Nicole RufusAssistant Food Editor
Nicole is the Assistant Food Editor at Kitchn. She writes about recipes as well as developing some of her own. You can usually find her playing around in the kitchen or online “window” shopping. She currently resides in Brooklyn and is getting her master’s in Food Studies.
updated Nov 21, 2023
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Is anyone else in disbelief that it’s almost Christmas already? I say let this be the year that you mix up the menu a bit, or trade in your usual turkey or ham for something new, like a pork loin or a mushroom Wellington. I like the idea of this year’s meal having a festive start with a fast and fancy appetizer (I’m looking at you, bacon-wrapped dates!) and finishing off with an indulgent Christmas dessert, like eggnog custards or a cranberry tart.
The only rule is that there are no rules. Here are 70 of our favorite Christmas dinner ideas to make your holiday home feel special.
Traditional Christmas Dinner
If you love sticking with tradition, you can’t go wrong with any of these classic Christmas dinner ideas.
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Dorie Greenspan's Herb-Butter Chicken
There’s something so deeply satisfying about roasting a chicken. It's homey and comforting, but also feels special enough for a holiday meal.
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Brown Sugar & Mustard Glazed Ham
This spiral-cut ham shellacked in a sweet and tangy brown sugar-Dijon glaze is sure to be the star of the show. And the leftovers are even better.
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Sheet Pan Beef Tenderloin with Mushrooms and Brussels Sprouts
Garlicky beef tenderloin roasted with Brussels sprouts and mushrooms are a meal worthy of a special occasion. Best of all, it all comes together on a sheet pan.
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Roasted Rosemary and Garlic Pork Loin and Potatoes
A juicy pork loin doesn’t require a whole lot of fuss for it to be delicious, so we’re keeping things simple with a classic rub of garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
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Slow Cooker Maple & Dijon Pot Roast
Creamy stone-ground grits provide a perfect foil for the savory gravy, while maple-roasted carrots add just a hint of sweet.
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Classic Beef Brisket in the Slow Cooker
Let’s talk about falling back in love with a classic dish. When is the last time you made a classic beef brisket?
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Black Pepper & Maple Roast Turkey
Spicy black pepper and sweet maple syrup mix together in a compound butter to flavor this easy roast turkey.
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Ina Garten's Cider-Roasted Pork Tenderloins with Roasted Plum Chutney
While the big flavors of the pork can stand on their own, a roasted plum chutney complements the dish and gives it that extra-special touch.
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Balsamic and Brown Sugar Brisket
This holiday-worthy brisket recipe adds brown sugar and balsamic vinegar to the braising liquid, resulting in deep flavor and caramelized edges.
Christmas Dinner for Two
Just the two of you? Even better. Make something special and treat yourselves.
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Individual Pot Roasts with Thyme-Glazed Carrots
Individual-sized pieces of beef cook much more quickly, but still have that melting, slow-cooked quality.
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Sage-Brined Pork Chops with Brown Sugar Glaze
These tender pork chops glazed with brown sugar are so easy and so simple.
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Instant Pot Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes
Cook up tender chunks of beef, carrots, and potatoes in a rich gravy in less than hour with an Instant Pot.
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Duck Breast with Pomegranate Citrus Glaze
This duck recipe is all about the simple, quick glaze — a mix of intensely tangy pomegranate molasses, fresh citrus, and spices.
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Crispy, Cheesy Sheet Pan Pork Chops
Inspired by shake 'n bake pork chops, this nostalgic throwback is turned into a sheet pan supper will the help of Parmesan cheese and panko breadcrumbs
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Crispy Chicken Thighs & Warm Bread Salad
Remember, cooking a special holiday dinner does not have to be complicated. Here's your proof.
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Low-Tech Sous-Vide Salmon with Herb Butter
Do you have an oven, a thermometer, and a Dutch oven or roasting rack? Then you can make sous-vide salmon.
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Broiled Steak & Asparagus with Feta Cream Sauce
Meaty sirloin tip steak, asparagus, and a creamy feta and chives sauce make for a perfect dinner.
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One Pan Steelhead Trout with Lemon Garlic Angel Hair Pasta
A one-pan fish and pasta meal that's easy on the wallet and stuns on the table to boot.
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Stuffed Chicken Breast with Spinach & Cheese
Spinach, two kinds of cheese, and garlic come together here to stuff golden chicken breasts with a flavorful, cheesy filling.
Easy Christmas Dinner
Here are some of our easiest dinner recipes that are Christmas-appropriate, and won’t have you on your feet all day.
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Juicy & Tender Roasted Pork Loin
When you don’t want turkey for another holiday dinner, hit the reset button with an easy-yet-stunning juicy roast pork loin.
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Honey-Glazed Ham in the Slow Cooker
Besides tasting much better than a ham baked in the oven, cooking the ham in the slow cooker eliminates some of the challenges of serving it alongside your holiday roast.
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Sweet & Tangy Slow Cooker Brisket
Be sure to serve this meaty brisket with rice, couscous, or a thick chunk of bread on the side to mop the extra sauce and you will not be sorry.
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Tender and Juicy Instant Pot Pork Chops
If you’ve been on the hunt for a pork chop that is fork-tender, incredibly juicy, and full of flavor, stop right here.
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Turkey Breast in the Slow Cooker
Slow-cooking turkey breast gives the perennially dry white meat time to soak up a rich herb butter, making for a juicy, tender slice.
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Sheet Pan Pork Loin with Herb Potatoes and Vegetables
Pork loin is rubbed with a garlicky compound butter, then roasted alongside herby potatoes, green beans, and wild mushrooms for an easy one-pan dinner.
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Instant Pot Chicken with Mushroom Sauce
It won't come out with a crispy, crackling skin like it would from the oven, but the convenience and speed make up for it.
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Instant Pot Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes
Cook up tender chunks of beef, carrots, and potatoes in a rich gravy in less than hour with an Instant Pot.
Vegetarian Christmas Dinner
No meat, no problem. From cauliflower to mushrooms, we’ve got recipes for your meat-free Christmas dinner.
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Lentil, Mushroom & Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie
This recipe has all the hallmarks of a good shepherd’s pie, but it’s completely vegan — and includes a secret ingredient that adds body and creaminess to the filling, without any cream.
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Vegetarian Stuffed Pumpkin Masterpiece
Stuff and bake a whole pumpkin with cornbread, mushrooms, and kale to serve as a vegetarian entrée for Thanksgiving and beyond.
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Eggplant with Buttermilk Sauce
A rustic yet elegant dish that begs for some robust white bread and pita, and promises to feel like food heaven.
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Mixed Mushroom and Goat Cheese Popover Bake
Thyme-scented mushrooms, slivers of red onion, and goat cheese turn a light and airy popover into an impress holiday main.
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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
This vegan mac and "cheese" uses butternut squash as a substitute for cheese. It also gets a spicy kick from chipotles in adobo.
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Cauliflower Steaks with Ginger, Turmeric, and Cumin
The humble cauliflower might not seem like the most exciting vegetable, but cut one into thick slabs and roast it with spices, and you can transform it into quite the fine dish.
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Goat Cheese Tart with Roasted Eggplant, Zucchini, and Caramelized Onions
Goat cheese tarts are ubiquitous as the vegetarian option but this is no ordinary goat cheese tart.
Christmas Dinner Side Dishes
It may be controversial, but sides dishes are just as important as the main dish. Here are some excellent side dishes to choose from.
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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan
Halfway through roasting Brussels sprouts how you normally would — high heat and on a preheated baking sheet for optimal caramelization — you’ll shower the pan with a whole cup of Parmesan cheese.
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Roasted Garlic Butter Fingerling Potatoes
A mixture of olive oil and butter to gives these roasted potatoes a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth quality.
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Crunchy Cabbage Slaw with Farro, Pecorino, and Dates
With a base of hearty red cabbage, shredded kale, and farro this salad can easily be made days in advance without wilting.
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Blistered Green Beans with Pickled Shallots and Toasted Breadcrumbs
Fresh green beans are stir-fried until blistered, then tossed with tangy pickled shallots and topped with crunchy, salty breadcrumbs.
