Having a list of delicious Christmas dinner recipes gives you a head start in putting together a holiday feast everyone will enjoy.
Planning can easily become overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be.
With a little planning, you can easily host a fabulous holday dinner, with dessert, that will wow your friends.
Planning Christmas Dinner Recipes
The first step to any dinner is menu planning. Do any of your guests have allergies to gluten or dairy? Any vegetarians?
I don't think it's necessary to modify your favorite recipes, but I do feel it's important to have something for friends or family who can't eat or prefer not to eat certain foods.
Simply ask your guests when extending the invitation whether they have allergies. If they don't, you can mark that off your list and scroll down to these yummy Christmas dinner recipes.
If you do have allergies or non-meat eaters in your group, make a dish or two that everyone will enjoy that takes the allergy into consideration.
I was a vegetarian for many years but my mother always made a special dish for me for holiday dinners, and I was so grateful not to have to eat mashed potatoes and corn for dinner!
For vegetarians, you could make something like this Vegan Power bowl. It's one of my favorite meals and it's super easy to make.
It's also a pretty dish, so your guest will be grateful you put so much work into their meal.
You could also make this Italian Bean soup, but make enough for others as it smells so good!
Choosing Christmas Dinner Recipes
Now that you know all your guests will enjoy the meal, start choosing which of these Christmas dinner recipes you will serve.
Appetizers
I always have a small appetizer or two for guests to enjoy before dinner. My very favorite appetizer for this time of year is this Cranberry Brie braid. It's a lot easier to make than you might think!
This is my best bruschetta recipe and it's light enough that guests won't' ruin their dinner.
For gatherings where guests will be arriving hours before dinner, perhaps this classic stuffed mushrooms recipe would work well. I've served these two appetizers together many times.
Take a look at this list of party appetizers for more ideas.
Main Dish Christmas Dinner Recipes
If you are serving a traditional Christmas dinner, your main dish will probably be a turkey or ham.
Depending on how many guests you are serving, you may choose to serve a turkey breast, a roasted chicken, or even Cornish hens. We love Cornish hens and they are perfect for our small group of four.
Side Dishes
Next, choose your side dishes. I like to serve mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and a green vegetable like green beans or broccoli.
I also like to have bread with the meal, and this loaf of Rosemary Garlic Bread will make nice sandwiches for the leftover poultry the next day.
Dessert
Finally, choose a dessert that will be festive for the occasion. The last few recipes on the list of Christmas dinner recipes below are for sweet treats everyone will enjoy.
Delicious Christmas Dinner Recipes
Traditional Christmas Dinner Recipes including Dessert!
Christmas dinner is not the time to fly by the seat of your pants, so a little planning is in order! I've gathered recipes for everything from the main dish to sides, and finally, dessert!
Main Dishes
Once you have a beautiful main dish, the rest of the meal is easier.
Feel Confident Cooking Your First Turkey With This Step-by-Step Guide
This is one of my go-to sites for delicious recipes. I've never had a recipe fail from this site!
Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
This is one of our favorite meals all year long, but it's pretty enough to be served for any holiday dinner. The recipe will easily work for a turkey by have to adjust
Copycat Honey Baked Ham
We love Honey Baked Ham, but making it at home, especially this year, is a winner!
Side Dishes
With lots of choices for side dishes, you can easily have your meal planned out today.
Honey Glazed Sweet Potatoes
I could eat sweet potatoes every day, but I like to taste them! Those sweet potato dishes that taste like dessert are not my favorite. I love this recipe as it's light and the sweet potatoes are so flavorful.
Mom's Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe
This photo does not do my mom's stuffing justice. It's super easy and SO delicious!
Stuffing with Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Are you singing that song in your head now? You'll love this recipe!
Overnight Mashed Potatoes
Did someone say overnight? It's a great idea to have a couple of dishes that you can prepare the day before, and this one is super easy!
Broccoli Casserole
Stacie's site is one of my go-to places to get great recipes.
Christmas Deviled Eggs
Aren't these so festive? We love deviled eggs, especially with ham!
Green Beans with Warm Pistachio Vinaigrette Recipe
My family doesn't love green beans, but I do! I'm thinking this recipe might win them over!
Slow Cooker Dressing
Here's a stuffing recipe you can prepare the night before and it will be hot when you're ready to serve!
Desserts
You must have dessert for a holiday meal, and these recipes are some of my favorites.
Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Pumpkin Spice Whipped Cream
These individual bread pudding dessert are festive and so delicious. Created by a head chef of a huge grocery store chain, I'm so glad they shared the recipe with me so i could make these!
Kentucky Butter Cookies with Bourbon Glaze
This cookie recipe is one of the most popular on my site. Could it be the bourbon?
Easy Biscotti Recipe
These delicious cookies are perfect to go with a cup of coffee after dinner or to send home with each guest as a gift.
Strawberry Santa Hats
These look delicious and the kids will especially love seeing Santa's hats on the table.
Red Velvet Cake Balls Boozy Dessert
This dessert is fun (adults only!) and can be decorated with a little holly candy - perfect to end meal or as a Christmas gift for guests to take home.
Easy and Delicious Amaretti Cookies Recipe
Another delicious and easy cookie but festive enough for a party.
Check out this list of Christmas desserts, this list of Eggnog desserts, and this list of Christmas cookies.
You also need to be sure you have the right tools for cooking. Having the best Christmas dinner recipes and not have the tools you need to make it can create a failure you don't want to experience! (Been there!)
Making mashed potatoes is so much easier when you have a really good potato masher, and I know we've all experienced not having a quality roasting pan.
And if you like making your meal festive, check out these adorable Santa Suit Christmas Silverware Holder Pockets and this CD of Christmas Dinner music.
I've got a handful of amazing Christmas breakfast recipes, too. Enjoy!
Merry Christmas!
This post was originally posted on November 21, 2014, and updated on December 17, 2020.
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