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.

How much veg per person for Christmas dinner? ›

How much veg is too much? Whether it's parsnips, sprouts, braised cabbage or carrots, 80g of each per person will do the trick. Clear your cupboards and fridge before writing your shopping list, it'll stop you from overbuying at the shop.

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 most popular vegetarian alternative to a turkey dinner 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 festive veggie tray for Christmas? ›

Arrange broccoli on serving platter to form tree shape and tomatoes to form garland. Arrange bell pepper to form star and cauliflower to form snow (see photo). If desired, cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours. Just before serving, arrange pretzels at bottom of tree to form trunk.

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.

How many carrots for 20 people? ›

A five-pound bag of carrots will feed 20 as a side dish, with 1/2 cup carrots per serving.

How many potatoes do I need for Christmas? ›

5 or 6 each I would plan for. I always cook as many as I can fit in the tray, I like to eat them cold later in the day if there's leftovers. I would say 5 each is enough plus a couple spare. It depends if you're doing mash or other types of potatoes.

How do you host a Christmas dinner on a budget? ›

How to Host a Stress-Free Holiday Meal on a Budget
  1. Simplify Your Meal Plan. It's tempting to go all-out for your holiday gathering. ...
  2. Shop Early and Use Coupons. ...
  3. Embrace Help. ...
  4. Set a Budget-Friendly Buffet. ...
  5. Break Down Your Schedule. ...
  6. Prioritize Self-Care.
Dec 1, 2023

What is the most eaten meal on Christmas? ›

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 are 3 traditional Christmas foods? ›

Every family in every part of the world serves their own traditional Christmas foods, but in the U.S., some are enjoyed nationwide:
  • Turkey.
  • Prime Rib.
  • Baked Ham.
  • Mashed Potatoes & Gravy.
  • Stuffing.
  • Green Bean Casserole.
  • Candied Sweet Potatoes.
  • Roasted Vegetables.
Dec 19, 2022

What do vegetarians eat on Christmas Day? ›

Vegetarian Christmas mains recipes
  • Spiced squash, feta & beetroot wellington. ...
  • Pumpkin & sage sformata. ...
  • Sprout, comté & walnut tart. ...
  • App onlyChristmas tree goat's cheese tart. ...
  • Whole roasted butternut squash with Christmas stuffing. ...
  • Hasselback butternut squash with tahini yogurt & gremolata.

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 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 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 vegetable is particularly associated with a 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.

Why is Christmas Eve dinner meatless? ›

Due to the Nativity Fast, no meat, eggs or milk (including cheese) are allowed during the supper. Thus fish, mushrooms and various types of grain are the main offerings. In Poland, the Wigilia supper begins with eating soups, traditionally mushroom soup or barszcz.

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