With turkey, ham, and sausage-filled stuffing everywhere, holiday gatherings can be challenging for plant-based eaters. But you’re not doomed to pick sadly at vegetable side dishes or drown yourself in cranberry sauce. With a little creativity (and the help of the internet’s many plant-based recipe developers), you can craft a holiday feast that’s incredibly decadent—and completely vegan. The following plant-based holiday recipes cover all of your bases. From bite-sized appetizers, to hearty main dishes, to festive sweet treats, there’s something here for you. 

Light Bites

Carrots In A Blanket

Why have you never thought of this before?! Vegan Sandra‘s twist on the classic party app make snacking totally vegan-friendly—and extra nutritious. All you need is carrots, puff pastry, your favorite seasonings, and a little oil for cooking. (Use multi-colored carrots to make these extra fun.) 

Roasted Garlic And Leek Soup

Hearty soups are a classic way to kick off any holiday meal—and this flavorful blend from Lauren Caris Cooks offers lots of warming goodness. Made with sweet potatoes, leeks, an entire head of garlic, and plenty of spices, it brings curry vibes—and plenty of vegetables—to your table’s first course. 

Kale Quinoa Salad With Apples And Chickpeas

Featuring chickpeas, quinoa, and lacinto kale, this vegan salad from Feasting At Home is surprisingly satiating (but still light). Apples, scallions, lemon zest, and currants brighten it up, while a sweet and savory dressing adds extra flavor.

Related: I Went Plant-Based For A Month—Here’s What Happened

With six grams of fiber per serving, it’ll also help guarantee you don’t go overboard on the sweets later. 

The Main Attractions

Stuffed Butternut Squash With Vegan Sausage, Mushrooms, And Ricotta

When meat is off the table, this brightly-colored main satisfies, with plenty of protein (23 grams)—plus satiating fiber and nutritious plant foods. Featuring vegan sausage, quinoa, and a super-creamy almond ricotta, this stuffed squash from Carrots and Flowers is a beautiful and balanced main course. 

Lentil Loaf

Hearty, savory meatloaf screams holidays—and this lentil loaf from Yummy Mummy Kitchen makes the comforting dish totally vegan-friendly. French lentils sub in for ground meat, while veggies like onions, carrots, celery, and mushrooms provide additional texture. The meat-eaters at your table won’t even notice it’s plant-based. 

Mushroom Wellington

Of all the plant-based holiday recipes here, this one is perhaps the most impressive. Another vegan twist on a classic holiday dish, Delicious Everyday’s Mushroom Wellington uses meaty portobello mushrooms, spinach, and caramelized onions for a rich, flaky main. (The recipe even includes a vegan ‘egg wash’ for your also-vegan puff pastry!)

Vegan Scalloped Potatoes

Usually loaded with cheese and cream, cozy scalloped potatoes seem like an impossibility for the plant-based eater. However, this recipe from Nora Cooks uses creative ingredients like cashews, coconut milk, and nutritional yeast to create lots of creamy, cheesy flavor without a shred of dairy. (Don’t skip the garlic, which really brings the dish to life sans cheese.)

Pistachio Sage Roasted Brussels Sprouts

You may have never thought to pair sprouts and pistachios, but after one bite of Feed Them Wisely’s recipe, you’ll never go back. Made with just Brussels sprouts, pistachio kernels, fresh sage, and oil, this easy-to-make side is sure to please, and offers lots of crunch. 

Vegan Stuffing

Tempeh sausage crumbles replace traditional Italian sausage in this plant-based-friendly version of perhaps the most-loved holiday staple side.

Related: 7 Tips For Doing A Plant-Based Diet Right

Delish Knowledge’s tempeh sausage, which is loaded with spices and seasonings, alone is a game-changer for meat-free eaters. It blends perfectly with the stuffing’s classic ingredients, like sourdough bread, onion, carrots, and celery.

Sweet Treats

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

With their heavenly crust, layers of apples, crumb topping, and caramel sauce, Happy Healthy Mama’s vegan bars put apple pie to shame. Thanks to natural sweeteners like coconut sugar and dates, they’re a clean way to satisfy your sweet tooth.

No-Bake Pecan Pie Mini Tarts

Pecan pie is notorious for being an absolute sugar bomb—but these bite-sized tarts from Evolving Table use whole, natural sweeteners like maple syrup and dates to achieve pecan pie’s beloved flavor without the guilt or high-fructose corn syrup. Plus, since they’re no-bake, they keep your oven free for other the other plant-based holiday recipes on this list.

Vegan Sugar Cookies

Thanks to vegan butter and nut milks, plant-based eaters can enjoy holiday sugar cookies along with Santa. Nora Cooks’ recipe serves up classic soft sugar cookies without a shred of dairy—and includes instructions for easy vegan icing, too. 

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