Stress-Free Thanksgiving: 10 Quick & Easy Vegan Dishes Ready in 15 Minutes or Less

Happy Thanksgiving Week, everyone! The holiday season is upon us, bringing with it the joyous chaos of family gatherings, festive meals, and the inevitable last-minute culinary scramble. If you’re anything like me, you often find yourself needing a delicious dish to bring to a Thanksgiving dinner or a Friendsgiving feast, but time is always of the essence. You want something impressive, flavorful, and, ideally, plant-based – but who has hours to spend in the kitchen?

Well, friends, I’ve got you covered! Following the fantastic response to my extensive roundup of 50 vegan and vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes, many of you asked for the quickest options among them. This curated list is designed specifically for those moments when you need a show-stopping dish with minimal fuss. Every single recipe here boasts a prep time of **15 minutes or LESS**, making your holiday cooking truly stress-free. From appetizers that will dazzle your guests to satisfying main courses and delightful desserts, this collection offers a diverse range of plant-based wonders that are not only incredibly easy to prepare but also bursting with incredible flavor. You’ll be amazed at what you can create with just a few ingredients and a short amount of time. Get ready to impress everyone with these fantastic vegan Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving recipes!

P.S. This list has been thoughtfully updated to ensure all recipes are vegan and feature some of our newest and most beloved creations. Enjoy every bite!

Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers & Starters

Stuffed Mushrooms with Coconut Bacon

These stuffed mushrooms are an absolute dream come true and easily rank as one of my favorite Thanksgiving appetizers. Imagine tender mushroom caps generously filled with a savory mixture, then crowned with crispy, smoky coconut bacon. The combination is simply irresistible! They’re not only incredibly flavorful but also perfectly portioned, making them easy to serve and enjoy at any holiday gathering. With minimal prep time, these vegan stuffed mushrooms are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser and disappear quickly from the appetizer spread. They’re a fantastic way to kick off your Thanksgiving feast with a sophisticated yet simple plant-based bite.

Cranberry Orange Sauce

No Thanksgiving dinner is complete without the vibrant, tangy sweetness of cranberry sauce, and this Cranberry Orange Sauce is an absolute must-have. Forget the canned stuff – this homemade version is not only superior in taste but also unbelievably quick and easy to make. With just 5 minutes of prep and only three simple ingredients, you can whip up a fresh, flavorful sauce that will elevate every dish on your plate. You simply combine everything and let it simmer down to perfection. The best part? It’s incredibly versatile! Feel free to customize it with a splash of bourbon for a boozy kick, a pinch of cinnamon or star anise for warmth, or even some fresh ginger for an extra layer of flavor. This sauce is a non-negotiable addition to your holiday table, whether it’s for Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving.

Scrumptious Vegan Thanksgiving Sides & Salads

Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Ginger Sauce

Prepare for a bold statement: this Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad is hands down my favorite salad ever! Its popularity isn’t just my opinion – the recipe video has garnered over a million views, proving it’s a guaranteed hit with any crowd, especially for your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving celebration. Requiring just 10 minutes of prep, this salad is packed with vibrant flavors and textures, serving many people effortlessly. The star of the show is undoubtedly the fantastic Peanut Ginger Sauce that ties everything together. If you’re navigating allergies, don’t worry – the peanut butter can be easily swapped for almond butter, sunflower butter, or even tahini, making it adaptable for everyone at your table. It’s a fresh, exciting, and satisfying side dish that offers a delightful contrast to traditional holiday fare.

Cornbread Muffins (Gluten-Free & Vegan)

These gluten-free and vegan cornbread muffins are an absolute delight – wonderfully yummy and incredibly easy to prepare. With just 8 minutes of active prep time, you can have a batch of these perfectly flavored muffins ready for your holiday table. Their individual muffin form makes them incredibly convenient for transport and serving, eliminating any fuss. They capture that quintessential cornbread flavor we all love, making them a comforting and familiar addition to your Thanksgiving spread. For those who enjoy a little extra kick, I highly recommend adding some finely diced jalapeños to the batter or sprinkling them on top. And, of course, a generous drizzle of maple syrup takes these warm, fluffy muffins to an entirely new level of deliciousness!

Maple Garlic Roasted Carrots with Optional Chimichurri

Elevate your Thanksgiving side dish game with these Maple Garlic Roasted Carrots – truly one of the prettiest and most flavorful accompaniments you can make. I often incorporate purple carrots into the mix to create an even more visually stunning presentation. Roasting them transforms their natural sweetness, infusing them with aromatic garlic notes, resulting in tender, fragrant perfection. The prep time is a mere 10 minutes, making this an ideal last-minute addition to your meal. While the carrots are divine on their own, adding a fresh chimichurri drizzle on top introduces another incredible layer of bright, herbaceous flavor that beautifully complements the sweetness of the carrots. It’s a simple side that looks and tastes gourmet.

Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Pecans

This dish is an absolute stunner and incredibly easy to prepare, perfect for a memorable Thanksgiving side. These Brussels sprouts are roasted to perfection, achieving a beautiful caramelization that makes them irresistibly sweet – almost like candy! The addition of crisp apples and toasted pecans takes this recipe over the top, providing delightful textural contrast and nutty flavor. For an extra touch of decadence, I love crumbling some vegan soft cheese into the mix before serving. If you know anyone who claims to be a Brussels sprouts hater, this dish is guaranteed to convert them. With minimal prep time and maximum flavor, it’s a real treat that will shine on your holiday table.

Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Quinoa and Apple Salad with Sweet Orange Vinaigrette

While the initial prep time for this incredible salad is noted as 30 minutes, there’s a fantastic shortcut: if you opt for pre-shaved Brussels sprouts, you can literally cut the prep time in half, making it perfectly suitable for a last-minute Thanksgiving dish! This Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Quinoa, and Apple Salad was my absolute favorite last year, and it continues to be a wonderful choice for both Thanksgiving and throughout the winter season. It offers a refreshing and crisp contrast to heavier holiday fare, with the nutty quinoa and sweet apples complementing the slightly bitter Brussels sprouts. The highlight, however, is undoubtedly the AMAZING Sweet Orange Vinaigrette – it brings a burst of bright, citrusy flavor that ties all the elements together beautifully, creating a truly memorable side dish.

Hearty Vegan Thanksgiving Main Dish

King’s Shepherd’s Pie (Vegan)

Yes, you read that right – a substantial main dish with wonderfully low prep time! This King’s Shepherd’s Pie is a true showstopper that proves you don’t need hours in the kitchen to create a comforting and impressive centerpiece for your Thanksgiving feast. My entire family, both vegans and non-vegans alike, absolutely devoured this dish, giving it a universal seal of approval. It comes together remarkably quickly on the stovetop, building rich, savory flavors, before being transferred to the oven for a final bake that yields a golden, bubbling top. This hearty, plant-based Shepherd’s Pie is incredibly satisfying and comforting, making it a perfect main course. I guarantee this dish will be remembered and requested at your Thanksgiving table for years to come!

Delightful Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts

Vegan Apple Pie Bars (with Salted Caramel Sauce)

These Vegan Apple Pie Bars are the epitome of decadence and ease, making them a perfect last-minute dessert for your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving celebration! With just 15 minutes of hands-on prep, you can create a dessert that tastes just like a classic apple pie but in a convenient, shareable bar form. The tender, spiced apple filling nestled in a flaky crust is utterly delicious. What truly takes these bars over the top is the luscious salted caramel sauce – it’s an absolute MUST! This sauce can be effortlessly prepared while the bars are baking, adding a rich, sweet, and slightly salty finish that elevates the entire dish. These bars are a guaranteed hit and will definitely make for a divine, stress-free dessert!

Vegan Cinnamon Baked Pears

For a naturally sweet and elegant dessert that requires minimal effort, these Vegan Cinnamon Baked Pears are an outstanding choice. They’re incredibly simple to assemble but deliver impressive flavor and a beautiful presentation. Imagine tender, juicy pears baked until soft, infused with warm cinnamon, and topped with a delightful crunchy streusel. This dessert is light yet satisfying, offering a wonderful contrast to heavier holiday sweets. It’s a fantastic option if you’re looking for a refined, wholesome, and quick-to-prepare treat for your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving gathering. Serve them warm, perhaps with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream, for an utterly divine finish to your meal. With very little prep time, you’ll have a dessert that tastes like it took hours!

I truly hope this curated selection of quick and easy vegan Thanksgiving dishes has provided you with plenty of inspiration and relief for your holiday planning. Whether you’re bringing a dish to a potluck or hosting a full feast, these recipes prove that delicious, plant-based food can be prepared in 15 minutes or less, without sacrificing flavor or elegance. Which of these fantastic dishes will you be making to celebrate this year?

Happy Thanksgiving when it comes! Here’s to enjoying good, nutritious, and absolutely divine food with loved ones, making memories around a table filled with incredible flavors and stress-free moments. Enjoy every bite!