My Favorite Vegetarian Main Dish Recipes for the Holidays

Last Updated on December 4, 2024

The holidays are amazing, but if you’re hosting a meat-free feast, you might be wondering which vegetarian main dish to put at the center of your table. While I love sides as much as anyone, it’s nice to have a main that will put any turkey or ham to shame.

A delicious vegetarian main dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas celebration is essential to make your party complete! Vegetarian holiday main dishes are such a delight. They’re hearty, healthy, and super easy to include in a zero waste holiday cooking plan. These simple but tasty vegetarian main course dishes are sure to keep your guests’ stomachs full and their hearts happy!

best vegetarian main course dishes

Roasted cauliflower and stuffed acorn squash are two of my personal favorites for the holidays. Either one of these recipes is incredible served on its own, but they also go well with so many classic holiday side dishes.

I love a vegetarian main dish that really ties the plate together, and I think both of these options would be a beautiful edition to your menu.

serving a vegetarian main dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas

If you haven’t checked out my zero waste Thanksgiving guide make sure to grab a copy, as it has an entire guide including a grocery list, menu, recipes — including these two vegetarian main course dishes — and even a cooking schedule!

It takes some careful planning for any holiday celebration to come together, but to me, it’s always worth it to enjoy some great food and company.

why you’ll love these vegetarian main dish recipes

• each recipe is ready in 30-45 minutes
• just as tasty as they are beautiful
• packed with plenty of nutrients
• meatless recipes reduce environmental impact

roasted cauliflower:

One of the best vegetarian Christmas main dishes is this roasted cauliflower. Its gorgeous crust makes it more beautiful than a golden brown turkey!

1 hour 25 Minutes / 400 Degrees F / 4 Servings

ingredient list

• 1 head of cauliflower

• 2 tablespoons of flax meal

• 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast

• 1 teaspoon each of: salt, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, mustard powder, turmeric, smoked paprika, and cumin

• 1/4 cup of olive oil

• 1/4 cup of water

• juice of 1 lemon

steps

1. Carefully remove all of the leaves from the cauliflower, leaving the stalk fully intact. Place the cauliflower in a pan, stalk side up.
2. Mix the rest of the ingredients together in a bowl. Pour half of the mixture into the cauliflower and tap it to make sure the spices settle into every nook and cranny.
3. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove and flip the cauliflower over so the florets are on top.
4. Spread the rest of the spice mixture over the florets. Since there’s flax meal, it might get a little congealed, so feel free to add 1-2 more tablespoons of water to loosen it up.
5. Bake the cauliflower for 25 more minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let it cool for about 30 minutes, then slice into steaks.
6. Serve your vegetarian main dish with a side of gravy — you can use the gravy recipe in my Thanksgiving Guide!

stuffed acorn squash:

This is such a festive addition to the table and a complete celebration of fall produce. Acorn squash is in season in fall and winter, making this the perfect vegetarian main dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

40 Minutes / 400 Degrees F / 2 Servings

ingredient list

• 1 acorn squash

• 2 cups of cooked quinoa

• 1/4 cup of toasted pecans

• 1/4 cup of toasted cashews

• 3/4 cup of shiitake mushrooms

• 3/4 cup of granny smith apples (or dried cranberries)

• zest and juice of one lemon

• salt and pepper to taste

• fresh sprigs of thyme

steps

1. Slice the acorn squash in half, then scoop out the seeds and stringy insides. Salt both halves generously.
2. Place the halves flesh side down on a greased cookie sheet.
3. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes, until the flesh is caramelized and fork tender.
4. Meanwhile, start the filling. Sauté the mushrooms and apples with lemon zest and juice until tender. Add in the quinoa and nuts, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Once the squash is done, spoon the quinoa stuffing inside.
6. Top your vegetarian main dish with fresh thyme and serve!

faqs for vegetarian holiday main dishes

how long can these dishes be stored?

Since roasted cauliflower and stuffed acorn squash are both made from fresh ingredients, I recommend eating them within 3 days of cooking. You can store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container to keep them fresh.

what sides go well with a vegetarian main dish?

When it comes to vegetarian side dishes, the options are truly endless! Roasted potatoes, green beans, creamed spinach, or a side salad are just a few ideas that you can choose from to make your meal complete.

what makes vegetarian food so eco friendly?

Making vegetarian Christmas main dishes is a simple way to reduce your environmental impact. Eating more veggies and less meat helps reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, it also has a ton of health benefits!

If you make any of my vegetarian main course dishes this holiday season, please tag me on Instagram!