These 23 Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas Are the Ultimate Gift to Share This Holiday Season (2024)

Stuffed Spiral Ham

This Christmas ham dinner menu tastes as amazing as it looks. The elegant yet easy entree is stuffed with orange slices, rosemary, and garlic, then can be dressed up in your choice of five signature glazes. Orange-bourbon or cherry-rosemary, anyone? All those flavors pair perfectly with cheesy potatoes (you have our permission to use these to soak up every last drop of glaze) and a fresh Brussels sprouts salad.

Serve it with: Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes

Stuffed Pork Loin

Would you rather: spinach and apricots or cherry and wild rice? We have options that feature both so you can customize this pretty pork loin recipe as you like. To save time on Christmas day, prepare the focaccia side and the pork stuffing a day in advance. (Refrigerate the latter one until you're ready to finish cooking the easy Christmas dinner menu.)

Serve it with: Pomegranate-Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Please vegetarians with this cheesy, easy Christmas dinner menu. Rich pumpkin mac casserole alongside buttery roasted sprouts—it's such a decadent spread that no one will even notice the meat is MIA. Layer the red, white, and green Christmas Trifle in a clear dish and prepare for rave reviews each and every course.

Serve it with: Christmas Trifle

Chicken-and-Biscuit Pot Pie

If comfort food is one of the items on your holiday wishlist, consider your wish granted by this Southern Christmas dinner menu idea. The cozy single-skillet stovetop casserole takes just about an hour yet tastes like you simmered the pot pie filling all day long. Bake the drop biscuits right on top in a cast iron skillet, then enjoy alongside a seasonal vegetable salad. Put a bow on the meal with a round of mini cakes that are dressed up to look just like presents under the tree.

Serve it with: Kale, Fennel, and Roasted Delicata Salad

Coffee-Crusted Beef Tenderloin

Please gluten-free diners with this traditional Christmas dinner menu that includes zero wheat. It certainly won't taste like you're missing a thing, though! The rub on this gorgeous beef tenderloin is packed with flavor: ground coffee, brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. It, alongside the stuffed squash, smell wonderful coming out of the oven on Christmas Day.

Serve it with: Wild Rice-Stuffed Acorn Squash

Glazed Roast Turkey

Give holiday guests a Christmas dinner menu to remember with this top-rated turkey. Stuffed with cherry-cranberry stuffing and resting on a bed of roasted root vegetables, the impressive entree gets a flavor boost from its sweet glaze. Just add rolls and quick-cooking garlicky green beans for the ultimate Christmas Eve dinner menu.

Serve it with: Blistered Green Beans with Bacon and Buttermilk-Sage Dinner Rolls

Petite Beef Wellingtons

Beef tenderloin wrapped in a flaky pastry with mushrooms, shallots, and garlic makes a savory and delicious main course for your traditional Christmas dinner menu. Your guests will rave about this take on the classic French recipe—and won't be able to get enough of the squash and citrus sides, either. (Add a sparkling co*cktail to up the ante!)

Serve it with: Arugula-Squash Salad and Dark Chocolate Dip with Fruit

Beef Tenderloin with Parmesan-Herb Stuffing

For a traditional Christmas Eve dinner menu that will please a crowd, opt for this 12-serving-strong beef tenderloin stuffed with popular seasonal ingredients: mushrooms, parsley, rosemary, and minced garlic. The eye-catching rolled technique and the festive color scheme, not to mention a bevvy of traditional Christmas side dishes, make this line-up perfect for enjoying before exchanging presents.

Test Kitchen Tip: No wine handy for the tenderloin sauce? Simply substitute an equal amount of beef broth.

Serve it with: Braised Broccoli, and Cranberry Tarts

Pretzel-Crusted Air-Fryer Crab Cakes

Put a twist on classic crab cakes by coating them in crunchy salted pretzels. Dijon mustard and Old Bay seasoning amp up the flavors of the creamy filling. Cook in the air fryer until crisp to create a simple seafood Christmas dinner.

Serve it with: Sweet Potato Fries and Caesar Salad

Barbecue Spice-Rubbed Turkey Breast

In a hurry to finish shopping before the big day? Turn to this sped-up Christmas Eve dinner menu. Bone-in turkey breast halves cut down on the cook time required, yet offer all the classic roast bird flavors you remember from childhood pre-Santa holiday feasts. Pair the just-spicy-enough turkey with sweet-salty corn bread muffins, Thanksgiving-inspired wild rice, and a crisp lettuce salad to round out the easy spread.

Serve it with: Wild Rice Dressing

Peppercorn Roast Beef with Herbed Yorkshire Puddings

Cut down on hosting stress when making this spiced roast beef and Yorkshire pudding by preparing your Christmas food well before guests arrive. You can chill both traditional Christmas dinner menu recipes for up to 24 hours. Roasted vegetables, dinner rolls, and a spinach salad are a cinch to add to the holiday line-up, and almost the entire meal can be a make-ahead affair, if desired.

Serve it with: Classic Dinner Rolls, Medley of Roasted Root Vegetables

Apple Cider-Ginger Brined Turkey

Sweet and tangy mingle in a gorgeous turkey that's brined for incredible flavor. Brining isn't hard (we'll walk you through exactly how-to!)—in fact, this main dish requires just 20 minutes of hands-on time. Talk about the perfect addition to your traditional Christmas dinner menu! And since no holiday meal should be enjoyed without green beans and potatoes, add those to your table, too.

Serve it with: Classic Potato Salad and Lemony Green Beans

Apple Butter Glazed Ham

In a hurry? Both the grilled ham entree and the spiral potato side can be on your table in less than an hour. As those cook, shake up a holiday co*cktail or mocktail, then prep the semi-homemade cookie pizza and pop it in the oven. Allow it to cool as you enjoy the easy Christmas dinner menu, and enlist the kids to help decorate dessert with melted peanut butter, melted chocolate, and candy-coated chocolates.

Serve it with: Potato Tornadoes and Holiday Cookie Pizza

Smoked Mole-Inspired Turkey

Break out the smoker for this Christmas dinner recipe. Enhance the flavors of your smoked turkey with our mole-inspired rub recipe. It's filled with cocoa powder, cumin, cinnamon, and more.

Serve it with: Sticky Roasted Carrots with Citrus

Sunday Beef Rib Roast

Here's a holiday roast your friends and family are sure to devour to the final ounce. Warm veggies are tossed in a savory herb-bacon topper and cooked until tender to make your holiday dining experience even more scrumptious. Plate slices of roast with a scoop of hearty winter bulgur salad and a cheddar roll. Wrap up the Christmas Eve dinner menu with your favorite classic seasonal dessert of choice (Christmas cookies, anyone?).

Serve it with: Winter Bulgur Salad with Olive Dressing and Cheese Rolls

Herbed Prime Rib with Two Sauces

This holiday prime rib is high on flavor. The secret lies in the buzzy blend of spices in the rub: dry mustard, espresso powder, garlic, and onion powder. Merlot Au Jus and Horseradish Cream sauces complement the red meat, while a crunchy green salad and creamy vegetable gratin make this rib-sticking prime rib Christmas dinner menu even better.

Serve it with: Roasted Vegetables with Sorghum and Pomegranate Tart

Bulgur-Stuffed Acorn Squash

This vegan Christmas dinner idea starts with in-season acorn squash. Stuff the squash with a delicious filling made with bulgur, tart dried cherries, veggies, and herbs. Bake until soft and golden.

Serve it with: Roasted Veggies with Arugula Sauce and Poached Pears

French Onion Pasta

This easy Christmas dinner idea starts with just a few budget-friendly ingredients but the results are truly indulgent. Cook up a box of rigatoni and make a sauce using onions, beef broth, and freshly grated cheese. Serve it with a fresh green salad and crusty bread for an easy vegetarian Christmas dinner.

Serve it with: Green Salad with Avocado and Grapefruit and French Bread

Air Fryer Turkey Breast with Herb Butter

If you're hosting a small crowd for Christmas, whip up this juicy turkey breast in your air fryer. In just about an hour, you'll have a succulent herb-stuffed breast with golden crisp skin. Slice and serve it warm.

Serve it with: Roasted Sweet Potato-Bacon Mac and Cheese

Lemon Thyme Air-Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

Skip the store and serve up a rotisserie-style chicken at home. The air fryer ensures as the meat cooks to juicy perfection, the skin stays crisp. Season this Christmas dinner idea with lemon, thyme, and black pepper.

Serve it with: Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Zesty Ranch Turkey

If your family can't get enough ranch dressing or snacks, serve up this roasted turkey. It's seasoned with dill and ranch powder for a truly flavorful bird. Use the pan drippings to make a ranch-seasoned gravy for your mashed potatoes.

Serve it with: Mashed Potatoes

Mushroom-Sweet Potato Moussaka

If you need a vegan Christmas dinner recipe, try this moussaka. It's filled with earthy mushrooms and cashew cream. Each serving is filled with 20 grams of protein, making it a main dish winner.

Serve it with: Holiday Kale Salad

Million Dollar Spaghetti

If comfort food is on the menu for Christmas dinner, whip up this million dollar spaghetti recipe. A few rich ingredients make it totally indulgent for company. This big-batch recipe serves 12.

Serve it with: Garlic and Herb Swirl Bread