16 Holiday Favorites Made Plant-Based
Every household has their own unique collection of festive recipes. With food so intimately connected to our past, eliminating a favorite dish would be like disinviting a beloved uncle or cousin to the holiday table. That being said, preparing the exact same celebratory spread year after year can get a bit, well, repetitive. So what’s the best way to avoid a culinary rut? Making meat-free versions of all those holiday classics!
This year, we’ve made a list — and we’ve checked it twice — of some of our favorite holiday appetizers, mains, side, and desserts, all of which are totally plant-based! These recipes are a slight (sometimes significant) departure from your typical wintery fare, but they’re cozy, delicious, and comforting nonetheless. From mushroom pie to a Caribbean lentil bake to a vegan holiday ham, these dishes will warm your soul and create new food traditions for years to come.
Check out our Meatless Monday holiday menu below and see how you can wow your guests with some celebratory holiday meals.
Caribbean Lentil Potato Bake
A unique spin on the classic mashed potato or potato au gratin, this layered Caribbean lentil potato bake recipe from Kirly-Sue’s Kitchen will wow your guests with its warm, island-inspired flavors. Turmeric, garam masala, coconut milk, cumin, and fresh ginger come together to create something that looks like a potato casserole but tastes totally different. For the Caribbean Lentil Potato Bake recipe from Kirly-Sue’s Kitchen, click here.
Chickpea Meatloaf
When it comes to comfort food, there’s no dish more iconic than meatloaf. Although limitless variations exist, many of them fail to omit the meat. This plant-based version from Nora Cooks is so clever because it manages to maintain the tang and texture of traditional meatloaf using ingredients like chickpeas, flax seeds, and breadcrumbs. After topping with ketchup and a few other special sauces and baking in the oven, this cozy dish is ready for the table. For the Chickpea Meatloaf recipe from Nora Cooks, click here.
Cocoa Peppermint Power Patties
For a guilt-free indulgence that doesn’t require turning on the oven, try these protein-packed peppermint patties. They’re chocolatey, minty, and just the right amount of sweet. The base of the patty is made from dates, while pistachios and hemp seeds add texture and give these semi-sweet holiday treats a satisfying bite. For the Cocoa Peppermint Power Patties recipe, click here.
Cranberry Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
With bright reds and vibrant greens, this dish of roasted Brussels sprouts embodies the holidays. The roasted Brussels sprouts are topped with a sweet-and-tangy cranberry sauce, which balances out the bitter notes. For the Cranberry Balsamic Brussels Sprouts recipe, click here.
Cranberry Poached Pears
Let the aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove swirl through your kitchen with this festive recipe for poached pears from Veggie Converter. Throw all the ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a boil, and simmer the pears for an hour. Take the pears off the heat and let them stew in the cranberry mixture for another 30 minutes. Dessert is served! For the Cranberry Poached Pears recipe from Veggie Converter, click here.
Festive Falafel with Cranberry Pear Dipping Sauce
If you want to add some more plant-based protein to your holiday table, look no further than these incredibly creative vegan falafel balls from Vegan Heaven. They’re made with chickpeas, garlic, parsley, and walnuts. But the real kicker is the tangy cranberry-pear dipping sauce, which you can put on just about everything. For the Festive Falafel with Cranberry Pear Dipping Sauce from Vegan Heaven, click here.
Gingersnap Cookies
Every holiday table needs a platter of freshly-baked cookies to keep pesky snackers at bay. Well, this recipe for gingersnap cookies from Loving It Vegan is a sure way to satisfy all of your guests. Ground cloves, allspice, ginger, and cinnamon give these cookies a gentle hint of spice that will continue nipping at your tongue even after the last bite. For the Gingersnap Cookies recipe from Loving it Vegan, click here.
Homemade Guacamole
If you’ve ever hosted a holiday meal, then you know your guests come hungry. That’s why it’s a good idea to have some quick appetizer ideas to keep everyone content and satisfied until dinner is ready. This homemade guacamole goes with any spread and you can whip it up in just a few minutes. Some fresh lime juice, chiles, cilantro, and red onion give this guacamole a little extra zip that’s sure to please. For the Homemade Guacamole recipe, click here.
Mushroom Pie
Another dish that will impress your holiday guests is this rich and savory mushroom pie. A lot of different mushrooms go into this pie — both dried and fresh — but the key to creating that deep umami flavor is by adding mushroom slurry that’s made with some of the reserved water used to rehydrate the dried mushrooms and corn starch. The crust is made with margarine, giving it that classic flaky pie texture. For the Mushroom Pie recipe, click here.
Mushroom Risotto
There’s something festive about a decadent bowl of warm, creamy risotto. This plant-based version swaps out the milk and cheese for cashew cream and nutritional yeast, but most of the heavy lifting is done by the mushrooms, herbs, and aromatics. It’s a homey dish that’s sure to warm the belly and the soul. For the Mushroom Risotto recipe, click here.
Roasted Chestnut Soup
Safely recreate the magical feeling of chestnuts roasting on an open fire by doing all the roasting in your oven. This recipe Apron Strings is just what you want to be sipping on a frosty winter’s night. The soup gets its smooth, silky texture from a quick purée in the blender. You can swap out the Greek yogurt for a non-dairy variety to make this recipe totally plant-based. For the Roasted Chestnut Soup recipe from Apron Strings, click here.
Roasted Fennel with Orange and Tofu
Fennel is an underutilized cold-weather crop. Eaten raw, it has a refreshing undertone of pepper and anise, but when cooked, the natural sugars caramelize, resulting in a flavor that’s earthy and sweet. Fennel and orange are a classic pairing, and will cut through the richness of some of the more indulgent holiday dishes. For the Roasted Fennel with Orange and Tofu recipe, click here.
Seitan “Ribs”
Ribs don’t land on everyone’s holiday table, but few complain when they do. This recipe for vegan ribs from Fat Free Vegan is made with vital wheat gluten (not pre-formed into loaves), which is then mixed with spices and liquid smoke and formed into a shape resembling a rack of ribs (if that’s the look you so desire). Next, just pop the “ribs” into the oven and brush with barbecue sauce a few minutes before taking them out of the oven to cool. For the Seitan Ribs recipe from Fat Free Vegan, click here..
Holiday “Ham”
Make a stunning centerpiece for your holiday table with this recipe for maple-glazed vegan holiday ham from Sunny Side Hanne. A base of wheat gluten and chickpea flour is pumped-up with an array of seasonings and ingredients that includes tahini, tomato pasta, maple syrup, nutritional yeast, and ground cloves. The sweet-smoky glaze adds another level of flavor and color, making this one handsome vegan ham. For the Vegan Holiday “Ham” recipe from Sunny Side Hanne, click here.
Holiday “Roast”
Just because you’re eating plant based or vegan, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a warm and comforting holiday roast. This recipe for vegan holiday roast from Vegan Huggs is as pretty as it is inventive. A combination of wheat gluten, pinto beans, miso paste, and vegan Worcestershire sauce gives this roast a superbly savory flavor, while a glaze of barbecue and teriyaki sauce adds just the right amount of sweetness. For the Vegan Holiday “Roast” recipe from Vegan Huggs, click here.
The Ultimate Christmas Pudding
Christmas pudding is in a dessert category of its own. Sticky, dark, murky, and sweet, this festive dish is served almost exclusively during the Christmas season. This vegan version of Christmas pudding from A Virtual Vegan is pretty traditional except for the addition of aquafaba (chickpea water) in place of eggs.
For the Ultimate Vegan Christmas Pudding recipe from A Virtual Vegan, click here.