Merry Christmas and happy holidays! If you’re looking for Christmas dinner inspiration (or Christmas Eve dinner ideas), you’re in the right place! We’ve got main dishes, broken down by protein, as well as appetizers, sidesand of course, a few desserts.
I can hardly believe Christmas is almost here! It’s such a special occasion and one I get excited about every year.
Since I’m always thinking about food and what I’m going to eat, I wanted to offer some suggestions for Christmas dinner.
These are some excellent recipes to make for the holiday season, whether you’re cooking them on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Don’t miss these amazing Christmas recipes to make this year! And if you’re hosting a crowd, check out these Christmas cocktails.
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This all depends on your family and YOU! As I’ve chatted with various friends while writing this post, I’ve come to learn that every family’s tradition is a little different.
Some of it depends on where you’re from, as well as where your ancestors are from, and some of it depends on personal taste and tradition.
Which is why you’ll find some Italian-American families putting together a Feast of Seven Fishes (festa dei sette pesci) on Christmas Eve. You’ll find many Mexican families making tamales on Christmas Eve. Some Louisianans will make a Christmas gumbo, which features tons of fresh seafood.
In the past, my little family has traditionally made lasagna as the main dish for Christmas Eve. We do something more decadent for our Christmas dinner menu, though we always enjoy lasagna leftovers the next day.
If you need assistance hosting a Christmas meal, check out How to Host Christmas Dinner for all my best tips and tricks!
What you need to make Christmas dinner:
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This is going to be dependent on what you’re cooking and serving, but here are a few common tools you’ll need in the kitchen:
The older I get, the more I realize that your holiday menu depends on you and your family’s traditions, as discussed above.
Some families celebrate by cooking red meat, like a Christmas roast, beef tenderloin, a standing rib roast or even a prime rib dinner. Others roast a rack of lamb. Some make a gumbo to share with their whole family, as well as friends.
If you’re making a meat-centric dish, the key is purchasing a good quality piece of meat to serve! Also, be sure to let the meat rest after you cook it for the best results.
Below, you’ll find recipes for a variety of different main dishes, including Christmas ham, beef recipes (including steaks!), roast turkey and turkey breast. Also, we’ve got ideas for Christmas dinner other than turkey for those of you who aren’t into turkey.
Some of these ideas have make-ahead options, while others cook in the slow cooker to make the celebratory meal on your holiday table that much lovelier and easier on you.
French Onion Baked Brie Bites
What’s included in these Christmas dinner ideas:
This round-up includes all the dishes you might want to serve for a holiday meal or even a holiday dinner party. We’ve got different options for different tastebuds.
After all, every family’s traditional Christmas dinner is a little different, and this is a great way to include your favorite flavors as a part of the season.
In here, you’ll find:
Christmas appetizers, which include baked brie and other finger foods. If you need more starter inspo, check out my Best Thanksgiving Appetizers.
Main courses. These are broken down by protein. We’ve got vegetarian options, as well.
Side dishes. If you need something to make with green beans, brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, etc., we have the perfect side dish recipes for you.
We’ve got recipes that are great for a larger gathering, as well as some that are better for a small crowd.
We won’t be talking specifically about ingredients, though I suggest having some pantry ingredients on hand always. These include kosher salt, black pepper, a good quality olive oil, dijon mustard, fresh herbs, red wine, white wine, brown sugar and more.
This is obviously dependent on the recipes you choose to make so write down your shopping list accordingly.
Christmas Dinner Appetizers
Nothing starts a holiday meal like some finger foods and dips! Consider making one or two ahead of time to keep the heat off you while you finish making the meal.
1
Baked Brie in Puff Pastry with Cranberry Chutney
This creamy, gooey appetizer is perfect for any holiday celebration. Topped with a tart, spiced Cranberry Chutney before it bakes, this Puff Pastry Baked Brie is a decadent recipe that looks fancy but is actually quite simple to make!
Filled with fruit, nuts, cheese and crackers, this Easy Snack Board is perfect for grazing. Learn my tips and tricks to make your own, as well as how to customize it for a crowd.
Caprese Skewers are the perfect easy appetizer to make for the holiday season! Calling for simple ingredients, these festive, simple skewers are easy to make and share!
Looking for a handheld appetizer to make and serve for any occasion? These Baked Brie Bites, featuring gooey brie cheese and caramelized onions, are a nod to classic French Onion Soup flavors… all in a bite-sized package!
These poppable Bacon Wrapped Dates are the best party appetizer. Stuffed with feta cheese, herbs and spices and wrapped in crispy bacon, these sweet-and-salty stuffed dates are full of flavor. They’ll be gone in a flash!
If you're looking for a protein or a centerpiece for your holiday table, we've got plenty of options for you here. Here are some options that highlight beef!
6
Broiled Steak
Ever wanted to learn how to make a fancy steak dinner at home without a grill? Broiled Steak is the way to go! This recipe is quick and scalable, so you can easily make it for a large group of people!
Want a steakhouse experience without leaving your house? Learning how to cook a cast iron ribeye (or your favorite cut of steak!) is easier than you think. Plus, cast iron steak makes a delicious centerpiece for any meal. This recipe is best for a smaller crowd unless you have multiple cast iron skillets.
Mediterranean Herb Crusted Beef Tenderloin makes an elegant centerpiece! Beef tenderloin is slathered a mixture of fresh herbs, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and spices, chill, then baked to perfection. This recipe is a labor of love, but it's an utterly scrumptious one.
This Garlic Butter Steak is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Seared steak is brought to another level with homemade garlic herb butter. Since this requires a skillet, it's best for smaller groups.
A family favorite, Leigh's Everything-but-the-Kitchen-Sink Pork Tenderloin bakes up to make a DELICIOUS meal any time of the year! This pork tenderloin requires a marinade before it's baked.
Elevate your holiday Baked Ham by adding an easy ham glaze that involves bourbon and orange. Even though it looks incredibly fancy, this baked ham recipe is easy to make, especially when you make the glaze early.
A blast from the past, Honey Ham makes a delightful holiday centerpiece for any holiday meal. As the ham bakes, the exterior crisps up and the glaze thickens, sweetening the meat from the outside in. When the ham comes out of the oven, it's absolutely perfect.
Slightly sweet and spicy pork tenderloin, cooked on low in the slow cooker all day for a fall apart, is melt-in-your-mouth entree. This main is especially wonderful because it requires no work after you put it into the slow cooker!
If you're looking for a protein or a centerpiece for your holiday table, we've got plenty of options for you here. Here are some options to serve with chicken and turkey.
14
Sage Brown Butter Turkey
This Browned Butter Sage Turkey is a decadent twist on the classic roasted turkey, complete with a turkey butter featuring sage and browned butter. This turkey makes a flavorful entree for any celebration.
Impress your family and dinner guests with this super simple, super delicious Whole Roasted Chicken. Stuff the bird with an apple and an onion, top with butter, salt, pepper, Sriracha sauce and paprika, then bake until golden brown and cooked through. This makes the perfect centerpiece for the folks who don't want to roast a whole turkey.
Herb Butter Turkey Breast is stunning and delicious. Bursting with herb garlic flavor, this smaller cut of turkey is great for a more intimate crowd. It’s ready in less time than a whole bird, too!
If you're looking for a Louisiana Cajun centerpiece for your holiday table, we've got some ideas for you, too!
17
Seafood Gumbo
Classic Cajun Seafood Gumbo is intensely rich, yet delicate, and perfect for a chilly day. Chock full of shrimp, crab and oysters, this gumbo recipe sings with flavors from the sea. It makes a big batch, too, so you can share it or freeze it for later. This is oftentimes called a Christmas Gumbo because with the seafood, it is more expensive than traditional Chicken and Sausage Gumbo.
This year, up your holiday game with a homemade Cajun Turkey. Rubbed with homemade Cajun herb butter, this beautiful bird is a delicious way to infuse Louisiana flavor to your holiday table. (No injection needed for this tasty turkey!)
Roasted Turducken, a Cajun specialty, makes a unique main for your table! This masterpiece of meat–a chicken inside of a duck inside of a turkey–is incredibly easy to make and bake. It's got a little bit of something for everyone!
If you're serving vegetarians at the Christmas table this year, we have options for them, too! Here are our vegetarian Christmas dinner ideas:
20
Vegetarian Spinach Lasagna
Vegetarian Spinach Lasagna is a simple, delicious and balanced homestyle meal that can be made in advance! Comforting and delicious, this lasagna recipe is fabulous for vegetarians and meat eaters alike.
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup is creamy, comforting and hearty. This easy meal calls for roasted butternut squash and adds extra flavor with pancetta, onion and garlic.
Cacio e Pepe is the ultimate Italian comfort food. Cheese and pepper pasta, served in a homemade parmesan cheese bowl, calls for just 6 ingredients. This Authentic Cacio e Pepe Recipe is on the table in less than 30 minutes!
Obviously, every family is a little different when it comes to their sides at the holiday table. Here are some of our favorites!
23
Italian Brussels Sprouts
Italian Brussels Sprouts are roasted with prosciutto, then topped with Parmesan cheese once out of the oven. You can double or triple this recipe for a crowd, too!
These Homemade Mashed Potatoes are the easiest, most comforting side dish. All you need are a few ingredients and about 30 minutes to make the best mashed potatoes!
Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles make the BEST holiday side dish! Fresh green beans are wrapped in bacon and topped with a homemade mustard vinaigrette. Baked to perfection, this side dish is ready in less than an hour and perfect for sharing.
Vegetable-packed Sage Stuffing is a classic recipe for a reason! This white bread stuffing recipe requires some prepwork days ahead (though there is a shortcut!) and bakes for less than an hour before it’s ready to serve. Bake it in the turkey or in a casserole dish!
Perfectly balanced, this Fresh Cranberry Sauce is an amazing holiday side dish. Calling for a handful of ingredients, including fresh cranberries, orange and spices, this homemade cranberry sauce recipe makes enough for sharing and is ready in less than 15 minutes.
Cranberry Feta Brussels Sprout Salad with Candied Pecans and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette
Cranberry Feta Brussels Sprout Salad with Candied Pecans and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette is a festive side! Shredded brussels sprouts serve as the base of this winter salad before they're topped with dried cranberries, crisp bacon, feta cheese, candied pecans and a warm bacon vinaigrette.
While we love cookies and make them for Santa every year, we're going to serve something a little different for Christmas dessert. (And if you want cookies, head on over to my Cookie Recipe Index for all the ideas.)
30
Bourbon Pecan Pie
Add a bit of booze to the holiday dessert table by baking a Bourbon Pecan Pie. A twist on the classic, this homemade pie captures the sweetness of pecans with a little spice from the bourbon. Served with whipped cream, it is a true holiday treat!
Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce is a gooey, delicious ending to any holiday meal. Made with simple ingredients, this easy bread pudding recipe is fit for any celebration.
Upside Down Cranberry Cake is the ultimate winter dessert! This twist on a classic upside down cake features a fluffy, tangy cake and a perfectly balanced homemade cranberry topping. This festive cake is great for sharing!
Brighten up the holidays by making a Creamy Cranberry Tart! Calling for simple ingredients, this cranberry dessert recipe is creamy, tart and flavorful! Perfect for Thanksgiving, holiday parties, Christmas Eve and more, this Cranberry Tart is a tasty win.
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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