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Cooks With Cocktails / Gather / 16 Christmas Dinner Recipes: Mains, Sides, Cocktails & Brunch

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

LAST UPDATED: September 26, 2019 ~ FIRST PUBLISHED: December 17, 2018 ~ By Julie & Debbie

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This collection of Christmas dinner recipes are ones that Debbie and I have made often and are staples of our family dinners and holiday meals.  We have also included brunch options for the morning after in case you have overnight guests like we always do, and some of our favorite holiday cocktails for a little extra Christmas cheer!  

So if you are struggling with what dishes to put on the table this year, we’ve got you covered with lots of options!  We hope you love these holiday recipes as much as we do.  

Christmas Dinner Recipes ~ The Main Event

Whether or not your having turkey, ham, chicken or a combination, these main meat dishes are our favorite Christmas dinner recipes. 

How to Cook a Brined Turkey Dinner

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.

Fall Apart Beautiful Boiled Ham

a brined and roasted turkey thats ready to carve for 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!

Easy Roast Chicken with Lemon

a roasted chicken with nicely browned skin

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. 

Christmas Dinner Recipes ~ Side Dish Recipes

Side dishes are every bit as important as the main.  This is a collection of easy to make, yet showstopping sides that will have everyone begging for the recipe!  These are also great for bringing to a Christmas dinner when you are asked to “bring a side dish” to a friend or family members home.  

The Ultimate Potato Side Dish

potato side dish with garlic and dill in a white serving bowl

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!

One Pan Potato & Sweet Potato Au Gratin

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.

Pan Fried Brussel Spouts that Everyone will Actually Eat

a bowl full of pan fried brussel sprouts

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!

Our Favorite Layered Salad

a bowl full of layered salad

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.  

Healthy Cauliflower Mash that’s Just as Good as Mashed Potatoes

butter melting on cauliflower mash

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. 

Christmas Cocktail Recipes ~ Hot Cocktails

These Christmas holiday cocktails are perfect for sitting in front of a fireplace or around a bonfire outside, after playing outside in the snow with your kids, or just because they are absolutely fabulous!  And they smell just like the holidays.  

Hot Buttered Rum

two glasses of hot buttered rum waiting to be drank

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 with Apple Cider

a mug of apple cider hot buttered rum with a stick of cinnamon on top

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.  

Christmas Cocktail Recipes ~ Cold Cocktails

These festive Christmas holiday cocktails are bursting with flavors of cinnamon, cranberries, apple, and one very special recipe for homemade eggnog which just might become a new family tradition.

Homemade Eggnog with Rum and Kahlua

2 glasses of homemade eggnog with cinnamon sprinkled on top

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! 

Holiday Apple Cider Moscow Mule

2 apple moscow mules in copper mugs

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!

Cranberry Ginger Sparkling Holiday Cocktail 

a bunch of cranberry ginger mimosas ready to pass around

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! 

Christmas Brunch Recipes ~ Easy Recipes for the Morning 

Our family usually spends Christmas at one of our homes and the rest of us sleep over.  Which means that we need some easy recipe to make for the morning to feed the whole crew and still leave Debbie and I time to relax and drink our Christmas mimosas.  These Christmas holiday brunch recipes are a few of our favorites that do just that. 

The Easiest Eggs Benedict Recipe that you will ever make

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 Bacon & Peach Dutch Baby 

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.  

Frittata with Farmer Sausage, Asparagus and Cheese

Frittata with Farmer Sausage, Onions, Asparagus & Fontina Cheese

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.

Debbie & Julie Signature
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Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Please note that I’ve linked to these products purely because I recommend them and they are from companies I trust. There is no additional cost to you.

Meet Julie and Debbie

Hi There! That's Julie there on the left and Debbie on the right, busy women who love to entertain with great food and cocktails.

Our goal is to encourage our readers to cook often, to feel empowered by recipes that work, and to entertain more with our no-stress approach to cooking and entertaining ~ because sharing food leads to sharing life, strengthening families and building friendships. Read More…

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Welcome!

Hi There! That's Julie there on the left and Debbie on the right, busy women who love to entertain with great food and cocktails.

Our goal is to encourage our readers to cook often, to feel empowered by recipes that work, and to entertain more with our no-stress approach to cooking and entertaining ~ because sharing food leads to sharing life, strengthening families and building friendships. Read More…

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