14 Last-minute Christmas Eve dinner recipes

When Christmas Eve gets busy and you suddenly realize you need a delicious dinner fast, don’t stress — you can still serve a festive, comforting meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

These 14 last-minute Christmas Eve dinner recipes are quick, simple, and full of cozy holiday flavors.

Each one uses everyday ingredients and comes together in 30–45 minutes or less.

1. Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Baby Potatoes

Tender seared steak bites tossed in rich garlic butter and served with crispy mini potatoes. Ready in under 30 minutes — perfect for a crowd.

Ingredients

• 1 lb steak (sirloin or ribeye), cut into cubes

• 2 cups baby potatoes, halved

• 4 tbsp butter

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• Salt & black pepper

• Fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Boil potatoes for 10 minutes, drain.

2. Pan-fry potatoes in olive oil until golden. Remove.

3. Add steak cubes, season, and sear for 3–4 minutes.

4. Add butter and garlic, stir for 1 minute.

5. Return potatoes, toss together, and serve warm.

2. Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet

Juicy chicken breasts cooked in a creamy garlic parmesan sauce with tomatoes and spinach — restaurant flavor in minutes.

Ingredients

• 3 chicken breasts

• 1 cup heavy cream

• ½ cup grated parmesan

• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes

• 1 cup spinach

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• Salt, pepper, paprika

Instructions

1. Season and pan-sear chicken until golden.

2. Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes.

3. Pour in cream, parmesan, and stir.

4. Add spinach and simmer 5 minutes.

5. Serve over rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.

3. One-Pan Honey Glazed Salmon

A sweet and savory salmon dish made with honey, garlic, and lemon that bakes in just 15 minutes.

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets

• 3 tbsp honey

• 2 tbsp soy sauce

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 lemon, sliced

Instructions

1. Mix honey, soy sauce, and garlic.

2. Brush over salmon and top with lemon slices.

3. Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 12–15 minutes.

Also check: 14 First day of winter cozy dinner recipes

4. Christmas Eve Garlic Shrimp Pasta

A quick shrimp linguine tossed in garlic, chili, butter, and herbs. Light, fancy, and done in 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 300g pasta

• 1 lb shrimp

• 4 tbsp butter

• 4 garlic cloves

• Chili flakes, parsley, salt

Instructions

1. Cook pasta.

2. Sauté garlic in butter; add shrimp and chili.

3. Toss shrimp with cooked pasta and parsley.

5. Baked Chicken Drumsticks with Brown Sugar Glaze

Sticky, sweet, slightly smoky chicken that cooks in 35 minutes and is perfect for a family-style Christmas dinner.

Ingredients

• 8 chicken drumsticks

• 3 tbsp brown sugar

• 1 tbsp paprika

• Salt & pepper

• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Mix seasoning and rub onto chicken.

2. Bake at 220°C (425°F) for 35 minutes.

3. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

6. Cheesy Beef and Veggie Skillet

Ground beef cooked with veggies and topped with stretchy melted cheese — simple, fast, and comforting.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 chopped onion

• 1 cup mixed vegetables

• 1 cup shredded cheese

• Salt, pepper, garlic powder

Instructions

1. Brown the beef, add veggies and seasonings.

2. Top with cheese and cover until melted.

3. Serve with bread, rice, or potatoes.

7. Holiday BBQ Chicken Flatbread

A 15-minute festive pizza-style flatbread topped with BBQ chicken, onions, and cheese.

Ingredients

• 2 flatbreads

• 1 cup shredded cooked chicken

• ½ cup BBQ sauce

• 1 cup mozzarella

• Red onions

Instructions

1. Mix chicken with BBQ sauce.

2. Spread on flatbreads, top with cheese and onions.

3. Bake 10 minutes.

8. Creamy Mushroom Soup with Croutons

Thick, warming soup that takes only 25 minutes — perfect for a cozy Christmas Eve starter or light dinner.

Ingredients

• 2 cups mushrooms, sliced

• 1 cup cream

• 1 onion

• 2 tbsp butter

• Salt, pepper

• Croutons

Instructions

1. Sauté onions and mushrooms in butter.

2. Add cream and simmer 10 minutes.

3. Blend (optional) and top with croutons.

9. Quick Roast Pork Tenderloin

Tender pork seasoned with garlic, rosemary, and olive oil, roasted quickly for a flavorful centerpiece.

Ingredients

• 1 pork tenderloin

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 2 garlic cloves

• 1 tsp rosemary

• Salt & pepper

Instructions

1. Rub seasoning onto pork.

2. Roast at 220°C (425°F) for 20–25 minutes.

3. Rest 10 minutes before slicing.

10. Creamy Pesto Tortellini

A 10-minute pasta dish with ready-made tortellini tossed in creamy pesto sauce.

Ingredients

• 300g tortellini

• ½ cup pesto

• ½ cup cream

• Parmesan

Instructions

1. Boil tortellini.

2. Mix pesto with cream and heat.

3. Toss together and serve.

11. Sheet-Pan Lemon Herb Chicken & Veggies

All-in-one pan dinner with chicken pieces, potatoes, carrots, and lemon for a bright Christmas Eve meal.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs

• Potatoes, carrots

• 1 lemon

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• Salt, pepper, herbs

Instructions

1. Spread chicken and veggies on a tray.

2. Season and drizzle with oil.

3. Bake 30–35 minutes.

12. Pan-Seared Sausages with Peppers & Onions

A fast, colorful dish perfect for rolls or serving over rice.

Ingredients

• 6 sausages

• 1 onion

• 1 bell pepper

• 1 tbsp oil

Instructions

1. Brown sausages.

2. Add sliced peppers and onions.

3. Cook until soft and caramelized.

13. Holiday Fried Rice

A quick meal using leftover rice, vegetables, and eggs — festive, colorful, and budget-friendly.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked rice

• Mixed veggies

• 2 eggs

• Soy sauce

• Oil

Instructions

1. Scramble eggs and set aside.

2. Stir-fry veggies; add rice and soy sauce.

3. Mix in eggs and serve.

14. Creamy Ham & Potato Bake

Use leftover ham for this creamy, cheesy potato dish that bakes quickly and tastes like comfort.

Ingredients

• 3 cups diced potatoes

• 1 cup diced ham

• 1 cup cream

• 1 cup cheese

• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients in a baking dish.

2. Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 25–30 minutes.

3. Let cool slightly and serve.