Take a look at our 50+ Vegetarian Christmas Dinner recipes collection. What if I shared a secret with you? Imagine effortlessly making your own creamy vegetable gratin at home with just 15 minutes of hands-on time. The result is a cheesy Christmas vegetable gratin that’s fresh, homemade, and bursting with flavor. Best of all? I air fry it, as the air frying time is significantly shorter than traditional oven baking. Want to make a cheesy potato gratin? Follow my recipe for air fryer dauphinoise potatoes—they’re also a delicious vegetable gratin for Christmas dinner. Some of the very easy vegetable dishes you can also serves on Christmas day - roasted brussels sprouts gratin, Crispy potato slices, Christmas tray bake, roast parsnips, garam masala and honey glazed carrots and more.
Why you’ll love this recipe?
Ingedients
For this Christmas vegetable gratin, I keep it simple and flexible with ingredients you can easily find or swap based on what you have on hand.
Christmas Veggies: I like to use a mix of potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts, but feel free to switch it up with any seasonal vegetables you have—leeks would be a great addition too! Cream: I use double cream (or heavy cream if you’re in the US) to make the dish rich and creamy. Cheese: Cheddar is my go-to, usually medium or mature, but you can also use Gruyère or Parmesan cheese if you prefer. Onion: I stick to white or brown onions for this recipe. Using red onions might add an unexpected color to your dish, which isn’t ideal for a gratin. Garlic: Freshly minced garlic works best here, adding depth. I don’t usually recommend garlic paste, but if needed, garlic powder is an acceptable alternative. Milk: Full-fat milk gives the best creaminess, though semi-skimmed works just fine too. Salt and Pepper: Add according to taste to balance the flavors. Other Ingredients: I like to enhance the festive vibe with a pinch of nutmeg and a bay leaf, which bring warmth and subtle depth to the dish.
Step 5-10: Layer Veggies. Grease a casserole dish. Layer the potato, onion, carrots, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts. Repeat until you have used up all the veggies. Remember the top layer must be finished with potatoes. Pour the cream mixture over the potatoes, ensuring even coating. Add half the cheese. Step 11 - 12: Air Fry. Cover the dish with foil, place it in the air fryer, and cook at 180°C (360°F) for 35-45 minutes until tender. Cheese Finish: Remove foil, sprinkle a generous amount of grated cheese and bake for an additional 4-5 minutes until the cheese is golden and melted. Rest and Garnish: Remove from the air fryer basket. Let the vegetable gratin rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Tips & Variations
Swap in beets, sweet potatoes, or turnips for a root vegetable gratin. Use fresh thyme or sage for extra flavor. For a cheesy root vegetable gratin, just leave out the Brussels sprouts. Although I recommend adding them for earthen flavors.
Storing leftovers
In the fridge: Place the leftover Air fryer vegetable gratin in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They can be refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. In the freezer: To freeze the leftovers, transfer the veggie gratin to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Christmas Vegetable Gratin with a variety of sides such as parmentier potatoes, air fryer roasted green beans, roasted carrots, roasted mushrooms or macho peas. Pair with a side of bread such as eggless dinner rolls, Irish soda bread or no knead bread.
More Vegetarian Christmas mains recipes
Whole roasted cauliflower Brussels sprouts gratin Dauphinoise potatoes Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower Cheese Vegetarian Shepherds pie Stuffed peppers with couscous
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