Budget-Friendly, Compassionate, and Delicious: Vegan Thanksgiving for Four Under $20

Preparing a delicious Thanksgiving feast doesn’t have to break the bank.With grocery prices on the rise this year, many shoppers are worried about how to put a meal on the table without overspending. The good news? Vegan meals are a win for your wallet—and with many vegan staples staying affordable even with inflation, serving flavor, nourishment, and kindness is a piece of vegan pumpkin pie.

Here’s a guide to a Thanksgiving meal for four, all under $20. Take a look and see how easy, budget-friendly, and festively filling compassionate cooking can be. (Plus, many of these dishes include ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, so you won’t need to spend a penny extra!)

Main Dish

Side Dishes

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

• Ingredients: russet potatoes, garlic, plant milk, vegan butter
• Cost: ~$3

Sweet Corn

• Ingredients: canned corn, vegan butter, salt, pepper
• Cost: ~$1

Simple Vegan Stuffing

• Ingredients: day-old bread cubes, onion, celery, garlic, vegetable broth, herbs (sage, thyme)
• Cost: ~$4

Dessert

Simple Vegan Pumpkin Pie

• Ingredients: canned pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, plant milk, store-brand pie crust
• Cost: ~$3

Budget Breakdown (Approximate)

• Celebration Roast: $9
• Mashed Potatoes: $3
• Corn: $1
• Stuffing: $4
• Pumpkin Pie: $3
• Total: $20

Other Affordable Side Dishes

Sautéed Green Beans

• Ingredients: green beans, garlic, lemon
• Cost: ~$2

Roasted Carrots with Herbs

• Ingredients: Carrots, olive oil, thyme, salt
• Cost: ~$2

Cranberry Sauce (from frozen or canned cranberries)

• Ingredients: frozen cranberries, sugar, orange zest (or canned cranberries served as is!)
• Cost: ~$2–3

Glazed Roasted Sweet Potatoes

• Ingredients: Cubed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon
• Cost: ~$3

Garlic Bread

• Ingredients: toasted bread, vegan butter, garlic, parsley
• Cost: ~$2

Coleslaw

• Ingredients: shredded cabbage, carrots, simple vinegar dressing
• Cost: ~$2

Roasted Beets

• Ingredients: beets, olive oil, balsamic vinegar
• Cost: ~$3

Simple Stuffed Mushrooms

• Ingredients: button mushrooms, breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs
• Cost: ~$3

Apple Salad

• Ingredients: diced apples, celery, raisins, light vinaigrette
• Cost: ~$2

Dine, Be Kind, and Keep Our Fellow Animals in Mind

See how easy it is to save money and animals? This ThanksVegan and beyond, put compassion on the table—because every animal is someone. Turkeys, when not trapped on farms, spend their days foraging, building nests, and taking dust baths. Like all mothers, cows nurture and protect their precious babies. (And remember: It doesn’t matter if a bogus “humane” label is slapped on someone’s flesh, eggs, or milk—these “products” all come from extreme suffering, confinement, and exploitation, no matter what the packaging deceptively claims.)

For more tips and recipes, check out PETA’s guide to the ultimate ThanksVegan:

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