Let’s face it: it’s been a rough year, and many of us have spent a lot of time cooking from scratch over the past few months. But when it comes to Christmas, it can feel like a lot of effort to whip up a big meal with all of the trimmings. And if you’re lucky enough to spend Christmas with your loved ones this year, you’ll no doubt want to spend your time in their company, rather than slaving away in the kitchen. So whether you’re craving restaurant-quality dishes or just want something quick-and-easy to take the stress out of Christmas dinner, these vegetarian and vegan options offer something for everyone.
The best veggie and vegan Christmas food to order this year
Don't feel like cooking this Christmas? Don't worry: these brands have you covered
Noble House Prepared Christmas in a Box, from £44, noblehouseprepare.com
The latest food delivery service to hit the UK is Noble House Prepared, which has launched its Christmas in a Box offer. The team is used to catering for events and upmarket businesses so you can expect top-quality, restaurant-style festive fayre delivered straight to your door. The menu is all about maximum convenience and fresh flavour with frozen mains, sides and desserts, all of which can be cooked in under an hour! You can choose from a vegetarian package for two or a vegan package for two, both of which can be upgraded to include Christmas pudding and brandy butter. Menu items include roasted wild mushroom, leek and sage stuffing pie; pumpkin, goats’ cheese and red onion pithivier; golden roast potatoes; balsamic glazed Brussel sprouts; creamed leeks with Parmesan crust; and of course, gravy and cranberry sauce. Last order 18th December.
allplants Feast Box, £49.99, allplants.com
We’ve missed out on restaurant-quality food quite a lot this year, but Christmas is the perfect time to enjoy chef-made roast dinner in the comfort of your own home. Vegan company allplants has launched its Feast Box, a seasonal plant-based twist on Britain’s cherished traditional dinner. Each box contains a two-course roast dinner for four people, with a delicious cranberry and walnut loaf taking centre stage. Side dishes include spiced red cabbage, crispy roast potatoes and truffle cauliflower cheese, while for dessert, you can choose from tiramisu cheesecake or sticky banoffee pudding. The dishes are ready to heat up and enjoy in 45 minutes, leaving you more time to open prezzies, watch festive films and spend time with your loved ones. Better yet, £5 from every limited edition box will be donated to allplants’ charity partner, Choose Love, which works with refugees fleeing war, persecution and climate change.
Tesco Christmas Dinner Box, £35, tesco.com
Vegan Christmas dinner is served! If you’re all about luxury meals for less, then Tesco has you covered. The supermarket chain has launched a vegan Christmas dinner box for two at £17.50 per person, so you can enjoy a hassle-free feast at a more affordable price. The box is filled with 15 premium vegan Tesco products, including a flaky Wicked Wellington and plant-based trimmings like herby stuffing balls and Meat Free Cocktail bangers. Of course, no Christmas dinner is complete without dessert, so you’ll also enjoy a boozy pudding filled with sultanas, cider and rum, served with a brandy sauce. The box even includes two Christmas crackers! You can order your box to collect from your nearest store or have it delivered to your door. Order before 14th December.
The Crustmas Feast Pizza, £5.49, Ocado
Did you know that spaghetti is a traditional Christmas dish in the Philippines? If you’re bored of nut roast and wellington, One Planet Pizza has something unique for vegans this Christmas: The Crustmas Feast Pizza. Think a plant-based roast dinner merrily sprinkled atop a pizza, with a fluffy base, a homemade tomato sauce infused with winter herbs. Toppings include roasted red onion, Tofurky ham roast pieces, shredded Tofurky turkey, blue-style and mature Cheddar style cheeses, Brussels sprouts and sweet cranberry sauce. With the strange year we’ve all had, we think a Christmas pizza centrepiece will go down a treat.
Mandira’s Kitchen Indian Banquet, from £6.50, mandiraskitchen.com
Want to take a break from tradition? Then why not enjoy an Indian feast for Christmas? Mandira’s Kitchen offers a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan freezer meals, all of which are gluten- and preservative-free. You can create an entire Indian banquet with dishes like enchorer dalna made with jackfruit and aromatic spices; palak dal, a type of comforting yellow lentil and baby spinach curry; vegan samosas; and vegetable biryani.
Shop-bought treats that will save you time
If you don’t want to order in your entire Christmas dinner but are looking for ways to cut corners so you can spend more time enjoying the day, we hear you. These pre-made options are ready to heat and eat, so you can enjoy delicious food without the faff.
Vegan Festive Wreath £10, Marks & Spencer
This Christmassy wreath will make a showstopping centrepiece for your festive spread. Part of Marks & Spencer’s Plant Kitchen range, the popular main dish is back for 2020, and it tastes as good as it looks. Made with roasted mushrooms, chestnuts and pumpkin seeds, the wreath is topped with a cranberry and orange glaze for a rich and flavoursome roast that vegans and non-vegans alike will love. Available in store from 18th December.
Cru8 Christmas Cake, £14.50, cru8foods.co.uk
If you didn’t plan ahead and make your Christmas cake back in autumn, don’t panic! Cru8’s healthy Christmas cake is a wonderful option, especially for those with intolerances and dietary restrictions. Vegan, paleo, and gluten-, dairy- and refined-sugar free, it’s handmade with almond flour, mixed fruits, coconut sugar, orange zest and molasses, creating a flavourful cake that will go down a treat.
