The Best Vegan Christmas Dinner Recipes

The most magical time of year comes a lot of entertaining. Your holiday table will most likely be surrounded by guests with different dietary preferences—including dairy-free or vegan diners. As a good host, it's important to make a meal that everyone can enjoy, and it's definitely not hard to find vegan recipes for Christmas.

With our collection of the best vegan Christmas dinner recipes—ranging from soups and salads to entrees and desserts—you'll find dairy- and meat-free dishes that vegans and omnivores alike will love. (There's even a delicious vegan eggnog recipe that will knock everyone's stockings off!) Cook up all or some of these easy and festive vegan recipes to help make your holiday celebration a yuletide success for everyone at the table.

01 of 14

Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin

The Spruce

Do you love potatoes au gratin, but need a vegan version? This baked casserole is covered in a surprisingly rich and creamy sauce that has no dairy ingredients, so it's also suitable for those who have to dine lactose-free.
02 of 14

Vegan Shepherd's Pie

Diana Miller / Getty Images

Savory shepherd's pie is a traditional holiday dish and this dairy-free, meat-free twist makes it suitable for a vegan dinner party. Made with green peas, gravy, corn, and a vegetarian meat substitute in place of the usual ground beef, this casserole is just as satisfying and comforting as the traditional one.
03 of 14

Red Cabbage Salad

The Picture Pantry / Getty Images

With no dairy or meat needed, this red cabbage salad makes a festive first course. You can make the pickled slaw up to five days ahead (it'll actually taste better when made in advance), so there'll be less to do when you're preparing to host guests.
04 of 14

Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Tahini

Brett Stevens / Getty Images

Whole roasted cauliflower is an impressive way to prepare the popular winter vegetable for a vegan Christmas dinner. A quick homemade tahini sauce adds a wonderfully delicious component to the healthy dish, which can be served as a shareable side or showstopping entree.

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05 of 14

Savory Spinach and Mushroom Strudel

The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

Filled with spinach, mushrooms, onions, and tofu, this savory strudel is not only hearty and filling but also beautiful enough for a Christmas table. You won't believe how easy it is to make with pre-packaged puff pastry—most are already vegan, by default.
06 of 14

Fennel, Grapefruit and Arugula Salad

Getty Images

This seasonal fennel, grapefruit, and arugula salad is a bright-tasting and lovely way to kick off any vegan winter feast. Crisp, aromatic fennel is combined with sweet-tart grapefruit, peppery arugula for a refreshing salad. Slices of creamy avocado top this easy but elegant starter.
07 of 14

Vegan Cauliflower and Potato Soup

The Spruce

Cauliflower, potatoes, and onions give this vegan soup a satisfyingly creamy and hearty texture. It's a wonderful bowl to enjoy on chilly days and makes a great vegan Christmas dinner starter. Plus, it's gluten-free, too.
08 of 14

Vegan Couscous Stuffed Bell Peppers

Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images

Couscous-stuffed bell peppers not only have a wow factor, they're quite easy to prepare. Quick-cooking couscous is tossed with some chopped fresh bell peppers and a basic vinaigrette, then stuffed into whole peppers and roasted with a sprinkling of salt and pepper.

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09 of 14

Homemade Vegan Eggnog

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

What would a Christmas celebration be without a glass of eggnog? Luckily, you don't have to go without it if you're following a vegan diet. This egg-free eggnog recipe blends tofu and soy milk with your usual eggnog ingredients (rum or brandy, vanilla extract, nutmeg) for a smooth holiday beverage that everyone can enjoy.
10 of 14

Vegan Gingerbread Cookies

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Gingerbread cookies aren't off-limits for those who are dairy-free. These lightly spiced holiday cookies taste just like the original, but they're completely vegan and guilt-free.
11 of 14

Vegan Pumpkin Risotto

The Spruce

Pumpkin adds a sweet, fall flavor to this vegan twist on classic Italian risotto. Enjoy pumpkin risotto as a satisfying entree or a sharable side dish.
12 of 14

Vegan Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

The Spruce

Here's a healthy vegan side dish that's party-worthy, but won't take long to prepare. It takes less than 30 minutes to make these brown-sugar glazed carrots; the hint of cinnamon is especially popular with younger vegetarian and vegan diners.

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13 of 14

Vegan Cranberry and Pear Holiday Pie

The Spruce

Cranberries and pears are seasonal fruits that are ripe for Christmas celebrations. Both are found in the filling of this vegan holiday fruit pie, which has an irresistible crunchy crumble topping. You can also make it with a double-crust or no top crust at all.
14 of 14

Vegan Roasted Chestnut Soup

The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

Looking for the perfect roasted chestnut soup? This easy vegetarian roasted chestnut soup is a fabulous way to enjoy the subtle, nutty flavor of this traditional holiday ingredient. It's also vegan, as long as you use vegan margarine or oil (and not butter) and soy milk (or almond or cashew milk) in place of dairy milk.

The Best Dishes for a Delightful Vegan Christmas Dinner