This post may contain affiliate links.
Christmas dinner is the meal my girls look forward to all year, and I want it to feel special without keeping me stuck in the kitchen all day. These 32 Christmas dinner ideas are the ones we lean on every December: a copycat honey baked ham, stuffed pork loin, juicy roast turkey, homemade lasagna, twice baked parmesan potatoes, crispy roasted brussel sprouts, from scratch crescent rolls, a Christmas tree pull apart bread, gingerbread cake, and sticky toffee pudding. Most of them are from scratch, plenty can be made ahead, and every one of them is cozy enough to anchor a holiday table. We also invited two blogger friends to share a favorite holiday main and a festive side. Pick a main, add a few sides, save room for dessert, and let’s get cooking.
Holiday Roasts and Showstopper Mains
Copycat Honey Baked Ham Recipe
This copycat tastes just like the famous spiral sliced ham with that crackly honey glaze, for a fraction of the price. It is the centerpiece on our Christmas table every single year. Get the recipe →
Stuffed Pork Loin with Cream Sauce
A pinwheel of bacon and spinach rolled inside a juicy pork loin and finished with a silky cream sauce. It looks like a restaurant main, but it is easier than you would ever guess. Get the recipe →
Herb Crusted Pork Loin with Pan Gravy
A peppery herb crust, juicy slices, and a silky pan gravy made right from the drippings, from my friend Lisa over at Garlic & Zest. It is an elegant Christmas main that is so much easier than it looks. Get the recipe →
Whole Roast Chicken
Crispy golden skin, juicy meat, and a house that smells like Sunday dinner the whole afternoon. If you are cooking for a smaller group this year, this is the main I would make. Get the recipe →
Easy Whole Roast Turkey
A garlic herb butter tucked right under the skin keeps this turkey juicy and golden every time. It is not just for Thanksgiving, and it feeds a big Christmas crowd beautifully. Get the recipe →
Easy Apple Cider Chicken Recipe (with Glazed Apples)
Seared chicken thighs finished under a sweet and savory apple cider glaze with tender apple slices in every bite. It is a cozy, easy main when you want something a little different. Get the recipe →
Make Ahead Mains for a Crowd
Homemade Lasagna
Layers of rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey cheese baked until bubbly. Plenty of families serve lasagna on Christmas, and you can build it the day before and just bake. Get the recipe →
Coq au Vin Recipe (Chicken in Wine)
Chicken braised low and slow in red wine with bacon, mushrooms, and little pearl onions. It tastes like a fancy French bistro but it all comes together in one pan. Get the recipe →
Easy Italian Beef Braciole Recipe
Thin steak rolled around a garlicky provolone and herb filling, then braised in tomato sauce until fork tender. My house smells like an Italian grandma took over every time I make it. Get the recipe →
Slow Cooker Turkey Breast with Gravy
Tender turkey breast with rich homemade gravy and zero oven space required. It is a real lifesaver when the oven is packed with sides on the big day. Get the recipe →
Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese with Ham
Elbow macaroni, savory ham, and a gooey three cheese sauce that cooks right in the slow cooker with no boiling. It is a dump and go main the kids devour, and it is perfect for leftover ham too. Get the recipe →
Potatoes and Cheesy Sides
Twice-Baked Parmesan Potatoes
Creamy, cheesy twice baked baby potato bites that vanish off the platter every time. They are fun for little hands to help fill, and you can make them ahead. Get the recipe →
Easy Southern Smothered Potatoes Recipe
Yukon golds, sweet onion, and garlic smothered in one cast iron skillet until golden and buttery. The first time I made these the skillet was scraped clean before I sat down. Get the recipe →
Crispy Baked Potato Recipe
Crackly salty skins and fluffy insides from just three pantry ingredients. Set up a little toppings bar and let everyone build their own. Get the recipe →
Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese Recipe
Tender elbow macaroni baked in a sharp cheddar sauce with a broiled cheese top. Every holiday table needs a mac and cheese, and this copycat is the one my girls line up for. Get the recipe →
Easy Baked Scalloped Zucchini
Tender zucchini rounds layered in a creamy Italian cheese sauce and baked until golden and bubbly. This is the side that finally made my kids excited about their vegetables. Get the recipe →
Holiday Vegetables and Festive Salads
Easy Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts Recipe (Crispy at 375)
Halved sprouts tossed in olive oil and roasted until the cut sides go crispy and caramelized. Even the brussel sprout skeptics at our table go back for seconds. Get the recipe →
Whole Roasted Romanesco Cauliflower (30 Minutes)
A whole head of romanesco roasted until nutty and sweet, and it looks like a little Christmas tree on the platter. It is the side that makes the whole table stop and stare. Get the recipe →
Crispy Baked Parmesan Asparagus Fries Recipe
Asparagus spears baked in a crispy parmesan coating with a tangy mustard dipping sauce. They double as an appetizer while everyone waits for dinner. Get the recipe →
Warm Kale Salad with Bacon, Pear, and Goat Cheese
A hot bacon and shallot dressing poured over hearty greens, sweet pear, and creamy goat cheese. It is warm, cozy, and pretty enough for the holiday table. Get the recipe →
Vintage Christmas Jello Salad
Red and green jello cubes suspended in a creamy ring shaped just like a wreath. It is pure nostalgia, and it always gets people talking about their grandma’s version. Get the recipe →
Cranberry Green Beans with Quinoa and Goat Cheese
Crisp green beans tossed with quinoa, sweet dried cranberries, sliced almonds, and creamy goat cheese, from my friend Sarah over at Bucket List Tummy. It is a fresh, colorful side that balances out all the rich dishes on the Christmas table, and it comes together in about 15 minutes. Get the recipe →
Homemade Rolls and Christmas Breads
Homemade Crescent Rolls
Soft, buttery, flaky rolls that are so much better than anything from a can. My family begs for these at every holiday dinner, and the girls love brushing on the butter. Get the recipe →
Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread (Spinach Dough, From Scratch)
Soft garlic butter dough balls baked in the shape of a tree, tinted green with fresh spinach. It is an edible centerpiece that gets everyone pulling off a piece. Get the recipe →
Southern Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe
Tall, flaky, buttery biscuits that make you feel like a Southern grandma on your very first try. Serve them warm with honey butter and watch the basket empty. Get the recipe →
Homemade Brioche Bread Recipe
Rich, buttery, pillowy soft bread with a tender golden crumb. Serve it warm with dinner, then turn any leftovers into French toast on Christmas morning. Get the recipe →
Homemade Panettone
Soft, buttery Italian Christmas bread studded with raisins and candied orange. Baking it from scratch fills the whole house with the coziest holiday smell. Get the recipe →
Christmas Desserts to Finish the Feast
Easy Gingerbread Cake Recipe (with Cream Cheese Frosting)
A moist, old fashioned molasses cake loaded with warm spices under fluffy cream cheese frosting. It is the smell of December in our house. Get the recipe →
Eggnog Cake (Easy Frosted 9×13 Holiday Cake)
Holiday eggnog baked right into a tender, nutmeg laced 9×13 cake with a silky eggnog frosting. I brought one to a potluck and came home with an empty pan. Get the recipe →
Easy Sticky Toffee Pudding
A moist, date sweetened cake drenched in warm buttery toffee sauce. It is the coziest way to end a big Christmas dinner. Get the recipe →
Peppermint Cheesecake (No Bake Candy Cane Swirl)
A buttery Oreo crust under a cloud of pink swirled peppermint filling, and no oven needed. It frees up your oven and makes the dessert table look so festive. Get the recipe →
Eggnog Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding
Cinnamon rolls soaked in a creamy eggnog custard and baked into one cozy pan. Serve it warm for dessert or save it for Christmas morning. Get the recipe →
Save This Christmas Dinner Menu
Pin this roundup so your whole Christmas menu is one tap away when you start planning, and if you make one of these, leave a comment on the recipe and tell us what made it onto your holiday table. From our kitchen to your table!
