Holidays & Entertaining Entertaining Party Food & Drink 49 Christmas Dinner Ideas for an Elegant Holiday Meal With so many holiday recipes—from cocktails and appetizers to desserts—you're sure to find the perfect holiday menu. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 16, 2024 Close Photo: Jen Causey If you're searching for an elegant Christmas dinner menu, you've come to the right place. We rounded up some of our merriest, crowd-pleasing dinner ideas—from holiday cocktails and easy appetizers to main dishes and festive desserts—that your guests won't forget. We've included the holiday party classics, like glazed ham, roast beef, and prosciutto-wrapped pears, as well as a few fresh takes on comfort foods, including caramelized onion and apple tarts, cider-roasted root veggies, and lots more. Don't forget merry desserts and drinks to keep the cheer going all night long. Pick out your favorite Christmas dinner recipes to create the holiday meal of your dreams. 01 of 49 Sweet-and-Spicy Mulled Wine Greg DuPree This mulled wine is the perfect punch to serve at an ugly Christmas sweater party: It’s warm, retro, and delicious! It calls for a full-bodied dry red wine, like Zinfandel, but Merlot or Cabernet works well, too. The key is to find a wine that can compete with this recipe's sugar, spices, and orange flavors. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 49 Apple Brandy Pork Loin Victor Protasio This pork loin is the perfect pick for your holiday feast. From the dry brine to the apple-brandy and maple syrup glaze, this meat is enveloped and permeated with flavor. While the roast does need special attention, the juicy result is more than worth it and we promise your holiday guests will agree. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 49 White Chocolate Pomegranate Cheesecake Victor Protasio For a standout dessert that will impress your guests, try this white chocolate pomegranate cheesecake. The cake is served with a pomegranate sauce that is made by boiling pomegranate juice with water, sugar, and cornstarch then mixing in butter, lime juice, and salt. The gingersnap cookie crust gives warmth to the cheesecake. You can either bake these spice cookies beforehand or purchase pre-made cookies from the store to cut down on prep time. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 49 Caramelized Onion Tarts With Apples Con Poulos Need an impressive Christmas appetizer that doesn’t require a lot of effort? Sweet meets savory in this onions-and-apples mixture atop crisp, elegant, puff-pastry tarts. These tasty bites look fancy, but they’re surprisingly easy to make. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 49 Slow Cooker Brisket With Melty Onions and Chimichurri Victor Protasio If you're looking for a main dish that takes little time and effort to assemble, this brisket recipe might be perfect for you. You'll quickly sear the brisket before transferring it to the slow cooker to let it sit on low for about eight hours. Guests will love the vibrant chimichurri sauce served alongside the brisket. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 49 Roasted Rhubarb Salad With Goat Cheese and Pistachios Greg DuPree Here's a Christmas-colored salad we can get on board with: simple yet refined. Tender roasted rhubarb pairs with creamy goat cheese and mixed baby greens in a sweet mustardy vinaigrette topped with chopped pistachios. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 49 Dry-Brined Lemon-Sage Turkey Greg Dupree Say goodbye to dried-out turkey with this mouthwatering recipe. Dry-brining the turkey creates a crispy outside while reserving every bit of moisture inside, resulting in a juicy turkey that everyone will love. We just hope you don't get stuck with making the Christmas turkey every year! GET THE RECIPE 08 of 49 Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pecans John Kernick Roasted Brussels sprouts are so every day but, somehow, throw some pecans into the mix and you have a holiday-worthy side that’s the perfect combination of crunchy and savory. It’s easy, too: All you need is one pan, four ingredients, and 15 minutes to prep. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 49 Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes John Kernick A big bowl of fluffy mashed potatoes is a holiday feast must-have, and this recipe answers the call. We like to use red potatoes and leave the skin on to add color and a rustic texture. Add a sprinkle of green scallions or chives for an appropriately Christmas-colored dish. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 49 Pumpkin Bread Trifle With Pepita Streusel Antonis Achilleos This sweet treat is a showstopper for stress-free entertaining. It layers chunks of pumpkin bread (homemade or store-bought) with a cream cheese-whipped cream mixture and sweet, crumbly streusel. Topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds, this comes together quickly but has that wow factor guests expect for a holiday meal. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 49 Slow-Cooker Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Greg DuPree If the weather outside is frightful, starting Christmas Day festivities with a mug of this would be so delightful! Cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and molasses make this concoction extra festive. Pull it together in the slow cooker in the morning and then forget about it until guests arrive. Consider serving after dinner, too. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 49 Beer Cheese Fondue Grace Elkus Help holiday guests warm up on a chilly winter evening with this retro dish that’s become trendy again. Serve with soft pretzels or a toasted baguette, or go beyond the basics with an assortment of dippers: cut-up apples and pears, sliced cooked sausage, broccoli and cauliflower florets, or cherry tomatoes. It’s a fun way to get everyone mingling before they sit down for Christmas dinner. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 49 Bacon-Wrapped Pork Loin With Cherries Jonny Valiant With a double dose of porky goodness, this glorious bacon-wrapped pork loin will hog the attention at your holiday table. Amazingly, it takes just 15 minutes of prep time and then an hour in the oven with a one-time basting. The result is crispy bacon, a tangy, fruity layer of cherries, and moist tender pork. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 49 Beet-Radicchio Salad Christopher Testani This colorful salad brightens up any holiday spread, but looks aren't everything. Its maple-and-miso dressing lets guests know it's not just any plain-Jane salad. Recipe shortcuts like pre-cooked beets and already-shaved Parmesan help this salad come together in just 20 minutes. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 49 Maple Roasted Vegetables Grace Elkus Give Brussels sprouts and carrots the love they deserve by roasting them with olive oil and maple syrup. This super-easy, sheet-pan side requires just 5 minutes to prep and a 20-minute roast. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 49 Horseradish Potato Gratin Con Poulos We’ve taken a classic potato gratin recipe, omitted the cheese, and then kicked up its creamy sauce with nutmeg and prepared horseradish for some heat. This dish looks très French-fancy, but is easy to prepare and takes only 10 minutes of hands-on work. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 49 Croissant and Chocolate Bread Pudding Con Poulos This rich, chocolatey dessert is an indulgence suitable for a celebratory dessert and makes a sweet addition to a holiday brunch. Serve this bread pudding—featuring store-bought croissants—warm or at room temperature. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 49 Boozy Apple Cider Slushie J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler Want to know how to win at any holiday gathering? Make boozy apple cider slushies. This delightful, festive cocktail is just the thing to get your Christmas fête started. Caution: Friends will end up begging you to make these all year round. GET THE RECIPE 19 of 49 Pears With Blue Cheese and Prosciutto Mikkel Vang If you have 10 minutes, you can put together these elegant bites. Tender, salty prosciutto takes the classic combination of sweet pears and funky blue cheese to another level. It’s best to use a creamy (not crumbly) blue cheese here, so the cheese doesn’t fall apart. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 49 Brussels Sprouts Salad Heami Lee Here's a make-ahead salad that gives you more time to celebrate on Christmas Day. Thinly sliced Brussels sprouts take center stage, with supporting roles played by colorful strips of bitter radicchio, crunchy pecans, and sweet dried cranberries in a tart apple cider vinegar dressing. Add Parmesan shavings just before serving. GET THE RECIPE 21 of 49 Broccoli and Gruyère Gratin Jose Picayo Think of this as a lighter take on mac and cheese or a richer, more decadent take on steamed broccoli. Regardless, broccoli haters will likely forget they're not supposed to like it. GET THE RECIPE 22 of 49 Ginger Apple Tarte Tatin Christopher Testani The humble apple pie gets a French twist in this impressive creation. Though it looks intimidating, making this upside-down dessert is as easy as pie. Its apple filling flavored with caramel and fresh ginger is topped with a sheet of puff pastry, baked, and then flipped for a dramatic presentation. Cue the oohs and ahs. GET THE RECIPE 23 of 49 Goat Cheese Spread Dana Gallagher Simple yet special, this dip brightens any holiday appetizer spread or charcuterie board. Just goat cheese, black pepper, and your choice of chopped fresh herbs combine for a flavorful accompaniment to crackers, red pepper strips, pepperoni rounds, and a multitude of other dippers. GET THE RECIPE 24 of 49 Spiced Carrot Salad Greg DuPree This recipe proves a salad doesn't have to be leafy, green, or boring. Spiced with cumin and red pepper flakes, and sweetened with plump raisins, this make-ahead carrot dish pairs especially well with lamb and poultry. GET THE RECIPE 25 of 49 Collard Greens With Bacon Jonny Valiant This dish is simple and light, making it a refreshing and healthy addition to your holiday menu to balance out the heavier dishes. If you already have a Southern theme going on—maybe cornbread stuffing and mashed sweet potatoes—so much the better. GET THE RECIPE 26 of 49 Butternut Squash Bake With Wild Rice Victor Protasio In this comforting, winter-weather recipe, wild rice and chunks of roasted butternut squash mingle with caramelized onions and mushrooms. It's a make-ahead wonder that you can assemble days before and then bake the day of. GET THE RECIPE 27 of 49 Easy Ice Cream Cake Marcus Nilsson Too busy to make an amazing dessert to cap off an amazing holiday meal? If you have 10 minutes, you can pull off this one. The secret shortcut to this impressive presentation is a package of ice cream sandwiches from your grocer's freezer stacked between layers of whipped cream. Finish with a sprinkle of chopped chocolate chips or sub with crushed peppermint candies for a festive touch. GET THE RECIPE 28 of 49 Pomegranate Royale Champagne Cocktail Fuzullhanum/Getty Images This cocktail is certainly celebration-worthy. Pomegranate juice brings color, and champagne brings a fun bubbliness that signals a special occasion. GET THE RECIPE 29 of 49 Caprese Skewers With Balsamic Glaze Getty Images Yes, it's Christmas, but every dish doesn't have to be rich and decadent. Set out this fresh, no-coo Caprese-salad-on-a-stick dish to delight guests before dinner, or serve it with the meal as an inventive, colorful salad alternative. GET THE RECIPE 30 of 49 Raspberry-Maple-Glazed Pork Tenderloin Greg DuPree Pork tenderloin is a delicious, healthy choice for a holiday feast: It's lean, mild-tasting, tender, quick-cooking, and incredibly versatile. This recipe pairs it with a maple-and-jam sauce that's balanced with vinegar and Worcestershire for acidity and depth. GET THE RECIPE 31 of 49 Garlicky Green Beans With Pine Nuts Mikkel Vang Sorry: There are no creamy sauces or fried onions here. This lighter recipe pairs tender green beans with garlic and pine nuts, takes just 15 minutes to make, and goes with literally everything. GET THE RECIPE 32 of 49 Gingersnap Cherry Cheesecake José Picayo Talk about indulging, there’s no better way to end a Christmas dinner than with a show-stopping holiday cheesecake. This one—with an extra layer of vanilla cream and cherry preserves—definitely fits the bill. Allow at least 4 hours to chill, and then top with cherry preserves for the final, merry touch. GET THE RECIPE 33 of 49 Spiced Hot Toddy Greg DuPree This recipe does a classic hot toddy—whiskey, sugar, and hot water—one better. It's a spicier version infused with cardamom pods, star anise, and honey that'll help kick off your festivities with a kick. GET THE RECIPE 34 of 49 Red Pepper Walnut Knots Victor Protasio Guests won't believe these didn't come from a bakery, and you won't believe how easy these are to make. Two sheets of puff pastry and a jar of roasted red bell peppers are the shortcuts that enable you to pull these knots together in a jiff. Serve as an appetizer or as a fancy dinner roll. GET THE RECIPE 35 of 49 Smoky Maple Turkey Victor Protasio Love serving turkey on Christmas but hate spending all day in the kitchen? This recipe solves that dilemma with instructions for cooking your turkey a day ahead and then reheating it the day of. What's more, it coats your turkey with a smoky maple butter for a pop of flavor and a mouth-watering golden color. GET THE RECIPE 36 of 49 Rosemary-Roasted Golden Beets and Carrots Con Poulos This easy-yet-upscale side may well convert any veggie-haters at the table, and you'll love the simplicity of this one-sheet dish. Beets and carrots turn fork-tender as they roast in an olive oil-red wine vinegar-rosemary dressing. That's it: We told you it was easy! GET THE RECIPE 37 of 49 Butterscotch Bananas With Vanilla Ice Cream Con Poulos Reserve this sophisticated pecan-and-banana confection flambéed in dark rum for the grownups. Serve this take on bananas foster―a classic dessert that originated in New Orleans―over scoops of vanilla ice cream for a stunning finish. GET THE RECIPE 38 of 49 Spiced Apple Kombucha Stephen DeVries Wow your Christmas crew with this cocktail containing kombucha, spiced rum, and classic winter spices. Make it a few days ahead to let the flavors really come together. Serve in a highball glass with ice, an apple slice garnish, and a cinnamon stick stirrer. GET THE RECIPE 39 of 49 Cheesy Chile Pull-Apart Bread Jennifer Causey This recipe amps up a plain oval loaf of crusty white bread into a fun holiday appetizer. Credit pepper Jack cheese, green chilies, garlic, butter, and scallions for the transformation, which takes only 30 minutes from start to finish. GET THE RECIPE 40 of 49 Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder Antonis Achilleos How do you make succulent lamb even tastier? Slow-roast it at a low temp for 3 hours, baste it in a brown sugar-vinegar glaze, then finish it at a high temp for about 10 minutes. The result is a perfectly tender lamb roast served with a sweet and slightly sour sauce that guests will rave about for months. GET THE RECIPE 41 of 49 Macaroni and Cheese With Cauliflower Maria Robledo A creamy, comforting mac and cheese is just the thing to warm up your holiday table. Cauliflower doesn't replace the mac here but joins it in a dairy-heavy sauce topped with homemade breadcrumbs for a little texture and crunch. (There's no need to tell finicky eaters it's a vegetable dish.) GET THE RECIPE 42 of 49 Vanilla Sweet Potatoes Jim Franco Bring the flavors of the season to your Christmas table with this unique take on sweet potatoes—no marshmallows allowed. This dish is so good and so easy, you might even work it into your regular weeknight meal rotation. GET THE RECIPE 43 of 49 Gooey Chocolate Caramel Tart Samantha Seneviratne If you’re going to indulge, there’s no better way to go all in than with this ultra-rich, extra-decadent tart. This no-bake treat in a cookie crust is sweet, savory, chocolatey, and gooey: the ultimate holiday dessert. GET THE RECIPE 44 of 49 Rosemary Pecans Beatriz da Costa Sure, you can open a package and set out a bowl of nuts, but the holidays are all about making things special. With these delicious, snackable pecans, it takes just 20 minutes to make your holiday appetizer spread extra festive. They’re sweet, spicy, and savory all at once, and we guarantee that once your guests start, they won’t be able to stop. GET THE RECIPE 45 of 49 Chocolate Bar Fondue Anna Williams Oh yes, it’s thoroughly decadent, but Christmas calls for a little indulgence, especially with New Year’s resolutions just around the corner. Serve with an assortment of treats for dipping: fresh strawberries, cubes of angel food or pound cake, jumbo marshmallows, Christmas cookies, or dried apricots, pineapple slices, or figs. GET THE RECIPE 46 of 49 Pistachio Pudding Hector Manuel Sanchez How about something sweet and nutty for dessert? Forget the mix and make this smooth, creamy pudding on your stove in just about 25 minutes, and then chill for 4 hours. Top with homemade whipped cream or store-bought, and add a maraschino cherry for a Christmas-y touch. GET THE RECIPE 47 of 49 Marshmallow and Chocolate Shortbread Slices Caitlin Bensel Marshmallow, chocolate, and shortbread are a trifecta of holiday delights, and this dessert has them all, with a layer of apricot jam to boot. Assemble this in the morning or the night before to serve after dinner, and then humbly accept the accolades. GET THE RECIPE 48 of 49 Everything Dinner Rolls Christopher Testani Want to make a big impact with little effort? Here's one for you: Start with store-bought dinner rolls, brush with butter and honey, sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning, and bake for 15 minutes. The problem is that this easy recipe runs the risk of outshining other dishes you put much more effort into. GET THE RECIPE 49 of 49 Citrus Spice Cranberry Sauce Christopher Testani Cranberry, in some form, belongs on every holiday table, and here's an easy yet sophisticated way to serve it. This recipe starts with a can of whole-berry cranberry sauce and infuses it with cloves, star anise, cinnamon, and oranges for a festive finish that looks and tastes homemade. GET THE RECIPE 25 Crowd-Pleasing Christmas Breakfast Ideas Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit