Every Recipe You Could Possibly Want For Your Christmas Dinner
Every Christmas, we lament 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 Crockpot green bean casserole. 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.
Pozole
Filled with pork shoulder, hominy, and a fair amount of heat, pozole is the cozy comfort food that isn’t shy about its flavor. This is the stew you make when you’re looking to feed (and impress!) a Christmas dinner crowd, or just need a soup that will warm you up in the dead of winter.
Get the Pozole recipe.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Naughty Knots
Though these cheesy, herby bites of deliciousness may make you feel like you should be written up on the naughty list, we promise that if you make these for your holiday dinner guests, you will be sealed on the good list forever.
Get the Naughty Knots 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.
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.
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.
Stuffed Shells
Imagine lasagna being turned inside out to form cute pockets stuffed with creamy, garlicky ricotta and cream cheese, which are then slathered in tomato sauce for an impressive dinner with friends or family. That’s the beauty of stuffed shells.
Get the Stuffed Shells recipe.
Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples
In-season vegetables find their way into this healthy, colorful side dish that's perfect for elegant dinner party menus, simple weeknight meals, or paired with richer, holiday spreads.
Get the Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples 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.
Fancy Christmas Cheese Ball
Looking for a stunning Christmas app that comes together in no time? Look no further than the humble cheese ball. They’re a retro idea that we’ve really run with here at Delish, taking them fully into modern times with creative ingredients and decorating methods.
Get the Fancy Christmas Cheese Ball recipe.
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