16 Christmas Dinner Recipes: Mains, Sides, Cocktails & Brunch

Learning how to cook a brined turkey for Christmas dinner can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.  We will show you how to make a juicy turkey as well as turkey stuffing with sausage without getting frazzled.  We have a step by step plan laid out for you in this post with what do to on the days leading up to your holiday dinner.

Just in case you are having ham instead of turkey this year.  Or both!   This is a delicious boiled ham recipe that falls apart and melts in your mouth. It’s perfect for special occasions like Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner or anytime you are feeding a crowd of guests because its easy, doesn’t require a lot of your attention, and it works every time!

If you’re looking for something a little smaller and simpler this Christmas, this easy roast chicken is a classic.   It looks absolutely fantastic and like you spent hours making it, but it’s actually fairly simple.  Its impressive enough for a holiday dinner with company but easy enough for a regular weeknight dinner with your family. 

Baby garlic potatoes boiled until tender, drizzled in melted butter and tossed with dill and minced garlic.  A show stopper side that’s quick, easy and freeking delicious!

A one-pan easy and creamy potatoes au gratin recipe with three types of potatoes baked with loads of aged cheddar and gruyere!  We love this one for a busy holiday dinner because you can make this way ahead of time, store it in the fridge, and then cook it just before dinner.

These pan fried brussel sprouts with bacon are the perfect side dish for any occasion! The sprouts are caramelized with bacon and red onion with crispy bits on the edges.  They take about 15 mins and they are awesome!  Never eat a boiled brussel sprout again!

This layered salad is a staple at our family dinners whether its Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas or whatever. This salad is always there and for a good reason.  It’s awesome!   You can also make it up to a day ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until 15 mins before you are ready to eat.  

In case you have some health conscious or low carbers over for Christmas dinner, you need an excellent side that everyone will enjoy.    I was very skeptical, but I was totally shocked when I tasted this cauliflower mash.  It’s fluffy, it’s creamy, and its sooo damn good!  Just as good as mashed potatoes and I love mashed potatoes.

What’s even better is that this is low carb so go ahead and eat a bunch.  Fill yer boots.  You won’t feel that heavy carby weight in your tummy afterwards. 

This hot buttered rum recipe is smooth, sweet, salty with a slight bite from the rum and perfectly flavored with holiday spices.  The perfect treat on a cold winters day to warm you from the inside out.  Its a recipe that reminds me of good times and special people.  We’ve included a recipe for a single cocktail or how to make a big batch to share. 

Hot buttered rum again, but this time with apple cider and a spiced compound butter.  This cocktail is a sensory experience that is perfect for guests at your Christmas party or just to cozy up with on a cold day.

We’ve included a recipe for homemade apple cider which will make your house smell absolutely amazing, but you can also make this cocktail with store bought apple cider.  

This is my Grandpas homemade eggnog recipe with rum and kahlua.  It tastes so different, and way better, from store bought eggnog.  It’s light, silky and not too sweet with wonderful Christmas spices, vanilla and a generous helping of rum and kahlua to get you in the Christmas spirit.  Make this homemade eggnog your new family tradition! 

Spice up your holiday with this apple cider Moscow mule.  Its full of delicious ginger and apple flavor, made with an apple whiskey, apple cider, fizzy ginger beer and plenty of freshly grated cinnamon.

Perfect for sipping around a bonfire or for getting your party guests into the holiday spirit.  Refreshing and full of fall and holiday flavors, this twist on a Moscow mule is our favorite yet!

A sparkling holiday cocktail created with the seasons quintessential flavors of cranberry, rosemary and ginger and made to sparkle with some bubbly sparkling wine.   You can never have too many cranberries at Christmas, that’s what I say! 

Every body loves a good eggs benny.  This one is so easy to make for a bunch of people because you bake the eggs in a muffin tin so it makes enough for everyone all at once.  With a potato crust, bacon and a silky hollandaise its sure to be a hit!  It’s even gluten free! 

Fluffy oven baked peach dutch baby recipe with melted brie cheese and crispy bacon.  A sweet and savory version of these super easy, incredibly pretty and delicious brunch pancakes! 

These dutch babies are soooooo good and again, they bake in the oven so all you have to do is make the batter, pour it in the pan and throw it in the oven.  Done.  One dutch baby will feed 2 – 3 people or 4 small people so if you have 2 or 3 pans going at once then your done in no time at all.  

These are so easy to make, perfect for an impromptu brunch when friends or family stop by, or when you have to feed a bit of a crowd.  This is our favorite way to make them at the moment, but you can also make these with whatever you have on hand.  I also make mine with caramelized onions, baby potato halves, thyme and gruyere cheese.