Having to cook vegan Christmas dishes can be quite overwhelming. Many people think that it will have to involve a lot more cooking than a traditional Christmas dinner.
Thankfully this isn’t the case, and UK supermarkets are chock full of wonderful, delicious Christmas items, whether it’s for the big day itself or Christmas parties!
Here is a handy list of eight major British supermarkets and what they have to offer for vegans celebrating Christmas this year.
The UK’s Ultimate Vegan Guide to Christmas Supermarket Shopping
Waitrose
Savoury Snacks
At Waitrose you can grab yourself some savoury biscuits in a couple of flavours either Fig, Plum & Cranberry Wheat Biscuits or Charcoal & Sesame Wholemeal Biscuits. You’ll also find a big selection of vegan crisps including this Paprika Mix.
Christmas Dinner
For your Christmas dinner, why not try these Red Pepper Grills? You can also pick up some Vivera Pulled Pork or some Cauldron Vegan Sausages. Serve them with Cranberry Sauce and cover in lashings of gravy made from this Veg Stock. Don’t forget the veggies!
Sweet Treats
The selection of treats at Waitrose seems endless, but who doesn’t love a good sweet binge after dinner? There’s Maple Caramelized Nuts, a Stuffed Date Selection, Turkish Delight, Crystalised Stem Ginger, Booja Booja Truffles, Booja Booja Ice Cream and of course the classic Christmas Pudding or Essential Mince Pies. Waitrose also has a selection of Moo Free Chocolate products and a Gingerbread Man Kit if you fancy making your own!
Drinks
Festive drinks at Waitrose that are labeled vegan are plentiful, from Prosecco and Champagne to a whole host of wines (Rose, White and Red), and traditional Mulled Cider. There’s Brandy or the slightly more unusual Cherry Bakewell Vodka. For those who aren’t drinking alcohol you might want to try Waitrose Ginger Ale or Cadbury Fair Trade Drinking Chocolate – just be sure to add a vegan milk!
Marks and Spencer
Savoury Snacks
Alongside lots of types of crisps available you can also get a Spring Roll Selection at M&S. Don’t forget to grab lots of hummus to dip the crisps in though!
Christmas Dinner
As well as having Chickpea Sweetcorn Burgers to whack on your plate on Christmas day, M&S also have ready to go Roasting Veggies to make the Christmas preparation a little easier!
Sweet Treats
For after dinner, why not try something a little different and grab this totally vegan Jelly? You can also find some dairy-free chocolates and vegan sweets in M&S including Nocciolato Fondente Hazelnut Chocolate!
Drinks
The star of the show this year at M&S has got to be the Creme Brulee Liquer which is labeled suitable for vegans! You can also find a wide selection of soft drinks in various different flavours.
Sainsbury’s
Savoury Snacks
Did you know Jacob’s Cream Crackers are vegan? You can grab them at Sainsbury’s and top them with one of the many Sainsbury’s Own Vegan Cheeses they offer or something from the Violife Cheeseboard! There are a bunch of vegan crisp options at Sainsbury’s including Bacon Crispies.
Christmas Dinner
For your main course, you can choose from Three Nut & Mushroom Roast, the Linda McCartney Roast, new this year, or something a little different like these Cheese & Spring Onion Style Crispbakes. To go alongside why not buy a bag of Linda McCartney Mini Chorizo Sausages and Ready to Roast Mediterranean Veg.
Sweet Treats
You can get stuck into the Christmas spirit with a vegan Selection Box or Chocolate Coins! You can also purchase yourself some Gluten Free Mince Pies (iced or plain) and for an even more indulgent Christmas, Sainsbury’s are stocking Booja Booja Truffles and a Lazy Day Tiffin Selection!
Drinks
As well as having many well-known alcohol brands in store, (you can check whether they’re vegan or not on barnivore), Sainsbury’s has Jimmy’s Iced Coffee for a Christmas pick me up or Cadbury’s Fairtrade Hot Chocolate. They also have a bunch of vegan milks to add to the hot chocolate powder (or leave out for Santa).
Tesco
Savoury Snacks
Tesco has really pulled out the stops this year for the perfect vegan Christmas. In the freezer section, you can grab Bubble & Squeak Bites or Cauldron Indian Bites. They have Bacon Rasher Crisps and the slightly more unusual Candy Cane Crisps. Don’t forget their selection of Vegan Cheeses for your crackers.
Christmas Dinner
The options for Christmas dinner are huge at Tesco this year, they recently announced they were doubling their current offerings. For your centerpiece you can have Turmeric Spiced Cauliflower Wellington, Pecan and Peanut Roast or Nut Cutlets. Why not try having a couple of Linda McCartney Red Onion & Rosemary Sausages on the side too?
Sweet Treats
Equally as exciting as their savoury offerings are their sweet ones. You can try Hazelnut & Chocolate Churros, Cinnamon Caramelised Nuts, a Truffle Selection or Mini Gingerbread Men. If you feel like making your own then there are several kits including a Brownie Christmas Pudding! Why not pour some Oatly Cream or Oatly Custard on top of whichever dessert you choose?
Drinks
Tesco has vegan Mulled Wine available this year, or if you feel like putting some spices in yourself they also have a Mulled Wine Spice Kit. Tesco’s Drinking Chocolate is also suitable for vegans if you add a vegan milk to it.
Asda
Savoury Snacks
A very exciting option from Asda for your Christmas party is the Free From Popcorn Chicken. You can serve them alongside the Oriental Snack Selection which is also completely vegan.
Christmas Dinner
For the main event, you can pop a Rosemary and Red Onion Plaits on your plate waiting to be smothered with gravy. Alternatively (or as well as,) you can have Linda McCartney Sausages with your Brussels sprouts.
Sweet Treats
If you’re handy in the kitchen, the Gingerbread Tree Kit might be of interest to you. For anybody who doesn’t fancy popping the oven on to get their sugar fix you can choose between Chocolate Coins, Chocolate Orange Buttons, a Chocolate Selection, a Truffle Selection and even Chocolate, Cranberry and Orange Tiffins. For more traditional flavours you can have the Free From Christmas Pudding or Asda’s own Mince Pies.
Morrisons
Savoury Snacks
The Free From Cracker Selection is suitable for vegans at Morrisons, and so are the Breaded Garlic Mushrooms. There is also a huge selection of vegan Great Food Snacks perfect for putting on the buffet table at the Christmas party.
Christmas Dinner
When you sit down at the table on Christmas day you could have either Wholefood Roast with Thyme Gravy, or the Linda McCartney Roast. You can pair one of these with Linda McCartney’s Mini Beef Wellingtons or Linda McCartney’s Chorizo and Red Pepper Sausages.
Sweet Treats
Morrisons have enough sweet options to feed your entire extended family. There are the stocking necessities of a Selection Box and a bag of Chocolate Coins. You can also grab a Christmas Pudding and a box of Mince Pies while you’re there. Other chocolatey treats include Peppermint Creams, Truffles, Fondants and a Lazy Day Tiffin Selection.
Aldi
Savoury Snacks
Aldi has a Cracker Selection Box in store which you can enjoy with a side of Salted Pretzels. Both the Oriental Snack Selection and Indian Snack Selection are also suitable for vegans.
Christmas Dinner
As the main part of your Christmas dinner, you can have one of Aldi’s Nut Cutlets. On the side, you can have a special treat of Bon Appetit Baby Jacket Potatoes next to your mountain of veggies.
Sweet Treats
The options at Aldi are huge! From Dark Chocolate Lebkuchen Hearts, Stollen (Marzipan and Mini Apple), and Spiced Christmas Biscuits to a Penguin-Shaped Tin Full of Biscuits and Chocolate Churros. Aldi also has Everyday Essential Mince Pies, Gluten Free Mince Pies and a Christmas Pudding suitable for vegans. For the chocolate lovers out there, you can grab Chocolate Creams, a Chocolate Reindeer, Moser Roth Dark Chocolate Stem Ginger, Moser Roth Dark Chocolate Brazil Nuts and Schluckwerder Jamaica Rum Truffles.
Drinks
Aldi has a selection of Vegan-Friendly Wines including The Project Sauvignon Blanc and Jean Bouchard Beaune. The Oscar Peach Schnapps is also suitable for vegan as well as the Gluhwein Mulled Wine, Romanetti Caffe Amore Coffee Liqueur, and Champagne Monsigny Brut. For an alcohol-free festive drink why not try the Specially Selected Luxurious Chocolate Drink?
Lidl
Savoury Snacks
At Lidl, you can find Christmas essentials such as Multigrain Crackers, but there are also Rosti Sticks and an Indian Snack Selection for your Christmas party.
Christmas Dinner
You can grab some Vegetable Quarter Pounders at Lidl which go down a treat smothered in gravy. On the side, you can indulge in Apricot, Orange & Cranberry Stuffing!
Sweet Treats
For after dinner, get stuck into a plate full of Apple Strudel. For a lighter sweet snack, the Ital D’oro Biscuits (both Delizie and Cuoricini varieties) are suitable for vegans.
Drinks
Lidl have plenty of ciders for people following a vegan diet such as Woodgate Cider (including the Winter Spice Mulled flavour). For a drink to send you off to sleep, Lidl’s Deluxe Drinking Chocolate with a vegan milk is just what you need!
*Any products not explicitly marked vegan can be found on My Vegan Supermarket or Vegan Womble. Always check ingredients in case recipes have changed. Information correct as of 5th December 2017.
