Making your vegan thanksgiving dinner easy and stress free with this full menu and premade shopping list! Get all my tips and step by step plan for hosting with ease.
The holidays can be overwhelming, but hosting a dinner can be easy if you are organized. This thanksgiving menu will give you all you need!
This post was originally published on November 20, 2017.
While this vegan thanksgiving menu is specific with what to serve, I also have a whole list of other thanksgiving dinner options, so feel free to swap things out!
Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner
Hosting a vegan Thanksgiving is a lot easier than you think! And to prove it, this vegan menu will have your guests eating until they need to roll themselves out the door from full belly satisfaction.
This list of some of my favorites is the perfect way to try out hosting your own vegan thanksgiving. I am also giving some substitutions in case you can't have an ingredient in one of these. However, if you do choose to make one of the alternatives, don't forget to change the shopping list!
In order to get the most of this vegan Thanksgiving dinner menu you must follow the directions. I have included tips and tricks and things I did to make this easier so that planning, cooking and delivering an out of this world vegan Thanksgiving dinner happens in your house this year.
Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers
It's a great idea to have at least one snack for guests to munch on while the main feast is prepared. However, you don't want to go overboard and fill everyone up too early!
If you don't like carrots, or want another type of vegan appetizer, try one of these:
Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Is it bold of me to say the side dishes are everyone's favorite part of a Thanksgiving meal? Maybe, but the sides are so easy to make vegan, all kinds of eaters will get their fill.
Here are some other sides we love, all just as delicious as the ones above:
- Vegan Caesar Salad
- Vegan Mashed Potatoes
- Vegan Gluten-Free Gravy
- Quinoa Stuffing
- Peas with Scallions and Dill
- Healthy Cranberry Sauce
- Vegan Green Bean Casserole
- Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole
- Creamy Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
Vegan Thanksgiving Main Dishes
Skip the tofurkey, unless it's your favorite thing ever, and find a main dish everyone can get into. I love using this pasta as a vegan main dish because it goes so well with all the other flavors.
Here are some other main course ideas if you don't want pasta (but why though? LOL):
- Greek Stuffed Tomatoes and Peppers
- Baked Lima Beans
- Vegan Vegetable Lasagna
- Zucchini Ravioli
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Vegan Moussaka
- Vegan Meatloaf
Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts
You can't have a Thanksgiving dinner without pie! This menu stays traditional with pumpkin pie (don't forget the Vegan Whipped Cream!), but don't be afraid to serve more options too!
I have so many great desserts for Thanksgiving, I don't even know where to start! Here are the top readers favorites:
- Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
- Baked Apple Crisp
- Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts
- Layered Pumpkin Dessert
- Apple Pecan Pie in a Jar
- Pumpkin Caramel Pie in a Jar
- Cranberry Crumble Oatmeal Bars
- Traditional Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
- Vegan Gluten-Free Apple Pie
Tips and Tricks to Prepare a Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner
In order to get a whole meal ready with success, you need to prep and be organized. So I am giving you all my tips and tricks to get these recipes ready and out to your guests in the least stressful way possible.
Don't forget if you use an alternative suggestion, you will need to adjust the shopping list and prep work.
Multiple Days in Advance
- Write out the full menu and all the ingredients you need for each recipe.
- Inventory your kitchen to see how much you already have, you don't want to end up with too many extras. You also don't want to realize you don't have quite enough of something you thought you were good on too late.
- Make sure you have the right kitchen supplies, for example the correct size casserole dish, enough serving bowls, etc.
- It helps to get out all of your baking and serving dishes and put little notes in each one so you know what goes where.
- Shop as early as possible, no one likes a hectic store filled with last minute stressed out shoppers.
- Set the table the day before (or even a couple days in advance!) if you are able to. One less thing to worry about!
Day before Thanksgiving (you can also break this up into two days):
- Make hummus.
- While you are chopping the veggies for the hummus, chop the veggies for the stuffing and slice the cauliflower for the Scalloped Cauliflower.
- Cut bread into pieces for stuffing and set it on the counter to dry out.
- Make vegan Parmesan. Store in freezer.
- Make Lemon Thyme Sauce.
- Make crispy topping for both the cauliflower and pasta bake. Store in a glass container on the counter.
- Make pie. Cool completely then cover with foil and store on the counter.
Thanksgiving morning:
- Finish the stuffing.
- Make the Smoky Maple Carrots.
- Make the Scalloped Cauliflower. Reuse the dirty blender to make the cheese sauce for the pasta.
- Make the pasta bake.
- Have a glass of wine and enjoy!
Common Questions
The better question might be, what do vegans NOT eat on Thanksgiving day? Between appetizers, sides, main dishes, and dessert, there's not much room to miss the turkey. Plus, there are so many excellent ways to adjust traditional recipes to accommodate the plant based lifestyle. You'd be hard pressed to not find dishes that don't please the masses on this list.
Much of your Thanksgiving dinner can be made ahead of time, or at the very least partially prepared. Appetizers like hummus can be made completely in advance, as well as sauces, toppings, and desserts. Veggies can be cleaned and cut the day or two beforehand, and bread can be cut and dried out for stuffing.
You feed them. You will always have people that question your food choices. But I have NEVER had anyone leave my house hungry, even the most skeptical people.
So see below for my complete shopping list, that includes all the instructions on when and how to prepare everything so that you don't end up throwing the pie against the wall in frustration (there really are better ways to let off steam than wasting pie).
Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner Menu (With Shopping List)
Equipment
Ingredients
Produce:
- 1 head cauliflower
- 4 medium/large potatoes
- 33 large orange carrots
- 2 medium yellow carrots (you can use all orange carrots or sub 5 baby carrots for the yellow but your cheese sauce won't be white)
- 2 stalks celery
- ⅓ of a medium yellow pepper
- 2 tablespoons shallots , chopped
- 1 small sweet onion
- 1 medium sweet onion
- 19 teaspoons lemon juice (6 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon)
- 16 cloves fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley , chopped (Italian, flat leaf)
- 6 tablespoons fresh thyme
Canned Goods:
- 1 can cooked white beans (great northern)
- 2 cans cooked chickpeas
- 1 can pumpkin puree (15 ounces)
Baking and Spices:
- 3 ¾ tablespoons sea salt
- 3 teaspoons crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 ¾ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 3 ¼ teaspoons ground mustard seed
- 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon fennel seed
- 3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 cup coconut sugar (plus optional ¼ cup for coco whip if making your own)
- 9 tablespoons maple syrup (½ cup plus 1 tablespoon)
Condiments
- 3 cups veggie broth , low sodium if needed
- 5 ¾ teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 ½ teaspoons distilled white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons chickpea miso (see notes in pasta recipe on omitting)
Nuts & Seeds:
- 4 cups raw cashews
- ½ cup raw almonds
- 5 tablespoons pine nuts (can sub with walnuts)
- 11 tablespoons hemp seeds (½ cup plus 3 tablespoons)
Breads & Grains:
- 6 pieces dense dinner rolls/bagels/buns (gluten free if needed, I use Ozery Bakery One Buns)
- 10 tablespoons breadcrumbs (gluten free if needed, or 5 slices toasted bread to make your own)
- 24 ounces your favorite pasta (gluten free if needed, not spaghetti style)
- You favorite crackers for hummus appetizer (gluten free if needed)
- 1 vegan pie crust , gluten-free if needed (or you can make your own but make sure to add those ingredients as they are not included)
(Non) Dairy:
- 1 cup unsweetened cashew or almond milk
Optional:
- 6 tablespoons olive oil (to saute if using oil, plus for hummus)
- 4 tablespoons chopped roasted red pepper (optional garnish for hummus)
- ¼ cup white wine (for stuffing)
- 2 cans full fat coconut milk ( for coco whip if making your own)
- Store bought coco whip if not making your own , or vanilla ice cream
Instructions
Day before Thanksgiving (you can also break this up into two days):
- Make hummus. While you are chopping the veggies for the hummus, chop the veggies for the stuffing and slice the cauliflower for the Scalloped Cauliflower.
- Cut bread into pieces for stuffing and set it on the counter to dry out.
- Make vegan Parmesan. Store in freezer.
- Make Lemon Thyme Sauce.
- Make crispy topping for both the cauliflower and pasta bake. Store in a glass container on the counter.
- Make pie. Cool completely then cover with foil and store on the counter.
Thanksgiving morning:
- Finish the stuffing.
- Make the Smoky Maple Carrots.
- Make the Scalloped Cauliflower. Reuse the dirty blender to make the cheese sauce for the pasta.
- Make the pasta bake.
- Have a glass of wine and enjoy!
Notes
- You can adjust this for however many guests you have.
- Nutrition info is calculated using general items and will change based on the brand and type of each item you use. It also includes everyone eating everything you serve.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Emily Kemp
I'm eyeing up that pumpkin pie and it's only March haha these all look absolutely delicious!
veggiesdontbite
Haha! Anytime is good for pie!
Brumby
I wish people wouldn't rate a recipe before they make it, it is misleading! Yes it all looks delicious but you can leave a comment without a rating! 🙂
veggiesdontbite
While I appreciate your insight I feel like others are able to do what they please in regards to comments and ratings. There really is not rule as to what the rating indicates and perhaps for some it indicates what they think of it and the draw overall. I appreciate all of my readers and comments (as long as they are respectful that is).
Alyssa Shibata
I plan on doing this for Christmas dinner! So excited. I can't find anywhere how many people this meal plan serves. I'm having 10 people over on Christmas. Do I need to double down on ingredients?
veggiesdontbite
Hi Alyssa! Yes, so sorry I am in the process of converting all my recipes to a new plugin that offers so much more, but unfortunately some of the info did not transfer correctly. Thanks so much for leaving me a note, I went through this post and fixed it for you! Please let me know if you see mistakes in any of the other recipes and I will fix them!
Sarah Newman
I love this spread, and how helpful that you've combined the shopping list and notes on prep! I've got my eye on that scalloped cauliflower and baked macaroni for xmas now - looks like an amazing combo!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Sarah!! Yes, I make many of these for Christmas too!