Every recipe that you need to make the BEST vegan Christmas dinner is on this list! Trust me, these recipes will impress all of your guests-- even the carnivores.
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You might be reading this post because you're a new vegan, an experienced vegan, or a non-vegan with a vegan family member that you're cooking for this Christmas. This vegan Christmas dinner recipe list is for everyone!
First of all, if you aren't vegan and you're taking the time to research vegan Christmas recipes so you can make something special for your vegan guest, I want to thank you for doing that! Seriously, it will mean so much to that person and I know that they will be blown away by how thoughtful you are.
I've found all the best vegan Christmas recipes for you and I narrowed them down to the best of the best. These recipes are from some of my most trusted vegan food bloggers-- their recipes always get rave reviews!
I also wrote out my personal vegan Christmas dinner menu (at the end of this post) + tips to help you plan your vegan Christmas dinner menu too!
The following topics are questions that I get asked over and over, the answers might help you too!
What Type of Recipes Will You Find on This List?
- Vegan Christmas Breakfast Recipes
- Vegan Christmas Appetizers
- Vegan Christmas Side Dishes
- Vegan Christmas Main Courses
- Vegan Christmas Baking Recipes
- Vegan Christmas Desserts
What Do Vegans Eat on Christmas Day?
This list of vegan Christmas recipes are all centered around dinner but if you're making Christmas breakfast or brunch, here are some ideas you could make.
This is what I'm making for our Christmas day breakfast:
- Curried Tofu Scramble
- Roasted Garlic Red Potatoes or (Low-Carb) Roasted Radishes
- Bagels with (our favorite!) Kite Hill Chive Cream Cheese
- Fruit Bowl
- Sliced Apple Sage Field Roast Sausages
- Cinnamon Rolls
What Vegans Eat for Christmas Dinner?
Vegans eat veganized versions of traditional holiday recipes for Christmas dinner. It's really not difficult to veganize a recipe, it's usually as simple as swapping dairy butter for vegan butter or dairy milk for plant (coconut, almond, oat, hemp, or soy) milk.
The biggest difference is definitely the main course. Traditionally, people serve large pieces of meat as the centerpiece of their Christmas dinner. There are so many plant based main course options now for vegans that it's hard to pick just one!
For our first vegan Thanksgiving (a few years ago), we did a ton of research, taste tests, and comparisons before we decided on which store-bought vegan roast we would serve for our vegan Thanksgiving dinner. We decided on the Gardein Holiday Roast and liked it so much that we made it again for our vegan Christmas dinner too!
If you're not interested in a store-bought vegan turkey roast, there are lots of delicious homemade options too!
- Vegan Wellington
- Vegan Christmas Nut Roast
- Spanakopita
- Vegan Lentil Loaf
- Vegan Maple Glazed Ham
- Mushroom & Chestnut Stuffed Seitan Roast
What Can I Make For Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner?
Speaking of Thanksgiving, I definitely have you covered on what you could make for a full-fledged vegan Thanksgiving feast! Check out my personal vegan Thanksgiving menu that I made last year, every recipe on this list (especially the vegan stuffing!) is deeeelish!
Get the list here --> The Ultimate Vegan Thanksgiving Menu that Every Vegan Needs!
What Do You Give a Vegan For Christmas?
The following items are all gifts that I love and I have given or received for Christmas. I think any vegan in your life would be thrilled to receive one of these presents for Christmas!
- Vegan Christmas Tree Candle (It's soy + chemical-free)
- Vegan Cookbook (I have and love this WFPB cookbook and this vegan instant pot cookbook)
- Tofu Press (This is the press that I have been using for years! I use it to make this almond butter tofu at least once a month!)
- Reusable Produce Bags
- Glass Snapware Containers
- Reusable Silicone Food Storage Bags
- Silicone Stretch Lids
- Diffuser + Essential Oils
- Instant Pot
- Salad Spinner
- Ceramic Braiser Pan
- Large Glass Jars (to store dried beans, oats, and lentils)
- Vegan Purse
- Vegan B12 Spray (This is the B12 spray that I take and it tastes great! This would make a grea stocking stuffer.)
- Ceramic Dutch Oven
If you're going to a vegan Christmas dinner and want to bring a hostess gift, I would recommend that you pick up a bottle of organic vegan wine from Trader Joe's. You can see my favorite organic vegan wine, here.
Vegan Christmas Dinner Ideas
From appetizers to dessert, plus everything in between, this is the only list that you will need to create the most scrumptious and delectable vegan Christmas dinner for your guests!
Okay, let's get into all the good food. I separated everything by courses so it will be easy for you to skim through and find the recipes that you need.
Vegan Christmas Appetizers - Finger Foods & Small Bites
Finger foods and small bites are a must! If you're having a sit-down meal or a casual buffet, you need to have a few platters of appetizers out that your guests can munch on while the main meal is being prepared.
Gluten Free Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
Christmas Sundried Tomato Pesto Pinwheels, recipe here.
Photo Credit: VNutrition
Christmas Cranberry Salsa, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Fried Dandelions
Mushroom Crostini with Garlic Basil Vegan Ricotta Cheese Spread, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Vegetarian Gastronomy
Puff Pastry Vegan Squash Rosettes, recipe here.
Photo Credit: She Keeps a Lovely Home
Vegan Christmas Starters - Light Soups and Salads
I recently learned that there's a difference between appetizers and starters, so in case you didn't know either-- apps are small bites and finger foods while a starter is the first lighter course of the meal. I prefer a cup of soup or a light salad as a starter and the following recipes are some of my all time favorites!
Creamy Ginger Carrot Sweet Potato Soup, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
Creamy Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Soup, recipe here.
Photo Credit: The Boozy Oyster
Curried Acorn Squash Cream Soup, recipe here.
Photo Credit: One Clever Chef
Roasted Broccoli Chickpea Arugula Salad, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Peas and Crayons
Winter Citrus Salad with Ginger Miso Salad, recipe here.
Photo Credit: The Simple Green
Harvest Wild Rice Salad, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Girl Heart Food
Vegan Christmas Side Dishes
For many vegans, the side dishes are the main course-- so they gotta be reaaaal good. For Christmas, I feel like the side dishes should be amped up a little bit more than normal. For example, mashed potatoes are always great but scalloped potatoes are a step above because they're super rich and creamy-- they just taste like a treat dish!
Savory Mushroom Gravy with Mashed Potatoes, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
The BEST Vegan Mac n' Cheese, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
Maple Cinnamon Butternut Squash with Cranberries & Pecans, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Rhubarbarians
Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
Vegan Scalloped Potatoes, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
Roasted Rosemary Fall Vegetables, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Taste and See
Roasted Garlic Herb Dinner Rolls, recipe here.
Photo Credit: FOODAL
Hasselback Butternut Squash, recipe here.
Photo Credit: My Kitchen Love
Cheesy Vegan Cauliflower Casserole, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Vegan Huggs
Zucchini Tomato Pesto Bake, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
Vegan Christmas Main Courses
The main course of your vegan Christmas dinner is so important, it's the centerpiece of your meal! At the beginning of this list, I shared which store-bought Holiday roast that we prefer. Spoiler alert, it's Gardein. However, if you're against serving a store-bought vegan roast I have lots of other homemade entree options for you!
I included multiple traditional and non-traditional main course recipes for you to choose from. Each one is delicious and sure to impress your guests!
Lentil Mushroom Vegan Meatloaf, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
The Best Spinach Artichoke Lasagna, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
Portobello Mushroom Instant Pot Pot Roast, recipe here.
Photo Credit: A Virtual Vegan
Personal Vegetable Pot Pies, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Cadry's Kitchen
Vegan Mushroom Wellington, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Yummy Mummy Kitchen
Mushroom Lentil Casserole with Mashed Potatoes, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Cozy Peach Kitchen
Vegan Christmas Desserts
No vegan Christmas meal is complete without a vegan Christmas dessert! I recommend that you serve at least two options so your guests will have a choice. Vegan Christmas cookies are always a great choice because (you can make them the day before) you can share some with your neighbors and save the rest for the big day. Why not knock out two birds with one stone!?
Note - If you don't have the time or you don't want to make your own vegan Christmas dessert, store-bought is totally fine. I highly recommend Daiya Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake with So Delicious Coco Whip or a scoop of So Delicious Salted Caramel Ice Cream. We truly love all of these desserts!
Vegan Christmas Cake (Chocolate Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream), recipe here.
Photo Credit: Tinned Tomatoes
Snowmen Meringue Cookies, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Vegan Huggs
Chocolate Peppermint Rice Crispy Bars, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Veggie Inspired
Mini Vegan Pecan Pie, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Yummy Mummy Kitchen
Chocolate Peppermint Bark, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Vegan in the Freezer
Fluffy Frosted Eggnog Sugar Cookies, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Vegan Guide to the Galaxy
Vegan Christmas Drinks
A special signature drink is a really nice touch for your vegan Christmas dinner and it can be alcoholic or not. Something I really really really love is a hot cocoa bar. My friend always has a hot cocoa bar at her Christmas party and it's such a nice touch!
You could also easily do a margarita station (this is our favorite margarita mix) or eggnog bar with lots of festive vegan toppings like:
- Vegan marshmallows
- Rosemary sprigs
- Eco-friendly paper Christmas straws
- Cinnamon sticks
- Vegan candy canes
- Vegan whip cream (we like So Delicious coco whip)
Note - if you don't want to make your own eggnog, our favorite store-bought eggnog is made by So Delicious. It's literally so delicious!
Cranberry Ginger Margaritas, recipe here. (Add a splash of cranberry juice to make it extra festive!)
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
(Non-Alcoholic) Date-Sweetened Vegan Eggnog, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Elephantastic Vegan
(Non-Alcoholic) Vegan Gingerbread Hot Chocolate, recipe here.
Photo Credit: VNutrition
Spiced Orange Vegan Coquito, recipe here.
Photo Credit: The Rhubarbarians
Cranberry Mimosas, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Cadry's Kitchen
I hope all of these vegan Christmas recipes make your holiday extra festive and delicious! Merry Christmas!
Did I miss any of your favorite vegan holiday recipes? Let me know in the comments!
What Do Vegans Eat For The Holidays?
Ultimate Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
New Year’s Day Breakfast Clock Bagels
Easy Valentine’s Day Themed Breakfast
If you make any vegan Christmas recipes from this list, please share a picture of it on Instagram and tag me @Stacey_Homemaker or use the hashtag #StaceyHomemaker so I can see your creation! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see weekly delicious vegan recipes.
Ultimate Vegan Christmas Dinner Menu!
Ingredients
Vegan Christmas Dinner Recipes -
- 1 Garlic Herb Rolls
- 1 Spinach Artichoke Dip
- 1 Christmas Pin Wheels
- 1 Scalloped Potatoes
- 1 Macaroni and Cheese
- 1 Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
- 1 Pomegrante Wild Rice Arugula Salad
- 1 Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- 1 Mushroom Wellington or Vegan Roast
- 1 Maple Cinnamon Butternut Squash
Vegan Drinks & Desserts -
- Date-Sweetened Vegan Eggnog
- Cranberry Mimosas
- Peppermint Rice Crispy Bars
- Meringue Snowmen Cookies
Instructions
Vegan Christmas Dinner -
- Garlic Herb Rolls - (Three days before) If you want to make these ahead of time, freeze them on a baking sheet just after shaping. Then lay them out on a sheet pan for about 1.5 hours to defrost and then bake as instructed.
- Spinach Artichoke Dip - (Two days before) You can make this dip the day before, it reheats really well (350 degrees for 30 minutes, covered). You could also make it way in advance and freeze it. It may look a little wet when you defrost it but once you stir it and heat it up you can't even tell that it wasn't made fresh that day.
- Scalloped Potatoes - (One day before) You can make this dish the day before and then reheat it (covered) for dinner, it will be just as delicious.
- Macaroni and Cheese - (2-3 days before) You can make the cheese sauce sauce 2-3 days ahead and store it in the fridge. Warm it up right before you're ready to serve and mix it with the hot noodles. You may need to add additional unsweetened plant milk to loosen the sauce when you reheat it.
- Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole - (One day before) You can make this the day before by assembling it up until the baking point, leave the bread crumbs off too. When you're ready to serve it, cover it and bake it until it's hot all the way through. Uncover it the last few minutes to brown the breadcrumbs.
- Pomegranate Arugula Wild Rice Salad - (One day before) Make the dressing and prep all the salad ingredients the day before and store everything separately in the fridge. Combine the salad ingredients and add teh dressing right before you're ready to serve.
- Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts - (Make this dish the day of) I don't love the texture of reheated brussels, so I make this dish right before you want to serve dinner so it's hot and fresh. You can have two trays going into the oven at the same time if you're also roasting the broccoli and chickpeas for the previous recipe!
- Mushroom Lentil Meatloaf - (Make this dish the day before) You can prep the meatloaf the day before and then bake it fresh for Christmas dinner or you can bake it the day before and then reheat it for Christmas dinner.
- Maple Cinnamon Butternut Squash - (Make this dish the day of) This dish is best baked fresh right before serving.
Vegan Christmas Drinks & Desserts -
- Date-Sweetened Eggnog - (One day before) You can make this in advance and keep it in the fridge until the big day.
- Cranberry Mimosas - (Make this right before your guests come over) If you make it too early the sparkling wine or champagne will lose its bubbles.
- Peppermint Rice Crispy Bars - (One day before) These rice crispy bars are the most crispy when made fresh but one day won't make a huge difference if it will save you some time in the kitchen on the big day!
- Meringue Snowmen Cookies - (One day before) Make the cookies the day before to save time on the big day.
This is my first vegan Christmas, and I’m cooking for a non-vegan BUT vegan friendly crowd. There are only 6 of us, so that takes some pressure off, but I also have Celiac disease (so no gluten) and my mom has a restricted diet as well (no corn, nightshades and very minimal on the grains). Your list was a great place to start! Thank you thank you thank you!
I'm so happy the list was helpful to you! I hope you and your friends/family enjoyed the recipes, Merry Christmas!
This is such an amazing collection of vegan Christmas recipes! And I love how you laid out the details on how to get it all done like a pro! Thank you!
Thank you, Holly! I'm so glad that you found the guide helpful! Merry Christmas <3
While I'm not a vegan, nor am I vegetarian, in my faith we don't eat any kind of pig meat, nor shellfish of any kind, so your recipes are wonderful for us to have with the meat dishes we do eat. I don't know where to begin to make something for our weekly Sabbath meal together--my local brethren and I meet at our minister's house with him and his family for Sabbath services, and then we share the evening meal together--because every recipe sounds so delicious. I guess I'll just have to make one each week and share it with the 14 other eager recipients 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing this with me, Joyce! I'm so happy that you can work these recipes into your Sabbath meal, I hope you enjoy each recipe! I like your idea of making a new one each week to share, genius!
Thanks so much for including my harvest wild rice salad, Stacey 🙂 This is such a great round up and I love the tips for preparing everything leading up to the big day!
Thank you, Dawn!