Complete Vegan Thanksgiving Menu with Recipes

Vegan Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Total Time: 48 minutes

This is the iconic game-day snack, made vegan. I've tried many vegan spinach dip recipes, and this one surpasses them all. It's creamy and flavorful, but it's also surprisingly healthy (at least compared to the dairy version). When I make it for guests and parties, the recipe is always requested by both vegans and omnivores. One pan of this is enough for a large group of guests.

Cranberry & Cashew Goat Cheese Crostini

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

This vegan appetizer option is a little fancier than the spinach dip, and it's also yummy! The cranberry sauce can be made ahead of time. When you're ready to serve it, all you need to do is slice and toast a baguette, and assemble the crostini! You can also double or triple the cranberry sauce recipe to serve with Thanksgiving dinner.

Vegan Jalapeño Poppers

Easy? No

Prep Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

These jalapeño poppers are not the frozen ones from the 90s! They're a grown-up version of the classic, with an absolutely delicious lemony cashew cream filling and panko-breaded crust. They do require quite a bit of work though, so I'd only recommend these if you have some time to spare. You could also prepare them in advance and keep them in the freezer until you're ready to serve them. Then let them thaw for 15-20 minutes before frying them.

Vegan Potato Skins

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes

These potato skins are another classic game-day appetizer, but they're super easy to make! You'll just need to have some free space in your oven for about an hour or so to bake the potatoes, but otherwise, they come together pretty quickly! This recipe uses store-bought shredded vegan cheddar, sun-dried tomatoes, and vegan sour cream for a delicious vegan version of the original.

Lentil and Vegetable Loaf

Easy? No

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

This may be one of the most complicated dishes on this menu, but it's the consensus favorite among my guests. With a great combination of lentils and vegetables, flavors like soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and vegan Worcestershire sauce, and a tender texture, everyone loves it.

Vegan Holiday Roast

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 43 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours, 33 minutes

A great option for those looking for a vegan meat replacement, this holiday roast from Vegan Huggs incorporates lots of herbs, mushrooms, and beans to create its unique flavor and meaty seitan texture. It also looks perfect sliced on your Thanksgiving dinner plate with some gravy and all the sides!

Roasted Acorn Squash with Cranberry-Apple Stuffing

Easy? No

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

I developed this recipe a few years ago, and I couldn't be happier with it! The vegan stuffing is rich and buttery, and the cranberry and apple flavors pair so well with the squash. This stuffing also tastes great without the cranberry and apple for a more classic stuffing. You can, of course, make the stuffing on its own, but I think these acorn squash halves make the perfect vegan "bowls" for a vegan stuffing!

Vegan Mushroom Wellington

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Although it looks complicated, this vegan mushroom Wellington from Oh My Veg! is actually super easy to make! It uses store-bought puff pastry to envelop a mix of mushrooms sautéed in herbs and butter, for a main dish that's both stunning and delicious. You can even make this one in advance to save time on Thanksgiving day.

Vegetable Lasagna with Tofu Ricotta

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Lasagna is great for Thanksgiving because pretty much everyone loves it. This version uses a delicious vegan ricotta made from tofu and marinara sauce with zucchini and carrots. For those who want a "meatier" taste, you can substitute lentils for the vegetables. You could even make half of the lasagna with lentils and the other half with vegetables so your guests can pick their favorite!

Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

This whole roasted cauliflower from Strength and Sunshine is a great choice for a gluten-free and low-carb vegan Thanksgiving main dish. It's flavored with a smokey Middle Eastern-inspired blend of spices that turns it from an ordinary head of cauliflower into a stunning centerpiece.

Vegan Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Mashed potatoes simply should not be both this good AND this easy to make. But these are! I love making these with Yukon gold potatoes because they have such a creamy texture and rich flavor. And a good vegan sour cream like Kite Hill, combined with fresh chives, adds the perfect amount of mild tartness. You will not regret making this comforting side dish.

Classic Vegan Stuffing

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

This recipe has all the rich, buttery flavor you love in a classic stuffing with fried celery and onions, a blend of herbs, and vegetable broth for the perfect tender texture. It's made simple, so you can enjoy it as-is, or customize it with your favorite add-ins.

Green Bean Casserole

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 58 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 18 minutes

Green bean casserole was never one of my favorite dishes until I made it as a vegan. The fresh ingredients make all the difference in this dish, in my opinion. Instead of canned green beans, this recipe uses fresh green beans. And instead of canned mushroom soup, this recipe uses a creamy sauce (made from cashews) with fresh mushrooms. It is an absolutely delicious version of one of the OG Thanksgiving classics!

Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans and Brown Sugar

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

A must-have at the Thanksgiving dinner table, vegan sweet potato casserole is one of the easiest dishes you can make. This version is perfectly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, then topped with a crunchy topping of brown sugar and pecans.

Apple Walnut Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

This salad is an easy and colorful addition to your Thanksgiving dinner table. But with candied walnuts, crisp apples, and tangy vegan feta, it's not just an ordinary salad. It's an array of vibrant fall flavors that will leave everyone asking for more.

Vegan Cornbread

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

This vegan cornbread is the perfect tender side to pair with all your Thanksgiving veggies and soups. And with just 10 minutes of prep time, it won't add stress to your busy day.

Carrot and Pumpkin Soup

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

This pumpkin soup is the ultimate comfort food for a chilly Thanksgiving night! It's full of flavor from fresh pumpkin, carrots, and ginger, and it's ultra-creamy, thanks to a delicious cashew cream.

Butternut Squash Casserole with Leeks, Kale, and Cashew Cheese

Easy? No

Prep Time: 50 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

This is far from an ordinary butternut squash casserole. I wondered whether I should even list it as a side dish since it could easily be served as a main course. This casserole is another one that's a little more complicated than most, but is absolutely worth it. Roasted butternut squash is mixed in with leeks, kale, and cashew goat cheese for a dish that's absolutely delightful. It's also a great balance for dishes that are heavy and starchy, like stuffing and mashed potatoes.

Vegan Mac and Cheese

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Using vegan cheese, vegan butter, vegan milk, and flour to create a creamy cheese sauce, this vegan side from Sunglow Kitchen satisfies your mac and cheese cravings. It's also nut-free and gluten-free (just make sure your vegan cheese, butter, and milk is too), so it's perfect for serving to guests with allergies.

Mashed Butternut Squash

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

This is one of my favorite butternut squash side dishes because it's so simple, delicious, and healthy! Forget peeling and cutting up the butternut squash, you can just cut it in half and roast it with this recipe.

Loaded Baked Potato

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 35 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

These loaded baked potatoes are worthy of any Thanksgiving feast! They're made with vegan cheddar, vegan sour cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and chives, for a cheesy, flavor-packed baked potato.

Vegan Cranberry Sauce

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Switching from canned cranberry sauce to homemade was a game-changer for my Thanksgiving dinners! This version from Ooh La La It's Vegan combines sweet and tart flavors using cranberries, orange juice, and warm spices like cinnamon. It's also sweetened with agave, so it has no refined sugar.

Vegan Mushroom Gravy

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Packed with umami flavor, this vegan mushroom gravy from Nuts and Twigs is delicious with a vegan roast, meatloaf, roasted veggies, or any potato side dish. It uses vegan roux to achieve its ultra-creamy texture, while mushrooms provide its savory flavor.

Vegan Apple Crisp

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Traditional apple crisp is actually nearly vegan. It just uses butter, which can be easily substituted with vegan butter. This recipe can also be made gluten-free with oat flour. I made eight versions of this apple crisp to make sure the topping had the perfect crunch and crumble. Serve it fresh out of the oven with a vegan vanilla ice cream like Oatly, So Delicious Wondermilk, or Revolution Gelato.

Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Total Time: 6 hours, 25 minutes

Can't decide between cheesecake and pumpkin pie for your Thanksgiving dessert this year? Why not have the best of both? This vegan pumpkin cheesecake is full of pumpkin flavor and pumpkin spice, and it has a cool and creamy texture that tastes just like the original.

Mini Vegan Pumpkin Pies with Frosted Cranberries

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Skip the slicing and serve each guest their own mini pumpkin pie with this vegan recipe from Well Vegan. Leaves made from leftover pie crust make this dessert even cuter, and frosted cranberries add a sour flavor that combines perfectly with the sweet pumpkin pies!

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Easy? No

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Cupcakes are always a good choice for big gatherings because they're so easy to serve. And these cupcakes happen to be particularly delicious, especially when paired with vegan cream cheese frosting.

Easy Key Lime Pie

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours

This vegan pie has all the authentic flavor of the Florida Keys, minus the dairy and eggs. Dress it up with some vegan whipped cream and lime zest for a perfect end to your holiday feast.

Vegan Vanilla Pudding

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This vanilla pudding is made with just 6 simple ingredients, but it's rich, creamy, and full of flavor. Finish it with some vegan whipped cream and berries for an easy but delicious Thanksgiving dessert!

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: n/a

Total Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes

Made with a chocolate cookie crust and a light and creamy peanut butter filling, this easy-to-make pie is the perfect ending to any Thanksgiving feast. Top it off with homemade vegan peanut butter cups for the ultimate holiday indulgence.

Vegan Pumpkin Muffins

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Whether you make them for breakfast or dessert, these vegan pumpkin muffins are a Thanksgiving must-have. They're the epitome of fall flavor in muffin form, with real pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and a sweet streusel topping.

Vegan Salted Chocolate Pecan Pie

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours

This vegan salted chocolate twist on a classic pecan pie is a rich and gooey treat that everyone is going to love. Even better, this vegan chocolate pecan pie from My Quiet Kitchen doesn't require refrigeration, so you can bring it to holiday gatherings without worrying about it melting along the way.

Rich and creamy hot chocolate

Easy? Yes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

This hot chocolate is made with Oatly, raw cacao powder, and dark chocolate baking bars for a rich, creamy flavor. Top with vegan marshmallows, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings for an extra-special treat.