9 Vegan Holiday Recipes Even Meat Eaters Love

You prefer to keep animals as friends, not food, but the rest of your family and friends don’t all share your enthusiasm for a cruelty-free lifestyle. If it’s your turn to host this year, should you abandon your principles and cater to their whims? Here’s a better idea — wow them with these nine vegan holiday recipes that are so tasty, even meat lovers will fight over the leftovers. 

The Apps 

The fun begins as your guests arrive with these finger-ready favorite vegan holiday recipes. 

1. Vegan Pull-Apart Christmas Tree 

Who doesn’t love crescent rolls? They’re the fight-over favorite at many a holiday gathering, and they taste even better with a touch of vegan cheese and marinara. A bit of seasoning and vegan butter are the only other ingredients you’ll need. 

This is a recipe your kids can help you assemble, so bring them in the kitchen. They can scoop the vegan cream cheese into the triangular crescents while you manage the rolling and placing them in the oven. You can also add a sprinkle of vegan parmesan or mozzarella on the top with the parsley and salt.  

2. Spanish Marinated Mushrooms

Placing a toothpick in each shroom transforms these into delightful finger food for mixing and mingling. You can also arrange them in small bowls for a more elegant sit-down appetizer. 

Small, white cremini mushrooms work the best, but you can choose another variety if you like. Using other varieties, such as lion’s mane, affects flavor, so test the recipe before unleashing it on your guest. However, many people today take lion’s mane for memory, and your party can be your chance to introduce them to this brain-booster if you’re a fan.

The Soup Course 

Holiday meals start off right with a hearty bowl of soup. Plus, research shows that consuming a clear-brothed soup before a larger meal helps you control your caloric intake. Add the following great vegan holiday recipes to your menu. 

3. White Bean and Kale Soup 

White beans are chock-full of vegan protein and filling fiber to keep you sated. Kale is a nutritional powerhouse, but the bitter taste can be overpowering in salads. Adding it to soups is the perfect solution for all the nutritional benefits with a smoother, milder flavor. 

This soup whips up in just 20 minutes, although you can make it in advance to let the flavors blend more effectively. You can also freeze it, pulling it out and adding it to your slow cooker on the big day. The turmeric and black pepper inside fight inflammation and boost immunity, which is helpful during cold and flu season. 

4. Vegan Lasagna Soup

Lasagna has become a holiday tradition in some circles, and this soup honors it beautifully while whetting your appetite for more goodness to come. It’s chock-full of colorful vegetables in multiple hues, ensuring you get a wide variety of nutrients full of fabulous flavor. 

If you have a bit of vegan mozzarella, you can use it here, too, as a garnish. However, this soup is plenty hearty without it. The trick is to let the noodles get to the perfect al dente doneness before serving. 

The Entree 

If you want a hearty main course that wows your guests and leaves them full and satisfied, these vegan holiday recipes promise to delight. 

5. Vegan Pumpkin Sage Gnocchi

Pumpkin is a staple of holiday festivities, but it doesn’t have to be a dessert or garnish. Bring it into the main dish with this gnocchi that adds a touch of old-world Italian goodness to your holiday table. Best of all, it has only four ingredients, keeping your shopping list short if your budget is likewise small. 

You can serve these with black pepper and a sprinkle of parmesan — they’re hearty enough without a thicker sauce. However, feel free to include gravy boats of marinara and vegan alfredo for those who enjoy the added flavor. 

6. Creamy Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff

Mushrooms add elegance to any entree, and this vegan holiday recipe makes them the star of the show. Stroganoff practically screams comfort, and this dish is so delightful, you’ll want to keep extra in the freezer to heat up in the slow cooker all winter long. 

For the best results, use a combination of mushrooms, like cremini, shiitake, oyster and maitake. You can also experiment with other varieties, keeping in mind that it may impact the flavor. The nutritional yeast not only adds protein but brings out the umami flavor that makes this dish so comforting. 

Spectacular Sides

Every entree deserves scrumptious sides to complete the meal. 

7. Mushroom and Spinach Quiche

 A quiche is like a healthy pie, and while traditional versions use egg, substituting tofu makes this version cruelty free. The mushrooms and spinach go beautifully with other items on the menu while minimizing your shopping list. 

8. Shirazi Salad

Many people associate veganism with salads, and this one adds a touch of the exotic to your menu. The dried mint leaves impart an interesting flavor and also aid digestion after such a hearty meal. The crunchiness of this side offsets the creamy smoothness of the quiche. 

Dessert Course 

Whether you eat it first or last, most people consider dessert the best course of all. 

9. Vegan Pumpkin Pudding “Pie” Parfait 

Pumpkin pie is the traditional conclusion to many a holiday meal. However, serving it up parfait-style  with this vegan holiday recipe eliminates the challenge of extricating that tricky first slice and lets you remove the pecans for anyone with a nut sensitivity. 

Use coconut milk for a homemade whipped cream or find a vegan version in stores — manufacturers have begun increasing their product lines for those with various dietary restrictions. Even the popular Reddi-Whip has a vegan version. 

Vegan Holiday Recipes Even Meat Eaters Love 

Who says you need to stray from your morals when serving meals to those who don’t share your lifestyle? These vegan holiday recipes are so filling and delicious, even the most dedicated carnivores in your clan will ask for Tupperware when your party ends. Use this menu as your guide to a cruelty-free holiday celebration that makes your animal friends merrier, too.