Creating a memorable vegan Christmas dinner doesn’t mean sacrificing tradition or flavor. From cozy shepherd’s pie to elegant Mediterranean-inspired dishes, these five festive spreads offer something for every holiday table. Each complete selection includes starters, mains, sides and desserts to make your plant-based celebration both effortless and delicious.
Cozy and Classic Vegan Dinner
Mixed Mushroom Soup
This easy soup gets wonderful flavor and texture from a mix of cooked and raw mushrooms. If you would like to use portobello mushrooms, first scrape out the dark gills under their caps as they can give the soup a muddy color.
Harvest Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie
The mashed sweet potato crust makes a fabulous topping for this pie. If you wish, make a classic mashed potato topping or use a favorite packaged variety. Both the filling and topping may be made two days prior to assembling.
Caramel Apple Pie Bars
Calling all apple lovers! This fall-tastic make-ahead recipe is the perfect way to end any holiday feast — no fuss deliciousness never tasted so special.
Hearty Winter Vegan Dinner
Warm Winter Greens Salad
For a variation on the typical green salad, try this warm winter version. Gently sautéed curly endive or escarole and radicchio create the base, while capers, olives, currants, pine nuts and orange zest make this salad dance in your mouth.
Celebration Lentil Loaf
This festive and satisfying main course is rich and tasty on its own, but you can also pair it with Vegan Mushroom Gravy to make things extra special for the holidays.
Vegan Mushroom Gravy
Make dinner more memorable with this rich vegan gravy. It pairs perfectly with creamy mashed potatoes and any hearty main.
Tahini-Garlic Mashed Potatoes
These potatoes are rich and creamy without the addition of dairy ingredients. The flavor is classic enough to serve alongside any holiday roast.
Vegan Mocha Pie
This vegan treat is fabulously creamy and chocolatey with a hint of coffee and maple for depth. Try serving it with fresh berries or nondairy whipped topping (or both!).
Casual Comfort Vegan Dinner
Swedish Milletballs
Create a meatless alternative to traditional Swedish meatballs with millet and vegetables for your next holiday gathering. Puréed walnuts create a rich and creamy sauce that pairs perfectly with millet.
Vegan Mushroom Alfredo
Almonds blended with almondmilk make a rich sauce for this vegan pasta dish. We like the flavor and smooth texture of spelt pasta and the way rotini traps the sauce, but feel free to substitute your favorite pasta.
Oven-Roasted Kale
You’ll be surprised at how easy and tasty this kale preparation is. This simple, flavorful side effortlessly rounds out your holiday spread, adding a perfect balance of crispy texture and savory goodness to the feast. It’s the ideal dish to complete your celebratory meal without adding stress to your kitchen routine.
Thumbprint Cookies
Fill these oat and nut cookies with your favorite fruit juice–sweetened jam. We think strawberry, raspberry and apricot jams are particularly good.
Mediterranean-Inspired Vegan Dinner
Muhammara Spiced Red Pepper Dip
Keep the bright colors going by serving this fiery roasted red pepper dip with colorful slices of raw radishes, carrots, cucumbers and Romanesco cauliflower.
Vegan Involtini with Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli
These beautiful rolls enclose a filling of vegan ricotta and roasted broccoli and cauliflower with colorful ribbons of winter veggies. We suggest using carrots, the broccoli stalk and cauliflower core for wrapping, but you can substitute strips of butternut squash, zucchini and even parsnips.
Get the recipe: Vegan Involtini with Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli
Bulgur with Arugula, Pomegranate and Hazelnuts
Pomegranate seeds add beautiful color and juicy flavor to this simple grain salad balanced with peppery arugula and crunchy bits of celery.
Get the recipe: Bulgur with Arugula, Pomegranate and Hazelnuts
Vegan Chocolate Mousse Tart
This dense chocolate mousse tart is for ALL the chocolate lovers out there — and it just happens to be vegan. An almond flour crust can even be made no-bake if you want to skip turning on the oven at all.
Winter-Spiced Vegan Dinner
Winter Squash and Apple Soup
Simple, warming and purely delicious. This soup marries the season’s best flavors. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of squash and apples, creating a symphony of comforting tastes. For an extra flavor adventure, try a medley of winter squash varieties.
Sweet Potato and Chickpea Tagine
This Moroccan-inspired tagine takes center stage with its aromatic spices and hearty vegetables. As the spices cook, they fill your kitchen with an irresistible warmth, promising a main course that’s both comforting and exotic. Each spoonful delivers a perfect balance of sweet, savory and fragrant flavors.
Warm Mustardy Brussels Sprout Salad
This crunchy salad, which combines Brussels sprouts’ bright green leaves with a tangy mustard vinaigrette, will win over even skeptical diners. Serve as an impressive side dish for the holidays.
Vegan Date-Pecan Pumpkin Pie
Creamy pumpkin pie filling is right at home in this date-sweetened, gluten-free crust.
