By: Matt Frazier
A lot of things seem like a big deal before you’re vegetarian or vegan… and none bigger than the question of how to deal with your first vegan Thanksgiving.
“What do you do on Thanksgiving if you don’t eat meat?” is one of the more common questions people ask me. Almost as common is, “Do you have any advice for a first plant-based Thanksgiving?”, so I figured I’d write a post about how I handle this holiday that’s based so much on (traditionally not-even-close-to-vegan) food… with some tips and recipes to help you make your vegan Thanksgiving a success.
(And once you’re done here, check out our post full of vegan holiday recipes, too.)
Why Vegan Thanksgiving Isn’t So Hard
The reason Thanksgiving is easier than people expect, I think, is that while turkey is the main course, this is one meal where the focus is generally just as much (or more!) on the side dishes.
Pumpkin soup, casseroles, vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and even pumpkin pie all have easy vegan versions; you just need to look for the recipes.
And so what my wife and I have done for the past few years is simple: focus our Thanksgiving dinner on the sides.
We actually hosted Thanksgiving the first year we were vegetarian (not yet vegan). We made a bunch of delicious side dishes from Fine Cooking, substituting where necessary. We did have a turkey at the table, but if I remember correctly, we had a guest bring it for anyone who wanted it, instead of making it ourselves. (I’m the opposite of the type of vegetarian who would expect my non-vegetarian guests to skip turkey just because they’re my guests.)
So hosting Thanksgiving yourself is one way to make it easy. But for the past two years, we’ve gone to my wife’s sister’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, with last year being our first as vegans. Going somewhere else was harder than hosting it, of course, because we weren’t making all the dishes. But we’ve been lucky that our hostess has made us our own gravy, and made sure several other dishes were vegan so we could eat them.
Even with fewer choices than when we made everything ourselves, eating somewhere else hasn’t been hard. I recognize that not everyone has such a nice situation, with accepting relatives that make it easy and pleasant.But even in a tough situation where nobody is going to go out of their way to help you out, I still think you can make the best of it with just a little bit of effort.Here are some simple ways to do it.
A Few Tips for Making Your Vegan Thanksgiving a Delicious One
- If Thanksgiving for your family is an all-day affair, bring a dip that’s filling (like hummus, see recipe below) that you can snack on all day. Unlike everyone else, you’re not so worried about filling up on appetizers and ruining your dinner, especially if you won’t have much of a dinner to ruin!
- Many vegan, one-dish meals also make great sides (like this lentil, mushroom and root vegetable dish). If you’re only making one thing to bring for yourself, make it something hearty like this that can serve as your main course but that others will enjoy as a side.
- Go to a vegan restaurant or a vegan potluck for their Thanksgiving dinner. Often these are held on the night before Thanksgiving, so you can treat that as your big feast day and the next as a day to spend time with family and just fill up on what food you can. (We’re going to this one, at our favorite vegan restaurant in the world that happens to be right up the road. It’ll be our first Thanksgiving thing like this.)
- Field Roast (purveyors of the best fake meats around, in my opinion) makes a Celebration Roastthat I’ve eaten and enjoyed with no cause whatsoever for celebration. They even provide some Thanksgiving-style recipes for it! Also check out their Hazelnut Cranberry Roast en Croute — I’ve never had it (nor do I speak French) but it sure looks fancy.
- From Doug: “If going to someone else’s house for dinner (like family), be aggressive in either offering to provide recipes or cooking some of the dishes yourself. I find that most people just don’t know how to handle it, so they are happy to accept some help. “
- From Susan: “As a vegetarian whose in-laws are cattle ranchers, I’ve learned the most important thing during family gatherings is to always keep a sense of humor. Though we have our joking banter about how I ‘need to eat more beef!’ they ultimately respect my way of living because I respect theirs, too.I love my partner’s family – they’re wonderful, funny people, and when we get together, we’ve got ten million things to talk about besides vegetarianism and cattle ranching.I don’t care if we gather around a turkey and I’m “only” eating side dishes – I’m enjoying the company! The holidays are supposed to be a positive, fun time, not a time to try to ‘convert’ anyone or make people feel like a bad person because of what they choose (or not choose) to eat.”
- From my sister, Christine: “Remember all the great stuff that is naturally vegan and doesn’t need replacements — like baguettes and roasted garlic, cranberries, green beans, succotash, sour kraut, mushroom gravy, sweet potato casserole (marshmallows are gross on this anyway), butternut squash soup, apple crumble, and hot apple cider.”
- Don’t make a big deal about your diet differences on Thanksgiving, unless people are genuinely interested. I know some people are more vocal about their veganism than I am, and that’s cool, but I think Thanksgiving is one time when debating about food probably only entrenches both sides. Not to mention ruining the atmosphere and the point of the celebration.
- Finally, remember that the food isn’t the real point. One of the great things about vegan Thanksgiving is that it’s not quite as easy to eat so much that you’re disgustingly, uncomfortably stuffed and needing to immediately unbuckle your jeans and collapse into a food coma the instant the meal is over. Use the energy and attention you would have spent destroying your plate to instead be mindful and grateful that you have food on it, and that you have friends and family to share it with.
What do Vegans Eat for Thanksgiving?
As I said before, if you’re attending a big Thanksgiving dinner with a bunch of family, you can’t go wrong by focusing on the sides.
But if you’re hosting yourself? Well, the options are endless.
Whether you’re throwing together a lentil loaf or the stuff squash recipe below, you can design a vegan thanksgiving meal plan the entire family will love.
Below you’ll find some of my favorite recipes perfect for Thanksgiving, shared by a number of our friends at No Meat Athlete!
Vegan Thanksgiving Breakfast Recipes
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe
It’s no secret we’re a fan of the smoothie at No Meat Athlete, and this isn’t the first recipe I’ve used that calls for pumpkin puree.
Pumpkin adds an attractive creaminess and transforms your smoothie into something more like a milkshake than a tropical drink.
Complement Ambassador Sara Grandominico, who created this recipe, says it’s filling, delicious, and perfect for fall.
Plus, it’s super healthy with just 6 ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 serving Complement protein powder
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 2 cups unsweetened nondairy milk
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until totally smooth. Feel free to add a few dates or some date syrup if you’d like a bit more sweetness, pour into a jar, and enjoy immediately!
Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers
Pumpkin Hummus Recipe
By Christine Frazier
Ingredients:
- 2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 can pumpkin puree (or 2 cupshomemade pumpkin puree)
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- juice of 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons
Puree all ingredients in a food processor until uniform. Serve withflatbreadand fresh veggies.
Vegan Spinach Dip Recipe
By Angela Merchant & Jessica Gonzalez, from Ahimsa Vegan Eats
“For as long as we can remember, spinach dip has been a signature appetizer at every Thanksgiving we attended. It is comforting and creamy, fresh and crunchy. Plus, we love anything that gives us an excuse to eat tons of sourdough bread! The spinach dip we know and love is loaded with dairy sour cream and mayo, not to mention the seasoning packet riddled with chemicals, preservatives and MSG!
When we went looking for a vegan alternative we found plenty of hot spinach dips with artichokes and jalapeños, but that wasn’t what we wanted! We were sure that we would never get to experience the same delicious dip that we would congregate around. It was impossible for us to find a seasoning packet without all the nasty additives. BUT, with Thanksgiving right around the corner, we knew we had to be ready to celebrate. So check it out, this has now replaced spinach dip at all family functions and nobody even knows there is a difference. My dad (who cuts meat for a living, and a devout omni) will only eat this version now!”
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
- 1½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 tablespoon grated onion (1/4 small onion)
- 1 small carrot (grated)
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1 bag (6-8 ounces) fresh baby spinach, chopped
- 1 can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
- 4 green onions, chopped
- 1 cup vegan mayonnaise
- 2 cups vegan sour cream (instructions below)
- 1 3/4 cup raw cashews (not salted)
- 1 cup unsweetened, plain soy milk
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup refinedcoconut oil, melted
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 pinches of salt
Directions:
- Make sour cream by blending all sour cream ingredients together in a high-speed blender. Then place into a container and place in fridge. (This can be done up to 2 days ahead of time.)
- Combine all the other ingredients including the sour cream together.
- Refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to mix and the dip to thicken.
- Serve with a fresh sourdough bread and crunchy vegetables.
NOTE:To make your own sour cream it is essential to use a High-Speed blender such as a Vitamix or Blendtec. If you do not have one the end result will not be as smooth and silky, and may come out gritty. Try soaking your cashews for 6-8 hours to help a standard blender break them down.
No-Bake Pumpkin Spice ProteinEnergy Bites Recipe
These vegan no-bake pumpkin spice protein energy bites, also by Sara Grandominico are soft, chewy, and full of sweet and spiced flavors that are perfect for fall.
And as Sara says, they’re super easy to make and a great healthy snack or dessert to have on hand all week!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup Complement protein powder
- 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 8 pitted medjool dates
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 3/4 cup oil-free, unsweetened almond butter – other nut or seed butters should work, but it may change the flavor
Instructions
- Add the oats, protein and pumpkin spice to a food processor and blend until they’re totally ground up to flour consistency.
- Add the dates, pumpkin puree and almond butter and blend until everything is combined into a thick, sticky dough – it should take about 2-5 minutes.
- Use a tablespoon to portion out each energy bite, pressing it between your hands to form a sphere. Repeat until all the dough is gone – you’ll end up with about 18 bites total.
- Store the energy bites in the refrigerator or freezer (if you want them a bit more firm, just be sure to set them out a few minutes to thaw before enjoying).
Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
Below are two Thanksgiving-appropriate recipes from The No Meat Athlete Cookbook, which I co-wrote with Stepfanie Romine. While these aren’t traditional Thanksgiving recipes per se, the flavors definitely work for a modern, plant-based (and oil-free!) interpretation. You could consider them both sides, but the stew can definitely be a main course if you’d like it to be.
And by the way, in case you’re looking for a health-focused gift for yourself or a friend, I must sayThe No Meat Athlete Cookbookmakes a good one. Granted, I’m just a little bit biased … but lots of reviewers, and even many mainstream publications like Sports Illustrated and Outside Magazine, agree.
French Onion Stew with Mushrooms
Serves: 4 to 6
Time: 10 minutes prep, 1 hour 15 minutes to cook, not including time to cook beans or make Cashew Cream
Traditional French onion soup (soupe à l’oignon) employs a rich beef stock for depth; our plant-based version relies on two types of mushrooms and mushroom stock instead to provide meaty richness. We eliminate some of the hassle of caramelizing onions by letting the oven do the work. And we didn’t forget the best part: Cashew Cream is spread thick on sourdough toast, broiled, then floated on each bowl. Oui, oui!
Ingredients
- 3 large yellow onions, sliced
- One 10-ounce (283 g) package cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
- 4 cups (960 ml) mushroom stock
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves stripped from stems and chopped fine
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
- ¼ cup (60 ml) red wine, such as Cabernet or Zinfandel
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- 3 cups (530 g) cooked cannellini beans or (690 g) cooked adzuki beans
- 1 ounce (30 g) dried mushrooms, broken into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- Salt
- ½ cup (80 g) Cashew Cream (page 236)
- 4 slices sourdough bread (GF: 4 slices gluten-free bread)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Combine the onions, cremini mushrooms, 1 cup of the stock, thyme, rosemary, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a large Dutch oven. Cover and cook in the oven for 1 hour, stirring and scraping down the sides of the pot every 20 minutes and adding the wine after 40 minutes.
- Transfer the pot to the stovetop and place over medium-high heat. Preheat the broiler.
- Carefully stir in the arrowroot powder, then add the beans, dried mushrooms, water, and remaining 3 cups stock. Bring to a low boil. Cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Divide the cashew cream evenly among the slices of bread. Broil until the bread is toasted and the cashew cream is golden brown. Place a slice of bread atop individual bowls of stew and serve.
[Note: I like to stir in a splash of white wine vinegar during the last few minutes of cooking, or at the table, with this one.]
Tahini Green Beans
Serves: 2 to 4
Time: 15 minutes
This recipe quickly entered regular rotation for everyone who tested it; the tahini and sesame seeds make green beans incredibly enticing with very little effort. If you are a dipper, serve the sauce on the side and eat the green beans like fries. This technique also works with steamed or roasted broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, or beets.
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) green beans, washed and trimmed
- 2 tablespoons gluten-free tahini
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 teaspoon toasted black or white sesame seeds, optional
Instructions
- Steam the beans in a medium saucepan fitted with a steamer insert (or by adding ¼ cup/60 ml water to a covered saucepan) over medium-high heat. Drain, reserving the cooking water.
- Mix the tahini, garlic, lemon zest and juice, and salt and pep- per to taste. Use the reserved cooking water to thin the sauce as desired.
- Toss the green beans with the sauce and serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish with the sesame seeds, if using.
Vegan Thanksgiving Main Dish Recipes
Cheryl’s Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe
By Cheryl Pannone
“Every thanksgiving we all make a dish to bring to a family members house. Sense I am the only vegan in our family this can be a challenge for holidays. I have to come up with something that we all could enjoy that was delicious and flavorful since my family is always a little hesitant to try foods that are vegan (why is that anyway?) I needed to make a wow dish! I made this recipe last year as a delicious addition to Thanksgiving dinner. They were a hit and I plan on making them again this year maybe a different version, perhaps with quinoa and tomatoes or other veggies.”
Ingredients
- 2 acorn squashes, halved lengthwise and seeded
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (optional)
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 cup chickpeas (or other white bean)
- Dash of sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tsp chopped fresh sage
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ cup chopped celery
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup wild rice
- 1½ cups vegetable stock (homemade if possible)
- ½ cup pecans, toasted and chopped
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F
- Cut squash and scrap out the seeds and then place the squash, cut side down, on a baking sheet with either parchment paper or lightly oiled. Then cover with foil and roast for 40 to 45 minutes, until its tender. Test it with a fork.
- Heat the oil a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions first and season with salt and pepper, and cook until soft and clear for a couple of minutes.
- Then, add the garlic and seasoning except the fresh parsley and cook for about 30 seconds to mix in all the flavors. Then add the vegetable stock and uncooked rice, bring to a boil then, reduce heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the rice has absorbed all of the liquid. Remove from the heat and stir in the pecans, parsley, cranberries, maple syrup, orange zest, and orange juice. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Spoon the rice mixture into each acorn squash and place back on the baking sheet. Sprinkle some vegan bread crumbs on top with a squeeze of lemon and vegan cheese as an option. Bake for another 10 minutes just enough to heat through. If you like a crunchy top, set oven on broil until toasted – make sure to keep an eye on it!
Vegan Thanksgiving Sauces
A good sauce can turn an ordinary dish into something extraordinary. It can elevate each bite into a flavor-packed delight.
And on Thanksgiving, that’s especially true. Most of the dishes on our extended family’s dinner table are easily modified to be plant-based, but without the gravy, the meal can seem incomplete, and even a little dry.
I asked The No Meat Athlete Cookbookco-author Stepfanie Romine for help with some really knockout vegan thanksgiving sauces, and as usual, Stepfanie delivered:
I usually whip up a standard vegan gravy, but this year I’ve decided to lighten things up a bit and created two new plant-based sauces for our big feast.
They’re both oil-free, nut-free and gluten-free, and they’re less salty than vegan gravy. And don’t tell your kids, but as a bonus I even decided to sneak in a serving of vegetables for flavor and added nutrition.
These two sauces are super simple to make (and are both reheatable), so even if you’re planning a long ride or run before Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll love this quick addition to the meal.
Dijon Butternut Squash Sauce
Sneaking vegetables into vegan “cheese” sauces is nothing new, but they’re usually paired with cashews or oil for richness.
Here, I took another route. Dijon mustard is one of my favorite savory ingredients to use in fall and winter — as I find its tangy pungency cuts through the sweetness of the root vegetables that are so prevalent this time of year.
The mustard is the star of this silky smooth sauce, along with nutritional yeast for depth and “cheesiness” and almond milk for creaminess. Pour this over simple grains like quinoa or brown rice; toss with whole-grain pasta for veggie-heavy spin on a mac and “cheese”; or use in place of gravy on top of mashed potatoes.
Serves: 6-8 (about 3 cups)
Total time: 45 mins
Ingredients
- 1 small butternut squash, sliced in half and seeds removed, to yield about 2 cups roasted squash
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/2 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
- 1/2 teaspoon reduced-sodium tamari
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone liners.
- Place the squash cut side down on the prepared baking sheet.
- Roast for 30 minutes, or until tender.
- Set aside for 10 minutes, or until cool enough to handle.
- Scoop out the flesh and discard the skins.
- Transfer to a blender along with the remaining ingredients. Puree until completely smooth.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
- Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to five days.
Slow-Cooked Balsamic Onions and Mushrooms
Standard gravy is deep and savory, rich in umami.
With this simple slow-cooker dish, I sought that same satisfying mouth feel, with less salt and more heft. I found it with this hybrid sauce and side dish, which was inspired by the vegan Amy’s Roasted Vegetable Pizza. The mushrooms and balsamic onions are the best part, and I always think about how tasty they would be in other dishes.
Since this dish is made in the slow cooker, it’s perfect for Thanksgiving or other special occasions where space on the stove or in the oven is limited. As long as your slow cooker has a timer, you can ignore this dish until it’s ready, and if you want to cut even more time, use a food processor to slice the onions and mushrooms and opt for jarred minced garlic.
This dish is so good that I usually have a batch in my freezer, ready for quick pizza nights or a flavor boost on simple greens and grains. It’s also delicious when stuffed inside phyllo shells with a dollop of cashew cream or cheese, for a quick appetizer.
Note: Since the balsamic vinegar is such an integral part of this recipe, you want to choose the best quality possible. Opt for a balsamic that’s thick and syrupy (I like Napa Valley Naturals) without any sugars or thickeners.
Serves: 6-8 (about 3 cups cooked)
Total time: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced into rings or half-moons
- 1 pint cremini or white button mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon reduced-sodium tamari
- 1/2 teaspoon arrowroot powder (optional)
Directions
- Set a slow cooker to high heat. Place the onions and mushrooms in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Mix the remaining ingredients together in a small bowl. Pour evenly over the onions and mushrooms and toss to thoroughly coat.
- Slow cook for 4 hours, until the onions and mushrooms are soft and dark.
- Turn off the heat, and sprinkle the arrowroot evenly on top. Stir in the arrowroot, and let the onions and mushrooms sit for 10 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
- Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to five days.
Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts
Vegan Sweet Potato Waffles Recipe
By Jason Bahamundi
We’ve long known Jason Bahamundi, who blogs at Cook Train Eat Race, is a little obsessed with his waffle maker. He’s made almost every food in waffle form, from polenta to carrot cake, and they all turn out delicious. These unique sweet potato waffles are no exception.
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
- 2/3 cup pancake mix of your choice
- 2/3 cup water
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Maple syrup, vegan whipped cream and/or ice cream
- Fresh sage — chiffonade
Directions
- Chop sweet potato into chunks and then place into a bowl and cover with water.
- Microwave sweet potato for 5 minutes or until tender.
- While sweet potato is in microwave combine all ingredients into a separate bowl and combine well.
- When sweet potato is ready use potato masher to create smashed sweet potato.
- Combine with other ingredients.
- Following your manufacturer’s directions pour 1-2 tablespoons per waffle and cook until crunchy on the outside and creamy smooth on the inside.
- Plate and then pour pure warm maple syrup over the top with extra dried cranberries and walnuts.
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Bread Recipe
This recipe comes from Matt’s sister Christine who transformed an already vegan pumpkin bread recipe into one fit for the plant-based athlete.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 1/2 cups turbinado sugar
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 2 cups fresh pumpkin puree
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp each cinnamon, fresh nutmeg, and ground ginger
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- Sprinkles of oats and sugar for garnish
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine flaxseed and water and stir until thickened.
- Add flax mixture to a large bowl with sugar, applesauce, oil, and pumpkin.
- In a seperate medium bowl, stir together the dry ingredients: flour, spices, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the wet.
- Fold in the walnuts.
- Lightly grease two loaf pans.
- Divide into two regular 8 inch loaf pans or four mini loaf pans.
- For an extra touch, sprinkle on some oats or turbinado to garnish.
- Bake the large loaves for about 55 minutes and the smaller loaves for about 40 minutes.
- Let sit for 20 minutes before removing from pan.
Have a happy, healthy Thanksgiving
I published this post a few weeks ahead of Thanksgiving so you have time to use it. I’ve heard a lot of stories (likeWendy’s!) of people who use an over-indulgence on Thanksgiving as their motivation to start eating better or even go vegetarian or vegan. While that’s great, my hope is that a few people might skip the overindulgence this year, and go right to the healthy part. 🙂
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Very good information for newbies. I, too, like to host TG. I get the turkey from Popeyes and everything else is vegan. Folks never notice, especially if you have enough alcohol….
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Thanks for the shout out, Matt!!! If anyone reading this is hosting a mixed crowd like me, don’t stress!!! I love preparing Thanksgiving for everyone and really found no difficulty in offering vegan options. I chose not to tell some of the other guests that the mashed potatoes had soy milk and that the hazelnut butter for the brussel sprouts was Earth Balance and no one even noticed the difference! There are lots of delicious options out there and it’s fun to be creative with the menu. You’re right, the meal should transcend the food and it’s really all about being together and being thankful for what you have.
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Thanks Matt for the tips, they’re great. Too bad you missed posting them in time for the Canadian Thanksgiving. I’ll keep them handy for Christmas and next Thanksgiving.
A loyal fan!
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Ohsheglows.com has a fantastic vegan menu already to go – I’ve used it the last few years and everyone, meat-eaters included, has loved the dishes.
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Thank you, Matt! Some helpful ideas here for recipes and I’ve already shared it with my friends and family. They always freak out about the turkey thing, which I don’t really understand because I never liked turkey to begin with and often would take a tiny bit just to be polite. I’ve always been a side dishes eater – favorites include green beans and the standard pepperidge farm bread crumb (i.e. vegan already) stuffing options. I’d say the only slightly more difficult dish is Pumpkin Pie – I’ve got to try some better dairy-free options this year. I used coconut milk for one before and the pie never set. It tasted fine as a pumpkin pie creme but was kind of a disappointment overall.
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Awesome reminder and encouragement, Matt! I just got a little teary-eyed when reading about how the point of it all is to be grateful for the food that is on our plate and the company with which we are enjoying it – absolutely true. Thanks!!
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Great advice Matt! I needed a few more vegan recipes for this year and the hummus looks perfect. Thanks for showing others how going vegan isn’t a death sentence for Thanksgiving. Love the post!
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Great tips, Matt—I’ve been a vegetarian since I was a kid, but no one else in my family is, so I’ve had to be creative with my own Thanksgiving meals.
I’ve done the whole Tofurky thing, but I honestly just prefer tons of veggies, sweet potatoes, LOTS of pumpkin and maybe a little tofu side dish. Easy & delicious!
Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
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My first Thanksgiving as a vegan is quickly approaching, eek! I am thankful for this article as it confirms my original plan of vegan-izing all my traditional sides. I host Thanksgiving and will be making a turkey for the omnivores but the sides and pies will all be vegan!
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Hi Matt,
This was my first Thanksgiving as a vegan. My whole family looked at me like I was an alien. In less than 12 months I’ve lost and kept off 15 pounds, I sleep better, and my hair grows faster.
Yeah, that last part is kind of weird, but true!
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Phew. As my first Thanksgiving as a Vegan approaches, I have been a little bit anxious about spending the whole day at family’s house for an occasion based on eating. My fear was having to grill everyone about their dishes and making people uncomfortable or all about me which is the last thing I want to do. Thanks for reminding me of the real reason for the holiday. The tips are very useful, I’m going to bring a substantial side dish and a pie and I am now officially done worrying about it. Phew again. Thanks!!!
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Great post! Finally, a place to know more about Vegan recipes! I’ve been looking for some vegan Thanksgiving recipes but had no idea where to look. Thank you so much for providing this information. Also, is there a Vegan Thanksgiving Ebook that is available for purchase? Would love to make a whole Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner with family & Friends.
Much appreciated 😀
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Thank you Matt!! Love your site!
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Isa Chandra Moskowitz just published a new cookbook called “Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook – Entertainimg for Absolutely Every Occasion.” If you’ve ever tried recipes from her other cookbooks or her great website, you will know how great she is. I just checked it out from the library, and it looks wonderful.
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what do u do when u aplague of insects start eating ure plants
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Most of these recipes call for nuts. My son is allergic to nuts are there any substitutions?
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Can you please dispense with you life story. I don’t care. Next time just give the recipe.
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Hi! Great recipes! How do you use the beans in the stuffed squash recipe? I don’t see them mentioned in the instructions? But it looks like a great dish I’d like to try!
Thanks! Happy no-harm, home veg covid-safeThanksgiving!
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cannot wait to have my family for a vegan thanksgiving!
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