21 Make-Ahead Christmas Recipes to Save You Stress
The holidays should be about enjoying time with loved ones, not spending every minute in the kitchen. These make-ahead recipes let you prep everything from side dishes to desserts days or even weeks in advance.
You’ll breeze through Christmas Day with most of the work already done, giving you more time to relax, celebrate, and actually enjoy the festivities. Say goodbye to holiday kitchen stress and hello to smart, strategic cooking.
Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
Your gravy can be silky smooth and ready to go before the turkey even hits the oven. Making it ahead means no last-minute panicking while trying to get everything else on the table. The flavor actually deepens as it sits, and you can easily reheat it while the turkey rests.
Store it in the fridge for up to three days, and just give it a quick stir on the stovetop before serving. It’s one less thing to worry about during the chaos of Christmas dinner.
Do-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, buttery mashed potatoes taste just as good when made a day ahead. The trick is keeping them moist with plenty of butter and cream, then reheating gently in the oven or slow cooker. They’ll stay fluffy and delicious without any of that gluey texture you might worry about.
You can prep them up to two days in advance and free up valuable stovetop space on the big day. Your guests will never know they weren’t made minutes before serving.
Cranberry Sauce (Make Days Ahead)
Homemade cranberry sauce is ridiculously easy and tastes infinitely better than the canned stuff. The best part? It actually needs to be made ahead so it can chill and thicken properly in the fridge. Make it up to a week before Christmas and let those flavors meld together beautifully.
The tart, sweet combination gets even better with time, and you’ll have one gorgeous side dish completely crossed off your list. Plus, it takes up minimal fridge space in a sealed container.
Green Bean Casserole (Prep and Refrigerate)
This holiday classic is perfect for advance prep since all the components can be assembled the day before. Mix your green beans, cream of mushroom goodness, and half the crispy onions, then cover and refrigerate. On Christmas Day, just pop it in the oven and add the remaining onions for that signature crunch.
The flavors have time to blend overnight, making it even more delicious. It’s comfort food at its finest with almost zero day-of effort.
Sweet Potato Casserole (Assemble in Advance)
That dreamy sweet potato base topped with marshmallows or pecans can be completely assembled the night before. Just keep the topping separate until baking time to maintain the perfect texture. The sweet potatoes stay creamy and flavorful, and you’ll save yourself so much stress on Christmas morning.
Pop it in the oven when you’re ready, and watch those marshmallows turn golden and gooey. Everyone’s favorite side dish with a fraction of the work.
Stuffing (Prep Ahead, Bake Day-Of)
Cube your bread, sauté your vegetables, and mix everything together the day before, then keep it covered in the fridge. The bread actually benefits from sitting with all those herbs and seasonings, soaking up maximum flavor overnight. On Christmas, just transfer it to your baking dish and pop it in the oven for that crispy top and tender interior.
This method gives you all the homemade taste without the morning rush. Your kitchen will smell absolutely incredible as it bakes.
Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole
This is the ultimate Christmas morning lifesaver that lets you enjoy presents without rushing to cook breakfast. Layer bread, eggs, cheese, and your favorite breakfast meats the night before, then just bake it in the morning. It feeds a crowd, tastes amazing, and requires zero effort when everyone’s eager to open gifts.
The overnight soak makes the bread custardy and perfect. You’ll wonder why you ever made individual breakfasts on Christmas morning.
Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
Wake up to the smell of fresh cinnamon rolls without actually having to wake up early to make them. Prep these beauties the night before, let them rise slowly in the fridge, then bake them fresh in the morning. They’ll be just as soft and gooey as if you’d started from scratch at dawn.
The make-ahead method also develops deeper flavor in the dough. Drizzle on that cream cheese frosting and watch everyone swoon.
Make-Ahead Beef Wellington
This showstopper is surprisingly manageable when you break it down into steps over a couple of days. Prep your mushroom duxelles and sear the beef ahead of time, then assemble and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. The pastry stays crisp, the beef cooks perfectly, and you look like an absolute culinary genius.
It’s fancy enough to impress but way less stressful than making it all at once. Your Christmas dinner just got a major upgrade.
Honey Glazed Ham (Pre-Bake and Reheat)
Bake your ham a day or two ahead, let it cool, then slice and store it with all those delicious juices. When Christmas arrives, just reheat the slices in the glaze for easy serving. The flavor is just as incredible, and you’ve freed up your oven for all those sides that need last-minute attention.
Pre-slicing means no carving at the table, so serving is a breeze. It’s a total game-changer for large gatherings.
Lasagna (Freeze Up to 3 Months)
Lasagna is basically begging to be made ahead and frozen for ultimate convenience. Layer all that cheesy, saucy goodness up to three months in advance, and you’ve got an entire main course ready to go. It actually tastes better after freezing since the flavors meld together so beautifully.
Just thaw overnight and bake until bubbly and golden. Perfect for feeding a crowd without breaking a sweat on Christmas Day.
Scalloped Potatoes (Assemble Ahead)
Those creamy, cheesy layers of potato heaven can be completely assembled and refrigerated the night before. The potatoes soak up the cream sauce as they sit, making them even more flavorful and tender when baked. Just add a bit of extra time to the baking if you’re putting them in cold from the fridge.
They emerge bubbling and golden brown with minimal effort from you. This is comfort food that practically makes itself.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts (Prep and Store)
Trim and halve your Brussels sprouts a day ahead, toss them with oil and seasonings, and store them ready to roast. When it’s time to eat, just spread them on a baking sheet and roast until crispy and caramelized. They’re healthy, delicious, and require almost no active cooking time on Christmas.
The prep work is the most time-consuming part, so getting it done early is a huge relief. Even Brussels sprouts skeptics will ask for seconds.
Christmas Dinner Rolls (Freeze Dough)
Make your roll dough weeks ahead and freeze it for the freshest possible bread without last-minute stress. Shape the rolls, freeze them on a tray, then store in a freezer bag until needed. Let them thaw and rise a few hours before dinner, then bake them fresh.
Your house will smell like a bakery, and everyone will think you slaved away all day. Warm, fluffy rolls with practically zero day-of effort.
Pecan Pie (Bake Days Before)
Pecan pie is actually better when made a couple days in advance, giving the filling time to set perfectly. It’ll slice more cleanly and the flavors will be more balanced and developed. Store it covered at room temperature or in the fridge, and just bring it to room temp before serving.
The crust stays crisp and the filling stays gooey in all the right ways. One less dessert to worry about on an already packed day.
Pumpkin Pie (Make Ahead and Chill)
This holiday staple loves being made ahead since it needs to chill thoroughly anyway for the best texture. Bake it up to two days before Christmas and keep it refrigerated until serving time. The spices have a chance to bloom and the custard sets up perfectly creamy.
It slices beautifully and tastes just as fresh as if you’d made it that morning. Add your whipped cream right before serving for the perfect finish.
Christmas Trifle (Assemble Night Before)
Layer your cake, custard, fruit, and cream the night before for a stunning dessert that actually improves as it sits. The cake soaks up all those delicious flavors while staying perfectly moist and tender.
It’s a showstopper that looks incredibly fancy but requires no baking day-of. Just pull it from the fridge and serve it in all its layered glory. Your guests will be seriously impressed with minimal effort from you.
Gingerbread Cake (Bakes Days in Advance)
Gingerbread cake gets more moist and flavorful as it sits, making it ideal for baking several days ahead. Wrap it well and store at room temperature, and those warm spices will permeate every bite. The texture actually improves as the cake settles, becoming incredibly tender and rich.
Dust with powdered sugar or add a cream cheese frosting right before serving. It’s quintessentially Christmas without any last-minute hassle.
Eggnog Cheesecake (Make Ahead and Freeze)
Cheesecake is the ultimate make-ahead dessert since it needs time to chill and can even be frozen for weeks. The eggnog version is festive and creamy with all those holiday spices everyone loves. Make it up to a month ahead, freeze it, then thaw in the fridge the day before serving.
It’ll taste absolutely fresh with none of the stress. This is the dessert that’ll have people begging for your recipe.
Christmas Cookie Dough (Freeze for Weeks)
Roll your cookie dough into balls or logs and freeze them for up to three months before Christmas. When you’re ready to bake, just slice or place frozen dough balls on a sheet and add a couple minutes to the baking time. You get fresh-baked cookies without any of the measuring and mixing on busy days.
The dough freezes beautifully and tastes just as good as fresh. Stock your freezer now for instant holiday treats later.
Mulled Wine Mix (Prep and Refrigerate)
Combine your wine, spices, citrus, and sweetener up to three days ahead and keep it chilled until party time. When guests arrive, just gently heat it on the stove and your house will smell like Christmas magic. The flavors blend and deepen as it sits, making the mulled wine even more aromatic and delicious.
No last-minute measuring or chopping when you’d rather be socializing. Warm, spiced perfection with almost zero effort.
