So I bet you’re wondering…what do vegans and vegetarians feast upon on Thanksgiving? Well a year ago, we were wondering the same thing and came across meat-less turkeys…yes, it’s a thing. We ended up purchasing a couple popular brands so we wouldn’t be missing out on those Thanksgiving feels. If you’re vegetarian, vegan, or just want to lessen your meat consumption this holiday season we have the insider’s knowledge below. These are similarly stocked on the shelves during the holidays along with the standard American classics. All are frozen so that you can purchase now for later, require little to no preparation and include sides. Now let’s get to the list!
Tofurkey
You’ve probably heard this term being tossed around in a mocking matter, but it’s no joke! Tofurkey will actually be selling its 5 millionth vegan holiday roast this Thanksgiving! It’s exactly what it sounds like too… a “tofu turkey”. This is the easiest to find as it’s quite popular among vegans and vegetarians. This non-gmo tofu and wheat blend was created in 1995 by a young teacher looking to provide a true meat-free turkey for meatless eaters to experience during holidays. This was the first of its kind and truly set the standard for meatless products. This has an overly-satisfying taste and texture paired well with the herbed wild rice stuffing.
How many servings: 5
Average price: $12.99
Gardein Holiday Roast
Within the past year, “Gardein” has become a household name with their scarily realistic ‘meats’ and flavors. Their holiday roast has a breaded outer layer which complements the moist traditional stuffing tucked in the middle.
How many servings: 8
Average price: $15.99
Field Roast Celebration Roast
Field Roast has many holiday roasts filled with feel-good earthy ingredients. Their popular is a classic 1lb roast that has a traditional stuffing compiled of cranberries, onions and butternut squash. One of their more sophisticated roasts, in our opinion, is their hazelnut cranberry en croute which is a fancy word for “delicately wrapped in a savory puff pastry”. The latter is our personal favorite.
How many servings: 8
Average price: $12.99
Trader Joe’s Vegan Turkey-less Stuffed Roast
Made from recognizable ingredients such as soy, peas, ancient grains and wheat, this meat alternative is breaded and filled with a wild rice cranberry stuffing. The crunchy texture and tender taste is that of sliced turkey, but without the meat of course. You’re always safe buying Trader Joe’s products as they never disappoint. This one is very reasonably priced at $9.99 for 40 oz… that’s a lot of food.
How many servings: 6
Average price: $9.99
Vegetarian Plus Whole Vegan Turkey
If you’re looking for a show stopping presentation, this is it. Their vegan ‘bird’ not only delivers a realistic taste but truly represents a holiday centerpiece. Surprisingly, it has the exact shape of a cooked turkey so it will really fool your dinner guests! It looks and tastes like the golden roasted turkey featured on the box and the included stuffing can be ‘stuffed’ inside. You can’t get any more real than that can you? Although, you’re definitely paying for the presentation.
How many servings: 26 people
Average Price: $49.99
Our ‘White Gloved’ recommendation: Call ahead if you will be traveling to get your meat-free turkey to ensure that they have them in stock. Our favorite is the Field Roast Hazelnut Cranberry Roast en Croute. Field Roast seems to be an all around popular choice among vegans and vegetarians alike and is reasonably priced!
After indulging in one of these cruelty-free entrees, don’t be shocked if you’re not tempted to stock your freezer for year-round delicacies. Gather together…Give Thanks…and eat a cruelty-free turkey this season!
This is very helpful as this iswill be my first thanksgiving as a vegetarian. I love Trader Joes will definitely look for this next week!!!
Good luck with your first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian, I’m sure you’ll do great! This year we bought Trader Joe’s turkey-less roast and Field Roast hazelnut cranberry roast for Thanksgiving!
So was the whole turkey good??
Hi Emily,
I wasn’t a huge fan of it. The presentation was on point but it didn’t have much flavor in my opinion. On the other hand, Alex liked it with hot sauce and he ended up eating the whole thing. We both don’t think it’s worth $49.99. You are better off getting Field Roast for a quarter of the price!