A Step-By-Step Guide to Making a Vegan Sunday Roast

When it’s Sunday, you’ve got a whole afternoon ahead, and you’re craving something hearty and comforting. What do you do? You do what the Brits do: make a Sunday roast.

This classic British meal has been a Sunday tradition in pubs and homes across the UK for centuries, and it has truly stood the test of time. It’s versatile and comforting: Perfect for cozying up as the nights grow cooler in autumn, but it’s also a favorite enjoyed throughout the summer months.

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Here’s how to make the ultimate Sunday roast, complete with crispy roast potatoes, rich gravy, and a golden Yorkshire pudding.

What is a traditional British Sunday roast dinner?

We have King Henry VII to thank for the classic British Sunday roast dinner. The monarch was famously fond of meat, especially roast beef, which was traditionally served with Yorkshire pudding and rich gravy.

Over the centuries, the roast grew in popularity across all social classes. In the 19th century, for example, working-class families would often drop off a portion of meat at their local baker (who didn’t bake bread on Sundays) and pick it up fully roasted on their way home. They would then serve it with plenty of root vegetables and cabbage.

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RELATED: How to Make the Crispiest, Fluffiest Roasted Potatoes Ever

Today, the roast dinner remains a cherished Sunday tradition throughout the UK. While many still enjoy it King Henry VII-style with roast beef, others prefer roast chicken, lamb, or increasingly, plant-based alternatives like nut roasts and vegan meats.

In fact, a Sunday roast can arguably be even more delicious when made with plant-based ingredients. 

How to make the ultimate vegan British Sunday roast

Check out some of our favorite vegan recipes for a British Sunday roast.

School Night Vegan

1 Vegan Roast Chicken

Beef might be the traditional centerpiece of a roast dinner, but these days, plenty of people opt for roast chicken instead. If you’re a fan of the taste of the tender white meat and want to replicate it with plant-based ingredients, School Night Vegan has just the recipe. Recipe developer Richard Makin combines tofu, butter beans, vegan chicken seasoning, yuba, and vital wheat gluten to make a seriously impressive alternative. Makin describes it as “mega succulent” and “crazy tender.” 
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Plant-Based On A Budget

2 Roasted Vegetables With Thyme

No Sunday roast is complete without plenty of vegetables piled high on the plate. Traditional favorites include carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage, but feel free to use whatever veggies you’re craving. Just be sure to toss them generously with cooking oil and fragrant herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage for maximum flavor.
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School Night Vegan

3 Vegan Yorkshire Puddings

Don’t be fooled by the name, Yorkshire pudding isn’t actually sweet at all. It’s a savory baked pudding that originates from (wait for it) Yorkshire, typically made from a simple batter of flour, milk, and eggs, baked until crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Making a vegan Yorkshire pudding is easy with a few clever swaps like aquafaba, soy milk, and vegetable shortening. According to Makin, this recipe yields “super crispy golden” Yorkshires (also known as Yorkies or Yorkshire puds) every time.
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Vancouver With Love

4 Roast Potatoes

Getting the potatoes right is vital to a Sunday roast. They shouldn’t be dense or doughy but always fluffy and light on the inside with a crispy, crunchy exterior. There are plenty of tips and tricks for achieving the perfect roast potato, known affectionately as a “roastie,” but this recipe from Vancouver With Love swears by parboiling the chopped potatoes first. After draining, give them a good shake to roughen the edges and fluff up the texture. Then, roast them on a tray with plenty of oil for perfectly crispy results every time.
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Jo’s Kitchen Larder

5 Sage and Onion Stuffing

In the US, stuffing is a common sight on Thanksgiving tables, but it’s also a popular part of the classic British Sunday roast, too. There are many different ways to make stuffing, but sage and onion is a classic and flavorful combination. “This simple and delicious sage and onion stuffing recipe will convert you into homemade stuffing and away from shop-bought forever,” says recipe blog Jo’s Kitchen Larder.
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Loving It Vegan

6 Vegan Gravy

Sure, you can have a roast without gravy, but it’s like tea without a biscuit; it just doesn’t deliver the same satisfaction. Gravy makes everything better: it softens the Yorkshire puddings and adds rich, juicy umami flavor to the vegan meat, stuffing, roast potatoes, and vegetables. Don’t be shy, gravy should always be poured generously.
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Beat The Budget

7 Ultimate Vegan Roast Dinner

This recipe from Beat The Budget will help you pull all of the elements of the classic roast dinner together, step by step. It has stuffing, classic Yorkshire puddings, parsnips, carrots, crispy roast potatoes, and vegan sausages (in place of meat). Our mouths are watering just thinking about it.
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