All in Recipes
If you’re a new vegan, vegan curious, or simple want to try something different this year at your Thanksgiving table, these are the go-to vegan Thanksgiving recipes and dishes my family has tested over the past three years. While some of these are definite recipes, others are suggestions for substitutes for common ingredients.
Potatoes are life. There—I said it! For a healthy dose of carbs and comfort food combined, these Vegan Mashed Potato Bowls really hit the spot! They’re perfect for cozy winter nights when you just want some food that feels like a warm hug. Collard greens, creamy Yukon gold potatoes, and a savory vegan gravy make this a winter weeknight winner.
Acorn squash has to be my favorite winter squash! It’s just sweet enough to feel like a treat, but also pairs really well with savory flavors. This vegan stuffed acorn squash feels like a warm hug, especially now that the weather is getting colder! Use up your winter squash and cozy up on the couch to enjoy dinner.
Hearty winter soups––what more could a girl want? (Maybe a side of cornbread to go with…) Boil a pot of this White Bean & Kale Soup and you’ll be warm and toasty! This soup is entirely vegan and can be made oil & salt free, if you wish. It also acts more like a stew. The trick to the creamy broth? Potatoes!
I grew up eating this recipe, but with ground beef instead of vegan meat. It resembles chili, but has the taste of tacos due to the seasoning so we always called it “taco soup.” Add beans, broth, and spices and you’re good to go! It definitely takes on the life of more of a chili, but the taco seasoning gives it that awesome flavor. I love to pair this with some vegan cornbread with vegan butter. You can also add vegan cheese, sour cream, and cilantro too! (TRUE pro tip: To make this dish even more fun, crumble some Fritos on top! This adds a perfect crunch and flavor.)
These vegan potato zucchini cakes were a quick recipe that I whipped up and they are truly becoming one of my favorite meals! With only three major ingredients, I don’t think they could get any easier to make.
Sometimes you just need a meal that feels wholesome. As a vegan, I eat a lot of “bowl meals,” meaning I throw a bunch of veggies and carbs into a bowl and eat it. It’s always filling and nutritious, but doesn’t exactly feel like I’m eating a proper sit-down meal. These breaded tofu steaks make for an easy, weeknight vegan meal that would be perfect for a family dinner or date night. They’re low maintenance, while also feeling a bit elevated. You can dress them up with well planned side dishes, or simply eat them like chicken nuggets––it’s totally up to you!
For those who think vegan food is always colorful, vibrant, or even “healthy,” this blog post is for you. The truth is, we’re all human--and even though making my food look appealing is a fun hobby, I don’t always eat carefully crafted meals. My meals are easy, they’re simple, and they’re (sometimes) filled with junk food!
These vegan summer rolls are what get me through those days when it’s so hot you barely have an appetite. They’re fresh, light, and super delicious! You can get even more creative with the recipe and fill them with other things like seitan, different kinds of noodles, Thai or regular basil, or even make them with fruit. If you don’t have powdered peanut butter for the peanut sauce, just use two tablespoons of regular crunchy or creamy peanut butter.
I love any kind of taco, but fish tacos might actually be my favorite! Luckily, these vegan fish tacos are a quick dinner and full of flavor. Gardein makes the best vegan fish and once these filets are crispy, they combine perfectly with homemade avocado crema, tangy pickled cabbage, and flour tortillas.
If I’m ever on a sandwich kick or the weather starts getting warmer, all I ever want is refreshing tangy chickpea salad! This is a super easy recipe that can be thrown together in less than 10 minutes. Smashed chickpeas, tangy pickles, red onion, and vegan mayo make this perfect for bringing on to spring picnic.
These are absolutely delicious and a great alternative to mashed potatoes if you're looking to add more legumes or protein to your diet! No one will know the difference.
Made with only three ingredients, they’re quick, easy, and the recipe makes a perfect 5 portions––great for meal prepping for the week! Heat them up in the microwave and you have an easy hot breakfast. They may not be pancakes, but they sure are good. :)
Ever go to a Japanese restaurant and order a salad? The ginger dressing they put on it always takes iceberg lettuce to another LEVEL. This vegan dressing is ridiculously easy to make, only 7 ingredients, and is done in minutes! Chop up some fresh lettuce, add some veggies, and pour this over it and you’ve got yourself a quick, fast, and flavorful dinner.
The January bitter cold has officially hit us here in Virginia, and whenever it gets super cold, all I crave is a warm bowl of soup. When it comes to soup, I like mine hearty and chunky. This Zuppa Toscana is perfect for a really cold night where all you want to do is curl up on the couch and watch movies. With hickory vegan bacon, meatless Italian sausage, and loads of fresh curly kale, this soup is sure to please.
These vegan greek tacos are high in plant protein and will be sure to satisfy your craving for Greek food! This recipe uses tempeh (fermented soybeans) which has great amounts of protein, is high in calcium, and also is rich in prebiotics which promotes healthy bacteria in your digestive system. Finish these tacos off with a sprinkle of dill and you have a perfect weeknight dinner!
Using only TVP (also known as textured vegetable protein), onion, and some household spices, you can have your own homemade vegan ground beef in less than 15 minutes! TVP is fairly cheap and goes a long way if you use it right. Super high in protein and low in fat––it’s essentially defatted soy flour––it is the perfect texture for making ground mock meats.
Food experiments stress me out. That’s why I was SO excited when I tried my own vegan kimchi recipe and it worked!
Here it is folks… my vegan mac and cheese recipe! I’m all about the flavor when it comes to mac and cheese, and I personally feel like baking it really brings the cheesy flavors out. And guess what? This recipe is nut free! No expensive cashews in sight here.
Sadly, salad is often used as a joke around vegans, since in some cases when eating out, it’s our only option. Restaurants may not quite know how to make a great salad, but if you’re at home, a salad has so many creative culinary options, it’s almost more exciting than any other dish. It can be whatever you want it to be! I think of a salad as a meal, not a side dish. Once you change your mindset, salad-making becomes an art.
