If you’re anything like us, one of your favorite parts about the holidays is the food. We love our fair share of holiday cookies, oven-roasted turkey, and even the classic macaroni and cheese. But we also believe that there’s nothing wrong with switching things up and bringing something new to the table—literally.
While we can appreciate the traditional dishes, why not spruce up the menu by switching up one or two ingredients? Course by course, we’ve assembled a list of recipes that put a delicious spin on your favorite classics—check out all 30 of them below!
Soups & Salads
1. Honey Mustard Brussels Sprout Slaw
Nothing quite compares to the flavor of honey mustard. This slaw is bold, refreshing, and delicious.
Source: Cookie + Kate
2. Sweet Potato Salad
We love a salad option that’s extra hearty. Adding sweet potatoes instantly amplifies this recipe and mixes perfectly with the maple brown butter vinaigrette.
Source: The Endless Meal
3. Thai Curried Pumpkin Soup
Cold weather calls for soup, and this Thai curried soup will warm you up and put a smile on your face in no time.
Source: Gimme Some Oven
4. Moroccan Carrot Soup
It doesn’t get much more flavorful than this Moroccan carrot soup. Seasoned with a za’atar spice blend, this recipe is one to try on a gloomy winter day.
Source: Snixy Kitchen
5. Marinated Beet and Apple Salad
Just look at all those colors! If you’re like us, you know the more colorful the salad, the better.
Source: Cotter Crunch
6. Christmas Salad
The best part of this salad is that it tastes as good as it looks. This is a perfect start to any meal this season.
Source: Family Food on the Table
7. Guinness Beef Stew
A hearty soup made with our favorite Irish ale? We’re sold! This rich soup is filled with tender meat, veggies, and flavorful seasonings that make the perfect match for a cold day.
Source: Fit Foodie Finds
Main Entreés
8. Thyme Honey Mustard Spatchcock Chicken
This unique, mouthwatering chicken recipe will score itself a spot on your regular dinner roster after the first bite, we just know it.
Source: Our Salty Kitchen
9. Skillet Turkey With Bacon and White Wine
We know cooking turkey perfectly can seem intimidating, but this recipe is foolproof for the juiciest, most flavorful meal out there.
Source: Pinch of Yum
10. Holiday Stuffed Shells
There’s not one meal I get more excited about than stuffed shells. I love that this recipe switches things up a bit by stuffing the shells with holiday meal leftovers.
Source: Show Me The Yummy
11. Cranberry Rosemary Chicken
I’m not sure it’s possible for a recipe to be more seasonally appropriate. Pair this with a holiday cocktail and you’ve got a five-star meal on your hands.
Source: 40 Aprons
12. Rosemary Garlic Beef Roast
We’re convinced this is the most flavorful and easy-to-follow beef roast recipe out there.
Source: Feasting At Home
13. Saffron Shrimp Risotto
I affectionately think of risotto as the ultimate comfort food. Nothing hits the spot quite like this recipe on a cold winter day.
Source: Plated Cravings
14. Broiled Lamb Chops With Mint Chimichurri Sauce
Perhaps the most delectable recipe on our list are these broiled lamb chops. The chimichurri sauce gives them a slightly spicy flavor that will keep you coming back for more.
Source: Cotter Crunch
15. ProsciuttoWrapped Stuffed Turkey Breast
When I see prosciutto in a recipe, I become instantly intrigued. The tender turkey mixed with the salty prosciutto is a combination your tastebuds will thank you for.
Source: Cookin Canuck
Side Dishes
16. Vegan Garlic Mac and Cheese
Just when I thought mac and cheese couldn’t get any better, this recipe showed up and changed everything. We love that it’s a vegan option, too!
Source: Minimalist Baker
17. Caramelized Onion, Pear, and Walnut Stuffing
Move over, Stove Top! You’ll never be able to go back to boxed stuffing after mastering this delicious side dish.
Source: A Sassy Spoon
18. Garlic Mashed Yuca Root
We love mashed potatoes as much as anyone, but this recipe for mashed yuca root is a great paleo, Whole30, and downright delicious alternative.
Source: Our Salty Kitchen
19. Cheddar Green Bean Casserole Onion Rings
You read that right. This recipe combines three foods that are already pretty great on their own, but even better when joined together.
Source: Host The Toast
20. Sweet Potato Biscuits
If you ask me, no well-rounded meal is complete without biscuits, buns, or some other fluffy type of bread. These biscuits aren’t just any old bread, though. The sweet potato adds a subtle earthy sweetness to these biscuits that we can all appreciate.
Source: Budget Bytes
21. Smoked Gouda and Sweet Potato Casserole
Our favorite types of dishes are the ones that are healthy but don’t compromise on flavor. This savory sweet potato casserole with smoked gouda and spiced pecan tastes much less healthy than it really is!
Source: With Salt and Wit
22. Mini Potato Latkes with Smoked Salmon
The beloved traditional Hanukkah dish gets an upgrade with scrumptious smoked salmon and cream cheese.
Source: Rachl Mansfield
Desserts
23. Apple Cheddar Pie
This is the dessert recipe you never knew you needed but that will forever change your pie game. The perfect finale to an incredible meal.
Source: Sally’s Baking Addiction
24. Pecan Pie Bars
These bars have all the flavor of your favorite pie but are much easier to make!
Source: Gimme Delicious
25. Pumpkin Bread Pudding
Made with sweet potato bread that’s baked in spiced pumpkin custard, this bread pudding recipe is one to add to your book of go-to recipes.
Source: Love And Lemons
26. Mini Pumpkin Pies
Bite-sized pumpkin pies may be my new favorite untraditional holiday recipe. What’s even better is that these are made with a gingerbread cookie crust and are paleo and gluten-free!
Source: Ambitious Kitchen
27. Vegan Apple Cranberry Crisp
Fall may be making way for winter, but that doesn’t mean we have to give up the delicious Honeycrisps. Transform your beloved apple crisp into the perfect winter dessert by adding cranberry.
Source: Jessica in the Kitchen
28. Peppermint Cheesecake Cannoli
We have a lot of foods to thank Italy for, including this delicious sweet treat: the cannoli. This recipe is festive, unique, and a must-try.
Source: Baker By Nature
29. Chocolate Pumpkin Pie
While I’m a huge fan of classic pumpkin pie, I’m a firm believer that any dessert can only improve when chocolate gets involved.
Source: Girl Versus Dough
30. Pecan Pie Brownies
Combining one of the most beloved desserts, the brownie, with a seasonal favorite like pecan pie might just be the best idea we’ve heard all year.
Source: The Toasted Pine Nut
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated for timeliness.
