40 Incredible Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Recipes for Your Holiday Menu

For many families, the traditional Christmas meal doesn't feel complete without a meaty main like roast turkey or glazed ham on the holiday table. So when a vegetarian comes to dinner, it’s often about creating a satisfying meal out of the abundant side dishes. But what if vegetarian dinner options weren’t an afterthought, but rather the stars of the show?

Whether your entire table is meat-free or you want an array of show-stopping plant-based options to round out the omnivorous options, our roundup includes dozens of ideas for vegetarian sides, main courses, desserts, and more. Think savory dishes including potato and Brussels sprouts gratin, eggplant parmesan meatballs, crispy roasted broccolini, and tumeric roasted beets with orange bell pepper romanesco. Our list also includes an array of soups and chilis to warm the body as well as the soul on a wintry eve. And for the sweets, how does cranberry pie with snickerdoodle crust sound? (Beyond delicious, we say!)

With the Christmas dinner menu planned, don’t forget to brighten the table with some stylish Christmas table decorations, hang a Christmas wreath on the front door to welcome guests, and transform the whole house into a DIY winter wonderland with some Christmas crafts.

Add to the flavor profile — not to mention the nutritional value — by adding shredded Brussels sprouts to au gratin potatoes.

Get the Potato and Brussels Sprouts Gratin recipe.

If you like meatballs, you'll love this meat-free version. It's every bit as satisfying with eggplant, parmesan, and marinara sauce.

Get the Eggplant Parmesan Meatballs recipe.

In this vibrant side dish, golden brown crumbs and lemon zest top the nutritious veggie for crowd-pleasing appeal.

Get the Crispy Roasted Broccolini recipe.

This side dish is as visually appealing as it is colorful, with orange bell peppers and beets.

Get the Turmeric-Roasted Beets With Orange Bell Pepper Romesco recipe.

Chickpeas make a creamy, hearty base for this wholesome soup. A drizzle of paprika oil on top brightens the presentation.

Get the Creamy Chickpea Soup recipe.

This festive cake, topped with sliced almonds and candied clementines, makes a pretty presentation on the dessert table.

Get the Olive Oil Clementine Cake recipe.

This flavorful roasted cauliflower dish is easy to make and packs a flavor punch with a perfectly salty anchovy sauce.

Get the Charred Cauliflower recipe.

Top roasted carrots with pesto made from carrot-top greens. The pesto also freezes easily and is great on pasta or as a party dip, too.

Get the Roasted Carrots With Carrot-Top Pesto recipe.

Beets and navel oranges add beautiful color and big flavor in this pretty salad with a lemon-herb dressing.

Get the Mâche, Beet, and Orange Salad recipe.

High-fiber and high-protein chickpeas serve as the base for this colorful, hearty stew.

Get the Chickpea and Kale Stew recipe.

This galette looks fancy and even fussy, but it’s actually quick and simple to make.

Get the Asparagus and Potato Galette recipe.

These patties are loaded with feta, garlic, and jalapeño, making them incredibly tasty even for meat lovers.

Get the Chickpea, Spinach, and Quinoa Patties recipe.

Ricotta and roasted veggies take this garlic bread to the next level.

Get the Grilled Squash Garlic Bread recipe.

Complementing this spiced tomato soup are flatbreads smothered in an herbed butter and coconut spread.

Get the Spiced Tomato Soup with Flatbread recipe.

This particular recipe may not appeal to the little ones, but any adult at the table will love the combination of lentils, cauliflower, and spinach, with a dash of pumpkin pie spice.

Get the Warm Roasted Cauliflower and Spinach Salad recipe.

This flatbread is the sweet-and-sour pizza of your dreams. Eggplant, peppers, honey, and ricotta are just a few of the tasty aspects of your new favorite flatbread.

Get the Caponata Flatbread recipe.

While some of the vegetables included in this tasty dish are technically summer veggies, that doesn't mean you can't whip it up for Christmas this year.

Get the Corn and Zucchini Fritters recipe.

Get your daily dose of veggies and then some with this power bowl that'll make anyone's mouth water, especially when they hear the black beans are flavored with cilantro and lime. Yum.

Get the Roasted Vegetable Bowl recipe.

You're going to want to make at least two servings of these potatoes because once your family tries one, they're going to want them all. They won't even realize it's a vegetarian dish.

Get the Mini Hasselback Potatoes with Chive Butter recipe.

Turn your leftover butternut squash from Thanksgiving into this butternut squash and turmeric soup. A splash of coconut milk and vegetable bouillon base make of the tastiest butternut squash soup you've ever had.

Get the Butternut Squash and Turmeric Soup recipe.

Forget buying the bag of crispy chickpeas at your local stor; you can make them yourself and add your own spice combo.

Get the Crispy Chickpeas recipe.

These gorgeous zucchini boats are a bit of a process. But if you have the time and you're looking for a new dish that'll fill up everyone at the table, you've found it.

Get the Mediterranean Zucchini Boats with Kefir-Mint Topping recipe.

Add a little Latin flair to your vegetarian Christmas dinner with these delicious enchiladas that carry your love of pumpkin over into December.

Get the Enchiladas with Pumpkin Seed Salsa recipe.

Meatless pastas are some of the easiest (and tastiest) ways to please meat-lovers and vegetarians alike. Especially ones topped with a broccoli pesto sauce, sliced almonds, and grated parmesan cheese.

Get the Fusilli with Broccoli Pesto recipe.

If you're wrapping up the food preparations, and you feel like you could use one more quick side, look no further. This salad only takes 15 minutes and will have everyone's mouth watering.

Get the Quick Sautéed Beans and Tomatoes recipe.

This hearty soup takes less than 30 minutes to make, will give you leftovers for a few days, and comes with plenty of protein, despite not having any meat in it.

Get the Sweet Potato, Bean and Rice Soup recipe.

This is another dish that may not go over well with the little ones, but that doesn't mean it won't be a crowdpleaser for the adults celebrating the holidays together.

Get the Crispy Chickpea and Kale Bowl recipe.

This chili is so flavorful, nobody will even notice that there's no meat in it. It does take a few hours to make, however, so plan accordingly.

Get the Vegetarian Chili with Wheat Berries, Beans, and Corn recipe.

The name of this dish may make it seem like it's reserved for the warmer months. But summer squash is just another name for yellow squash, which means you can have it any time you want. Mixed with white quinoa and topped with feta cheese, you won't be disappointed.

Get the Marinated Summer Squash Salad recipe.

Even the most avid veggie-"haters" will clear this plate full of cider-glazed Brussel sprouts topped with dried cranberries, and it takes less than 30 minutes!

Get the Cider-Glazed Brussels Sprouts recipe.

This quick and easy soup combines all the protein you could possibly want with the yummy taste of red and yellow peppers, carrots, paprika, and so much more.

Get the Chickpea and Red Pepper Soup with Quinoa recipe.

The best thing about this recipe is that after prep, you can turn on your slow cooker and forget about it the rest of the day. Top the stew off with rice, a dollop of yogurt, and a lemon-scallion drizzle. Yum.

Get the Slow Cooker Curried Butternut Squash Stew recipe.

Stuffed peppers are a great dish for the holidays (or any time of year honestly). All you have to do is fill a few bell peppers with whatever your little heart desires and cook them. These are stuffed with spinach, white beans, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese.

Get the Cheesy Stuffed Peppers with White Beans recipe.

These green beans are fried until they're crisp in tempura-like batter, making them the perfect, people-pleasing appetizer your family will devour in seconds.

Get the Fried Green Beans recipe.

Cheese is the main unifier between vegetarians and non-vegetarians, if you ask us. Bonus points for this app also being stunning.

Get the Tortilla Wreath with Brie recipe.

Put a Greek spin on Christmas with these savory tartlets filled with spinach, feta cheese, and fresh dill.

Get the Feta and Spinach Tartlets recipe.

These aren't your average breadsticks: they're filled with sour cream and cheese — yum.

Get the Parmesan Pastry Pipes recipe.

A little bit tangy, a little bit sweet, this pie has flavors that everyone will adore.

Get the Cranberry Pie with Snickerdoodle Crust recipe.

Broccoli, spinach, and three types of cheese combine for a filling that'll have everyone forgetting about the sausage they usually find in stuffed shells.

Get the Vegetable and Three-Cheese Stuffed Shells recipe.

Go light on the carbs with this spaghetti squash-based entree.

Get the Lasagna-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash recipe.