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Home » Christmas

Vegan Christmas Main Dishes

Published: Dec 20, 2021 · Modified: Oct 5, 2022 by Kate Hackworthy · Leave a Comment

A mushroom wellington, with text: 22 Vegan Christmas main dish recipes.
Collage of recipes, with text: Vegan Christmas Main Dish Recipes.

Wondering what to serve as your Vegan Christmas main dish? I've got you covered! You'll love this huge list of incredible plant-based, meat-free mains to serve at your holiday dinner table.

Collage of recipe photos.

Whether you're hosting a fully vegan Christmas dinner, or you're looking for some plant-based options for vegan guests, you'll find everything you need right here!

Often it's easy to veganize your holiday side dishes (perhaps simply swapping butter for vegan butter in Green Beans Almondine, or Candied Sweet Potato Casserole. Ditto, using oil rather than animal fats in your roast potatoes, or using dairy-free alternatives in your Vegan Mashed Potatoes.

So far, so easy!

But Christmas main dishes for vegans can be a little more difficult to think of some simple swaps.

So for your vegan main dish, I love to go for a vegetable-packed recipe that's full of flavor. Perhaps at Stuffed Butternut Squash, Onion Tarte Tatin, Mushroom Wellington, Nut Roast, or a Whole Roasted Cauliflower that's delicious cut into 'steaks'.

Now this might be a little odd, but I always make TWO vegan main dishes.

Why? Because us veggies and vegans are used to only normally having one choice on a menu or at someone's house. And Christmas is about excess and making everything special, so two vegan main dishes it is at our house!

So, I've compiled this big roundup of vegan main dishes that are perfect to serve at Christmas (or Easter, Thanksgiving or other special meal!)

You'll find plenty of recipes that are sure to please everyone (vegan or not).

Be sure to also check out these Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes for more ideas too!

And if you're new to veganism, or want to learn more, then this Vegan Grocery Shopping List will be helpful!

Collage of recipes, with text: 21 Vegan Christmas Mains You'll Love.

The Recipes

Without further adieu, here is my roundup list of Vegan Christmas Main Dish Recipes!

Please be sure to comment on any recipes that you make and let me know how you and your guests liked them!

Vegan Christmas Main Dish Recipes

Check out this collection of my BEST vegan main dish Christmas recipes! Here you’ll find plant-based, meat-free mains that everyone will love. Scroll down and find your showstopping vegan centerpieces.

Mushroom Wellington

This mushroom wellington will add some WOW factor to your Christmas dinner table. But although it's so pretty, it's actually easy to make and full of rich, deep flavors.

Nut Roast

A nut roast is a tasty, hearty vegan Christmas main dish. It has great texture from mushrooms, nuts and lentils, with plenty of flavor from herbs. You can even make it ahead. Freezer friendly.

Mini Bundt Chestnut Loaves with Sage Gravy

Mini Bundt Chestnut Loaf with Sage Gravy is a tasty vegan Christmas main. They're quick to make and look showstopping. If you don't have mini bundt tray you can make them in a loaf or cake pan.

Stuffed Butternut Squash

You'll love this easy Stuffed Butternut Squash recipe. It's a tasty vegan and vegetarian main dish with a flavorful stuffing made of lentils, mushrooms, kale and cranberries. It's seasoned with herbs and baked inside a squash making a beautiful presentation.

Red Bean Stew

This Middle Eastern inspired kidney bean stew is full of flavor, and festive colors.

Onion Tarte Tatin

This French onion tarte tatin looks pretty special, but is surprisingly easy to make! Caramelized balsamic onions on a. bed of flaky pastry. A 1-pan dish. Make sure to use vegan butter and check that your puff pastry is vegan.

Mushroom Tarts

This super-easy Mushroom Tart recipe is simple, fast and full of great taste. It's ready in just 25 minutes.

Vegan Cabbage Rolls

This Vegan Cabbage Rolls recipe is a tasty meat-free take on a classic dish. The stuffed filling contains rice and walnuts and is made with a homemade tomato sauce.

Vegan Shepherds Pie

Vegan Shepherds Pie is easy to make in just 30 minutes and is full of nourishing ingredients. This tasty hearty comfort food brings mushrooms and lentils together under a blanket of crushed potatoes. 

Portobello Mushroom Steaks

These juicy and tender grilled portobello mushroom steaks are AMAZING! They're quick (ready in just 15 minutes!), easy, tasty and have all the best flavours of a smokey grilled steak, but vegan. The charred mushrooms have a lovely dense texture that's perfect with the flavourful simple marinade. Make them on the grill, grill pan, barbecue or in the oven. 

Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic and Paprika

This is my vegan alternative to baked ham. Instead, a whole head of cauliflower is brushed with rich, deep flavors of smoked paprika and garlic and then roasted until tender. Cut into slices and enjoy!

Smoky Grilled Eggplant Steaks

This easy smoky Grilled Eggplant recipe turns a simple marinated eggplant (aka aubergine) into a smoky grilled 'steaks'. Make them in a frying pan or a griddle pan.

Persian Grilled Vegetable Tofu Skewers

These flavor-packed tofu skewers are full of Persian spices and taste incredible. Use red peppers and zucchini (courgette) for a festive red and green look for Christmas!

Vegan Chili Mac n Cheese

Who doesn't love a bit of Mac and Cheese! This chili verison is full of flavor. Add a scoop as a tasty part of your Christmas dinner along with a selection of side dishes.

Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad

Turn Brussels Sprouts into the star of the show! This raw shaved brussels sprout salad has crisp apples, sweet/tart dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds and a tasty dressing.

Fesenjan - Persian Walnut Stew

Fesenjan (Koresht Fesenjoon) is a delicious traditional Persian stew. Ground walnuts form the basis of the sauce, which is fragrant with cinnamon and pomegranate molasses. This easy vegan version is served with roasted cauliflower. Make it ahead and just heat it up for dinner!

Eggplant Meatballs

Add a pile of these easy eggplant meatballs to your Christmas dinner table! They have a wonderful 'meaty' texture and work perfectly with vegan gravy.

Red Cabbage and Brussels Sprout Tart

Make a pretty geometric tart with spiced red cabbage, green beans and Brussels Sprouts! It turns side dish ingredients into a pretty, tasty vegan main dish.

Vegan Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are a classic dish, and this vegan version uses a wonderfully tasty walnut-based 'meat' for the filling.

Mushroom Stroganoff

Mushrooms in a paprika-spiked cream sauce is a classic dish that tastes amazing. It's super simple and you can make it ahead of time. A hearty main for Christmas dinner. Be sure to use vegan versions of all dairy in the recipe!

Mushroom Pasta with Butternut Squash and Sage

Mushrooms, butternut squash and sage are all wonderful wintery flavors. Put them all together in this delicious pasta dish. A tasty vegan main dish for your holiday table.

More Christmas Recipes

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    Brussels Sprout Soup
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    Christmas Couscous
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Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. Here you'll find vegetarian recipes and vegan recipes celebrating vegetables, from dinner to dessert! If you love vegetables, you've come to the right place. About Me

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