Whether you’re hosting a big, epic holiday meal with friends and extended family, or planning a cozy dinner just you and your partner, we’ve got you covered. Here are over 50 Christmas dinner ideas.
This list includes ideas for appetizers, main courses, side dishes, drinks, and desserts. I tried organizing them in this order. You can find even more decorating and hosting ideas in our complete Christmas archive. You can also serve these with a fun Grinch punch.
Pigs in a Blanket – Easy Appetizer
How to make an easy appetizer that everyone will love.
deviled egg recipe
How to make classic deviled eggs and some variations.
rotel cheese dip
A simple and easy cheese dip recipe using Velvita cheese. When I was a kid, this was always served for holiday meals at my grandmother’s house.
5 easy crostini appetizers
Topping French bread crostini with 5 different topping ideas.
pinwheel sandwich
Easy finger food recipes perfect for holiday parties.
snowman cheese ball
Easy holiday appetizer – perfect for parties.
caprese candy cane
Candy cane salad with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
easy holiday cheese ball wreath
How to make different types of cheese balls that can be arranged into holiday wreaths.
antipasto lease
Appetizer Christmas wreath appetizer.
mushroom stuffed animal
Appetizers and side dishes perfect for holiday meals.
Lasagna that is not boiled overnight
A delicious lasagna recipe that you can make ahead and bake whenever you need it.
air fryer salmon
How to easily air fry salmon.
air fryer steak
How to make a perfectly cooked steak in the air fryer.
detroit style pizza
My favorite homemade pizza recipe! This is also a reader favorite.
stuffed peppers with meat
Peppers with cheese, beef and Spanish rice. A hearty and delicious recipe.
How to grill steak (bacon-wrapped fillet)
How to bake bacon-wrapped filet mignon in the oven.
air fryer chicken tenders
This is a recipe for chicken tenders made from scratch that can be made in the air fryer.
chicken pot pie recipe
A delicious and easy chicken pot pie using premade dough and rotisserie chicken.
air fryer fried chicken
How to make crispy and juicy fried chicken in the air fryer.
Marry Me Chicken
Fried chicken with creamy sauce. This recipe is flavorful and decadent.
air fryer chicken
How to make perfectly cooked, juicy chicken in the air fryer.
baked chicken
How to bake chicken breast without soaking it in water – juicy and delicious!
stuffed meatballs
Juicy and delicious meatballs packed with all the flavors of the holidays!
turkey chili
A simple and delicious turkey chili recipe. Dress it up with cheese, sour cream, chips, or any other toppings you like.
turkey meatball quiche
I think this turkey meatball quiche would make a great Christmas dinner or breakfast. I always love quiche!
ambrosia salad
Creamy and sweet fruit salad. This always feels like part of a holiday meal to me.
The best baked macaroni and cheese
Classic macaroni and cheese baked without eggs or evaporated milk.
cauliflower gratin
A popular casserole with creamy cauliflower and cheese.
slow cooker mashed potatoes
Learn how to make delicious mashed potatoes in advance with this easy recipe.
Roasted sweet potatoes with whipped feta
Sweet and savory roasted sweet potatoes served with creamy whipped feta cheese. Hmm!
stuffed risotto
Risotto always feels fancy to me. This stuffed risotto recipe makes a perfect accompaniment to any holiday main course.
fresh green bean casserole
Easy green bean casserole with pepper jack cheese.
honey butter
How to make honey butter perfect for holiday dinners.
jelly salad
A sweet dessert salad divided into three layers. This is a staple holiday meal in our house.
easy corn casserole
A delicious bread pudding-like side dish that can be made ahead of time.
Baked lobster macaroni and cheese
Is there a restaurant for the celebration? I almost always order the lobster mac and cheese, as does my family. So for me, it’s perfect for a holiday or celebratory meal.
broccoli casserole
Creamy, cheesy broccoli casserole topped with Ritz crackers.
best stuffing recipes
This is the best stuffing recipe perfect for holiday meals.
sweet potato casserole
A sweet and savory side dish topped with brown sugar pecans or marshmallows.
potatoes for funerals
A creamy, cheesy and comforting potato casserole topped with cornflakes.
espresso martini
Make this iconic espresso martini with just 3 ingredients.
butterbeer recipe
Learn how to make Harry Potter Butterbeer at home! This feels exactly right as we watch a full marathon of his HP movies while on vacation.
How to make mulled wine
How to make and customize the best homemade mulled wine.
best christmas cocktails
This roundup of the best Christmas cocktail recipes is sure to bring some extra cheer to your holiday season.
hot chocolate bar ideas
This season we decided to create an epic hot cocoa bar. It’s a little dirty and sticky, but the memories are absolutely priceless.
retro wreath cake
If you want an eye-catching dessert, learn how to make this retro wreath cake.
puppy chow
This classic dessert mix is perfect to have on hand for holiday parties or give as a homemade gift.
Soft and chewy gingerbread cookies
A flavorful holiday cutout cookie recipe.
christmas cupcakes
If you’re holiday hosting this season and need some easy Christmas cupcake decorating ideas, we’ve got you covered.
Figgy Pudding – Christmas Pudding
A non-traditional take on this classic Christmas dessert.