49 Recipes For The Best Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Ever (2024)

With a menu this good, who needs meat?

By Camille Lowder
49 Recipes For The Best Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Ever (1)

PSA: It’s likely there will be someone vegetarian at nearly every meal you make or attend this Christmas. More and more people are eating less and less meat, so don't be left unprepared! Whether it’s you, a friend, loved one, or even a coworker, make the season extra bright by making and sharing one of these 49 vegetarian dinners. They’re perfect for Christmas Eve and all season long.

If you’ve got dreams of the perfect Hallmark Christmas dinner spread, complete with a turkey or ham and all the sides, but don’t know what to do to replace the meat, we’ve got you. It’s easy—all you’ve got to do is swap it for something equally stunning, like a whole roasted cabbage or head of cauliflower; an impressive casserole or pasta dish, like our vegan shepherd’s pie, our tricolore skillet lasagna, or our sheet-pan burrata Caprese gnocchi; or even an side dish shaped like a Christmas tree, like our cheesy spinach dip Christmas tree or our pull-apart Christmas tree. Fill the rest of your table with our best Christmas sides and co*cktails, and you’ll have a magical meal to remember.

If your Christmas is more low-key this year (maybe because you’re celebrating with just you and a partner or roommate or with lots of family you’d rather spend time with than cook for), we’ve got tons of vegetarian recipes here for you too. If you’re looking for things that come together fast and can feed a crowd, try our sheet-pan spanakopita quesadillas, our , our , or our Boursin baked ziti. For a smaller meal that feels super-special, try our mushroom piccata pasta, our walnut broccoli stir-fry, our baked risotto, or our saag paneer. They’re the perfect thing to share with a loved one this holiday season.

And don’t forget dessert! Our Christmas cakes, cookies, and no-bake holiday desserts are all vegetarian and are sure to make your holiday extra sweet this year.

1

Brie Spaghetti

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We love how simple and impressive brie is, whether we're eating it with crackers, folding into appetizers (hello cranberry brie bites), or eating it with pasta, like we did here. With very little effort, you can have a super decadent pasta dish perfect for holiday meals.

Get the Brie Spaghetti recipe.

2

Vegan Meatloaf

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This hearty "meat" loaf is made mostly out of chickpeas and baby bella mushrooms. We're in love! Serve it with a side of vegan mashed potatoes and green beans for the most comforting, vegetarian Christmas meal.

Get the Vegan Meatloaf recipe.

3

Cabbage Parmesan

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Craving chicken Parm but not eating meat? This cabbage recipe is about to blow your mind. It's even Italian mother-approved!

Get the Cabbage Parmesan recipe.

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4

Stuffed Shells

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Imagine lasagna being turned inside out to form cute pockets stuffed with creamy, garlicky ricotta and cream cheese, which are then slathered in tomato sauce for an impressive dinner with friends or family. That’s the beauty of stuffed shells.

Get the Stuffed Shells recipe.

5

Cheesy Spinach Dip Christmas Tree

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Spinach artichoke dip + flaky puff pastry + festive design = a Christmas masterpiece. Feel free to swap in whichever cheesy dip you desire.

Get the Cheesy Spinach Dip Christmas Tree recipe.

6

Grandma Pizza

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Grandma pizza has a thin, crispy crust topped first with cheese, then dolloped with a garlicky tomato sauce. It's not the usual way of assembling pizza, but the cheese melting right into the crust really makes some magic happen.

Get the Grandma Pizza recipe.

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7

Whole Roasted Cabbage

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This gorgeous, whole-roasted stunner is the perfect holiday substitute for vegetarians. It's savory, sweet, and salty on the outside and super-tender on the inside. Topped with lots of silky mushroom gravy, we doubt anyone at your table will be missing meat.

Get the Whole Roasted Cabbage recipe.

8

Mushroom Piccata Pasta

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This is everything you love about chicken piccata but without the chicken. The sauce is bright and briny and extra buttery. Take your time with the mushrooms; you need to let them crisp and turn a dark golden brown (tip: wait to salt them, as salt will draw out moisture, making them soggy instead of crisp).

Get the Mushroom Piccata Pasta recipe.

9

Boursin Baked Ziti

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Many white baked ziti recipes call for swapping out the marinara for béchamel sauce, but a mixture of Boursin, ricotta, and heavy cream is much simpler—and super delicious. The Boursin, which is packed with garlic and herbs, adds instant flavor to the sauce, and it melts like a dream.

Get the Boursin Baked Ziti recipe.

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10

Creamy Kale & Gnocchi Bake

Fans of creamed spinach will absolutely love this hearty, creamy kale and gnocchi bake that puts the classic side dish front-and-center on your plate with gnocchi as the main attraction. It's quick to put together since the gnocchi cook right in the sauce, making them extra creamy and delicious.

Get the .

11

Balsamic-Glazed Roasted Cauliflower

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A whole roasted cauliflower makes for a fantastic vegetarian main dish. This one is roasted around extra veggies and has a slightly sweet balsamic glaze over it. It's easy to throw together and will leave you feeling full, not heavy. Win!

Get the Balsamic-Glazed Roasted Cauliflower recipe.

12

One-Pan Creamy Spinach-Artichoke Gnocchi

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We combined everything we love about our favorite with quick-cooking gnocchi, turning it into an easy meatless dinner that’s loaded with flavor. It’s easy enough for when you’re just craving comfort food (just one pan!), but fancy enough to serve to guests too.

Get the One-Pan Creamy Spinach-Artichoke Gnocchi recipe.

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13

From-Scratch Green Bean Casserole

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Never fear, this lightened-up green bean casserole is here to help you save room for pumpkin pie. Forgoing canned cream of mushroom for a quick homemade mushroom gravy, we'd argue this version is even more delicious than the classic.

Get the From-Scratch Green Bean Casserole recipe.

14

Homemade Mac & Cheese

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If you're usually a boxed household, there's nothing more special than busting out a completely homemade version for the holidays. This one is extra creamy, plenty cheesy, and paired with a golden, crunchy topping everyone will flip over.

Get the .

15

Tricolore Skillet Lasagna

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We love a classic lasagna, but it can be a lot of work. This easy skillet version has everything we love about the original—including the frilly-edged long noodles—but without the confusing layering steps.

Get the Tricolore Skillet Lasagna recipe.

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16

Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

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There’s your average casserole, and then there’s this cheesy loaded broccoli cauliflower casserole. Filled with plenty of veggies and feel-good flavors, there’s something in this dish for everyone. Hot tip: This goes over like gangbusters at Christmas potlucks.

Get the Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole recipe.

17

Saag Paneer

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This robust curry is a staple in many Indian restaurants, and with a manageable ingredient list, it's easy to re-create at home. Blocks of paneer are readily available in many large supermarkets. Want to make this vegan? Swap in extra-firm tofu (pressed to remove excess liquid) and canned coconut milk to replace the heavy cream.

Get the Saag Paneer recipe.

18

Whipped Ricotta Pasta

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If you’ve ever had whipped ricotta toast, you know how the simple ingredient can elevate even something mundane to new heights. The same goes for pasta—in one bowl, you get all the enjoyment of a marinara with the creaminess of something like an Alfredo sauce.

Get the Whipped Ricotta Pasta recipe.

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19

Vegan Mushroom Pot Pie

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When it's cold out, a steaming hot pot pie filled with creamy, flavorful gravy, sweet and tender veggies, and topped with a shatteringly flaky crust is EVERYTHING. Here, mushrooms replace meat and are every bit as satisfying as their meaty counterparts.

Get the Vegan Mushroom Pot Pie recipe.

20

Walnut Broccoli Stir-Fry

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We all love classic , but if you're not eating meat (or want something a little less heavy after all those Christmas cookies), it’s time to turn to the almighty walnut. It’s fatty and rich, with a fun, rippled texture that gives sauces lots of nooks and crannies to hug onto.

Get the Walnut Broccoli Stir-Fry recipe.

49 Recipes For The Best Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Ever (2024)

FAQs

What does a vegetarian eat for Christmas dinner? ›

Try one of our best-ever vegetarian Christmas dinner recipes, from roasted butternut squash with butterbean and goat's cheese mash to spinach and ricotta lasagne roll-ups – or an impressive spiral vegetable tart. Serve up plenty of greens on the side, and it will be a merry Christmas all round.

What makes the best Christmas dinner? ›

You likely will want to choose a main first, like a turkey, Christmas ham, casserole or other show-stopping dishes. Then, you can compliment your main with Christmas side dishes and holiday appetizers. And of course, you can't forget about sweet Christmas desserts and festive co*cktails to sip on throughout the night!

What veg do you have on a Christmas dinner? ›

Discover the perfect amounts of potatoes, carrots, parsnips, sprouts, peas and red cabbage to serve with your roast turkey. Need help planning your Christmas dinner?

What is the most popular vegetarian alternative to turkey at Christmas? ›

Nut Roast. The most popular Christmas meal for vegetarians and vegans is the nut roast. This typically describes a mixture of nuts, breadcrumbs, leeks, onions, broth and either oil or butter. However, this recipe is malleable and offers the opportunity for many alterations according to personal preference.

What is a vegetarian alternative to turkey for Christmas? ›

Whether you're going meat-free or not, these vegetarian mains are sure to steal the spotlight on Christmas day.
  • 1Gluten-free vegetarian lasagne. ...
  • 2Christmas vegeducken. ...
  • 3Tomato, ricotta and olive spelt tart with basil. ...
  • 4Cheesy spelt crepes stuffed with buttered leek. ...
  • 5Lentil nut roast with sugo.

What is the most popular veg at Christmas? ›

Within this article we will outline the 5 most popular Christmas vegetables, and how to keep them fresh for the big day!
  • 1) Carrots.
  • 2) Broccoli.
  • 3) Potatoes.
  • 4) Cauliflower.
  • 5) Brussel sprouts.

What is the least popular Christmas food? ›

Across all states, their findings showed that the least popular Christmas foods are persimmon pudding (13%) and fruitcake (25%).

What is the number one Christmas meal? ›

According to a 2020 survey, turkey's the main event for 73% of Americans, with prime rib (69%), roast beef (66%), steak (65%), chicken (64%), roast pork (64%) and ham (62%) also coming in as popular contenders.

What is the most bought Christmas food? ›

The 5 best selling Christmas foods for your business include:
  1. Mince Pies. It's only right that we start this list off with arguably one of the best things about Christmas time, mince pies. ...
  2. Chocolates. Another popular food commonly associated with Christmas festivities is chocolate. ...
  3. Stuffing. ...
  4. Mulled Wine. ...
  5. Christmas Pudding.
Nov 28, 2023

What is Italian Christmas dinner? ›

Lasagna, Stuffed Manicotti and other cheesy baked pasta dishes are a hit with all ages—this is classic Christmas fare in Southern Italy. Even a simple pasta dish with a light tomato sauce can serve as a tasty side dish for braised meats, Italian sausage or baked chicken entrées.

What to make for Christmas dinner besides turkey? ›

Unique holiday dinner ideas
  1. Beef Wellington: The Showstopper.
  2. Christmas Roast Duck: The Twist on a Classic.
  3. Vegetarian Enchiladas: The Surprise Favorite.
  4. Roast Lamb: The Savory Star.
  5. Stuffed Acorn Squash: The Festive & Flavorful.
  6. Prime Rib Roast: The Hearty Hero.
Dec 12, 2022

What veg can I cook the day before Christmas? ›

Getting these prepped and lined up in a tray on Christmas Eve will make Christmas morning so much more enjoyable. Get your potatoes, carrots, parsnips, red cabbage and Brussels ready, then simply cover with foil and pop in the fridge, ready to cook tomorrow.

What are Christmas Eve foods? ›

Christmas Eve recipes
  • Gratin of fresh & smoked salmon, beetroot, potatoes & dill. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Cauliflower purée. A star rating of 0 out of 5. ...
  • Festive seafood sharing platter. ...
  • Air-fryer beef joint. ...
  • App onlyElote muffins. ...
  • Red velvet brownies. ...
  • Comté & rosemary shortbread. ...
  • Salted caramel crispy Rudolphs.

What does everyone have for Christmas dinner? ›

Traditional Christmas dinner features turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. Other types of poultry, roast beef, or ham, are also used. Pumpkin or apple pie, raisin pudding, Christmas pudding, or fruitcake are staples for dessert.

What do vegetarians miss from meat? ›

Previous reviews have indicated that vegetarians and vegans may risk vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, zinc and calcium deficiency as these micronutrients can mostly be found in animal foods or have a lower bioavailability in plant foods [8,9,10,11,12,13,14].

What is the most popular vegetarian alternative to a roast turkey? ›

Nut roast is a popular vegetarian alternative to a turkey dinner. It is a savory dish made primarily from a mixture of ground nuts, breadcrumbs, and various vegetables, herbs, and spices.

Do vegetarians eat eggs? ›

Well, the short answer is yes! Unless they are vegan (meaning they don't eat dairy products, eggs, or any other products which are derived from animals), some vegetarians do eat eggs and belong to a group known as lacto-ovo-vegetarians which according to the Vegetarian Society is the most common type of meatless diet.

Why is Christmas Eve dinner meatless? ›

In the Catholic Church the day preceding a major holy day(or feast day) is called a vigil day. These were days of abstinence (refraining from eating meat), prayer, psalms, and anticipation of the holy day. Since the Church deemed seafood a non-meat, seafood was commonly eaten on vigil days.

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