I recently attempted a vegan Thanksgiving dinner in just three hours over on Youtube. The goal: make a gourmet-quality holiday dinner in just 3 hours (no boxed mixes or pre-made foods allowed).
Epic vegan Thanksgiving in just 3 hours
While I typically make 8 to 10 (sometimes, even 12) courses and spend 20 hours in the kitchen, I decided 2020 was too stressful to repeat that. Plus, since many of our Thanksgiving dinners (including my own) will be significantly smaller this year, I wanted to keep the menu on the small side and make it relatively fuss-free.
This five-course vegan Thanksgiving meal consists of three side veggie dishes (or two side dishes and an appetizer, depending on how you look at it), a hearty yet wholesome main dish, and an easy no-bake tart.
Most of these recipes are a bit more modern than classic Thanksgiving recipes for a few reasons. One, I already have several more traditional Thanksgiving recipes on my blog (mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, etc.). And two, my cooking style skews more modern and elegant than traditional.
- Creamy Lentil Stuffed Butternut Squash (main course)
- Sweet Chili-Ginger Brussels Sprouts (side dish)
- Roasted Carrots with Gremolata (side dish)
- Fresh Herb Salad with Sumac Shallots (starter or side dish)
- Salted Chocolate Cream Tart (dessert)
If you want so supplement this meal with something more carb-heavy and indulgent, I suggest either my miso butter mashed potatoes or my wild mushroom stuffing, or some fluffy bread rolls would be divine.
If you work efficiently and make the dessert ahead of time, you can easily make this five-course meal on Thanksgiving day in 3 hours or less.
Whether you make the whole menu or just one recipe, I hope you’ll enjoy these recipes this holiday season!
Creamy Lentil Stuffed Butternut Squash
Roasted butternut squash gets stuffed with a hearty and creamy lentil filling that is packed with umami and punchy flavors (sticky browned onions, lots of garlic and fresh herbs, red wine, tahini, balsamic vinegar). It makes for a hearty and satisfying main course that the whole family will love.
When ready to serve, drizzle with a creamy (and quick) sauce made from the scooped out butternut squash.
Creamy Lentil Stuffed Butternut Squash
Sweet Chili-Ginger Brussels Sprout
My holiday table is never complete without Brussels sprouts, so I love coming up with new and fresh ways to serve them. Like these Chinese-inspired Sweet Chili-Ginger Brussels Sprouts! Brussels sprouts get roasted until browned, then doused in a sticky, spicy and slightly sweet sauce with fresh ginger and garlic.
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Sweet Chili-Ginger Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds (680g) Brussels sprouts
- 2 1/2 tablespoons avocado oil, or neutral cooking oil of choice
Sweet Chili Sauce
- 3 tablespoons reduced-sodium tamari or soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons agave nectar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha, or other sweet-chili sauce
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar, aka rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water
Aromatics
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil or neutral cooking oil of choice
- 3 scallions sliced at a bias (white and light green parts only; reserve the dark green pieces for garnish)
- 1-inch (2.5 cm) piece fresh ginger, grated
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Garnishes
- 1/4 cup roasted cashews, chopped (optional; omit for nut-free)
- 1 tablespoon toasted white sesame seeds or black sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prep the sprouts. Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Wash the sprouts and remove any browned or tough outer layers. Cut the sprouts in half (if any sprouts are large, cut into quarters).
- Roast the sprouts. Spread the sprouts out on a baking sheet and drizzle with the oil. Season generously with salt and pepper and toss to coat with your hands. Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, tossing after 20 minutes, until the sprouts are nicely browned. If your sprouts are quite small, flip after 15 minutes and roast for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile make the Sweet Chili sauce. Whisk together the tamari or soy sauce, agave, water, sriracha, sesame oil, and rice vinegar in a small bowl until well combined.
- Sauté the aromatics. Just before the sprouts are done roasting (or after they’re done roasting), heat the 2 teaspoons oil in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the scallions, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring often until golden, about 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make cornstarch slurry: whisk together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until smooth and. no longer clumpy.
- Add the Sweet Chili Sauce to the frying pan and bring to a simmer. Then add the cornstarch slurry, stir well, and simmer until the sauce has thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Toss in the roasted sprouts and coat in the sauce. Sprinkle with sliced green scallion tops, roasted cashews (if using), and sesame seeds.
Roasted Carrots with Gremolata
For my next veggie side dish, I chose to make a simple carrot dish because (1) both veggies roast in the oven at the same temperature for the same time, so you save on a lot of time there; (2) I love starchy veggies on my Thanksgiving table; (3) and roasted carrots are so delicious that you don’t need much to turn them into a crowd pleasing side dish.
You do need to use skinny carrots if you want to roast them whole. If your carrots are standard-sized or large, you’ll want to cut them into half or quarters, lengthwise, and then into large chunks.
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Roasted Carrots with Gremolata
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 bunches of skinny carrots scrubbed clean and tops removed
- 2 ½ tablespoons regular olive oil
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Handful of fresh thyme sprigs optional
Gremolata
- 1 cup flat leaf parsley leaves and tender stems
- 2 large garlic cloves peeled
- 2 small organic lemons
- Coarse or flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Prep the carrots. Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). If some carrots are thicker, cut them lengthwise in half. In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil and maple syrup.
- Roast the carrots. Spread the carrots out on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with the oil-maple syrup mixture. Season generously with salt and pepper and toss to coat with your hands. Scatter the thyme sprigs on top. Roast the carrots for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring once after 15 minutes, until the carrots are tender and deeply browned in spots.
- Meanwhile, make the gremolata. Finely chop the parsley. Use a microplane to grate the garlic cloves directly over the carrot tops, or just finely mince the garlic with a knife. Then use a microplane to zest the lemons on top of this mixture, taking care to not zest the white pith underneath the skin. Chop everything together until well combined, sprinkle with a bit of coarse sea salt, and then transfer to a bowl.
- Once carrots are done roasting, sprinkle the gremolata on top and serve.
Fresh Herb Salad with Sumac Shallots
Since most holiday tables are packed with heavy, rich dishes, I love adding a salad into the mix to lighten things up. You can serve this salad as a starter, or as a palate-cleansing side dish.
And if salad sounds boring for the holidays, keep in mind that this is a fun and non-traditional salad. The base consists of cucumber ribbons, fresh herbs, scallions, and wedges of crisp Little Gem lettuce. The star of the show are the shallots, which get quickly marinated in vinegar and sumac, a spice common in Middle Eastern cooking that’s bright, tangy, citrusy yet a little earthy.
Big Vegan Flavor
Techniques and 150 recipes to master vegan cooking.
Fresh Herb Salad with Sumac Shallots
Ingredients
- 1 large shallot, sliced paper thin
- 1 tablespoon sumac
- 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar (can substitute red wine vinegar or white vinegar)
- A couple pinches kosher salt or 1 pinch sea salt
- 2 heads Little Gem lettuce
- 1 large English cucumber
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves and tender stems
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup dry roasted almonds, chopped (for nut-free, substitute roasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds or hemp seeds)
- 2 tablespoons good-quality extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Marinate the shallots. Mix together the shallots with the sumac, vinegar, and salt in a bowl. Use your hands to combine and allow to marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 30 minutes.
- Shaved the cucumber into ribbons using a Y-shaped vegetable peeler. Slice the Little Gem lettuce heads into quarters.
- In a bowl, combine the shaved cucumbers, parsley, mint, and scallions. Lightly sprinkle with salt. Drizzle the olive oil and lemon juice and gently toss to combine.
- Transfer the salad to a serving platter or bowl. Top with the quartered lettuce heads. Spread the marinated shallot slices on top and scatter around the chopped almonds. Toss gently and serve.
Salted Chocolate Cream Tart
While pie (and pumpkin) is more traditional for Thanksgiving, I prefer tarts because they’re so much easier and quicker to make. And while I definitely enjoy pumpkin desserts, not everyone in my family does so I often end up making a chocolate dessert, which is guaranteed to satisfy every appetite.
And this salted chocolate cream tart is a no-brainer when it comes to an easy holiday meal. With a no-bake brownie base and a creamy salted chocolate filling, it’s rich and creamy but made with wholesome ingredients and requires no baking. Best of all, it can be made several days in advance for a stress-free holiday.
The hardest part about this recipe: remembering to refrigerate your coconut cream a day in advance.
Vegan Salted Chocolate Cream Tart
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Hi Nisha. I would like to make Sweet Chili-Ginger Brussels Sprouts & was wondering if I can substitute maple syrup for agave? If so what should be the quantity. I want to make this for Christmas. Thanks
Hi Jugnoo, you can just substitute with an equal amount of agave. Enjoy and merry Christmas! :)
Such great flavor and texture!
Thanks for the lovely feedback, Adriana!
Everything was so good, and easy to make. It took me longer than 3 hrs too but that’s just how I am. We are enjoying the leftovers today! This meal made thanksgiving perfect and memorable.
Hi Meg, we’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Thanksgiving menu! :) Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!
I made these brussel sprouts for Thanksgiving yesterday and they were a complete hit! Several folks listed it as their favorite dish and asked for the recipe. I am going to have to make it part of my regular lineup.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Laura! It makes us happy to know that everyone enjoyed the recipe.
These were so good! Everyone loved them .
Thanks for the lovely feedback, Heidi!
Made a version of this feast for Christmas! (Omitted the dessert and brussels and added in the wild mushroom stuffing). It did take me a full 5 hours (I’m not so efficient!), but it was totally worth it. Everything was amazingly delicious, the meal plan layout was so helpful, and my whole (non-vegan) family had nothing but praise. A true winner!
We’re thrilled to hear it, Erin! Thanks for trying the recipes :)
Hey Nisha, I can’t get the Creamy Lentil Stuffed Butternut Squash to print. When I click the button, it reverts back to this page. All the others worked though. Can you look at that? I really want to print this recipe!
Hi Angela, that’s so odd because on our end we’re able to print it out. Does it work for you now?
I can always count on your recipes! So delicious!
Awesome, Cecilia. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!
It was so helpful to have this meal plan. The sweet chili Brussels were our favorites!
Thanks for sharing, Max!
I plan to make the Creamy Lentil Stuffed Butternut Squash. Is it possible to omit the red wine from the recipe or can I substitute it for something else?
Hi Jennifer, you can omit the red wine and substitute vegetable broth in the recipe instead. Happy cooking!
I made this for my vegan husband and MIL, and they loved it. My husband told me my MIL whispered to him that the lentil stuffed squash was the best item on her plate. She even took one of the squash home as a left over — and it was the only item she took! My non-vegan mom even tried it and raved about how good it was. Thank you for a wonderful, holiday-worthy main course! This is going in the ‘to keep’ vegan recipe binder.
Cathy, So glad to hear you all loved this recipe! Thank you for sharing your experience :)
Made this for thanksgiving and it was such a big hit! I prepped ahead and made the chocolate tart a day in advance and everything else came together surprisingly fast and easily. Everything was so delicious, with the Brussels sprouts being the absolute favorite! I will definitely make them again. All the flavors in everything were so vibrant and balanced and definitely not too heavy. I used one large squash instead of 3 medium and it was more than enough food. Everything impressed my non vegan family. If you want to add a course I highly recommend pairing with Nisha’s pumpkin ricotta stuffed shells. YUM. Thank you so much for delicious recipes and happy thanksgiving
Awesome, Sophie. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed the Thanksgiving menu!
I’m from Australia and I’m very jealous of Thanksgiving food so I just decided to invite some friends over and do it anyway! This was the best dinner I’ve ever made thanks to your recipes. Everyone raved about every course and they’re not Vegan at all! Thanks so much Nisha!
LOL, we are delighted to hear you celebrated Thanksgiving with the Rainbow Plant Life recipes… all the way from Australia! Thank you for trying them Laura!
Thanks for this fantastic meal plan!! Happy and peaceful Thanksgiving 2021 everybody
Of course, Max! Happy Thanksgiving!
Nisha, I made this last year when we were supposed to have a teeny quarantine thanksgiving with my cousins, who had just had a baby. We ended up cancelling and I just took the dishes over to them and by the time I got home I had like 20 texts saying how good the food was. It was hands down my favorite thing I’ve ever made and I was told/threatened to make it again this year and not change anything. Thank you so much for this dish, it brightened up a horrible year last year, and this year my family gets to enjoy it together. The flavor boosters for the lentils are insane and you are a genius!
Aw, thank you so much for sharing your story Meg. We are thrilled you and your family were big fans of the food! You are too kind. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Made this menu last year. It was fabulous. A lot of cooking for our small immediate family in quarantine. This year we are actually having people over and a pot luck. So, I am struggling with which of all this fabulousness to pick for my contribution for the meal. Happy cooking.
Hi Evelyn, we’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the recipes! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!
i’ve been making the sprouts on repeat (nearly every couple of days) since you’ve first posted the recipe. everyone requests for it and even sprout haters love them. well done, nisha and thanks so much 🙈