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    15 main course ideas for vegan Christmas dinner

    Published: Dec 4, 2020 · Modified: Mar 10, 2022 by Cadry Nelson
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Pot pie in cocotte with spoon breaking into it.

    Vegan Christmas dinner main course ideas – including pot pie, risotto, arancini, and eggplant parmesan. Many of the recipes can be made in about a half an hour, and several have an air fryer option. That means more time celebrating and less time cooking.

    Individual pot pies in cocottes on table.

    When the holidays come around, there’s a draw to make a vegan Christmas dinner that’s festive and maybe even a little fancy.

    Today’s main course ideas for holiday dinners offer just that. They’re worthy of being a centerpiece on your dinner table, no matter what you celebrate.

    (Not celebrating anything? That’s fine too! They’re delicious any day of the year.)

    Plus, many of these main courses can be made in a half an hour or so.

    After you’ve chosen your entrée, fill out the rest of your meal with these Christmas dinner side dishes and a glass of vegan eggnog.

    Close up vegan risotto with mushrooms, seitan sausage, and thyme.

    Creamy mushroom risotto

    Vegan risotto is a rice dish that really feels like an indulgence. With velvety cashew cream, mushrooms, and seitan sausage, it can be served as a main course or hearty side dish.

    To make it gluten free, simply leave out the seitan. Or replace it with Beyond Meat sausage or white beans.

    Vegan arancini on plates with basil.

    Mushroom & sausage arancini

    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 crisp crunch of bread crumbs. This arancini recipe can be made in the oven or air fryer.

    To make it gluten free, leave out the seitan and use gluten-free bread crumbs.

    I’ve also made it without the seitan in the risotto, but with a vegan meatball in the middle. It’s a fun surprise in the center! (If you break a thawed Gardein meatball in half, it’s just the right size. And it stretches the bag out that much further.)

    Serve them as your holiday main course with marinara or as an appetizer.

    Vegan crab cakes on plate with lemon dill aioli.

    Vegan crab cakes

    Elegant vegan crab cakes are made with artichoke heart and chickpeas. They’re finished with a dollop of lemon dill aioli.

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

    Feel like making them well ahead of time? They freeze well too!

    Hand holding vegan fried chicken leg.

    Vegan fried chicken

    Lean into the kitschy & fun vibes of the holidays with vegan fried chicken. It’s served on a skewer – drumstick style. Then it’s breaded and fried. It even includes a crispy “skin” for maximum textural appeal!

    If you need more vegan comfort food in your life, this is the answer.

    Vegan Thanksgiving kabob on plate with salad and cranberry sauce.

    Vegan skewers

    If you live in a warm weather climate, why not fire up the grill at Christmas with vegan skewers?

    These seitan and veggie kebabs include many traditional holiday favorites in deconstructed form. There’s lemony seitan, stuffing, potatoes, and even sweet potatoes with marshmallows.

    Bowls of pasta with eggplant parmesan slices.

    Eggplant parmesan

    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 dinner party-worthy dish is made by coating eggplant slices in panko, seasonings, and non-dairy parmesan. (To make it gluten-free, use gluten free bread crumbs.)

    The slices get crisp in the air fryer. They are then topped with marinara and non-dairy mozzarella. Serve with your favorite pasta.

    Slice of vegan pot pie on white plate for vegan Christmas dinner. Full-sized pot pie in background.

    Chicken-style vegan pot pie

    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.

    As a time saving bonus, this pot pie is made using store-bought frozen pie crusts. (And yes, there’s a top and bottom crust!)

    In normal years, this is a good one to bring to holiday potlucks in an insulated carrier. I brought one to Thanksgiving in a carrier. And my pot pie stayed warm for two hours in it!

    Pot pie in cocotte with spoon breaking into it.

    Mini vegetable pot pie

    Or make a top crust from scratch and serve your guests adorable mini vegetable pot pies. They are filled with carrots, onions, celery, and your choice of chickpeas or Great Northern beans.

    The vegetables are enveloped in an indulgent creamy cashew sauce.

    Vegan lasagna on black plate with fresh basil & chives.

    Lasagna in the air fryer

    If you’re having Christmas dinner for one or two, make individual vegan lasagna in the air fryer. It’s layered with your favorite jarred pasta sauce, tofu ricotta, zucchini, fresh basil, and spinach.

    Plus, it’s ready in only 30 minutes thanks to the air fryer!

    Mediterranean pasta in bowl with basil.

    Mediterranean pasta with tomatoes & vegan feta

    Here’s another noodle option!

    Mediterranean pasta is made with roasted tomatoes, olive tapenade, fresh basil, and vegan feta cheese. It’s finished in a garlic olive oil sauce.

    Polenta stack with barbecued squash and cashew cream on plate with pepitas for vegan Christmas dinner.

    Polenta stacks with squash & cashew cream

    Here’s a great way to use some seasonal produce this holiday season. Make vegan polenta stacks with barbecued delicata squash.

    Each layer also includes a creamy dollop of thick cashew cream. An eye-catching gluten-free entree for your holiday table or dinner party!

    Roasted gnocchi in vegan almond pesto.

    Roasted gnocchi with chunky almond pesto

    There’s no reason to spend hours over the stove to make a holiday-worthy dish. Roasted gnocchi comes together in only 25 minutes.

    Roasting gnocchi gives it a fabulous texture and bite that you can’t get from boiling it alone. Toss it in almond pesto for a satisfying and colorful Christmas dinner.

    Stuffed bell pepper half on plate with sauteed kale.

    Air fryer stuffed peppers

     

    Air fryer stuffed peppers are deliciously cozy and hearty. They’re loaded with veggie sausage, marinara, rice, onions, garlic, and Italian spices.

    Overhead cauliflower steak in black bowl with romesco sauce and French lentils du Puy.

    Cauliflower steaks with romesco sauce

    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.

    Bowl of pappardelle with red wine mushrooms, and chives.

    Buttered noodles with red wine mushrooms

    When the winter wind is biting, cozy up to a bowl of vegan buttered noodles with red wine mushrooms.

    Pappardelle is tossed in garlicky non-dairy butter. Then it’s finished with red wine-infused mushrooms and a smattering of chives.

    Content updated March 10, 2022. Originally posted December 11, 2019.

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    About Cadry Nelson

    Cadry Nelson is the writer, photographer, and recipe creator behind Cadry’s Kitchen, a vegan food & lifestyle blog started in 2009. Through approachable recipes, vegan travel guides, and down-to-earth discussions on the social aspects of being vegan, Cadry shows that living a vegan lifestyle is deliciously uncomplicated. Cadry has been featured on NBC News, Mashable, Today, Reader's Digest, Yahoo, Delish, Shape, and Huffington Post.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Susan

      December 11, 2019 at 6:39 pm

      This is a lovely list of ideas, and it is making me feel quite hungry!

      Reply
      • Cadry

        December 12, 2019 at 8:20 am

        Oh, good. That’s the goal! Thanks, Susan!

        Reply
    2. Adam Burton

      December 17, 2019 at 1:07 pm

      I was just starting a web search on this exact topic and then thought “hmm… what does Cadry have to say about it?” This! You had this post ready and waiting! Thanks 🙂

      Reply
      • Cadry

        December 18, 2019 at 8:52 am

        It’s kismet! So glad it worked out, Adam, and I hope the list was helpful!

        Reply
    3. Bianca N Phillips

      December 04, 2020 at 4:49 pm

      Oooh, lots of good ideas in here! I love the gingerbread man falafel!!

      Reply
      • Cadry

        December 07, 2020 at 2:40 pm

        Thanks, Bianca! I think I need to circle back and make them again this year.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Cadry!

    I’m a longtime vegan. (15 years!) But I grew up eating a Standard American Diet. I know that all of us crave foods that are familiar, comforting, and delicious.

    That’s why it’s my passion to share mouthwatering plant-based recipes that taste like home.

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