85 Best Christmas Dinner Ideas to Take Your Holiday Menu to the Next Level
Festive dishes to feed the whole family!
Whether you're putting on an elaborate Christmas dinner for the whole crew or just need a great idea to bring to the potluck, we've got you covered. We've gathered our favorite Christmas dinner ideas, including show-stopping mains, healthy Christmas dishes and more.
If you're looking for traditional Christmas foods, you'll find plenty of recipes here. But if you're looking to mix things up with something unexpected and elegant, we've also included creative ideas that will wow the whole crew. Plus, many of these recipes can be scaled up or down, so there's something delicious whether you're cooking for two or for two dozen.
There is no better time to start bookmarking your favorites to get into the holiday spirit. Happy cooking!
Sicilian-Style Braciole
This hearty Italian beef dish is worthy of a special occasion. It's made with wine-soaked raisins, pecorino, pine nuts and parsley.
Get the Sicilian-Style Braciole recipe.
Escarole Salad with Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette
This bright salad is perfect for pairing with nearly any holiday main. The roasted almonds, goat cheese and finely chopped preserved lemon make for a flavorful bite every time.
Get the Escarole Salad with Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette recipe.
Five-Spice Roast Ducks
Crispy duck with a flavorful soy-sauce glaze, topped with oranges and fennel sure sounds like a holiday winner to us! You only need a few ingredients for this impressive dinner.
Get the Five-Spice Roast Ducks recipe.
Brûléed Rice Pudding with Honeyed Citrus
This wow-worthy dessert is the perfect way to finish off any holiday meal. It's almost too gorgeous to dig into, but you and your guests will definitely want to enjoy the crunchy, sugary layer of rice on top.
Vegan Mushroom Wellington
You don't need meat for an impressive Christmas dinner main. If you'd rather keep things plant-based, try this delicious dish with mushrooms cooked into a savory mixture and roasted whole, all inside flaky puff pastry.
Get the Vegan Mushroom Wellington recipe.
Baked Ricotta
This creamy dish brings together warm ricotta, roasted vegetables, and a fennel-spiked caper vinaigrette for an appetizer or side that's both elegant and simple.
Get the Baked Ricotta recipe.
RELATED: 50 Best Christmas Appetizers to Get Your Holiday Party Started
Roasted Carrots and Red Onions
This flavorful side pairs well with any main on the table come Christmas. Carrots and onions are roasted to sweet perfection and then tossed with a bright orange and sherry vinegar dressing.
Cherry Bourbon-Glazed Ham
Kick your traditional Christmas ham up a notch with this flavorful glaze made with bourbon, tart cherry juice and cherry jam. The glaze is brushed on the ham during baking and broiled with scallions for an extra boost of flavor.
Get the Cherry Bourbon-Glazed Ham recipe.
Creamy Potato Soup
A chilly Christmas Eve calls for something cozy. Luckily, we've got just the thing: a creamy potato soup made with Yukon gold potatoes, a pound of onions, sour cream and potato chips.
Get the Creamy Potato Soup recipe.
Honey Glazed Salmon
Serve up gorgeous seafood for your holiday main this year. This salmon gets plenty of flavor from a honey-lime teriyaki sauce, rice vinegar, honey and ginger.
Get the Honey Glazed Salmon recipe.
Vegan Pumpkin Risotto with Crispy Sage
This creamy, savory dish topped with crispy sage makes for a special meal any night, including Christmas. It's also easier than you might guess to bring this decadent dish together.
Fig Cornmeal Skillet Cake
This rustic dessert of fresh figs, cornmeal and crunchy turbinado sugar makes for a special Christmas dinner dessert.
Get the Fig Cornmeal Skillet Cake recipe.
Fennel-Crusted Roast Pork with Vegetables
If you are looking for a showstopper to add to the dinner table, try making this Fennel-Crusted Roast Pork. The crust is made from fennel and coriander seeds for great flavor and aromatics, while the roasted acorn squash adds a little sweetness to the dish.
Winter White Bean and Radicchio Salad
Add something light and fresh to the Christmas dinner table with a delicious salad. With purple radicchio, endives and parsley, your plate will be bursting with color and flavor.
Get the Winter White Bean and Radicchio Salad recipe.
RELATED: 22 Christmas Salads to Complete Any Holiday Dinner Menu
Skillet Shrimp and Orzo
In the mood for seafood? Try making this easy skillet dish that you can make from using some of your pantry ingredients like orzo and canned tomatoes!
Get the Skillet Shrimp and Orzo recipe.
RELATED: 30 Seriously Easy Shrimp Recipes
Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Green Beans
If looking for a quick but delicious dish, try this sheet pan recipe! Instead of boiling gnocchi, try roasting it along with green beans, sausage and kale.
Get the Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Green Beans recipe.
RELATED: 30 Easy Sheet Pan Dinners That Make Cleanup a Breeze
Delicata Squash Pizza
This shareable pizza is perfect to add to the dinner table. With provolone, blue cheese and slices of delicata squash, what’s not to love?
Get the Delicata Squash Pizza recipe.
Salmon Rillette
Your dinner guests will love feasting on this Christmas appetizer made with a mix of smoked salmon and salmon poached with white wine and shallot.
Get the Salmon Rillette recipe.
RELATED: 45 Best Finger Food Ideas to Serve at Your Next Party
Aperol Spritz Granita
You've never had an Aperol Spritz quite like this. Big flakes of citrusy ice are topped with sparkling wine and a sprig of rosemary for an elegant and festive cocktail.
Get the Aperol Spritz Granita recipe.
RELATED: 45 Totally Delicious Classic Cocktails to Make at Home
Honey-and-Balsamic–Glazed Ham
This sweet-and-salty ham brings together black peppercorns, honey, mustard and balsamic vinegar for an irresistible main dish everyone will enjoy.
Get the Honey-and-Balsamic–Glazed Ham recipe.
Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
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