40 Best Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Recipes for Your Holiday Menu

Make it a magical meatless meal this holiday season.

sweet and sour brussels sprouts, cranberry apple sauce, and orange thyme parker house rolls
Mike Garten

For many families, the traditional Christmas meal doesn't feel complete without a meaty main like roast turkey or glazed ham on the holiday table. So when a vegetarian comes to dinner, it’s often about creating a satisfying meal out of the abundant side dishes. But what if vegetarian dinner options weren’t an afterthought, but rather the stars of the show?

Whether your entire table is meat-free or you want an array of show-stopping plant-based options to round out the omnivorous options, our roundup includes dozens of ideas for vegetarian sides, main courses, desserts, and more. Think savory dishes including potato and Brussels sprouts gratin, eggplant parmesan meatballs, crispy roasted broccolini, and turmeric roasted beets with orange bell pepper romesco. Our list also includes an array of soups and chilis to warm the body as well as the soul on a wintry eve. And for the sweets, how does cranberry pie with snickerdoodle crust sound? (Beyond delicious, we say!)

With the Christmas dinner menu planned, don’t forget to brighten the table with some stylish Christmas table decorations, hang a Christmas wreath on the front door to welcome guests, and transform the whole house into a DIY winter wonderland with some Christmas crafts.

vegetarian christmas dinner — potato and brussels sprouts gratin
Steve Giralt
1 of 40
Potato and Brussels Sprouts Gratin

Add to the flavor profile — not to mention the nutritional value — by adding shredded Brussels sprouts to au gratin potatoes.

Get the Potato and Brussels Sprouts Gratin recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner – eggplant parmesan meatballs
Danielle Occhiogrosso Daly
2 of 40
Eggplant Parmesan Meatballs

If you like meatballs, you'll love this meat-free version. It's every bit as satisfying with eggplant, parmesan, and marinara sauce.

Get the Eggplant Parmesan Meatballs recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner – crispy roasted broccolini
MIKE GARTEN
3 of 40
Crispy Roasted Broccolini

In this vibrant side dish, golden brown crumbs and lemon zest top the nutritious veggie for crowd-pleasing appeal.

Get the Crispy Roasted Broccolini recipe​​.

vegetarian christmas dinner  turmeric roasted beets
MIKE GARTEN
4 of 40
Turmeric-Roasted Beets With Orange Bell Pepper Romesco

This side dish is as visually appealing as it is colorful, with orange bell peppers and beets.

Get the Turmeric-Roasted Beets With Orange Bell Pepper Romesco recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner – creamy chickpea soup
Mike Garten
5 of 40
Creamy Chickpea Soup

Chickpeas make a creamy, hearty base for this wholesome soup. A drizzle of paprika oil on top brightens the presentation.

Get the Creamy Chickpea Soup recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner –  olive oil clementine cake
Mike Garten
6 of 40
Olive Oil Clementine Cake

This festive cake, topped with sliced almonds and candied clementines, makes a pretty presentation on the dessert table.

Get the Olive Oil Clementine Cake recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner –  charred cauliflower
MIKE GARTEN
7 of 40
Charred Cauliflower

This flavorful roasted cauliflower dish is easy to make and packs a flavor punch with a perfectly salty anchovy sauce.

Get the Charred Cauliflower recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner –  roasted carrots and pesto
Mike Garten
8 of 40
Roasted Carrots With Carrot-Top Pesto

Top roasted carrots with pesto made from carrot-top greens. The pesto also freezes easily and is great on pasta or as a party dip, too.

Get the Roasted Carrots With Carrot-Top Pesto recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner –  mâche beet orange salad
Mike Garten
9 of 40
Mâche, Beet, and Orange Salad

Beets and navel oranges add beautiful color and big flavor in this pretty salad with a lemon-herb dressing.

Get the Mâche, Beet, and Orange Salad recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner – chickpea kale stew
Mike Garten
10 of 40
Chickpea and Kale Stew

High-fiber and high-protein chickpeas serve as the base for this colorful, hearty stew.

Get the Chickpea and Kale Stew recipe.

non traditional christmas dinner asparagus and potato galette
STEVE GIRALT
11 of 40
Asparagus and Potato Galette

This galette looks fancy and even fussy, but it’s actually quick and simple to make.

Get the Asparagus and Potato Galette recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner  chickpeas spinach quinoa patties
Mike Garten
12 of 40
Chickpea, Spinach, and Quinoa Patties

These patties are loaded with feta, garlic, and jalapeño, making them incredibly tasty even for meat lovers.

Get the Chickpea, Spinach, and Quinoa Patties recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner grilled squash garlic bread
Con Poulos
13 of 40
Grilled Squash Garlic Bread

Ricotta and roasted veggies take this garlic bread to the next level.

Get the Grilled Squash Garlic Bread recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner tomato soup flatbread
Con Poulos
14 of 40
Spiced Tomato Soup with Flatbread

Complementing this spiced tomato soup are flatbreads smothered in an herbed butter and coconut spread.

Get the Spiced Tomato Soup with Flatbread recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner warm roasted cauliflower and spinach salad
Mike Garten
15 of 40
Warm Roasted Cauliflower and Spinach Salad

This particular recipe may not appeal to the little ones, but any adult at the table will love the combination of lentils, cauliflower, and spinach, with a dash of pumpkin pie spice.

Get the Warm Roasted Cauliflower and Spinach Salad recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner caponata flatbread
DANIELLE OCCHIOGROSSO DALY
16 of 40
Caponata Flatbread

This flatbread is the sweet-and-sour pizza of your dreams. Eggplant, peppers, honey, and ricotta are just a few of the tasty aspects of your new favorite flatbread.

Get the Caponata Flatbread recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner corn zucchini fritters
Chris Court
17 of 40
Corn and Zucchini Fritters

While some of the vegetables included in this tasty dish are technically summer veggies, that doesn't mean you can't whip it up for Christmas this year.

Get the Corn and Zucchini Fritters recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner roasted vegetable bowl
Con Poulos
18 of 40
Roasted Vegetable Bowl

Get your daily dose of veggies and then some with this power bowl that'll make anyone's mouth water, especially when they hear the black beans are flavored with cilantro and lime. Yum.

Get the Roasted Vegetable Bowl recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner mini hasselback potatoes
ALEXANDRA ROWLEY; FOOD STYLIST: CHRISTINE ALBANO; PROP STYLIST: KAREN OLSEN
19 of 40
Mini Hasselback Potatoes with Chive Butter

You're going to want to make at least two servings of these potatoes because once your family tries one, they're going to want them all. They won't even realize it's a vegetarian dish.

Get the Mini Hasselback Potatoes with Chive Butter recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner butternut squash tumeric soup
Con Poulos
20 of 40
Butternut Squash and Turmeric Soup

Turn your leftover butternut squash from Thanksgiving into this butternut squash and turmeric soup. A splash of coconut milk and vegetable bouillon base make of the tastiest butternut squash soup you've ever had.

Get the Butternut Squash and Turmeric Soup recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner crispy chickpeas
Mike Garten
21 of 40
Crispy Chickpeas

Forget buying the bag of crispy chickpeas at your local stor; you can make them yourself and add your own spice combo.

Get the Crispy Chickpeas recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner mediterranean zucchini boats kefir mint topping
LUCY SCHAEFFER
22 of 40
Mediterranean Zucchini Boats with Kefir-Mint Topping

These gorgeous zucchini boats are a bit of a process. But if you have the time and you're looking for a new dish that'll fill up everyone at the table, you've found it.

Get the Mediterranean Zucchini Boats with Kefir-Mint Topping recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner enchiladas pumpkin seed salsa
Mike Garten
23 of 40
Enchiladas with Pumpkin Seed Salsa

Add a little Latin flair to your vegetarian Christmas dinner with these delicious enchiladas that carry your love of pumpkin over into December.

Get the Enchiladas with Pumpkin Seed Salsa recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner pasta broccoli pesto
Steve Giralt
24 of 40
Fusilli with Broccoli Pesto

Meatless pastas are some of the easiest (and tastiest) ways to please meat-lovers and vegetarians alike. Especially ones topped with a broccoli pesto sauce, sliced almonds, and grated parmesan cheese.

Get the Fusilli with Broccoli Pesto recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner  quick sautéed beans and tomatoes
CON POULOS; FOOD STYLING BY ANNE DISRUDE; PROP STYLING BY PAIGE HICKS
25 of 40
Quick Sautéed Beans and Tomatoes

If you're wrapping up the food preparations, and you feel like you could use one more quick side, look no further. This salad only takes 15 minutes and will have everyone's mouth watering.

Get the Quick Sautéed Beans and Tomatoes recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner sweet potato bean soup
STEVE GIRALT; FOOD STYLIST: MICHELLE GATTON AT STOCKLAND MARTEL; PROP STYLIST: COURTNEY DE WET FOR BIG LEO
26 of 40
Sweet Potato, Bean and Rice Soup

This hearty soup takes less than 30 minutes to make, will give you leftovers for a few days, and comes with plenty of protein, despite not having any meat in it.

Get the Sweet Potato, Bean and Rice Soup recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner crispy chickpea and kale bowl
Con Poulos
27 of 40
Crispy Chickpea and Kale Bowl

This is another dish that may not go over well with the little ones, but that doesn't mean it won't be a crowdpleaser for the adults celebrating the holidays together.

Get the Crispy Chickpea and Kale Bowl recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner vegetarian chili wheat berries beans corn
CON POULOS. FOOD STYLIST: VIVIAN LUI. PROP STYLIST: MEGAN HEDGPETH.
28 of 40
Vegetarian Chili with Wheat Berries, Beans, and Corn

This chili is so flavorful, nobody will even notice that there's no meat in it. It does take a few hours to make, however, so plan accordingly.

Get the Vegetarian Chili with Wheat Berries, Beans, and Corn recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner marinated summer squash salad
BEATRIZ DA COSTA/ STUDIO D
29 of 40
Marinated Summer Squash Salad

The name of this dish may make it seem like it's reserved for the warmer months. But summer squash is just another name for yellow squash, which means you can have it any time you want. Mixed with white quinoa and topped with feta cheese, you won't be disappointed.

Get the Marinated Summer Squash Salad recipe.

vegetarian christmas dinner cider glazed brussels sprouts
Con Poulos
30 of 40
Cider-Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Even the most avid veggie-"haters" will clear this plate full of cider-glazed Brussel sprouts topped with dried cranberries, and it takes less than 30 minutes!

Get the Cider-Glazed Brussels Sprouts recipe.

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