These Christmas dinner ideas will leave your guests merry and bright, with cozy mains, hearty sides, and decadent desserts all bursting with holiday cheer and versatile for different diets!
What to serve for Christmas dinner? Fear not, holiday hosts, here is your one-stop guide to crafting a Christmas dinner that will have your family singing your praises (and maybe even requesting seconds!).
After hosting this holiday for years, here are my top Christmas dinner ideas for entertaining a crowd! From comforting casseroles to Christmas side dishes, Christmas appetizers, festive Christmas desserts and holiday cocktails, I’ve got something for everyone. When I’m entertaining, I try to have options available many diets, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. These are my top recipes to make sure your Christmas dinner will wow everyone.
Top Christmas Dinner Ideas
A fun Christmas dinner idea: highlight vibrant red and green in these lasagna rolls! Roll the noodles around the filling for tasty and fun dinner recipe. This recipe features a filling of spinach, basil and ricotta, topped with a garlicky easy homemade tomato sauce. (Vegetarian, gluten-free with GF noodles)
Shepherd’s pie is the perfect cozy dinner for Christmas! It's like wearing a fuzzy sweater while drinking mulled cider: cozy comfort food to the max! Imagine: a creamy gravy filled with tender vegetables, lentils and scented with fennel and sage. (Vegan and vegetarian)
Here's a classic dish that's perfect to impress at Christmas: chicken piccata! Tender, golden-brown chicken cutlets are bathed in a vibrant lemon-butter sauce with pops of briny capers. This classic Italian American dish has captured hearts and stomachs around the world, and it's a huge favorite over here. To make it for a crowd, pan fry the chicken in batches, then make a double recipe of the sauce and pour it over right before serving.
Cozy pot pie is perfect for Christmas dinner! This one is filled with a load of veggies, pesto and Parmesan in the filling, and it makes for a filling that's incredibly savory and irresistibly creamy. (Vegetarian; vegan option)
You don't have to be vegetarian to enjoy this meatloaf! It's made entirely of nuts, rice, mushrooms, onions, herbs, and cheese. Somehow, it all melds into an appearance and texture just like a meatloaf. it tastes better than the meat version, and it's always a request in our family at Christmas! (Vegetarian)
This French onion chicken bake is irresistibly savory, pairing tender chicken breasts with caramelized onions and Gruyere cheese! It’s perfect for parties, holidays, and any time you need a showstopper dish.
This roast turkey is juicy, moist, and so flavorful, your guests will want seconds and thirds! The turkey is covered in a roasted garlic compound butter and slow roasted in the oven for a super tender turkey that melts in your mouth. (Gluten-free) via Britney Breaks Bread
Here’s a Christmas dinner idea that's incredibly simpe: this Honey Glazed Salmon recipe! In under 30 minutes, you’ve got tender, flaky salmon fillets that are bursting with flavor from a sticky glaze of honey, soy, and garlic. (Pescatarian and gluten-free)
A prime rib makes for a classic Christmas dinner! If you're looking for your golden ticket to “host of the year,” this is it! Serve it with creamy horseradish sauce. (Gluten-free) via Grandbaby Cakes
Here's a favorite Christmas dinner idea: Butternut Squash Lasagna with Sage! The flavors are impeccable: creamy ricotta, punchy Pecorino, and fresh sage envelop the sweet squash in a cozy embrace. (Vegetarian; gluten-free with gluten-free noodles)
Here’s a festive Christmas dinner idea that makes dinnertime more special: Eggplant Rollatini! It’s like a combination of eggplant Parmesan and lasagna roll ups. Tender strips of eggplant are wrapped around a creamy three-cheese filling, then baked in homemade tomato sauce and more cheese. (Vegetarian and gluten-free)
Here's a classic Christmas dinner idea: glazed ham! This tender and moist ham is cooked in its own juices and glazed with a mixture of honey, pineapple juice and brown sugar. It comes out sweet and salty, buttery and sticky: perfect for the holiday table! (Gluten-free) via Grandbaby Cakes
There's nothing like a pasta bake to feed a crowd at Christmas! This Italian American casserole is packed with savory flavor and cozy nostalgia. Its surface is filled with pockets of seasoned ricotta, lakes of garlicky tomato sauce, and punctuated by strands of gooey mozzarella. (Vegetarian, gluten-free with gluten-free pasta)
Mediterranean-style baked fish is a stunning Christmas dinner! Roast up any white fish with lemon, garlic and a simple mix of tomatoes, onions and olives. It comes out perfectly fork tender with a punchy zip from the lemon and tender vegetables to flavor each bite. (Pescatarian and gluten-free)
Here’s another recipe starring Christmas colors that feeds a crowd: this easy Stuffed Shells recipe! Stuff pasta shells with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan and spinach, then bake them up in a bath of garlicky tomato sauce. (Vegetarian, gluten-free with gluten-free noodles)
This oven baked chuck roast makes an easy and comforting Christmas dinner! Juicy fork tender beef is braised in red wine with carrots, celery, onions, garlic, and fresh herbs for an all around delicious, classic dish. (Gluten-free) via Britney Breaks Bread
Christmas is a great excuse for making restaurant style scallops at home: easy Pan Seared Scallops! Scallops have a beautiful, mild sweet flavor that’s easy to love: and there’s nothing better than that perfect seared crispy outside. Serve on a bed of sweet potato puree or mashed butternut squash. (Pescatarian and gluten-free)
Christmas is a great time to solurge on fancier fish like halibut! This genius way to cook this popular white fish bakes it until flaky and tender with garlic and lemon, along with fried onions and capers if you love that salty, briny pop. (Pescatarian and gluten-free)
Let's move to appetizers for Christmas dinner! This Baked Brie recipe could not be an easier appetizer. Here’s what you need to know about making a melty, delicious pile of brie. The great part? The toppings are versatile depending on your preferences, and you can make a beautiful platter with little effort.
This homemade focaccia bread is showy and perfect for Christmas! It’s thick and airy, crispy on the outside with beautiful pillowy air pockets on the interior. The flavor is developed and perfectly seasoned, with the classic notes of salt, rosemary and olive oil notes.
A cheese ball is perfect for Christmas! This recipe freshens up the classic with cheddar, green onion, Worcestershire, garlic powder and smoked paprika for a creamy, savory punch. It’s perfect for holiday entertaining, surrounded by crackers or crostini.
What's more festive than Christmas tree bread for Christmas dinner? This is the perfect appetizer recipe to make a splash. I love serving it with marinara sauce and cranberries to decorate - they look like ornaments!
Want to impress at Christmas dinner? Here’s the best easy appetizer: the Ultimate Cheese Board! Cheese boards are my go-to for entertaining: they’re simple to put together, easy to customize for various diets, and look simply brilliant.
Cranberries and salsa aren’t the most likely pair: until you’ve tried this Cranberry Salsa recipe! This fun Christmas dinner appetizer is zingy and bright, pairing tart berries with fresh cilantro, onion, and jalapeno for a sweet tart dip.
This tangy, creamy dip recipe is such a crowd pleaser that it might interfere with the conversation when you serve it! This classic appetizer is perfect for Christmas. For vegan, try this Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip.
Here’s my go-to appetizer that's perfect for Christmas or anytime: this Veggie Dip recipe! It’s ultra creamy and savory, and simple to whip up with just the right combination of spices.
It's not Christmas without fruit dip in my family! This one is 3 ingredients, takes 2 minutes, and tastes like a dream. That’s right: no need to buy store-bought dip, which is often overly sweet or artificial tasting. This one tastes beautifully natural, simply sweet, and a base of Greek yogurt keeps it healthy and natural.
Need a simple Christmas appetizer to wow? Try this easy cranberry cream cheese dip! The homemade sauce bursts with sweet and tart cranberries, orange juice, and if you’d like, a little jalapeno for a tang. Spoon it over cream cheese and it’s perfect for dipping crackers or even apple slices. It comes together in minutes with minimal effort.
Here’s an easy appetizer that looks stunning and relies on simple, spot-on flavors: Smoked Salmon Appetizer Bites! The classic combination of smoked salmon, dill, cucumber and cream cheese is a hit every time. Mix the cream cheese with fresh dill, green onion and Dijon for a rich, zingy pop.
Looking for a great classic appetizer recipe for Christmas? Try this simple stuffed mushrooms recipe! These little bites have everything going on: they’re savory, meaty, and herby, with a tender exterior and a crunch in each bite.
These easy deviled eggs are totally classic for Christmas and taste amazing. Greek yogurt, mayo and Dijon mustard add the perfect flavoring to these eggs without being overly rich! Garnish with dried dill or smoked paprika for a red and green color theme!
This pinwheels recipe is great for anytime, but it's ideal for Christmas Eve with the festive red and green! This finger food is full of Italian-style flavors: mozzarella, sundried tomatoes, spinach, and a blend of spices. They look totally stunning on a platter.
Let's move on to Christmas side dishes! These really are the best mashed potatoes, swirled with fresh garlic sauteed in butter, milk, and a little sour cream, then mashed into fluffy oblivion. For the creamiest texture you can whip them with a stand mixer. Take them over the top with my secret ingredient to make everyone around the table go mad over them.
Here’s a simple way to dress up fresh green beans as a gourmet side for Christmas dinner: Green Beans Almondine! Make it at home, and this dish is brilliant! The beans are bright green and perfectly tender, sautéed in butter with garlic and toasted almonds and finished with a little lemon zest.
The red and green color scheme makes this apple salad perfect for Christmas dinner! Crisp tart apple slices pair with pops of pomegranate seeds, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy, cinnamon spiced pecans. Toss them all over fresh greens with a zingy maple and apple cider vinegar dressing, and it’s truly salad perfection.
These Old Fashioned Candied Sweet Potatoes are a classic soul food dish. Melt-in-your-mouth sweet potatoes are baked in a buttery brown sugar glaze with warm spices and vanilla. Delicious! via Britney Breaks Bread
This sourdough stuffing recipe is a flavor packed homemade stuffing that's perfect for Christmas dinner! It's made with sausage, fresh herbs, and topped with pecans and dried cranberries for a sweet and savory twist. via Britney Breaks Bread
Here's a delicious side for Christmas dinner: crispy Brussels sprouts! You know those crispy Brussels that you can get at a restaurant? These are just as good. They’re baked until impossibly crunchy, then tossed with a balsamic and honey sauce that brings in the tangy and sweet notes.
Here’s a dreamy Christmas salad: this brilliant Pear Salad! It’s a study in contrasts: fresh, juicy pear against funky gorgonzola cheese; bright pomegranate against savory shallot. Throw in some toasted pecans and cover it in tangy poppy seed dressing, and well: it’s absolutely irresistible.
Here’s a rich and delicious Christmas side dish that will have everyone talking about it: this perfect Brussels Sprout Casserole! Because what’s better than making Brussels that taste like mac and cheese? Bake up those tender sprouts with a rich and creamy white cheddar cheese sauce, then top it with crunchy breadcrumbs toasted until they’re golden brown.
Oh hello, luscious and velvety Sweet Potato Soup! This root vegetable is makes the best sweet and creamy puree. Accentuate it with a healthy dose of smoked paprika and the flavor is earthy, subtly smoky and absolutely irresistible.
Need a fun side for Christmas? Try this Endive Salad: equal parts refreshing, tangy, bitter, crunchy, and tangy! Bitter endive pairs perfectly with juicy orange and a sweet tart red wine vinaigrette. Top it off with savory Parmesan shavings and crunchy almonds, and the contrasts are divine.
This mix of rice with crunchy veggies, pecans, cranberries, and feta cheese crumbles is ideal for the holidays. A maple Dijon vinaigrette dressing infuses a tangy flavor throughout, punctuated by bursts of fresh parsley.
Try these oven roasted sweet potatoes to pair with just about anything at Christmas dinner! Dice them up, season with care, and roast until they’re browned and caramelized on the outsides.
Here’s a Christmas side dish that impresses every time: Hasselback Potatoes! This popular way to prepare the ubiquitous spud tastes just as good as it looks. Slice a whole potato into thin strips, then bake until the slices separate and form crispy, roasted slices. It’s a whole new way to love a potato! It takes a little effort to prepare, but it’s absolutely worth it for a stunning side dish.
Broccoli’s cooler and more sophisticated cousin is absolutely worth trying. Somehow it’s even more delicious than roasted broccoli (if that’s possible!), with a sweet flavor and tender crunch. Even better: its long, elegant stems makes it look fancier and it takes less time to cook.
Let's move to Christmas dinner treats ! Here's the perfect easy Christmas dessert: try gingerbread cake! This soft, moist version of the iconic cookie is so easy to whip up: no rolling or cutting out dough required! Stir up the batter and bake it into this beautiful moist and spiced cake. The rich molasses flavor tastes like a soft and fluffy version of the cutout cookies, and it’s made in a big pan to feed a crowd.
This Christmas classic is simple to make, requiring no special equipment and under 30 minutes of your time. Whip up a batch and enjoy that crunchy chocolate coating covering an irresistibly creamy and chewy peanut butter interior.
These molasses cookies...they're something special. This recipe makes soft and chewy cookies with a sugar-crisp exterior, infused with cozy, bold spices. Each one is fractured into picture-perfect crinkles, and when you sink in your teeth for the first bite, it's like being enveloped in a warm hug.
These Hot Chocolate Cookies taste just like the holiday drink! The cookie batter channels just the right flavor of the liquid chocolate: it’s textured with sugar crystals and studded with chocolate chunks. The best part? A marshmallow center ties it all together, forming a melty lake of gooey bliss.
This classic Christmas pudding is a stunner! Top this bittersweet spongy pudding in a dreamy, creamy butter sauce and prepare to be amazed. It's 100 percent worth the effort and the perfect Christmas dessert to impress everyone around the table.
This classic Austrian sandwich cookie is a Christmas classic: buttery almond shortbread sandwiches a layer of fruity preserves, making a treat that’s nuanced and just sweet enough. A fun cutout window in the sandwich shows the jam peaking through.
Here's a fun Christmas dessert idea: cranberry apple crisp! The tartness of fresh cranberries melds with sweet, comforting crisp apples in a cinnamon-spiced fruit layer. The berries add a zingy flavor and a bright red hue to the fruit, which shines topped with golden buttery crisp crumbles.
Lastly, let's move on to Christmas dinner drinks! This Christmas punch is fruity and delicious, with a little sparkle from ginger ale. You can make it with rum for a punch with alcohol, or omit it for non alcoholic. Either way, it tastes incredible!
Here's an easy drink for entertaining: try the Christmas Moscow mule! This spin on the classic Moscow mule is a zingy, festive combination of cranberry juice, vodka, peppermint schnaps and ginger beer. It’s so simple you can build it right in the glass, no cocktail shakers required!
This hot chocolate is spiked with not one but two liqueurs, adding both mint and chocolate flavors to the rich body of this drink. It’s stellar with homemade hot chocolate, but you can also make it with purchased hot cocoa mix. The amount of cozy flavor here is unreal.
Here's a cozy Christmas cocktail that makes your kitchen smell like a holiday wonderland: spiked and spiced apple cider! It’s perfect for the transition to cooler weather. It's very easy to make, and the rum complements the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise perfectly. Not only will it lift your spirits, it makes your kitchen smell like a candle shop.
Try the Peppermint White Russian! This spin on the classic might be even more fun than the original. It’s got a bright, minty finish that melds into the Kahlua and cream perfectly. It’s fast and easy to swirl together in a lowball glass, and it’s a total crowd pleaser.
This bright red drink is absolutely stunning to look at, and the sweet tart flavor is crisp and refreshing. It’s got all the character of the classic margarita, but a beautiful new look and nuance to the flavor!
Finally, what's better to end Christmas dinner than a cup of homemade hot chocolate? Here’s our very best homemade hot chocolate recipe: it’s creamy, rich, chocolaty, and tastes like a dream.
Planning a Christmas Dinner Menu
When I’m building a Christmas dinner menu, I think about a showstopper main dish, and then simple side dishes I can add alongside. I try to do at least one salad and one starch, and bonus points if they can be made ahead.
Also, I usually go for a soup for Christmas eve dinner, like wild rice soup or Italian lentil soup. Then I go big on Christmas dinner the next day!
Don’t be afraid to assign dishes to helpers. I’ve found the easiest to delegate are appetizers or desserts.
Make-Ahead Christmas Dinner Tips
Casseroles like baked ziti, stuffed shells, and lasagna roll-ups can often be assembled in advance and refrigerated, then baked when ready to serve.
Many appetizers shine when prepared in advance. Cheese balls, dips, and cranberry sauce all get better in the fridge when made in advance. You can even assemble a cheese board in advance and refrigerate.
For sides, mashed potatoes can be made entirely ahead and reheated gently with extra butter and cream. Salad components work well when stored separately and then tossed right before serving.
More Christmas recipes
Want more options? Browse by type with all our Christmas recipes:
- Try all our best Christmas Recipes or Christmas Side Dishes
- Go for cozy and crowd-pleasing Christmas Appetizers
- Make the best Christmas Cocktails and Drinks
- Bake up Christmas Desserts
- Grab Christmas Breakfast Ideas for the morning
from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/SbzHQjr
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