Christmas dinner is all about warmth, family, and delicious flavors that bring comfort and celebration to the table.

Whether you’re planning a traditional feast or updating your holiday menu with modern classics, these 17 Christmas dinner recipes offer a perfect mix of meats, sides, and comforting dishes.

✅ 1. Herb-Roasted Christmas Turkey

A golden, juicy turkey infused with garlic, rosemary, and thyme—perfect as your show-stopping Christmas main dish.

Ingredients

• 1 whole turkey (12–14 lbs)

• ½ cup butter

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 tbsp rosemary

• 2 tbsp thyme

• Salt and pepper

• 1 lemon, halved

• 1 onion, halved

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).

2. Pat turkey dry and rub with butter, oil, garlic, and herbs.

3. Stuff cavity with lemon and onion.

4. Roast 3–3.5 hours, basting every 40 minutes.

5. Rest 20 minutes before carving.

✅ 2. Honey-Glazed Holiday Ham

Sweet, sticky, caramelized ham with a beautiful shine and incredible flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 spiral-cut ham

• 1 cup honey

• ½ cup brown sugar

• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard

• ½ tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Mix honey, sugar, mustard, and cinnamon.

2. Brush glaze over ham.

3. Bake at 325°F for 1.5 hours, glazing every 20 minutes.

✅ 3. Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Smooth, buttery mashed potatoes blended with roasted garlic for irresistible flavor.

Ingredients

• 5 large potatoes

• 4 tbsp butter

• ½ cup heavy cream

• 4 roasted garlic cloves

• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Boil potatoes until tender.

2. Mash with butter, cream, and garlic.

3. Season generously.

✅ 4. Classic Christmas Stuffing

A cozy blend of bread cubes, herbs, and veggies baked until golden on top.

Ingredients

• 1 loaf bread, cubed

• ½ cup butter

• 1 onion, diced

• 2 celery stalks, diced

• 2 cups chicken broth

• 2 tbsp parsley

• 1 tbsp sage

Instructions

1. Sauté onions and celery in butter.

2. Combine with bread and herbs.

3. Pour broth and mix.

4. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes.

✅ 5. Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Layers of thin-sliced potatoes baked in a creamy, cheesy sauce—rich and comforting.

Ingredients

• 4 potatoes, thinly sliced

• 2 cups heavy cream

• 1 cup cheddar

• 1 cup mozzarella

• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Layer potatoes in a dish.

2. Pour cream and cheese over layers.

3. Bake at 375°F for 1 hour.

✅ 6. Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Crispy Brussels sprouts coated with maple syrup and roasted to caramelized perfection.

Ingredients

• 4 cups Brussels sprouts

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• 3 tbsp maple syrup

• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Toss Brussels sprouts with oil and maple.

2. Roast at 400°F for 25 minutes.

Read More: 18 Christmas cookies recipes

✅ 7. Holiday Prime Rib Roast

Tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned—this premium cut is a luxurious Christmas centerpiece.

Ingredients

• 4–5 lb prime rib

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• 4 garlic cloves

• 2 tbsp rosemary

• 2 tbsp thyme

• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Rub meat with herbs, garlic, and oil.

2. Roast at 450°F for 20 minutes.

3. Lower to 325°F and bake 1.5 hours.

✅ 8. Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

Sweet, buttery carrots that add beautiful color and flavor to your Christmas table.

Ingredients

• 4 cups sliced carrots

• 3 tbsp butter

• 2 tbsp brown sugar

• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Sauté carrots in butter.

2. Add brown sugar to glaze.

3. Cook until tender and glossy.

✅ 9. Baked Mac and Cheese

Creamy macaroni baked with a crispy golden top—always a crowd favorite.

Ingredients

• 3 cups macaroni

• 2 cups milk

• 2 cups cheddar

• ½ cup Parmesan

• 3 tbsp butter

• 3 tbsp flour

Instructions

1. Cook pasta.

2. Make cheese sauce with butter, flour, milk, and cheese.

3. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.

✅ 10. Cranberry Orange Relish

Fresh, tangy, and sweet—a bright addition that cuts through rich holiday dishes.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cranberries

• 1 orange, chopped

• ½ cup sugar

Instructions

1. Blend all ingredients until chunky.

2. Chill before serving.

✅ 11. Green Bean Almondine

Classic buttery green beans topped with toasted almonds—simple and elegant.

Ingredients

• 4 cups green beans

• 2 tbsp butter

• ½ cup toasted almonds

• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Sauté green beans in butter.

2. Add almonds before serving.

✅ 12. Garlic Herb Dinner Rolls

Soft, fluffy rolls infused with garlic and herbs—perfect for soaking up gravy.

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 2 tbsp butter

• 1 cup warm milk

• 1 egg

• 1 tbsp yeast

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• Herbs

Instructions

1. Mix dough ingredients.

2. Rise 1 hour.

3. Shape and bake at 375°F for 15 minutes.

✅ 13. Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Elegant bundles of asparagus wrapped in crispy bacon—easy and impressive.

Ingredients

• 20 asparagus stalks

• 10 bacon strips

• Olive oil

• Pepper

Instructions

1. Wrap 2 asparagus per bacon strip.

2. Brush with oil.

3. Bake at 400°F for 15–20 minutes.

✅ 14. Lemon Garlic Baked Salmon

A light and flavorful Christmas main featuring flaky salmon with citrus and herbs.

Ingredients

• 2 lb salmon

• 3 tbsp lemon juice

• 3 garlic cloves

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Layer salmon on pan.

2. Top with lemon, oil, garlic.

3. Bake at 375°F for 18 minutes.

✅ 15. Mushroom Gravy

Rich, earthy gravy perfect for turkey, beef, or mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

• 2 cups mushrooms, sliced

• 2 tbsp butter

• 2 tbsp flour

• 2 cups broth

• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Cook mushrooms in butter.

2. Add flour to make roux.

3. Add broth and whisk to thicken.

✅ 16. Christmas Cranberry Chicken

Sweet, tangy chicken topped with cranberries and herbs—easy yet festive.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts

• 1 cup cranberries

• ½ cup orange juice

• 2 tbsp honey

• Rosemary

Instructions

1. Place chicken in pan.

2. Whisk juice, honey, cranberries.

3. Pour over chicken and bake at 375°F for 30–35 minutes.

✅ 17. Yorkshire Pudding

A traditional English Christmas side—light, airy, and perfect with roast beef or gravy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour

• 1 cup milk

• 3 eggs

• ½ tsp salt

• ¼ cup hot oil

Instructions

1. Whisk batter until smooth.

2. Heat oil in muffin tin.

3. Pour batter and bake at 425°F for 20 minutes.