Three Calgary vegan feasts go head-to-head to see who truly brings the holiday home.
Hey everyone, and welcome back to another Thanksgiving Showdown! Last year, I tested out individual holiday meal options from some of Calgary’s best vegan restaurants to see how they compared. This year, we’re turning up the oven heat with something a little different: take-n-bake Thanksgiving dinners. These ready-to-bake feasts promise all the flavor and comfort of a homemade meal, without the hours of prep (or the pile of dishes). So, how do they stack up? Let’s find out.
This year’s contenders are three beloved local spots that know how to do comfort food right: Hearts Choices, Veghammer (via For Goodness Bake), and Vegan Street. Each offered a fully vegan, take-n-bake Thanksgiving dinner – the kind you simply heat, serve, and savor. I wanted to find out which one delivered the best mix of flavor, portion size, and that nostalgic holiday feeling – all while avoiding animal products.
Why Choose Take and Bake options?
The holidays can be an exceptionally stressful time for vegans. On top of the usual holiday chaos, there’s the minefield of the family dinner table – and Aunt Lucy’s ongoing concern that vegan food is just “carbs and sadness.” While the obvious solution might be to cook your own feast, that’s not realistic for everyone. Time, energy, or even kitchen space can all get in the way.
That’s where take-n-bake meal options come in. Offered by several local vegan restaurants here in YYC, these dinners are like restaurant-quality comfort food that you simply finish heating at home. They’re perfect if you’re the lone vegan at a gathering or hosting guests with different dietary preferences. All the flavor and comfort, none of the stress.
The Rules of the Feast
This year, I – with the help of my amazing mom – ordered, cooked, photographed, and devoured three take-n-bake contenders. We assessed each one using the following criteria:
- Ease of Ordering & Pickup: Was it simple or stressful?
- Cost vs. Value: Did I get a decent amount of food for what I paid?
- Presentation: The bar might be lower for frozen food, but that doesn’t mean it has to look institutional.
- Cooking Instructions: Were they clear and accurate, or did they require adjustments?
- Food Taste & Texture: From the mains and stuffings to the sides and extras — how did everything hold up?
- Overall Rating: Final thoughts.
I also want to acknowledge that these weren’t the only Thanksgiving options available in YYC this year. However, the three contenders were chosen because they were:
- Specifically marketed as take-n-bake meals, and
- Available for pickup over the Thanksgiving weekend.
With the ground rules set, it’s time to dig in – literally! I started my take-n-bake tour with Vegan Street, moved on to Veghammer (via For Goodness Bake), and wrapped up with Hearts Choices. Each brought something a little different to the table (from portion size to presentation) and not all for the reasons you might expect.
vegan Street
Their offerings were a little different this year, with options for either a two- or four-person roast, along with à la carte sides and desserts. No individual take-n-bake meals were available, so I ordered the smallest portions I could. The ordering process was online, and very simple. Pick-up was easy and quick.
I went with the two-person roast, roasted Brussels sprouts, apple fennel stuffing, and mac & cheese. The four items came to $61 before tax and gratuity, and I skipped a few extras like cranberry sauce, gravy, and dessert to keep the cost manageable. Overall, I’d say the value was solid for what you get — the roast portion was generous for two people, and the side containers were well-filled.
Presentation was impressive. Nothing looked sad or institutional, and the roast itself was downright beautiful. Complete with delicate tofu “skin” tied with string, it almost resembled a crisp little seitan pumpkin. It also came with a small container of basting liquid, though instructions were minimal.
Unfortunately, things fell apart a bit after baking. Beneath that lovely tofu skin, the jackfruit and seitan filling was dry, rubbery, and overwhelmingly seitan-forward. The longer it sat, the tougher it became, and the strong wheat-gluten scent dominated every bite. The tofu skin was easily the best part.
The mac & cheese needed some tinkering; after baking for the suggested time and temperature, it wasn’t bubbling or browned. A little extra oven time and a brief broil helped, but it came out on the dry side. Still tasty, but definitely not creamy. (It’s worth noting that the thawed noodles likely absorbed much of the liquid before cooking.) I was also surprised to see Vitalife listed on the ingredients label when the website had advertised Gusta, which may have affected the flavor.
The apple fennel stuffing had great seasoning and a bold herb profile, but it was heavy on the salt. The thawed apples released extra liquid, leaving the texture inconsistent; part dry, part soggy. The Brussels sprouts were firm and the included generous portion of pumpkin seed Parmesan was the perfect pairing.
Overall, Vegan Street’s take-n-bake dinner looks fantastic and nails portion size and presentation, but the execution didn’t quite match the visuals. The roast had promise but struggled on texture, and the sides needed minor tweaks to shine. This one might work best if you’re feeding omnivores who appreciate a visually impressive centerpiece, or if you’re confident adjusting cooking times to get it just right.
Veghammer (via For Goodness Bake)
Veghammer is a local brand of frozen vegan “mheats” and take-n-bake frozen meals, so it only makes sense for them to have a take-n-bake Thanksgiving meal. Available to order through parent company For Goodness Bake, the process was online and very easy. Upon pickup, my order was in my hands within minutes. Bonus point because a slice of pumpkin pie was only $5 and a simple add on at checkout.
Presentation was fair; upon opening my meal box, I was greeted by decent servings of potatoes and stuffing, a single, thick slice of “turkay”, and a small bag of seasoned veggies to be cooked separately. Gravy came in a separate container. Total cost for this meal was $23.95 including pumpkin pie, and excluding taxes and gratuity. For the price, the portions were good, and I really appreciated being able to add a single portion of dessert.
The instructions for reheating were a little all over the place, as you were instructed to cover the meal with foil before removing the packet of vegetables, although the temperature and timing were mostly accurate. Unfortunately the veggies did not crisp up well. They were tasty, in spite of the soft texture.
The rest of the meal, sadly, was disappointing. The tur-kay was terrible. The single slice was dry and had an over-powering seitan scent and flavour. The stuffing, having been packed beside the turkay, had absorbed that seitan flavour and was inedible.
The potatoes were a high point -they tasted like they were real potatoes, had a few lumps, and even a hint of potato skin. A tad bland, they likely complimented the gravy well; the gravy, however, did not reheat well. Even after whisking vigorously for several minutes, it was still lumpy and had the texture of wet unset agar. The flavour was okay; definitely reminiscent of Bisto instant powder. The pumpkin pie was well spiced and tasty, and it’s a shame that it fell apart during travel, because it would have looked pretty good under a bit of coconut whipped cream.
Overall, Veghammer’s take-n-bake meal felt more like a rough draft than a finished product. The concept is solid: affordable, convenient, and easy to order – but the execution missed the mark. With such strong competition in Calgary’s vegan food scene, texture and flavor matter, and this meal just didn’t hold up beyond the potatoes. Still, I give them credit for keeping their portions generous and their pricing accessible, and I really hope they tweak their meal and try again.
Hearts Choices
O.G. Hearts Choices has been providing take-n-bake Thanks”Living” meals for several years now, and were the first to offer them here in Calgary. This year, no pre-ordering was required – simply show up at the cafe and pick one up, which also streamlined the pickup process. The meal was $19.95 before tax and gratuity – an excellent value for the portion of food. The presentation was simple, but not institutional, and even looks appetizing prior to baking.
This years meal featured 3 slices of peppered “turkee” loaf, two scoops of garlic mashed potatoes, 3 stuffing balls, and a portion of peas, along with a side of rosemary gravy, and some spiced cranberry sauce. Apparently a last minute decision to offer miniature pumpkin pies was made, but I didn’t hear about it in time to take part.Re-heating was simple, and instructions were accurate, and straight-forward. The meal itself was ready in about 35 minutes.
The turkee was moist, and a little spongey, but not offensively so. A good amount of salt, didn’t notice any particular flavor from the peppered edges though. The stuffing balls, while a little on the bland side, were a great compliment to the rosemary gravy. The gravy itself was perfectly seasoned, herby, and salty. The peas were a great addition, and I would have loved to see just a little bit more veg on my plate, but I think the peas were probably just right for the price point.
Overall, Hearts Choices meal really highlights why they’ve become a Calgary staple for vegan comfort food. Everything about this meal – from the easy pickup to the balanced flavors – felt thoughtful and well executed. It wasn’t flashy, but it didn’t need to be. The portion size, seasoning, and straightforward reheating instructions made it the most dependable, genuinely satisfying take-n-bake option this year. If you’re looking for a stress-free vegan Thanksgiving meal that tastes like it was made by someone who actually loves holiday food, this is the one to beat.
After tasting my way through three very different takes on the vegan Thanksgiving experience, one thing became clear: Calgary’s plant-based food scene continues to grow in creativity, accessibility, and heart. Each meal brought something unique to the table, but Hearts Choices came out on top for its balance of flavor, simplicity, and value. It delivered the kind of cozy, no-stress meal that reminds you why Thanksgiving doesn’t need to revolve around a turkey to feel special.
If you’re thinking of skipping the kitchen chaos this year, why not give a local take-n-bake a try? Supporting Calgary’s vegan restaurants helps keep our community thriving — and gives you more time to actually enjoy the holiday (instead of washing dishes). Pre-order early if you can; these meals sell out fast every year!
Have you tried any of these take-and-bake dinners before? Which one would you choose for your Thanksgiving table? If you could create your fantasy Vegan Thanksgiving, what would you include?
Drop your thoughts in the comments, or tag @VeganInYYC on Instagram to show off your own Thanks-Living spread. I’d love to see what you served this year!
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