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Vegan Holiday Dinner Ideas! Easter! Thanksgiving! Christmas! Birthdays! Impress your family and friends!
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items Full meal ideas for your Vegan holiday meal! If you're a vegan OR you're cooking for a vegan, here are my FAVORITE dishes for WOWing my guests! I will continue adding to this list regularly!
Sections
6
Main Dish Delish!
Side Dishes for Days!
Appetizers (Party Starters!)
Desserts (Sweet Treats on Repeat!)
Shopping List staples and where to find them! (Nooch? Seitan?)
Ingredient Guide: aka What the heck is nooch?
Main Dish Delish!
My favorite special occasion main dishes! Similar to your non-vegan comfort foods, without the exploitation, suffering and death! Now that's a reason to celebrate!
The BEST vegan turkey I've had! Made from tofu and vital wheat gluten, this is made in a few stages, and is a little time-consuming, but waaaay less time than dealing with a big dead bird, and way less messy. I prepared this at Thanksgiving last year, and it was devoured very quickly by vegans and omnivores alike! Make sure to read through the ingredients list and the WHOLE recipe before starting! Check out my ingredients section if you have any questions about things like vital wheat gluten, tempeh, seitan, and more.
Best Vegan Turkey Roast!!
REALLY, really good vegan “ham”! This is a wonderful main dish subtitute for your holiday dinner that would usually feature a dead pig. Give it a try! Note: Pay attention to the serving size and make sure to scale up if cooking for a crowd.
Vegan Brown Sugar Glazed Tofu (Vegan Glazed Ham)
Gorgeous and scrumptious main dish! A vegan alternative to ….other…Wellington dishes, this one packs a flavor punch in every bite! Vegans and omni's alike will LOVE this, unless they hate mushrooms… But we can't win them all now, can we? I'm not a huge mushroom fan, but I LOVE this dish. Note: Not all puff pastry is vegan. I use Pepperidge Farms. Here is a link to a few other vegan friendly brands. Also, Chao makes an excellent, melty cheese, and Follow Your Heart makes an absolutely delicious smoked gouda!
Vegan Mushroom Wellington Recipe
Cold weather holiday? MAKE THIS STEW. Oh my gosh. The flavor is amaaaaazing and those dumplings take the stew to the next level. I promise you, you will not be disappointed.
Dilly Stew With Rosemary Dumplings – Post Punk Kitchen – Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Vegan Jackfruit “ribs”! These are soooo good! Use your favorite bbq sauce OR make your own! For your “Rib Rub”, I suggest the St. Louis Rib Rub from Solvang Spice merchant!
Easy Vegan BBQ Ribs [+VIDEO]
Side Dishes for Days!
My actual favorite part of holiday meals!
The BEST Baked Macaroni and Cheese ever! This is my GO-TO recipe for ANY special occasion, including *Birthdays*, *Arbor Day*, *I-had-a-rough-day*, *Day-of-the-week-that-ends-in-Y-Day*…. You get the idea. Absolutely delicious! Notes: 1. You can substitute the butter beans for great northern beans. 2. Use plain, unsweetened plant milk. 3. I love Violife brand vegan cheese.
Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese - Make It Dairy Free
Confession: I'm not a huge mushroom fan. The taste, the texture… Just, not my favorite. However, THIS GRAVY!!!! Triple batch this mushroom gravy and pour it over your mashed potatoes, your vegan turkey, your noodles, your biscuits, your cereal, I don't care. Just do it! It's that good!
Easy Vegan Mushroom Gravy
Fourth of July or the fourth or the week - who cares. This is THE PASTA SALAD to make! This is such a delicious side dish for any holiday meal. For the Parmesan, I recommend Violife vegan Parmesan wedge that you can grate or shred yourself, or Follow Your Heart vegan Parmesan shreds.
Sundried Tomato Pasta Salad
I could basically just eat this garlic bread and be happy! Kick the garlicky goodness up with either of my favorite seasoning salt blends. Check them out in the Shopping List staples section!
Vegan Garlic Bread
Butternut Squash has a special place in my heart…and my plate! This is a lighter dish with an incredible mix of flavors! I recommend Follow Your Heart feta or Parmesan shreds on top!
Quinoa Stuffed Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Kale
Vegan Cobb for the win! This salad could be a main dish, it's so filling! Definitely double the recipe for big gatherings! The author's tempeh bacon recipe is an excellent one!
Vegan Cobb Salad
Many omni's have told me that this vegan macaroni salad is spot-on, and even better(!), than their non-vegan versions! I recommend Forager plain, unsweetened vegan yogurt!
Classic Vegan Macaroni Salad
What's a holiday meal without potato salad? If you're like me and prefer your potato salad with more dilly tang than sweet, this is your salad! I recommend Veganaise or JUST brand Mayo, but in a pinch, Best Foods has a vegan mayo as well.
Easy Vegan Potato Salad!
Appetizers (Party Starters!)
I almost hate to share this recipe, as it's my MOST requested recipe to bring to get-togethers! This double tomato bruschetta is BEYOND amazing! Notes: 1. You MUST use FRESH BASIL! 2. You MUST use FRESH tomatoes! 3. Seed the tomatoes first to avoid having soupy bruschetta. 4. Allow for several hours for the flavors to blend together! 5. The recipe calls for cheese on top, but i've never done this. It's your choice! ENJOY!
Double Tomato Bruschetta
Hummus is SO versatile, and so is this recipe! Simple to prepare, and packed full of flavor! You can tweak the flavor profile in so many different ways. I like to add a little Berbere or Zaatar spice blends for a unique twist! Check those out in my S...
The Best and Easiest Hummus
Ohh my gosh, this spinach artichoke dip! This is always a favorite of ours at family gatherings! The recipe author recommends Follow Your Heart vegan mayo and I agree!
Creamy Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip - Karissa's Vegan Kitchen
Desserts (Sweet Treats on Repeat!)
Otherwise known as Second-Dinner-Because-I-Ate-Too-Much-At-The-First-One. Or Breakfast the following day. I believe that holiday desserts are a special multipurpose, guilt free meal.
Your GO-TO Vegan Pie Crust! Bring on the apple pie, baby! I have made this pie crust numerous times, for a variety of pies, and I can attest to the fact that it is not only pretty simple to make (important for me, when it comes to crust!), it's also DELISH! Give it a try!
Super Flaky Easy Vegan Pie Crust - Make It Dairy Free
THIS APPLE PIE….drool… I made this last Thanksgiving and let me tell you… I wanted to eat the WHOLE pie all by myself. This is an absolutely delicious apple pie, vegan or not! Read through the tips! Try it with the coconut whipped cream recipe I share, or Target's Favorite Day Non-Dairy vanilla bean ice cream!
Apple Pie Recipe (Vegan) - Make It Dairy Free
THIS PIE! Simple, quick to prepare, and AMAZINGLY rich and delicious! Top with berries for extra decadence. Use the pie crust recipe on this list, or try a Graham cracker crust!
Mind-Blowing Vegan Chocolate Pie
My absolute favorite chocolate cake! This rich, moist, perfectly sweet cake is the ultimate treat. I recommend using a good quality cocoa powder. I'll link my favorite one in the Shopping List Staples section.
The Best Vegan Chocolate Cake
The BEST ooey, gooey, sticky, sweet cinnamon rolls! This recipe is so easy to follow, I made it with my preschool group!
The Best Vegan Cinnamon Rolls
Vegan carrot cake! Hello Easter! This is unbelievably delicious, decadent, and simple to make! Make sure to read the steps all the way through before starting. I recommend her cream cheese frosting near the bottom of the page!!!
Vegan Carrot Cake Recipe - With Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting!
Shopping List staples and where to find them! (Nooch? Seitan?)
The vegan products listed in many of the recipes I've shared, and where to find them!
AMAZON: Hail Seitan! Vital Wheat Gluten at a great price for all your seitan cooking needs. I appreciate the reusable container, and save these when it's empty to refill other bulk items!
Vital Wheat Gluten 1.5 lbs - Vegan & Keto
THIS DEAL! Nutritional Yeast + Vital Wheat Gluten, both, at this price! I've ordered these both separately, and jumped on this deal as soon as I saw it.
AMAZON: Anthony's Nutritional Yeast & Wheat Gluten Bundle
Nutritional Yeast. AKA Vegan Dust, and BONUS, it's a great source of B12! We put this stuff in everything! It has a kind of cheesy, umami flavor and is used in all kinds of vegan dishes. NO, it is not the same as bread yeast, will not make your bread rise, and can NOT be substituted with any other kind of yeast. Familiarize yourself with nutritional yeast (aka Nooch), and you'll be so happy you did!
AMAZON: Bragg Nutritional Yeast Seasoning, 12 oz
Give this little bottle a try before committing to a big bag of Nutritional Yeast. Bragg's is well known for their liquid aminos and their ACV (with the mother, of course), and is a trustworthy brand for vegan products. I buy this one for when we are camping or traveling.
Walmart: Bragg Nutritional Yeast 4.5 oz
Why Vegan “Ham” Broth? Some vegans are repulsed by the idea of plant food tasting like meat. Others miss the flavor, and want to enjoy the taste without eating a dead body. So, vegan broth to the rescue! This is your go-to for your Easter (tofu) ham!
AMAZON: Orrington Farms Vegan Ham Broth Base, 6 oz.
My GO-TO Vegetable Base for any recipe that calls for vegetable stock or broth. One teaspoon of the rich vegetable base makes one cup of flavor rich broth. I always have this in my cupboard, and make to sure stock up when it's on sale!
Walmart: Better Than Bouillon Premium Seasoned Vegetable Base, Shelf-Stable, 8 oz Jar
I LOVE these vegan broth cubes! Solid vegan option when a recipe calls for beef, chicken or vegetable broth. Great flavor without that weird taste some bouillon cubes have!
Edward & Son's Vegan Bouillon Cubes, 8 Cubes
This vegan Parmesan! Amaaaazing flavor and grates beautifully. Use in any dish that calls for Parmesan, or just top your noodles and garlic bread and call it a delicious day. This link is for the Violife Parmesan product locator, so you can find out ...
Just Like Parmesan Wedge
Follow Your Heart Cheese Store Locator. I can usually find FYH vegan cheese at Sprouts (so $$$!) or Winco (less $$), and occasionally Target! Use this locator to find which stores carry FYH vegan products near you!
Store Locator | Follow Your Heart®
This Zaatar spice blend is sooo good sprinkled over hummus, roasted or steamed veggies, mashed or roasted potatoes, and tons more! The ingredients are: Hand Blended Ingredients: sesame seeds, sumac, coriander, thyme, cumin, black pepper, salt. I grew up near Solvang, CA, and am a little obsessed with this spice shop! When you walk in, it's floor to ceiling herbs, seasonings, and spices! And you are allowed to smell ALL of them! If you aren't in Southern or Central California, that's ok! You can order online! :)
Solvang Spice Merchant: Zaatar Spice Blend
Berbere is a spice blend that I buy in the BIG 8oz glass jars, because I go through it that quickly! It's an Ethiopian spice blend with an incredible, unique flavor! It's got a little but of heat to it, but definitely not too intense. I add it to my hummus, roasted or grilled potatoes or vegetables, and even add it to my vegan baked pasta dishes! Here are the ingredients: Cayenne, paprika, pepper flakes, fenugreek, clove, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, black pepper, cumin, sea salt, coriander, cinnamon, allspice.
Berbere
SHHH! This is my SECRET ingredient spice blend in almost any sweet dish I make! Smoothies, oatmeal, cookies, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, cake, pie… I buy this in the big jar, and restock whenever we are in Solvang (we have family in the area), or order online if needed. Check out these ingredients! Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, black pepper, rose petals, mint! The rose petals and mint do not have a noticeable flavor.
Solvang Spice Merchant: Chai Baking Spice
The BEST Garlic Salt I have EVER tasted! Found this GEM at a local farmers market, bought 3, and then went home and ordered several to be shipped to family members. You guys, this stuff…. Takes the garlic salt game to a WHOLE new level! Do yourself a favor, and order a bottle or 5!
Richard's Famous® Original Garlic Salt — Richard's Famous Garlic Salt
The seasoning of my childhood! Growing up on the California central coast, every weekend was filled with the smell of the tri-tip barbecues taking place all over town. Susie Q IS Santa Maria Style BBQ in a shaker! This is hard to find outside Santa Barbara County, but of course, Amazon has it!
Susie Q's Tri Tip Seasoning - 10oz shaker
If the recipe calls for cocoa powder, I use THIS cacao powder. Rich, dark, and delicious! I add a teaspoon to my smoothies as well, for its antioxidant properties!
Navitas Cacao Powder, 8oz, 38 Servings
Vegan, allergen friendly chocolate chips that don't taste weird! I use these in all my baking recipes that call for chocolate chips, or just snack on them with a handful of nuts and dried fruit!
Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Morsels, 9 oz
Vegan, allergen friendly chocolate chips that don't taste weird! I use these in all my baking recipes that call for chocolate chips, including the tofu chocolate pie! This brand has dark, semi sweet, mini, and chocolate chunks!
Enjoy Life Semi Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips, 10 oz
Ingredient Guide: aka What the heck is nooch?
When I first went vegan, I was hesitant to try a lot of these “weird” foods, like nutritional yeast, seitan, and tofu. Now, I use them every day! Here are some guides to the foods I found to be the most *odd* before trying!
Answers to: What is Nutritional Yeast? How do I use it?
What Is Nutritional Yeast? And Is it Good for You?
Vital Wheat Gluten aka Seitan! No, they aren't the same thing, but for vegans in the kitchen, they are. Many of our “mock meats” are Seitan based, which can only be made with vital wheat gluten. Read this article to learn more!
What Is Vital Wheat Gluten and How To Use It
What is tempeh? Helpful info for anyone new to this incredible protein source!
What is tempeh and how to cook it: Complete guide to tempeh
Tahini is a common staple for vegan salad dressings and hummus! But what is it? Read about it here! If you are looking for tahini to buy, my favorite is Trader Joes tahini!
What Is Tahini?
You've heard of Miso soup, but what the heck is Miso made of and what are the different kids? Here is a great article explaining it! I use Miso in many dishes, including soup, homemade ramen, asian sauces, and even salad dressings!
What Is Miso and How Is It Used?