Christmas is almost here — do you have your Christmas Eve dinner ideas nailed down? These Christmas Eve recipes will give you all the inspiration you need for the perfect meal to celebrate. Here are the best drink recipes, savory and sweet recipes from around the web.
Best Recipes For Christmas Eve Dinner
Christmas will be here so soon — are you ready? It's my favorite time of the year, and I love to make it feel special for everyone.
One of my favorite dinners to plan is Christmas Eve dinner. We're planning to get together with family this year, and I wanted to share some of my recipe inspiration for our dinner.
(Second only to Christmas Eve dinner is Christmas morning breakfast — head to that post to get some brunchy inspo too!)
Here's how to plan the ultimate meal for Christmas Eve with some delicious recipes. Scroll down to the bottom for the list of recipes or keep reading for my best planning tips.
What to Serve on Christmas Eve
Here's my recipe for the perfect combination of Christmas Eve dinner recipes:
1-3 appetizers + 1-2 main dish options + 2-3 side dishes (make sure at least one is a veggie) + 1 bread + 1 dessert + 1-2 drink options
It really comes down to how many people are partaking, but if there's a big crowd, you might want to stick to big-batch recipes like a make-ahead chicken enchilada casserole instead of standing at the stove making dinner all night.
For most parties, you should follow the one pound rule, meaning that you should serve approximately 1 pound of food for every adult and ½ pound of food for every child.
If you've been invited to a Christmas dinner or party, don't forget to bring your host or hostess a gift to show your appreciation!
Once you know how many of each type of dish you need, it's much easier to plan the meal.
Christmas Eve Dinner Themes
A theme is a great way to tie everything together.
You can absolutely go traditional — that totally counts as a theme! This would be a classic main dish like pork tenderloin and sides like oven roasted green beans.
Many years, my family does a Mexican Christmas Dinner — it's a New Mexican tradition we still enjoy even though we're in Arizona now. We start with chips and guacamole then enjoy a dinner of enchiladas with homemade sauce.
Another fun idea is a Christmas wine party. Wine tasting is a fun activity you could do on Christmas Eve with your family, paired with a bunch of appetizers for a snacky dinner.
There's also nothing wrong with having a DIY pizza night! Setting your own traditions is what the holidays are all about, right? You can make your own pizza dough and sauce and then let everyone decorate their 'zas with toppings to their heart's content.
Christmas Eve Drinks
Beer, wine and soda are always safe bets to serve, too.
A big batch, make-ahead drink is your friend on Christmas Eve to serve a big party or a small one. You could make a cranberry sangria or a non-alcoholic Christmas punch.
Make extra and stash it in the fridge (or a cooler) so you can add more to the pitcher or punch bowl when it gets low.
For the coffee drinkers, I suggest brewing a pot of coffee to enjoy after dinner. If booze is your thing, you can make traditional Irish coffee or even have boozy options like Irish cream or coffee liqueur for folks to mix in.
Christmas Eve Dinner Recipes
Now, let's get into the dinner ideas! Here they are broken down by type of dish:
Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Marinated pork tenderloin is an effortless yet delightful choice for a Christmas Eve dinner, becoming a quick staple in your festive menu.
Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb with Red Wine Sauce
Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb with Red Wine Sauce is the quintessential holiday meal, showcasing a flavorful herb rub and a savory red wine sauce that makes it a perennial family favorite.
Marinated Sheet Pan Salmon
Marinated Sheet Pan Salmon, with Brussels sprouts and a sweet-savory marinade of balsamic, maple syrup, and spices, is a delicious and hassle-free addition to your Christmas Eve feast.
Mediterranean Herb Crusted Beef Tenderloin
Mediterranean Herb Crusted Beef Tenderloin serves as an elegant centerpiece for holiday dinners, absorbing the vibrant flavors of fresh herbs, lemon, olive oil, garlic, and spices.
Sausage Mushroom Risotto
Sausage Mushroom Risotto is a decadent and surprisingly easy dish, perfect for impressing guests on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve Chili
Christmas Eve Chili, a warming beef chili, is a winter staple—conveniently prepared in a slow cooker or Instant Pot for holiday ease.
Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
Discover the joy of making a flavorful rotisserie-style chicken at home with the Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken, boasting juicy meat and perfectly crispy skin.
Sheet Pan Christmas Dinner
Looking for an easy but showstopper of a Christmas dinner? Look no further than this sheet pan Christmas dinner made up of beef tenderloin, smashed potatoes, and roasted asparagus. Easy, delicious, and perfect for a small-scale holiday gathering.
Rotisserie Chicken Enchiladas
Rotisserie Chicken Enchiladas provide an easy and delightful holiday dinner option, featuring the convenience of a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
Pan Seared Chicken Thighs
Pan-seared chicken thighs, crusted with herbs like thyme, rosemary, and garlic powder, offer a quick and flavorful family dinner, perfect for Christmas Eve.
Baked Rigatoni
Baked Rigatoni, with simple ingredients, stands as an easy and satisfying Christmas Eve meal—ideal when paired with crunchy garlic bread and a green salad.
Pan-Seared Pork Tenderloin with Apples
Pan-seared pork tenderloin with apples is a decadent holiday dinner choice that quickly comes together, delivering a steakhouse-worthy experience at home.
Cast Iron Steak
Cast Iron Steak is an easy and elegant choice for Christmas Eve dinner, offering a perfect home-cooked steak experience.
Fall Bruschetta
Fall Bruschetta, with its ideal blend of fall flavors, makes for a quick and tasty seasonal addition to your Christmas Eve menu.
Tomato Zucchini Risotto
Tomato Zucchini Risotto is a versatile side or standalone meal, suitable for Christmas Eve.
Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Appetizer
Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Appetizer, a quick and easy holiday tradition, provides a delightful blend of sweet, spicy, and salty flavors for Christmas Eve.
Cranberry Prosciutto Crostini with Goat Cheese
The best easy Christmas Even appetizer to make is a batch of Cranberry Prosciutto Crostini with Goat Cheese. This simple recipe takes less than 15 minutes to make, and all your guests will adore this hearty pre-dinner snack.
Cranberry Brie Bites
Make these fantastic Cranberry Brie Bites for your holiday gatherings! From Christmas to New Year’s, this savory-sweet delight embraces everything excellent about the holiday season.
Hasselback Potatoes
Hasselback potatoes are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. These simple yet flavorful potatoes are a beautiful addition to your holiday menu.
Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Berries
Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Berries, loaded with delightful ingredients, is a refreshing and festive choice for a Christmas Eve salad.
Green Bean Casserole from Scratch
Make homemade green bean casserole from scratch this holiday season. No more recipes using canned soups with mystery ingredients, only fresh food with the most incredible flavor!
Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole
Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole, sweetened with maple syrup, offers a flavorful twist on a classic, making it an excellent choice for Christmas Eve.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe serves as a tasty side dish, enhancing the flavors of your holiday meals, suitable for Christmas Eve dinner.
Easy Cheesy Potatoes
Shredded Cheesy Potatoes are the perfect side dish for all of your holiday parties and family get-togethers! These shredded cheesy potatoes are the perfect mashed potato alternative for Christmas Eve.
Broccoli Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Broccoli Baked Macaroni and Cheese, a must-know recipe, is a perfect comfort food option for Christmas Eve dinners or family gatherings.
Stovetop Sausage Stuffing
Stovetop Sausage Stuffing, boasting only five ingredients, is the best stuffing recipe for the holidays—conveniently made on the stove, perfect for Christmas Eve.
How to Cook Risotto
Learn How to Cook Risotto, the perfect Italian side dish or date night meal, ensuring a flawless preparation every time, making it a great addition to your Christmas Eve menu.
Garlic Brown Butter Green Beans
Garlic Brown Butter Green Beans, a perfect vegetable staple, effortlessly complements a variety of entrees with its flavorful appeal, making it a versatile choice for Christmas Eve.
Pecan Pie Recipe
The classic Pecan Pie Recipe is a must-addition to your Christmas Eve celebrations, promising a delicious and easy preparation.
Pumpkin Pie without Evaporated Milk
Make Pumpkin Pie without Evaporated Milk for a flavorful, creamy, and easy-to-make addition to your holiday gatherings, perfect for Christmas Eve.
Mini Apple Spice Rum Cakes
Mini Apple Spice Rum Cakes, a perfect dessert, combine spices, spiced rum, and crisp apples for a delightful Christmas Eve treat.
Maple Pots de Crème
Maple Pots de Crème, refined sugar-free and elegantly simple, make for a perfect and easy dessert choice, suitable for a festive Christmas Eve celebration.
M&M Christmas Cookie Bars
These thick and chewy M&M Christmas Cookie Bars are perfect for your holiday cookie exchange and holiday get-togethers! These easy cookie bars are packed with red and green M&M's and chocolate chips in every bite.
Non Alcoholic Christmas Punch
You always need tasty drinks for a party, and this non alcoholic Christmas punch is perfect for the holiday season and to toast the new year.
Spiced Cranberry Sangria
Spiced cranberry sangria is the perfect drink for celebrating this holiday season! This sangria is made with red wine, lime and orange juice, plus fresh cranberries, oranges, limes and cinnamon. Make a batch or a few and gather around with your favorite people to celebrate the season!
Champagne Floats
Champagne Floats makes a perfect, easy party cocktail, combining champagne or prosecco with black cherry or raspberry sorbet for a beautiful shared drink, ideal for Christmas Eve celebrations.
I'd love to hear what your favorite Christmas Eve dishes are! Leave a comment below!
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