Just like paying taxes, last minute holiday potluck dinners are unavoidable. If you happen to get invited to one and you’re not sure what to make, don’t panic: we have a solution. Yes, when you’re in a pinch and you want to make a stunning meal with minimal effort, a savory pie is the way to go. A warm dish full of hearty ingredients is a guaranteed hit with friends and family. You probably won’t be going home with any leftovers, which is fine considering the other holiday dinners you’ll be attending.

Pie fillings are versatile; all you need to do is choose your filling, choose your flavors, and choose the kind of crust you want to use. You can go for a traditional flaky crust, a puff pastry crust, biscuits, or just make it easy and top it with mashed potatoes. If you’re not confident in winging it, we’re here to help. Check out 5 Must-Have Savory Vegan Pies for Christmas, then try one of these 15 savory pies for your holiday dinner — you can’t go wrong.

1. Portobello Lentil Shepherd’s Pie

Everyone needs a go-to recipe for shepherd’s pie and this one is a must-try. This hearty, savory Portobello Lentil Shepherd’s Pie has a delicious filling of French lentils, sautéed mushrooms, and vegetables in a red wine gravy. Topped with creamy mashed potatoes, it’s the ultimate plant-based comfort food.

2. Savory Pumpkin Pie

This Savory Pumpkin Pie tastes almost too good to be true. The crust is made from oat flour and almond flour combined with plenty of herbs and spices, like Italian parsley, sage, and thyme. It is topped with a delicious filling made from roasted pumpkin, leeks, and chickpea flour, which gives it a unique texture. This pie is the perfect addition to your holiday feast.

3. Cheesy Leek and Onion Tart

This delicious Cheesy Leek and Onion Tart is simple enough to make for dinner, yet flavorful enough to serve at any occasion. A rustic, gluten-free crust is made from oats, buckwheat flour, coconut oil, and non-dairy milk. The filling is a mixture of sautéed leek and onion combined with a rich sauce made from non-dairy creamer seasoned with nutritional yeast and nutmeg for a unique flavor. Finally, a finishing touch of melty vegan cheese shreds elevates this tart to the next level.

4. Caramelized Onion, Caper, and Mushroom Tart

When it’s chilly out, there’s nothing like a warm, bubbly tart to fill your belly. Having no crust, the creamy onion and mushroom filling in these Caramelized Onion, Caper, and Mushroom Tarts browns beautifully in a hot oven. Add to that some fresh thyme and salty capers, and you’ve got yourself some very special tarts. Serve for dinner with a side of greens.

5. Coconut Curry Pot Pie

These adorable Coconut Curry Pot Pies have a mild and creamy coconut curry filling and a flaky, crispy crust! Stuffed with tofu, mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, and peas, these are the ultimate comfort dinner. This recipe uses fresh veggies, but for a quicker version feel free to use frozen ones to speed up the process.

6. Pumpkin Shepherd’s Pie

Comfort foods and pumpkins are a match made in heaven. This delicious Pumpkin Shepherd’s Pie is packed with a spicy chickpea tomato filling and then covered with a layer of creamy pumpkin purée. It is the best food to warm you up on a cold windy and rainy day when the salad is no longer an option. Even though the ingredients list is quite a long, this recipe is super simple and easy to make.

7. Mediterranean Sun-Dried Tomato Pie 

This savory Mediterranean Sun-Dried Tomato Pie is the perfect quick holiday dinner when you’re pressed for time. Savory sun-dried tomatoes, olive paste, and carrots are combined with Mediterranean herbs and spices. This isn’t a pie in the traditional sense, as in there’s a crust and a filling, but it closely resembles batzina, a Greek zucchini pie that consists of one layer.

8. Parsnip and Mushroom Pot Pies

These Parsnip and Mushroom Pot Pies is definitely a recipe to try. Underneath this thermal crust, you will discover chunky, yet soft vegetables packed with nutrition which will ensure the perfect balance with every mouthful! Specifically, these pies contain panfried parsnips, mushrooms, cauliflower, turmeric, onion, garlic, and peas. Yum!

9. Tourtière: French Canadian Savory Pie

Tourtière is a classic French Canadian savory pie that has a rich, spiced filling all wrapped up in a flaky pie crust. This vegan version of that traditional recipe is simple, amazingly tasty and is filled with seasoned mushrooms, potatoes, and celery Bonus, it doesn’t take very long to prepare and it can be made in advance, so basically it’s a must-make if you’ve been invited to a holiday dinner!

10. Minestrone Pot Pie With Biscuit Topping

This Minestrone Pot Pie With Biscuit Topping may not look like the traditional pot pie, but it has all of the makings of one. A golden brown encasing of bread and a deliciously savory and chunky filling. Specifically, this pot pie has a minestrone soup filling – broth, diced tomatoes, beans, onions, veggies – and a wheat biscuit-like crust that is flavored with coconut oil and a touch of rosemary. Talk about comfort food!

11. Indian Sweet Potato and Spinach Pie

Ready for some wholesome Indian comfort food? This Indian Sweet Potato and Spinach Pie is flaky and fragranced with a delicious spice blend. Serve it with raita, an herby yogurt dip that pairs perfectly with the warm flavors of this dish.

12. Onion Tart With Greens and Cashew Cream

Two things set this Onion Tart With Greens and Cashew Cream apart from your run-of-the-mill vegetable tart. First, it’s gluten-free because the crust is made from chickpea flour. Second, it has a creamy, lemon-infused cashew sauce that pairs so well with the caramelized onions and greens you’ll want to devour it in an instant — but save it for the holiday table! The tart is great warm or at room temperature, so you can make it ahead of time.

13. Savory Pumpkin Pie With Shiitake Mushroom Streusel 

If you’ve had your fill of sweet pumpkin pie already (which is a tough thing to do), you might want to try this Savory Pumpkin Pie With Shiitake Mushroom Streusel. Nothing sweet (save for a hint of maple syrup) here, just meaty mushrooms on top of a savory, cheesy pumpkin filling.

14. Spanakopita

Spanakopita is a Greek savory filo dough pie filled with spinach and cheese. Here, vegan mozzarella cheese and lemony Spinach come together to form this delicious, flaky, and buttery pie. Super delicious AND healthy!

15. Mushroom Lentil Shepherd’s Pie

Potatoes, mushrooms, lentils, vegan cheese shreds, spinach, and bread crumbs all layered up in one delicious dish – that is the beauty of this Mushroom Lentil Shepherd’s Pie. This warm and cozy bake is everything you want in a comfort meal. It’s hearty, filling, and healthy. Since this pie is basically a casserole, simply double or triple the recipe if you want to feed a large group.

Not only are these warm, cozy pies perfect for the holidays, you’ll probably find yourself revisiting them for winter dinners. For more savory pie ideas, check out our vegan savory pie recipes.

Lead image source: Indian Sweet Potato and Spinach Pie