Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes
Savor a plant-based feast—and avoid feeling like you’re missing a thing—with this hearty, harvest-season Thanksgiving menu.
Appetizer: White Bean Arugula Crostini Main Dish: Mushroom-Sweet Potato Moussaka Side Dish: Thai Peanut Squash Soup Side Dish: Cinnamon-Spiced Brussels Sprouts Side Dish: Artisan Sourdough Dessert: Poached Pears with Vegan Ice Cream Drink: Pomegranate Cider Sangria
See photos and learn more about each of these vegan Thanksgiving recipes below.
Appetizer: White Bean Arugula Crostini
Ahh, crostini. It’s crowd-pleasing, customizable, and a cinch to make for a date night or a large gathering. Many versions naturally fit a vegan diet, too. Welcome guests with a platter of these surprisingly satisfying toasts, which score a protein boost from beans. Sweet-tart sun-dried tomatoes, peppery arugula, and earthy fresh parsley turn up the flavor volume—no cheese required. Get the recipe: White Bean Arugula Crostini
Entrée: Mushroom-Sweet Potato Moussaka
Think of this Thanksgiving casserole like the plant-based cousin of one of the best classic comfort foods: shepherd’s pie. While eggplant- or potato-based moussaka is also big in Egypt and parts of the Middle East, it has become to the Greeks what lasagna is for Italians—a go-to cozy casserole. Author Mark Bittman swaps in mushrooms for the traditional lamb in his take on moussaka, then tops things off with a perfect-for-Thanksgiving sweet potato mash. Get the recipe: Mushroom-Sweet Potato Moussaka
Soup Side Dish: Thai Peanut Squash Soup
Now that the sweet potatoes are covered, what other traditional Thanksgiving elements are we missing on this vegan Thanksgiving menu? Squash, of course! Use cubed pumpkin, butternut squash, or anything marked “cubed winter squash” in the freezer section as the base for this silky coconut milk soup. Red curry paste ($3, Target), fresh ginger, and a small scoop of peanut butter lend loads of warming Thai flavors. Serve with sriracha sauce and chopped fresh cilantro so guests can top as desired. Get the recipe: Thai Peanut Squash Soup
Vegetable Side Dish: Cinnamon-Spiced Brussels Sprouts
Green beans or Brussels sprouts (or both!) are essential on any Thanksgiving spread. This unique salad is an ideal complement to the other warmly spiced recipes on our vegan Thanksgiving menu. (In case you missed it, cinnamon also stars in the entrée, and will make an appearance in our Thanksgiving drink pairing.) Ready in just 15 minutes, this lemon juice-dressed Brussels sprouts recipe will act as a refreshing, crunchy counterpoint to the creamier, heartier main dish and sides. Get the recipe: Cinnamon-Spiced Brussels Sprouts
Bread Side Dish: Artisan Sourdough
Although sourdough starter bubbles, evolves, and acts like it’s alive, it’s actually just wild yeast from the air, flour, and water. We put some of that starter to scrumptious use in this chewy Artisan Sourdough. The flavor is delightfully nutty thanks to a scoop of whole wheat flour in the mix. Admittedly, this bread recipe is a labor of love. But it is a holiday, after all, and you can certainly make this a day or two in advance to cut down on Thanksgiving Day stress. Get the recipe: Artisan Sourdough
Dessert: Poached Pears with Vegan Ice Cream
Even if other guests are scooping up slices of Thanksgiving pie, we bet they’ll be eyeing your delightful pear dessert—that just so happens to be vegan. Since they simmer slow and low on the stovetop instead of taking up precious oven real estate, we adore the concept of poached fruit in any form as a holiday dessert idea. Choose from a juice- or vegan wine-based poaching liquid, then infuse it with our suggested mulling spices before adding the peeled and halved fresh pears. The day before (or up to 3 months in advance!) you can churn up your favorite flavor of homemade coconut milk ice cream. Might we recommend adding a dash of cinnamon to the custard? Get the recipe: Poached PearsGet the recipe: Vegan Ice Cream Base
Drink: Pomegranate Cider Sangria
Raise a glass to a vegan Thanksgiving meal well executed with this oh-so fall sangria recipe. You’ll likely have all of the spices required—whole anise and cinnamon sticks—on hand already for your poached pears. Combine those with apple cider, pomegranate juice, pomegranate molasses ($19, Walmart), citrus, and brandy, if you like, and you have one of the best make-ahead Thanksgiving sips ever. Get the recipe: Pomegranate Cider Sangria
