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80+ Easy Christmas Recipes & Food Ideas

By: Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
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Christmas recipes are some of my all-time favorites. Between Christmas dinner, holiday baking, Christmas desserts, and all the delicious and festive drinks, these easy Christmas recipes will make cooking simple, so you can focus on enjoying time with friends and family!

christmas recipes guide

Christmas Recipes

Christmas is on its way, which means another round of holiday cooking is in order!

After a big Thanksgiving feast, planning your Christmas recipes for dinner, desserts, and more might be…stressful. But it doesn’t have to be!

With easy Christmas recipes for every part of the holiday, this guide is here to take some stress off your shoulders.

Some of my favorite Christmas foods include the flavors of the season: peppermint, gingerbread, anything filled with warm spices (cardamom, ginger, nutmeg), and even continuing fall favorites of apple and pumpkin. I especially like to work these flavors into desserts and drinks.

Whether you need a dish for Christmas dinner, dessert, a drink, an appetizer, or anything else, you’ll find the perfect  recipes gathered here.

These are some of my favorites, and they make me so excited to cook a feast all over again a month after Thanksgiving.

christmas dinner pork loin plated with cranberries
Orange Cranberry Pork Loin

Essential Kitchen Tools

Make sure your kitchen is ready for all your Christmas recipes by getting all the right tools and equipment you’ll need.

gingerbread cake christmas dessert
Gingerbread Loaf Cake
christmas gingerbread bark
Gingerbread Christmas Bark

Everyone knows turkey is for Thanksgiving, but what meat do you make for Christmas dinner?

The short answer is that you can make whatever you want. It’s nice to make a traditional Christmas meal, but traditions should be something you create yourself!

I’ve listed some great main dish ideas below (choose from turkey, pork, beef, or lamb). A good Christmas ham has become one of the most popular options, and turkey is pretty common as well. 

Can I make these Christmas recipes ahead of time?

When you’re cooking a huge feast for a lot of people, it’s important to prepare as much as you can ahead of time.

You can cut up all your veggies the day before and store them in the refrigerator, prep a casserole so you can just stick it in the oven, or make entire dishes the day before to reheat. 

Here are some recipes you can easily prepare or make ahead of time:

Keep in mind, most casseroles can be prepared ahead of time, refrigerated, and then cooked the day of eating.

mashed sweet potatoes in a bowl
Mashed Sweet Potatoes

80 Easy Christmas Recipes

These recipes will help you plan your Christmas dinner menu, after dinner desserts, party appetizers, holiday baking, and everything in between!

Christmas Dinner Recipes

The main course for Christmas dinner is so important. Here are my favorite recipes, whether you prefer turkey, beef, pork, or lamb!

Red Wine Pot Roast on a plate
Holiday Recipes
Red Wine Pot Roast Recipe
Instant Pot Turkey Breast is a great and EASY way to cook your Thanksgiving Turkey! You can cook this INSTANT POT TURKEY BREAST RECIPE in under an hour and be ready for Thanksgiving! Cooking Turkey Breast in a pressure cooker takes off all the pressure (ha) of making the Thanksgiving Turkey so you can just enjoy your holiday. Pressure Cooker Turkey Breast is quick, easy, and always JUICY!
Dinner Recipes
Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe
Pork Tenderloin with Honey and Herbs is a delicious and easy recipe! This HONEY HERB PORK TENDERLOIN RECIPE will change the way you feel about cooking pork. It's tender, juicy, full of flavor, and most importantly EASY! If you've wondered How to Make Pork Tenderloin while cooking the meat to perfection, this recipe is for you. Don't you just want to bathe in that sauce?
Dinner Recipes
Pork Tenderloin Recipe with Honey and Herbs (How to Cook Pork Tenderloin in the Oven)
sliced turkey on a plate
Turkey
Roast Turkey Breast Recipe – Roasted Garlic Butter Turkey
This Pork Loin Roast recipe is the perfect holiday main dish! This Orange Cranberry Pork Loin Roast is juicy, delicious, and super festive. Add this roasted pork recipe to your Thanksgiving and Christmas tables!
Dinner Recipes
Orange Cranberry Pork Loin Roast Recipe (Roasted Pork)
prime rib featured image
Holiday Recipes
Prime Rib Roast
juicy smoked sliced turkey breast on a cutting board
Turkey
Smoked Turkey Breast – How to Smoke Turkey Breast
Beef Tenderloin is one of the best cuts of meat, so it deserves to be cooked right. This beef tenderloin roast is perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Learn how to cook beef tenderloin for an amazing main course dish to serve on the holidays or special occasions. This is the BEST beef tenderloin recipe, just wait and see!
Holiday Recipes
Best Beef Tenderloin Recipe (Beef Tenderloin Roast)
Rack of Lamb is an elegant option for holidays and special occasions. This delicious Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb recipe is simple yet filled with incredible flavor! The Mint Yogurt Sauce is the perfect compliment to the savoriness of this dish. Try this roast rack of lamb for a beautiful Easter Dinner!
Dinner Recipes
Rack of Lamb Recipe (with Mint Sauce)
sliced sweet tea pork tenderloin on a plate
Dinner Recipes
Sweet Tea Pork Tenderloin (BEST Pork Tenderloin Recipe)
bacon wrapped turkey breast on cutting board
Holiday Recipes
Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast
Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe is the only recipe I need in life! Pot Roast is my absolute favorite! There's something about the tender meat, potatoes, carrots, and THAT SAUCE that is so comforting and delicious. This is the BEST POT ROAST RECIPE of all time. If you're in the mood for comfort food, you have to learn how to make this Pot Roast!
Dinner Recipes
Instant Pot Pot Roast

Christmas Ham Recipes

A Christmas Ham has become the classic go-to for the holidays. Here are a few easy recipes.

honey baked ham
Dinner Recipes
Honey Baked Ham Recipe (Instant Pot Ham)
This Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham is the perfect Easter Ham recipe! We made a delicious cola and brown sugar glaze for ham, and combined it with crushed pineapples. This spiral ham is easy to make, and filled with SO much flavor!
Dinner Recipes
Pineapple Ham (Spiral Ham Recipe)
A side shot of a glazed ham with cooked apples
Holiday Recipes
Apple Ginger Glazed Ham
sliced marmalade glazed ham on a plate
Holiday Recipes
Marmalade Glazed Ham Recipe – Holiday Ham
hand pouring glaze onto honey baked ham on a white serving platter
Dinner Recipes
Honey Baked Ham (Oven)
pouring pecan bourbon glaze over spiral ham
Dinner Recipes
Pecan Bourbon Glazed Ham
air fryer ham with garlic herb butter
Dinner Recipes
Air Fryer Ham with Garlic Butter
overhead image of cranberry glazed ham on a white serving platter
Pork
Air Fryer Cranberry Glazed Ham

Crock Pot Recipes

Crock Pot recipes make holiday cooking so much easier! From the main course to sides to appetizers or drinks, you can make so much in a slow cooker.

Crock Pot Pecan Pie is such an EASY Pecan Pie Recipe, you won't believe you taste buds! This SLOW COOKER PECAN PIE will knock your socks off and make for a delicious and easy Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter! This is the BEST Pecan Pie Recipe we have ever tasted, and it just so happened to be made in a slow cooker. Win win!
Pies + Tarts
Crock Pot Pecan Pie (EASY Pecan Pie Recipe)
cheesy macaroni and cheese in a slow cooker
Side Dishes
Crockpot Mac and Cheese
This Slow Cooker Velveeta Broccoli Rice Casserole is our go-to holiday side dish. Using a Crockpot is such an easy way to make cheesy broccoli and rice casserole. This Thanksgiving and Christmas favorite is easier than ever when made in a slow cooker!
Side Dishes
Slow Cooker Velveeta Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe
lifting up spoonful of crockpot candied nuts
Appetizers
Crockpot Candied Nuts
This Gingerbread Latte is the perfect Christmas coffee drink. Even better, this latte is made in a slow cooker to make it super easy. Easy is best...and these are the best! No need to wait for the Starbucks Gingerbread Latte every year when you can easily make your own at home any time of year!
Christmas
Slow Cooker Gingerbread Latte
These SLOW COOKER GARLIC BUTTER MASHED POTATOES are the perfect EASY Thanksgiving side dish. So much flavor and none of the fuss.
Side Dishes
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Garlic Butter (Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes)
sliced crockpot turkey breast on plate
Holiday Recipes
Crockpot Turkey Breast (Slow Cooker Turkey)
dipping chip into crockpot sausage cream cheese dip
Appetizers
Crockpot Sausage Cream Cheese Dip
All Crock Pot Recipes

Side Dishes

A big Christmas dinner calls for lots and lots of sides. These are just a few favorites.

sheet pan scalloped potatoes in a pan with spoon
Side Dishes
Sheet Pan Scalloped Potatoes
Classic Green Bean Casserole is one of those Thanksgiving recipes that you don't need to reinvent. It's absolutely perfect just the way it is, with green beans, cream of mushroom, crunchy fried onions, and some other awesome ingredients. This green bean casserole recipe is exactly what you need for you next holiday meal!
Side Dishes
Classic Green Bean Casserole Recipe
several crispy baked zucchini slices
Holiday Recipes
Crispy Baked Zucchini Recipe (Easy and Cheesy!)
The Perfect Baked Sweet Potato is easy to achieve. So if you're wondering how to bake sweet potatoes, then you've come to the right place! Find out how long to bake sweet potatoes, plus my favorite SIMPLE way to eat them (with butter and cinnamon sugar!).
Side Dishes
The PERFECT Baked Sweet Potato (with Cinnamon Sugar)
A bowl of food, with Pilaf and Spice
Side Dishes
Spiced Rice Pilaf with Apples and Raisins
Garlic Asparagus is an easy side dish for any meal. This CRISPY garlic roasted asparagus recipe is both healthy and flavorful. Baked with panko breadcrumbs, garlic, cheese, and olive oil, this is a dish everyone is sure to love. If that's not enough, our garlic parmesan asparagus is topped off with homemade garlic aioli!
Side Dishes
Crispy Garlic Roasted Asparagus (with Garlic Aioli)
Cheesy Potato Casserole is the ideal holiday side dish recipe for anyone that loves cheese and potatoes. This hash brown potato casserole recipe is super easy, super cheesy, and topped off with a crunchy potato chip topping!
Side Dishes
Cheesy Potato Casserole (Hash Brown Potato Casserole Recipe)
Cauliflower Gratin is an easy side dish you're sure to love! This Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Recipe is absolutely delicious. Be sure to add Cauliflower Broccoli au Gratin to your holiday table!
Side Dishes
Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin Recipe
cheesy green beans on foil
Side Dishes
Cheesy Crispy Baked Green Beans
turkey stuffing in a dish
Side Dishes
Turkey Stuffing Recipe (Homemade Stuffing)
This Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Orange Liqueur is our favorite fresh cranberry sauce to make for Thanksgiving! This SPIKED CRANBERRY SAUCE is a fun twist on a classic Thanksgiving recipe. No holiday table is complete without cranberry sauce, and this easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce is extra delicious and amazing! We call them "sauced" cranberries.
Side Dishes
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe with Orange Liqueur
spoon digging into parmesan creamed potatoes
Side Dishes
Parmesan Creamed Potatoes
More Christmas Sides
sheet pan scalloped potatoes
All the Holiday Sides

60+ Holiday Side Dish Recipes

This holiday season be sure to check out our sides guide for all the recipes PLUS tips and tricks for entertaining.

See Sides Guide

Holiday Appetizers

Every Christmas party and holiday gathering needs a few appetizers and snacks to keep company full and happy.

bacon wrapped pineapple on plate
Appetizers
Bacon Wrapped Pineapple with Brown Sugar
cheese log and crackers
Appetizers
Smoky Port Wine Cheese Log Recipe
Mini Cheese Ball Bites are the perfect easy appetizer to serve at holiday parties. These tasty little cheese balls are made with dried fruit and cream cheese, rolled in bacon or nuts, and finished off with a pretzel stick. Make these Mini Cheese Ball Bites for a New Year's Eve appetizer or any simple gathering!
Appetizers
Mini Cheese Ball Bites
Coconut Shrimp is a crispy, crave-worthy appetizer that everyone will love. It's especially delicious when paired with the perfect coconut shrimp sauce: a Spicy Pina Colada Dipping Sauce! The two go hand in hand, a match made in heaven. And this coconut shrimp recipe is just as good as a main dish as it is as a party appetizer!
Appetizers
Crispy Coconut Shrimp Recipe with Pina Colada Coconut Shrimp Sauce
Candied Walnuts are awesome for holiday appetizers, baking, snacking, and so much more. This Easy  Candied Walnuts Recipe is made in under 5 minutes and oh so tasty! Caramelized Walnuts are such a healthy snack including vitamin E, healthy fats, and antioxidants. We will show you How to Make Candied Walnuts, the perfect snack!
Appetizers
Candied Walnuts Recipe (How to Make Candied Walnuts)
homemade gardettos in a basket on a pink table
Appetizers
Homemade Gardetto’s Snack Mix Recipe (Copycat Recipe)
Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms are cheesy, savory, and so delicious! This easy, cheesy sausage stuffed mushroom recipe is the perfect appetizer for holidays, game day, or any special occasion. Mushroom caps are stuffed full of cheese, sausage, onion, and more to create the most amazing flavor!
Appetizers
Cheesy Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe
This classic Sausage Balls recipe is savory, cheesy, and tasty! These Bisquick sausage balls are the perfect appetizer for holidays or game day. Serve them with apricot sweet chili dipping sauce!
Appetizers
Classic Sausage Balls Recipe (Bisquick Sausage Balls)
Wow your Thanksgiving guests with MINI SWEET POTATO SOUFFLE CUPS! It doesn't get cuter than wonton cups stuffed with sweet potato souffle and topped with toasted marshmallows.
Side Dishes
Sweet Potato Souffle Cups
These FRIED BLUE CHEESE STUFFED OLIVES are just delicious. And when served with a simple garlic aioli sauce, they are absolutely addicting! These fried and stuffed olives are the perfect holiday appetizer, just what you need for Christmas or New Year's Eve!
Appetizers
Fried Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives (with Garlic Aioli Dip)
Chex Mix Recipe is a recipe my Mom has been making since I was a little kid. It's our family's favorite BEST Chex Party Mix! It doesn't get better than this mix of cereal, nuts, pretzels, and all that spice! A little bit sweet and little bit spicy. This BEST EVER Chex Party Mix Recipe is perfect for Christmas, tailgating, Summer BBQs, and every day in between. SO ADDICTING!
Appetizers
Chex Mix Recipe (Best Homemade Party Mix)
COCKTAIL MEATBALLS are the best holiday appetizer! These sweet and spicy Cranberry Meatballs are cooked in a cranberry pepper jelly sauce, which gives them the perfect kick of flavor. These cranberry sauce meatballs are just so delicious! The best Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Years Eve appetizer without a doubt.
Appetizers
Sweet and Spicy Cocktail Meatballs Recipe (Cranberry Meatballs)
See All Appetizers

Christmas Drink Recipes

Every Christmas party requires a good beverage, preferably one that’s warm and filled with the flavors of the holidays. Hot chocolate, cider, punch, eggnog…this might be the best part of Christmas!

We LOVE Slow Cooker Peppermint Hot Chocolate! Made with sweetened condensed milk so its SUPER CREAMY crockpot hot chocolate. The perfect Winter drink for Christmas!
Drinks
Slow Cooker Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe
Pear Cider is an awesome fall drink. This Spiced Pear Cider recipe is a blend of pear juice, apple cider, ginger liqueur, and plenty of spice! It's an alcoholic drink, but you can make a non-alcoholic version too. Warm, delicious, and perfect for the holidays!
Mocktails
Spiced Pear Cider with Ginger
Spiked Chai is the perfect warm winter drink! This chai tea recipe is simple, delicious, and full of flavor. It's exactly what you need for Christmas parties or any chilly evening. We made it with bourbon, but it can also be made without alcohol.
Cocktails
Chai Tea Recipe with Bourbon (Spiked Chai)
This Bourbon Slush cocktail drink is loved by all who come to my house on Christmas Eve. We have this Orange Bourbon Slush every year and it's such a fun and easy drink recipe, you have no reason not to try it!
Cocktails
Orange Bourbon Slush Recipe
Spiced Cider is a holiday must! Warm things up this season with this delicious Cranberry Apple Hot Cider Recipe. It's easy, it's festive, and it's the perfect drink to serve for any Christmas party. Make it without alcohol for the whole family, or make it spiked hot apple cider for the adults. Either way, the flavor is just perfect!
Mocktails
Hot Cranberry Apple Spiced Cider Recipe
Holiday Punch is one of our favorite EASY PUNCH RECIPES perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas! This Vodka punch is made with Cranberry Juice, Orange Juice, Ginger Ale, Sparkling Cider and more! You can pour in the Vodka or make it your new Non Alcoholic Christmas Punch Recipe. One of our very favorite Holiday Punch Recipes.
Holiday Recipes
Holiday Punch Recipe (Easy Christmas Punch)
Orange Cranberry Sangria is fresh, fun, and festive. This Christmas Sangria recipe is just perfect for the holiday season!
Cocktails
Christmas Sangria
A Non-Alcoholic Holiday Punch Recipe is a must for this time of year. This FESTIVE SNOW PUNCH is our favorite non-alcoholic Christmas punch to make around the holidays--something for the whole family! Christmas wouldn't be complete without this fun and festive punch recipe loved by kids and adults.Plus it's SO PRETTY!
Mocktails
Festive Snow Punch (Non Alcoholic Holiday Punch Recipe)
This HOMEMADE EGGNOG RECIPE is so much better than the store bought kind! It's a creamy Christmas drink recipe for traditional eggnog that is a must make for the holidays. No Christmas is complete without this Traditional Eggnog Recipe!
Cocktails
Homemade Eggnog Recipe (Traditional Eggnog Recipe)
MULLED WINE MARGARITAS are fun, festive, and unique. This favorite hot spiced wine recipe has complex flavors and it warms the soul. This Mulled Wine Recipe is the ultimate Christmas margarita!
Holiday Recipes
Mulled Wine Margaritas (Christmas Margarita Recipe)
HOLIDAY SANGRIA in a glass
Cocktails
Holiday Sangria
Salted Caramel Eggnog | The Cookie Rookie
Cocktails
Homemade Salted Caramel Eggnog

Christmas Dessert Recipes

These Christmas Desserts recipes are a must! Christmas mostly makes me think of cookies and pies, but anything gingerbread, peppermint, or chocolate is welcome!

apple crisp in a sheet pan topped with ice cream
Pies + Tarts
Sheet Pan Apple Crisp Recipe
Homemade Apple Pie is one of the coziest, homiest desserts I can think of! Fresh, warm apple pie from scratch (with homemade apple pie crust) is the ideal Thanksgiving dessert. This easy homemade apple pie recipe makes it simple to bake a fresh pie for any occasion!
Pies + Tarts
Easy Homemade Apple Pie Recipe
Chocolate Pot de Creme is the perfect holiday dessert. It's simple, it's delicious, and it's so cute. These little pots de creme are rich and chocolatey, with the most amazing texture. I love these as Christmas and holiday desserts!
Pudding + Parfait
Chocolate Pots de Creme Recipe
close up view of gingerbread house christmas bark
Cookies
Gingerbread House White Chocolate Bark Recipe (Christmas Bark)
Chocolate Pecan Pie is the perfect mix of pecan and chocolate pies. Chocolate filling made with chocolate chips and bourbon, topped with toasted pecans. This Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie recipe needs to be added to your holiday dessert table as soon as possible. Make it for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any time you wan this delicious pie!
Pies + Tarts
Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipe
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies are a festive and delicious treat! These Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are so chocolatey, with just the right amount of peppermint flavor. They're the perfect Christmas cookies!
Cookies
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies (Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies)
Gingerbread loaf is a must make this holiday season! Nothing says Christmas like gingerbread, so this delightful Gingerbread Cake recipe is exactly what you need. Top this tasty Christmas dessert with a lemon glaze to finish it off!
Holiday Recipes
Gingerbread Loaf Cake with Lemon Glaze (Sugar Free)
Pecan Pie Bars are just like the pie, but in an easier to eat bar form. I'll take pecan pie any way I can get it, so these are a favorite. This pecan bars recipe is the perfect Christmas dessert, or just any time you need a special treat!
Baking
Pecan Pie Bars (Easy Pecan Bars Recipe)
up close image of raspberry jam thumbprint cookies
Baking
Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
gingerbread pudding cake topped with ice cream
Cakes + Cupcakes
Gingerbread Pudding Cake Recipe
Christmas Butter Cookies with Powdered Sugar Icing are a MUST for the holidays. Simple iced cookies are one of the best treats for Christmas, and this easy butter cookies recipe is my FAVORITE. Make your favorite shapes with cookie cutters, and decorate however you like using our powdered sugar icing recipe!
Cookies
Christmas Butter Cookies Recipe with Powdered Sugar Icing
hot chocolate bread pudding in baking dish
Dessert Recipes
Hot Chocolate Bread Pudding Recipe
See All Desserts

All of these delicious and easy Christmas recipes have got me so excited for the holiday. I hope you enjoy your Christmas dinner, parties, and everything in between with these dishes. Happy Holidays!

Even More Recipes Ideas:

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky woke up on her 30th birthday and realized she didn't know how to cook, anything! She started The Cookie Rookie as a way to document her journey to learn how to cook, one recipe at a time! The Cookie Rookie is a place to find easy recipes that anyone can make, and everyone will love!

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