These 35 Recipes Are Ideal If You're Cooking Christmas Dinner For Two

A cheesy, garlicky, spinach mixture is the perfect balance to a tender salmon fillet. Everything is nestled together in the puff pastry dough, and after 20 minutes in the oven, you’ll have a buttery, flaky crust with perfectly tender salmon inside.

Get the Salmon En Croute recipe.

Here we give Brussels a simple cacio e pepe-inspired upgrade that gives us the vibes of the more adult version of cheese over broccoli. A generous amount of cracked black pepper is also key for these easy Brussels sprouts that are the perfect side for any holiday or dinner table.

Get the Cacio E Pepe Brussels Sprouts recipe.

This winter rainbow panzanella salad is packed with in-season veggies like delicata squash and beets and crisp and crunchy sourdough croutons, and is coated in a tangy grapefruit vinaigrette, making it the perfect way to brighten up a Christmas dinner.

Get the Winter Rainbow Panzanella Salad recipe.

With a sweet and tangy glaze made with cranberry sauce and thyme- and sage-speckled turkey meatballs, these are great for serving over fluffy mashed potatoes for a low-key Christmas dinner.

Get the Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs recipe.

We don’t believe in boring salads at Delish, and crunchy apples and tart cranberries bring a lot of life to this one. The slightly sweet and lemony dressing is easy to make, and you’ll want to have extra on hand to pour it over everything. Feel free to add some protein to make this more hearty, or leave it as is for a light dinner this Christmas.

Get the Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad recipe.

Tomato butter works wonders on chicken. Not only does it keep the bird moist, but the healthy dose of tomato paste brings a slightly sweet, umami acidity, which chicken could often use. Plus, there are no better veggies than ones that have been roasted underneath a chicken, collecting all of that flavor-packed schmaltz. This is a great way to add some excitement to a classic roast chicken this Christmas.

Get the Tomato-Butter Roast Chicken recipe.

Pumpkin isn’t just for desserts, and this creamy orzo is proof. The chicken sausage gets a quick sear to crisp it up, then the orzo cooks in the same pan in its own sauce, making it almost like a super-simple risotto.

Get the Pumpkin Orzo With Chicken Sausage recipe.

This classic French recipe turns humble green beans into an easy and impressive side dish you can make all year round. Sautéed with shallots and garlic, tossed with buttery, toasted almonds, and finished with lemon, these green beans are quick enough to serve for a weeknight dinner while also being fancy enough for holiday meals and dinner parties.

Get the Green Beans Almondine recipe.

For this dish, we were inspired by classic Italian puttanesca, a tomato-based dish with anchovies, capers, and olives that's traditionally served over pasta. Pork makes it extra hearty, so we served it over creamy polenta, but feel free to sub in pasta, rice, or whatever else you can dream up.

Get the Instant Pot Pork Puttanesca recipe.

You know what’s great? Mashed potatoes. You know what’s even better? Roasted garlic mashed potatoes! That extra-savory flavor from melty, roasted garlic adds the perfect kick to classic mashed spuds. (We also add a splash of tangy balsamic vinegar to kick them up a notch.)

Get the Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe.

Looking for a holiday cooking project? You gotta make Sunday sauce. You'll end up with a dish where the meatballs are so tender, little bits break off into the sauce as they simmer away, and where the pork ribs fall off the bone indicating peak sauce richness.

Get the Sunday Sauce recipe.

Gnocchi will always hit the spot for a quick, delicious meal that's special enough for a holiday. Yes, it’s great on its own as a main, but it also makes for a winning, hearty sidekick to roasted chicken or rosemary pork chops too!

Get the Crispy Gnocchi & Mushrooms recipe.

Orzo is a magical pasta shape. You can boil it, of course, like pasta, use it as a stand-in for rice, or cook it like risotto. Here in this cheesy kale orzo recipe, we opt for the creamy risotto method, then top it with crunchy herbed bread crumbs for added texture. The orzo soaks up the cheese sauce, and you get an incredible sauce to pasta ratio with the small pasta bits and multitudes of creaminess in every bite.

Get the Cheesy Kale Orzo With Herbed Bread Crumbs recipe.

This simple yet satisfying wintery salad packs a flavorful punch with slightly smoky seared pears, creamy blue cheese, and ultra-crunchy candied pumpkin seeds. Tied together by a sweet-sour honey vinaigrette, it’s the perfect holiday side (or add some protein to make it a main!).

Get the Pear Salad recipe.

Few things are more pleasing than a melty, cheesy square of lasagna. This creamy white version, made extra-luxurious from a cheesy béchamel-type sauce called Mornay, is packed with chopped chicken, spinach, mushroom, and fresh herbs—and a few time-saving secrets. 😉

Get the Chicken and Mushroom White Lasagna recipe.

Potatoes au gratin is a classic, but it's long overdue for an upgrade. Thin-skinned red potatoes get sliced, layered in parchment, smothered in a creamy, cheesy, garlicky sauce, then baked until steaming and tender.

Get the Potato Gratin Bundles recipe.

Sometimes, roasting a whole turkey is just too much of an undertaking. A roulade, though? It's surprisingly easy (we swear!), super-flavorful, and much easier to carve. Perfect served with a side of mashed potatoes and some tart cranberry sauce.

Get the Garlic & Herb Turkey Roulade recipe.

When we want to incorporate this veggie into our holiday dinners, we turn to this fresh, seasonal salad. With toasted almonds, shaved Parmesan, and pomegranate seeds, this is the holiday side that will convert even the biggest Brussels sprout haters.

Get the Brussels Sprout Salad recipe.

A breaded fried cutlet is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and these cabbage schnitzels are no exception. Coated in crispy golden brown bread crumbs and drizzled with a luscious mushroom gravy, this vegetarian spin on a meaty classic will delight meat lovers and vegetarians alike.

Get the Cabbage Schnitzel recipe.

It takes just a little effort to take eating your vegetables from a “have to” to a “want to,” and this green beans recipe is a perfect example. Some crispy bacon, sweet cranberries, and creamy goat cheese enhance super-nutritious green beans into a special occasion side dish that your family will be cheering for.

Get the Cranberry Bacon Green Beans recipe.