53 Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes and No Jokes About Tofurkey

Serving up an entire menu of vegan Thanksgiving recipes is an intimidating feat, especially when there’s a crowd to impress. But have no fear, no one will miss butter or cream (or whisper, “Where’s the turkey?”) when they’re scarfing down our best vegan Thanksgiving recipes.

Start with this pro tip for stellar vegan Thanksgiving side dishes: Make a big batch of creamy cashew sauce, then let it be the foundation for lots of your Thanksgiving meal. Not only can it be the base for soups and salads, but it also adds flavor (and silky-smooth texture) to any squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes you roast. (And would it be great in a green bean casserole? We sure think so.)

While you could easily make a whole vegan Thanksgiving menu from sides and appetizers, you might want a show-stopping vegan main dish to take the center of the table. Whether it’s coconut-braised cabbage with lots of chickpeas or this giant platter of brussels sprouts nasi goreng, your main course will be even more flavorful than turkey.

Of course, Thanksgiving desserts also deserve your attention. These Salted Chocolate Tahini Bliss Balls are the ideal bite for when you’re stuffed to the brim. And you can bake this Lemon Pistachio Loaf a couple days ahead of the holiday.

If you’re still not sold on a fully vegan Thanksgiving, also check out our best vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes—totally meatless, but with a lot of cream and butter involved.