The Best Recipes and Tips for Christmas

Hosting people for the holidays? Heres everything you need to know about pulling off a perfect Christmas dinner, with our best Christmas recipes, tips, and tricks.

Theres more to it than a re-purposed Thanksgiving menu. Unlike the Turkey Day meal, Christmas dinner is much more flexible. Some people even have it on Christmas Eve. And while many do repeat turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, plenty dont.

Delve into other delicious ideas (from prime rib to pernil) and start new traditions with your family and friends.

Related Reading: The Best Gourmet Food & Drink Gifts for 2019

Here, weve provided some tips for planning your Christmas Day meal and rounded up some of our favorite recipes for the holidays, from cocktails to cookies (of course), and from glazed ham to lamb. Plus, tips for doing it on a budget.

If you want to keep it casual, consider hosting a holiday brunch potluck, at-home happy hour, or low-key Christmas party (theme optional but always encouraged). But if its the big Christmas dinner youre tackling, just keep scrolling.

Christmas Dinner Cooking Tips

Even if you dont touch turkey, there is a lot of overlap between pulling off Christmas dinner and pulling off Thanksgivingtheyre both fairly epic meals, after all. So they require some measure of planning.

1. Consider Your Oven Space

Dont plan a menu that requires too many oven-roasted, braised, or baked dishes, unless you can do several of them ahead of time. Like pie, or practically any other Christmas dessert. If you can make it in advance, you should; one less thing to worry about on the holiday itself.

For the remaining dishes youll need to make at the same time, consider alternative methodsif you want to bake fresh bread, roast vegetables, and need to warm your ham, consider cooking one of these things on the stovetop, on a grill, via sous vide, slow cooker, or Instant Pot.

Related Reading: Crock-Pot Christmas Dinner Recipes | Instant Pot Christmas Dinner Recipes

2. Check Your Dish Situation

Once your menu is set, make sure you have proper serving dishes and utensils for everything on it. Depending on how youre going to cook your meat, you might want to invest in a large roasting pan if you dont already have one.

And large platters and bowls are necessary, as well as a gravy boat and other items. If youre in the market for something new, get some ideas from our Special Occasion Dishes and Linens article.

3. Add Something Light and Bright

Still feel like theres something missing from the menu? With all the heavy meat and potatoes probably present, you need something to balance it out. A salad will do the trick. But make it a seasonal salad with some fall or winter fruit, like this pear and spinach salad.

Or, you may want something pickled, like these pickled carrots and shallots, or a Southern chow chow, to cut through the fatty nature of the other foods. Consider this the light, bright tinsel that adds the perfect finishing touch.

4. Dont Forget About Appetizers

Youll want some small nibbles to keep your guests happy and out of your hair while you finish up in the kitchen, so check out our 12 Easy Holiday Party Starters for some ideas. But also

5. Dont Shun Shortcuts

Yes, it would be amazing to make literally everything from scratch, but its perfectly okay not to, and sometimes going the store-bought route really saves your sanity. No time to perfect your pie crust? Buy it, or opt for an easier (and likely tastier) press-in Graham Cracker Crust recipe instead. Or buy dessert outright, either from a mail order bakery or at Trader Joes.

Related Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Christmas Cookies | The Best Christmas Desserts Besides Cookies

And you can definitely outsource most of the aforementioned appetizers, either to friends (more on that below), or by buying high-quality items at the store. Simply stocking up on some good cheese, olives, and marcona almonds to arrange on a platter will more than suffice.

6. Ask For & Accept Help

Even if you dont want to go full-on potluck, dont be afraid to ask friends and family to bring certain dishes, whether theyre things you dont personally love (green bean casserole, perhaps) or just dont have time for (from homemade Parker House rolls your hardcore baker cousin could knock out in no time to any easy appetizer you want to assign).

And if someone asks you what they can bring, tell them what you really need, whether thats new napkins or a simple side salad, or even some extra serving dishes. Otherwise youre just going to get another bottle of wine (which might not be so bad).

Related Reading: 9 Grocery Store Wines Worth Entertaining With | How to Chill a Bottle of Wine in 20 Minutes Flat

7. Get a Head Start on Christmas Day

Or whatever day youre actually making dinner; you can do several tasks in the early a.m. to make the dwindling hours before dinner less stressful. In the morning (before or after presents), assemble and bake any casserole side dishes so you only need to reheat them at dinner time. You could do this while you make breakfast. Five or fewer hours beforehand, mix and refrigerate any batch cocktails if youre serving them, set up the drinks station, set the table, and do as much of the hors doeuvres as you can: wash and prep the crudits, slice the cheeses, and make the dips.

And if you only have so much money to spend, see our guide to Christmas Dinner on a Budget.

Setting the Scene

Your house is likely decorated beautifully already, but make sure the festive warmth extends to the table itself. A simple runner and a seasonal centerpiece with some candles or fairy lights flickering is all you need, but adding special dishes and serving pieces is next-level.

See our tips for decorating with flowers for the holidays, and our favorite floral delivery services too (some will ship you entire tablescapes).

Special Touches

If youre a wannabe Martha and are all for making things extra special, weve got tips for you too! Here are some projects you can take on to really wow your guests:

• How to Make Homemade Candy Canes
• How to Make Edible Wreaths
• How to Make DIY Liqueur
• How to Make DIY Digestifs for After Dinner
• Easy Holiday Food Hacks to Make Your Menu Magical
• Christmas Candy Recipes to Give as Gifts

Christmas Recipes

If youre still looking for just the right addition to your menu, may we suggest some of our favorite Christmas recipes?

Cocktails

Brandy Alexander

The dark, cold nights of the newly turned Winter Solstice are the perfect times to break out this drink. Its a very sophisticated blend of crme de cacao, brandy, and heavy cream. Shake with ice, then pour into a chilled glass, and top with a fresh grating of nutmeg. Get our Brandy Alexander recipe.

German Mulled Wine

The sparkling, festive Christmas markets of Germany were the inspiration for this rich and fortifying recipe. You heat dry red wine with brandy, and infuse it with lemon and orange peel, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon, then sweeten discretely with sugar. Get our German Mulled Wine recipe.

Related Reading: Cozy Crock-Pot Cocktails (and Mocktails) to Get the Party Started

Cranberry Sangria

For a cold take on mulled wine, this festive sangria cant be beat. With fresh cranberries, tart green apples, a warmly spiced simple syrup, ruby-red cranberry juice, and plenty of booze (port wine, Tempranillo ros, and Cointreau), its guaranteed to make things merry. Get our Cranberry Sangria recipe.

Moscow Mule

A cocktail from Cold War times, this is a blend of vodka and ginger beer, garnished with a lime wedge. Its simple and refreshing, a welcome, ginger-flavored corrective to the creamy heaviness of a holiday drink like eggnog. Serve it in the traditional frosty copper mug! Get our Moscow Mule recipe.

Best Eggnog

Eggnog is the fuel that runs holiday parties, but how often is it really good? Weve got nothing against a good-quality, nonsugary commercial eggnog, but for a really special party or event, we make our own, using this old-fashioned, good-old spiked recipe that needs time to cure. Get our Best Eggnog recipe.

Meaty Mains

Honey-Mustard Glazed Ham

A beautifully glazed, seared-at-the-edges ham is a holiday centerpiece that only, perhaps, a turkey can vie with for sheer handsomeness. This recipe produces a gorgeous specimen. Please be careful, though, to buy the best ham your budget affords. Get our Honey-Mustard Glazed Ham recipe.

Related Reading: The Best Meat Delivery & Butcher Subscription Services

Puerto Rican Pernil

If ham seems ho-hum, try roasting pork the Puerto Rican way: Pernil is a gorgeous hunk of crisp-skinned meat that absolutely deserves the spotlight, and the adobo and lime seasoning are a nice change of pace from sweet, syrupy glazes. Get the Puerto Rican Pernil recipe.

Prime Rib au Jus

A slow-roasted prime rib roast is another top contender. Its both easier and more delicious when you use the reverse-sear method for a perfectly rosy center and a crusty golden-brown exterior. Get our Prime Rib recipe.

Beef Wellington

Willing to put in a bit more work? A classic beef Wellington is a worthy endeavor and sure to wow with its golden pastry crust and decadent layers of pt, mushroom duxelles, and prosciutto cradling the tenderloin (which more than lives up to its name). Get our Beef Wellington recipe.

Fennel-and-Prosciutto Stuffed Pork Loin Roast

If you dont do red meat but still like a layered drama (without a lot of actual fuss), this stuffed pork loin roast is for you. The stuffing includes fennel and apple, and the roast gets a rosemary rub. Get our Fennel-and-Prosciutto Stuffed Pork Loin Roast recipe.

Crown Roast of Pork

Then, of course, there is the crown roast of pork, which you might imagine on a table at Downton Abbey. Despite its old-fashioned nature, its admittedly impressive, and it tastes wonderful too. Get your butcher to tie it together and most of the hard work is done for you. Get our Crown Roast of Pork recipe.

Basic Boneless Roasted Leg of Lamb

If youre a lamb fam, this is your go-to, and putting it together is a snap. Gremolata, a mixture of parsley, garlic, and lemon zest, offers assertive fresh herb and citrus flavors. Get our Basic Boneless Roasted Leg of Lamb recipe.

Mediterranean Rotisserie Leg of Lamb with Potatoes, Fennel, and Olives

But if the weather outside isnt too frightful, take the main course cookery outdoors and it gets even better. A garlic and lemon rub with paprika, cumin, and coriander flavor this leg of lamb is cooked on a rotisserie spit until crispy and browned on the outside and juicy on the inside. Put a tray of potatoes, onion, fennel, and olives underneath the meat while it rotates on the spit so that its drippings dont go to waste. Get our Mediterranean Rotisserie Leg of Lamb with Potatoes, Fennel, and Olives recipe.

Easy Brined Turkey with Cream Gravy

Last but not least (okaymaybe least, if only because we just got done eating all our Thanksgiving leftovers), there is the tried-and-true turkey option. Check out our best turkey recipes for more interesting takes on the traditional roast bird, or keep it classic and get our Easy Brined Turkey recipe with Cream Gravy.

Side Dishes

Truffled Fingerling Smashed Potatoes

Whats the easiest (not cheapest) way to make a meal fancier? Add truffles or truffle oil. Rich and earthy oil from white truffles folds into fingerling potatoes for a umami-packed side dish. Get our Truffled Fingerling Smashed Potatoes recipe.

Related Reading: How to Make the Best Mashed Potatoes Ever

Broccoli-Parmesan Casserole

This side dish wont get any beauty pageant awards, but tell us your rating after you taste the cheesiness and feel the fluffy texture in your mouth. We give it five stars. Get our Broccoli-Parmesan Casserole recipe.

Poached Pear and Blue Cheese Salad

You will barely notice the fresh escarole and feathery frise greens because the poached pear and pungent blue cheese will take all the attention. No complaints here. Its a salad that people wont push to the side of their plates. Get our Poached Pear and Blue Cheese Salad recipe.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Sure, a marshmallow-topped, nicely browned sweet potato is a must-make for Thanksgiving, but what about Christmas? Its easy to assemble in advance, looks cool, and goes remarkably well with a glazed ham as well, of course, as the traditional turkey. The main consideration: how good it tastes. Get our Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.

Related Reading: Creative Sweet Potato Casseroles | 17 Ways to Serve Sweet Potatoes This Holiday Season

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut squash soup is a fall and winter staple. This recipe is a refinement: Its not only delicious, with a hint of tart, Granny Smith apple that balances the squashs sweetness, but its exceptionally easy to make. (Spoiler alert: You roast the squash whole, then peel and seed when its at maximum easiness.) Get our Roasted Butternut Squash Soup recipe.

Gingerbread Loaf

This bread can go before, during, or after the meal. One taste of this moist, dark bread lets you know the holiday celebrations are on. This is a classic, easier to make than cookies or a fruitcake, and far more versatile. Serve it for breakfast with some good, strong coffee, for dessert after a light dinner (dont forget the whipped cream!), and even as part of a holiday dinner basket of mixed breads. Get our Gingerbread Loaf recipe.

Dessert (OK, Mostly Cookies)

Eggnog Cheesecake

Its good to gild the lily every now and again. So when we were left with a gallon of surplus eggnog while recipe-testing our Best Eggnog, we decided to update classic cheesecake by adding a gingersnap crust and a good slug of nog. Get our Eggnog Cheesecake recipe.

Christmas Coconut Cake

Now heres a show-stopper. Can it get more seasonal than a cake that looks like a fluffy blanket of sweet snow? No. Thats the answer. Dont use the regular coconut you see in most supermarkets. Spring for the good stuff. It really matters here. The three-layer cake will go great with a nice cocoa, hot apple cider, coffee, or after-dinner drink. Get our Christmas Coconut Cake recipe.

Related Reading: More Great Christmas Desserts That Arent Cookies

Pfeffernsse

These cookies (literally pepper nuts) have been baked in some form since late Medieval days. Theyre firm, spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, black pepper, and allspice, with honey, almonds and candied peelessentially the most precious things available to bakers hundreds of year ago. Theyre crisp and crumbly, insulated by a thick coating of powdered sugar. Get our Pfeffernsse recipe.

Christmas Sugar Cookies

Here they are, the cookies as essential to Christmas as the glass of milk left out for Santa on the night of December 24th. Leave out a plate of these buttery, gently crisp cookies in the shape of stockings and snowmen, and theyll disappear, all right. Get our Christmas Sugar Cookies recipe.

Related Reading: How to Make Your Sugar Cookies Taste Better

Candy Cane Cookies

These buttery hand-shaped cookies dont just stand out at the cookie swap for their appearance, theyre also delicious. The dough contains lots of butter, like we said, but also powdered sugar and a mix of almond and vanilla extracts. Get our Candy Cane Cookies recipe.

Florentines

Lacy, crisp, and delicate, Florentines are also seriously rich, with plenty of orange zest to balance out the chocolate and buttery caramel-nut flavors. Theyre actually easy to makejust melt together sugar, butter, corn syrup, and cream, and mix in flour and almonds: No creaming necessary! Get our Florentines recipe.

Related Reading: Crazy Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes

Icebox Sugar Cookies

Icebox because, once you make and shape the dough into logs or rectangular planks, all you need to do is slice a few off when the mood strikes you (or as the holiday cookie swap looms) and bake. This is a foundation recipe that you can alter in various ways. Get our Icebox Sugar Cookies recipe.

Split-Second Cookies

Instead of having to shape and fill individual thumbprint cookies, this ingenious shortcut version simplifies the process by baking logs of dough with a trough of jam down the center. After a quick bake, just slice the logs into cookies and theyre ready for a holiday cookie plate. Get our Split-Second Cookies recipe.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

A cross between brownie and cookie, these rich cocoa beauties get their fractured tops by being rolling in white powdered sugar before baking. It creates a dramatic look on top of deep, fudgy, cake-like centers. Get our Chocolate Crinkle Cookies recipe.

Gingerbread Cookies

The sweet, warm, spiced notes of gingerbread cookies say holiday regardless of whether you decorate these human-shaped cookies or leave them au naturel. Heads, legs, and arms are all up for grabs with these holiday favorites. Get our Gingerbread Cookies recipe.

Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies with Lemon Filling

Extra-gingery, molasses-sweetened cookies are sandwiched around a lemon cream that gets a triple dose of lemon from zest, juice, and extract. Make them for a fancy holiday cookie plate, a dinner party, or a lovely host gift. Get our Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies with Lemon Filling recipe.

Checkerboard Cookies

They look difficult to make, but these two-tone cookies are actually pretty easy. Start with one batch of vanilla cookie dough, add chocolate to half of it, form four long, square logs, layer the dough into a checkerboard pattern, and slice. Get our Checkerboard Cookies recipe.

For even more holiday tips, tricks, recipes, and ideas, visit our Holiday Headquarters.

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Article first created by John Birdsall in 2015; updated by Amy Sowder, Jessica Gentile, and Jen Wheeler.