The Best Vegan Turkey Roast (and Other Plant Based Mains for Your Holiday Table)

The best vegan turkey roast shouldn’t feel like a punishment for people who’ve cut out meat. Being vegetarian is good for the planet, it’s good for animals, and it’s good for you—truly, a win-win-win situation—that is until a big meat-centric holiday dinner like Thanksgiving rolls around and you’re stuck eating a plateful of side dishes (but only the ones that weren’t made with poultry broth, sorry!).

The good news: There are more vegetarian turkey alternatives on the market than ever before, and that means a main course doesn’t have to be off the menu. Of course, every vegan turkey roast isn’t created equal. We fired up the oven and tried several of the biggest brands out there to find the best plant based turkey for Thanksgiving—and a veggie beef wellington, too.

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Best Gravy

Trader Joe’s Breaded Turkey-less Stuffed Roast

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s vegan turkey loaf is back! We removed it from our ranking last year because we couldn’t find it in stores, but it’s available this year, which is great. It’s a lot like the other vegetarian turkey loaves on this list: It’s a tube of fake turkey meat that’s been breaded and stuffed with stuffing. I know that sounds kind of nuts, but, trust me, it’s better than the little nude lump of fake turkey Tofurky sells. Our favorite thing about this particular vegan turkey roast? The gravy it comes with. It’s so savory, fatty, and flavorful—I truly do not understand why Trader Joe’s doesn’t sell this vegan gravy on its own! Anyway, if good gravy is essential to your vegan Thanksgiving meal, give this loaf a shot.

Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best for a Solo Thanksgiving

Gardein Savory Stuffed Turk’y

Vons

There’s no shame in having a solo Thanksgiving. It’s quiet. You can watch TV while you eat. And you can have your very own individual vegetarian turkey roast. Cute and delicious. Gardein, maker of our #1 vegan turkey roast—spoiler, sorry—also makes this little individual version and we love it. It’s vegetarian turkey, stuffed with cranberry and sage stuffing, breaded, and baked. So many vegetarian turkey roasts are so dry. Last year we ranked Tofurky, but eliminated it this year because we just couldn’t handle how dry it came out. Gardein’s plant-based turkey substitute is nice and moist. Honestly, the stuffing in the center doesn’t have much flavor, but the gravy it comes with helps a lot. If you don’t want a bunch of leftovers, this is the best vegetarian turkey option for you.

Credit: Liv Averett / Vons

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Unique

Field Roast Hazelnut & Cranberry Plant Based Roast

Instacart

If you like Field Roast products, you’ll love this roast, which is essentially just a big, honkin’ version of one of their meat-free sausages. Sporked editor-in-chief Justine Sterling liked how seasoned and salty this one is, but I personally have a hard time getting past the fact that the stuffing in the center of the loaf is exactly the same texture as the rest of the loaf (ie rubbery). While this may be the best vegan turkey alternative for someone who loves the brand, I have to say that Field Roast always gives me indigestion. If you’re similarly afflicted with agita, buckle up for a ride to burp city. 

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Gardein Plant-Based Turk’y Roast

Instacart

Walmart

I am not vegetarian, but I eat a lot of veggie meat products at home. Gardein is a favorite (their breaded turk’y cutlets and gravy make such a good, quick weeknight dinner), so I’m pleased to report that Gardein makes the best vegan turkey loaf out there. My biggest beef with vegan turkey (pun intended) is that it’s always so dense. Seriously, if you neglect to baste a Tofurky roast, you’re going to have to go at that thing with a hacksaw. Gardein’s turk’y is super tender, and the breading encasing the loaf is lightly seasoned and adds just a little bit of crunch. The stuffing inside isn’t the tastiest stuffing I’ve ever had, but bits of celery give it some texture, while cranberries contribute a subtle tart sweetness. Most importantly, the loaf comes with a packet of vegan gravy and the gravy actually tastes good. I would be stoked if someone served this to me on Thanksgiving! 

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Other products we tried: 365 Plant Based Roasts with Gravy & Mushroom Stuffing, Tofurky Veggie Roast & Wild Rice Stuffing, Field Roast Celebration Roast