17 Christmas Dinner Recipes

Christmas dinner is the one meal where you pull out all the stops and make everything from scratch. These recipes cover all the classics plus a few special touches that make the meal feel extra festive.

Most of these can be prepped ahead which helps when you’re trying to get everything on the table at the same time. Don’t try to make everything – pick a few favorites and focus on doing those really well.

Honey Glazed Ham with Pineapple

Ham is way easier than turkey and feeds a crowd without much fuss. The honey glaze gets all caramelized and sticky, and the pineapple rings look festive stuck on with toothpicks. You basically just heat it up since most hams are already cooked. Score the fat in a diamond pattern so the glaze can get into all the cracks. Leftovers make amazing sandwiches for days after Christmas. Find the recipe here.

Classic Roast Turkey with Herb Butter

Turkey is the traditional centerpiece but it’s honestly kind of a pain to get right. The trick is putting herb butter under the skin which keeps the meat moist and adds flavor. Start with the turkey upside down for the first hour then flip it. Use a meat thermometer cause nobody wants dry turkey on Christmas. Plan on about 20 minutes per pound and let it rest before carving. Find the recipe here.

Prime Rib Roast with Horseradish Cream

This is the fancy option that’ll impress everyone but costs more than turkey. The key is letting it come to room temperature before cooking and using a good meat thermometer. Season it heavy with salt and pepper and roast at high heat first, then lower. The horseradish cream is just sour cream mixed with prepared horseradish and cuts through the rich meat perfectly. Find the recipe here.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Chives

These are way better than plain mashed potatoes but not much harder to make. Roast a whole head of garlic first until it gets soft and sweet, then squeeze it into the potatoes. The chives add color and a mild onion flavor. Don’t overmix or they’ll get gluey. These reheat pretty good in the oven if you need to make them ahead. Find the recipe here.

Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions

This is the classic holiday side that everyone expects. Fresh green beans taste way better than canned but take more work. The crispy onions on top are what make it special – you can buy them or make your own. The cream of mushroom soup base might not be fancy but it works and tastes like childhood. Make sure the green beans still have some bite to them. Find the recipe here.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Brussels sprouts used to have a bad reputation but roasting them with bacon makes them actually delicious. Cut them in half and roast at high heat until the edges get crispy and caramelized. The bacon fat coats everything and adds smoky flavor. Even people who think they hate Brussels sprouts usually like these. Way better than boiling them til they’re mushy. Find the recipe here.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

This is basically dessert disguised as a side dish but nobody complains. The sweet potatoes get all creamy with butter and brown sugar, then you top with marshmallows that get golden and toasty. Some families fight about whether to use marshmallows or pecans on top. You can make the base ahead and add the topping right before baking. Find the recipe here.

Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

These take forever to bake but they’re worth it for the creamy layers of potato and cheese. Slice the potatoes thin and even so they cook at the same rate. The cream sauce can be tricky – don’t let it boil or it might curdle. Cover with foil for most of the baking time then uncover at the end to brown the top. These are rich enough that small servings are plenty. Find the recipe here.

Roasted Winter Vegetables

This is an easy way to add color and nutrition to the heavy Christmas meal. Use whatever winter vegetables you like – carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets. Toss with olive oil and herbs then roast until caramelized. The natural sugars in the vegetables concentrate and get all sweet and delicious. These look beautiful on the table and are actually pretty healthy. Find the recipe here.

Christmas Glazed Carrots

Regular carrots get fancy with a butter and brown sugar glaze that makes them shiny and sweet. Cut them into uniform pieces so they cook evenly. The glaze is just butter, brown sugar, and maybe a little thyme cooked until thick. These are simple but feel special enough for Christmas dinner. Kids who normally won’t eat vegetables usually like these cause they’re sweet. Find the recipe here.

Sage and Sausage Dressing

The sausage in this dressing adds protein and makes it more substantial than plain bread stuffing. Use good quality sausage and cook it well to get rid of the grease. Fresh sage is way better than dried if you can find it. This is more southern-style than traditional stuffing but it’s really good. The sausage fat adds flavor to the bread cubes. Find the recipe here.

Baked Mac and Cheese with Breadcrumbs

This isn’t your regular boxed mac and cheese – it’s the fancy baked kind with real cheese sauce and crispy breadcrumb topping. Use a mix of cheeses like cheddar and gruyere for better flavor. The breadcrumbs mixed with butter get all golden on top. Kids love this but adults do too cause it’s comfort food at its best. This is my go-to when I need something that everyone will eat. Find the recipe here.

Cornbread Stuffing with Pecans

If you’re from the south, this is probably what you grew up calling dressing. The cornbread base is different from regular bread stuffing and has a slightly sweet flavor. The pecans add crunch and richness. You gotta make the cornbread ahead and let it get stale so it absorbs the liquid without getting mushy. This pairs really good with ham or turkey. Find the recipe here.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

This makes an elegant first course that’s not too heavy before the big meal. Roasting the squash first concentrates the flavor way more than just boiling it. Add some cream at the end to make it rich and smooth. You can make this completely ahead and just reheat it. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and maybe some toasted pumpkin seeds on top. Find the recipe here.

Christmas Wellington with Mushrooms

This is the fancy vegetarian option that looks impressive on the table. The puff pastry gets golden and flaky around a filling of mushrooms, nuts, and herbs. It takes some work to assemble but most of it can be done ahead. The mushroom filling needs to be pretty dry or it’ll make the pastry soggy. Slice it thick and serve with gravy or cranberry sauce. Find the recipe here.

Maple Glazed Acorn Squash

These look really pretty on the table with their natural shell as the serving dish. Just cut them in half, scoop out the seeds, and fill with butter, maple syrup, and brown sugar. They bake until tender and the glaze gets all caramelized. The natural sweetness works good with savory dishes. These are easier than most side dishes and look way more fancy than the effort required. Find the recipe here.