A key element to Christmas Day is the food. Gathering around with family and friends to share a delicious meal together at the end of the year is a tradition that's been around forever. Even if you're looking for a non-traditional way to celebrate Christmas, sharing a meal together should always be part of it.
For the host of the dinner, it can be quite a stressful experience. It can be tricky to plan a menu that caters to everyone's diverse tastes and dietary restrictions. So that's why Backyard Boss has come to the rescue to give you 75 ideas for recipes for Christmas day dishes.
1. Turkey
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This time of the year is really the time to shine for turkeys. Especially ones you put in the oven. You can never go wrong when a turkey is on the menu. You could also deep fry your Christmas turkey for a bit of added excitement to this traditional Christmas dish.
2. Christmas Ham
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In my household there's always a debate around whether to put turkey or Christmas ham on the menu. The solution? Invite a bunch of people over for Christmas dinner so you have an excuse to cook both! I prefer my Christmas ham to be maple-glazed for a sweet coating over the juicy meat.
3. Roast Chicken
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A turkey is a big bird that feeds a lot of people. For smaller Christmas dinners consider cooking a chicken instead. They're easier to cook, don't take as long, and in my humble opinion, taste better. The best part is that you can add a bunch of potatoes and vegetables to the roasting tray for a full meal in the oven.
4. Slow-Cooked Leg Of Lamb
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Lamb isn't for everyone, but lamb lovers will tell you there's nothing better than a slow-cooked leg of lamb. Marinate the lamb in lemon juice and herbs and spices to tenderize the meat before roasting. Add fresh rosemary and garlic cloves to the base of the tray and place the leg right on top. These simple additions will elevate the flavor of the lamb.
5. Roasted Prime Rib
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Let's be honest, any roasted meat dish would go well with Christmas dinner, and roasted prime rib is no different. Prime rib is considered by many as the best cut of beef in the world, thanks to its succulent texture and superior flavor. Remember that roast meat continues to cook after you've taken it out of the oven, so remember to pull it out before it's done.
6. Pork Roast With Crackling
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Crackling is the crunchy mixture of pork skin and fat after it's been fried. Turns out it's an excellent crunchy accompaniment to the tender pork itself. Roasting pork is relatively easy, but be careful not to overcook it otherwise the flesh turns out dry.
7. Rack Of Lamb With Rosemary
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A rack of lamb is the equivalent of beef prime rib. It's regarded as a premium cut of meat and contains loin meat with rib bones still attached. My favorite way of cooking a rack of lamb is with a garlic/rosemary/parmesan crust added before going into the oven. Serve with roasted vegetables and homemade gravy.
8. Baked Salmon
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For the pescatarians in the family, try baked salmon as your Christmas dish. Bake it in a honey garlic butter glaze. Top with a holiday "tapenade" of dried cranberries and almonds and garnish with a healthy handful of pomegranate for extra Christmas flair.
9. Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
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Looking for something different from the usual maple-glazed Christmas ham? Why not glaze your ham with brown sugar instead? Making a brown sugar glaze is as easy as can be and once that's done, you can roast your ham as you would any glazed ham.
10. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
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A juicy turkey breast is a rare thing. So if you can consistently pull off this elusive feat you'll be crowned as Christmas dinner royalty! The trick is to do it in a slow cooker. This means you have about 3 minutes of work to do before the slow cooker takes the next 5-6 hours to do the rest. Don't forget to use the juice in the bottom of the pot to make an amazing gravy.
11. Vegetarian Lasagna
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Vegetarian lasagna is so good that even meat-eaters won't notice their favorite ingredient is missing. This dish is fully customizable so you can use any roastable vegetables you have on hand. For added flair, make the last layer of the lasagna a spinach and ricotta layer for a delicious surprise.
12. Crispy Pork Belly
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Nothing like a pork belly roast for a dish that's equal parts crunchy and succulent at the same time. The trick for the crunchiest crackling is to prick hundreds of holes in the fat before roasting and cover with salt while roasting. As for the flesh, it will continue to cook once you take it out of the oven so be sure to remove it before you think it's done.
13. DIY Cranberry Sauce
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Cranberry sauce is an important side dish to any Christmas dinner. Store-bought is fine, but you'll never go back once you realize how easy it is to make your own cranberry sauce that's 10x more delicious. The great thing about making your own is that you can customize it to your own taste. So your cranberry sauce doesn't have to be sickly sweet. Instead, you can aim for a fine balance between salty and sweet.
14. Roasted Cauliflower
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There's usually at least one vegetarian at the table for Christmas dinner. Show them that you care by making a main dish specially for them! Cut the cauliflower into quarters and boil (or steam) for a few minutes. Coat the cauliflower in oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper and roast in the oven until crispy on the outside. This is a great alternative to roasted meat mains.
15. Crunchy Roast Potatoes
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I don't know about you, but to me, no roasted meal is complete without roasted potatoes, the crunchier the better. To get your potatoes nice and crunchy you need to parboil them first. Then lightly coat them in semolina. Then make sure you use an oil with a high smoke point and that the oil and the pan are hot before you add the potatoes. Other than that, roast as normal for the crunchiest roasted potatoes that you ever crunched on.
16. Roast Duck With Apple Cider Drizzle
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Duck is similar to lamb in the sense that you either love it or hate it. The positives of roasting duck is that duck meat is much more flavorful than chicken or turkey, meaning you can add fewer herbs, spices, and sauces. It's also more fatty, meaning less chance of the meat drying out while cooking. For duck lovers, drizzle your duck in apple cider sauce for Christmas-themed sauce.
17. Baked Mac And Cheese
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A side dish so good it could be a main! Mac and cheese ticks all the boxes, quick and easy to make, delicious, and filling. Add a breadcrumb topping for crunch. Don't forget plenty of mozzarella in that white sauce. Seriously, why do we need anything else at Christmas dinner?
18. Sweet Potato Bake
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Sweet potatoes don't really get crunchy when you roast them, so use that to your advantage and make a delectable sweet potato bake. Add rosemary, garlic, and salt and pepper to a roasting tray to bring out the flavors of the sliced sweet potato. Instead of going crispy, the edges will caramelize and become somewhat chewy, which is the best part.
19. Stuffed Jacket Potatoes
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Otherwise known as twice-baked potatoes, this dish is basically mashed potatoes and baked potatoes in one dish. First the potatoes are baked as normal. The inner flesh is then scooped out, leaving the skins intact. Mash the flesh with your selected additives. My favorite is chives, bacon, and cream cheese. Then put this mixture back into the potato skins and bake them again. Amazing.
20. Ratatouille
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Ratatouille is a French vegetable stew made famous by an animated movie of the same name. The secret to making an amazing ratatouille is to sauté each vegetable separately before braising them all together. This delicious dish comes packed with Mediterranean flavors and it's vegan too!
21. Potato Au Gratin
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Otherwise known as potatoes Dauphinoise, this French dish will have everyone at the Christmas table going back for more. It's a decadent dish made with layers of thinly sliced potatoes, cream, butter, and cheese with a little bit of thyme. Need I say more?
22. Potato Rosti
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This Swish dish is the perfect side dish for any roasted meal. They are made with shredded potatoes that are pan fried in a medium-sized skillet until crispy, and then cut into wedges and served as a side. Think hash browns, but larger servings and served at Christmas dinner instead of breakfast.
23. Stuffing
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The unassuming hero of holiday dinners. Stuffing is made from a collection of herbs and spices, chopped vegetables, and some sort of starch like breadcrumbs. Try using cornbread for something a bit different. It's usually cooked inside the cavity of a bird, but it can be cooked on the stovetop.
24. Christmas Cornbread
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Who doesn't love a side of cornbread with their Christmas dinner? Cornbread is sweet with just the right amount of savory and moist enough to be enjoyed on its own. Although even better when paired with a roasted meal and dipped in gravy.
25. Green Bean Casserole
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This dish is a classic Thanksgiving dish, but there are no rules that say you can't have it for Christmas too. Tender green beans cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce are topped with crispy brown onions coated in breadcrumbs. Sounds pretty good right? If you weren't convinced already, this is the perfect dish to make ahead of time to save time and stress on Christmas day.
26. Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes
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Remember those crispy roasted potatoes in the list above? Well, another trick to getting the crispiest roasted potatoes is to roast them in duck fat. Duck fat has its own flavor that will be imparted to the potatoes for a seriously decadent dish. Remember to heat the oil before you add the potatoes for the most crunch.
27. Parmesan Roasted Brussel Sprouts
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Brussel sprouts, whether you love them or hate them, taste best when roasted. To dial that flavor all the way up, coat the sprouts in oil, garlic, parmesan, and panko breadcrumbs. Then add them to a hot oven for some crispy and addictive parmesan roasted brussel sprouts.
28. Mashed Potato
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Potatoes; so versatile and so delicious whether you're turning them into vodka or fries. Don't overlook the simplest classics when you're planning your Christmas menu. Add plenty of cream and butter to make this staple side dish extra rich and creamy to fit into your Christmas menu.
29. Sugar Glazed Roasted Carrots
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Here's another dish idea that's quick and easy to prepare before handing things over to the oven to do the hard work. Toss the carrots in brown sugar and butter before roasting to perfection. The result is crispy, caramelized edges that are good enough for the main course.
30. Cornbread Muffins
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Great for starters, this idea involves single-serving cornbread muffins baked in a muffin tray. The only difference between this and regular cornbread is the vessel in which it's baked. They work equally well as a side dish or as a snack, and they keep for days for delicious leftovers or midnight snacks.
31. Crispy Smashed Potatoes
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Smashed potatoes are not as popular as other ways of preparing potatoes and I have no idea why. Fluffy, buttery, crispy on the outside, and super easy to make. All you need to do is boil them, squish them with a fork, drizzle with butter and oil and then roast them. Feel free to add whatever seasonings you like to customize your new favorite way to eat potatoes.
32. Cheesy Potato Bake
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Most potato bakes call for thinly sliced potatoes but try out a variation by using chunks of potato instead. You cook these potatoes in the creamy, cheesy sauce so you don't have to cook the potatoes and sauce separately. Not having to slice the potatoes thinly also saves on time, something that's at a premium over the holidays!
33. Glazed Stovetop Carrots
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There's a lot going on on Christmas day. Especially if you're involved in cooking for the day. I bet the last thing you're thinking about is fussing over the carrot side dish. That's where this idea comes in, quick, easy, and always a crowd favorite. All you do is pan fry the carrots for a few minutes, then add a glaze of honey, olive oil, and water to the pan. Cook for a few more minutes and you'll end up with a side dish that everyone will love.
34. Grilled Eggplant
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Eggplant seems to have the reputation for being the vegetable that most resembles meat when cooked. I'm not convinced, but grilled eggplant is delicious either way. Cut it into thin slices to make it easier to cook all the way through (raw eggplant is a big no-no). Chargrill until cooked all the way through and serve with your favorite yogurt sauce.
35. Cinnamon Roasted Pumpkin
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While you've got that yogurt sauce out, serve it with this cinnamon roasted pumpkin too. It's as simple as dressing slices of pumpkin in olive oil and cinnamon and roasting in the oven until done. The cinnamon brings a festive flavor to the pumpkin that will fit right in at the Christmas dinner table.
36. Puff Pesto Christmas Tree
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This dish makes a perfect edible centerpiece on the Christmas table. You'll need two sheets of ready-rolled puff pastry that you can cut into a Christmas tree shape. Add some pesto and parmesan between the layers of pastry and bake in the oven until crispy. You can also experiment with a sweet version by substituting the pesto and parmesan with Nutella.
37. Honey-Glazed Shrimp Starter
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Seafood definitely has a place at the Christmas table. Try honey-glazed shrimp for a fancy starter this Christmas. Toss the raw shrimp in a glaze of honey, oil, and water before cooking. Nothing like a bit of shrimp to whet the appetite and give your guests a taste of what's to come.
38. Bacon And Cheese Straws
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Now here's a snack or starter that nobody will be able to resist. All you need is some rolled puff pastry filled with bacon, cheese, and dijon mustard for this mouth-watering dish. The actual hands-on time required here is about 10 minutes. The oven does the rest. These are seriously irresistible, so make more than you think you should.
39. Spiced Almonds
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In the preparation for Christmas dinner, don't forget about snacks while everyone's waiting. Try some spiced almonds to elevate the standard bowl of nuts. Roast some almonds with chili, cayenne pepper, tamari, and a little sugar for a delightful snack that will have everyone addicted.
40. Dill Dip With Honey Mustard Potatoes
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Mix together oil, honey, and dijon mustard. Pour this over the potatoes that are in a roasting tray. Stir to coat and roast in the oven. In the meantime, mix together cream cheese, Greek yogurt, garlic, dill, and parsley for a creamy dipping sauce for the honey mustard potatoes.
41. Roasted Pear And Walnut Salad
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Don't be fooled by the fancy sounding name. This salad is actually super easy to make. Roast the sliced pears, adding the walnuts 5 minutes before removing from the oven. When done, add the pears to a bed of watercress, crumble stilton cheese over the top, and drizzle with a vinaigrette dressing. All done.
42. Prosciutto Wrapped Turkey Fillet
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For a low effort spin on a turkey dinner, try wrapping small individual turkey breasts with prosciutto before baking them. Add some vegetables to the tray too for a vegetable tray bake at the same time. This is a much simpler, easier way to cook turkey for Christmas dinner, so this is the one for your if you want to spend more time with your family than in the kitchen this Christmas.
43. Mulled Wine Christmas Ham
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Now this one is sure to get the Christmas fanatics salivating. You can poach ham in all sorts of liquids, broth and Coca-Cola being the first 2 that come to mind. But for some serious Christmas flavors poach your Christmas ham in a bottle of cheap mulled wine. The festivity will be undeniable when you serve this dish.
44. Parsnip, Chestnut, And Sage Wreath
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How about a nut roast wreath to decorate your table and feed the vegans at your Christmas party? This dish calls for parsnip, chestnut, and sage for seasonal flavors, but feel free to make your own choices. Beaten egg is normally used to hold everything together while it's baking in the oven. For a vegan substitute, you can use chia 'egg', which is blended chia seeds and water that form a sticky mass that will hold your nut roast together.
45. Vegetarian Christmas Plait
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Stuff puff pastry with green beans, cheese, nuts of your choice, caramelized onions, and cranberries. You can serve it as a main accompanied by roasted vegetables, or you can serve them as finger food for starters. You can make individual servings or you can make one long one to place down the center of the table. The size of your oven is the limit.
46. Leek Strudel Wreath
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We're not done with wreath-shaped pastries just yet! This Christmas filo wreath is filled with creamy leeks and can be totally vegan. Braise some leeks and kale in white wine and garlic before stuffing them into the filo pastry and into the oven. If you're feeling up to it, make the pastry into a wreath shape to turn this dish into a centerpiece.
47. Stuffed Butternut Squash
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Stuffed butternut squash is a pretty standard dinner dish, but add a Christmas touch with winter spices for flavor and cranberries for festive color. Feta and quinoa round out the flavors to deliver a simple seasonal twist to a standard dinner dish. This can also easily be made vegan by making all the necessary substitutions.
48. Nut Roast
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This simple nut roast is elevated by the addition of lentils to the brazil nuts. The addition of an onion and sage stuffing adds layers of flavor to this easy-to-prepare recipe. Pair it with a luxurious red wine and sauce and even the meat eaters may be tempted to get in on the nut roast action .
49. Fried Brussel Sprouts With Chorizo And Almonds
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We've covered the roasted brussel sprouts, now it's time for a pan fried version. This dish is really easy to make and comes together in about 15 minutes. Fry the chorizo in a pan for a few minutes. Add the brussel sprouts, some almonds, and a splash of water, and cook until the brussel sprouts are cooked all the way through.
50. Polenta Roast Potatoes
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Polenta and potatoes in one dish together?? Sign me up! Start off by parboiling the potatoes. Once they've steam dried for 5 minutes add polenta to the pot. Close the lid and give the whole arrangement a good shake. This will coat the potatoes evenly and rough up the edges, which adds to the crunch factor. Next, roast in an oven until golden brown. You can thank me later.
51. Christmas Vegetable Tray Bake
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This easy, one pan vegetable tray bake can be served as a side dish for the whole family or as a main dish for any vegans present. Add potatoes, parsnips, carrots, and brussel sprouts to a baking tray and bake until everything is cooked through. Flavor with sage and salt and pepper and serve with a hearty gravy.
52. Spiced Red Cabbage
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Try out the classic festive favorite of spiced red cabbage. Red cabbage is braised in a combination of Christmas flavors. Things like cloves, star anise, nutmeg, and apples. All these flavors swimming in a sauce of red wine or sherry and you're will on your way to giving red cabbage a permanent spot at your Christmas table.
53. Peach Salad
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If you're looking for a light and zesty salad to add to your Christmas menu, try out a peach salad. Add some slice peaches to a bed of arugula and prosciutto, add some mozzarella and a lemon dressing that will brighten up any menu, even in the dead of winter.
54. Green Bean Salad
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When you need a salad that you can prep ahead of time, look for a green bean salad. The green beans can be cooked a day or two in advance. A zesty lemon mustard dressing will keep in the fridge for at least a week. All you need to do on the day is dice some red onions and tomatoes to top the green beans. Easy.
55. Arugula Salad
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An arugula salad with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing and shaved parmesan is one of the easiest salads you'll make packed with the most flavor. Blend olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper together. Add to the arugula and top with shaved parmesan cheese. Could it get any easier?
56. Sweet Potato Salad
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Whether you make this sweet potato salad as a side dish or as a main, it'll impress either way. Use baby spinach for its freshness, top with roasted sweet potatoes, wild rice, feta, almonds, and cranberries drenched in a honey lemon dressing. A truly versatile dish that everyone will love.
57. Vegetarian Pasta Salad
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This cold pasta salad is one of the best ways to use up all those vegetables in your fridge. This isn't any pasta salad, though, because the vegetables are marinated, which makes all the difference. Marinate the vegetables for at least 30 minutes in lemon juice, olive oil, and mixed herbs and spices marinade to take this dish to the next level.
58. Apple Salad With Cranberries And Walnuts
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This salad is so good that you want a subtle dressing to be sure that you don't mask the flavors of the ingredients. Candied walnuts or pecans, fresh cranberries, and thinly sliced apple on a bed of fresh greens is all you need to bring this amazing salad together. Remember to use a mild dressing.
59. Wild Rice Salad
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A wild rice salad is full of colors and textures. The base for this salad is wild rice, to which we add pomegranates, pecans, arugula, green onions, dried cranberries, and feta. A simple lemon vinaigrette will help elevate the flavors without overpowering them. And, of course, the dried cranberries make this dish fitting for the Christmas table.
60. Christmas Fruit Cake
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Personally, I'm not a fan of this traditional Christmas staple. But there must be plenty of people out there that do love it because it keeps coming back every year. Traditionally, a Christmas cake is made out of currants, sultanas, and raisins that have been soaked in brandy, rum, or sherry. For added entertainment, douse the cake with brandy and set it on fire before serving.
61. Pavlova Christmas Tree
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The only thing better than a pavlova is a pavlova shaped like a Christmas tree on your dinner table. The trick here is to make thin, wide pavlova rounds of various diameters. Let them set separately and then stack them on top of one another, starting with the widest and working your way down, by impaling them on a wooden skewer that will be hidden in the middle of the arrangement. Use cream to hold the layers together and decorate with strawberries and cranberry sauce.
62. Gingerbread Men
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Here's a traditional Christmas snack that will keep your kids busy during those long winter days. Make sure there's an adult present for the baking part to avoid burns. Once they're baked, set your kids free with a plethora of edible decorations and watch the gingerbread world come to life before it's devoured.
63. Strawberry Cake
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How about an easy strawberry cake for dessert this year? Strawberries have a lot of moisture in them so they end up keeping your cake moist for longer. Try substituting the butter for yogurt if you're feeling adventurous. This keeps the cake moister for longer and adds more structure to the crumb. Of course, you can never have enough fresh strawberries in and on this cake.
64. Carrot Cake
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Carrots and cakes are very different foods, but when you combine the two you get carrot cake which is delicious. Add your choice of nuts, I like pecans, to the batter before you bake for some extra crunch. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream for a simply delicious dessert.
65. Christmas Cookies
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The reality is that Christmas cookies are any cookies cut into Christmas shapes and decorated accordingly. Try baking some sugar cookies, but cut them into fun Christmas shapes before baking. Top them with colorful icing and other edible decorations and you have some table decorations that are also tasty table treats. This is definitely something to add to your Christmas candy recipe book.
66. Chocolate Truffles
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Chocolate truffles look fancy, but they're really easy to make. Melt chocolate with cream and butter and then leave to chill. Once it's chilled, you'll be able to roll the mixture into little balls. Then roll the balls in cocoa powder or whatever coating you fancy and you're done.
67. Strawberry Cheesecake
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Another strawberry-based dessert that will fit right into your Christmas theme. The great thing about cheesecake is that there are a number of ways to make it, so you should find a method that suits you. I prefer no-bake versions because they're easier and taste just as good. Add strawberries for flavor but also for the pops of red that fit in with the Christmas theme.
68. Profiteroles
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To start you need some choux pastry. You can make it by combining butter, water, egg, and flour, scooping them onto a baking tray, and baking. The result is that the pastry puffs out leaves a hollow cavity inside. A cavity begging to be filled with a filling of your choosing, like whipped cream or custard. Roll them in melted chocolate once they're filled and you have a whole lot of bite-sized desserts that won't last the weekend.
69. Sticky Toffee Pudding
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Sticky toffee pudding is a favorite at any time of the year, so it will be a welcome addition to the Christmas menu this year. The main ingredient here is dates, mashed into a sludgy consistency. When you take the pudding out of the oven, while it's still hot, pour the butterscotch sauce over the pudding. This ensures that the pudding doesn't have a chance to dry out and immediately soaks up all that sauce.
70. Never-Ending Meringue Centrepiece
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A delicious dessert can absolutely be a centerpiece for the table. Buy enough meringue to stretch the length of your table and bake them in sections in the oven. Use a dab of cream to glue the pieces together when you arrange them on your table. Top with whipped cream and fresh fruit and you have a dessert that will wow everyone.
71. Salted Caramel Tart
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A salted caramel tart can be made as individual little tarts or as a big tart for everyone to share. The cookie crust is filled with condensed-milk caramel filling and topped with chocolate ganache. Obviously, there's a hint of sea salt to cut through the sweetness and delight your tastebuds.
72. Creme Anglaise
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Also known as custard, homemade creme anglaise is that much better than store bought. All it takes is vanilla, cream, milk, eggs, and a sweetener of your choice to come together. Pour it over any other dessert on this list or eat it in a bowl on its own, it's that good.
73. Christmas Trifle
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While we're on the topic of custard, use your homemade custard to make a Christmas trifle! Layer a large dish with alternating layers of jello, custard, and cream. Top it off with a layer of cake on top and bedazzle with all manner of edible decorations you can get your hands on.
74. Red Velvet Cake
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Red velvet cake just fits so perfectly into the Christmas color scheme that it had to make it onto this list. Red velvet cakes originally got their color from beetroot, but I'm happy to report that that is no longer the case, and red food dye is used instead. They are usually topped with a cream cheese frosting which just adds to the color scheme of the whole meal.
75. Apple Pie
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Who could forget the humble apple pie? This easy-to-make dessert has been a staple for decades and it's easy to see why. Everyone seems to have their own secret recipe to make the best apple pie ever. Serve with whipped cream or some of that homemade custard you made.
Christmas Day Dishes For All
There you go, 75 ideas that you can use for inspiration for your Christmas spread this year. While a traditional Christmas dinner hasn't changed much over the years, there are plenty of non-traditional dishes that will fit right into a Christmas menu. Besides, you can always add some cranberries or pomegranate seeds to add some Christmas flair.