Featured photo: Minimalist Baker.
A vegan Thanksgiving menu can include a substantial main, familiar sides and a dessert everyone can share. Lentils, mushrooms, squash, nuts and plant-based sauces give you several ways to build that plate.
These 21 recipes range from stuffed mushrooms and a lentil loaf to stuffing, potatoes, bread, gravy and pie. Choose a few dishes that work together rather than treating the full collection as one menu.
Check packaged bread, fried onions, cheese alternatives, broth, pastry and marshmallows for vegan ingredients. Use the plant-based versions specified here when a source also offers a dairy substitution.
Plant-Based Mains, Familiar Sides and Sweet Finishes
7-Ingredient Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms
Rice, walnuts, garlic and vegan Parmesan make a savory filling for baked mushroom caps. These bring a warm small bite to the Thanksgiving table, with time needed to cook the rice before assembling. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Creamy Kale and Spinach Dip
Cashews and white beans make a creamy base for this kale-and-spinach dip. Garlic and nutritional yeast add savory flavor without dairy; offer vegetables or a suitable vegan bread alongside. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Butternut Squash Hummus
Roasted squash joins chickpeas, tahini and warm seasonings in this orange-hued hummus. It gives the appetizer table a creamy dip with a slightly sweet winter flavor, served with vegetables or vegan crackers. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Vegan Lentil Nut “Meat” Loaf
Lentils, mushrooms, sweet potato and nuts or seeds make a substantial plant-based loaf. Use vegan Worcestershire or the listed coconut aminos, and follow the cooling guidance so the loaf holds together when sliced. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Roasted Stuffed Butternut Squash
Roasted squash halves hold quinoa, mushrooms and kale, with a balsamic finish. This gives a vegan guest a centerpiece-style main; plan time to roast the squash and prepare the filling. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Lentil Mushroom Stew over Mashed Potatoes
Green lentils and mushrooms simmer into a savory stew served over mashed potatoes. Vegetable broth and the listed plant-based additions keep the dish vegan without needing meat or cream. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
1-Hour Vegan Pot Pies
Mixed vegetables cook in a creamy plant-based gravy under a biscuit topping. Use the linked vegan biscuit recipe or verify a suitable prepared topping, since ordinary biscuits and puff pastry may contain dairy. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Vegan Green Bean Casserole
Green beans bake with a mushroom sauce made with almond milk and vegetable broth. Check the fried onions for vegan ingredients before adding the crunchy topping. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Yukon gold potatoes mash with garlic and vegan butter for a creamy dairy-free side. Use the listed plant-based ingredients and add the optional chives near serving. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Easy Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
Thin potatoes bake in a garlic sauce with almond milk, nutritional yeast and vegan Parmesan. Use the specified plant-based cheese rather than ordinary Parmesan to keep the finished dish vegan. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Simple Vegan Stuffing
Dried whole-grain bread, lentils, celery and onion make a savory stuffing with a flax binder. Choose vegan bread and vegetable broth, and allow the bread-drying time before starting the bake. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Vegan Cornbread Stuffing (GF Optional)
Vegan cornbread combines with leeks, herbs, cranberries and optional nuts in this baked side. The full recipe includes the cornbread preparation, so plan more than the final assembly step. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Simple Vegan Dinner Rolls
These yeast rolls use plant-based ingredients for a soft bread basket option. Allow the dough to rise as directed and check any milk or butter alternatives before beginning. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Vegan Cornbread
A flax mixture and plant-based milk help make this vegan cornbread. It brings a simple bread option to a table of vegetables, gravy and richer holiday dishes. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Sweet Potato Casserole Boats
Roasted sweet potato halves carry a spiced filling and pecan topping. Use dairy-free butter and vegan marshmallows if adding them, since the source also mentions dairy and optional conventional toppings. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Butternut Pecan Sweet Potato Mash
Roasted sweet potatoes and butternut squash mash together beneath maple-spiced pecans. Vegan butter keeps the dish dairy-free, while the nuts add crunch to the soft vegetables. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Easy Orange Cranberry Sauce (3 Ingredients!)
Cranberries simmer with orange and sweetener into a bright sauce for the holiday plate. It brings a tart contrast to rich mains and can be planned around the source’s cooling guidance. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Easy Vegan Gravy
A savory plant-based gravy gives potatoes, stuffing and roasted vegetables a shared finishing sauce. Use vegetable broth and follow the linked recipe’s thickening method. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Vegan Sweet Potato Pie
Roasted sweet potato and cashews blend into a maple-sweetened pie filling. Use a vegan crust and dairy-free topping, and allow the complete baking and cooling schedule. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Vegan Apple Crisp
Baked apples meet a crisp oat topping in this plant-based dessert. Oats, almond meal, pecans and oil make the topping; allow the baked filling to rest before spooning it into bowls. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
1-Bowl Pumpkin Pie (Vegan + GF)
Pumpkin filling bakes in a vegan crust for a familiar holiday dessert. Follow the full crust and filling choices, and plan the cooling time before slicing. Recipe and photo: Minimalist Baker.
Build a Menu Around One Main
Choose a filling main, two or three contrasting sides and a dessert. Plan rising, roasting and chilling windows in advance, and keep nut-containing dishes clearly identified for guests.