Here are 10 meatless Christmas dinner ideas to make your Christmas dinner very festive and absolutely delicious! Whether you are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or eat fish and seafood only (no meat), there are plenty of options to choose from, for small and larger gatherings.
Meat doesn’t always have to be the star of the show for the holidays. Fish, seafood, and vegetarian meals offer plenty of flavorful ideas for a wonderful festive Christmas dinner. Meatless recipes are also often lighter, so you can enjoy a full dinner and it is still easy on your digestion.
Whether you are hosting a small or a large party, are in the mood for a rustic or an elegant Christmas dinner, and have guests with diet restrictions, these tailored menus will help you have a full dinner planned without the hustle that comes with it. You will find options for pescatarian (eat fish and seafood but not meat), vegetarian, vegan, or even gluten-free diets, with ideas ranging from party bites, festive appetizers, mains and gorgeous desserts lined too! And if you are not ready for a 100% meat-free Christmas dinner, why not plan a festive vegetarian menu for Christmas Eve?
Browse all the meatless Christmas menus below for inspiration, or go directly to the one option that answers your diet restrictions. Keep in mind that you can also mix and match the menus to your desires.
10 Meatless Christmas Dinner Ideas
- French-Style (Meatless)
- Elegant and Vegetarian
- Rustic and Vegetarian
- Small-Scale and Vegetarian (Option 1, Option 2, Option 3)
- Exotic (Meatless)
- 100% Vegan
- American (Meatless)
- Gluten-Free (Meatless)
1. The French-style Christmas dinner
- Appetizer: Christmas Tree Appetizer
- Starter: Orange-Ginger Sea Scallops
- Main: Fish Duo Crumble
- Cheese: Cheese Board
- Dessert: Lemon Meringue Roulade
- Bonus: Best Homemade Hot Chocolate + French Brioche à Tête
2. An Elegant Veggie Christmas Dinner
- Appetizer: Thyme Mushroom Pate + Homemade Fig and Walnut No-Knead Bread
- Starter/Main: Red Onion and Goat Cheese Tarte Tatin
- Starter/Main: Wild Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Cheese: Gorgonzola Pear Gingerbread Toasts
- Dessert: Chocolate Mousse Raspberry Cake or Chocolate Charlotte
- Bonus: Christmas Sugar Cookies
3. A Rustic Vegetarian Christmas Dinner
- Appetizer: Cranberry Pecan Cheese Balls
- Starter: Curry Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Caramelized Onions
- Main: Vegetarian Wellington + Arugula Pear Salad
- Side: Maple Roasted Root Vegetables
- Dessert: Chocolate Orange Cake Roll with Caramelized Nuts
- Bonus: The Best Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls or Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
4. A Small Vegetarian Christmas Dinner (Option 1)
- Starter: Roasted Garlic Butternut Squash Soup
- Main: Mushroom Risotto with Chestnuts
- Cheese: Roasted Pears with Blue Cheese and Pecans
- Dessert: Pumpkin Creme Brulee
- Bonus: White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
5. A Small Vegetarian Christmas Dinner (Option 2)
- Starter: Chestnut Soup with Sage
- Main: Butternut Squash Risotto
- Cheese: Baked Apple, Brie and Date Filo Parcels
- Dessert: Chestnut Trifles or Profiteroles
- Bonus: Cookie Mix In A Jar
6. A Small Vegetarian Christmas Dinner (Option 3)
- Starter: Sumptuous Creamy Mushroom Soup
- Main: Caramelized Root Vegetable Tarte Tatin with Feta
- Cheese: Warm Goat Cheese with Crusted Hazelnuts
- Dessert: Chocolate Mandarin Meringue Cake or Chocolate Chestnut Fondant Cake
- Bonus: Cranberry Pistachio Chocolate Barks
7. An Exotic Christmas Dinner
- Appetizer: Swedish Toast Skagen or Beet Salmon Gravlax
- Starter : Thai Sweet Potato Soup
- Main: Sea Scallops with Mango and Vanilla Sauce
- Side: Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with a Walnut Caper Salsa
- Dessert: Tropical Cake Roll or Orange Creme Brulee Tart
- Bonus: Swedish Saffron Buns
8. All Vegan Christmas Dinner
- Appetizer: Spicy Sweet Potato Hash Browns
- Starter: Caramelized Red Onion Polenta Bites
- Main: Mango Chutney Tofu Curry with Wild Rice
- Dessert: Vegan Caramel Gingerbread Naked Cake
- Bonus: Vegan Orange Cranberry Scones
9. The American Meatless Christmas Dinner
- Appetizer: Rosemary Sweet Potato Bread Wreath with Baked Camembert
- Starter: Roasted Squash, Figs and Spinach Salad
- Main: Vegetarian Pot Pie
- Side: Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Feta, Pecans and Pomegranate
- Dessert: Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Candied Pecans
- Bonus: Pecan Bourbon Chocolate Chunk Cookies
10. The Gluten-Free Christmas Dinner
- Appetizer: Mini Cranberry Pecans Cheese Bites
- Starter: Ginger Lime Carrot Soup + Easy Savory Granola
- Main: Vegetarian Mushroom Bourguignon
- Dessert: Maple Pecan Pumpkin Pie
- Bonus: Mini Peanut Butter Pies
