Vegan Christmas Dinner: A Festive Menu, Roast and Make-Ahead Plan
A good vegan Christmas dinner looks like any other Christmas dinner: something golden to carve, crisp roast potatoes, a pile of vegetables, a jug of gravy and something chocolatey afterwards. This guide gives you the full menu with two centrepiece options, a timeline from December 22 to the table, quantities for 4 to 14 people, a pantry checklist and the kitchen gear worth having.
It is written for mixed tables — the vegans, the vegetarians and the relatives who will check twice that the potatoes were roasted in “proper” fat.
Quick answer: the menu
| Course | Dish | Make ahead? |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Roasted tomato soup or a festive dip board | Soup 2 days ahead |
| Main (option A) | Mushroom, chestnut and spinach wellington | Assemble Dec 24, bake Dec 25 |
| Main (option B) | Herb-crusted seitan roast | Cook Dec 23, reheat Dec 25 |
| Sides | Crispy roast potatoes, maple-glazed carrots and parsnips, Brussels sprouts with pecans, braised red cabbage | Cabbage 2 days ahead; prep the rest Dec 24 |
| Sauces | Red wine and mushroom gravy, cranberry sauce | 2–3 days ahead |
| Dessert | Chocolate mousse pots or no-bake cheesecake | 1–2 days ahead |
| After dinner | Hot chocolate bar with vegan marshmallows and cookies | Cookies 3 days ahead |
The centrepiece: two options
Option A: mushroom and chestnut wellington
The most festive choice, and the one guests photograph. A filling of finely chopped mushrooms cooked until completely dry, cooked chestnuts, wilted spinach, shallots, thyme and a splash of tamari is wrapped in puff pastry, scored, brushed with plant milk mixed with a little maple syrup, and baked at 400°F for 35 to 45 minutes until deep golden.
The one rule: cook the mushroom filling until the pan is dry. Wet filling is what makes a soggy-bottomed wellington. Many supermarket puff pastries are made with oils rather than butter, but read the label — all-butter pastry is not vegan.
Option B: herb-crusted seitan roast
The most “roast-like” option: it slices thinly, it can be made two days ahead and it reheats perfectly in gravy. Vital wheat gluten is mixed with chickpeas or white beans blended with broth, nutritional yeast, garlic, onion powder, sage, thyme and a few drops of liquid smoke. Shape it into a log, tie it with cotton kitchen twine so it keeps its shape, then braise it covered in broth in a Dutch oven at 350°F for about 75 minutes. Uncover, brush with oil and herbs, and roast until browned.
Seitan is pure wheat gluten, so it is unsuitable for guests with celiac disease — make a stuffed squash for them. For a lentil-based alternative that can be gluten-free, use the loaf from our vegan Thanksgiving menu with gluten-free oats.
The sides
- Roast potatoes: parboil Yukon Golds or russets for 8 minutes, rough them up in the pan, then roast in very hot olive oil at 425°F for about an hour, turning once. Vegans and non-vegans get the same crunch — no goose fat needed.
- Carrots and parsnips: roasted on a sheet pan and glazed with maple syrup and thyme for the last 10 minutes.
- Brussels sprouts: halved, roasted until charred and tossed with toasted pecans and a little balsamic.
- Red cabbage: braised with apple, red onion, vinegar, brown sugar and cinnamon. It tastes better made two days ahead.
- Gravy: browned mushrooms and onions, flour, red wine, vegetable or no-chicken broth, tamari and thyme.
- Cranberry sauce: naturally vegan.
Make-ahead timeline
- December 21–22: shop. Bake cookies. Make cranberry sauce and braised red cabbage. Make soup if serving.
- December 23: make and cook the seitan roast (option B), cool and refrigerate. Make the gravy. Make dessert.
- December 24: peel potatoes and keep them in cold water in the fridge. Trim sprouts and peel carrots and parsnips. Assemble the wellington (option A), wrap and chill.
- December 25, three hours before dinner: parboil and start roasting the potatoes.
- Ninety minutes before: bake the wellington, or slice the seitan roast and reheat it covered in a little gravy.
- Forty-five minutes before: roast the carrots, parsnips and sprouts. Reheat cabbage and gravy.
- Ten minutes before: rest the wellington, warm the plates, light the candles.
Cool and refrigerate leftovers within two hours, and reheat until hot all the way through (USDA guidance is 165°F).
Scaling for your headcount
| Guests | Centrepiece | Potatoes | Gravy | Dessert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4–6 | 1 wellington or 1 seitan roast | 3–4 lb | 2 cups | 6 mousse pots |
| 8–10 | 2 wellingtons, or 1 roast + 1 wellington | 5–6 lb | 3–4 cups | 1 cheesecake + mousse |
| 12–14 | 2 roasts + 1 wellington | 8 lb | 5 cups | 2 cheesecakes |
A standard wellington made with one sheet of puff pastry serves about six. Allow ½ to ¾ lb of potatoes per person — roast potatoes always run out first.
Feeding meat-eaters and vegetarians at the same table
- Make everything vegan except, at most, one optional add-on. If a relative wants ham or turkey, it is cooked, carved and served separately with its own board and utensils — your sides, gravy and potatoes stay vegan for everyone.
- Roast the potatoes in olive oil for everybody. No separate tray needed, and nobody can tell.
- Put the centrepiece in the middle of the table, not on the side. Carve it in front of everyone.
- Keep the gravy rich and dark with browned mushrooms and red wine — that is what people associate with “proper” Christmas gravy.
- Have a label on the buffet if you serve it buffet-style.
Make it from your pantry
Check these Christmas staples before you shop:
- Vital wheat gluten (for the seitan roast)
- Canned chickpeas or white beans
- Cooked, vacuum-packed chestnuts
- Dried porcini or porcini powder (for gravy depth)
- Vegetable or no-chicken bouillon base
- Tamari or soy sauce
- Nutritional yeast
- Liquid smoke
- Dried sage, thyme and rosemary
- Maple syrup, balsamic vinegar and red wine vinegar
- Plain flour or cornstarch
- Olive oil (plenty — for the potatoes)
- Dried cranberries and pecans
- Dark chocolate, cocoa powder and vegan chocolate chips
- Vegan marshmallows for the hot chocolate bar
What you’ll need from Amazon
Everything below was in stock with Amazon as the featured seller when we checked; live prices are shown beside each button.
Lodge Essential Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 6 Quart (red)
For the seitan roast and cabbage
Braise the seitan roast covered, then uncover it to brown — one pot, stovetop to oven (the listing says oven-safe to 500°F). It is red, which suits the table.
Check price on Amazon →$69.99Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Anthony’s Vital Wheat Gluten (4 lb)
For the seitan roast
Listed as vegan. Four pounds is enough for several roasts, so you can do a practice run before Christmas Day.
Check price on Amazon →$25.19Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Regency Wraps Cotton Butcher’s Twine (500 ft)
For shaping the roast
Food-grade, oven-safe cotton twine. Tying the seitan log keeps it round and sliceable instead of spreading in the pot.
Check price on Amazon →$7.49Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Stubb’s Hickory Liquid Smoke
For a savoury, smoky depth
A few drops in the seitan mixture or the gravy give the roasted, savoury flavour meat-eaters expect. A little goes a long way.
Check price on Amazon →$2.83Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Cuisinart Chef’s Classic 16-Inch Roasting Pan with Rack
For crisp roast potatoes
A large, heavy pan holds enough potatoes in a single layer for ten, which is how they get crisp. The rack lifts a wellington so its base doesn't sit in liquid.
Check price on Amazon →$53.95Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Yesland Ceramic Gravy Boat and Tray (15 oz)
For the table
A 15-ounce gravy boat with its own saucer. Large enough for a table of eight without constant refills.
Check price on Amazon →$14.24Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.MrCookie 4-Inch Christmas Cookie Cutters (6 piece)
For holiday baking
Large stainless cutters — tree, snowman, gingerbread man, snowflake and more — for vegan sugar or gingerbread cookies.
Check price on Amazon →$9.99Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Dandies Mini Vegan Marshmallows (2 pack)
For the hot chocolate bar
Most marshmallows contain gelatin; Dandies are made without it. Pair them with our spiced hot chocolate after dinner.
Check price on Amazon →$18.99Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Hu Gems Dark Chocolate Chips (9 oz)
For cookies and mousse
Listed as vegan and free from dairy and soy lecithin. Good for Christmas cookies and for melting into chocolate mousse.
Check price on Amazon →$14.99Price as of Oct 9, 2026, 13:51 UTCDetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.More holiday menus
- Christmas morning: vegan cinnamon rolls — make the dough on Christmas Eve.
- Desserts: vegan chocolate mousse and no-bake vegan cheesecake.
- After dinner: vegan spiced hot chocolate.
- Starter: creamy vegan tomato soup.
- Vegan party food for New Year’s Eve and all holiday menus.