The holidays can be stressful, and even more so if you’re dealing with special dietary needs. Take the stress out of your planning with this collection of vegan and gluten free Thanksgiving recipes. You’re sure to find something that will make your Thanksgiving dinner a success with these tasty, easy, family friendly dishes.
I love Thanksgiving food – the sides, the desserts, the salads, I love all of it. I thought maybe you could use a little inspiration, so I’ve compiled this list of gluten free and vegan Thanksgiving recipes.
Just because you or your guests have special dietary needs, that doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on flavor and variety at holiday meals.
I’ve experienced this myself – when my son started to react to gluten over 15 years ago, we quickly had to figure out how to make our entire Thanksgiving menu gluten free.
Then my second son came along, and we had to cut out eggs and dairy, too. Which worked out well since my brother is a vegan. I was determined to make sure that my holiday menu wasn’t lacking in flavor or variety. And I succeeded! You can succeed, too, with the right recipes and ingredients.
There are many ways to make gluten free and dairy free versions of your favorite dishes – from stuffing, to mashed potatoes, to green bean casserole. Using dairy substitutes makes it easy to modify recipes like gravy or creamed spinach.
Take your time planning your menu, and be creative! There are many ways to have a wonderful holiday meal that is safe for everyone at your table.
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Tips for Substitutions
One way to approach holiday cooking is to take a look at your existing favorite recipes, and see if you can just substitute some ingredients. For example:
- If you have a favorite stuffing recipe, one way to modify it may be to use a gluten free and vegan bread, like Schar brand, or B Free. You could also substitute vegetable broth for turkey broth.
- If stuffing or another side requires bacon or ham, you can always add more fresh herbs or a different flavorful ingredient instead of those meat ingredients.
- For a side dish that typically uses butter, like corn, glazed carrots, or cooked greens, simply swap in your favorite vegan buttery spread.
- Baking can be a little trickier. I don’t recommend taking a standard recipe and swapping in many ingredients to make it dairy, egg, and gluten free. But, you can take a look at my guide to gluten free vegan baking to get an idea of what substitutions may be okay to try. You can also browse my allergy friendly dessert recipes, which have been tried and tested many times.
Special Holiday Products that are Gluten Free and Vegan
You can find some products in the stores during the holidays that are specially made gluten free and vegan. Some things to look for are:
- Mom’s Place Sensational Stuffing Mix
- Gluten Free Vegan French Fried Onions – I have seen these at Aldi, Fresh Thyme, and Whole Foods
- Dandie’s Marshmallows – I have seen special holiday flavors like Pumpkin Spice and Candy Cane
- So Delicious and Califia Farms both make dairy free egg nog
Appetizers
Quick and Easy Vegan Spinach Dip from The Pretty Bee
Herbed Acorn Squash Bisque from Produce on Parade
Slow Cooker Apple Cider from No. 2 Pencil
Thanksgiving Stuffing Poppers from This Mess Is Ours
Salads
Pumpkin Maple Vinaigrette from The Cafe Sucre Farine
Southwestern Roasted Butternut Squash from Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice
Cranberry Orange Quinoa Salad from Family Spice
Balsamic Kale with Cranberries from Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Smoky, Lemony, Shredded Brussels Sprouts from The Kitchn
Harvest Wild Rice Salad with Pumpkin Vinaigrette from This Gal Cooks
Red Cabbage Apple Slaw from The Pretty Bee
Sides
Dairy Free Classic Mashed Potatoes from The Pretty Bee
Gluten Free Vegan Dinner Rolls from Make it Dairy Free
Gluten Free Vegan Green Bean Casserole from The Pretty Bee
Vegan Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Peppers and Onions from Cookin Canuck
Roasted Celery Root and Carrots with Lemon and Dill from The Roasted Root
Easy Glazed Carrots from The Pretty Bee
Homemade Cranberry Sauce from Cherished Bliss
Maple Roasted Butternut Squash and Beets from The Roasted Root
Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Avocado Garlic Aioli from Oh She Glows
Cranberry Chutney from Alaska from Scratch
Cheesy Broccoli Casserole from The Pretty Bee
Roasted Green Beans with Garlic and Red Pepper from Kalyn’s Kitchen
Vegan Au Gratin Potatoes from The Pretty Bee
Entrees
Some people following a vegan diet like to get a Tofurky for the holidays. However, please be aware that the Tofurky loaf is not gluten free. If you are both gluten free and vegan, you will probably want to make your own vegetable loaf from scratch.
Glazed Lentil Walnut Apple Loaf from Oh She Glows (use gluten free breadcrumbs)
Thanksgiving Meatless Loaf from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen
Vegan Gluten Free Meatloaf from Healthy Little Vittles
Desserts
Pumpkin Desserts
Pumpkin Pie with Praline from Gluten Free Goddess
No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars from The Nutty Scoop
Pumpkin Pie Chia Pudding from Vegan Yack Attack
Skinny Pumpkin Pie Shake from Petite Allergy Treats
Vegan Pumpkin Whipped Cream from Marla Meridith
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake from The Pretty Bee
Apple Desserts
Gluten Free Vegan Apple Pie from The Pretty Bee
Apple Spice Sorbet from My New Roots
Apple Tart from 86 Lemons
Cranberry Desserts
Sparkling Cranberries from Kleinworth and Co.
Cranberry Bliss Bars from Fork and Beans
Dairy Free Cheesecake with Cranberries from The Pretty Bee
Other Desserts
Vegan Gluten Free French Silk Pie from The Pretty Bee
Chocolate Pudding Pie from The Pretty Bee
Looking for more dairy free, gluten free, and allergy friendly recipes? Check out my ebooks: Allergy Free & Delicious, and Allergy Friendly Comfort Food. These cookbooks are full of colorful, tasty, easy to make recipes that are family friendly.
D
I’ve eaten many of these personally over the years, and they are delicious!
Linda Z
I missed this lineup last year, but I’m getting so inspired for this Thanksgiving! Thanks for putting all this together… looks sooooo yummy!! :)
Kelly
You’re welcome, I hope you find some recipes you love!
Karielyn@TheHealthyFamilyandHome
Hi Kelly! Wow…what an awesome list you’ve put together! Thanks so much for including my Vegan Pumpkin Mini Cheesecake recipe in your roundup ;)
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext
This post is amazing! Love every single recipe, they all look fab!
Kelly
Thank you, Jessica!
genevieve y
Can’t wait to go through this list and check out all the recipes! That wild rice salad looks amaaaazing!
Jessica Levinson (@jlevinsonrd)
mmm…so many delicious and pretty recipes here. Getting me excited for Thanksgiving!
olivia - Primavera Kitchen
What a great collection, Kelly! I am excited to try some of these recipes. Thanks for sharing ;-)
Julia Mueller
Look at all of these amazing eats! My Thanksgiving is going to be a bounty of healthy vegan/gf sides, I can tell ya that much! Beautiful roundup and thanks so much for including some of my veggie dishes!!
Kelly
You are welcome! Your sides look like perfect Thanksgiving food to me!
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven
Kelly, this is an awesome TG round-up! I am suddenly craving turkey and stuffing at only 7am!
annie@ciaochowbambina
What a great round-up of delicious recipes! I’m sure I’ll be referring to this post continuously over the next few weeks! Thanks!