Cook Like a Vegan Pro: 17 Holiday Recipes From PETA Staff

The holidays are all about gathering with the people you love… and enjoying the rich, delectable food you’ve been looking forward to all year. To help you serve a feast that’s joyful for everyone, PETA staff members are sharing the vegan recipes they rely on for their own celebrations. From longtime family favorites to crowd-pleasing new dishes, try 17 of the best vegan holiday recipes according to PETA staff members:

Scrumptious Soups, Sides, and Appetizers

1. Creamy Soup to Warm You Up on the Coldest Nights

With its velvety texture and gentle curry heat, this Curried Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Soup combines winter squash and hearty red lentils for a bowl that’s both nourishing and full of flavor.

“When meeting my boyfriend’s parents for the first time a few years ago, I chose to be daring by including this soup on my menu despite never having made it before. Luckily for me, this recipe is as tasty as it is simple to make and was a triumph at our gathering. It has been a beloved staple on my holiday menu ever since.”

–Alex Misurella, development coordinator

2. The Perfect Gravy for Your Tofu Turkey or Pig-Free Ham

Rich, savory, and ready in minutes, this Easy Vegan Gravy enhances everything it touches, from mashed potatoes to holiday roasts. Simple ingredients come together to create a pourable, herb-infused sauce that belongs on every festive table

“This easy vegan gravy comes together so quickly, it’s a great addition to your holiday menus! I use white whole wheat flour instead, and I also increase the ¾ teaspoon of onion powder to a full teaspoon, and add one teaspoon of garlic powder. I also add 1 teaspoon each of dried thyme and dried rosemary (crushed in your palm and added).”

– Steph Goettge, senior special projects fundraising manager

3. A Twist on a Go-To Dip

Bright, tangy, and lightly spicy, this Fresh Cranberry Salsa gives classic cranberry dishes a zesty upgrade and pairs beautifully with chips, savory roasts, or anything on your plate that needs a pop of holiday flavor.

“This is great to eat with chips but also super-tasty on top of Tofurky, toast, or mashed potatoes—it’s just packed with flavor! I’ll usually pull from this recipe and then add more jalapeños and green onions and a little less sugar than what’s called for.”

–Sarah McCluskey, senior manager of e-mail marketing

Holiday Entrees That Are Kind to Every Kind

4. A Hearty Meal That Comes Together in Just 60 Minutes

This comforting 1-Hour Vegan Shepherd’s Pie layers savory vegetables, fragrant seasonings, and fluffy mashed potatoes to create a wholesome entrée that satisfies every guest. It’s a reliable, one-pan crowd pleaser that delivers maximum holiday goodness with minimal effort.

“This 1-Hour Vegan Shepherd’s Pie from Minimalist Baker has been my Thanksgiving MVP for the past eight years. It’s the perfect vegan holiday entrée that everyone can enjoy. It’s easy to make, hearty, delicious, and a real crowd-pleaser. Plus, it travels well and the leftovers are delish!”

– Kristin Dunn, senior director of individual giving

5. A Tofurkey Roast That Everyone Will Gobble Up

This festive Stuffed Tofu-Turkey roast features a seasoned tofu exterior wrapped around flavorful stuffing, baked to golden perfection. The best part is that no smart, gentle turkeys suffered to make it!

“I’ll always remember that the first Thanksgiving I made this roast, a girl I had a crush on came over for Black Friday shopping the next day and ate all my leftovers. I was just a baby vegan at the time, and it was the first time I experienced the bittersweet joy of seeing someone else choose the vegan option at the expense of getting a meal myself. Also pictured below is a squash dish from Oh She Glows, which has been a staple at family Thanksgivings and Christmases since 2012.”

– Chelsea Swinford-Johantges, membership communications special project manager

6. A Show-Stopping Holiday Centerpiece

The Ultimate Vegan Wellington layers savory mushrooms, herbs, and flaky pastry into an elegant main dish that looks as impressive as it tastes.

“This has been my go-to holiday recipe for a few years now. It’s a big hit with not only my boyfriend and me (we’re both vegan) but also the rest of my family (who are omnivores). This Wellington uses wonderful ingredients and packs a hearty, flavor-filled punch.”

– Sasha Moldavsky, editor and videographer

7. A Golden, Cheesy Crowd-Pleaser with Zero Fuss

This Cheezy Tater Tot Casserole comes together in minutes. It’s the kind of dish that goes quickly come dinner time, so consider making a double batch for hungry holiday guests.

Wendy Fernandez, campaigner

8. A Cozy Classic That Brings Everyone Back for Seconds

Warm, rich, and perfectly creamy, this Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese delivers all the creamy comfort without being cruel to cows.

“My partner and I make this baked mac and cheese every ‘ThanksVegan.’ We searched for a while to find a mac and cheese that reminded him of his mom’s recipe. It’s the highlight of our holiday.”

–Kiara Lynes, assistant Action Team coordinator

9. A Velvety Mac and Cheese Made for the Nut-Free Crowd

This simple, cashew-free sauce creates an unbelievably smooth, Vegan Mac and Cheese with just a handful of pantry staples.

“This cashew-free mac and cheese is so delicious and easy to make and has very few ingredients. I made it for my family recently, and everyone loved it. Later on, my sister made it for a block party and it was also a hit.”

– Cecilia Mabilais-Estevez, special projects generalist

10. A Savory Fall-Inspired Pasta in Minutes

This autumn-bright sauce blends pumpkin, nutritional yeast, and warm aromatics into a silky, comforting pasta dish.

“I love the Vegan Pumpkin Mac ‘n Cheeze Sauce from Oh She Glows. It’s a quick, easy, and crowd-pleasing recipe. There are no nuts or blending involved, and you get to skip the roux because the flour and milk are whisked together before they’re added to the pot. If you have a can of pumpkin and nutritional yeast (aka “nooch”), you’re already halfway there. I like to add minced garlic and onion and Field Roast Smoked Apple & Sage sausage and top with vegan parmesan and fried sage.”

– Kaitlyn Bodner, senior manager of membership services

11. A Creamy, Dreamy Pasta With a Kick

This Vegan Tortellini with Spicy Cauliflower Sauce is the perfect pasta staple for any wintery dinner.

“Since I went vegan, my mom has done a wonderful job of mimicking all our family’s favorite meals using plant ingredients instead. They rival the original recipes in taste with none of the cruelty. Her masterful adaptations of traditional recipes are so well done that I encouraged her to publish them for everyone to enjoy. You can find this recipe and others on her website.”

– Debbie Metzler, PETA Foundation director of captive animal welfare

Delightful Holiday Desserts

12. A Sweet, Elegant Treat From a Family Legacy

Delicate, buttery, and richly flavored, these Amaretto Almond Tarts are a timeless dessert that pairs beautifully with hot tea or coffee.

“This is one of my mother’s desserts that she learned to veganize after her daughter stopped eating anything stolen from an animal. She was a wonderful cook who made delicious puddings, trifles, blancmanges, rum cakes, jams, and tarts and who always dreamed of opening a tea shop. At the PETA office, whenever a parcel arrived containing almond tarts, there was a mad dash to score one. I miss her and her culinary creations.”

– Ingrid Newkirk, President

13. A Decadent Chocolate Indulgence

This impressive Chocolate Smlove Pie layers silky chocolate filling with caramel peanut butter and candied pecans for a dessert that tastes like a celebration in every bite.

“This chocolate pie topped with peanut butter caramel and candied pecans looks gorgeous and impressive but is surprisingly easy to put together. What does ‘Smlove’ mean? I have no idea, but you should definitely make this anyway.”

– Elizabeth Brion, senior content coordinator

14. A Retro Holiday Dish Made Compassionately

With vegan creamy whipped topping, gelatin-free marshmallows, and fruit, Vegan ‘Green Stuff’ (Vegan Watergate Salad) is a treat that often becomes the must-try dish at family gatherings.

“This dessert was one of my fave things to eat during the holidays growing up. Of course, that was until I realized what marshmallows were made of—yuck—and who the dairy used for whipped cream was stolen from. I now make this vegan version every year for my family, and it tastes even better without the cruelty to animals. It has such a unique texture and flavor. Everyone always asks for seconds. It’s called Watergate salad, but my fam has always just called it “green fluff.”

– Emily Jones, written communications manager

15. You Can’t Squash This Pies’ Fall Flavor

This Vegan Maple Pumpkin Pie is smooth, warmly spiced, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup for autumnal decadence.

“When I was in high school, my bus driver asked me to make a pumpkin pie with a pumpkin he had still sitting around after Halloween—I did, and every year since then, I’ve made maple pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, after I went vegan about 5 years ago, one failed attempt after another to veganize my recipe almost led me to believe that I’d have to give up my beloved tradition forever. But after discovering a few key ingredients (arrowroot, pureed tofu, and cornstarch) to replace the eggs, my tradition was saved. Finally, I have a scrumptious vegan version of my treasured recipe!

– Lincoln Athas, AV Lead Editor-Videographer

16. A Sugar Cookie Canvas for Holiday Cheer

These tender, buttery Vegan Watercolor Sugar Cookies hold their shape perfectly and make a flawless base for creative holiday decorating. The aquafaba royal icing dries glossy and smooth, making them a beautiful gift or fun, tasty treat.

“This is my famous vegan sugar cookie recipe with royal icing made with aquafaba (the juice from a can of chickpeas). I’ve shared it with so many people over the years and have used it to make cookies for every occasion. Every Thanksgiving, I make Krampus cookies, and in 2020, I used this recipe to make 10-year PETAversary cookies for myself.”

– Sam Garner, digital experience design senior manager

The Best Holiday Breakfast

17. An Easy Breakfast for Christmas Morning

This easy-to-make-ahead Vegan French Toast Casserole transforms simple ingredients into a warm, cinnamon-kissed breakfast.

“As a single mother and the oldest daughter, a lot of the holiday planning falls on me. It feels like nonstop chaos from the night before Thanksgiving until Christmas morning. That’s when all the mental, emotional, and physical labor of the past month pays off. I love this recipe because I can prepare it ahead of time and just put it in the oven after my son wakes me up to open presents. There is a true calm and joy in being able to relax on Christmas morning and have something warm, sweet, and delicious to offer my son and the family members who arrive first. I get to sit back, drink coffee, and truly enjoy the moments with my son, animal companions, and family members.”

– J. Sheffield, operations support manager

Be Kind to Every Kind This Holiday Season: Go Vegan

During the holidays, we gather with our loved ones to share meals, exchange gifts, and savor moments of comfort, but the animals used in the meat, egg, and dairy industries experience this season without such joys. When raised for food, gentle chickens, pigs, cows, turkeys, and other animals are crammed by the thousands into filthy, windowless sheds or into wire cages where the meat and dairy industries force them to spend their short lives before being killed. These cruel conditions are the norm for animals used for food, regardless of whether the packaging claims that the animals were treated “humanely” or were “grass-fed.”

Every animal is someone. Chickens love to play and will run, jump, and sunbathe when given the chance. Pigs enjoy music, like to play ball, and even relax during gentle massages. Mother cows form deep, lifelong bonds with their calves when the dirty dairy industry doesn’t forcibly separate them.

Choosing vegan foods during the holidays is one of the most meaningful ways to extend the peace, joy, and compassion of the season to all beings.