25 vegetarian Christmas dinner recipes (2024)

Best vegetarian Christmas dinner recipes

Christmas nut roast

A nut roast but not as you know it – packed with umami, smokiness and sweetness from squash, lentil and dates, we think this is our best ever veggie main.

Cauliflower wellington

This impressive veggie wellington swaps beef for saffron-spiced cauliflower, and it wouldn’t look out of place at any festive feast. This recipe comes from east London's Bubala restaurant.

Mushroom pithiviers

Make brilliant use of ready-made pastry in these easy mushroom pithiviers. They’d make a great veggie centrepiece on Christmas Day.

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Parsnip, sage and apple Wellington

Our best vegan Wellington recipe, stuffed with fried parsnips, mushrooms, lentils, crispy sage and sweet apple. It's the perfect Christmas Day centrepiece.

Soy-and-butter-braised mushrooms

Pan fry mushrooms in butter with ginger, chilli and soy for a quick and easy vegetarian meal.

Vegan roast-dinner bowls

Cater for vegans this Christmas with our special festive bowls, packed with crispy roasties, parsnips, stuffing balls, cranberry sauce and plenty of gravy.

Savoury spiced baklava

A savoury festive spin on the classic middle eastern dessert makes a fantastic vegetarian substitute for turkey this Christmas.

Vegan wellington

Looking for a showstopping vegan recipe this Christmas? Check out our stunning vegan wellington packed with roasted red peppers, cooked beetroot and kale. Plus, we've made a vegan stuffing and glazed the pastry in marmite to take this wellington to the next level – the perfect way to impress your vegan friends over the festive season.

Squash and ricotta croissant wreath

Make our epic vegetarian wreath filled with roasted butternut squash and creamy ricotta for an easy meat-free centrepiece. Using Jus-Rol croissant dough reduces the faff and we've even included a video to help you on your way. Find more butternut squash recipes here

Rarebit mushrooms with pickle dressing

Flat mushrooms topped with mustardy rarebit and served with a quick red wine vinegar dressing makes for an ideal dinner party starter. It's gluten free, too!

Roots tatin three-cheese sauce

Looking for an easy veg-packed main to serve guests over the festive season? Our impressive Christmas tart uses root veg, crispy puff pastry and creamy three-cheese sauce to make a pretty main.

Camembert and cranberry pithivier

Looking for indulgent vegetarian recipes to entertain over the festive season? Try our camembert and cranberry pithivier, it's quick, easy and makes for an impressive vegetarian starter. Try our easy camembert toppers here

Vegan nut roast recipe

If you're after a smart Christmas main that you can make ahead on Christmas Eve, try our vegan chestnut, squash and sweet potato loaf recipe for a Christmas centrepiece. Precise layering makes it look neat but it’s actually easy to put together. Many more easy vegan recipes here

Beetroot and goat's cheese terrine

For an easy yet eye-catching vegetarian Christmas dish, make our beetroot terrine. Use our step-by-step picture guide to make this meat-free starter for a crowd, topped with candied walnuts and crisp herbs. Plenty more beetroot recipes here

Cauliflower sformato recipe with crispy kale and caramelised pine nuts

Looking for an impressive vegetarian Christmas recipe? This sformato is a little like a cross between a dense soufflé and a crustless quiche. Plus, it can be made with all sorts of vegetables, so mix and match with your favourites. Discover our best cauliflower recipes here

Homity pie

Homely and hearty, this veggie main makes for an easy vegetarian Christmas pie. Serve it with all the sides for a veg-packed Christmas dinner.

Pear and blue cheese tart with walnut pastry

Make this vegetarian tart for your Christmas dinner and serve leftovers at your Boxing Day buffet. Shop-bought shortcrust pastry makes it even easier to make, plus you can use up any leftover blue cheese for the wintery pear and blue cheese filling. Check out our best leftover recipes here

Shallot tarte tatin

We've put a savoury twist on the classic tarte tatin with our vegetarian shallot version. It's an impressive dish that makes for a great veggie main to serve friends and family over the festive season. We've got plenty more savoury tart recipes here

Sage butter-basted roast cauliflower

This easy recipe needs only six ingredients, most of which are bound to be lurking in your cupboard. Serving four, it's a great sharing vegetarian Christmas main to have at your festive feast.

Roasted butternut squash with goat's cheese

Want an easy vegetarian main dish for Christmas Day? Or a heart veggie side to accompany your turkey? Try our butternut squash halves stuffed with roasted vegetables and goat’s cheese. These serve four but they're ideal for sharing, too.

Wild mushroom and taleggio risotto cake

A Christmas cake with a difference! Serve this risotto cake on Christmas Day to wow your vegetarian guests. Our wild mushroom and taleggio risotto cake is easy but looks impressive and serves a crowd. Check out our best Christmas cake recipes here

Butternut squash and gruyère pithivier

This take on a puff pastry pie is a smart vegetarian main course, ideal for Christmas Day, or as a special family lunch over the festive period. Layers of butternut squash mean that once cut open this French-style dish looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside with its decorative top.

Sweet potato, chestnut and apricot loaf

Dried apricots, chestnuts and cumin gives this easy veggie loaf a sweet and spicy flavour combo. You can feed a crowd by slicing the pieces as little or large as you like.

Vegetarian wellington

Our veggie pie makes a great alternative to a beef wellington. It's an easy-t0-make main course that can feed a hungry crowd.

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Squash, sage and chestnut layer cake

Want an alternative to nut roast for a vegetarian main? This layered cake of butternut squash, potato and fresh sage stuffed with a cranberry and chestnut stuffing looks impressive.

25 vegetarian Christmas dinner recipes (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 veg is on a traditional Christmas dinner? ›

Not far behind Brussels sprouts are roasted parsnips and carrots when you think of traditional Christmas vegetables. Roasted root vegetables can be delicious but perhaps always suffer from being shovelled onto your plate alongside roast potatoes, which are of course one of the highlights of Christmas day 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 are the top 10 Christmas dinner foods? ›

Top 10 most popular Christmas recipes
  • Nut roast.
  • Ultimate roast potatoes. ...
  • Mary's Berry Christmas chutney. ...
  • Sausage, sage & onion stuffing. ...
  • Cola ham with maple & mustard glaze. ...
  • Sticky spiced red cabbage. ...
  • Christmas pudding with citrus and spice. ...
  • Yule log. ...

How to prepare veg the night before Christmas? ›

Prep your veg the night before

Peel potatoes, carrots, parsnips and any other veg you're having and leave them in pans of cold water overnight. This will save you a lot of faff and additional mess on Christmas morning.

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.

What is the most eaten vegetable 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 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 3 food items that are popular for Christmas dinner? ›

They cover the savory side of Christmas dinner, from prime rib, baked ham, and roast turkey to scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce.

What is the most popular Christmas vegetarian alternative? ›

Vegetarian Christmas mains recipes
  • Squash, winter herb & crispy butter bean pie. ...
  • Spinach madeleine tart with cheesy pastry. ...
  • Roasted cauliflower steaks. ...
  • Mushroom bourguignon pithivier. ...
  • Vegetarian wellington. ...
  • Sweet potato parcel. ...
  • Parsnip, feta & butter bean pie. ...
  • Shallot tatin. A star rating of 5 out of 5.

What is the name of the turkey for vegetarians? ›

If you really want to serve something that is a nearly seamless substitute for Thanksgiving turkey, there's always Field Roast, a plant-based meat and cheese company that sells soy-free holiday roasts. They are wheat-based vegan stuffed roasts with a sage, rosemary, and bread filling.

What do Italians eat for Christmas? ›

In Southern and Central Italy, baked pasta is a must. In Northern Italy, Lasagne Bolognese and filled pasta like manicotti and ravioli are traditional Christmas fare. Next comes the main event, the meat. Roasted veal, baked chicken, sausages or braised beef are common Natale entrées worth celebrating.

What do Germans eat on Christmas? ›

These delicious holiday recipes represent typical German Christmas food. Treat guests to a traditional German Christmas dinner with classic dishes like roasted goose legs, braised red cabbage. and dumplings, and don't forget the mulled wine and platter of gorgeous, festive cookies.

What is the perfect 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 do vegetarians miss from meat? ›

Intake and status of vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium and bone turnover markers were generally lower in plant-based dietary patterns compared to meat-eaters. Vegans had the lowest vitamin B12, calcium and iodine intake, and also lower iodine status and lower bone mineral density.

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

Tofurky Roast

This soy-based roast is shaped like a turkey and has a savory stuffing inside, making it a popular choice for vegetarians on Thanksgiving. The Tofurky Roast is a popular vegetarian alternative to turkey, made from a blend of soy protein, wheat gluten, and a delicious combination of herbs and spices.

Why is Christmas Eve dinner meatless? ›

The specific dishes may differ from country to country, but many of them are universal. Due to the Nativity Fast, no meat, eggs or milk (including cheese) are allowed during the supper.

What do pescatarians eat for Christmas dinner? ›

  • Tuna and Pesto Pasta.
  • Thai Vegetable Massaman Curry.
  • Baked Trevally with Sticky Coconut Rice.
  • Pescetarian Christmas: A Christmas Dinner Without the Meat.
  • Roast Cauliflower and Cheddar Soup.
  • Grilled Butterfish with Tricolour Quinoa.
  • Guacamole Grilled Cheese.
  • Focaccia Bread Pizza.
Dec 11, 2019

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