Vegan Christmas dinner ideas: 14 festive main course recipes

After you've picked your entrée, fill out your menu with Christmas dinner side dishes and a glass of vegan eggnog.

In this post:

With velvety cashew cream, mushrooms, and seitan sausage, vegan risotto is a rice dish that really feels like an indulgence. It can also be prepared gluten-free.

Serving suggestions: roasted fennel with vegan parmesan and roasted delicata squash

Leftovers don’t get more impressive than this! Make things easy on yourself and use leftover risotto for vegan arancini.

It has all of the creamy goodness of risotto, but with the added crispy crunch of bread crumbs. It can be cooked in the oven or air fryer. Gluten-free optional.

Serving suggestions: coconut curry kabocha squash soup and sauteed summer squash & zucchini

Elegant vegan crab cakes are made with artichoke hearts and chickpeas. This eye-catching dish is finished with a dollop of lemon dill sauce with capers.

I recommend frying these cakes for best results. However, they can also be baked or made in the air fryer.

Serving suggestions: tomato cucumber salad and vegan corn chowder

Here’s a Christmas main course that truly celebrates the best of the season.

Vegan stuffed acorn squash is filled with apple and vegan sausage stuffing. It’s seasoned with a fragrant blend of sage, rosemary, and thyme.

Serving suggestions: pesto rice and french lentils with caramelized onions

For an impressive and satiating Christmas main course, make a vegan turkey roast. This tender roast fits right in with all your favorite holiday side dishes.

Serving suggestions: mashed potatoes, vegan turkey gravy, and vegan green bean casserole

Vegan gnocchi soup is loaded with pillowy potato dumplings, savory vegan sausage, and softened kale in a luxurious cashew broth. This gloriously creamy soup always wins raves!

Serving suggestions: Warm bread and dukkah, breaded asparagus, and spinach salad

Vegan schnitzel is comforting dish seasoned with rosemary and thyme. It’s a hearty and filling main course that's sure to satisfy.

Serving suggestions: oven roasted Brussels sprouts with apples, cheesy vegan scalloped potatoes, and orange cranberry sauce

If your oven has been working overtime this season, why not give it the night off? Vegan eggplant parmesan comes together quickly in the air fryer.

This holiday-worthy dish is made by coating eggplant slices in panko, seasonings, and non-dairy parmesan. It’s then topped with marinara and non-dairy mozzarella.

Serving suggestions: Tomato bruschetta, Mediterranean pasta with tomatoes, and pesto pasta with artichokes

Vegan pot pie is always a crowd pleaser. It’s filled with carrots, onions, celery, peas, and chicken-style seitan in a creamy cashew sauce.

Save time by using store-bought frozen pie crusts.

Serving suggestions: lemony cauliflower and smoky sweet collard greens

Your guests are sure to swoon over adorable mini vegetable pot pies.

Filled with carrots, onions, celery, and chickpeas, they are enveloped in an indulgent creamy cashew sauce, and served in cocottes.

Serving suggestions: roasted cabbage and air fryer radishes

Baked lemon tofu with rosemary is full of tang and herbaceous flavor. It gets a little charred around the edges, making it a delight to sink your teeth into.

Serving suggestions: garlicky broccolini with kale and baked farro with tomatoes and herbs

Seitan piccata adds a touch of elegance to your Christmas menu, but takes just 25 minutes to prepare!

Browned seitan is covered in a silky white wine and lemon sauce and dotted with capers.

Serving suggestions: sauteed kale with garlic and vegan mashed potatoes

When the weather outside is frightful, this creamy vegan wild rice soup is so delightful.

This one-pot meal is loaded with seitan chicken, carrots, celery, onions, kale, and garlic. It can easily be made gluten-free.

You’ll love the taste of rosemary, thyme, and herbs de Provence in every creamy bite.

Serving suggestions: crackers and olive tapenade and roasted Brussels sprouts with apples

Make vegetables the star of the dish with vegan cauliflower steaks.

This gluten-free meal is served with lentils and flavorful romesco sauce.

For another roasted cauliflower steak option, finish the dish with cilantro chimichurri sauce instead.

Serving suggestions: sauteed summer squash & zucchini and vegan creamed kale

Content updated November 21, 2025. Originally posted December 11, 2019.