These Christmas recipe ideas reflect the dishes we return to each holiday season because they're flavorful, reliable, and well-tested in our own kitchen. This Cooking Chat collection brings together easy appetizers, seasonal sides, and festive mains for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals.
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Appetizers and small bites
These Christmas-ready appetizers strike a balance between festive and familiar. With a mix of warm dips and easy crostini, they're ideal for relaxed holiday entertaining without spending the whole day in the kitchen.
Appetizers
These easy appetizers are perfect for Christmas gatherings, whether you’re hosting a relaxed Christmas Eve get-together or welcoming family before the main Christmas day meal. They’re simple to prepare, great for sharing, and designed to keep everyone happily snacking while the holiday fun unfolds.
Crisp crostini topped with fresh basil pesto and cheese make an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s perfect for Christmas gatherings and casual holiday entertaining. Sauvignon Blanc and Vouvray make good wine pairings for the crostini, and you could go with a number of Italian white wines, too.
This Middle Eastern–inspired dip made with roasted red peppers, walnuts, and warm spices is rich, flavorful and perfect for serving with pita or crusty bread during the holidays. We include a nut-free option. Excellent served with Pinot Noir!
This vibrant roasted beet dip adds bold color and earthy flavor to a holiday appetizer spread. It’s a simple, make-ahead option that pairs well with crackers, bread, or fresh vegetables and feels right at home on a Christmas table.
This warm, cheesy three-ingredient dip comes together quickly and is ideal for relaxed Christmas celebrations, from Christmas Eve snacking to watch a big game.
This simple salami board is an easy, no-cook option that’s perfect for Christmas entertaining. With a mix of sliced salami, cheese, and pantry-friendly accompaniments, it’s ideal for grazing and can be assembled in minutes. Dolcetto is a good Italian red wine pairing for this one.
Smooth, flavorful, and vibrant red in color, this roasted red pepper dip adds a festive touch to any holiday appetizer spread and pairs beautifully with crackers or vegetables.
Christmas holiday side dishes
These holiday side dishes are designed to pair easily with classic Christmas mains like roast beef or turkey. Seasonal vegetables, familiar flavors, and a mix of hearty and green sides help round out the table without overcomplicating the meal. All of these work well for family-style serving and festive gatherings. For more ideas, check out our collection of 40+ sides to serve with roast beef.
Holiday Sides
Here are some Cooking Chat recipes perfect for serving along with Christmas main dishes!
Quickly sautéed arugula with red bell peppers adds a fresh, peppery green element that balances richer holiday mains. It’s an easy side that comes together fast and brightens up the plate. Plus, the red and green color makes it perfect for Christmas!
Italian style mashed potatoes with Swiss chard makes for a tasty twist on the classic side dish.
This simple baby kale salad with maple vinaigrette adds a fresh, green element to the holiday table and helps balance richer Christmas dishes. It’s an easy, versatile side that pairs well with both roast turkey and roast beef.
A holiday-friendly twist on a classic, these sweet potatoes are enhanced with warm cumin butter and fragrant sage. They pair beautifully with both turkey and roast beef and feel right at home on a Christmas table.
With its deep red color and slightly bitter flavor, sautéed radicchio adds contrast and visual appeal to holiday meals. It’s especially good alongside roasted meats and richer sides.
This colorful side combines sweet roasted beets and butternut squash for a dish that feels both festive and comforting. It’s a great way to add seasonal vegetables and natural sweetness to a Christmas plate.
Main Dishes for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
This collection of main dishes makes it easy to plan meals for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You can choose lighter fish dishes for Christmas Eve, then turn to classic roasts and comforting mains for a traditional Christmas Day celebration.
Holiday Main Dishes
Whether you’re planning a lighter Christmas Eve meal or a classic Christmas Day feast, these main dishes have you covered. From simple fish recipes to traditional roasts, each option is designed to be festive, familiar, and family-friendly.
This baked cod is topped with a simple olive relish that adds bright, savory flavor without overpowering the fish. It’s an approachable but slightly elevated option for Christmas Eve, pairing easily with seasonal vegetable sides. We paired with an Albariño from Paso Robles.
Mild, flaky haddock makes an easy and approachable Christmas Eve main. It cooks quickly and pairs well with simple seasonings, making it a great option for a lighter holiday meal. We like it with an Abruzzo white wine.
This spiced ribeye roast is rich, flavorful, and well-suited to a special holiday meal. Topped with caramelized onions, it feels elegant enough for Christmas dinner while still being comforting and familiar.
This roasted turkey breast delivers all the traditional holiday flavor without the need to cook a whole bird. It’s an ideal choice for smaller Christmas gatherings or when you want a straightforward centerpiece. Bonus - this recipe comes along with our comprehensive guide for pairing wine with turkey.
This classic spoon roast is tender, flavorful, and perfect for a traditional Christmas dinner. Served with a creamy horseradish sauce, it’s a timeless roast beef option that pairs beautifully with seasonal holiday sides.
This kale pesto lasagna offers a comforting, meatless main that still feels festive and substantial. It’s a great option for vegetarian guests or for adding variety to the holiday table.
A classic roast beef option that’s budget-friendly and dependable, this top round roast is well-suited to a family-style Christmas dinner. It’s simple to prepare and pairs easily with a wide range of holiday sides.
Whether you're planning ahead or pulling things together at the last minute, these Christmas recipe ideas are meant to be reliable and flexible. All of the recipes in this collection are ones we make regularly, so you can cook with confidence and focus on enjoying time with family and friends.
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