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

Two's a party as far as we're concerned.

By and Jolie Peters
turkey meatballs covered in a red cranberry glaze
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Got a smaller group coming over for the holidays? Well, just because your Christmas is on the smaller side this year doesn't mean dinner shouldn't be big on flavor and variety. These holiday dinners for two people (or a few more) will make your loved ones feel extra-special even if your squad is small. Best part of all? None of these recipes requires babysitting a whole holiday ham or dealing with a crowded oven. Once you get a bite of our tomato butter roast chicken, let's just say you'll be glad you don't have to fight anyone for the leftovers. 😉

The beauty of cooking for a smaller crowd is you only really have to cook the holiday dishes you care about. Whether you're craving the classics, like slow cooker pot roast and garlic mashed potatoes, or something a bit fancy, like a cast-iron skillet steak and crispy gnocchi with mushrooms, it's your dinner! So we totally support whatever your idea of an ultimate Christmas dinner looks like. These dishes are all so easy to pair together, too. Pair a main (like salmon en croute or cabbage schnitzel) with a side (perhaps our french onion baked potatoes or green beans almondine?), and dinner is basically done! Regardless of what you choose, our recipe for cacio e pepe brussels sprouts goes with pretty much everything. Looking for more Christmas dinner ideas? You can always make a dinner out of amazing apps and desserts! And if you do end up with leftovers, we have plans for those too! Here's all our favorite uses for leftover mashed potatoes, leftover brisket, and leftover ham.

Bonus: Making a signature cocktail for a smaller crowd is a simple way to make dinner more special. Try some of our new favorite holiday cocktails, like our recipes for peppermint white Russians and Prosecco mint juleps, for the ultimate post-dinner nightcap.

1

Salmon En Croute

layers of salmon and cream spinach inside of puff pastry
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

2

Cacio E Pepe Brussels Sprouts

cacio e pepe brussels sprouts
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

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3

Winter Rainbow Panzanella Salad

winter rainbow panzanella salad with beets squash grapefruit and blue cheese
PHOTO: KATE JORDAN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

4

Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Meatballs

turkey meatballs covered in a red cranberry glaze
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

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.

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5

Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad

cranberry apple quinoa salad
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

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.

6

Tomato-Butter Roast Chicken

tomato butter roast chicken
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

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7

Pumpkin Orzo With Chicken Sausage

pumpkin orzo with chicken sausage
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

8

Green Beans Almondine

green beans almondine
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

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9

Instant Pot Pork Puttanesca

instant pot pork puttanesca with olives, capers, and shaved cheese over polenta
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

10

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

roasted garlic mashed potatoes
Erik bernstein

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.

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11

Sunday Sauce

sunday sauce with meatballs pork sausage and pork ribs
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER, FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

12

Crispy Gnocchi & Mushrooms

crispy gnocchi and mushrooms
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

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13

Cheesy Kale Orzo With Herbed Bread Crumbs

cheesy kale orzo with breadcrumbs and lemon
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

14

Pear Salad

pear salad
Andrew bui

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.

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15

Chicken and Mushroom White Lasagna

chicken and mushroom white lasagna
Andrew bui

Few things are more pleasing than a melty, cheesy square of lasagna. This creamy white version, made extra-luxurious from a cheesy bĂ©chamel-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.

16

Potato Gratin Bundles

thinly sliced red potatoes layered with herby cream cheese, parmesan, and gruyere and baked in a parchment pouch
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI ; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

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17

Garlic & Herb Turkey Roulade

swirls of garlic and herb inside sliced turkey
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

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.

18

Brussels Sprout Salad

shaved brussels sprouts with pomegranates, shaved parmesan, and chopped toasted almonds in a white bowl
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

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19

Cabbage Schnitzel

cabbage schnitzel
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

20

Cranberry Bacon Green Beans

roasted green beans with bacon, shallots, and pieces of feta
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

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