Vegan Thanksgiving Menu + Main Dish for a Mixed Table

Roasted squash wedges in a glass baking dish on an autumn table with pumpkins

This vegan Thanksgiving menu is built for the table most hosts actually have: one or two vegans, a vegetarian cousin, and a lot of people who have never eaten a meal without turkey. Instead of a sad side plate for the vegans, everybody eats the same dinner — a sliceable main dish, the classic sides, proper gravy and pumpkin pie.

Below you get the full menu, a day-by-day make-ahead plan, quantities for 6 to 16 people, how to handle the “but where’s the turkey?” guests, a pantry checklist, and the kitchen gear that makes the day easier. Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26.

Course	Dish	Make ahead?
Main	Lentil, mushroom and walnut loaf with maple-balsamic glaze	Assemble 1 day ahead, bake on the day
Side	Sage and onion stuffing made with vegetable broth	Assemble 1 day ahead
Side	Creamy mashed potatoes (olive oil or plant butter + plant milk)	Make 1 day ahead, reheat
Side	Green bean casserole with a mushroom-cashew sauce	Assemble 1 day ahead
Side	Maple-roasted carrots and Brussels sprouts	Roast on the day
Sauces	Mushroom gravy + cranberry sauce	Gravy 2 days, cranberry 3 days ahead
Dessert	Pumpkin pie with a silken tofu or coconut cream filling	1–2 days ahead
Drink	Hot spiced apple cider	On the day

If you only change one thing about a traditional dinner, change the main and make the gravy vegan. Gravy touches almost every plate, so a vegan gravy quietly makes the stuffing, potatoes and main suitable for everybody.

The main dish: a lentil, mushroom and walnut loaf

A loaf is the easiest vegan Thanksgiving main dish for a mixed table because it behaves like a roast: it comes out of the oven whole, it is carved at the table, and it carries gravy well. It also does not pretend to be turkey, which is what puts sceptical guests off fake-meat centrepieces.

How it comes together:

Base: cooked brown or green lentils (they hold their shape better than red), finely chopped mushrooms cooked until dry and browned, onion, celery, garlic and toasted walnuts.
Binder: ground flaxseed mixed with water, plus breadcrumbs or quick oats.
Flavour: thyme, sage, smoked paprika, tamari or soy sauce and a spoon of tomato paste. A teaspoon of nutritional yeast adds a savoury, rounded taste.
Glaze: ketchup or tomato paste whisked with maple syrup and balsamic vinegar, brushed on before baking.

Press the mixture firmly into a lined 9×5-inch loaf pan, bake at 375°F for about an hour, and let it rest 15 minutes before slicing so it holds together. One loaf gives 8 to 10 slices.

Want a showpiece instead? Halve and roast two medium butternut or kabocha squash, then fill them with wild rice, sautéed mushrooms, dried cranberries, pecans and herbs. It looks spectacular on a platter and needs no binding. Prefer store-bought? Most US supermarkets stock frozen plant-based holiday roasts in November; buy one more than you think you need, as they sell out the week of Thanksgiving. For texture-lovers, rehydrated soy curls tossed in poultry seasoning make a quick shredded “pulled” main — see our plant-based chicken guide and best vegan meat alternatives.

The sides, made vegan without anyone noticing

Stuffing: day-old bread cubes, onion, celery, sage and thyme, moistened with vegetable or no-chicken broth and a good glug of olive oil or melted plant butter. Most packaged stuffing mixes contain dairy or chicken stock, so read the label if you use one.
Mashed potatoes: Yukon Golds mashed with plant butter and warm unsweetened, unflavoured plant milk. Soy or oat milk give the creamiest result — see oat milk vs almond milk for how they differ. A vegan butter such as Miyoko’s unsalted works like dairy butter here.
Green bean casserole: swap the canned cream-of-mushroom soup for a sauce of sautéed mushrooms blended with soaked cashews, broth and garlic. Many store-bought crispy fried onions have no animal ingredients, but check the label.
Roasted vegetables: carrots, Brussels sprouts and squash on sheet pans with olive oil, salt and a little maple syrup at the end.
Cranberry sauce: naturally vegan — cranberries, sugar, orange zest and water.
Gravy: brown onions and mushrooms, add flour, then whisk in no-chicken broth, tamari and thyme. Simmer, then blend smooth or strain.

Make-ahead timeline

Sunday (4 days out): finish shopping. Check that you have enough oven space, pans and serving dishes for everything.
Monday: make cranberry sauce. Cube and dry the bread for stuffing.
Tuesday: make the pie and the gravy (both keep in the fridge). Cook the lentils.
Wednesday: assemble the loaf in its pan, cover and chill. Assemble the stuffing and green bean casserole in covered baking dishes. Make the mashed potatoes. Trim the sprouts and peel the carrots.
Thursday morning: take the loaf and casseroles out of the fridge 30 minutes before baking.
Two hours before dinner: bake the loaf. Then roast vegetables while it rests; bake stuffing and casserole together.
Last 20 minutes: reheat gravy and potatoes; warm the plates; set out the cranberry sauce.

Reheat leftovers until they are hot all the way through (USDA guidance is 165°F) and refrigerate food within two hours of serving.

Scaling for your headcount

Guests	Mains	Potatoes	Stuffing	Gravy	Pies
6	1 loaf	3 lb	One 9×13 dish	2 cups	1
10	1 loaf + 1 stuffed squash	5 lb	One 9×13 dish	3½ cups	2
16	2 loaves + 2 stuffed squash	8 lb	Two 9×13 dishes	5 cups	2–3

Rough rules: about ½ lb of potatoes, ¾ cup of stuffing and ⅓ cup of gravy per person. When meat-eaters are eating the vegan main as their only main, assume they will take a bigger slice than the vegans do.

Feeding meat-eaters and vegetarians at the same table

The simplest rule: one vegan main, everything else vegan too, and nothing labelled “special”. People eat what looks generous. A few things that help:

Serve it like a roast. Bring the loaf or squash to the table whole and carve it there.
Make the gravy rich. Browned mushrooms, onions and a good bouillon base do more to win over meat-eaters than any imitation meat.
Use a build-your-own approach for extras. Put toppings and sauces in bowls — toasted pecans, crispy onions, extra gravy, cranberry sauce — so people customise their plate.
If someone insists on turkey, treat it as an add-on. Whoever brings it cooks it in its own pan, carves it on its own board and serves it with its own utensils. Keep the vegan gravy in a separate, labelled gravy boat.
Label the buffet. A small sign saying “everything on this table is vegan” answers the question before anyone asks.

For more on handling mixed-diet hosting, see our vegan dinner party ideas and eating out and social meals guide.

Make it from your pantry

Most of this menu is built from shelf-stable staples. Check these before you shop:

Brown or green lentils (dry or canned)
Walnuts and pecans
Raw cashews (for the green bean casserole sauce)
Ground flaxseed
Breadcrumbs or quick oats
Vegetable or no-chicken bouillon base
Tamari or soy sauce
Tomato paste and ketchup
Maple syrup and balsamic vinegar
Nutritional yeast
Dried sage, thyme and poultry seasoning (it is just herbs)
Smoked paprika
All-purpose flour or cornstarch (for gravy)
Canned pumpkin purée
Silken tofu or canned coconut cream (for the pie)
Dried cranberries and wild rice (for the stuffed squash)

Our vegan grocery list has the full 50-item starter pantry.

What you’ll need from Amazon

These are the pieces that make a vegan Thanksgiving easier to cook, carry and serve. Each one was in stock with Amazon as the featured seller when we checked; prices update daily.

USA Pan Aluminized Steel Loaf Pan (9 × 5 in)

For the main dish

The standard 9×5-inch size the loaf is written for. The nonstick, corrugated surface helps a dense lentil loaf release cleanly, which matters when you are turning it out in front of guests.

Check price on Amazon →$20.95Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetails

Pyrex Deep 9×13 Glass Baking Dish with Lid

For make-ahead sides

Assemble the stuffing or green bean casserole the day before, snap on the lid and refrigerate. It goes from fridge to oven (lid off). The deeper design helps stop bubbling casseroles spilling over.

Check price on Amazon →$24.95Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetails

Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet Pans (2-pack with lid)

For roasting vegetables

Two half sheets roast enough carrots and Brussels sprouts for ten people without crowding, which is what keeps vegetables browned instead of steamed.

Check price on Amazon →$32.99Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetails

TempPro TempSwift Instant-Read Thermometer

For reheating safely

A quick way to check that the centre of the loaf and the reheated casseroles are hot all the way through before they go out.

Check price on Amazon →$14.99Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetails

Better Than Bouillon Vegetarian No Chicken Base (2 jars)

For gravy and stuffing

Certified vegan according to the listing. Gives stuffing and gravy the savoury, 'poultry-style' background flavour people expect on Thanksgiving.

Check price on Amazon →$14.41Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetails

Imagine Organic Vegan Wild Mushroom Gravy

Backup gravy

A ready-to-heat carton of vegan gravy. Keep one in the cupboard in case the gravy boat empties faster than planned.

Check price on Amazon →$3.89Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetails

Bell’s All Natural Salt-Free Poultry Seasoning (3-pack)

For the classic flavour

Despite the name, it is a blend of herbs and spices. A spoonful in the loaf, stuffing or gravy delivers the familiar Thanksgiving taste.

Check price on Amazon →$14.99Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetails

Butler Soy Curls (3 × 8 oz)

Optional shredded main

Dried, whole-soybean strips listed as vegan. Rehydrate, season with poultry seasoning and pan-fry for a quick shredded main or a second protein option.

Check price on Amazon →$25.24Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetails

Pyrex 9-Inch Glass Pie Plate

For the pumpkin pie

Clear glass lets you check that the bottom crust is browned. Bake the pie a day or two ahead and keep it covered in the fridge.

Check price on Amazon →$23.93Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetails

Elite Gourmet Triple Buffet Server (3 × 2.5 qt)

For keeping sides warm

Three lidded trays on an adjustable warming base. It frees up the stovetop and keeps potatoes, stuffing and gravy hot during a long, slow dinner.

Check price on Amazon →$45.99Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetails

HIC Kitchen Porcelain Gravy Boat (8 oz)

For the table

A small, inexpensive second gravy boat is the easiest way to keep the vegan gravy clearly separate if anyone brings a non-vegan one.

Check price on Amazon →$10.99Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetails

More holiday menus

Vegan potluck and Friendsgiving ideas — if you are bringing a dish rather than hosting.
Vegan Christmas dinner — the same make-ahead approach with a festive roast.
All vegan holiday and special-occasion meals.
Dessert alternatives: vegan apple crumble or no-bake vegan cheesecake, plus spiced hot chocolate for after dinner.
The 12 vegan kitchen tools worth owning if you are setting up a kitchen from scratch.

Frequently asked questions

What do vegans eat on Thanksgiving instead of turkey?

Usually a centrepiece that can be sliced at the table: a lentil and mushroom loaf, a stuffed roasted squash, a seitan roast or a store-bought plant-based roast. The rest of the plate is the same as everyone else's once the sides are made with plant butter or olive oil, vegetable broth and plant milk.

What is a good vegan main dish for Thanksgiving?

A lentil, mushroom and walnut loaf with a maple-balsamic glaze. It slices cleanly, it can be assembled a day ahead, it suits gravy and cranberry sauce, and it does not try to imitate turkey, so meat-eaters judge it as a dish in its own right.

Can I make a vegan Thanksgiving dinner ahead of time?

Most of it. Cranberry sauce and pie keep for two to three days in the fridge, gravy and the unbaked loaf for one to two days, and the stuffing and green bean casserole can be assembled the day before. On the day you only bake, roast and reheat.

Is gravy vegan?

Traditional gravy is made from turkey drippings and often thickened with butter, so it is not. Vegan gravy uses mushrooms, onions, a vegetable or no-chicken bouillon base and flour or cornstarch. Several ready-made vegan gravies are sold in cartons and jars too — check that the label says vegan.

How do I cook a vegan Thanksgiving for meat-eaters?

Make the whole spread vegan rather than cooking a separate token dish. Lean on flavours people already expect at Thanksgiving — sage, thyme, browned mushrooms, roasted squash, rich gravy — and serve generous sides. If someone insists on turkey, it becomes their add-on, cooked and served with its own dishes and utensils.

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Vegan Thanksgiving Menu: One Main Dish the Whole Table Will Eat

Quick answer: the menu