19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (2024)

~ Vegetarians don’t have to feel forgotten at the Christmas buffet! These festive Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes will have everyone drooling … even the meatatarians on your guest list! Bonus: turns out, most of the very best recipes I found for this showcase also happen to be VEGAN Christmas recipes, as well! ~

A few weeks ago, we published a list of top Thanksgiving vegetarian main dish recipes– and the response was just wonderful!

In that post, I mentioned how I worry for vegetarian friends and relatives during the holidays, when they so often seem to be forgotten and left to pick through a few side dishes in order to piece together a meal.

We got such lovely feedback – directly in the comments on the post itself, on social media, and even personally!

We heard from vegetarians who were thrilled to have their own, special and festive vegetarian meal options … and from hostesses who were delighted to find vegetarian main dish recipes they could serve alongside their turkey, so all their guests would feel appreciated and included in the Thanksgiving meal.

Add to all that the fact that our collection of the very best ” everyday” vegetarian meals is one of our most popular posts ever … and … well, I thought maybe you guys would also enjoy a list of holiday-themedChristmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes!

Festive (Star-Studded!) Vegetarian Christmas Meals

No doubt – many of the recipes I featured in the Thanksgiving list would be great at Christmas, too.

But, I wanted to feature a few new ideas that felt more perfect for winter-y holidays. Some of these are all decked out in pretty Christmas reds and greens, and some feature quintessential holiday ingredients like chestnuts. And… some even feature fun star shapes (check out the first one on our list – so cute!).

Plenty of Vegan Christmas Recipes, Too!

Incidentally, as I was sifting through my final choices for the very best-of-the-best recipes to include here, I noticed that almost all of these vegetarian main dishes also happen to be vegan main dishes! Loads of great ideas for your vegan Christmas guests, too!

If it’s not specifically indicated in each recipe name, I’ve noted for you which are vegetarian and which are vegan recipes.

Watch Out … Meat-Eaters Will Be Jealous!

Just like I warned you with our Thanksgiving list, once all your guests take a peek at your gorgeous vegetarian/vegan main dish offerings … well, your holiday ham or Christmas goose seriously might feel a bit forgotten this year!

These gorgeous recipes will surely be a hit with all your holiday guests! I mean … who could resist these …

19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (2)

Festive Lentil and Mushroom Bowl with Star Potatoes(vegan) from Nicky at Kitchen Sanctuary

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (3)

Vegan Holiday Pie with Hot Water Pastry from Alexandra at Occasionally Eggs

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (4)

Little Lentil Loaf with Mushrooms and Sage(vegan) from Amber at Quite Good Food

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (5)

Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash Rings(vegetarian with vegan option) from Danielle at Cardamom & Coconut

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (6)

Ratatouille(vegan) from Elena at Happy Kitchen.Rocks

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (7)

Mini Vegetable Pot Pies(vegan) from Cadry at Cadry’s Kitchen

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (8)

Instant Pot Stuffed Squash(vegan) from Bintu at Recipes from a Pantry

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (9)

Parsnip and Carrot Rostis with Mushrooms and Wensleydale Sauce(vegetarian) from Nicky at Kitchen Sanctuary

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (10)

Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Borek(vegan) from Amber at Quite Good Food

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (11)

Oven Roasted Whole Cauliflower with Garlic and Herb(vegan or vegetarian depending on the ketchup you choose) from Swati and Tushar at Watch What U Eat

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (12)

Holiday Stuffed Squash(vegan) from Amanda at My Goodness Kitchen

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (13)

Hearty Portobello Wellingtons(vegan) from Kristina at Spabettie

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (14)

Vegan Fried Eggplant Casserolefrom Gabriel at One Clever Chef

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (15)

Mushroom-Walnut Meatless Loaf with Ketchup Glaze(vegan) from Melissa at Vegan Huggs

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (16)

Vegetable Wellington(vegan) from Linda at Veganosity

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (17)

Spinach Pesto Lasagna with Creamy Mushroom Sauce(vegan) from Anjali at Vegetarian Gastronomy

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (18)

Tender Vegan Steaks from Rebecca at Vegan Blueberry

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (19)

Broccoli Tofu Quiche (vegan or vegetarian depending on the pie crust you use) from Ginny at Vegan in the Freezer

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19 Best Christmas Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes (20)

Vegan Swedish Meatballs from Rhian at Rhian’s Recipes

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Vegan and Vegetarian Christmas Side Dish Recipes (+ Dessert!)

To round out your holiday menu, be sure to check out some of our very own THK-favorite vegan and vegetarian holiday side dishes, like our:

  • Wreath-Shaped Christmas Salad (vegetarian)
  • Blistered Green Beans(vegan)
  • Roasted Green Beans with Balsamic Browned Butter (vegetarian)
  • Microwave Spaghetti Squash with Sage-Browned Butter and Toasted Walnuts(vegetarian)
  • Easy Cranberry Sauce with Apples, Pecans and Pineapple(5 Minutes and No Cooking!) (vegan)

And for dessert, be sure to offer up a cookie plate filled with scrumptious (but healthy!) faves like our:

  • Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Balls (“Buckeyes”) (vegetarian)
  • No-Bake Gingerbread Date Balls (vegan)
  • Pistachio-White Chocolate (No Butter!) Butter Cookies (vegetarian)

Merry, merry Christmas, everyone! I hope it’s your very healthiest, happiest one yet!

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FAQs

What is the most famous vegetarian dish? ›

Originating in the Middle East, falafel is one the most popular vegetarian foods in the world! As one of the most popular vegetarian foods in the world, falafel needs no introduction! However, the origin of these beloved patties is rather controversial.

What is the most popular vegetarian alternative to a turkey dinner at Christmas? ›

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 vegetables do you have on a Christmas dinner? ›

Discover the perfect amounts of potatoes, carrots, parsnips, sprouts, peas and red cabbage to serve with your roast turkey. Need help planning your Christmas dinner?

Which is the No 1 vegetarian country in the world? ›

1. India. According to the World Atlas, India has the highest rate of vegetarians in the world, with 38% of its population identifying as vegetarians. India also has one of the lowest meat consumption rates in the world.

What do vegetarians eat on Christmas Day? ›

Vegetarian Christmas mains recipes
  • Spiced squash, feta & beetroot wellington. ...
  • Pumpkin & sage sformata. ...
  • Sprout, comté & walnut tart. ...
  • App onlyChristmas tree goat's cheese tart. ...
  • Whole roasted butternut squash with Christmas stuffing. ...
  • Hasselback butternut squash with tahini yogurt & gremolata.

What is a traditional Italian Christmas dinner menu? ›

In Northern Italy, Lasagne Bolognese and filled pasta like manicotti and ravioli are traditional Christmas fare. Next comes the main event, the meat. Roasted veal, baked chicken, sausages or braised beef are common Natale entrées worth celebrating.

What is the most popular Christmas dish in the world? ›

More countries eat pork

Pork is the most popular traditional holiday dish in 23 countries, more than the 17 that focus on turkey, she said. Suckling pig is the center of the traditional Christmas table in Spain and Cuba, while the Philippines feasts on roasted pork, according to the map.

What is the most eaten meat on Christmas? ›

Top 5 Traditional Meats For Christmas Dinner
  1. Turkey. Let's admit it, a whole turkey is the best and most traditional meat for Christmas dinners. ...
  2. Beef. Beef often comes to mind when choosing Christmas meats and for good reason. ...
  3. Ham and Gammon. What's Christmas without a joint of ham? ...
  4. Pork. ...
  5. Lamb.

What is the 12 course Christmas dinner? ›

Why do Poles eat 12 dishes during the Christmas Eve dinner? Tradition calls for 12 traditional courses to be served during the Polish Christmas Eve. This number is a symbol of wealth, the 12 Apostles and a representation of the 12 months of the year. But in the past, dinner consisted of an odd number of dishes.

What is a festive veggie tray for Christmas? ›

Arrange broccoli on serving platter to form tree shape and tomatoes to form garland. Arrange bell pepper to form star and cauliflower to form snow (see photo). If desired, cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours. Just before serving, arrange pretzels at bottom of tree to form trunk.

What is traditionally eaten for Christmas dinner? ›

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.

What is the most popular type of vegetarian? ›

Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian

Lacto-ovo vegetarians are the most common kind of vegetarian. You can be just one or the other. A lacto-vegetarian is used to describe a type of vegetarian who does not eat eggs but does eat dairy products. Ovo-vegetarian refers to people who do not eat meat or dairy products but do eat eggs.

What is the most famous veggie? ›

Tomatoes are the world's most popular vegetable.

What is the most famous vegetarian dish in Italy? ›

1. Eggplant Parmigiana. Simplicity is at the heart of this dish, with thinly sliced eggplant that has been baked to a golden brown, layered with a rich tomato sauce and a generous helping of melting cheese, this Southern Italian classic will keep you coming back for more.

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