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These vegan Thanksgiving recipes are delicious plant-based mains, sides, and desserts that satisfy everyone. From savory lentil loaf to creamy pumpkin pie, they make vegan holiday cooking festive and fun!

Vegan thanksgiving lentil loaf
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Who said Thanksgiving needs to be about turkey? Alex and I have been eating primarily plant based for years, and at first holidays like Thanksgiving were hard to manage. What do I even make for you?” our family would ask.

Here’s what I’ve learned: vegan Thanksgiving recipes can be just as delicious and festive! My family actually likes my vegan pumpkin pie even more than the “regular” kind, and I always get recipe requests for my whole grain vegan stuffing. Here, I’ve put together a list of my favorite vegan Thanksgiving recipes that celebrate the produce of the season, from butternut squash to pumpkin!

My top vegan Thanksgiving recipes

Tips for Planning Your Vegan Thanksgiving Menu

When I’m planning a Thanksgiving spread, I think about contrasts in flavors and textures. Start with one hearty main dish like the lentil loaf or stuffed squash, then build around it with a mix of roasted vegetables, a creamy side like mashed potatoes, and fresh like the kale salad or pear salad.

Make-ahead dishes are great for the holidays. The lentil loaf can be assembled the night before and baked the day of. Most of the roasted vegetables can be prepped and even roasted ahead, then reheated before serving. The pies and desserts work well made in advance.

I like to use a one soup as a starter, especially with a vegan meal since it can help to make it more filling. The butternut squash soup or wild rice soup are perfect for this, since they taste even better made a day ahead.

About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi there! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of two cookbooks, busy parents, and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share simple, seasonal recipes and the joy of cooking. We now offer thousands of original recipes, cooking tips, and meal planning ideas—all written and photographed by the two of us (and tested on our kids!).

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