19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes
~ Vegetarians don’t have to feel forgotten at the Christmas buffet! These festive Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes will have everyone drooling … even the meatatarians on your guest list! Bonus: turns out, most of the very best recipes I found for this showcase also happen to be VEGAN Christmas recipes, as well! ~
A few weeks ago, we published a list of top Thanksgiving vegetarian main dish recipes – and the response was just wonderful!
In that post, I mentioned how I worry for vegetarian friends and relatives during the holidays, when they so often seem to be forgotten and left to pick through a few side dishes in order to piece together a meal.
We got such lovely feedback – directly in the comments on the post itself, on social media, and even personally!
We heard from vegetarians who were thrilled to have their own, special and festive vegetarian meal options … and from hostesses who were delighted to find vegetarian main dish recipes they could serve alongside their turkey, so all their guests would feel appreciated and included in the Thanksgiving meal.
Add to all that the fact that our collection of the very best ” everyday” vegetarian meals is one of our most popular posts ever … and … well, I thought maybe you guys would also enjoy a list of holiday-themed Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes!
Festive (Star-Studded!) Vegetarian Christmas Meals
No doubt – many of the recipes I featured in the Thanksgiving list would be great at Christmas, too.
But, I wanted to feature a few new ideas that felt more perfect for winter-y holidays. Some of these are all decked out in pretty Christmas reds and greens, and some feature quintessential holiday ingredients like chestnuts. And … some even feature fun star shapes (check out the first one on our list – so cute!).
Plenty of Vegan Christmas Recipes, Too!
Incidentally, as I was sifting through my final choices for the very best-of-the-best recipes to include here, I noticed that almost all of these vegetarian main dishes also happen to be vegan main dishes! Loads of great ideas for your vegan Christmas guests, too!
If it’s not specifically indicated in each recipe name, I’ve noted for you which are vegetarian and which are vegan recipes.
Watch Out … Meat-Eaters Will Be Jealous!
Just like I warned you with our Thanksgiving list, once all your guests take a peek at your gorgeous vegetarian/vegan main dish offerings … well, your holiday ham or Christmas goose seriously might feel a bit forgotten this year!
These gorgeous recipes will surely be a hit with all your holiday guests! I mean … who could resist these …
Festive Lentil and Mushroom Bowl with Star Potatoes (vegan) from Nicky at Kitchen Sanctuary
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Vegan Holiday Pie with Hot Water Pastry from Alexandra at Occasionally Eggs
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Little Lentil Loaf with Mushrooms and Sage (vegan) from Amber at Quite Good Food
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Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash Rings (vegetarian with vegan option) from Danielle at Cardamom & Coconut
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Ratatouille (vegan) from Elena at Happy Kitchen.Rocks
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Mini Vegetable Pot Pies (vegan) from Cadry at Cadry’s Kitchen
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Instant Pot Stuffed Squash (vegan) from Bintu at Recipes from a Pantry
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Parsnip and Carrot Rostis with Mushrooms and Wensleydale Sauce (vegetarian) from Nicky at Kitchen Sanctuary
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Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Borek (vegan) from Amber at Quite Good Food
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Oven Roasted Whole Cauliflower with Garlic and Herb (vegan or vegetarian depending on the ketchup you choose) from Swati and Tushar at Watch What U Eat
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Holiday Stuffed Squash (vegan) from Amanda at My Goodness Kitchen
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Hearty Portobello Wellingtons (vegan) from Kristina at Spabettie
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Vegan Fried Eggplant Casserole from Gabriel at One Clever Chef
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Mushroom-Walnut Meatless Loaf with Ketchup Glaze (vegan) from Melissa at Vegan Huggs
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Vegetable Wellington (vegan) from Linda at Veganosity
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Spinach Pesto Lasagna with Creamy Mushroom Sauce (vegan) from Anjali at Vegetarian Gastronomy
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Tender Vegan Steaks from Rebecca at Vegan Blueberry
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Broccoli Tofu Quiche (vegan or vegetarian depending on the pie crust you use) from Ginny at Vegan in the Freezer
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Vegan Swedish Meatballs from Rhian at Rhian’s Recipes
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Vegan and Vegetarian Christmas Side Dish Recipes (+ Dessert!)
To round out your holiday menu, be sure to check out some of our very own THK-favorite vegan and vegetarian holiday side dishes, like our:
- Wreath-Shaped Christmas Salad (vegetarian)
- Blistered Green Beans (vegan)
- Roasted Green Beans with Balsamic Browned Butter (vegetarian)
- Microwave Spaghetti Squash with Sage-Browned Butter and Toasted Walnuts (vegetarian)
- Easy Cranberry Sauce with Apples, Pecans and Pineapple (5 Minutes and No Cooking!) (vegan)
And for dessert, be sure to offer up a cookie plate filled with scrumptious (but healthy!) faves like our:
- Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Balls (“Buckeyes”) (vegetarian)
- No-Bake Gingerbread Date Balls (vegan)
- Pistachio-White Chocolate (No Butter!) Butter Cookies (vegetarian)
Merry, merry Christmas, everyone! I hope it’s your very healthiest, happiest one yet!
What a lovely round up of some amazing looking dishes! Thanks for including mine in the list!!
Oh you’re so very welcome, Rebecca! I had a terrific time putting this list together, narrowing it down further and further until I had just the very best vegetarian recipes (and vegan) to feature! I’ve never made anything like your vegan steaks before – such an intriguing method and unique recipe – of course, I HAD to include it! Have a wonderful December and the best holiday season ever!! ~Shelley