Your search is over, 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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As I write this vegan Christmas dinner post, I have Christmas music playing in the background, I’m burning my favorite vegan Fresh Cut Christmas Tree scented candle (soy + chemical-free), and I’m making a list of everything I need to do before Christmas. Yeah, it’s 2 days before Thanksgiving but in Staceyland I’ve been celebrating the Christmas season since November 1st. Don’t judge me, it makes me happy and this year I’ve been focusing on doing more things that make me happy!
My husband and I actually just finalized our plans for Thanksgiving this morning. Naturally, it makes sense to immediately dive into making Christmas plans right now, doesn’t it? I thought it was a good idea until I actually started writing out my list and searching for the vegan Christmas dinner recipes that I want to make. It was a little overwhelming because there are just so many options out there.
However, I pushed through and found all the best vegan Christmas recipes for you! I narrowed them down to the best of the best (some of my all-time favorite vegan recipes from my most trusted vegan food bloggers–their recipes always get rave reviews) and I wrote out my personal vegan Christmas dinner menu + options to help you plan your vegan Christmas dinner menu too.
Click the “skip to recipe” button at the top of this page to see my complete vegan Christmas dinner menu recipe list, timeline, and helpful cooking tips at the end of this post.
What’s a Vegan Christmas Like?
This Christmas will be a little different for us. Not because we’re vegan but because we decided to have a giftless Christmas this year. We really want to focus on spending time together, making new memories, and enjoying the season. Instead of stressing ourselves to the max and being swept up in the hustle and bustle of the “giving season” we want to be present instead of giving presents. Corny, I know, but it’s true.
Since there won’t be any presents for us to exchange with each other on Christmas day this year, the food will be an even bigger focus. Due to that, I want it to be extra special and extra delicious. That’s why I’m starting the planning process early this year, I want everything to be perfect!
Our plans for Christmas day are to have Travis’ mom over for breakfast in the morning and my parents will come over for Christmas dinner at night. Everyone will have their own one-on-one special time together which I think it very important, but it also means that I’m cooking a big vegan Christmas breakfast and vegan Christmas dinner.
Vegan Christmas Breakfast Menu
For breakfast, I’m making:
- Curry tofu scramble (recipe coming soon)
- Roasted garlic red potatoes
- Bagels with (our favorite!) Kite Hill chive cream cheese
- Fruit bowl
- Cinnamon rolls
Funny story about the cinnamon rolls– I also made cinnamon rolls last Christmas but I forgot to put cinnamon in them, sooo they were actually just sweet rolls. I know I know, how do you forget to put cinnamon in cinnamon rolls?
Long story short, I used coconut sugar which is a darker sugar so it kind of looked like cinnamon when I sprinkled it on the dough and I was rushing and just forgot to add the cinnamon! Oops. They were still delicious but I’m going to make them again this year and actually use cinnamon this time!
Is Minced Meat Vegan?
I’ve actually never tasted mincemeat, I don’t think it’s a super popular dish to make for Christmas here in the United States. However, I know that it’s popular in other parts of the world for the holidays. I’m including it here because many of the ways you can use it seem like recipes that you could serve for a vegan Christmas breakfast or brunch!
First, what is mincemeat? Traditionally, mincemeat used to be made with meat and suet (animal fat) but not anymore. So, what is vegan mince made from? Vegan mincemeat is made using a combination of nuts, dried fruits, citrus, spices, and alcohol. It actually sounds really delicious!
You can use vegan mincemeat to make:
- Mincemeat pie
- Mincemeat tart
- Use it as a filling for thumbprint cookies
- Pancake or waffle topping
- Use it as a filling for cinnamon rolls
- Mincemeat hand pies
- Mincemeat muffins
Do you need a delicious vegan mincemeat recipe to try? This recipe has rave reviews!
If You’re Not Vegan But You’re Cooking For a Vegan Friend/Family Member…Read This!
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 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 your guest and I know that they will be blown away by how thoughtful you are.
(If you’re not vegan the following questions and answers might be helpful to you!)
What Do Vegans Eat on Christmas Day?
I get asked this question a lot. Surprisingly, the answer is very simple. Vegans eat veganized versions of traditional holiday recipes. 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. Every recipe on this list is delicious and most of the time you can’t even tell the difference between a veganized dish and a non-vegan dish, sometimes the vegan version is even tastier!
The biggest change, in my opinion, is definitely the main course. Traditionally, people serve large pieces of meat as the centerpiece of their Christmas dinner. There are so many 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 our which vegan roast we would serve for our holiday meal. We decided on the Gardein Holiday Roast but there are other homemade delicious options too. Scroll down to the “Main Course” section to see my other favorite homemade vegan main course options.
What Can I Make For Vegan Thanksgiving?
Speaking of Thanksgiving courses, 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 is deeeelish!
Get the list here –> The Ultimate Vegan Thanksgiving Menu that Every New Vegan Needs!
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 meal for your guests!
Okay, let’s get into the 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. Especially, if you’re serving adult beverages at your party– empty stomachs + alcohol is not a good combo. Please, put some tasty apps out!
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
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!
The BEST Vegan Mac n’ Cheese, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Stacey Homemaker
Maple Cinnamon Butternut Squash with Cranberries & Pecans, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Rhubarbarians
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Grapes, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Veggies Save the Day
Vegan Scalloped Potatoes, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Nora Cooks
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 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!
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
The Best Vegan Meatloaf, recipe here.
Photo Credit: Nora Cooks
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 like to serve at least two options so my 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 the 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
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 + our monthly trips to Disney World!
This list has every recipe you need to make a delicious vegan Christmas dinner!
- 1 Garlic Herb Rolls
- 1 Spinach Artichoke Dip
- 1 Christmas Pin Wheels
- 1 Scalloped Potatoes
- 1 Macaroni and Cheese
- 1 Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
- 1 Roasted Broccoli Chickpea Arugula Salad
- 1 Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- 1 Mushroom Wellington or Vegan Roast
- 1 Maple Cinnamon Butternut Squash
- Date-Sweetened Vegan Eggnog
- Cranberry Mimosas
- Peppermint Rice Crispy Bars
- Meringue Snowmen Cookies
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Macaroni & Cheese - (One day before) You can make the cheese sauce the day before but make the noodles fresh the day of. Add extra vegetable broth to the sauce when you reheat it.
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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.
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Roasted Broccoli Chickpea Arugula Salad - (One day before) Make the dressing the day before and store it in the fridge. I would also wash and dry the arugula the day before to save time the next day. Roast the broccoli and chickpeas right before serving so they will stay warm.
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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!
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Mushroom Wellington (or Vegan Roast) - (Make this dish the day of) You can cook the wellington filling ingredients the day before but do not cook the whole stuffed pastry the day before, that must be done fresh right before dinner starts. If you make a vegan roast, it's best to cook it fresh right before dinner.
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Maple Cinnamon Butternut Squash - (Make this dish the day of) This dish is best baked fresh right before serving.
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Date-Sweetened Eggnog - (One day before) You can make this in advance and keep it in the fridge until the big day.
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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.
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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!
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Meringue Snowmen Cookies - (One day before) Make the cookies the day before to save time on the big day.
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 Christmas recipes? Please tell me about your favorite in the comments!
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!
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!
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