Best Christmas Dinner Ideas
All the Best Christmas Dinner Ideas you need to inspire and create your Christmas Dinner Menu! Main dishes, side dishes, desserts and drinks. FREE printable menu included.
Over the years I’ve shared so many recipes over here that are perfect for Christmas dinner. So I thought it would be a good idea to put all of them into one place for you! One spot, one easy place to access so that you can create the best holiday menu ever. Everything from different ways to make a turkey, to various easy and delicious side dishes, delectable desserts, delicious drinks and more. I hope you find some tasty Christmas dinner ideas that your whole family will love!
Resources to help with your Christmas Dinner Menu:
- Dinner Menu: Before we get to the recipes I want to share this printable and clickable dinner menu with you. If you download this file, you can use it as a guide or when it’s on your desktop you can click the titles of the recipes and it will take you to the recipe on my site! Simple and so useful. DOWNLOAD the Printable and CLICKABLE Christmas Dinner Menu HERE
- Christmas Planner Pages for the Kitchen: FREE, printable sheets for all of your holiday kitchen planning. Includes Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner menu planning sheets, to-do lists, a grocery list, recipe cards, baking lists, a holiday activity list and more. DOWNLOAD them HERE.
- Christmas Dinner Grocery List: And if you need a Christmas dinner grocery checklist you will find this other printable really helpful. DOWNLOAD the Grocery List HERE.
Christmas Turkey, Ham and Beef Recipes
Here are some delicious recipes for the star of your Christmas Dinner Menu!
Traditional Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy
This Traditional Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy is the easiest way to make a turkey! This is a simple and classic roasted turkey, with a delicious pan gravy. A perfect main dish for your traditional Christmas dinner.
Traditional Herb Turkey Roast
If you don’t want to roast a full turkey for the main course, try this Traditional Herb Turkey Roast. This tender and juicy turkey can be ready to enjoy in less than 3 hours, giving you more time to spend with family.
Lemon Rosemary Roasted Turkey
This Lemon Rosemary Roasted Turkey is a delicious, tender turkey with fresh lemon and fresh herbs that add so much flavour! It’s a nice change and a little different from classic roasted turkey.
Bacon Wrapped Turkey
This Bacon Wrapped Turkey is SO easy to make, and is definitely one of our favourite ways to cook a turkey. Believe me when I say that a turkey that has been wrapped in, and roasted in bacon, comes out so moist and delicious. And the gravy is amazing too. This is an absolutely delicious turkey for your holiday table.
One Dish Turkey and Stuffing
If you’re having a small gathering for the holidays, this One Dish Turkey and Stuffing is a perfect Christmas dinner option. This will serve 4 adults (or a family of 6 with kids) comfortably.
Turkey Brine
Turkey Brine is another way to guarantee a delicious and moist turkey. This method takes a little more effort but the results are so worth it.
Cranberry Glazed Turkey Breast
This Cranberry Glazed Turkey Breast is perfect for a smaller Christmas dinner. Depending on the size of the turkey breast you buy, you can serve up to 4 to 6 people.
Stuffed Turkey Breast Roll
Make this Stuffed Turkey Breast Roll recipe for the holiday season! Savoury stuffing rolled inside a tender turkey breast. Easy and ready in 2 hours!
The BEST Christmas Ham
This truly is the Best Christmas Ham Recipe! Baked in a honey-brown sugar-butter-and-orange juice glaze, this holiday ham is so flavourful and delicious. Perfect for your Christmas menu.
Prime Rib
If you’re looking for a decadent and special main dish for your Christmas dinner table, this Prime Rib is perfect! It has a Horseradish, Salt + Black Pepper Crust, and the meat is tender, flavourful and so delicious!
Christmas Stuffing Recipes
I like to bake my stuffing in a separate dish outside of the turkey. I just find it much easier, and there is no worry about proper cooking. Here are 3 stuffing recipe options for your Christmas Dinner!
Savoury Hazelnut Stuffing
This Savoury Hazelnut Stuffing is a delicious side dish with all the traditional herb flavours of Christmas dinner. I’ve added hazelnuts, raisins and apples to this recipe for extra crunch and deliciousness.
Traditional Bread Stuffing
I’ve been making this Traditional Bread Stuffing recipe for years now and it’s my go-to recipe. Classic, traditional and delicious.
Wild Rice Stuffing
Wild Rice Stuffing with raisins and apples is a perfect side dish to holiday turkey. It has all the traditional flavours of bread stuffing, but instead of bread, this dish is made with wild rice and chick peas. It’s SO good.
Christmas Side Dishes, Gravy & Cranberry Sauce
You can’t have a turkey without delicious side dishes, gravy and cranberry sauce!
Turkey Pan Gravy
This Turkey Pan Gravy is made with all the pan drippings from your turkey. It’s so easy to make, and is SO delicious!
Easy Homemade Gravy (from scratch, no drippings)
This Easy Gravy Recipe is made from scratch and requires no pan drippings! Using simple pantry ingredients, this delicious and rich gravy is ready in minutes.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Once you try Homemade Cranberry Sauce, you’ll never reach for canned again. This recipe makes a delicious, sweet & tart sauce that is perfect served with your turkey!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
This recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta is mouthwatering delicious! Roasting the sprouts with pancetta makes them so flavourful.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole is a classic holiday dish! No one can resist that marshmallow topping!
Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes
These Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes are a simple and flavourful side dish! Just 5 ingredients: sweet potatoes tossed in maple syrup, butter, paprika and cinnamon, make a delicious combination.
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Cut your prep time for big holiday dinners with these Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes. A simple and delicious recipe that makes the most creamy mashed potatoes.
Simple Scalloped Potatoes
These Simple Scalloped Potatoes are creamy, rich and perfectly cheesy. A classic and delicious recipe perfect for any dinner occasion.
Whipped Mashed Potatoes with Black Truffle Cheese
For an extra special potato dish, make these Whipped Mashed Potatoes with Black Truffle Cheese. The truffle cheese makes these mashed potatoes so rich and creamy.
Turnip Puff
Turnip Puff is always on our Christmas table! This dish is creamy, fluffy and so delicious! Even the non-rutabaga/turnip lovers (my hubby & kids) like this one.
Creamy Gouda Cheese Cauliflower Bake
This Creamy Gouda Cheese Cauliflower Bake is a creamy and delicious side dish that pairs perfectly with roasted turkey. You can even make this dish a day ahead to save time.
Creamy Shallot and Chive Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
This Creamy Shallot and Chive Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole is a simple and delicious side dish perfect for any meal. You can have this ready and on the table in less than 1 hour.
Honey Roasted Carrots + Parsnips
These Honey Roasted Carrots and Parsnips are sweet and deliciously caramelized! This easy side dish is ready in less than 1 hour. Perfect for holidays.
Buns + Bread
Homemade Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
Let your bread machine do all the mixing and kneading for these Homemade Dinner Buns! Then shape the dough into buns and bake them in your oven.
Pumpkin Rolls
The dough for these delicious Pumpkin Rolls are also made in the bread machine. Shape then bake for dinner. So good.
Festive Cocktails + Mocktails
Winter Sangria
Winter Sangria is a perfect holiday cocktail. It is so delicious…red wine with Grand Marnier, brandy, pomegranate juice and fresh fruit all mixed together into one very festive and flavourful drink! I’ve also shared a non-alcohol version.
White Cranberry Punch
This White Cranberry Punch (No Alcohol) is the most simple drink recipe ever. And it’s a punch both kids and adults can enjoy for Christmas dinner!
Christmas Desserts, Pies and Cakes
Easy Christmas Pavlova Wreath
This Easy Christmas Pavlova Wreath with Fresh Berries and Orange Whipped Cream is THE PERFECT holiday dessert. It’s what dessert dreams are made of! Layers of crunchy marshmallowy meringue, orange whipped cream and fresh berries. So festive. So beautiful.
Pecan Pie
Pecan Pie for Christmas dinner dessert is a favourite. Every time I make one I’m reminded at how easy they actually are to make. And they’re always a hit. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Chocolate Pecan Tarts
Chocolate Pecan Tarts are a delicious variation on classic pecan pie. I like making them into tarts because they’re so rich, and one tart per person is definitely enough.
Mincemeat Pie
This Mincemeat Pie is the perfect Christmas dessert! Serve it up warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream…delicious!
Eggnog Bundt Cake with Eggnog Sugar Glaze
Eggnog Bundt Cake with Eggnog Sugar Glaze is another amazing Christmas dinner dessert idea. It’s easy to make and looks like you spent hours in the kitchen creating it…but you didn’t. Shhhhh, don’t tell anyone.
Sticky Date Pudding Bundt Cake with Toffee Sauce
This Sticky Date Pudding Bundt Cake with homemade Toffee Sauce is a perfect holiday dessert! The cake is tender, rich and so flavourful, and tastes amazing with the homemade toffee sauce and a dollop of whipping cream.
Black Bottom Cupcakes
But these Black Bottom Cupcakes, they’re the best. It’s not Christmas at our house unless these show up on the table after dinner. We like them cold right out of the fridge…try it. I’m betting you’ll LOVE them.
Most Chocolatey German Chocolate Cake
This is the Most Chocolatey German Chocolate Cake! A rich, chocolatey chocolate cake smothered in a gooey coconut, pecan caramel frosting. Definitely a showstopper dessert.
Christmas Gumdrop Nougat Candy
This Christmas Gumdrop Nougat Candy is an easy no-bake treat that’s perfect for the holiday season. Great on holiday dessert plates!
Chocolate Caramel Nut Clusters
These Chocolate Caramel Nut Clusters are made up of 3 parts: a toasted nut layer, a creamy caramel layer, and a rich and smooth chocolate layer which basically makes them a flavour explosion in your mouth. Great for after dinner treat plates.
Christmas Cookies
And just in case there isn’t enough dessert around, here are 15+ Christmas Cookie Recipes that I’ve shared over here over the years!
Christmas Appetizers
If you’re looking for appetizers to serve this holiday season, here are 15+ delicious recipes to try!
I hope you have come away with some delicious food ideas for your own holiday feast! Making this menu has me super excited for Christmas dinner. And don’t forget your stretchy pants on the big day! 😉 Have a very merry and delicious Christmas!
PIN IT for later!
For more Christmas recipe inspiration, be sure to follow me on Pinterest!
