We Tried 9 Vegan Turkeys and Roasts – Here Are Our Favorites

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After ditching the turkey at our holiday feasts, we looked for alternatives. But there are more plant-based roasts on the market than ever, so choosing one ended up being slightly overwhelming.

Sure, we can skip the turkey and fill up on the sides. (And when we’re at someone else’s house, we’ll go that route.) But when we host or have the opportunity to contribute to the meal, adding a vegan turkey is a special treat.

Since we’ve only been plant-based for a little over two years, having the traditional centerpiece of a roast is familiar to us and the kids.

And because we couldn’t settle on any one plant-based turkey, we tried all of the ones we could find! 

Here are 9 vegan turkeys and roasts rated in order of our least to most favorite.

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9. Field Roast – Hazelnut & Cranberry Plant-Based Roast

While we love cranberry sauce and Field Roast’s plant-based sausages, for some reason this one wasn’t a favorite with the kids or me. 

With hazelnuts, cranberries, and a blanket of puffed pastry, this sounds festive and decadent. And if you want to avoid soy, Field Roast uses wheat as the protein source instead of soy. Actually, all Field Roast products are 100% soy-free, GMO-free and vegan.

There are so many reasons I love Field Roast, like the fact that this company met standards to have the carbon zero label on the packaging. But unfortunately, the taste and texture missed the mark for us.

8. Field Roast – Celebration Roast

I bought the celebration roast thinking I’d prefer the hazelnut and cranberry one. But this vegan roast surprised me. 

It’s not as fancy, with fewer extras in the stuffing, and the flavors were more straightforward. Maybe that’s why we liked it more. I’m not a fan of mushroom gravy but we ended up enjoying it.

Again, it’s soy-free, non-GMO, and made by a Carbon Neutral Company. All pluses and worth a try if you’re not looking for the plant-based turkey-like consistency.

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7. Tofurky Plant-Based Roast and Wild Rice Stuffing

I bought this not because it necessarily looked appealing but because it seemed like a staple for so many long-time vegans. 

I’ve heard this used to be the only vegan turkey option. In 1995, the Tofurky Holiday Roast made its debut. To this day the company remains family-owned, which is pretty cool.

I was surprised with this one. It was tasty. And the gravy was my favorite of all those included on this list. It’s sold separately and I use it on any vegan roast I eat. One of my complaints with this roast was the difficulty slicing it (it’s pretty round) and the texture was middle of the road.

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

While this one is hard to come by if you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, it’s worth the taste if you can get your hands on one.

We enjoyed the breading on the outside. And the inside is made mainly from wheat (rather than soy) and stuffed with wild rice, cranberries, onions, and celery. It comes with gravy too, which is a plus!

My favorite part of this roast is the price. At $12.99, it’s an affordable option compared to other vegan roasts which are almost double.

5. Vegetarian Plus – Vegan Turkey Roll

I’ve only found this plant-based turkey at Sprouts. But, although I’ve never seen it, I’ve heard Vegetarian Plus makes a Vegan Whole Turkey as well. 

I loved two things about this roast. First: the cranberry glaze that comes with it. It’s a nice change from including a gravy, like all the other vegan roasts. Second: the texture. This was so easy to cut and one of the moistest roasts, making it easy for our kids to eat.

If you dig turkey and cranberry sandwiches the day after Thanksgiving, this is a great option because there isn’t a stuffed center on the roast and it’s easy to slice. It’s important to note this roast is made with soy and wheat and I’m not sure if it’s non-GMO.

4. Gardein Plant-Based Lightly Breaded Turk’y Cutlets

Alright, we’re about to get into a Gardein grand slam. But if I’m being honest, it’s what my kids preferred. And these breaded turk’y cutlets were probably their favorite. 

Closest to chick’n nuggets, these were a hit. We cut them into smaller chunks so the kids were inclined to use their forks rather than fingers, and the kids loved the included gravy too.

I can only find these during the holidays in my local stores, but I’ve heard others have access year-round. These can be purchased on Amazon, although I have to buy 3-4 bags for our family. 

3. Gardein Plant-Based Teriyaki Chick’n Strips 

Ok, don’t get thrown off with the “teriyaki.” I skip the sauce and use these strips during the holidays, or anytime I can’t find a roast. 

I saute them in the same pan I cook the green beans in. And that little bit of olive oil and spices make these the perfect vegan turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Plus, dicing strips for the kiddos is way faster than slicing and dicing a roast. Again, this is made with soy. But it’s available all year at Amazon, Target, and most grocery stores. So it’s a fantastic option if you can’t get your hands on a vegan roast.

2. Gardein Plant-Based Savory Stuffed Turk’y

Not to be confused with the holiday roast coming up next, these savory stuffed vegan turkeys are like mini roasts. They are adorable and practical with a 22 minute cook time—the fastest of the roasts on this list.

The taste is great with the stuffing of tart cranberries and sage and topped with homestyle gravy. Since it comes with two servings per package, I usually get 2-3 packages for our family of five.

Alas, this too is only available during the holidays—at least in the stores near me. I’ve seen these at Ralph’s, Sprouts, Walmart and Target.

1. Gardein Plant-Based Turk’y Roast

And now for our family’s favorite vegan roast….. Gardein Holiday Roast (more recently called Plant-Based Turk’y Roast)! Why? So many reasons. But let me start on a practical point. 

I’m a busy mom of three. And during the holidays, I try to be mindful of my stress, time, and ability to be present. And while I enjoy cooking, it often adds to the stress. All of Gardein’s vegan turkeys can be cooked frozen. The other plant-based roasts on this list have to thaw for 24 hours first. And unless I set a reminder on my calendar, I almost always forget to thaw the roast.

Besides being a time-saver, this roast is stuffed with brown and wild rice, cranberry, and kale. And my kids loved it. The gravy is divine, too. It contains soy and wheat, but like all Gardein products, is non-GMO.

Final Thoughts on the Best Vegan Turkey for the Holidays

Although this list is in order of our least favorite to our most favorite, it’s important to note that we didn’t strongly dislike any of them. And paired with the traditional sides of green beans, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes, they all made for a comforting holiday meal.

If you’ve tried any of these, let me know your favorite vegan roast in the comments below.