22 vegan Christmas dinner recipes (2024)

Find out what to eat this Christmas for a happy gut.

Vegan Christmas main courses

Vegan wellington

Check out our stunning vegan wellington packed with roasted red peppers, cooked beetroot and kale. Plus, we've made a vegan stuffing and glazed the pastry in marmite to take this wellington to the next level – the perfect way to impress your vegan friends over the festive season.

Vegan nut roast

If you're after a smart Christmas main that you can make ahead on Christmas Eve, try our vegan chestnut, squash and sweet potato loaf recipe for a Christmas centrepiece. Precise layering makes it look neat but it’s actually easy to put together. Many more easy vegan recipes here

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Beetroot tarte tatin

A vegan Christmas centrepiece with the looks to boot – earthy purple veg is the star in this tarte tatin, with a zingy salsa verde made from beetroot tops.

Savoury spiced baklava

A savoury festive spin on the classic middle eastern dessert makes a fantastic vegetarian substitute for turkey this Christmas. This vegetarian Christmas main can be easily doubled in size if you have a crowd to feed – just use a larger baking tray. To make it vegan, simply swap out the butter for olive oil, and use a vegan feta-style cheese, or just leave it out.

Salt-baked celeriac with sourdough stuffing

Richard Makin's clever hidden-celeriac bake is so delicate, you can spoon it right out of the crust. The centre is filled with a flavoursome hazelnut and shiitake sourdough stuffing.

Christmas nut roast

A nut roast but not as you know it – packed with umami, smokiness and sweetness from squash, lentil and dates, we think this is our best ever!

Vegan ham

This seitan ‘ham’ is a perfectly festive meat alternative which will hold its own as a Christmas dinner centrepiece. Leftovers make fantastic ‘ham’ and mustard sandwiches for Boxing Day.

Whole roast cauliflower with warm harissa hummus

Make our roast cauliflower for an alternative vegan centrepiece that's easy to make. It's low in calories, so a healthy main course that you can enjoy alongside Christmas sides.

Roasted cabbage steaks with hazelnut dressing

Love red cabbage? Try our roasted cabbage steaks for an easy vegan main or sharing side dish. The mint and chilli add a zingy flavour if you're after a lighter Christmas dinner.

Vegan pigs in duvets

No one needs to miss out this Christmas with these delicious vegan pigs in duvets, perfect as a canapé or as part of a plant-based Christmas dinner.

Vegan stuffing

It wouldn’t be Christmas dinner without a dish of stuffing, and this version has the traditional flavours of sage and onion, alongside Puy lentils for added substance. It's also delicious in a Boxing Day sandwich, with leftover roasted root vegetables and lashings of cranberry sauce.

Vegan Christmas canapés

Vegetable crisps with curry salt

Use up all your veggie peelings, as well as any loose left-over veg, and use them to make these epic crisps with an easy curry spice.

Pulled BBQ jackfruit sliders with mustard slaw

Jackfruit pulls apart just like slow-roasted pork and is wonderful at soaking up this BBQ sauce, which is spicy, smoky and slightly sharp with a deep, dark sweetness.

Vegan Christmas starters

Warm hummus with pine nuts, raisins and olives

Turn a storecupboard staple into this vibrant mezze dish and sprinkle with jewel-like pine nuts, raisins and olives.

Grilled vegetable antipasti

Kick off an indulgent meal with these gorgeous grilled veggies. Serve with fresh focaccia and olives for an impressive, colourful spread.

Purple sprouting broccoli tempura

Check out this vegan recipe for crunchy purple sprouting broccoli in crispy tempura batter. Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish will make an impressive dinner party starter.

Vegan Christmas desserts and bakes

Vegan Christmas cake

Everyone will enjoy a slice of this Christmas cake, which can be baked and matured up to eight weeks before Christmas. Feed the cake weekly with your choice of brandy, rum or whisky for extra moisture and a warming flavour.

Vegan raspberry and lemon trifle

Impress your guests with this classic layered dessert. The easy homemade custard uses vanilla-flavoured soya milk and gives a traditional flavour and colour to the custard.

Vegan gingerbread men

Enjoy some festive nostalgia with a batch of vegan gingerbread men. They're easy to bake and fun to decorate.

Rum-roasted pineapple and spice pie

Crisp, crumbly and gently spiced, this vegan pie makes for a warming Christmas pudding that everyone can get stuck into. Try serving with a dollop of coconut yogurt.

Vegan brownies

After a dark chocolate nibble instead of a full Christmas pudding? Bake a batch of these indulgent vegan brownies and serve them with coffee (or a glass of sherry). Make extra to serve on Boxing Day, too.

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Vegan chocolate cookies

You say chocolate, we say cookies! A batch of these moreish cookies will be ideal for a Christmas morning bake, served as a post-Christmas dinner snack, or try serving with dairy-free ice cream for a more indulgent vegan pudding.

22 vegan Christmas dinner recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a vegan alternative to turkey for Christmas dinner? ›

Nut Roast. The most popular Christmas meal for vegetarians and vegans is the nut roast. This typically describes a mixture of nuts, breadcrumbs, leeks, onions, broth and either oil or butter. However, this recipe is malleable and offers the opportunity for many alterations according to personal preference.

What is cooked on Christmas Day? ›

Traditional Christmas dinner features turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. Other types of poultry, roast beef, or ham, are also used. Pumpkin or apple pie, raisin pudding, Christmas pudding, or fruitcake are staples for dessert.

How to make Christmas dinner ahead of time? ›

Christmas Eve food prep hacks to get ahead of the game
  1. Pre-prepare your Christmas vegetables. ...
  2. Cook the turkey on Christmas Eve. ...
  3. Prep your dessert. ...
  4. Clean the 'good' plates, glassware and cutlery. ...
  5. Check what you need. ...
  6. Arrange your table decorations. ...
  7. Lay out napkins. ...
  8. Do one last check on Christmas Eve.

What do vegans eat instead of ham? ›

Tofurky or Seitan Ham: Plant-based hams made from tofu or seitan are available for those following a vegetarian or vegan diet. Smoked Tofu: Smoked tofu can be sliced and used as a ham substitute in sandwiches and salads.

What do vegans eat instead of turkey? ›

1. Burmese Tofu (aka Chickpea Flour Tofu) For an alternative to turkey that's mild in flavor and can be treated like any other protein, turn to Burmese tofu, which transforms chickpea flour, oil, and water into a sturdy tofu-like dish.

What is the hardest thing to give up as a vegan? ›

When it comes to veganism, a few staple foods can be challenging to give up. Dairy products, eggs, and meat are the most commonly cited examples. These foods can be challenging to give up for several reasons. They are typically very high in protein, which is essential for a healthy diet.

What am I lacking as a vegan? ›

Intake and status of vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium and bone turnover markers were generally lower in plant-based dietary patterns compared to meat-eaters. Vegans had the lowest vitamin B12, calcium and iodine intake, and also lower iodine status and lower bone mineral density.

What is the 7 days of being vegan? ›

How does it work? No meat, poultry, seafood, dairy or eggs for 7 days (any 7 straight days). Announce to your friends, family, followers that you're doing the challenge.

What is the perfect Christmas dinner? ›

You likely will want to choose a main first, like a turkey, Christmas ham, casserole or other show-stopping dishes. Then, you can compliment your main with Christmas side dishes and holiday appetizers. And of course, you can't forget about sweet Christmas desserts and festive co*cktails to sip on throughout the night!

What is Italian Christmas dinner? ›

Lasagna, Stuffed Manicotti and other cheesy baked pasta dishes are a hit with all ages—this is classic Christmas fare in Southern Italy. Even a simple pasta dish with a light tomato sauce can serve as a tasty side dish for braised meats, Italian sausage or baked chicken entrées.

What food can I Precook for Christmas dinner? ›

Make-ahead Christmas recipes
  • Tuscan sausage, kale & ciabatta stuffing. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  • Sunken chocolate, olive oil & hazelnut cake. ...
  • Pheasant casserole. ...
  • Roast garlic make-ahead gravy. ...
  • Air-fryer soy & cranberry chicken wings. ...
  • Croissant bread sauce. ...
  • App onlyQuick pickled red cabbage. ...
  • Mincemeat half-baked cookies.

What food can you pre cook for Christmas? ›

Everything you can make ahead for stress-free Christmas cooking
  • A fishy starter. Smith recommends a fish starter. ...
  • Turkey tips. ...
  • Great gravy. ...
  • Perfect roast potatoes. ...
  • Simple sprouts. ...
  • Ready veg. ...
  • Don't forget the cranberry sauce. ...
  • And bread sauce.
Dec 4, 2023

What vegetables can you pre cook for Christmas? ›

Getting these prepped and lined up in a tray on Christmas Eve will make Christmas morning so much more enjoyable. Get your potatoes, carrots, parsnips, red cabbage and Brussels ready, then simply cover with foil and pop in the fridge, ready to cook tomorrow.

What is a good substitute for turkey for Christmas? ›

A delicious cut of pork is the perfect Christmas turkey alternative, so keep a look out when you go to your local butchers. If you need more turkey alternatives and enjoy a traditional Christmas then goose is the only way to go.

What can I serve instead of turkey for Christmas? ›

10 Main Course Alternatives to Turkey for Christmas
  • Goose. Traditionally, goose was the original bird of choice for a Christmas feast. ...
  • Duck. Another festive bird that offers flavorsome fat is duck. ...
  • Chicken. ...
  • Beef. ...
  • Lamb. ...
  • Venison. ...
  • Fish. ...
  • Pork.
Dec 16, 2020

What can I use instead of turkey for Christmas? ›

7 delicious alternatives to roast turkey to try this Christmas
  • Mulled wine glazed ham. ...
  • Jewelled-stuffed butternut squash. ...
  • Cashew and pistachio stuffing nut roast. ...
  • Sticky citrus roast duck with crispy potatoes. ...
  • Porcini, bacon and sage roast rib of beef with port gravy. ...
  • Spiced pomegranate and clementine slow-roast lamb leg.

What can I eat for Christmas instead of turkey? ›

No turkey? Here are some alternatives for Christmas dinner
  • ROAST GOOSE. Before turkeys were introduced to Europe from the Americas, roast goose was the bird of choice for Christmas dinner throughout Western Europe. ...
  • HAM. ...
  • BEEF. ...
  • SEAFOOD. ...
  • PIEROGIES, PASTA AND MORE.
Dec 11, 2022

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