It’s All About the Thanksgiving Sides: 11 Easy Recipes

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes

(Updated November 9, 2020) | The holidays are traditionally about sharing feelings of love, friendship, kindness, gratitude—and food. Turkeys are often the centerpiece of the dinner table, but there are plenty of options to choose from for a vegan feast. The same goes for classic sides. You can easily make vegan Thanksgiving side dishes like dinner rolls, green bean casserole, gravy, and mashed potatoes.

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Here are 11 recipes for vegan Thanksgiving sides that you’ll want to make even when the holiday is over.

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Every Thanksgiving feast needs stuffing. | Connoisseurus Veg

1. Vegan Stuffing

Is it really Thanksgiving without stuffing? This stuffing is everything it should be—savory, there to soak up every last bit of gravy, and animal-ingredient free. This flavor-packed stuffing features sourdough bread and savory herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme.

Get the recipe here.

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Eat your veggies. | A Beautiful Plate

2. Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Squash

This beautiful plate of roasted veggies is the best way to enjoy winter produce. A medley of crispy Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, and cranberries tossed in Dijon mustard vinaigrette.

Get the recipe here.

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Every table needs mashed potatoes. | Simple Vegan Blog

3. Vegan Garlic Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

Rich, creamy, and 100 percent dairy-free. These vegan mashed potatoes are equal parts buttery and delicious. The best part about them is that they’re incredibly easy to make! And you only need a handful of ingredients: potatoes, vegan butter, sea salt, and plant-based milk. Take your mashed potatoes up a notch by adding in some savory additions like chives, roasted garlic, tempeh bacon, or jalapeños for a spicy kick.

Get the recipe here.

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Mashed potatoes’ perfect companion. | Ela Vegan

4. Vegan Gravy

An absolute must at any holiday table, this is the only gravy recipe you need to drown your veggies in, come family dinner time. This recipe skips the beef base in favor of mushrooms, which delivers a similarly meaty taste. The hearty gravy combines a blend of flavorful ingredients like soy sauce, garlic, onion, and red wine.

Get the recipe here.

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
These roasted pearl onions will be a hit at your table. | Two Sleevers

5. Vegan Creamed Pearl Onions

For a delectable side the entire family will love, these roasted pearl onions are it. This recipe calls for air frying, which makes the pearl onions extra sweet on the inside and crispy on the outside. The roasted pearl onions feature a balsamic vinegar sauce, making them as tangy as they are spicy.

Get the recipe here.

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Buttery, without dairy. | Pies and Tacos

6. Vegan Dinner Rolls

Your holiday meal isn’t complete without a side of bread. And nothing quite beats the aroma of a homemade batch of these vegan dinner rolls. Savor the light, fluffy, melt-in-mouth buttery deliciousness of these rolls. They’ll pair perfectly with any side. And you can even make them in batches to store in the freezer.

Get the recipe here.

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Creamy sweet potatoes and crunchy pecans. | Choosing Chia

7. Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole

A seasonal treat like no other, you’ll want to make some room on the table for this vegan sweet potato casserole. Fluffy mashed sweet potatoes are topped with crunchy candied pecans. Add a layer of vegan marshmallows for good measure. Other tasty ingredients include maple syrup, oats, almond flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon. 

Get the recipe here.

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Make way for potatoes. | Simply Whisked

8. Vegan Scalloped Potatoes

Making vegan versions of traditionally dairy-heavy dishes is easy with dairy-free milk and butter. And it never hurts to have multiple dishes featuring potatoes. So, serve a side of mashed potatoes and these creamy, garlicky scalloped potatoes, guilt-free.

Get the recipe here.

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Green beans in a delightful mushroom sauce. | A Virtual Vegan

9. Vegan Green Bean Casserole

A necessary component of any Thanksgiving table, this classic side features green beans in a creamy, dairy-free mushroom sauce covered with crispy fried caramelized onions. You’ll be savoring every last bite of these greens.

Get the recipe here.

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
How to have vegan salad for the holidays. | Budget Bytes

10. Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpea Salad

Your guests will thank you for this flavorful salad packed with roasted cauliflower, chickpeas, and a creamy, lemon tahini dressing.

Get the recipe here.

The 11 Best Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Pair it with everything. | Every Last Bite

11. 3-Ingredient Cranberry Sauce

And last, but not least, it would be remiss to leave cranberry sauce out of the equation. This homemade cranberry sauce calls for only four ingredients: cranberries, orange zest, orange juice, and maple syrup. Plus, it only takes 15 minutes of your time to whip it all together.

Get the recipe here.