Looking for Christmas dinner ideas this year? Today I’ll be sharing 3 different menu options to bring some holiday cheer to your Christmas! I’ll be going over entrees, sides, and desserts as well as some optional extras.
Option #1: Turkey, A Christmas Classic
For my first menu option, I’ll be sharing the menu we usually do for Christmas. Turkey has always been the main event, and the smell of roasting turkey is something I will always associate as much with Christmas as I do Thanksgiving.
Sides
Our Christmas dinner was usually a remix of what we had at Thanksgiving. Dressing was always present at both, along with mashed potatoes and turkey gravy. Greens are a must, though I like to switch up the turnips we had at Thanksgiving with collard greens instead.
Cranberry sauce is another duplicate, though it’s honestly more fitting at Christmas in my opinion. Though the day is usually busy, this is the perfect time to try for a homemade version in place of the canned stuff. This sweet, tart treat is the perfect embodiment of the decadence of Christmas
Casseroles are perfect for filling in the gaps. Green bean casserole is a popular choice. Squash casserole is another seasonally appropriate dish. If you need something sweet to help round out your menu, don’t forget about the sweet potato casserole. Alternatively, you could try my Air Fryer Roasted Sweet Potato recipe if you yearn for something different.
Entree
As mentioned above, the entrĂ©e for this meal is turkey. While we also typically have a ham at Christmas, I’m going to branch that out into a separate meal plan later in this post. We usually go for a classic roast turkey, filled with stuffing and basted in herb butter. For more details on cooking turkeys, check out my post on How to Cook a Turkey for Thanksgiving.
Roast turkey isn’t the only way to go, though. You could always opt to deep fry it or even smoke the turkey. I outline details on both in the article linked above.
If you had your fill of turkey at Thanksgiving, you could always opt for a different poultry experience. Goose is traditionally popular in Europe, and you can never go wrong with duck. If you are feeding a smaller group and the budget is limited, you could even go with a whole chicken.
Desserts
At Thanksgiving, pies are my go-to for dessert. At Christmas, cakes take the lead. For this menu option, you can’t go wrong with a Chocolate cake. However, my personal favorite is Hummingbird cake. This fruity concoction is fantastic and fits the season perfectly.
While cakes are the main event, pies still come in clutch as great alternatives. Chocolate pie is a good choice if you don’t have chocolate cake. Sweet potato pie is exquisite if sweet potato casserole is not on your menu. Pretty much anything that worked at Thanksgiving will work here.
Option #2: Holiday Ham
Another option borrowed from Thanksgiving, ham is tied just as strongly to Christmas as turkey. Though I am a turkey lover myself, ham is the preferred choice for many. You can’t go wrong with this pork masterpiece.
Sides
Greens are a must for this menu, in my opinion. Whether it’s collards or turnips, they just pair so well with ham. Cabbage is another option if neither of those is appealing to you. Even green beans are a suitable fill-in.
My Southern fried potatoes are a perfect replacement for the mashed potatoes of the turkey meal. They pair well with both ham and greens. That trio alone will assure you have a happy holiday.
Dressing can go here as well, but dinner rolls are a viable alternative. Sweet Hawaiian rolls go great with ham, and the sweetness is a nice contrast to the greens and fried potatoes.
Entree
Ham is such an easy entree to serve. Most hams you pick up at the grocery store are already cooked; you just have to heat them up. Find the glaze you prefer, or dump the store-bought glaze and make your own! All you need is some butter, sugar, and the spices of your choice.
Dessert
Apple pie is a wonderful choice for dessert, given how well apples pair with pork. For a cake option, a good carrot cake can carry the day. Other good options include smaller Christmas sweets, from fudge to divinity, or even Christmas sugar cookies.
Option #3 – Prime Rib
One of my favorite Christmas dinner ideas is prime rib. My mother started serving this the past few years, and it has been a hit every time. This is perhaps the priciest option on this list, but if you can afford it, prime rib is definitely worth it!
Sides
Roasted potatoes are the best side to pair with prime rib, in my opinion. Roasting them in the pan with the beef allows them to soak up all the beefy flavor from the drippings, turning them into little umami flavor bombs. This pairing is hard to beat.
You’ll want some good dinner rolls to soak up any juices left behind, and I like to go with Yorkshire pudding on this menu. These British classics fit the holiday well, and pair amazingly with prime rib.
Mac and cheese is another good side to pair with this dish. Your choice of roasted vegetables will also go well with the roast beef.
Entree
As I mentioned earlier, prime rib is an expensive option, but sales can be had close to Christmas. Keep a close eye on your local supermarket’s deals over the next few weeks if you want to take the plunge this year.
If prime rib is simply not in your budget, there are other roast options you can use in its place. A chuck roast is a very affordable option, and delicious as well. For more beef choices, check out my post on the Best Cuts of Beef for Christmas Roast.
Dessert
If you want to stick with a British tradition, Christmas/Figgy pudding, Christmas cake, and mince pies are all excellent Christmas dinner ideas. If you want to keep things more American, Hummingbird cake is a great substitute that keeps the fruit theme going.
Option #4 – Feast of the Seven Fishes
An Italian tradition that I can definitely get behind is the feast of the seven fishes. As the name implies, this meal features seven different fish dishes. For this menu, I’ll be mixing seafood dishes from across different cuisines to deliver an unforgettable Christmas dinner.
Sides
I’d start things off with some seafood-themed appetizers. Shrimp cocktail is simple and scrumptious. Hushpuppies and cheese sauce are popular with kids and adults. Stuff the hushpuppies with crab meat for a nice twist, or if you are feeling really adventurous, try crawfish tails.
Seafood dressing is where I’d start for sides. Filled with either shrimp, crab, or clam meat, this delicious twist on the holiday classic will delight seafood lovers everywhere. Seafood gumbo will warm the belly and pair well to kick things off.
Entree
While shellfish dominated the sides, actual fish would star as the entrees. Southern fried catfish is one of my favorites and a Southern delicacy. If that is a bit too fishy tasting, you can substitute Swai.
Mahi mahi over cheese grits with a Cajun cream sauce will wow your guests. Toss on some fried crawfish tails for extra wow factor. If you need a good recipe for cheese grits, I have you covered.
For a refined touch, a bourbon-glazed salmon with asparagus will delight the fancier crowd. There are countless glaze options you can go with if you want to avoid the alcohol, maple being a prime example.
Dessert
I’ll stick with the Cajun theme on desserts. Pecan pie is a favorite across the South, along with bread pudding. Beignets are a Louisiana staple and make for an excellent Christmas treat to finish off the meal.
I hope these Christmas dinner ideas give you the inspiration to pull off a memorable Christmas dinner. A wonderful meal is the perfect end cap to a day filled with family, friends, and loved ones. Merry Christmas!
