Celebrate a meat-free Christmas with these Vegetarian Christmas Dinners—tasty apps, hearty soups, sides, and mains for a festive and flavorful feast!
When it comes to Christmas dinner, I love having some vegetarian options that feel just as festive and satisfying as the classics. This collection of recipes has everything you need to create a plant-based holiday spread, whether you’re going all-in on a vegetarian Christmas or just want to mix in some meat-free dishes.
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Tips For Making A Vegetarian Christmas Dinners
- Know seasonal how-to’s. You’d be surprised how easily something like caramelized onions, roasted garlic, mirepoix, or even a light garnish of pomegranate seeds can change a vegetarian dish.
- Use seasonings to amp up the flavor. You can enhance any vegetarian meal with amazing flavor by using seasonings and spice blends. Make sure you are stocked up on vegan ranch seasoning, chili powder, Za’atar, lemon pepper seasoning, and 7-spice seasoning.
- Give texture a glow-up with a crunch. Healthy vegetarian Christmas dinners don’t have to be boring. Sprinkle candied pecans, roasted pumpkin seeds, or toasted sesame seeds over your winter salads or soups.
- Finish with fresh herbs. A pop of green on a plate is always an eye-catching addition. Sprinkle some chopped parsley, cilantro, or fresh basil over your dishes to add a burst of flavor and freshness.
- Pick a Main Dish with Some Wow Factor: Since there’s no roast turkey or ham, I like to choose a main dish that feels special enough to anchor the meal. A stuffed squash, a veggie wellington, or a big, layered lasagna always does the trick.
- Mix Hearty with Fresh: It’s easy to go all-in on rich, cheesy dishes, but I’ve found it’s nice to balance those with some fresh sides like roasted veggies or a winter salad. That way, everyone feels full but not stuffed.
- Add Some Color: Speaking of color, I like to keep the table looking bright and festive by including a mix of greens, reds, and golds – things like roasted beets, green beans, and even a little pomegranate on salads go a long way!
- Add a Touch of Holiday Flavor: I find that a bit of rosemary, thyme, or nutmeg in the dishes makes everything feel more festive and brings out that comforting, cozy vibe we love this time of year.
- Throw in a Few Classics: Even if I’m going all veggie, a few comfort food favorites like mashed potatoes or mac and cheese make the meal feel like Christmas for everyone at the table.
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How to Plan a Menu for Vegetarian Christmas Dinner
- Consider protein sources. Some of the best plant-based foods high in protein are beans, including chickpeas, whole grains, lentils, and tofu. Build your vegetarian Christmas menu around these foods so you deliver a well-balanced, satisfying meal.
- Include a variety of vegetables. Winter is a time to embrace all the winter squashes like butternut, acorn, delicata, and spaghetti squash. Serve them up in different cuts to add variety – you can roast butternut squash halves or cook butternut squash cubes.
- Know your hearty grains. Whole grains like brown rice, farro, quinoa, and bulgur can provide a healthy base for your dishes, whether in soup, salad, or side. They are a good source of healthy carbs and fiber.
- Don’t forget the spreads and dressings. When all else fails, serve your dishes with a side of a good dip, dressing, or spread. Whip up a cranberry relish, vegan mushroom gravy, or Lebanese baba ghanoush to add flavor and moisture instantly.
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Best Vegetarian Christmas Dinners
Eating vegetarian definitely doesn’t mean missing out on flavor. These recipes are packed with so much goodness that everyone at the table will enjoy them. With everything from appetizers and soups to hearty sides and a show-stopping main course, these vegetarian Christmas dinner ideas have all the bases covered! And don’t forget to include a few sweet treats to add a deliciously sweet finale to your holiday celebration.
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Tasty Vegetarian Dips for Christmas Dinner
A Christmas dinner party isn’t complete without a chip and dip spread. Lucky for you, there’s plenty of options to choose from. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic creamy spinach artichoke dip or something unique like the popular baked feta dip, these vegetarian dips are perfect for snacking while the main meal gets the finishing touches. Pair them with homemade pita bread, flatbread, or pita chips. Or if you prefer something rustic, try my olive bread.
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Baked Feta Dip
Simple and easy to make with fresh ingredients, this baked feta dipis an effortless appetizer that’s made for sharing- perfect with crackers
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Cream Cheese Spinach Dip
This Cream Cheese Spinach Dip is a rich creamy dip that is a made with greek yogurt instead of sour cream – great with bread and crackers!
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Homemade Muhammara Dip
Muhammara is a Middle Eastern vegan dip that’s made with walnuts, roasted red peppers, breadcrumbs, olive oil and spices – easy to make in ONE simple step!
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Spanakopita
Made with just a few simple ingredients, these delicious spinach and feta spanakopita triangles are a fun appetizer recipe to make at home.
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Vegetarian Stuffed Mushrooms
These Vegetarian Stuffed Mushrooms are perfect to serve as appetizers at your next holiday gathering. They are flavorful, cheesy crowd pleasing finger foods
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Butter Board
Need a butter board recipe that’s sweeter for breakfast or brunch? I’ve got you covered! Fresh berries, honey & nuts atop softened butter with bread. Yum!
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Sweet Potato Chili
This Sweet Potato Chili is basic in ingredients but sophisticated in flavor – it has a sweet smoky flavor & packed with a healthy dose of protein and fiber!
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Wild Mushroom Rice Soup
Warming and hearty, this wild rice mushroom soup is simple and easy to make. Made with a medley of mushrooms, this vegan one pot meal is full of flavor.
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Vegetable Lasagna
Use up extra vegetables with this delicious Vegetable Lasagna! Packed with layers of cheese, pasta sauce, and hidden veggies, it’s a family favorite.
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Pumpkin Seed Pesto Pasta
This Pumpkin Seed Pesto is a magical green sauce that’s fresh, zesty and flavorful. The best sauce for your pasta, pizza or anything Italian!
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Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups
Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups are filled with the best ricotta spinach filling all rolled up and baked with marinara and melty cheese for a delicious family dinner and a new fun way to enjoy a classic.
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Brussels Sprout & Sweet Potato Salad
No more boring salads! Easy to make, this Brussel Sprout Sweet Potato Salad is full of flavor, color and texture – pairs with many main dishes
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Christmas Wreath Salad
Quick and easy to make, this Christmas wreath salad is a healthy and fun festive side your guests will love!
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Smashed Sweet Potatoes
Crispy smashed sweet potatoes roasted in the oven with savory spices and parmesan cheese! A way to cook sweet potatoes that actually yields a crispy outside!
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Dandelion Greens with Fried Onions
Middle Eastern Dandelion greens, called Hindbeh are cooked down and topped with crispy fried onions for an extra special touch!
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How to Keep Food Warm
- Oven: If you’re not cooking anything in the oven, you can set it to 200°F and store dishes in there to keep them warm.
- Aluminum Foil: If your oven is busy, use aluminum foil. Cover your food tightly with foil and set it aside until ready to serve. The foil will reflect thermal energy to the food, which will help to keep it fresh and retain moisture, flavor, and texture.
- Crock Pots and Instant Pots: Include recipes that can be made in your crock pot or instant pot that will stay warm during the party. Even if you don’t use them to cook the food, you can transfer the food to these appliances to keep them warm.
- Insulated coolers: You can use a cooler to keep food both hot and cold. The insulation that keeps cold things chilled also works to keep hot food warm for hours. For an extra boost of heat, line the cooler with aluminum foil.
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How to Store All the Leftovers
- Consider the specific recipe instructions. Most recipes will have suggestions for how to store leftovers and for how long to safely do so. For the best flavor and safe food consumption, I recommend following those recommendations.
- Divide into smaller portions. If you have lots of leftovers, divide the larger quantities into smaller, meal-sized servings before storing them. This will make it convenient to reheat only what you need, making meal prep a breeze.
- Store dry and wet foods separately. If possible, keep wet foods like roasted beets separate from leafy greens to maintain freshness and proper textures.
- Freeze for longer storage. Many vegetarian recipes freeze wonderfully because they’re typically light on dairy (which doesn’t freeze well) and don’t contain any meat. If you won’t consume the leftovers within a few days, consider freezing them in freezer-safe containers.
- Send your guests with a meal. Pack a complete meal for your guests using separated compartment containers. That way, they have a little bit of everything and have a meal ready for them for tomorrow.
About the Author
Yumna Jawad, who was born in Africa to Lebanese parents and moved to the US at 11 years old, is beloved by millions of fans globally on Instagram, TikTok, and her website, Feel Good Foodie for her unique, delicious, creative and easy recipes that often go viral on social media. She has grown her massive following from scratch the past decade and has recently founded a new culinary venture, Oath Oats, launched in November 2022. Yumna’s viral food trends have been featured by Live with Kelly & Ryan, The Today Show, Good Morning America, PEOPLE, Vogue, and the New York Times. A graduate from the University of Michigan Business School, she now lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband and two kids. Yumna’s parents are both Lebanese so she proudly features Lebanese, middle eastern and Ramadan recipes as part of her heritage. Her first cookbook, The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook, launched in May 2024 (Penguin) and is filled with over 100 approachable, unique and delicious “Middle Eastern meets Midwestern” recipes for the entire family. The cookbook hit the bestseller lists on Amazon, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly.
This article originally appeared on Feelgoodfoodie.net and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org
Image Credit: Liudmila Chernetska/istockphoto.
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