Vegan Christmas Dinner Ideas

Are you looking for the best vegan Christmas dinner ideas to serve on Christmas Eve? Do you want meat-free and vegetarian recipes that will impress your guests – even meat-lovers? This list contains everything you'll need: from vegan starters to main dishes, side dishes and desserts! Whether you're planning a vegan Christmas meal for two or for the whole family, you will most definitely find some inspiration. If you need a little help to put your menu together, we included two different vegan Christmas menus at the bottom of this post.

Jump to:

• What do vegans eat at Christmas dinner?
• Hosting a vegan guest?
• 6 tips for a stress-free vegan Christmas
• Easy Christmas cocktails
• Vegan Christmas appetizers
• Vegan Christmas starters
• Vegan Christmas main dishes
• Vegan side dishes
• Vegan Christmas desserts
• Vegan Christmas treats
• FULL MENU: Vegan Christmas menu for two (or small families)
• FULL MENU: Make-ahead Christmas menu for the family
• FREE Editable Christmas menu template
• Share your christmas recipes
• Join us!

What do vegans eat at Christmas dinner?

On Christmas day, vegans will mostly eat vegan versions of our favorite holiday recipes. This includes meat-free main dishes such as vegan meatloaf, vegan Wellington roast or vegetarian stuffed veggies. The side dishes often include roasted vegetables or vegan casseroles (such as this broccoli and bean casserole). The desserts will be made without dairy products and eggs. Check out our vegan Christmas menu ideas below!

Hosting a vegan guest?

If you're not planning on making a fully vegan Christmas dinner and only need options for one or two guests, here's what we recommend:

• Make appetizers and starters everyone can eat (or have at least one vegan option). Dips served with crackers and raw vegetables are always a great idea.
• Make one vegan main dish that other guests can eat on the side. This broccoli and butter bean casserole would make a great main dish for someone on a vegan diet and a delicious side dish for other guests.
• Leave out non-vegan ingredients from other recipes such as cream or cheese. Save a portion before adding these ingredients or simply place them on the table for the guests to help themselves. You can also easily swap out ingredients for their vegan alternative. You can for instance use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and use plant-based milk instead of cow's milk.
• Have a vegan dessert option. It can be as simple as a fruit sorbet if you don't have the time to make a separate dessert. Your guest will appreciate the gesture and how thoughtful you were. If time allows, look for vegan versions of the dessert you intended to make, you might be surprised.

If you're not vegan (or don't have specific dietary requirements) and are doing research for friends or family, we wanted to say thank you! Just know that this will mean a lot to the person you will be cooking for!

6 tips for a stress-free vegan Christmas

1. Write out your menu and grocery list. Deciding which recipes you would like to serve on Christmas Eve ahead of time will make your life a lot easier. Go through every single recipe and write a grocery list with everything you need (double-check your pantry to avoid buying things you already have). That way you won't have to run to the grocery store several times because you forget some items.
2. Test challenging recipes ahead of time. If there's one recipe that looks challenging or that requires ingredients you've never used before, make sure to test it before the big day. You'll have more time to read through the steps carefully and will feel much more confident when making it for Christmas.
3. Choose make-ahead Christmas recipes. Recipes that you can make a day ahead of time or on Christmas morning will allow you to have a stress-free evening once your guests arrive. Be present and enjoy the celebrations with them!
4. Make and freeze recipes ahead of time. If you're hosting many people during the holidays it can be challenging to cook everything in a day or two. Think about making some recipes several weeks before Christmas and freeze them away. All you need to do is defrost them in the fridge overnight the day before the party.
5. Ask your guests about allergies, intolerances, and preferences. This allows you to plan accordingly and avoids bad surprises on Christmas day.
6. Use helpful kitchen utensils. When cooking for a crowd, it can be exhausting to chop veggies for every single recipe. Use a food chopper or a food processor to chop veggies in no time and be productive in the kitchen.

Easy Christmas cocktails

If you want to serve something different than champagne on Christmas Eve this year, try one of these cocktails (or mocktails) to awaken the Christmas spirit. Take your festive jars out of the cupboard and decorate your drinks with a cinnamon stick, an orange slice, a sprig of rosemary or some fresh cranberries. Note that there is an alcohol-free version of the cider cocktail and the mulled wine if you need a Christmas drink for kids, pregnant women or people who don't drink alcohol.

Apple cider whiskey cocktail

This sparkling apple cider cocktail spiked with Jack Daniels Fire whiskey is the ultimate Thanksgiving or Christmas drink. You can make it for a crowd (in a punch bowl) or as single-serve cocktails.

Traditional German hot wine (mulled wine)

Mulled wine, also known as Glühwein combines all the flavors we love in winter. This recipe is made with orange juice and tastes just like the ones served at Christmas markets.

Non-alcoholic mulled wine

This alcohol-free mulled wine is made with grape juice, cranberry juice and spices for a warming winter drink. It's suitable for kids, pregnant women and everyone else.

Sparkling Blood Orange Cranberry Mocktail

This fizzy cranberry mocktail makes the perfect fancy holiday drink. With its refreshing taste, it is especially good during the festive season as a non-alcoholic winter mocktail. It could also easily be turned into a traditional cocktail.

Vegan Christmas appetizers

Serve vegan Christmas appetizers as finger food to go with your Christmas drinks. These easy oven-roasted chestnuts and beetroot hummus can both be made in advance. We like to arrange both on a platter with gluten-free crackers, raw vegetables, grapes and nuts.

Oven-roasted chestnuts

Roasted chestnuts make great finger food. Everyone can pick up a few and peel them with their hands. Plus they are ready in 30 minutes only!

Beetroot & balsamic hummus

This beetroot hummus has a delicately mild flavor with notes of balsamic vinegar. It is free from tahini and comes together in less than 10 minutes.

Vegan Christmas starters

We like to start the dinner with a light Christmas starter, such as soup. That way the guests still feel hungry for the main dish which tends to be more filling.

Beetroot carpaccio with walnut crunch

Beetroot carpaccio is such an easy-to-make but festive vegan Christmas starter. Simply slice a beetroot and arrange the slices beautifully on a serving plate. The crunchy walnut-sesame topping is a must-try!

Mini butternut squash soup

This must be the smoothest and silkiest butternut squash soup ever! The secret to making it creamy, while keeping it vegan, is to add some potatoes and peeled zucchini.

Vegan Christmas main dishes

The main course of your vegan Christmas dinner is the most important part of the evening. It should look festive and be eye-catching! A vegan nut roast or stuffed butternut squash are always a good choice!

Vegan Christmas nut roast

A nut roast makes such a stunning centerpiece and is one of the most appreciated vegan Christmas foods. The best part is that you can make it ahead of time and simply reheat it before serving.

Vegan stuffed butternut squash with rice

Stuffed butternut squash is the perfect main dish to make if you're spending the holidays with only a few people. The roasted butternut squash melts in your mouth and is filled with rice is cooked in vegetable broth and seasoned with poultry seasoning.

Balsamic-roasted vegetable puree and lentils

If you're looking for a main dish that will suprise your guests, go for this pink vegetable puree. The balsamic-roasted veggies are super flavorful and go extremely well with black lentils.

Mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy

This dish can be served on Thanksgiving or on Christmas Eve. The vegan gravy is made with mushroom and red wine and is incredibly flavorul. Serve it with mashed potatoes for a more traditional main dish.

Vegan side dishes

No vegan Christmas dinner is complete without some roasted vegetables on the side. If your main course is not vegan, make sure to have some delicious and filling vegan side dishes that vegans and vegetarians can rely on.

Caesar roasted Brussels sprouts

Insanely good vegan roasted Brussels sprouts with dairy-free caesar dressing. You can serve them as a warm or cold side dish.

Maple caramelized Brussels sprouts

These maple caramelized Brussels sprouts are served with oven-roasted chestnuts and dried cranberries. Pomegranate seeds add a fun twist to this rather traditional recipe.

Broccoli and butter bean casserole

Delicious broccoli butter bean casserole made with quinoa and the best dairy-free mustard sauce. It makes the perfect vegan casserole for Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Baked eggplants with incredible pomegranate sauce

These oven-roasted eggplants served with cooked buckwheat and walnuts make a great vegan side or main dish. The warming vegan pomegranate sauce is absolutely incredible.

Crispy potato wedges

Crispy potato wedges are a fail-proof, crowd-pleasing side dish. You can't go wrong with this one. Learn how to make extra crispy potatoes wedges with this recipe.

Roasted Jerusalem artichokes

If you feel like serving some seasonal vegetables, go for oven-roasted Jerusalem artichokes. This simple recipe will be a favorite among artichoke lovers.

Vegan Christmas desserts

Everyone loves to end the meal with a delicious vegan dessert. You will never go wrong with a classic chocolate dessert such as a chocolate mousse. However, you can also make something seasonal such as baked apples, or go for a lighter dessert with a lemon parfait.

2-ingredient aquafaba chocolate mousse

This healthy aquafaba chocolate mousse is made with 2 ingredients only: dark chocolate and the liquid from canned chickpeas! It's the perfect vegan, dairy free and gluten free dessert for two.

Chocolate mousse pie

This no-bake chocolate mousse pie is delicate, light, airy, creamy and rich all at the same time! It will be the highlight of your vegan Christmas dinner!

Warm cinnamon baked apples

If you're looking for a healthier dessert recipe, this one is for you! These baked apples are stuffed with a sweet nut butter filling and are highly addicting.

Lemon pudding

What about a quick and easy vegan lemon pudding that is made from soaked cashews? It's soft, creamy, layered with digestive biscuits and tastes just like your favorite lemon pie.

Vegan Christmas treats

If you like to serve tea and coffee after a holiday feast, don't forget to make some vegan Christmas treats. These truffles and bliss balls will surprise your guest and end the meal on a positive note.

Vegan chocolate truffles with cocoa powder

Incredibly gooey vegan chocolate truffles made with the best vegan chocolate ganache and coated with cocoa powder. 

Healthy peppermint truffles

If you want some flavored truffles, go for these chocolate ppermint truffles. We would decribe the texture as a combination between energy balls and rich chocolate truffles. Serve them as an alternative to after-dinner mints.

Almond butter bliss balls with sprinkles

Is there anything more festive than sprinkles-covered bliss balls? These will be a hit among both children and adults!

FULL MENU: Vegan Christmas menu for two (or small families)

This vegan Christmas menu is for you if you're celebrating Christmas with only a few people. The recipes are easy to make and you won't end up with tons of leftovers.

• Beetroot carpaccio
• Stuffed butternut squash
• Vegan chocolate mousse
• Peppermint chocolate truffles (optional)
• Apple cider cinnamon cocktail (optional)

FULL MENU: Make-ahead Christmas menu for the family

This vegan Christmas menu is for you if you're hosting a crowd and want to make as many recipes ahead of time as possible to be able to enjoy the time with your loved ones. Every single recipe can be made one or two days beforehand and stored in the fridge (even the vegan main course).

• Beetroot hummus (optional)
• Butternut squash soup
• Christmas nut roast 
• No-bake chocolate mousse pie
• Mulled wine or non-alcoholic mulled wine (optional)

FREE Editable Christmas menu template

Do you want to make your own cutumizable Christmas menus? Then, use the Cooking With Elo Christmas menu template and edit them in Canva as you whish. All you need is a Canva account, which is completely free. Have fun!

We recommend printing them on relatively thick A4 paper and cutting them in half to have the perfect size for your menus.

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Share your christmas recipes

If you tried any of these vegan Christmas dinner recipes, make sure to let us know how you liked it by rating it and leaving a comment under each recipe. Feel free to share them on social media and tag me with @cookingwithelo (or send me a direct message, I love seeing your creations). Your feedback really matters!

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