Vegan Thanksgiving Guide

« LAST UPDATE: 3 November 2021 »

PUBLISHED: 19 November 2014

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 45 million turkeys are cooked and eaten in the U.S. at Thanksgiving – that’s one-sixth of all turkeys sold in the U.S. each year.

I’m out to change that.

This guide is everything you’ll need to plan, create, and enjoy a festive vegan holiday.

QUICK FACTS

» Category: Holiday Guides
» Minutes to Read: 15
» Recipes to Try: 150+

Vegan Thanksgiving Guide

PUBLISHED: 19 November 2014  »  LAST UPDATE: 3 November 2021

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 45 million turkeys are cooked and eaten in the U.S. at Thanksgiving – that’s one-sixth of all turkeys sold in the U.S. each year.

I’m out to change that.

This guide is everything you’ll need to plan, create, and enjoy a festive vegan holiday.

QUICK FACTS

» Category: Holiday Guides
» Minutes to Read: 15
» Recipes to Try: 150+

Shopping Guide

Here are a few fully-prepared vegan options to take center stage at holiday gatherings easily found at a health foods or natural foods market.

Tofurky Roast with mashed potatoes, green beans, and brussels sprouts / Source

Meat Alternatives for Thanksgiving

We live in the golden age of vegan products; no matter which foods are part of your family traditions, they can be created using plant-based alternatives.

Look for these vegan meat options in refrigerated sections of health food stores and well-stocked grocers.

Also, check the freezer section, sometimes the roasts are sold frozen.

Vegan Turkey Options

  • Gardein
    Turk’y Roast
    Savory Stuffed Turk’y
    Lightly Breaded Turk’y Cutlets

Do you make a vegan product that isn’t listed? Contact me.

Dairy-Free Milk

Refrigerated plant-based dairy section / Source

Dairy-Free Egg Nog

You’ll spot vegan eggnog brands in two places: alongside their dairy-based counterparts in the refrigerated section of the grocery stores, and in aseptic packaging with other shelf-stable milk.

Vegan Egg Nog Brands

  • Almond Breeze
    Nog (Almond Milk)
  • Silk
    Nog (Soy Milk)

Vegan Eggnog recipe from Figgy and Sprout / Source

Vegan Egg Nog Recipes

Finding vegan eggnog in stores is pretty easy these days, but making homemade versions can be immensely satisfying.

These recipes use spices, fruit, and nuts to create that familiar custard-like texture and authentic taste of traditional eggnog.

Here are recipes to try:

Do you make a vegan product that isn’t listed? Contact me.

Vegan Whipped Cream

If your family traditions are anything like mine, pumpkin pie always made an appearance on the Thanksgiving table. My mother would serve generous slices of our favorite pie with — and this is my favorite part — mounds and mounds of whipped cream. It was dessert, perfected.

In my family, we favored the whipped cream that came in those blue plastic tubs. Any chance I got, I would grab the biggest spoon possible and eat as many mouthfuls as I could. To this day whipped cream remains one of my favorite foods.

I stopped eating dairy-based whipped cream when I went vegan, and at that time there wasn’t a vegan version that had the same thick, luscious creaminess of my childhood favorite. That was, until now.

CocoWhip - Vegan Whipped Cream - Vegan Thanksgiving Guide - Your Daily Vegan

So Delicious Dairy-Free CocoWhip is everything that is right and good about whipped cream. It’s thick and creamy, so it reminds me of the dairy whipped cream of my childhood. And nope, I’m not even being paid to say that. I just love the stuff, and I think you will too. Look for it at health foods and natural grocers in the freezer section. You’ll defrost the whipped cream in your fridge for a few hours before you use it.

But even frozen — yeah I tried it — it is superb.

 

Holiday Cookbooks

Whether you’re looking for vegan recipes for a special occasion or for everyday cooking you can find what you’re looking for right here on Your Daily Vegan. There is an extensive library of vegan books from which to choose. 

And if you don’t find what you need there, check the library of vegan recipes.

Cookbooks Perfect for the Holiday

Are you the author of a vegan cookbook for the holidays that isn’t listed? Contact me.

 

Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

Whether you are a chef in the kitchen or you’ve never boiled water before, choosing the perfect holiday menu can be a challenge.

With three different full menus, this guide contains a vast selection of the very best vegan recipes special enough for any holiday table.

How to Plan a Vegan Thanksgiving Meal

This guide contains more than one hundred and fifty delicious recipes perfect for any vegan holiday table.

There are three full menus — vegan, gluten-free vegan, and raw vegan — each featuring recipes for appetizers, main dishes, sides, sauces & gravy, bread & rolls, and decadent desserts.

Browse, scroll, or select from the categories below to plan your meal.

 

Vegan Menu

These vegan recipes are perfect for holiday gatherings.

Spinach Artichoke Cups Recipe from Vegan Huggs - Vegan Thanksgiving Guide - Your Daily Vegan

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Cups / Photo: Vegan Huggs

Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers

Vegan Gravy Recipe from Yup, It's Vegan - Vegan Thanksgiving Recipe - Your Daily Vegan

Vegan Gravy / Photo: Yup, It’s Vegan

Vegan Thanksgiving Sauces & Gravies

A scone sitting on a piece of parchment paper with a tin of scones behind it and fresh rosemary and black pepper strewn about.

Tomato Rosemary & Black Pepper Scones / Photo: Your Daily Vegan

Vegan Thanksgiving Breads & Biscuits

Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe from My Darling Vegan - Vegan Thanksgiving Guide - Your Daily Vegan

Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake / Photo: My Darling Vegan

Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts

 

Gluten-Free Vegan Thanksgiving Menu

These recipes are suitable for vegans with intolerances or sensitivities to gluten (or anyone, really).

Grain-Free Everything Cracker Recipe from Fork and Beans - Vegan Thanksgiving Guide - Your Daily Vegan

Grain-Free Everything Crackers / Photo: Fork and Beans

Gluten-Free Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers

Lentil Meatloaf Muffins / Photo: Veggies Save the Day

Gluten-Free Vegan Thanksgiving Main Dishes

Cornbread Stuffing / Photo: Minimalist Baker

Gluten-Free Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Easy Vegan Gravy Recipe from Veggies Save The Day - Vegan Thanksgiving Guide - Your Daily Vegan

Easy Vegan Gravy / Photo: Veggies Save the Day

Gluten-Free Vegan Thanksgiving Sauces & Gravies

The Ultimate Vegan Thanksgiving Guide | Your Daily Vegan

Pumpkin Pie Parfaits / Photo: Minimalist Baker

Gluten-Free Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts

 

Raw Vegan Thanksgiving Menu

Theses recipes are suitable for vegans who follow a raw diet.

Raw Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes

The Ultimate Vegan Thanksgiving Guide | Your Daily Vegan

Cranberry Raspberry Relish / Photo: Fork & Beans

Raw Vegan Thanksgiving Sauces & Gravies

Raw Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts

 
The Ultimate Vegan Thanksgiving Guide - Your Daily Vegan

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I am committed to providing accurate information to the vegan community. Meticulously researched, the vegan topic explored in this guide contains the information available at the time of publishing.

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Reviews and updates happen when new material becomes available.

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Photo Credits

Product photos via manufacturers.
Recipe photos via recipe authors. Used with written permission.