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Don’t know what to make for this year’s holiday season? Try these easy Christmas recipes everyone will love, from appetizers to dinner and desserts.
Christmas is officially here! Depending on what kind of person you are, you’re either already done with grocery shopping and meal prep for the holidays, or you’re scrambling to figure out what to make for your family Christmas party and how to feed the kids all winter break long. If you’re part of the latter group, you’ll want to check out these 21 easy Christmas recipes everyone will love.
From Christmas brunch ideas, to holiday party appetizers, to dinner and dessert recipes that’ll cover an entire week of celebrations, this list will help you decide what to make for any occasion this season. Going to Grandma’s for Christmas eve and need a snack for the long car ride? Check. Hosting a holiday potluck and need a few easy appetizers and a festive cocktail to serve? Check. Planning a simple Christmas dinner for two and still don’t know what to make? Check.
No matter what ideas you’re still stuck on or what events you signed up to bring food for, we guarantee you’ll find the perfect recipe on this list!
1. Croissant French Toast Bake
What’s better than french toast on Christmas morning? This french toast casserole might just have regular old french toast beat. Made with store-bought croissants and a creamy, cinnamony custard, this brunch recipe is the best way to make french toast for a crowd. Pop it in the oven and enjoy time with your loved ones while it bakes instead of standing over the stove all morning long.
2. Christmas Charcuterie Board
When it comes to holiday party appetizers, you can’t go wrong with an easy themed charcuterie board. Pick out a variety of cheeses, crackers, and meats and throw in some red and green accents with a few sprigs of rosemary for a board that screams Christmas elegance. Pro tip: a festive cheese knife is sometimes all it takes to make a holiday charcuterie board pop.
3. Mistletoe Mules
This festive spin on a Moscow mule is the king of Christmas cocktails. It’s bubbly and refreshing, perfect for sipping on by the fireplace while listening to your favorite holiday tunes, and oh-so adorable with garnishes of frozen cranberries and rosemary. Make one for yourself or a whole batch for your holiday party and let the good vibes begin.
4. 4 Ingredient White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
There’s nothing like surprising your guests with a platter of homemade Christmas fudge for the holidays! It’s easier than it looks; this 4-ingredient recipe only takes 5 minutes to prep and a few hours to set. Make a double batch and package up the extras to go – your friends and family will thank you!
5. Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
These easy bakery style muffins will make it feel like Christmas morning all week long. If your Christmas week is a nonstop flurry of activity, prep a big batch ahead of time and leave them on the counter for an easy breakfast or afternoon snack you can grab and take with you on the go. They’ll make the best road trip treat for the long drive to Grandma’s house.
6. Roasted Garlic Baked Brie En Croute
Garlic lovers, this one’s for you. A wheel of baked brie slathered with roasted garlic and wrapped in fluffy pastry? Yes, please. This holiday party appetizer will disappear in seconds, so make sure to snag some for yourself first!
7. BBQ Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
If you’re looking for a Christmas mac and cheese recipe, you’ll love this decadent barbecue pulled pork version! It’s super savory and the perfect dish to warm up the whole family after a day spent playing in the snow.
8. Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash
This 30-minute sweet potato and veggie hash is a great side dish for Christmas brunch. Serve it with an egg casserole, fresh fruit, and muffins or bagels for a full spread on Christmas morning.
9. Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs
In case you need a big batch meal to feed the whole family all week long while hosting Christmas, try a crockpot full of Italian meatballs. You can serve them with sub rolls or slider buns for build-your-own sandwiches, or quickly boil some pasta and have dinner ready to go in no time. Pro tip: make this recipe ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze until Christmas, then reheat everything in the slow cooker when it’s time to eat.
10. Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
This gluten-free crockpot chicken is another great recipe for feeding the whole family during Christmas week! You can serve it with sub rolls or over pasta, or just eat it straight up with a fork – it’s delicious either way.
11. Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Dips are the best holiday party appetizer, because who doesn’t love gooey cheese? If you need a super easy and crowd-pleasing dip this Christmas season, make this cheesy spinach and artichoke dip. You basically throw everything in a saucepan and heat it until it’s melty – it doesn’t get much easier than that. (You can also throw everything in a crockpot and warm it up that way, too!). Serve it with pita chips or crostini for a crunchy and gooey combo no one will be able to resist.
12. Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Fudge
This decadent holiday fudge is one of our favorite sweet treats for Christmas time. It tastes and looks like so much more work to put together than it is! With just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes of your full attention, you can serve this impressive holiday dessert to your guests after Christmas dinner.
13. Goat Cheese & Tomato Gnocchi
If you’re celebrating the holidays with an Italian dinner at home, you’ll want to make this creamy goat cheese and tomato gnocchi. It has restaurant-caliber flavor yet comes together in just 10 minutes, so you can spend Christmas evening enjoying good company and marveling at the decorations instead of laboring in the kitchen.
14. Nutella Stuffed Brioche French Toast
An extra-special day like Christmas calls for an extra-special breakfast like this stuffed brioche french toast! Chocolate lovers (and kids) will be overjoyed to find this decadent treat on their plates on Christmas morning. This recipe is perfect for a smaller family breakfast or brunch, since it does take some time to prepare – but it’s so worth it.
15. Deconstructed Basil Pesto Risotto
Creamy risotto with fresh basil, almonds, and plenty of parmesan cheese makes for a delicious and elegant Christmas dinner, if you’re willing to spend a little extra time in the kitchen. We love how the vibrant green color of this dish reminds us of the Christmas season! Top this risotto with fresh basil leaves and a few pomegranate seeds for an adorable mistletoe garnish.
16. Burrata Pasta With Blistered Tomatoes
If you’re hosting a Christmas dinner party, you’ll want to make this easy gourmet pasta with creamy burrata, juicy tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar. You’ll impress everyone with this elegant, fresh, and flavorful dinner that comes together in just 20 minutes!
17. Holiday Egg Casserole
Christmas brunch isn’t complete without some sort of egg dish! If you’re feeding a crowd, try this holiday egg casserole that makes a ton of servings and is easy to scale. Bonus: it’s vegetarian for those who prefer it, and can be easily modified to include bacon or ham for those who don’t and want a little extra flavor on Christmas morning.
18. Shakshuka For Two
If you need a Christmas breakfast or dinner for two, look no further than a steaming hot skillet full of shakshuka. This spicy tomato stew is everything you want on Christmas day – cozy, warm, and comforting, and satisfying enough to fill you while still leaving room for dessert. You can make it in 40 minutes or less, or prep the base ahead of time and cook it in about 20 minutes day-of.
19. Oven Roasted Parmesan Green Beans
This is one of the easiest green bean recipes you can make for Christmas dinner. Toss the ingredients together and roast for 15 minutes, and voila – you have a healthy side dish that even the kids will love, thanks to the parmesan cheese.
20. Milk & White Chocolate Peppermint Bark
You only need 3 ingredients to make this no-frills Christmas dessert: milk chocolate, white chocolate, and candy canes. Whether you need sweets to bring to your neighbor’s holiday party or you simply want a festive treat to enjoy after Christmas dinner, this crowd-pleasing dessert will hit the spot every time.
21. Sweet Potato White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Who says sweet potatoes are only for Thanksgiving? These seasonal holiday cookies taste just like sweet potato casserole, only with more sugary sweet goodness. Bring them to your family Christmas party and they’ll disappear faster than you can say “ho, ho, ho.”
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