave about how creamy the potatoes are or how rich the meatloaf is, you can mention afterward that the entire meal was plant-based. The food will speak for itself.

Can I ask my non-vegan guests to bring a dish?

Absolutely.

This can be a great way to share the load. To avoid any issues, it’s helpful to give some gentle guidance.

You could say, “We’re doing a fully plant-based Thanksgiving this year.” Providing a specific, easy category makes it less intimidating.

What are the best make-ahead vegan Thanksgiving dishes?

Desserts like pies and cheesecakes are almost always better the next day.

Dips and cheese balls are perfect to make ahead. Casseroles like lasagna can be fully assembled the day before and baked right before dinner.

Doing so is a key strategy for time management in the kitchen, as noted by culinary professionals.

Conclusion

There you have it—a complete guide to creating a vegan Thanksgiving that is abundant, delicious, and full of love. Remember, the goal is to share a beautiful meal with people you care about.

These recipes are designed to be crowd-pleasers that just happen to be plant-based. Choose a few that excite you, plan ahead using the game plan, and most importantly, enjoy the process.

Wishing you a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving from my kitchen to yours!