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Christmas Dinner Ideas for Two
Mains, sides, drinks and desserts gathered from five holiday roundups for a Christmas dinner for two.
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Make ahead where you can. Alphafoodie says many of its Christmas dinner recipes can be made ahead and reheated on the day, so you're not rushing at the last minute. Real Life Dinner cut the cooking another way, moving its big breakfast to Christmas Eve dinner. The roundups don't list yields, so check each recipe's serving size before you shop and scale it down yourself for two. Pick a few dishes from the list below rather than trying to cook all of them.
Why these items are on the list
- Air fryer turkey breast. Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons suggests turkey breast for small dinners; Alphafoodie lists an air fryer version.
- Pesto salmon. Baked fish under bright green pesto. Scatter pomegranate seeds on top for the red.
- Roasted chicken with carrots. Simply Recipes' step-by-step recipe shows how to stuff, truss, roast and baste the bird until juicy and golden brown.
- Beef tenderloin with mushrooms. Brit + Co says Half Baked Harvest's takes one pan and under an hour, finished with a pan-drippings cream sauce.
- Butternut squash lasagna. Ricotta, Pecorino and sage. There's some prep, so start it before you're hungry.
- Stuffed acorn squash. Roasted until tender with a toasted pecan rice stuffing that makes the kitchen smell like the holidays.
- Tuscan lentil and kale soup. A Couple Cooks says their family eats it on Christmas Eve; serve with crusty bread and Parmesan for a meal.
- Breakfast for Christmas Eve dinner. Bacon, biscuits and gravy, hash browns and eggs. The blogger switched to this to cut the cooking.
- Baked brie. Easy appetizer, and you can pick toppings to suit what the two of you like.
- Roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Roast the garlic first and it turns mellow and caramelized.
- Brussels sprout casserole. Baked in a white cheddar sauce under toasted breadcrumbs. Rich enough to be the star side.
- Butter lettuce pomegranate salad. Just butter lettuce, pomegranate seeds and a white wine vinaigrette. Light next to a rich main.
- Crisp apple salad. Tart apple, pomegranate seeds, goat cheese and spiced pecans over greens with a maple dressing.
- Quick dinner rolls. A quick homemade version. Warm rolls fill out a small table.
- Hot apple cider. A homemade warm drink to sip alongside dinner.
- Gingerbread cookies. Soft, spiced and topped with cream cheese frosting and sprinkles, they're a staple for the sweet course.
- Apple crisp. Alphafoodie includes The Best Apple Crisp Recipe in the dessert section of its Christmas dinner ideas.
- Garlic butter steak bites. Listed among the appetizers, so it's a starter-style pick rather than a main.
Tick off the dishes you'll actually cook and leave the rest. Sitting down with the list together makes it easier to settle on a short menu for two.
When to use it
Useful when you're planning a small Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner and want a short menu.