This post is a collection of my favorite Christmas Dinner Recipes. All of these recipes (except the turkey) are either make-ahead, meal prep ready or are made quickly in an air-fryer or Instant Pot. The aim for a great Christmas dinner is to take the stress out. So the quicker the recipe or the more you can prep ahead of time, the better.
From bite-sized party appetizers, side dishes, main dishes, and desserts. We hope this guide will make your Christmas dinner a little easier.
Christmas Dinner Appetizers
Christmas dinner appetizers can range from a hearty cheese dip to bite-sized seafood. Whatever you choose to do, varying which appliances you have to use and which appetizers you can make ahead can help with holiday stress.
These appetizers are a few of my favorite crowd pleasers that are either made in the air fryer, Instant pot, or crockpot. You can make prep all of these ahead of time for an easier Christmas dinner.
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
When cooking a large meal, it’s great to use all of your appliances, so that the oven is free for the main dishes. So I like to pull out banger recipes like Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp. This recipe is a crowd pleaser and it is quick and easy to put together. Simply wrap your shrimp in bacon, use a toothpick to secure and cook in the air fryer.
Stuffed Mushrooms
Keto Stuffed Mushrooms bring together a variety of flavors and textures to make the perfect party appetizer! Each bite of these stuffed mushrooms contains the crunch of walnuts, the tanginess of cream cheese and blue cheese, and the added taste of ground pepper and chives to finish it off.
Italian Sausage Cheese Dip
Italian Sausage Cheese Dip is part of the perfect party spread! A great cheese dip recipe is always great to have on hand when feeding guests. I like this recipe because you can make it ahead of time, refrigerate it and then warm it up in a small crockpot or stovetop pan the day of Christmas dinner.
Grape Jelly Meatballs
These Grape Jelly Meatballs are cooked in the Instant Pot and ready within 10 minutes. They are such a good sweet and savory appetizer that will feed a crowd fast! At Christmas time we affectionately call them Santa’s bowl-full-of-jelly meatballs.
Holiday Dinner Side Dishes
This next list is a few of my favorite Christmas Dinner side dishes. Ranging from classic sweet potatoes to more modern bacon wrapped green beans, these side dishes are great for holiday dinners.
Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
Bacon Wrapped Green Beans add a little fancy to any holiday party. Inside each bundle, you’ll find tender green beans hugged by golden, caramelized bacon. Garlic and smoked paprika add a little kick in every bite.
Sweet Potato Casserole
This gluten free sweet potato casserole is simple to make, full of flavor, and perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Plus, it can be prepped ahead, making holiday meals stress-free!
Yams with Marshmellows
For a sweeter, traditional dish try our Yams with Marshmallows. This dish is everyone’s favorite holiday side! Make it with yams or sweet potatoes, the day before or just before dinner! Soft, tender sweet potatoes covered with a blanket of marshmallow toasted to a gorgeous golden brown… the ideal sweet complement to those heavy, savory Christmas dishes.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Did you know that Cranberry Sauce is actually pretty easy to make yourself? This recipe combines cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, and apples to create a truly tasty cranberry dish. It all simmers together in a pot for about 20 minutes to make a happy holiday, classic side dish.
Turkey Gravy
This Turkey Gravy is a quick, 5 ingredient recipe, made with turkey stock, butter, flour and a splash of sherry. If you are serving turkey for Christmas, this is a great little recipe to have on hand. It will pair well with mashed potatoes and any turkey dish.
Christmas Main Dish
Glazed ham and Turkey are my two go-to main dishes for Christmas dinner. For a faster and easier recipe, the glazed ham is the way to go to feed a lot of people.
If you are looking to make a classic turkey dinner, I chose a fancy turkey recipe that I’ve made and love best that includes rosemary and prosciutto. It takes a lot more time to make, but this turkey is definitely worth it.
When I have a smaller family gathering, I like the baked turkey wings. They taste great and don’t take nearly the amount of time that a full turkey would take.
Glazed Ham
Roast Turkey
This is my favorite Turkey recipe from The Bewitchin’ Kitchen. Made with prosciutto, rosemary, and roasted garlic, this turkey roasts up to perfection every time!
Baked Turkey Wings
For a smaller gathering, Baked Turkey Wings are the ways to go. These wings a crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. They are baked and much easier to get on the table than a full turkey. For a close family gathering, this is a great Christmas main dish to go with.
Christmas Desserts
Christmas desserts are my favorite. There are so many out there and so many that you can easily make ahead of time. My favorites this year include this Bread Pudding with Rum sauce. It’s a sweet and yet spicy bread pudding with carmalized sauce that is so yummy!
I also like classic chocolate truffles that you can make ahead weeks in advance. They will stay good in the fridge and still please a crowd at any time.
The Christmas tree cake is a fun one to make ahead and let your guests decorate as you finish making dinner. It’s great for kids and adults alike as a dessert and an activity!
Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce
Our Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce recipe turns simple ingredients like bread, whole milk, heavy cream, and eggs — into a rich, velvety custard, perfectly spiced with cinnamon and vanilla. The bread soaks up the creamy mixture, baking into a soft, custardy center with a golden, slightly crisp top.
Lindor Truffles
Known for their decadent flavors and brightly colored wrappers, Lindor Truffles are unmatched when it comes to chocolatey treats. A rich outer shell provides the perfect contrast of textures to the luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth filling. These are a make-ahead dessert that will have the whole family falling in love with chocolaty Christmas cheer!
Christmas Tree Cake
This Christmas Tree Cake is one of my favorite Christmas desserts. This recipe is great because you can either use it as a creative outlet for yourself and turn your Christmas tree cake into a gorgeous centerpiece for your Christmas party dessert table. Or you can bake the cake ahead of time, and then let younger children use different types of frosting and edible decor to decorate it themselves during a Christmas party.
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