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? ›

Enjoy a variety of moreish pies, soups, pastries, tarts, nut roasts and vegetable traybakes. For all things root vegetable goodness, we've got a Christmas parsnip recipes collection, featuring delicious ways to incorporate parsnips into festive dishes.

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.

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 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 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.

How many vegetables do I need for 25 guests? ›

Vegetables and salads: plan on 1/2 cup per person. A 2-quart bowl will serve 12-16 people. For raw vegetables plan 3-4 pieces for each person.

How many carrots for 20 people? ›

How many carrots to cook per person? As with any batch recipe, this is always the big question: just how much food do you need to cook when feeding so many people. A five-pound bag of carrots will feed 20 as a side dish, with 1/2 cup carrots per serving.

Can you pre cook veg for Christmas dinner? ›

Prep your veg the night before

If you've got lots of space in your fridge (unlikely), you could even pre-cook your potatoes and parsnips on Christmas Eve to save even more time.

How many sides do you need for Christmas dinner? ›

Speaking of sides—you'll want to pick recipes that complement your main course. When choosing the number of sides, plan for about 1–2 appetizers and about 2–3 side dishes. For 8 people or more, choose 2–3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

What is the most sold food at Christmas? ›

The Most Popular Christmas Foods
  • Roasted potatoes (91%)
  • Scalloped potatoes (83%)
  • Roast beef (77%)
  • Red velvet cake (76%)
  • Ham (76%)
  • Christmas nuts (76%)
Aug 1, 2023

What is the 12 course Christmas dinner? ›

The bread is broken by the head of the household and begins the meal, which consists of 12 courses including sauerkraut with gravy, pierogi, halupki made with mushrooms and rice, fish, dry fruit, beans , peas, honey and other dishes.

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 vegetarians miss from meat? ›

A meatless diet can be healthy, but vegetarians -- especially vegans -- need to make sure they're getting enough vitamin B12, calcium, iron, and zinc. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics warns of the risk of vitamin B12 deficiencies in vegetarians and vegans. Vitamin B12 is found naturally only in animal products.

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? ›

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.

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