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Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas
Mains, sides and make-ahead dishes for Christmas Eve, so the host gets to sit down too.
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A Christmas Eve dinner can feel special without keeping the host at the stove. Many of these ideas can be prepped ahead: Real Life Dinner's stuffed shells and chicken tetrazzini both wait covered in the fridge until baking, and Thriving Home's beef bourguignon slow cooks all day. Thriving Home suggests mains that prep ahead or slow cook all day, so you can enjoy the party. Then pick your salad and sides. It covers mains, sides and a few appetizers. It leaves out full recipes.
Why these items are on the list
- Stuffed shells. Real Life Dinner says prep it the day before and keep covered in the fridge until baking.
- Chicken tetrazzini. Real Life Dinner also preps it the day before; serve with a vegetable or salad and store-bought rolls.
- Easy prime rib, horseradish sauce. Valerie roasts it on a bed of herbs and serves fresh, tangy horseradish sauce, says Food Network.
- Eye round Christmas roast. Food Network calls this a much more affordable roast than prime rib; leftovers make amazing sandwiches.
- Slow cooker beef bourguignon. Thriving Home says this stew slow cooks all day, so the main is done while you host.
- Slow cooker spiral ham. Frees up the oven when you need it for the sides.
- Cioppino seafood stew. Food Network calls Giada's aromatic stew perfect for an Italian-style Christmas Eve dinner.
- Feast of the 7 Fishes. Food Network names it as one elaborate Christmas Eve tradition.
- Stuffed meatloaf. Real Life Dinner says make it up to 36 hours ahead; wrap tightly in plastic and chill.
- Three-cheese lasagna. Valerie's Food Network lasagna uses ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan for a cozy, comforting dish.
- Pesto Parmesan chicken. Real Life Dinner says it's on the table in under an hour; make the angel hair pasta while it bakes.
- Red chili pork tamales. Food Network calls tamales traditional for the holidays; the pork shoulder cooks low and slow in dried chile sauce.
- Pernil with citrus adobo. NYT Cooking lists 3 to 4 hours plus marinating, so start well ahead.
- Simple charcuterie board. Thriving Home says it could be Christmas dinner itself, and makes everyone happy.
- Sausage-stuffed mushrooms. Food Network says these crowd-pleasing mushrooms work as an appetizer or a side dish.
- Mandarin orange spinach salad. Easy to prep ahead, with a creamy citrus dressing.
- Layered salad. Real Life Dinner says you can make it up to eight hours in advance.
- Instant Pot mashed potatoes. Real Life Dinner says leave them on Keep Warm for up to 3 to 4 hours before serving.
- Cheesy hash brown casserole. A make-ahead side dish, and gluten-free as written.
- Cranberry fluff salad. Real Life Dinner: crush the cranberries in a food processor, sprinkle with sugar, and chill overnight.
- Herby butter dinner rolls. Ree's Food Network recipe dresses frozen dinner rolls with herby melted butter for the bread basket.
- Cheesy ham breakfast casserole. Real Life Dinner says cooking the ham and cheese with the potatoes before adding the egg mixture feels fancy.
- Jingle Bell Bundt cake. Food Network says olive oil stands in for butter, giving a rich texture that never dries out.
- Christmas sherbet punch. Food Network calls Ree Drummond's punch fizzy, fruity and perfect for toasting on Christmas Eve.
Tick the dishes you're committing to and the list turns into your menu. It's handy to have open at the store, and for sorting out who brings what.
When to use it
Use it when you're settling the Christmas Eve menu and want mains and sides you can prep ahead.