"As twinkling lights go up for the season, “All I Want for Christmas is You” flows from our speakers, and an overall feel of holiday spirit permeates the air, perhaps you’re starting to sense cravings for delicious Christmas dinner recipes. You know, the ones that captures the many wonderful flavors of Christmastime—like buttery breads, honeyed ham, winter herbs, soft cheeses, earthy root vegetables, or fragrant gingerbread—with each bite. If you’ve already decked your halls and started accomplishing some of your holiday shopping, then you might be ready to start planning a perfect Christmas menu that does just that.
For many of us, Christmas presents a lovely chance to express creativity where we may not otherwise—from the decorations we display, to the gifts we choose for our loved ones and the traditions we engage in with them. And if you’ve been tasked with serving Christmas dinner this year, then lucky you! Consider it another chance to express your Christmas creativity in bright and tasty ways.
While whipping up festive holiday cookies and cocktails can serve one part of your Christmas dinner equation, having a streamline of appetizers, main dishes, sides, and other desserts is just as essential. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite Christmas dinner recipes so that you can create an assortment of mouthwatering tastes that add to this holiday’s many special and creative moments. So, here are 40+ of the best Christmas dinner recipes to serve this December 25th and beyond—since leftovers are definitely one possibility, and loving some of them enough to make them year round is another.
Appetizers
1. Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
A Christmas tree cheese ball will amaze all your guests this Christmas. They’ll be questioning if it’s edible or if it’s a decoration—it’s both! This recipe is rich with cream cheese, sharp white cheddar, flavorful herbs, and fresh vegetables. Is it too much to make a life-sized version?
2. Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp with Bourbon Brown Sugar Glaze
A classic shrimp cocktail spread is an easy appetizer for a dinner party. Since it’s Christmas time, I think it’s fitting to spice it up a little and make bacon-wrapped shrimp with a bourbon brown sugar glaze.
3. Baked Brie Bites with Jam
Holiday food favors and baked brie pretty much go hand in hand, so folding warm baked brie into buttery puff pastries and garnishing them with your favorite jams will be a welcome treat.
4. Christmas Wreath Charcuterie Board
For a low-maintenance appetizer, you can’t go wrong with a charcuterie board loaded with a tantalizing spread of various meats and cheeses—especially when it greets you in the shape of a Christmas wreath! This is also a recipe that invites improvisation, where you can certainly incorporate your own preferred charcuterie snacks.
5. Stuffed Mushrooms
Roasted cremini mushroom caps are loaded with a breadcrumb, pecorino cheese, and sundried tomato filling, creating an overall mouthfeel—and taste—that’s simply divine.
6. Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
It’s the perfect time of year to celebrate Brussels sprouts—a vegetable central to winter. And for anyone who claims not to like them, the fact that they’re shaved, nestled in with fresh Parmesan, sweet Honeycrisp apples and dried cranberries, and garnished with a tangy homemade dressing means they’d never know it!
7. Fall Bliss Salad
While it may carry the title of “fall,” this spinach-based salad can absolutely make the transition to wintertime. Tossed with roasted honeynut squash and goat cheese, and sprinkled with toasted pumpkin seeds and pomegranate seeds, even its colors carry a merry Christmas spirit.
8. Creamy Cranberry Salsa Dip
Great as an appetizer dip, a spread on dinner rolls, or a salsa for any vegetable sides you’ll be serving, this recipe packs a kick of tart cranberries and spicy pepper that’s tempered by whipped cream cheese. Plus it’s red and green, ’tis the season!
9. Caprese Christmas Tree
Another beautiful Christmas tree display—it’s a caprese Christmas! My mouth is watering just looking at this soft, fresh mozzarella, herby basil, tomatoes, and balsamic glaze. I know just what to do with the basil from my Aerogarden.
Side Dishes
10. Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
What could be more fun than offering warm, soft dinner rolls in the shape of a Christmas tree? Plus, we love that the pull apart aspect means all hands are on deck, giving it a family-friendly feel.
11. Corn Muffin Recipe
If you’re not in the mood for dinner rolls or you want something that’s gluten-free, these moist and flavorful corn muffins are a yummy alternative.
12. Scalloped Potatoes
When you have melt-in-your-mouth potatoes surrounded by cheesy garlic goodness, it’s one of those dishes on the table that’s passed around for seconds, thirds, and then some. It’s also versatile, in that it complements the flavors and spices of other dishes quite well.
13. Sweet Potato Casserole
Can a sweet potato be any sweeter with marshmallows and pecan streusel? I can smell it in the air already.
14. Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Spinach Spaghetti Squash
For a festive play on potato casserole, try this spaghetti squash-based recipe that packs extra nutrients by incorporating a healthy dose of spinach. Meanwhile, it’s the cheesy part that will keep the less enthusiastic veggie eaters interested!
15. Roasted Carrots
Finding a delicious roasted carrot recipe you can return to again and again is rewarding for so many types of meals. With its perfect balance of olive oil, honey, and fresh herbs, this is the winning recipe to keep on hand!
16. Green Beans with Bacon and Garlic
Once you go from eating regular green beans to those sautéed with bacon and garlic, be warned—you may never be able to go back to anything but these!
17. Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
Every year, my brother-in-law makes me a green bean casserole for Christmas dinner—it’s my favorite dish. This recipe calls for you to slow cook it, so it’s quick and easy. I can’t wait to take a bite of the crunchy French fried onions.
18. Roasted Acorn Squash
Often it’s sweet potato gracing the likes of many a holiday table, but why not try changing it up with a nutty winter squash instead? Not only is the squash itself tasty, but the buttery maple syrup drizzled on top makes it extra spectacular.
19. Baked Macaroni and Cheese
We can’t forget the mac and cheese. It’s everything you and your kids wished for—it’s savory, soft and crunchy, and delicious.
Main Courses
20. Crockpot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
While you’ll find plenty of honey ham holiday recipes to choose from, this is a special (and easy!) spin on a quintessential Christmas dish that carries the tang of juicy pineapple, while remaining satisfyingly classic at the same time.
21. One Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Veggies
Pork tenderloin is simple to make, and it’s done in 30 minutes. Follow this recipe to get the perfect roasting technique.
22. Herb Crusted Prime Rib Roast
If you’re looking to get a bit fancy, what better way than trying your hand at roasting a prime rib with a homemade breadcrumb crust? Since prime rib can be rather intimidating, we appreciate this recipe’s straightforward approach, with plenty of helpful tips!
23. The BEST Homemade Lasagna
Presenting a home-cooked, deeply nourishing lasagna for Christmas dinner can be the pièce de résistance that speaks for itself. With a wonderfully balanced composition of noodles, meat, and cheese, this is the sort of cuisine that—unless you’re vegetarian or vegan—will make every mouth at the table happy.
24. Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings
For a crockpot-based main dish that’s not ham, spooning out servings of this chicken and dumplings recipe is another delicious option. Between slow cooked biscuits and a heavenly chicken broth, this is nourishing comfort food at its finest.
25. Baked Pork Tenderloin
Aiming for pork but don’t want a holiday ham? This other option for pork tenderloin is fragrant, tastes mild, makes for a lean source of protein, and will pair nicely with all kinds of side dishes you have in mind.
26. Marry Me Chicken
The recipe’s name suggests a total crowd pleaser, and we can see why. When you take juicy chicken and marry it with a creamy homemade sundried tomato sauce and fresh herbs, you’re going to receive all kinds of praise and loving proposals—for more, for the recipe, and if you happen to be single, perhaps even for marriage!
Desserts
27. Three Easy, Cute Christmas Treats for Kids
You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy these Christmas treats. Have your little ones participate in the dinner fun by making reindeer brownies, marshmallow snowmen, and Santa Claus Rice Krispies.
28. Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls
Just because they’re called Christmas morning cinnamon rolls doesn’t mean you can’t have them for dinner, too. Who says you can’t make one batch for for breakfast and another for dinner? It’s sure to spread some holiday cheer.
29. Winter Fruit Salad
If everyone’s bellies are full, either from your Christmas dinner or all the Christmas cookies they’ve been eating, this sweet and juicy fruit salad is a totally refreshing palette cleanser.
30. Red Velvet Marble Cake
This cake’s ruby red swirl radiates with definite Christmas vibes. Meanwhile, the vanilla and chocolate elements of this moist cake make for a balanced dessert that can appeal to many a sweet tooth.
31. Gluten-Free Eggnog Bread Pudding
A fun take on eggnog. Don’t like actual eggnog? What if it’s in dessert form? Eggnog bread pudding will be stealing the hearts of your family this Christmas.
32. Eggnog Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
Between the creamy eggnog-laced cheesecake batter and the gingersnap cookie crust, it’s a double whammy of Christmas flavors in this seasonally-delightful cheesecake.
33. Candy Cane Cocoa Bombs
Instead of cutting into a cake or tart, these decadent marshmallow-filled cocoa bombs will definitely offer an indulgent dessert that can be served in personalized fashion. All you need are mugs filled with hot milk and bombs away! The crushed candy cane red drizzle on top also makes their presentation extra cute.
34. Christmas Cookie Layer Cake
It’s time to take Christmas cookies to the next level, and this triple layer cookie cake is the way to do it. Part eggnog cookie, part gingerbread cookie, and part peppermint chocolate chip cookie, everyone gets a chance to explore the many flavors of beloved holiday treats.
35. Keto Gingerbread Loaf Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
If you’re looking for a low-carb dessert this Christmas, treat yourself and your family to a keto gingerbread loaf cake. Plus, it has a yummy cream cheese frosting on top.
36. Chocolate Gingerbread Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
For anyone whose go-to is chocolate cake for dessert this recipe will satisfy that craving, while staying true to holiday flavoring by including gingerbread spices alongside plenty of cocoa.
37. Apple Pie
No need to light a holiday candle during dinner, making an apple pie will do the trick. You’ll be impressed that you made it from scratch. The homemade apple pie filling is to die for.
Drinks
38. Gingerbread Chai Brulee Latte
The night doesn’t have to end so soon. Perk yourself up with a gingerbread chai brulee latte while you and the kids play with all the toys they got this year.
39. Kinderpunsch
This non-alcoholic punch is the kid’s version of mulled wine. It’s a hot drink that everyone will be cheersing to.
40. Crockpot Red Velvet Hot Chocolate
Your kids will love you for making them Christmas-themed hot chocolate. I’m thinking this could be a family tradition.
41. Peppermint Martini
The thought of holding a peppermint martini in my hand makes me want to gather around a piano and sing Christmas songs all night long like in You’ve Got Mail.
42. Buddy the Elf Cocktail
Elf is a classic holiday movie to watch as a family. Buddy would definitely approve of this drink because it calls for syrup, whipped cream, candy canes, candies, and gingerbread cookies! Any chance you’ll be making a side of spaghetti, too?
Katherine Ballesta-Rosen, Former Editorial Intern
Besides being an avid reader and writer since girlhood, Katherine decided to kick her literacy-laden background up a notch by receiving her Master’s in teaching, and went on to teach English Language Arts to high schoolers for several years. As a former intern at The Everymom, Katherine wrote about topics such as maternal wellness, sex and relationships, and more.
Patty Schepel, Editorial Intern
As the editorial intern, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.