Every Recipe You Could Possibly Want For Your Christmas Dinner
Every Christmas, it's so easy to lament over how there are only 25 days to set up our tree, find the perfect gifts for friends and family, and do all the baking we want to do (this is THE year we’re going to make a gingerbread house from scratch, we swear!)...it's a whirlwind of activity that feels like it never stops. Can you relate? If so, let us help take some of the stress off your plate this holiday season—we might not be able to help you wrap all those presents, but we CAN help you figure out what to serve for dinner, whether it's a casual holiday weeknight or the main event. With this irresistible list of family-approved classics, we've got all your Christmas dinners covered. Here are our top 90 picks to round out your holiday spread—apps, sides, and entrées included.
We’re pretty obsessed with apps year-round, but we’ve gotta say, our Christmas-themed ones are some of our best. We’ve included a great mix here of cute, like our pigs in a blanket wreath or our pull-apart Christmas tree; fancy, like our bacon wrapped dates or our crab stuffed mushrooms; and classic, like our sausage balls or our cranberry brie bites. They’re perfect for cocktail parties, dinner parties, and every occasion in between.
Entrées are important (and we’ve got some incredible ones below), but we’ll admit, a lot of the time we’re really in it for the sides. We’ve included our favorite classics here, like our garlic mashed potatoes, our Ruth’s Chris Steak House sweet potato casserole, our vegetarian mushroom gravy, or our potatoes au gratin. They’re the comfort foods you love, with a little special twist for the holidays.
On to the main event! We’ve got ideas for you here whether you need something quick and easy to get you and your family through your Christmas to-dos, or are looking for something spectacular to impress guests. Ham is classic for Christmas dinner, so we’ve included a number of our favorite recipes here, including our brown sugar pineapple ham and our cherry bourbon glazed ham. Pork, turkey, and spectacular beef dishes are also always impressive, so check out our perfect roast beef, our stuffed pork loin, our turkey roulade, or our beef Wellington for ideas. Want something more low-key? Our chicken spanakopita bake, our pizza casserole, our shepherd’s pie, and our chicken pot pie casserole are all one and done meals that your whole family will love, all season long.
Want even more holiday dinner ideas? Check out our favorite Christmas soups, salads, and sides too. Once you've got those set, check out our favorite holiday cocktails, cookies, and cakes to fully round out your evening too. Merry Christmas, from all of us to you.
Potatoes Au Gratin
Cheesy, creamy, and perfectly decadent, potatoes au gratin is the side dish we turn to for practically every holiday. Thinly sliced potatoes are baked with a creamy garlic mixture and cheese topping until golden and bubbling. It’s the perfect easy but impressive side dish to wow at your Christmas dinner, or for an extra special date night.
Get the Potatoes Au Gratin recipe.
Puerto Rican Pernil
Boasting a combination of succulent, flavorful meat and shatteringly crisp skin, this impressive bone-in, skin-on roast pork dish has earned its place as the centerpiece of any Christmas dinner spread (but is good enough to make all winter long too).
Get the Puerto Rican Pernil recipe.
Antipasto Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
Nothing says hostess with the most-est like a charming and delicious antipasto Christmas tree. This cheesy appetizer sculpture will help you decorate for your Christmas party and feed your guests all in one fell swoop.
Baked Feta Bites
If you love the TikTok-famous baked feta pasta and the delightful sophistication of our cranberry brie bites, then brace yourself: These little appetizers are the culinary revelation that combines the best of both worlds.
Get the Baked Feta Bites recipe.
Chicken & Dumplings
Shredded chicken and fluffy homemade dumplings (or biscuits, if you like) come together here for the MOST comforting meal ever. Want to make it even easier? Make our Crockpot chicken & dumplings instead.
Get the Chicken & Dumplings recipe.
Sausage Roll Wreath
Every holiday gathering needs a showstopper on the table. That being said, maybe you want something new this holiday season. Enter: this classic British sausage roll with a Christmas–appropriate makeover.
Get the Sausage Roll Wreath recipe.
Copycat Honey Baked Ham
Honey Baked ham is grand, deliciously smoky, and has a signature caramelized crust all over. Sadly, it’s something you have to plan to order in advance and can be a little on the pricey side. If you didn't have time to order a ham, want to save some money, or just try a homemade version of this classic centerpiece, this copycat recipe is for you.
Get the Copycat Honey Baked Ham recipe.
Merry Mozzarella Bites
These merry mozzarella balls are going to make cocktail hour on Christmas Eve a little more jolly. Marinated ciliegine (or “cherry sized” mozzarella balls) are combined with white balsamic, garlicky chives, and a little crushed red pepper to signify Santa! If you can’t find ciliegine, you can use bocconcini, which are a little larger.
Get the Merry Mozzarella Bites recipe.
Spinach-Artichoke Christmas Tree Skewers
Spinach-artichoke dip is a classic appetizer, but let’s make it a little more festive! Wrapped in puff pastry, the dip can be shaped into cute little Christmas trees and becomes individual apps. The tree gets topped with a little cheese star, as all trees should be.
Sweet Potato Rolls
There is nothing better than a soft, homemade dinner roll. These rolls use sweet potatoes to make them even softer and fluffier, similar to our classic potato rolls. The tops are brushed with a honey butter and sprinkled with salt to play up both the savory and sweet side of a sweet potato, perfect for any holiday meal.
Get the Sweet Potato Rolls recipe.
Pozole
Don't let the time commitment on this fantastically flavorful Mexican soup scare you. It's as easy as bringing water to a boil and letting it simmer away while you multitask on other things. With time, the meat will turn tender, soft, and buttery, the aromas will deepen, and the color will become as rich as the soup tastes.
Get the Best-Ever Pozole recipe.
Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs
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.
Fish Pie
Fish pie is usually seafood in a cream sauce topped with mashed potatoes. For this version, we took inspiration from Greek cuisine (specifically avgolemono soup) and added dill and lemon.
Get the Fish Pie recipe.
Dry Brine Turkey
A holiday meal is not complete until the turkey is on the table. Turkeys are large, so we get it, but they don't have to be intimidating. The one thing you can do to ensure a bird that stays juicy and doesn't dry out in the oven: Brine it!
Get the Dry Brine Turkey recipe.
Baked Brie Wreath
Honey-glazed melted brie, plus herby crispy pizza dough, is an equation for true happiness. Your friends, family, or colleagues will be ready to dive into this edible wreath once you stroll through the door… after all, you want to eat the cheese while it’s warm and gooey.
Get the Baked Brie Wreath recipe.
Zuppa Di Pesce
If you want to feel like you’re feasting on the Adriatic coast, then you’ve got to make this zuppa di pesce recipe. A staple dish for any traditional Italian-American feast of the seven fishes, this stewy seafood dish is as beautiful as it is comforting.
Get the Zuppa Di Pesce recipe.
Candied Yams
For many, candied yams are an indispensable part of the holiday meal, along with mashed potatoes. We agree! Our version gets an added kick from bourbon—we think once you try them, you'll never want yams without it.
Get the Candied Yams recipe.
Pigs In A Blanket Wreath
This adorable holiday app will become an instant legend to all of your family and friends (who doesn't love pigs in a blanket!?). It's a centerpiece worthy of your holiday table—plus one that you can eat, which is the best kind of centerpiece in our opinion.
Get the Pigs In A Blanket Wreath recipe.
Perfect Prime Rib
Prime rib, also referred to as standing rib roast, is the beautiful piece of meat we turn to whenever we need a truly show-stopping holiday roast. You'll make your guests think you labored for hours, but it'll be your little secret thatreally your oven did all the work.
Get the Perfect Prime Rib recipe.
Oven-Baked Salmon
While we have no shortage of creative salmon recipes, there’s a reason this classic and simple version is one of our most popular recipes. Whether you’re looking for a simple, hands-off weeknight dinner or , this is a recipe you’ll want to keep up your sleeve.
Get the Oven-Baked Salmon recipe.
60 Summer Potluck Recipes
How To Cook Pasta Perfectly Al Dente
Weeknight Dinners For July
Braised Chicken Thighs
