Vegan Thanksgiving: The Best Turkey Alternatives and How to Survive the Table
A vegan Thanksgiving is easier than it sounds, because most of the table is already vegetables. The turkey is the only real gap, and there are good store-bought replacements: Gardein's Turk'y Roast regularly tops taste tests, and Field Roast and Tofurky make holiday roasts that are widely available. The harder part is usually the people, not the food. Here's what to put in the middle of the table, how to make the sides vegan without anyone noticing, and how to handle the family.
The best store-bought turkey alternatives
| Roast | What it is | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Gardein Plant-Based Turk'y Roast | Breaded, stuffed roast with a gravy packet. Serves about 6–8. | The closest to "turkey" for most people; often tops taste tests |
| Gardein Savory Stuffed Turk'y | Individual-size stuffed portions | Eating vegan at a meat-eating table: cook just yours |
| Field Roast Celebration Roast | Grain-based roast with stuffing and gravy | A savoury loaf that slices well |
| Field Roast Hazelnut & Cranberry Roast | Wrapped in vegan puff pastry | Looks impressive on the table |
| Tofurky Roast & Wild Rice Stuffing | The original vegan holiday roast, around since 1995 | Familiar, widely stocked |
| Big Mountain Foods Plant-Based Roast | Soy-, gluten- and nut-free | Guests with allergies |
Two things to know: Trader Joe's Breaded Turkey-less Roast has been discontinued and brought back before, so don't count on it until you see it; and Whole Foods' own-brand frozen vegan roasts were reportedly discontinued in 2024, though its catering menu has usually included a vegan centrepiece.
Buy early. Vegan roasts are stocked in small numbers and often sell out the week of Thanksgiving.
Or make the centrepiece yourself
If you'd rather not do a fake turkey:
- Mushroom Wellington. Mushrooms, chestnuts or lentils wrapped in puff pastry. Most store puff pastry is accidentally vegan; check the label for butter.
- Stuffed squash. A halved roasted squash filled with wild rice, cranberries, pecans and sage. Looks like it took hours, takes one.
- Crispy roasted tofu or tempeh with a maple glaze. Our guide to making tofu taste good covers the technique.
Making the sides vegan
Most Thanksgiving sides are a few swaps away from vegan, and nobody will notice:
- Mashed potatoes: olive oil or vegan butter and oat milk instead of butter and cream.
- Stuffing: vegetable stock instead of chicken stock, oil or vegan butter instead of butter. Many boxed stuffing mixes are vegan; check for milk and chicken fat.
- Gravy: mushroom gravy with vegetable stock and soy sauce. Most roasts come with a gravy packet too.
- Green bean casserole: use a vegan cream of mushroom soup or make a quick cashew sauce. The crispy fried onions on top are usually vegan.
- Cranberry sauce, roasted vegetables, sweet potatoes: already vegan if you skip the butter and marshmallows (marshmallows contain gelatine; vegan ones exist).
- Rolls: many supermarket dinner rolls contain milk or butter. Check, or buy a vegan brand.
- Pumpkin pie: most pie crusts in the freezer section are vegan; the filling needs a version with coconut milk instead of evaporated milk and eggs.
Surviving the table
If you're the only vegan at a family Thanksgiving, a few things make it easier:
- Bring a dish everyone can eat, ideally the centrepiece. It means you'll have a real meal, and it's easier to say yes to the rest of the day.
- Tell the host in advance, and offer to cook your own portion. Nobody wants to rework their turkey recipe the day before.
- Don't debate at the table. If someone asks why, a short answer works best: "I just feel better eating this way." Thanksgiving dinner isn't the moment to convince anyone.
Our guide to being vegan at family dinners and restaurants covers the conversation in more detail.
If the turkey smell gets you
It's normal for a familiar smell to trigger a craving, especially if Thanksgiving turkey used to be your favourite meal of the year. The craving usually passes in ten to twenty minutes. Have your plate ready, step away from the kitchen, and see our guide on how to stop craving meat. The Spared app is built for that moment: open it instead of reaching for the turkey, ride the craving out, and watch the cravings beaten and animals spared add up.
Christmas is next. Our vegan Christmas dinner guide has the plan.
Common questions
What do vegans eat for Thanksgiving?
A centrepiece roast, either store-bought (Gardein, Field Roast, Tofurky) or homemade like a mushroom Wellington or stuffed squash, plus vegan versions of the usual sides: mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
What is the best vegan turkey?
Gardein's Plant-Based Turk'y Roast regularly comes top in taste tests. Field Roast's Celebration Roast and Hazelnut & Cranberry Roast are also popular, and Tofurky's roast is the most widely available.
Is stuffing vegan?
Often not as made at home, because it uses butter and chicken stock. Swap in vegetable stock and oil or vegan butter. Many boxed stuffing mixes are vegan; check for milk and chicken fat on the label.
Is cranberry sauce vegan?
Yes. Cranberry sauce is cranberries, sugar and water, whether canned or homemade.