Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Ideas – How to Have a Meatless Holiday

It has been about a year and a half since I went vegetarian, and I have never looked back. However, during the holiday season, I am reminded of all the foods I used to eat, but can’t because I no longer consume meat. There are so many family recipes that I have to alter now and it is not the same. So, for the holiday season, I have had to come up with a lot of vegetarian Christmas Dinner Ideas.

It amazes me how many vegetarian options there are nowadays. It is so easy to find replacements for anything I have been missing. However, lucky for me, I was never the biggest fan of meat, so I am not often searching out replacements.

Instead, I have found so many delicious meatless holiday dishes that fill me up and still feel as cozy as ever. You don’t need fake ham to have a good Christmas.

Every vegetarian Christmas dinner idea on this list is going to be completely meatless, and also free of meat substitutes. As awesome as I think those are, I don’t eat them very often, and I wanted to give other options for those who don’t like to think, taste, or feel anything close to meat. No tofurkey or fake beef on this list!

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1. Cheese Enchiladas

This has been the tradition in my household for a couple of years now. I have always been a huge fan of Mexican food, and my mom makes the best cheese enchiladas. With only a few ingredients, corn tortillas, enchilada sauce, and cheese, these are one of the easiest and most delicious vegetarian Christmas dinner ideas.

Along with my mom’s homemade rice and refried pinto beans, I am a happy camper come Christmas evening. I just have to leave room for all the Christmas cookies after!

2. Lasagna

Another one of my favorites growing up was lasagna, except my mom’s recipe used to include meat. Now when I make it, I replace the layers of meat with layers of sauteed vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and broccoli.

Vegetarian lasagna tastes so good, even better than meat lasagna if you ask me! You can also add layers of cooked spinach, pesto, and feta for a spinach feta lasagna!

3. Vegetarian Chili

When the holidays come around, all I want to eat are warm, comforting foods. For me, chili is just that.

Take the meat out of any recipe, and you already have a delicious chili. But if you want to add a little more sustenance, add some veggies. I usually go with bell peppers, carrots, corn, and onion. I love the added crunch that the vegetables give to the chili, while still filling me up.

4. Macaroni and Cheese

If we are talking comfort foods, this is my ultimate comfort food. I could easily dig into a plate of hot macaroni and cheese and be completely satisfied.

But to make the dish even better, cover it with cheese and sprinkle it with bread crumbs before putting it in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until the top gets browned. The crispy top layer with the ooey-gooey center makes for the perfect holiday meal.

5. Cheesy Broccoli and Potato Cassarole

Honestly, this may sound like a said dish, but if you like potatoes and cheese enough, like me, it can definitely count as the main course.

My family recipe calls for hashbrowns, cream of mushroom soup, broccoli, carrots, and a lot of cheese. Put that all in the oven until the top is bubbling and you have yourself a delicious meal.

6. Eggplant Parmasan

When I was younger, it was always an exciting night with I came home from school and there was chicken parmesan in the oven. It was warm, filling, and delicious.

Well, now that I don’t eat meat anymore, the perfect substitute is to have an eggplant parmesan. Get a big eggplant, cut it into thick slices, and cover it in egg and bread crumbs. Finally, top it with a marinara source and a blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheese and pop it into the oven. You are good to go with one of the best vegetarian Christmas dinner ideas.

7. Soup

When I think of a cold winter meal, I always think of soup. So why not eat it on Christmas? there are so many wonderful soup options that are meat-free:

• Cheddar broccoli
• Black bean
• Vegetable
• Tortilla (leave out the chicken)
• Baked potato (leave out the bacon)

A warm bowl of soup is the ultimate comfort food, and one of my favorite vegetarian Christmas dinner ideas.

8. Spinach and Feta Ravioli

If you are anything like my family, we spend the entirety of Christmas and Christmas Eve together. Because of that, there is plenty of time to cook a complicated meal.

So have some fun and make your very own ravioli! Using your basic pasta recipe, cut the pasta dough into squares (or holiday-themed shapes) and fill it with a mix of ricotta, parmesan, and spinach. Press another square of pasta dough on top and throw in a pot of boiling water for a couple of minutes to cook.

Or, just buy some premade ravioli… I won’t tell anyone!

9. Potato Tacos

I’ll be honest, I got my recipe for potato taco from attempting to copy Taco Bell’s version of the dish… shhh, don’t tell anyone!

But they have quickly become a staple in my house, everyone loves when I make potato tacos. And bonus, they are so easy and so delicious!

I cut some russet potatoes into cubes, throw them in a pan on low heat with some avocado oil, onions, minced garlic, pepper, onion powder, and chili powder. I cover them and let them simmer in the spices for about 45 minutes. After that, I take the cover off, bump the heat up and add paprika. I let them crisp up in the pan for about 10 minutes.

Throw the potatoes in a tortilla with cilantro, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and chipotle ranch, or whatever sauce you want. It is a long process to cook, but I promise they are delicious!

10. Meatless Pot Pie

One of the foods that were so hard to lose when I went vegetarian was chicken pot pies. I used to get those Marie Calendar ones all the time when I was a kid.

That was, of course, until I realized that by taking out the chicken, swapping the cream of chicken for the cream of mushroom, and adding way more vegetables, I could still have a pot pie!

Abd it is just as delicious!

11. Stuffed Bell Peppers

Although this is my go-to fall recipe, I definitely think having some stuffed bell peppers on Christmas is a fantastic way to go. And they are so easy to make!

All you have to do is hallow out a bell pepper and fill it! I usually sautee whatever vegetables I have in my refrigerator, and add that to some rice, black beans, and diced tomatoes. Add whatever seasonings you want and you have a warm and delicious filling.

Once they are filled, cover them with a blend of shredded cheeses and throw them in the oven at 350 degrees until the top is golden brown!

12. Veggie Burritos

As I said, I love Mexican food, and my absolute favorite type is burritos. These are the ultimate comfort food for me, which is why they make the perfect vegetarian Christmas dinner idea.

Fill soft flour tortillas with veggies, beans, rice, cheese, and salsa. And the best part is that they are completely customizable. It is easy to make them vegan as well!

For an added crunch, wrap up your burrito and throw it on the stove for a few minutes, making sure to get each side. The crispy outside with the delicious fillings is the best combination.

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What is great about a lot of these dishes is that they are really easy to make. With all the planning and events that happen during the holiday season, it is easy to miss something from the list. Plus, sometimes you just don’t want to put in much effort, but you still want a good meal.

So being able to put something together with ingredients you already have at home can be a blessing. Hopefully, something on this list is that for you!

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