It’s time to start planning the most anticipated meal of the year. It may only take an hour or so to eat it but the Thanksgiving dinner is planned, talked about and strategized for months prior. When turkey is not on the table, there’s even more planning to do. The big question is what will be the centerpiece of the table if meat is not an option?

Not to worry because there are plenty of alternatives if you want something “meaty” but meat-free on the table. Over the years, the number of plant-based meats has exploded, and companies are making sure there are lots of delicious choices that will please everyone on the guest list. Here are the best plant-based meats for Thanksgiving.

For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  – with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan, plant-based and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help you get healthy!

Also, don’t forget to check out our ultimate guide to plant-based recipes for Thanksgiving!

1. Tofurky Holiday Products

The name “Tofurky” may be uttered in a lot of jokes about plant-based eating, but Tofurky has been “America’s leading turkey alternative since 1995.” When the first Tofurky Roast was introduced, people who chose to eat meat-free no longer needed to feel left out of holiday dinners. Tofurky roasts have a meat-like texture and delicious, savory flavor. Tofurky offers several products for the holidays. The Tofurky Roast is a pre-cooked, all veggie roast made from a tofu-wheat-protein blend. It comes stuffed with wild rice and whole wheat bread crumb stuffing. It carves up just like a boneless turkey breast. The Savory Gravy is a rich brown gravy with herbs and spices that is perfect poured over the roast. All you have to do is heat it up. You can buy the roast and the savory gravy separately or together in one box. You can also purchase the Tofurky Feast has everything you need for a family dinner. It comes with a Tofurky roast, wild rice stuffing, savory gravy, Jurky Wishstix so you can make a wish on something other than a bone and a vegan fudge brownie for everyone to share. The feast only takes about an hour to prepare and can feed up to six people.

2. Field Roast Celebration Roast with Traditional Bread Stuffing and Gravy

The one-pound Field Roast Celebration Roast that everyone has loved for over a decade (and my favorite way to make a turkey-like sandwich) now comes in a two-pound version complete with all the trimmings. The roast is seasoned with rubbed sage, garlic, and lemon juice. The texture is magnificent, and the taste is incredible. It comes with a traditional bread stuffing made with onions, celery, cranberries and butternut squash. It gets topped off with a rich, earthy mushroom gravy made with porcini and shiitake mushrooms. This boxed dinner can feed up to eight people.

3. Field Roast Hazelnut Cranberry Roast en Croute

When you really want to wow your guests, watch their faces as you set down the Field Roast Hazelnut Cranberry Roast en Croute. It’s a two-pound veggie roast made of rich hazelnut-infused grain meat. It’s stuffed with the Field Roast sausages we all know and love plus crystallized ginger, cranberries, and apples. Then it’s all wrapped in an amazing savory puff pastry. This beautiful roast can feed up to eight people.

4. Field Roast Smokey Forager’s Roast

If you are looking for a more out of the ordinary product in the Field Roast holiday lineup, we think you should check out the Smokey Forager’s Roast. This two-pound roast is made with a rich, smokey tomato grain meat seasoned with a special blend of spices. It’s stuffed with a traditional bread and wild rice stuffing that also contains chanterelle mushrooms and wild huckleberries gathered in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. The roast is topped with a pineapple mustard glaze for a sweet and savory finish. This roast can feed up to eight people.

5. Vegetarian Plus Whole Vegan Turkey

If you want a vegan turkey that actually looks like a turkey, drumsticks and all, then the Vegetarian Plus Whole Vegan Turkey is your best choice. The fully cooked, four-pound meatless turkey is made from non-GMO soy and wheat. It is firm, moist and slices easily. It comes with one-pound of vegan stuffing and a one-pound package of vegan mushroom-flavored gravy that all you have to is heat up. The box says that one whole vegan turkey feeds twenty-six people, so it’s a good choice if you have to feed a crowd.

6. Vegetarian Plus Vegan Turkey Roll

If you would rather not have the drumsticks, Vegetarian Plus also makes a Vegan Turkey Roll. The turkey roll is firm and moist, made with non-GMO soy and slices beautifully. It comes with a cinnamon-berry glaze to brush over the top. The one-pound roll feeds four to six people.

7. Gardein Savory Stuffed Turk’y with Gravy

Gardein makes Savory Stuffed Turk’y with Gravy – the perfect choice for small gatherings or when you want to serve individual portions. These yummy stuffed “turkey” rolls are breaded and stuffed with breadcrumbs, celery, onions and cranberries. They also come with a rich and tasty gravy. Each package contains two stuffed “turkey” rolls and two servings of gravy.

8. Gardein Holiday Roast

If you need to feed a larger crowd, the Gardein Holiday Roast is perfect. The roast weighs over two pounds and has a firm texture that can be sliced. The tasty Gardein “meat” is wrapped around a delightful wild rice stuffing with cranberries. It comes with two packets of gravy that you only need to reheat. One roast can feed up to eight people.

9. Trader Joe’s Breaded Turkey-less Stuffed Roast with Gravy

If you’re fortunate enough to live near a Trader Joe’s market, they offer a Breaded Turkey-less Stuffed Roast with Gravy. The one-pound roast is made with ancient grain flour and seasoned soy protein. It has a great texture and delicious flavor especially because the roast is breaded and seasoned with herbs and red pepper flakes. The roast is filled with a wild rice stuffing with cranberries. It also comes with gravy to top it all off. The roast can feed up to six people.

10. Make Your Own

Of course, you can always choose to make your own Thanksgiving “meaty” main course. We have lots of articles and recipes that can help with that. Check out The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Meats and Meat Substitutes to learn about all the different types of vegan meats. Try making The Unturkey Roast, which is two pounds of vegan deliciousness that can feed the whole family. This Stuffed Seitan Roast will deserve the place of honor on your family table. For gluten-free entrées, make this hearty Gluten-Free Veggie Roast made with rice and beans.

Another option is my V-Turkey, which is my vegan, gluten-free version of turkey cutlets. Flavored with sage and other herbs, this will satisfy everyone including the meat-eaters. Get lots of recipes and ideas in 7 Delicious Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving Without the Turkey and 25 Meatless Thanksgiving Main Courses.

Ease your mind about not having a turkey on the table. Whether you’re feeding two people or twenty-two friends and relatives, these plant-based meat alternatives will have everyone asking for seconds.

Recommended Resources For Thanksgiving:

Check out the following resources:

• Try These 15 Awesome Green Bean Recipes This Thanksgiving!
• 15 Vegan Pasta Sides to Try This Thanksgiving!
• Save Room for Dessert! You Won’t Want to Skip These 20 Amazing Thanksgiving Desserts
• 15 Vegan Seasonal Mashed Vegetable Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Table
• 25 Amazing Vegan Desserts for Your Thanksgiving Table
• 15 Plant-Based Recipes For the Perfect Southern Thanksgiving
• 15 Stunning Thanksgiving Entrées Made With Just Vegetables
• 15 Vegan Small Plates and Starters for Your Thanksgiving Feast
• Make Your Thanksgiving the Best Ever With These 15 Grain-Free Recipes
• 15 Delicious Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Side Dishes
• 10 Gorgeous Vegan Gravy Recipes For Your Thanksgiving Menu!
• 5 Great Ideas To Make Your Thanksgiving Drinks Dazzling and Delicious
• 15 Cranberry Recipes For Thanksgiving That Are Vegan!
• Tips and Tricks to Making a Plant-Based Meatloaf For Thanksgiving
• Five Fantastic Vegan Stuffing Recipes for Thanksgiving!
• 10 Vegan Casseroles Perfect For Your Thanksgiving Dinner
• 7 Delicious Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving Without the Turkey

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Lead image source: Field Roast Hazelnut Cranberry Roast en Croute