From basic consolation to fashionable twists, these Christmas dinner concepts will depart your visitors merry and vivid. Suppose comforting mains, creamy sides, and decadent desserts, all bursting with vacation cheer and versatile for various diets. Get able to create a feast that’ll be the star of the season!
Right here’s an age-old query: what to serve for Christmas dinner? Worry not, fellow vacation hosts, for right here is your one-stop information to crafting a Christmas dinner that may have your loved ones singing your praises (and possibly even requesting seconds!).
From comforting casseroles to dazzling desserts and festive cocktails, we’ve bought one thing to tantalize each style bud. We’ve additionally bought choices which are versatile for a lot of diets, from omnivore to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. Whether or not you’re a seasoned chef or a kitchen novice, these easy-to-follow recipes will ensure that your Christmas dinner is a merry masterpiece. So seize your apron, collect your family members, and prepare to create a feast that may make this Christmas one to recollect!
And now…our high Christmas dinner concepts!
A enjoyable Christmas dinner thought: spotlight vibrant pink and inexperienced in these lasagna rolls! Roll the noodles across the filling for tasty and enjoyable dinner recipe. This recipe incorporates a filling of spinach, basil and ricotta, topped with a garlicky straightforward home made tomato sauce. (Vegetarian, gluten-free with GF noodles)
Shepherd’s pie is the proper cozy dinner for Christmas! It is like carrying a fuzzy sweater whereas ingesting mulled cider: cozy consolation meals to the max! Think about: a creamy gravy crammed with tender greens, lentils and scented with fennel and sage. (Vegan and vegetarian)
Do this creamy lemon garlic rooster for Christmas! The rooster is coated in spices and pan fried till tender and juicy, then topped with a fast pan sauce made with lemon, garlic and slightly cream. In case you’re serving a crowd, pan-sear the rooster in batches, then make double the sauce in a skillet and drizzle it over earlier than serving. (Gluten-free)
Cozy pot pie is ideal for Christmas dinner! This one is crammed with a load of veggies, pesto and Parmesan within the filling, and it makes for a filling that is extremely savory and irresistibly creamy. (Vegetarian; vegan choice)
You do not have to be vegetarian to take pleasure in this meatloaf! It is made solely of nuts, rice, mushrooms, onions, herbs, and cheese. One way or the other, all of it melds into an look and texture similar to a meatloaf. it tastes higher than the meat model, and it is at all times a request in our household at Christmas! (Vegetarian)
Right here’s a Christmas dinner thought that is extremely simpe: this Honey Glazed Salmon recipe! In underneath half-hour, you’ve bought tender, flaky salmon fillets which are bursting with taste from a sticky glaze of honey, soy, and garlic. (Pescatarian and gluten-free)
Here is a favourite Christmas dinner thought: Butternut Squash Lasagna with Sage! The flavors are impeccable: creamy ricotta, punchy Pecorino, and recent sage envelop the candy squash in a comfortable embrace. (Vegetarian; gluten-free with gluten-free noodles)
Right here’s a festive Christmas dinner concept that makes dinnertime extra particular: Eggplant Rollatini! It’s like a mix of eggplant Parmesan and lasagna roll ups. Tender strips of eggplant are wrapped round a creamy three-cheese filling, then baked in home made tomato sauce and extra cheese. (Vegetarian and gluten-free)
There’s nothing like a pasta bake to feed a crowd at Christmas! This Italian American casserole is full of savory taste and comfortable nostalgia. Its floor is crammed 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 surprising Christmas dinner! Roast up any white fish with lemon, garlic and a easy mixture of tomatoes, onions and olives. It comes out completely fork tender with a punchy zip from the lemon and tender greens to taste every chunk. (Pescatarian and gluten-free)
Right here’s one other recipe starring Christmas colours that feeds a crowd: this straightforward Stuffed Shells recipe! Stuff pasta shells with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan and spinach, then bake them up in a shower of garlicky tomato sauce. (Vegetarian, gluten-free with gluten-free noodles)
Christmas is a superb time to solurge on fancier fish like halibut! This genius method to prepare dinner this widespread white fish bakes it till flaky and tender with garlic and lemon, together with fried onions and capers for those who love that salty, briny pop. (Pescatarian and gluten-free)
Christmas is a superb excuse for making restaurant fashion scallops at residence: straightforward Pan Seared Scallops! Scallops have a wonderful, delicate candy taste that’s straightforward to like: and there’s nothing higher than that excellent seared crispy outdoors. Serve on a mattress of candy potato puree or mashed butternut squash. (Pescatarian and gluten-free)
Acquired an enormous fillet of salmon for CHristmas? Season the fillet with lemon juice, zest, and black pepper, then pop it within the broiler or oven. It comes out extremely moist and tender, with citrusy, savory notes to every chunk. (Pescatarian and gluten-free)
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britneybreaksbread.com
This roast turkey is juicy, moist, and so flavorful, your visitors will need seconds and thirds! The turkey is roofed in a roasted garlic compound butter and sluggish roasted within the oven for a brilliant tender turkey that melts in your mouth. (Gluten-free) through Britney Breaks Bread
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grandbaby-cakes.com
A primary rib makes for a basic Christmas dinner! In case you’re searching for your golden ticket to “host of the yr,” that is it! Serve it with creamy horseradish sauce. (Gluten-free) through Grandbaby Desserts
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britneybreaksbread.com
This oven baked chuck roast makes a simple and comforting Christmas dinner! Juicy fork tender beef is braised in pink wine with carrots, celery, onions, garlic, and recent herbs for an throughout scrumptious, basic dish. (Gluten-free) through Britney Breaks Bread
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grandbaby-cakes.com
Here is a basic Christmas dinner thought: glazed ham! This tender and moist ham is cooked in its personal juices and glazed with a combination of honey, pineapple juice and brown sugar. It comes out candy and salty, buttery and sticky: excellent for the vacation desk! (Gluten-free) through Grandbaby Desserts
Let’s transfer to appetizers for Christmas dinner! This Baked Brie recipe couldn’t be an simpler appetizer. Right here’s what you should find out about making a melty, scrumptious pile of brie. The nice half? The toppings are versatile relying in your preferences, and you can also make a wonderful platter with little effort.
This home made focaccia bread is showy and ideal for Christmas! It’s thick and ethereal, crispy on the surface with stunning pillowy air pockets on the inside. The flavour is developed and completely seasoned, with the basic notes of salt, rosemary and olive oil notes.
A cheese ball is ideal for Christmas! This recipe freshens up the basic with cheddar, inexperienced onion, Worcestershire, garlic powder and smoked paprika for a creamy, savory punch. It’s excellent for vacation entertaining, surrounded by crackers or crostini.
Need to impress at Christmas dinner? Right here’s the perfect straightforward appetizer: the Final Cheese Board! Cheese boards are our go-to for entertaining: they’re easy to place collectively, straightforward to customise for numerous diets, and look merely sensible.
Cranberries and salsa aren’t the almost certainly pair: till you’ve tried this Cranberry Salsa recipe! This enjoyable Christmas dinner appetizer is zingy and vivid, pairing tart berries with recent cilantro, onion, and jalapeno for a candy tart dip.
This tangy, creamy dip recipe is such a crowd pleaser that it’d intrude with the dialog whenever you serve it! This basic appetizer is ideal for Christmas. For vegan, do this Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip.
Right here’s our go-to appetizer that is excellent for Christmas or anytime: this Veggie Dip recipe! It’s extremely creamy and savory, and easy to whip up with simply the best mixture of spices.
There’s nothing extra enjoyable than meals on a stick, proper? Right here’s a simple get together appetizer that capitalizes on this concept: Antipasto Skewers! They’re all the things that’s nice about an antipasto platter, in skewer kind. Thread olives, mozzarella, marinated artichokes and tortellini pasta onto a skewer, and it’s simply devoured by eaters of all ages.
It isn’t Christmas with out fruit dip in our household! This one is 3 elements, takes 2 minutes, and tastes like a dream. That’s proper: no want to purchase store-bought dip, which is usually overly candy or synthetic tasting. This one tastes fantastically pure, merely candy, and a base of Greek yogurt retains it wholesome and pure.
Want a easy Christmas appetizer to wow? Do this straightforward cranberry cream cheese dip! The home made sauce bursts with candy and tart cranberries, orange juice, and for those who’d like, slightly jalapeno for a tang. Spoon it over cream cheese and it’s excellent for dipping crackers and even apple slices. It comes collectively in minutes with minimal effort.
Right here’s an straightforward appetizer that appears gorgeous and depends on easy, spot-on flavors: Smoked Salmon Appetizer Bites! The basic mixture of smoked salmon, dill, cucumber and cream cheese is a success each time. Combine the cream cheese with recent dill, inexperienced onion and Dijon for a wealthy, zingy pop.
On the lookout for an awesome basic appetizer recipe for Christmas? Do this easy stuffed mushrooms recipe! These little bites have all the things occurring: they’re savory, meaty, and herby, with a young exterior and a crunch in every chunk.
These straightforward deviled eggs are completely basic for Christmas and style wonderful. Greek yogurt, mayo and Dijon mustard add the proper flavoring to those eggs with out being overly wealthy! Garnish with dried dill or smoked paprika for a pink and inexperienced coloration theme!
This pinwheels recipe is nice for anytime, nevertheless it’s splendid for Christmas Eve with the festive pink and inexperienced! This finger meals is filled with Italian-style flavors: mozzarella, sundried tomatoes, spinach, and a mix of spices. They give the impression of being completely gorgeous on a platter.
Let’s transfer on to Christmas aspect dishes! These actually are the perfect mashed potatoes, swirled with recent garlic sauteed in butter, milk, and slightly bitter cream, then mashed into fluffy oblivion. For the creamiest texture you possibly can whip them with a stand mixer. Take them excessive with our secret ingredient to make everybody across the desk go mad over them.
Right here’s a easy method to costume up recent inexperienced beans as a connoisseur aspect for Christmas dinner: Inexperienced Beans Almondine! Make it at residence, and this dish is sensible! The beans are vivid inexperienced and completely tender, sautéed in butter with garlic and toasted almonds and completed with slightly lemon zest.
The pink and inexperienced coloration scheme makes this apple salad excellent for Christmas dinner! Crisp tart apple slices pair with pops of pomegranate seeds, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy, cinnamon spiced pecans. Toss them throughout recent greens with a zingy maple and apple cider vinegar dressing, and it’s actually salad perfection.
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britneybreaksbread.com
These Outdated Usual Candied Candy Potatoes are a basic soul meals dish. Soften-in-your-mouth candy potatoes are baked in a buttery brown sugar glaze with heat spices and vanilla. Scrumptious! through Britney Breaks Bread
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britneybreaksbread.com
This sourdough stuffing recipe is a taste packed home made stuffing that is excellent for Christmas dinner! It is made with sausage, recent herbs, and topped with pecans and dried cranberries for a candy and savory twist. through Britney Breaks Bread
Here is a scrumptious aspect for Christmas dinner: crispy Brussels sprouts! You understand these crispy Brussels that you may get at a restaurant? These are simply pretty much as good. They’re baked till impossibly crunchy, then tossed with a balsamic and honey sauce that brings within the tangy and candy notes.
Right here’s a dreamy Christmas salad: this sensible Pear Salad! It’s a research in contrasts: recent, juicy pear in opposition to funky gorgonzola cheese; vivid pomegranate in opposition to savory shallot. Throw in some toasted pecans and canopy it in tangy poppy seed dressing, and effectively: it’s completely irresistible.
Right here’s a wealthy and scrumptious Christmas aspect dish that may have everybody speaking about it: this excellent Brussels Sprout Casserole! As a result of what’s higher than making Brussels that style like mac and cheese? Bake up these tender sprouts with a wealthy and creamy white cheddar cheese sauce, then high it with crunchy breadcrumbs toasted till they’re golden brown.
Oh good day, luscious and velvety Candy Potato Soup! This root vegetable is makes the perfect candy and creamy puree. Intensify it with a wholesome dose of smoked paprika and the flavour is earthy, subtly smoky and completely irresistible.
Want a enjoyable aspect for Christmas? Do this Endive Salad: equal components refreshing, tangy, bitter, crunchy, and tangy! Bitter endive pairs completely with juicy orange and a candy tart pink wine French dressing. Prime it off with savory Parmesan shavings and crunchy almonds, and the contrasts are divine.
This mixture of rice with crunchy veggies, pecans, cranberries, and feta cheese crumbles is right for the vacations. A maple Dijon French dressing dressing infuses a tangy taste all through, punctuated by bursts of recent parsley.
Strive these oven roasted candy potatoes to pair with absolutely anything at Christmas dinner! Cube them up, season with care, and roast till they’re browned and caramelized on the outsides.
Right here’s a Christmas aspect dish that impresses each time: Hasselback Potatoes! This widespread method to put together the ever-present spud tastes simply pretty much as good because it appears to be like. Slice a complete potato into skinny strips, then bake till the slices separate and kind crispy, roasted slices. It’s a complete new method to love a potato! It takes slightly effort to organize, nevertheless it’s completely price it for a surprising aspect dish.
Broccoli’s cooler and extra refined cousin is totally price attempting. One way or the other it’s even extra scrumptious than roasted broccoli (if that’s doable!), with a candy taste and tender crunch. Even higher: its lengthy, elegant stems makes it look fancier and it takes much less time to prepare dinner.
Let’s transfer to Christmas dinner treats ! Here is the proper straightforward Christmas dessert: attempt gingerbread cake! This smooth, moist model of the long-lasting cookie is very easy to whip up: no rolling or reducing out dough required! Fire up the batter and bake it into this stunning moist and spiced cake. The wealthy molasses taste tastes like a smooth and fluffy model of the cutout cookies, and it’s made in an enormous pan to feed a crowd.
This Christmas basic is straightforward to make, requiring no particular tools and underneath half-hour of your time. Whip up a batch and luxuriate in that crunchy chocolate coating protecting an irresistibly creamy and chewy peanut butter inside.
These molasses cookies…they’re one thing particular. This recipe makes smooth and chewy cookies with a sugar-crisp exterior, infused with cozy, daring spices. Each is fractured into picture-perfect crinkles, and whenever you sink in your enamel for the primary chunk, it is like being enveloped in a heat hug.
These Scorching Chocolate Cookies style similar to the vacation drink! The cookie batter channels simply the best taste of the liquid chocolate: it’s textured with sugar crystals and studded with chocolate chunks. The perfect half? A marshmallow middle ties all of it collectively, forming a melty lake of gooey bliss.
This basic Christmas pudding is a stunner! Prime this bittersweet spongy pudding in a dreamy, creamy butter sauce and put together to be amazed. It is 100% well worth the effort and the excellent Christmas dessert to impress everybody across the desk.
This basic Austrian sandwich cookie is a Christmas basic: buttery almond shortbread sandwiches a layer of fruity preserves, making a deal with that’s nuanced and simply candy sufficient. A enjoyable cutout window within the sandwich exhibits the jam peaking by.
Here is a enjoyable Christmas dessert thought: cranberry apple crisp! The tartness of recent cranberries melds with candy, comforting crisp apples in a cinnamon-spiced fruit layer. The berries add a zingy taste and a vivid pink hue to the fruit, which shines topped with golden buttery crisp crumbles.
Lastly, let’s transfer on to Christmas dinner drinks! This Christmas punch is fruity and scrumptious, with slightly sparkle from ginger ale. You may make it with rum for a punch with alcohol, or omit it for non alcoholic. Both method, it tastes unbelievable!
Here is a simple drink for entertaining: attempt the Christmas Moscow mule! This spin on the basic Moscow mule is a zingy, festive mixture of cranberry juice, vodka, peppermint schnaps and ginger beer. It’s so easy you possibly can construct it proper within the glass, no cocktail shakers required!
This scorching chocolate is spiked with not one however two liqueurs, including each mint and chocolate flavors to the wealthy physique of this drink. It’s stellar with home made scorching chocolate, however you too can make it with bought scorching cocoa combine. The quantity of cozy taste right here is unreal.
Here is a comfortable Christmas cocktail that makes your kitchen odor like a vacation wonderland: spiked and spiced apple cider! It’s excellent for the transition to cooler climate. It is very straightforward to make, and the rum enhances the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise completely. Not solely will it raise your spirits, it makes your kitchen odor like a candle store.
Strive the Peppermint White Russian! This spin on the basic would possibly be much more enjoyable than the unique. It’s bought a vivid, minty end that melds into the Kahlua and cream completely. It’s quick and straightforward to swirl collectively in a lowball glass, and it’s a complete crowd pleaser.
This vivid pink drink is totally gorgeous to take a look at, and the candy tart taste is crisp and refreshing. It’s bought all of the character of the basic margarita, however a wonderful new look and nuance to the flavour!
Lastly, what’s higher to finish Christmas dinner than a cup of home made scorching chocolate? Right here’s our very finest home made scorching chocolate recipe: it’s creamy, wealthy, chocolaty, and tastes like a dream.
Description
From basic consolation to fashionable twists, these Christmas dinner concepts will depart your visitors merry and vivid. Suppose comforting mains, creamy sides, and decadent desserts, all bursting with vacation cheer and versatile for various diets. Get able to create a feast that’ll be the star of the season!
- 12 lasagna noodles (10 ounces)
- 28-ounce can fireplace roasted crushed tomatoes*
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano, divided
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 10 ounces frozen spinach
- 2 tablespoons recent basil, chopped, plus extra for garnish
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups complete milk mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 egg
- Chopped parsley, for garnish (elective)
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Boil the noodles: Convey a big pot of well-salted water to a boil. Boil the noodles till simply al dente, in accordance with the bundle directions, stirring typically. Drain the noodles, then drizzle a baking sheet with a little bit of olive oil. Lay the noodles flat onto the sheet, then flip them over so that they change into coated with olive oil to forestall sticking.
- In the meantime, make the tomato sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the hearth roasted tomatoes, grated garlic, olive oil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, and ¾ teaspoon kosher salt. Combine effectively till all of the olive oil is integrated.
- Make the filling: Thaw the spinach following the bundle directions, then squeeze out as a lot water as doable along with your fingers (the spinach ought to really feel dry and crumbly earlier than utilizing it). In a medium bowl, combine it with the basil, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, ½ cup mozzarella cheese, lemon zest, egg, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, and recent floor pepper.
- Roll the noodles: Unfold half the tomato sauce within the backside of a 9 x 13-inch pan. On a baking sheet, place 4 noodles. Unfold ¼ cup cheese combination down every noodle, then high with a little bit of tomato sauce (see the pictures). Gently roll up every noodle, then place it into the pan. Repeat for every of the noodles.
- End the pan: As soon as all noodles are rolled, pour the remaining tomato sauce on high, and sprinkle the remaining 1 ½ cups mozzarella on high.
- Bake: Cowl the pan with foil (so it’s not touching the cheese) and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover the foil and bake for 10 minutes. If desired, broil 2 minutes till the cheese is browned. Garnish with chopped parsley or basil and serve. Leftovers final refrigerated for 4 days; reheat in a 375°F oven till warmed by. You may also freeze leftovers for as much as 3 months.
Notes
*If desired, you need to use bought marinara sauce as an alternative of creating your personal, or make your favourite lasagna sauce with meat. If utilizing bought marinara, nonetheless add the 1 clove grated garlic and 1 teaspoon dried oregano to boost the flavour.
- Class: Essential Dish
- Technique: Baked
- Delicacies: Italian impressed
- Food regimen: Vegetarian
Key phrases: Christmas dinner concepts, Christmas dinner