Yahoo Finance Serve a Feast That Everyone Can Enjoy with These Hearty Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Ideas
- 1/38
Serve a Feast That Everyone Can Enjoy with These Hearty Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Ideas
Whether your Christmas dinner this year is going to be a big festive event, or a more intimate meal with just close family members (before snuggling up with a Hallmark movie) you'll want to make sure that everyone at the table has plenty to eat—and that all of the dishes are delicious. That can feel extra difficult if one or more of your folks are meat-free. A side salad and a scoop of mashed potatoes just won't cut it. Not to worry! Here, we've put together a list of more than three dozen of our favorite celebratory holiday dishes—all of which either are meat-free or could be made vegetarian with a few simple swaps. From hearty fall and winter salads to rice pilafs and onion pies to roasted squash and rich, crispy hasselback potatoes, these recipes will help you assemble a Christmas dinner menu full of hearty foods that will please both the meat and meatless eaters around the table, ensuring everyone stays satisfied.
When it comes to greens, we've got plenty of Christmas salads on this list that are extra hearty and delicious, packed with things like crispy Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, marinated mushrooms, and more, making them much more like main dishes than simply sides to a meat-based protein. We've also packed this list full of appetizers and desserts, because it's just not Christmas without plenty of festive treats before and after the big meal.
Brian Woodcock - 2/38
Roasted Mushrooms and Radicchio
For those who enjoy bold flavors, this mix of bitter radicchio tamed with earthy mushrooms and a sweet balsamic dressing is the perfect celebration.
Becky Luigart-Stayner - 3/38
Baked Cauliflower Mac 'n' Cheese
This deliciously creamy/crunchy dish will definitely be enjoyed on any holiday table. Don't skip the cauliflower—it makes the sauce even creamier.
BRIAN WOODCOCK - 4/38
Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad with Citrus-Maple Vinaigrette
This may be the ultimate winter salad. Crispy roasted sprouts combine with mixed lettuce, crunchy apples, toasted almonds, and nutty asiago cheese, all topped with a sweet vinaigrette. Trust us, the bowl will quickly get emptied.
Erin Kunkel - 5/38
Cheddar Holly Crackers
Wow your guests with these homemade crackers that are perfect for dips, cheese platters, or just eating on their own!
Brian Woodcock - 6/38
Herbed Cheese Ball
Your appetizer table needs this cheese ball packed with flavorful herbs and coated in crunchy pine nuts.
Brian Woodcock - 7/38
Sweet Potato-and-Cauliflower Salad
Who says salads have to be boring? Amp up your greens with warm, roasted vegetables and pomegranate seeds.
Brian Woodcock - 8/38
Roasted Squash with Goat Cheese and Poached Cranberries
Kick your butternut squash up to the next level by adding goat cheese, cranberries, and roasted pepitas.
Brian Woodcock - 9/38
Marinated Mushroom-and-Charred Broccolini Salad
Not only is this simple but tasty grilled dish vegetarian, it's vegan.
Brian Woodcock - 10/38
Roasted Red Cabbage-and-Collard Green Slaw
A sweet-and-spicy sauce packs adds tons of unexpected flavor to this slaw. It features apple cider and red pepper flakes.
Brian Woodcock - 11/38
Herbed Goat Cheese Dip
For most vegetarians, cheese is practically its own food group. Just make a big batch: This rich dip will be gone in minutes.
Brian Woodcock - 12/38
Composed Waldorf Salad
This old-fashioned holiday side dish gets a new life thanks to some smart prep! Organized sections let eaters choose what to include and what to leave out, and dressing on the side gives everyone a chance to add as much or little as they want.
Dana Gallagher - 13/38
Wild Rice-and-Cider-Cranberry Pilaf
You can't go wrong with cranberry flavors on Christmas Day. This slightly sweet, berry-packed pilaf is the ultimate festive dish, and we guarantee it'll appeal to all palates.
Brian Woodcock - 14/38
Brussels Sprouts with Pickled Shallots and Hazelnuts
Liven up your Brussels sprouts so that everyone will want a serving. The pickled shallots and toasted hazelnuts add the perfect tang and crunch to this classic side dish.
Brian Woodcock - 15/38
Cast-Iron Hasselback Potatoes
These perfectly spiced, heavily buttered, evenly cut potatoes are elegant, delicious, and easy to make. What more could you want?
CHARITY BURGGRAAF - 16/38
Skillet Cornbread with Honey Butter
No good Southern holiday meal is complete without a slice of country-style skillet cornbread.
Charity Burg - 17/38
Horseradish–Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
Christmas dinner isn't complete without a creamy mound of mashed taters. Give yours a little kick with a heap of fresh horseradish.
Becky Stayner - 18/38
Sweet Potato Casserole with Homemade Marshmallow
Everyone's favorite side dish is a must-have on your Christmas dinner table. Don't forget to broil it before serving to get that beautiful browned top.
Brian Woodcock - 19/38
Nancy Fuller's Pecan Slab Pie
Why make two pecan pies when you can just make this easy pecan slab pie that'll feed 16 people?
Dana Gallagher - 20/38
Ginger Pumpkin Pie
This flavorful pie is a ginger-lover's dream. With candied, ground, and fresh gingers, as well as a gingersnap cookie crust.
BRIAN WOODCOCK - 21/38
Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin
How do you make vegetables extra decadent? By loading them up with cheesy, creamy goodness. Everyone at the table will be singing your praises.
Dana Gallagher - 22/38
Onion Pie
This hearty centerpiece takes sautéed onions and eggs and bakes them inside a delicate crust. Skip the called-for bacon—or substitute for roasted mushrooms or vegetarian bacon.
Aimee Herring - 23/38
Sorghum Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Store-bought candied pecans add crunch to this comfort food dish.
Johnny Miller - 24/38
Salt-and-Pepper Charred Green Beans
Season these deliciously simply green beans with salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Brian Woodcock - 25/38
Parker House Rolls
No dinner table is complete without fresh-baked dinner rolls— especially this recipe that guarantees a fluffy, warm center.
Dana Gallagher - 26/38
Buttermilk and Hatch Chile Grits
Give Christmas dinner a bit of Southwestern flavor. For added rustic charm, serve 'em up in wide-mouth mason jars. Swap the called-for chicken stock with vegetable stock to keep it veggie-friendly.
Country Living - 27/38
Buttermilk-Boursin Mashed Potatoes
This extra-luxe version of mashed potatoes, packed with creamy Gournay cheese, is practically a main dish in its own right.
Johnny Miller - 28/38
Fresh Herb Stuffing
Swap the called-for chicken stock for a rich mushroom stock. It'll give this savory stuffing plenty of depth and keep it meat-free.
Dana Gallagher - 29/38
Root Vegetable Gratin
Everybody gets their own individual serving of this earthy dish. We recommend mushroom stock to keep it vegetarian.
Brian Woodcock - 30/38
Green Salad With Roasted Carrots and Creamy Tarragon Dressing
You can put your own twist on this recipe by choosing between créme fraîche or sour cream to make the dressing. Both are equally delicious.
Brian Woodcock - 31/38
Fruit and Nut Trifle
Take a break from cookies and pies with this old-fashioned trifle, complete with rich custard and soft sponge cake.
Brian Woodcock - 32/38
Pecan Snowflake Cookies
Dust these delicious pecan cookies with powdered sugar to make them look like actual snowflakes.
Brian Woodcock - 33/38
White Chocolate Truffles
Only three steps are needed to make these rich truffles filled with Speculoos cookies; the fourth step is eating them!
Brian Woodcock - 34/38
Cranberry Gin Fizz
Combine cranberry syrup, gin, elderflower liquor, and club soda for an easy and colorful cocktail.
Brian Woodcock - 35/38
Retro Christmas Tree Cake
Everyone will love this adorable cake with its retro light bulbs and frosted branches.
Brian Woodcock - 36/38
Cheddar Biscuits
Andrew Purcell - 37/38
California Fig and Farro Salad
Sweet dried figs, hearty farro, tart goat cheese and bitter arugula combine to make a delicious and filling holiday salad.
Get the recipe at Marisa Moore.
Courtesy Marisa Moore - 38/38
Herby Mushroom Croissant Stuffing
Day old croissants make for the best base in this stuffing recipe. This blogger writes that "even stuffing haters love this casserole." We're sold.
Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.
Half Baked Harvest
