The key to a stress-free Christmas is simple: prepare as much as possible before the holiday rush.
Make-ahead dishes allow you to cook in advance, refrigerate or freeze, and simply reheat or assemble on Christmas Day.
Whether you’re hosting a big family dinner or bringing a dish to a holiday gathering, these 14 make-ahead Christmas recipes will help you save time without sacrificing flavor.
1. Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole
A warm, hearty breakfast that cooks while the family unwraps gifts. Prepare the entire casserole the night before and bake in the morning.
Ingredients: bread cubes, eggs, milk, sausage or bacon, cheese, peppers.
Instructions:
Assemble ingredients in a casserole dish, cover, refrigerate overnight, and bake on Christmas morning.
2. Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
Fresh, soft, homemade rolls without the early-morning kneading. These rise overnight and bake beautifully the next day.
Ingredients: flour, yeast, milk, butter, cinnamon, sugar, cream cheese frosting.
Instructions:
Prepare dough, roll with filling, slice, refrigerate overnight, bake and frost in the morning.
3. Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Creamy mashed potatoes stay smooth and perfect when reheated with a little extra cream.
Ingredients: potatoes, butter, cream cheese, milk, salt.
Instructions:
Mash potatoes with dairy, refrigerate up to 48 hours, reheat gently with added milk.
Also Check: 12 Hot Christmas Drinks Non-Alcoholic
4. Freezer-Friendly Lasagna
A Christmas Eve favorite for busy families — assemble in advance and freeze.
Ingredients: lasagna noodles, ricotta, marinara, mozzarella, parmesan, ground beef or sausage.
Instructions:
Layer ingredients in a baking dish, freeze, thaw in fridge overnight, and bake until bubbling.
5. Holiday Vegetable Soup
Warm and flavorful, perfect as a starter or light lunch before Christmas dinner.
Ingredients: carrots, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, garlic, broth, herbs.
Instructions:
Cook soup completely, cool, store in fridge for 3 days or freeze. Reheat on stovetop.
6. Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
Skip the last-minute whisking by preparing gravy days ahead.
Ingredients: turkey stock, flour, butter, herbs, pepper.
Instructions:
Thicken stock with flour and butter, season, cool, and refrigerate. Reheat with a splash of stock.
7. Cranberry Orange Sauce
A staple on every Christmas table — and it gets better after a day or two.
Ingredients: cranberries, sugar, orange zest, orange juice.
Instructions:
Simmer ingredients, cool completely, store in jar for up to 5 days.
8. Cheesy Baked Mac and Cheese
Bake the dish the day before, then reheat with aluminum foil to keep it creamy.
Ingredients: pasta, butter, milk, cheddar, mozzarella, flour, breadcrumbs.
Instructions:
Make sauce, combine with cooked pasta, bake, cool, refrigerate, reheat before serving.
9. Make-Ahead Roast Beef Tenderloin
Season and sear ahead of time, then cook to temperature on Christmas Day.
Ingredients: beef tenderloin, garlic, herbs, olive oil, pepper.
Instructions:
Sear meat, wrap, refrigerate overnight, roast until desired doneness.
Read More: 14 Starbucks christmas drinks recipes
10. Prep-Ahead Charcuterie Board
Assemble meats, cheeses, and fruits in containers the day before for quick plating.
Ingredients: cured meats, assorted cheeses, nuts, crackers, grapes, herbs.
Instructions:
Pre-slice everything, refrigerate separately, arrange on a board right before serving.
11. Make-Ahead Stuffing Muffins
Cute, individual servings that freeze beautifully and reheat perfectly.
Ingredients: bread cubes, stock, eggs, sausage, celery, onion, herbs.
Instructions:
Mix stuffing, pack into muffin tins, bake, cool, store in fridge or freezer.
12. Freezer-Friendly Chicken Pot Pie
Comforting and hearty — ideal for busy holiday nights.
Ingredients: chicken, vegetables, pie crust or puff pastry, cream sauce.
Instructions:
Fill pie crust, seal, freeze, bake straight from freezer until golden and bubbly.
13. Christmas Sugar Cookies
Prepare dough in advance to chill up to 48 hours — it makes cookies easier to shape.
Ingredients: flour, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, icing.
Instructions:
Make dough, wrap tightly, refrigerate, roll out and bake when ready, decorate cooled cookies.
14. Make-Ahead Chocolate Truffles
Elegant and simple — they taste even richer after chilling.
Ingredients: dark chocolate, cream, butter, cocoa powder, toppings.
Instructions:
Mix ganache, chill until firm, roll into balls, coat in cocoa, store refrigerated in airtight container.
