Life

11 Vegan Thanksgiving Turkey Alternatives You'll Actually Like

by Michelle Gross

Now that Halloween in behind us it's time to start talking turkey. Orrather, tofurky for all my vegan peeps out there. That's right, Thanksgiving isright around the corner which means, if you're the leading lady in the kitchenlike I am, it's time to start getting your menu options in order.

If you're vegan, you likely already know that coming up with some decent vegan Thanksgiving turkey alternative ideas can be relatively daunting. However it doesn't necessarily have to be. There are options people, even when it doesn’t seem like it. But I will say, the more you plan ahead the better off you’ll be.Preparation is key, especially when it comes to trying something new.

Even if you're not vegan, but you're planning on having someone over who is,it's good to be prepared with something more than a basic quinoa salad and tofu. There's a whole vegan world outside of tofu everyone, I swear! From delicious and gooey vegan pot pies and vegan 'meatballs' to slow cooking some spicy curry and ratatouille, I'm here for you, vegans of the world. So without further ado, check out these 11 killer vegan dishes that will serve as a great alternative to your turkey this year.

Vegan Thanksgiving Stuffing

Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without the stuffing, and this totally meat free all vegan dish courtesy of My Darling Vegan won't disappoint. You can find the link to the recipe here.

Vegan Tofu and Vegetable Pot Pie

Everyone loves a good pot pie, and I say the gooeyer and thicker the better! This all vegetable vegan alternative from TheKitchn.com is bringing you all the goodness in this vegan tofu and vegetable pot pit. You can find a link to the recipe here.

Slow Cooker Vegan Pumpkin Curry

This delicious all vegan curry recipe courtesy of TheKitchn.com brings you all the flavors: I'm talking pumpkin, paprika, cumin, coconut milk. You name it, this dish has got it. You can thank me later for this one. In the meantime, find the full recipe here.

Vegan Lentil Loaf

Vegetarian blogger and food writer Amuse Your Bouche has this all vegan lentil loaf pretty much in the bag as one of the best Thanksgiving turkey alternatives. Not only is it beautiful, she even goes the extra mile to give you the vegan gravy recipe to drizzle on top for that extra wow factor. Check out the recipe here and enjoy!

Vegan Zucchini 'Meatballs'

Who doesn't like some good balls on their Thanksgiving dinner platter? This recipe, from my favorite punny food website Making Thyme For Health is bringing you all the vegan balls without the meat in this delicious, not to mention beautiful Zucchini 'meatball' dish. You can find the recipe here.

Cozy Butternut, Sweet Potato and Red Lentil Stew

Oh She Glows knows how to churn out a killer vegan recipe, and this cozy butternut and sweet potato with red lentil stew is no exception. Did I mention the fact that it's cozy? I mean what do you need? You can find the recipe here.

Vegan Spicy Smoky Ratatouille Casserole

Who doesn't love a sexy spicy casserole dish on Thanksgiving? This one, courtesy of one of my favorite's Tori Avey, is bringing you all those savory ratatouille flavors from crushed garlic and roasted bell peppers to chiles and tomatoes. You can find the complete recipe here.

Vegan Shepherd’s Pie with Gravy

Ok I hear you, shepherds pie is not traditionally served on Thanksgiving. But hear me out because this vegans shepherds pie is served with gravy which IS like all things Thanksgiving. You can find the recipe here courtesy of Oh She Glows.

Butternut Squash, Kale and White Bean Pot Pie

Look out vegans, I got another piping hot pot pie recipe coming your way, this one courtesy of all things vegan food blogger By CHLOE. She gives you fair warning in the recipe about not being intimidated by the long list of ingredients which you really shouldn't be. It's most prep time and some light slicing and dicing that goes into that delicious filling that takes the longest, but trust, it's worth the effort. You can find the whole recipe here.

Corn & Artichoke Vegan Pizza

Seriously, who doesn't love all things corn, artichokes and pizza? This vegan recipe, courtesy of Amuse Your Bouche has it all and it an excellent alternative if you're looking to go a little off the tofurky map. You can find the link to the recipe here.

Wild Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash

Hands down, this wild rice stuffed acorn squash recipe courtesy of My Darling Vegan, wins the award for most beautiful turkey alternative ever. I mean seriously, this is beyond gorgeous to look at. It's also relatively easy to make too and the ingredients list isn't overwhelming. All you need to do is get over the daunting task of gauging a gourd and you'll be fine. You can find the complete recipe here.