Do you have some vegans amongst your family and friends coming over for Thanksgiving dinner? Or perhaps you are just looking for a lighter, veggie-based appetizer to kick-off one of the biggest feasts of the year? Get if off on the right foot by offering an assortment of vegan appetizers even meat lovers will want to bite into.

What's great about these vegan Thanksgiving appetizers is that most recipes double as side dishes and even as an alternative main course. Pick a few and kill three birds at once: you'll have plenty of vegan options for vegan guests, extra sides for some very hungry people, and additional tasty dishes for those who want to skip the turkey.

10 Easy and Tasty Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers

1. Brussels Sprouts with Dates and Pine Nuts

These tender Brussels sprouts with pan-fried dates are great as an appetizer and side dish for any kind of main. Brussels sprouts are boiled then fried on the pan for extra texture. A balance of both savoury and sweet flavours makes this veg dish irresistible! 

2. Tiny Potato Cakes

These vegan potato cakes contain cabbage, carrots and soy sauce. The mashed potato crust is a breeze to pull together and is gluten-free as well. This no-fuss recipe is cooked in a muffin tin so that the oven can do most of the work. Boil a large batch of potatoes and make your usual mashed potatoes while you are at it.

3. Vegan Schnitzel

Eggplant slices make an excellent vehicle for vegan schnitzel. The crispy crust is laced with herbs that match perfectly with a traditional Thanksgiving menu. This can also become a nice light main dish depending on the size of the eggplants. Substitute any vegetable oil for the avocado oil if you can't find the latter.  

4. Baked Sweet Potatoes with Beetroot Cream

Jazz up some sweet potatoes with creamy soy yoghurt and beetroot that is not only delicious but also pretty. These baked sweet potatoes can also double up as an alternative to the turkey.

5. Vegan Couscous Cakes

Mashed turnip, carrots and onions add body and flavor to these irresistible couscous cakes. Make a large batch of them and freeze ahead of Thanksgiving dinner. Just remember to add a couple of extra minutes to the cooking time if you are baking them straight from frozen. 

6. Potato casserole with Tomatoes and Onions

Potato casserole doesn't always have to be covered in cream to be tasty - go for a lighter version that is also vegan-friendly with this potato, tomato, onion and herb combination.

7. Eggplant Tower

Add height to your Thanksgiving table with this tower of pan-fried eggplant, vegetables and tofu. Make sure to grab a firm tofu that will hold its shape while also absorbing the juices. 

8. Swiss Chard Tart

Add a Michelin star chef touch to your vegan Thanksgiving with this elegant gourmet vegan appetizer that was developed by chef Pietro Leemann from the famous vegetarian restaurant Gioia in Milan.

9. Savoy Cabbage with Rice and Mushroom Stuffing

These gorgeous vegan cabbage wraps are the perfect start to any Thanksgiving meal. A meaty mushroom such as shiitake will make any non-vegan enjoy this as well. 

10. Sweet Potato Chips

Those looking to indulge in something crunchy will love these chips sprinkled with salt and rosemary.