Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones, express gratitude, and share a delicious meal with these easy vegan recipes for Thanksgiving. For those looking to host a vegan Thanksgiving with some easy vegan recipes, this blog post draws inspiration from two incredible vegan advocates: Ellen Kanner and Kate McElwee. Their thoughtful approaches to creating a plant-based feast prove that a vegan Thanksgiving can be every bit as festive and satisfying as a traditional one using easy vegan recipes. From flavorful sides to decadent desserts, here's a full menu of ideas to inspire your celebration.
Vegan Ingredient Collection for your Vegan Pantry
With my customized Vegan Ingredient Collection, I've got you covered for everything you need to create your Vegan Ingredient Pantry. Click here for the collection! And by the way, you'll also find a few great vegan holiday gift ideas in the collection.
Easy Vegan Recipes for Thanksgiving: Starters and Salads
Bright Winter Green Salad with Citrus and Fennel: Ellen suggests starting with a salad to balance the richness of the meal. Toss tender winter greens like kale or mustard greens with thinly shaved fennel, bright citrus segments (such as oranges or grapefruits), and a light vinaigrette. Add a pop of pomegranate seeds or persimmon slices for sweetness and visual appeal.
Easy Vegan Recipes for Thanksgiving: Main Dishes
Polenta Cake with Roasted Vegetables: Ellen’s showstopper dish layers rich polenta with sautéed umami-packed vegetables such as roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, and caramelized onions. Presented like a layer cake, it’s both hearty and visually stunning.
Cannellini Beans with Lemon, Garlic, and Capers: A simple yet elegant dish, this combines creamy cannellini beans with the bright flavors of lemon and capers. Serve alongside roasted cauliflower sprinkled with smoky pimentón for contrasting textures.
Have a question or want to leave your own tips and recommendations? Click here to leave a comment:
Leave a CommentEasy Vegan Recipes for Thanksgiving: Stuffing
Cornbread Dressing: Ellen’s family recipe is a four-generation treasure. Made with vegan cornbread and a medley of roasted vegetables like carrots, red peppers, celery, and onions, it’s vibrant and textured. Roasting the vegetables caramelizes their flavors, making this a crowd-pleaser.
Herbaceous Stuffing: Kate’s family swears by Alison Roman’s herb-forward stuffing recipe. Use crusty bread (like baguette or peasant bread) dried overnight, and pack it with fresh parsley, thyme, and sage. An egg substitute—aquafaba or a powdered egg replacement—helps bind the stuffing for a cohesive texture.
Two other recipes recommended by Kate are Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies and Melissa Clark's NYT Harvest Tart with Pumpkin and Peppers.
Easy Vegan Recipes for Thanksgiving: Side Dishes
Roasted Brussels Sprouts: Both Ellen and Kate insist that roasted Brussels sprouts deserve a spot on the table. Toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast until caramelized.
Creamy Mashed Potatoes: Vegan butter and milk substitutes like oat or soy milk ensure creamy, dreamy mashed potatoes. For extra decadence, try Ellen’s cashew cream: blend soaked cashews with water until smooth and season to taste.
Fresh Cranberry Sauce: Kate’s husband’s specialty is a fresh cranberry sauce. A simple combination of cranberries, sugar, and water, cooked until the berries burst, is the perfect tangy accompaniment.
Easy Vegan Recipes for Thanksgiving: Gravy
Mushroom Gravy with Marmite: Kate’s secret ingredient is Marmite, which adds a deep umami flavor. Combined with sautéed mushrooms, vegan butter, and a touch of flour, this gravy pairs beautifully with both the mashed potatoes and stuffing.
Easy Vegan Recipes for Thanksgiving: Desserts
Pumpkin-Sweet Potato Pie with Coconut Milk: Ellen’s twist on a classic pumpkin pie uses sweet potatoes for added richness and coconut milk for a creamy base. Spiced with warming flavors like cinnamon and nutmeg, it’s a crowd favorite.
Almond Cookies with Aquafaba: Ellen suggests using aquafaba, the liquid from canned chickpeas, as a vegan egg substitute to create chewy, melt-in-your-mouth almond cookies. These cookies, inspired by Italian amaretti, are gluten-free and utterly delicious.
Chocolate Orange Olive Oil Cake: For a sophisticated dessert, Ellen’s dark chocolate cake is flavored with orange zest and olive oil, offering a silky texture and luxurious flavor.
Drinks
Pomegranate Gimlet: Kate suggests a refreshing cocktail made with pomegranate juice, gin, and a splash of lime juice. It’s bright, tart, and perfect for the season.
Prosecco and Wine: Keep the beverages simple and festive with sparkling Prosecco and your favorite wines.
Tips for Hosting a Vegan Thanksgiving
- De-center the Bird: Both Ellen and Kate emphasize focusing on the abundance of side dishes and the joy of cooking together. A vegan Thanksgiving doesn’t need a turkey substitute.
- Celebrate Seasonal Flavors: Highlight the natural beauty of fall produce like squash, Brussels sprouts, cranberries, and persimmons.
- Plan Ahead: Many recipes, like pie crusts and stuffing, can be prepped in advance to reduce stress on Thanksgiving Day.
- Share the Recipes: Introduce your guests to the versatility and richness of plant-based cooking by sharing your favorite recipes.
This Thanksgiving, whether you’re a lifelong vegan or trying plant-based dishes for the first time, these recipes and tips will help you create a meal that’s vibrant, delicious, and memorable. As Ellen and Kate beautifully put it, “Differences in diet choices do not belong at the Thanksgiving table. This is a chance for us all to come together.”
Digging Deeper into Easy Vegan Recipes for Thanksgiving
Don't miss my Substack newsletter tomorrow featuring some extra-special easy vegan recipes for Thanksgiving - with ingredients and step-by-step instructions - that you can use this Thanksgiving!
In the meantime, take a look at some of my favorite easy vegan recipes for Thanksgiving to get you started right now on your menu planning!
Pioppino mushroom soup with peas - use a vegan bacon substitute for this recipe: See my vegan ingredient collection.
White beans, tomato, and rosemary soup
You might also want to take a look at the Vegan Atlas Substack writer.
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