Holidays & Occasions Christmas Christmas Recipes Christmas Dinner Recipes 33 Dishes For A Vegetarian Christmas Dinner By Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani is an Assistant Food Editor at Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on October 9, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Johnny Autry; Food and Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Meat-free options for Christmas may seem like an impossible task when you're used to roasting a turkey or glazing a ham, but it's not nearly as hard as you think to pull off. If planning a vegetarian Christmas dinner this year, you aren't stuck making only salads, although veggies will likely be prominently featured. Hearty casseroles and pastas, like our Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake will take the place of the meaty mains, while many of the classic sides fill the table, just without the added bacon. From a Rainbow Carrot Tart to Stuffed Acorn Squash with Farro, there will be plenty of stunning centerpiece dishes that taste as delicious as they look. Dressing, cornbread, and mashed potatoes can all be made vegetarian without sacrificing any flavor. And we promise guests will leave just as happy and stuffed as they would if meat were on the table. 01 of 33 Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread Brian Woodcock Recipe: Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread If perfect is in the name, then you know this cornbread is going to be good. Made with plenty of butter, you won't miss the bacon drippings if you're used to using them in cornbread. 02 of 33 Carla Hall's Warm Carrot Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing McCormick Recipe: Carla Hall's Warm Carrot Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing For a pop of color on the table, try these rainbow carrots dressed in a creamy pineapple-flavored dressing. With tart apple, sweet raisins, a little sesame, and cayenne, this warm carrot salad tastes anything but boring. 03 of 33 Beet, Fennel, and Apple Salad Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Beet, Fennel, and Apple Salad Beets are no stranger to the Christmas dinner table, but instead of the canned variety, we suggest a fresh take on the root. Look for red-and-white-striped Chioggia beets (also called candy cane beets) at the store, for an extra festive salad. 04 of 33 Herbed Wild Rice Dressing Recipe: Herbed Wild Rice Dressing Most dressings get their flavor from sausage or meat stocks, but this one gets its flavor from fresh herbs like sage, a nuttiness from toasted walnuts, and brightness from apples and celery. 05 of 33 Angel Biscuits Emily Laurae/Southern Living Recipe: Angel Biscuits Every table needs a biscuit and these feather-light ones are our favorites. Plus, they can be prepared one week in advance to make your holiday cooking schedule a little less stressful. 06 of 33 Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Collard Greens Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Collard Greens While collards typically get their flavor from bacon or ham hocks, these greens get their sweet and tangy flavor from brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and fire-roasted tomatoes. 07 of 33 Green Bean Lasagna Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Recipe: Green Bean Lasagna Combine two classic holiday dishes into one hearty main dish with this twist on lasagna featuring the flavors of green bean casserole. For a fun twist we swapped cream of mushroom soup for a Parmesan Cream sauce. 08 of 33 Creamed Spinach Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Creamed Spinach An easy way to serve greens that isn't another salad. Loaded with cream and cheese, then finished with a touch of nutmeg and toasted pine nuts, this vegetable side is a hearty, satisfying addition to the table. 09 of 33 Lisa Cericola's Herbed Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Lisa Cericola's Herbed Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes These mashed potatoes are so creamy and delicious, they don't even need gravy. Made with the quadruple threat of cream cheese, butter, half-and-half, as well as a generous swirl of Herbed Brown Butter on top, these are the ultimate mashed potatoes. 10 of 33 Classic Cranberry Salad Emily Laurae/Southern Living Recipe: Classic Cranberry Salad You don't need a turkey or ham on the table in order to serve cranberry sauce. This homemade version, full of fresh fruit and crunchy pecans is a great condiment to serve alongside vegetable sides, casseroles, and breads. 11 of 33 Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Salad Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Salad Sweet potatoes are a staple around the holidays, but if you already have plenty of casseroles on the table, try this spicy sweet potato salad instead. The Southwest inspired twist uses, corn, black beans, and jalapeño to brighten up the root vegetable. 12 of 33 Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese Macaroni and cheese is a favorite of meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. This version, with roasted tomatoes on top and a blend of four cheeses in the sauce, adds extra flavor to the classic. 13 of 33 Sweet Potato Rolls Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sweet Potato Rolls Mashed sweet potato is the secret to these soft, slightly sweet orange-hued rolls. Served with a side of Hot Honey Butter, we assure you there will be no leftovers. 14 of 33 Quinoa Salad with Carrots and Sugar Snap Peas Johnny Autry; Food and Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Quinoa Salad with Carrots and Sugar Snap Peas Quinoa is the protein-packed hearty grain that serves as the base to this filling salad. A sprinkle of toasted nuts and dried fruit are welcomed additions to this salad as well. 15 of 33 Rainbow-Carrot Tart with Pea Shoots Johnny Autry; Food and Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Rainbow-Carrot Tart with Pea Shoots Who needs turkey when you have this beautiful tart as your dinner centerpiece? If you can't find pea shoots, watercress works as a beautiful delicate garnish as well. 16 of 33 Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks Linda Puglies; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks Crispy leeks are a green bean casserole game changer. They also happen to look super elegant, for the perfect presentation. 17 of 33 Old-School Squash Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole This classic meat and three dish is a great hearty main for vegetarians. Our favorite part is the crunchy, buttery cracker topping that keeps us coming back for seconds. 18 of 33 Green Beans with Garlic Jim Franco; Styling: Leslie Siegel Recipe: Green Beans with Garlic A simple sautéed vegetable side like this is always a winner on the Christmas buffet. This five-ingredient dish uses only pantry staples (aside from the beans), but can be customized to your tastes with add-ins like red pepper flakes, shallot, or a little lemon juice. 19 of 33 Skillet-Roasted Carrots Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Recipe: Skillet-Roasted Carrots Sweet and sour, these carrots have it all. Cooked in honey and apple cider vinegar, the carrots are finished with fresh thyme for a pop of lemony brightness. 20 of 33 Creamed-Corn Grits Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Creamed-Corn Grits Grits are welcome to any and all occasions. These grits that borrow the best aspects of creamed corn are a rich side that goes with almost anything else you're serving. 21 of 33 Collard Green Salad with Oranges and Port-Soaked Cherries Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Collard Green Salad with Oranges and Port-Soaked Cherries Who says collards have to be stewed? This fresh take on collard greens incorporates sweet and tart oranges for brightness and jammy port-soaked cherries. 22 of 33 Classic Candied Yams Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Classic Candied Yams You need at least one side that is sweet enough that it could pass for dessert and this is our pick. Lightly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, these yams are bound to spread some holiday cheer. 23 of 33 Asparagus with Cheese Sauce and Herb Breadcrumbs Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Asparagus with Cheese Sauce and Herb Breadcrumbs Vegetables are always better with cheese, add herb breadcrumbs and you'll hardly feel like you're eating a vegetable. The cheese sauce also happens to be stress-free, for a dish ready in 25 minutes. 24 of 33 Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans Greg DuPree Recipe: Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans The crunchy and refreshing antidote to all the creamy, cheesy, and gooey dishes on the table. Use grocery-store pre-shredded sprouts to cut down on prep time. 25 of 33 Roasted Cauliflower with Seed Salsa Peter Frank Edwards; Prop Styling: Kendra Surface; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower with Seed Salsa The star of this dish is the seed salsa, made from all kinds of seeds, including sunflower, sesame, mustard, cumin, and coriander with heat from a chile de arbol. The salsa adds both great crunch and spice to the toasty, roasted cauliflower. 26 of 33 Tabitha Brown's Vegan Mac and Cheese Greg DuPree, Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Tabitha Brown's Vegan Mac and Cheese While vegetarian dishes don't have to be vegan, this non-dairy mac and cheese might have people giving up dairy for good. Nutritional yeast is the secret ingredient that keeps this comfort food classic as cheesy tasting as ever, without using any cheese. 27 of 33 Butternut Squash Lasagna Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Butternut Squash Lasagna You could serve any lasagna recipe (without meat sauce) for a vegetarian Christmas dinner, but we think this butternut squash version made with seasonal winter veggies is ideal for serving at the holidays. Made with no-boil noodles, it's also easy to throw together. 28 of 33 Crispy Potato Galette Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Crispy Potato Galette Mashed potatoes are delicious, but they aren't nearly as beautiful as this layered potato galette. Pro tip: use a mandoline for picture perfect potato slices (just watch your finger tips). 29 of 33 Stuffed Acorn Squash with Farro Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Stuffed Acorn Squash with Farro A colorful and seasonal main dish that won't leave vegetarians wanting for anything. Stuffed with farro, dried cranberries, and sliced almonds, it hits on all the nutty, sweet, and salty notes. Plus, any leftover farro stuffing doubles as a great salad the next day mixed with some fresh greens. 30 of 33 Savory Corn Pudding Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Savory Corn Pudding This corn pudding recipe puts a savory spin on the classic with chopped onion and fresh thyme. It's not low on the calories, but trust us when we say all the heavy cream and butter in this dish is worth it. 31 of 33 Sumac Carrots with Feta Mousse and Crispy Panko Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Sumac Carrots with Feta Mousse and Crispy Panko You've probably roasted carrots, sautéed them, and glazed them, but have you ever served them with a feta mousse? Tangy, salty, and creamy, paired with crispy breadcrumbs and lemony sumac, these carrots are a bright, new addition to the Christmas buffet. 32 of 33 Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake Sneak some kale onto everyone's plate with this pasta bake. Even the kid's table will happily reach for seconds once they're tasted how creamy and cheesy this pasta is. 33 of 33 Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole Thick slices of layered sweet potato create a meaty texture in this vegetarian casserole, which combined with an easy cream sauce hits all our favorite casserole flavors without any of the meat. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit