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Unique Christmas Dinner Ideas
Mains, sides and no-fuss alternatives for a Christmas dinner with a twist, plus what can be done ahead.
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Start with the calendar. One Gransnet poster says supermarket delivery slots can need booking a month early, and suggests buying frozen fish ahead for the freezer. After that, the mains, sides and make-ahead dishes below are there to pick from. This list leans on roasts, stews and make-ahead dishes from recipe roundups, plus a few ideas from people cooking for one or a small table. It leaves out drinks and full menu planning. Pick what suits your table.
Why these items are on the list
- Book delivery slots early. One forum poster says supermarket deliveries can need booking a month early.
- Roast goose. Simply Recipes gives step-by-step instructions, so a whole goose is less daunting.
- Roast duck, honey balsamic glaze. Easy yet impressive, glazed with a honey balsamic sauce.
- Sicilian fish stew. Fish on Christmas is fine; this stew feeds a crowd.
- Beef tenderloin, red wine sauce. Oven-roasted, then served with a rich red wine-butter sauce.
- Cranberry pork roast. Easy to make, and festive enough for the holiday table.
- Hands-off crockpot ham. Greatist's Honey Dijon version needs ten minutes of prep, then cooks hands-off.
- Honey mustard ham with apples. Slide apple slices inside a honey-baked ham for a finishing touch.
- Veggie Wellington. Store-bought puff pastry keeps this plant-based main simple.
- Spinach artichoke enchiladas. Vegetarian-friendly, topped with a homemade red sauce.
- Big-batch mushroom stew. Red wine, rosemary and two kinds of mushrooms make a vegan main.
- Greatist's classic lasagna for 12. Greatist's roundup lists this hearty holiday lasagna as ready in 30 minutes and serving 12.
- Orange and herb turkey crown. Thyme, basil and fresh oranges give it a show-stopping finish.
- Slow cooker turkey breast. Good for a small dinner when you don't need a full turkey or ham.
- Baked brie with jam. Greatist says fifteen minutes to put together, with a fruit and nut topping.
- Christmas charcuterie board. Gives guests something to snack on while you finish the main course.
- Unexpectedly Domestic's corn pudding casserole. Unexpectedly Domestic's side dish roundup says this casserole can be made a day ahead, then baked before serving.
- Rosemary pesto bread wreath. Unexpectedly Domestic lists five ingredients, with pesto, rosemary and tomatoes for the wreath look.
- Slow cooker stuffing. Moist without being soggy, and the crockpot does the work.
- No-cook grazing spread. A Gransnet poster knows two widowed sisters who eat no-cook food after breakfast: cheeses, crackers, dips, salads, trifles.
- Delivered frozen Christmas dinner. One Gransnet poster used these and needed a microwave and an oven for timings.
- Baked smoked haddock. A poster suggests butter on top, milk poured in and foil over it.
- Mini microwave Christmas puddings. A poster cooks them in the microwave in about 30 seconds.
Tick the ideas that make the menu and let the rest drop away. Easy to hand your phone to a co-host and compare.
When to use it
Useful about a month before Christmas, when one poster says delivery slots may need booking.