What’s a good vegan Thanksgiving dish that can fool my non-vegan family?

I have some vegan relatives, but I feel like my family isn’t very welcoming to their food choices. I thought it might be fun to cook a vegan dish for Thanksgiving and pass it off as non-vegan at first. I want it to taste great and blend in with everything else. Anyone have suggestions for a dish that’s traditional but could easily be mistaken for the regular version?

Stuffing is a great option! You can swap butter for plant-based butter (Miyokos is a favorite) and use veggie stock (Better Than Bouillon No Chicken is a good vegan option). No one will notice the difference!

I’ve got a fantastic broccoli mac and cheese recipe that’s super convincing. If you think it could work for Thanksgiving, I’d be happy to share it. Other side dishes like mashed potatoes and stuffing can be easily made vegan without affecting the taste much. For a main dish, you could try something like Juicy Marbles, which mimics braised brisket, but it’s quite pricey. If you’re up for spending a bit more, it could be a good option.

@Sawyer
That recipe sounds amazing! Could you share it with me?

@Sawyer
I’m all for spending a bit more and getting creative. I’ll definitely check out that brisket. The mac and cheese sounds like a winner too, I’d love the recipe!

@Sawyer
I’d really love to get that mac and cheese recipe if possible!

Arden said:
@Sawyer
I’d really love to get that mac and cheese recipe if possible!

Sure! I’ll write up the full recipe soon.

@Sawyer
Unfortunately, the link isn’t working for me. Could you possibly share it another way?

@Sawyer
The link isn’t opening for me either. Would love to try it though!

I’ve made stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and green bean casserole before, and they’re easy to make vegan. Just swap butter, milk, and cream with plant-based substitutes. For a main dish, Tofurkey makes a small ham that you could get creative with—either as a tiny roast ham or add it to vegan scalloped potatoes.

@Jai
I think small changes like using oat milk or plant butter are perfect, especially for a family that’s skeptical of vegan food. If someone else brings the dish, no one will notice it’s vegan. I think something like roasted carrots might be seen as too obviously vegan, but a non-vegan family member bringing it is a different story. Also, here’s a few great vegan recipes I’ve found:

https://rainbowplantlife.com/vegan-brown-butter-sweet-potato-casserole/#recipe

https://makeitdairyfree.com/cheesy-vegan-potato-and-onion-puff-pastries/#recipe

https://jackfruitful.com/cranberry-salsa/#recipe

These are all vegan but super tasty!

I’ve made an incredible vegan pumpkin pie before, and it fooled everyone! I used this recipe and it was so good that a non-vegan friend asked for it and has been making it every year. For mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole, you can just use vegan butter and milk—no one will notice. Also, I highly recommend this candied yams recipe—it’s delicious!

Here’s the link for the pie: https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/easy-vegan-pumpkin-pie/

Here’s the candied yams: https://pin.it/7vfRbXA8H

@Ellis
Thanks for sharing the pie link! I’ve been looking for a good recipe for ages.

I’ve made this vegan spinach artichoke dip a couple of times for family gatherings, and it’s always a hit. Even my non-vegan sister didn’t realize it was dairy-free until I told her. I usually use Tofutti cream cheese and Violife shreds. It’s a simple recipe and can be reheated if needed. You can find the recipe here:

I made a vegan shepherd’s pie that won first place at a pie contest this summer! No one knew it was vegan until the winner was announced. It’s been requested for Thanksgiving by my non-vegan family. I have the recipe posted if you’re interested in trying it.

@Merrill
That sounds exactly like what I was thinking of making! I’ve been researching vegan shepherd’s pie. I was planning to use Impossible meat, but I’m worried it might cook differently than regular meat. I’ll check out your recipe. Thanks for sharing!

This baked vegan mac and cheese recipe is incredible and tastes just like the real thing. It’s easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser!

Here’s the link: https://lovingitvegan.com/baked-vegan-mac-and-cheese/

I’ve been making this vegan green bean casserole recipe for years and it’s always perfect. Here’s the link to the recipe:

https://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-green-bean-casserole/

Yams with vegan marshmallows and butter taste exactly like the traditional version. It’s a great side dish to bring!

I don’t do Thanksgiving in the UK, but I’ve made similar meals. Honestly, while most vegan substitutes are tasty, they usually don’t fool meat-eaters, especially when it comes to things like mac and cheese or ‘meats’ for the main dish. But sides can be more successful, though people who are used to cow’s milk might notice the difference in flavors like oat or soy milk. I usually make dishes that are entirely plant-based with no substitutes, and present them well. For example, I made a Yuletide pie once with stuffing and veggies inside a pastry shell. It was a beautiful centerpiece and sliced really well.