30 Best Christmas Dinner Ideas

Smoked Salmon Terrine

This terrine fits any holiday table. Cream cheese is wrapped in salmon just like a Christmas gift. It's salty, smoky, and decadent!

Prawn Cocktail

Add some seafood to your Christmas dinner menu with classic prawn cocktails. With lots of seasonings and a sauce for dipping, the prawn cocktail is amazing for sharing.

Caprese Skewers

A holiday spread isn't complete without a few appetizers. These caprese skewers have tangy tomatoes combined with creamy mozzarella cheese. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar on top makes it even better!

Jewelled Eggplant Salad

With all the richness of a Christmas meal, it helps to have a light salad. This eggplant salad has beautiful roasted notes that pair well with the salty feta cheese. It's a wonderful side dish that won't overpower the meal.

Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Start the holidays off right with some bacon-wrapped dates on Christmas Eve. The dates are filled with cream cheese which gives a nice tanginess that works beautifully with the salty bacon.

Prime Rib

This seared prime rib is the juiciest main dish you can make for a Christmas or Christmas Eve dinner. The outside of the prime rib is beautifully crisped, and the inside will melt in your mouth.

Roast Chicken

Roast chicken is one of the most popular main dishes for Christmas Day. It's a great choice for smaller groups and is quicker to cook. This recipe uses lemon juice and herbs for a delightful twist to a classic roasted chicken.

Baked Ham

Baked ham is a quintessential Christmas table dish. The spiral ham is juicy, tender, and has the best balance of sweet and salty. With a tangy glaze, the ham hocks' saltier notes feel nice and balanced.

Roast Pork

If you want a lighter holiday meal this December, make this roast pork recipe. With plenty of garlic and fresh thyme, the pork loin takes on bright flavors that are just scrumptious. Serve the roast pork with sliced apples, or with a nice apple sauce.

Beef Tenderloin

This juicy beef tenderloin will have everyone yelling, "Merry Christmas!" By cooking it low and slow on a sheet pan, the filet mignon is unbelievably tender while forming a crisp exterior.

Enjoy this juicy cut of beef with a lovely glass of white wine for an elegant dinner experience.

Beef Wellington

Beef wellington is juicy meat wrapped in a layer of mushrooms and puff pastry. Mushroom is cooked with dijon mustard and red wine that add a depth of flavor to the beef wellington. It's an impressive centerpiece dish that is both beautiful and delicious.

Roasted Turkey

When perfectly cooked, roasted turkey is wonderfully juicy and full of flavor. The best part about having roast turkey for a Christmas dinner is that you have plenty of leftovers to enjoy the next day.

Brine the turkey in an apple cider brine to prevent the meat from drying.

Roast Lamb

This Indian roast lamb is a fantastic alternative main dish for a holiday dinner. The spice rub is delicious, but it also keeps all the juices inside the lamb. It's one of the most flavorful recipes on this list!

Pan-Fried Duck

Pan-fried duck will get everyone in the holiday spirit. The skin is wonderfully crispy, and the meat is so tender! It's a delicious main course that tastes even better with a zesty orange sauce.

Enjoy the duck with a nice glass of red wine like pinot noir.

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are roasted with parmesan cheese and olive oil to make for one of my favorite side dishes. The mini cabbages are typical of a Christmas platter, and for good reason! Having some vegetables on the Christmas dinner menu is never a bad thing.

Mushroom Stuffing

If you're looking for vegetarian-friendly Christmas dinner ideas, this mushroom stuffing is the way to go. Mushrooms, garlic, and bread are baked together to make an umami-packed side dish. These mushrooms will have people wanting more!

Sauteed Peppers

Simple recipes are great for the holidays. With just a bit of time and a few ingredients, these sauteed vegetables are a healthy side for a Christmas dinner menu. Easily turn this into a salad recipe with some spinach or arugula.

Candied Yams

Yams are candied in a blend of brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla to make an amazing holiday dish. Despite being sweet, it's not a dessert! It pairs beautifully with slow cooker collard greens or casseroles.

Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are among the most common side dishes on a Christmas dinner menu. Whether you're cooking them in a slow cooker or on the stove, mashed potatoes are easy to make and can be enjoyed with many different types of main dishes.

These mashed potatoes are made even tastier with the help of roasted garlic.

Maple Glazed Carrots

Sweet carrots are cooked down in maple syrup and butter. It's a relatively healthy dish that adds a nice sweetness to balance out all the savory foods on the holiday table!

Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole is packed with fresh green beans, mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions. This is one of the quintessential holiday recipes that everyone fights over. This green bean casserole is creamy, crunchy, and oh-so delicious.

Fresh green beans work best, but you can use canned as well.

Corn Pudding

What better way to make a corn pudding than by adding a bunch of cheddar cheese? This rich dish is subtly sweet, but it's savory enough to pair perfectly with a roast turkey. Make sure to add this unique corn pudding to your Christmas dinner menu.

Honey Roast Parsnips

Roasted root vegetables, like parsnips, really shine with a drizzle of honey and herbs. They're earthy, sweet, savory, and have a tender texture. There's always room for healthy recipes during the holidays.

Add the roasted parsnips to a salad mix for a quick and healthy meal.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a classic Fall staple that should be taken advantage of at the holiday dinner table. When cooked, they take on a delightful caramelized flavor that balances out the salty and savor main course.

Christmas Rice

Vegetarian and vegan meals don't have to be boring! This rice recipe is prepared with nuts, spices, green beans, onions, and dried fruits. It's a fulfilling plate of food that could feed a king!

Homity Pie

This pie is filled with potatoes, butter, cheese, and cream for an unbelievably rich meal. Though it's vegetarian-friendly, you can add bacon for an extra bit of smokiness.

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce has a lovely tartness that cuts through all the fattiness of the turkey and hefty sides typical of the holiday season. By adding in apples, there is a bit more sweetness than your typical cranberry sauce.

Add a fun twist to the cranberries by making a cranberry chutney or dried cranberry sauce!

Simple Turkey Gravy

Gravy recipes are easy to make, so try making this homemade version. This simple gravy needs just three ingredients, but you can add seasonings to make it your own.

Try making gravy from turkey giblets to have a zero-waste holiday. Use this with other proteins like meatballs or ham!

Christmas Cookies

If you want to make Santa a cookie platter with your kids, try this cookie recipe! With lots of butter and spices, each bit of these eggnog cookies will have both kids and adults smiling (and Santa, too!).

Christmas Pavlova Wreath

A pavlova wreath is the ultimate dessert to add to a party platter. Crunchy meringue is combined with whipped cream and fruit to make a beautiful pastry.

You can make this stunning wreath ahead of time to save some time for the big event.