If you don’t have plans or just decided to stay home, this Easy Thanksgiving Dinner for Two is just what you need.
It all cooks in one 2-quart slow cooker and makes just enough. pPlus there’s just one pot to clean!
Photo by Kate Lewis
Having a dinner with no leftovers means not spending as much time or money to get it on the table.
It simply couldn’t be easier and you make it in your little slow cooker.
That’s right, it cooks in your f 1 1/2 to 2-quart slow cooker.
In this ‘all in one dinner’, there is a layer for each item.
On the bottom tempeh or seitan cooks with water and a DIY bouillon powder to make a gravy as well as your protein.
You can’t have Thanksgiving without dressing, and I did not let you down on this one. Layer two is wrapped in parchment and cooks right above the first layer.
I use a vegan stuffing that’s easy to find at Whole Foods, and you can mix in some cranberries and/or pecans to make it a little more special.
The third layer is one of my favorites – sweet potatoes with a little brown sugar and cinnamon.
You have to make the pumpkin pie separately- there wasn’t room in the slow cooker for it!
Looking for More Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes?
Here are some of my favorites:
Mains
- Vegan Thanksgiving Casserole and Gravy
- Easy Thanksgiving Dinner for Two
- Vegan Slow Cooker Veggie Loaf
Sides
- Holiday Sweet Potato Casserole
- Thanksgiving Potato Stuffing Balls with a Cranberry Center
- Gluten-free Vegan Teff Stuffing with Roasted Butternut Squash
- Creamy Vegan Greens
Desserts
More Recipes to Try
- Gluten-free Apple Teff Pancakes with Homemade Date Caramel Syrup
- Slow Cooker Whole Wheat Spelt Potato Rolls
- Vegan Pear and Cranberry Instant Pot Cake
Easy Thanksgiving Dinner for Two
Ingredients
Bottom Layer (tempeh and gravy):
- 1 cup 235 ml water
- 2 tablespoons Golden Veggie Bouillon Powder
- Pinch each salt and pepper
- 8 ounces tempeh , (*or seitan for soy-free), cut into 2 slices
- 1 to 2 tablespoons flour , (**or gluten-free thickener)
Middle Layer (stuffing):
- 1 1/2 cups packaged vegan stuffing , (**or gluten-free stuffing)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup minced cranberries , or pecans
Top Layer (candied sweet potatoes):
- 1 medium sweet potato cut into thick rounds
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- Please note that this recipe is for a 1½ to 2 quart slow cooker. (You can double or triple to use a larger slow cooker.)
- Tear off 2 pieces of parchment paper or aluminum foil big enough to make an enclosed packet in the slow cooker. (You will use these for the middle and top layers. Set aside).
- Add the water, Golden Veggie Bouillon Powder, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker and mix. Add the tempeh (or seitan). (Set the flour aside for use right before serving).
- In a bowl, mix the stuffing ingredients.
- Transfer the mixture to the middle of one of the pieces of parchment and close it up so it will fit in the slow cooker. Place on top of the tempeh.
- Spread out the other piece of parchment and arrange the sweet potato slices on it and sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, and salt. (You may need to stack them so they will fit in the slow cooker).
- Close up this package, place it on top of the stuffing packet, and replace the lid).
- Cook on low for 7 to 9 hours (or 3 hours on high).
- Remove the top two packets and set aside. Turn the slow cooker to high, remove the tempeh, and set aside.
- Whisk in the flour and set the tempeh back in. The gravy should thicken up enough while you plate up the potatoes and stuffing. Add a little more flour if needed.
- Place the tempeh on the plates and cover with gravy and stuffing.
Jacqui Pappas says
Absolutely LOVE this idea! Thanks & Happy Plantsgiving!
Kathy Hester says
Love the term plantsgiving!
Lynn says
Kathy, I love this idea, what is the middle layer in yours? I ask because it’s round!
Thanks!
geekypoetadmin says
I think Kate Lewis, the photographer, may have used a cookie cutter on some seitan.
Lynn says
isn’t she clever 🙂 Would not have thought of doing that!
xiomara says
it looks like field roast sliced not tempeh
Kathy Hester says
The photographer did use a wheat-gluten for the photo, but the recipe calls for your choice of tempeh or seitan.
Marcy says
Love this! Is this recipe in your small
crockpot book?
Alisa Fleming says
This might be my husband and I next year, so I love this! It’s nice to still do a special meal when you don’t need a whole feast.
Amy (veganmama) says
I love this meal for two! Even if you are alone, you can have a healthy holiday meal and leftovers. Or, if you are going to someone else’s house who doesn’t have any options for you, you could bring this meal for yourself 🙂
Barbie says
Will walnuts do instead of pecans? I have plenty of walnuts, but don’t use pecans much.
Kathy Hester says
That should work.