Christmas is fast approaching so it’s time to get your menus ready! Are you like me and have a hard time deciding what you want to make? I see so many delicious recipes that I want to try but yet I still want to keep things homey and traditional. Such is a cook’s dichotomy over the holidays. In case you’re in need of a special Christmas dish, I’ve got you covered! These 24 recipes will give you lots of ideas from appetizers all the way to desserts. All the recipes have been tested and tried by yours truly, so you can be assured that they are user friendly, not overly time consuming, and scrumptious to the last bite.
The Starters
Crockpot Turkey Cranberry Meatballs
These meatballs encompass all the yummy Christmas flavors one would expect in a meatball. They’re sweet. They’re spicy. They’re warm and irresistible. The best part is that there are only 3 ingredients and they’re made in the slow cooker for easy transport. I promise that if you set these out on the buffet with a box of toothpicks, they’ll be gone in a flash!
4 Ingredient Black Bean Dip
I know what you’re thinking. Black bean dip for Christmas? A thousand times yes! Christmas is when we make our favorite foods for our friends and I have never met a friend who didn’t LOVE this dip. It’s a cinch to make and really inexpensive. If you’re going to a potluck or work party, I would totally take this! As long as you bring a bag of chips with it, you’ll be a hero.
Reduced Calorie Spinach Artichoke Dip
Not only is this spinach dip easy to make but it is irresistible to eat. It tastes especially good with toasted bread, pita chips, or even tortilla chips. But the best part of this dip is that no one will be able to tell that there are a third less calories than usual.
Chunky Restaurant Style Guacamole
From where I come from, Southern California that is, the party doesn’t start until the guacamole is on the table. I can’t think of a Christmas when my dad and I didn’t finish off a quart of this delectable dip at the kitchen table. It’s so creamy and refreshing. Since it’s healthy I can eat extra, right?
The Meat
Tuscan Style Roasted Turkey
This bird is a beauty and flavorfully moist to boot! It can be made in 3 simple steps which include cleaning and stuffing the turkey, making a delicious herb spread, and basting the crispy skin. Not only is it a stunning centerpiece, but it tastes amazing! You’ll have the most delicious leftovers of all time!
Coca-Cola Glazed Holiday Ham
This is a beautiful but simple centerpiece perfect for those that want to skip the traditional roasted turkey at Christmas. The meat is juicy and comes with a simple glaze made out of Coca-Cola. The instructions for the diamond pattern are included, making your holiday ham look professional when you only labored for about 20 minutes.
Crockpot Baby-Back Ribs with Homemade Rub
Crockpot Ribs are a great idea for Christmas since the oven will be busy cooking pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, and green bean casserole. These ribs are fall-off-the-bone awesome and have a gentle kick from the homemade rub. Use whatever BBQ sauce you like or leave it off and make your own. I have never once made these and had any leftover. They are AH-mazing!!!
The Greens
Apple Blue Cheese Salad
This is a beautiful salad that will add a lot of color to your Christmas table. The dressing is made of olive oil and Dijon mustard and the blue cheese gives it a tangy taste. It is easy to make ahead of time, as long as you keep the dressing in a separate bowl from the lettuce until you’re ready to serve. I love this salad because it is delicious but healthy at the same time. This truly is my go-to salad; I serve it all year long.
Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts
If you want to put something healthier on the table this year, these oven roasted brussel sprouts are a good option. They can be crispy and golden brown in just 10 minutes. They have a delicious, nutty flavor and will complement whatever main course you serve beautifully.
Healthy Green Bean Casserole
This revamped green bean casserole is a must-try if you’re tired of the sloppy traditional. This recipe has no canned soup so it is free of MSG and ingredients you can’t pronounce. Even though there are no fried onions, the green beans have a crunchy top that can either be baked or broiled. This is definitely a hearty, flavorful side you could offer to vegetarians or those watching their weight.
10 Minute Roasted Asparagus
Sometimes simple is best. That’s exactly what these asparagus are. All you need is a foil lined cookie sheet, olive oil, salt, and pepper. They’ll be ready in 10 minutes and they’ll add a lot of color and texture to the Christmas buffet. Clean-up is a breeze too: roll up the foil and call it done!
The Carbs
Creamy Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
I know most have mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving, but I think they should make a second debut at Christmas too. These are made with Yukon Gold potatoes because they are the least grainy and most creamy. I use them in my regular weeknight cooking but dress them up with green onions and cheddar cheese for the big day. Leave them in the Crockpot on WARM while you use the stove for other tasks. Whenever I have served these they are always the first to go.
Shredded Hashbrown Cheesy Potatoes
This hashbrown casserole is a staple in my house for Christmas. I can’t have Christmas without it! Even though it takes 50 minutes to bake, it can easily be prepared the day before and kept in the refrigerator. In fact, I think the flavors taste better when they’ve had a day to meld together. Pop it in the oven right before everyone comes over and you’ll still have something delicious without taking time away from visiting.
3 Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Mac and Cheese is a great dish to have for Christmas if you are serving vegetarians or lots of kids. It is simple to prepare, doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, and everybody goes for seconds. In fact, you might want to make two batches because the leftovers are amazing! Save yourself some time and stress and prep this the day before your event. Pop it in the oven an hour before you’re ready to eat.
Traditional Fluffy Yeast Rolls
Let me give you the two most important reasons why these rolls would be perfect on your Christmas table. 1) They are buttery, soft, and delicious with anything else edible! They smell incredible while cooking and I can never resist having more than one. 2) They are super convenient on a busy holiday. You can prep the batter up to 5 days before and have it waiting in the fridge. Just scoop it out into a muffin tin for fresh rolls on the spot!
The Sweets
Easy Salted Cinnamon Fudge
Fudge is a great treat to take to friends, neighbors, or coworkers. They can be packaged in a variety of ways including Christmas tins, boxes, decorative paper plates with cellophane, and even mason jars. But the fudge is also delicious to have at a Christmas party or potluck that calls for easy finger food. The perfect blend of salt and sweet will have your friends begging for more!
13 Minute Almond Joy Cookies
Chocolate and coconut might be my favorite flavor combo, after chocolate and coffee of course! These cookies taste just like an Almond Joy candy bar and they only call for 5 simple ingredients. I often bake these to give as gifts because they are easy to make and not time consuming. Just be sure to bake them alone or they’ll disappear before you have a chance to give them away.
Cranberry Orange Bread
My mom used to put oranges in the bottom of our stockings. When I was a kid I thought it was weird, but she said we needed something healthy to balance all the candy we would get. Now the smell of fresh oranges instantly takes me back to those memorable childhood Christmases. This bread has a burst of orangey goodness mixed with the tartness of the cranberries. I like to make it for Christmas morning, but it is delicious all times of the day!
3 Step Dutch Apple Pie
Not all apple pies are easy to make. However, this Dutch apple pie comes with easy instructions for making a homemade crust, apple-cinnamon filling, and crumble topping. It can be made a day in advance and it tastes great warm or at room temperature. It also transports easily if you are driving on Christmas day.
Disappearing Butterscotch Cookies
These butterscotch cookies taste just like the ones my Nana used to make when I was a kid. Christmas just doesn’t seem complete without them. This version is super easy because they take just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes. They go great in kid’s lunches but are also a good choice for teacher’s gifts or party trays.
Traditional Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie is so much easier to make than you may think! If you use a frozen pie crust, you can have this classic dessert in the oven in all of 10 minutes. In my opinion, homemade pie is 100 times better than anything from the grocery store. Besides, it will take 10 minutes to get through the grocery checkout anyway. So make this pie fresh, topped with a little whipped cream, and your family will thank you!
Nana’s Molasses Gingersnaps
Molasses gingersnaps always signal Christmastime to me. My Nana used to make them when I was a girl and oh how I wish I could have gotten her recipe! But this one comes pretty close. They are soft and chewy on the inside and slightly crunchy on the edges. These are perfect to give away as gifts this holiday season!
4 Ingredient Latticed Cherry Pie
This pie will really add a punch of color to the Christmas table! That and it’s super delicious! There are only 4 ingredients and the recipe comes with simple instructions on how to make the lattice top. It really is so much easier than you may think. Can’t you see everyone’s eyes light up when you set this down? Can’t you hear them say, “You made that?!” Then you can proudly exclaim, “Yes, yes I did!”
Egg Nog Coffee Cake
Wait! Don’t forget about Christmas morning! In the frenzy of gift opening, breakfast can be forgotten until growling from your belly ensues. Making eggnog coffee cake up to 3 days in advance can make Christmas morning much easier and more enjoyable. The cake is fluffy and moist and the crumble top has just the right amount of crunch. Of course, the eggnog drizzle is delicious too!
As we stop to reflect on the beautiful gift of Christ as our Savior this holiday season, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas from my family! Pictured above are my husband Daniel and I with our three children: Joshua, Nevaeh, and Caleb. I hope you are able to slow down amidst the chaos and enjoy some delicious food with your family and friends. May you be thankful for “every good and perfect gift coming down from the Father of Heavenly Lights who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). He is so good to provide for us. Have the merriest of Christmases! Happy cooking y’all!
