Food and Recipes Recipes 75 Christmas Dinner Recipes For A Menu That Suits Your Style By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 15, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Alison Miksch Christmas is about spending time with those you love, and that's often best done with a full plate and happy heart. After 25 hectic days of festivities and feasting, there's always one last meal on our minds: Christmas dinner. In the South, that means casseroles, crown roasts, gratins, and biscuits aplenty. With a spread like this, you'll find that the only hard part is having to pick what makes it on your plate. Pair Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder with our ham-hocked collards and rustic buttermilk mashed potatoes, or maybe Orange-Glazed Ham with our best-ever macaroni and cheese recipe and a green bean casserole. With classics and fresh takes alike, these delicious dishes will get you through Christmas supper and beyond. Take a look through these easy Christmas dinner recipes to find the holiday menu that's made for your celebration style. 01 of 75 Smoked Turkey Breast Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Nothing says Christmas like fresh thyme and rosemary sprigs. After only 20 minutes of hands-on work, sit back and let the smoker infuse your bird with Christmas flavor. Get The Recipe 02 of 75 Our Best Ambrosia Ever Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Ambrosia's story goes back further than your grandmother's table, but you can bring the best version to your table this holiday season. Whether you use ambrosia in dessert or cocktail or enjoy it alone, you can't go wrong with this class dish. 03 of 75 Cheddar Cheese Shortbread Crackers Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox For a holiday appetizer like no other, look no further than these cheddar cheese shortbread crackers. For even more festivity, check out the optional addition of pecan and thyme. Get The Recipe 04 of 75 Spiced Cranberry Mold Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Take out your vintage copper molds, because your Christmas dinner spread is calling for this spiced cranberry mold. Though somewhat controversial, for some, the cranberry mold is a must-have holiday item. Get The Recipe 05 of 75 Prime Rib With Horseradish Dipping Sauce Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Despite its sophisticated ambience, prime rib isn't actually hard to cook. This recipe will delivers a perfectly cooked and seasoned main course every time. Get The Recipe 06 of 75 Grits Dressing Laurey W. Glenn Though cornbread dressing might reign supreme at Thanksgiving, we're letting this grits-based version head the holiday table this December. Get The Recipe 07 of 75 Old-School Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This old-school recipe is the definition of "don't mess with a good thing." From the frozen French-cut green beans to the crispy fried onion topping, it's a familiar staple on every Southern table, no matter the occasion. Get The Recipe 08 of 75 Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots Iain Bagwell During Christmastime, Southerners will cover just about any vegetable with butter, sugar, and a bevy of festive spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. These carrots really hammer the holiday spirit home with their bright and colorful demeanor. Get The Recipe 09 of 75 Baked Ham With Brown Sugar Glaze Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Baked ham is mainly a hands-off main dish. No brining, no marinades. This ham bakes for several hours. Then, you'll glaze it with a spicy-sweet sauce until the rind is crisp and caramelized. Get the Recipe 10 of 75 Baked Brie Bites Laurey W. Glenn There's no better way to kick off Christmas celebrations than with these melty baked Brie bites. With only five ingredients and 18 minutes of prep, these little stars are topped with a dollop of pepper jelly, flaky sea salt, and a few crunchy toasted pecans for a Southern touch. Get The Recipe 11 of 75 Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls Laurey W. Glenn If it isn't broken, don't fix it. If you can also make it ahead before the in-laws come into town, don't dare forget it. These yeast rolls made their mark in our November 1995 issue and are still one of our favorite holiday staples. Get The Recipe 12 of 75 Beet, Fennel, and Apple Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith There's an occasional need for greens on the holiday spread, and not of the stewed, buttery, ham-hocked variety. Beets add welcome pops of color to this delicate side salad. Get The Recipe 13 of 75 Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith Enter your most versatile Christmas side. It goes with any main meat dish you're cooking, but that doesn't mean it has to be plain, thanks to a tangy glaze of balsamic vinegar, garlic, and butter. Get The Recipe 14 of 75 Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Warm roasted broccoli makes macaroni and cheese feel a little more wintry. Plus, it elevates the classic pasta bake from ho-hum to standout status on the holiday spread. Get The Recipe 15 of 75 Herbed Wild Rice Dressing Iain Bagwell It's wild, that's for sure. Earthy wild rice is combined with crisp apples and celery, aromatic red onion, toasted walnuts, fresh parsley and sage, and buttery sourdough bread cubes. This innovative dressing dish belongs at Christmas. Get The Recipe 16 of 75 Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit Jennifer Davick Trust us, we've tried hundreds of biscuit recipes. This is the hands-down favorite we keep coming back to. Look at them—they're practically begging to be perched on the edge of your dinner plate. Get The Recipe 17 of 75 Savory Corn Pudding Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Naturally one of our sweeter side dishes, corn pudding is a Southern favorite during the holiday season. In this recipe, fresh thyme adds a savory twist that makes it taste fresh and new. Get The Recipe 18 of 75 Italian Casserole Hector Manuel Sanchez This vintage recipe makes an appearance every year, whether made ahead to be served on busy gift-wrapping nights or added to the Christmas dinner menu when feeding a huge crowd (and kids!). Get The Recipe 19 of 75 Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites Hector Manuel Sanchez Is it Christmas in the South without sausage balls? No. No, it's not. Switch things up with this seasonal twist that incorporates spicy, peppery Mexican-style chorizo sausage and mashed sweet potatoes. Get The Recipe 20 of 75 Sautéed Mustard Greens with Garlic and Lemon Laurey W. Glenn When the casseroles are already plentiful, these mustard greens will look so fresh and inviting on the table. The garlicky, lemony platter of veggies will be a quick favorite. Get The Recipe 21 of 75 Classic Candied Yams Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Don't call this classic dish outdated, at least before you've tasted it. Lightly spiced and oh-so-sweet, these candied yams are about to become a mainstay alongside the sweet potato casserole. Get The Recipe 22 of 75 Chicken-and-Biscuit Cobbler Alison Miksch Cobbler? For dinner? Groundbreaking. What sets this comforting chicken casserole apart is that it's topped with fluffy homemade biscuits (that happen to have chopped bacon in them). Get The Recipe 23 of 75 Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Free up your oven space, and let these too-easy, too-flavorful collards wow the Christmas crowd. After a simple 15 minutes of prep time, these ham-hocked collard greens finish in your slow cooker. Get The Recipe 24 of 75 Best Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall There's no better case for serving macaroni and cheese at Christmas dinner than this best-ever version. You won't find a creamier, meltier macaroni and cheese rendition in all the land. Get The Recipe 25 of 75 Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall If it's topped with fried onions and crispy bacon, is there a Southerner that won't love it? This casserole is a glorious mashup of two of our favorite vegetables to serve during the holidays: green beans and Brussels sprouts. Get The Recipe 26 of 75 Pumpkin-Buttermilk Biscuits with Crispy Ham and Honey Butter Victor Protasio; Propr Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Surprise everyone with this festive take on buttermilk biscuits. Pumpkin puree gives the biscuits their bright hue and flavorful twist, while the honey butter and salty country ham balance each other perfectly. Get The Recipe 27 of 75 Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Burgundy-Mushroom Sauce Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith Find a prettier main dish, we challenge. These tender spirals of beef filled with creamy spinach and leeks always receive perfect scores on taste and style. Get The Recipe 28 of 75 Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Why not gussy up a classic Southern sandwich for the holiday season? If it's from the South, chances are we're going to try to make a casserole out of it, and this one is (thankfully) quite incredible. Get The Recipe 29 of 75 Grits and Greens with Brown Butter Hot Sauce Iain Bagwell Grits and greens, greens and grits—we'll take them any way we can. This creamy side dish combines the two Southern staples with a brown butter hot sauce that'll leave the taste buds reeling. Get The Recipe 30 of 75 Classic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Consider this an old-school recipe, perfected. A power trio of tangy buttermilk, creamy butter, and velvety rich crème fraîche make these mashed potatoes the best-ever rendition. Get The Recipe 31 of 75 Slow-Cooker Green Beans Iain Bagwell Crave the taste of your grandmother's green beans? This slow-cooker recipe gets you there, with a little extra bacon. We'll swear up and down that this side dish makes every festive dinner just a little bit better. Get The Recipe 32 of 75 The Ultimate Make-Ahead Gravy Hector Sanchez Get out your best gravy boat—because this gravy deserves a nice home. Though this recipe takes only one pot and 30 minutes, you can still make it ahead to mark something off your to-do list. Get The Recipe 33 of 75 Classic Cranberry Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall We know you're already stocking up on those cans of congealed cranberry, but this fresh cranberry salad can fit on the table, too. Filled with pears, pineapple, celery, and pecans, this recipe offers a fresh, crunchy take on the nostalgic dish. Get The Recipe 34 of 75 Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie Hector Manuel Sanchez There's always room for pot pie. If hosting a large crowd or a potluck-style Christmas meal, look no further than this old-school chicken casserole with a golden, crispy crust. Get The Recipe 35 of 75 Herbed Potato Stacks Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith These stacks make the short list for most adorable side dish and feature a short ingredient list to boot. Baked in a muffin pan, the tiny potato towers get deliciously crispy on the outside, yet creamy and tender on the inside. Get The Recipe 36 of 75 Skillet Squash Blossom Iain Bagwell At first glance, we're intrigued. At first bite, we're sold. Bacon, thyme, and a little maple syrup help make up the squash blossom's success. Get The Recipe 37 of 75 French Onion Soup Casserole Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Like we said, we'll make anything a casserole. Transform your comforting bowl of onion soup into this cheesy, caramelized, layered masterpiece. Get The Recipe 38 of 75 Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust Jennifer Davick Want to bring major flavor without spending too much time in the kitchen? The rosemary aromatics of this cheesy two-potato gratin will put you in the holiday spirit. Get The Recipe 39 of 75 Smashed Baby Red Potatoes Iain Bagwell Smashed, not mashed. You'll find something inherently satisfying about smashing these baby red potatoes. Coated in a heavenly garlic-herb butter sauce, these will be an instant hit. Get The Recipe 40 of 75 Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole Hector Sanchez If broccoli-and-cheese casserole is wrong, then we don't want to be right. (We'd wager that just about every Southerner feels the same.) Make the classic dish a little extra special by using this recipe that skips the canned cream of mushroom soup and frozen broccoli. Get The Recipe 41 of 75 Oyster Casserole Greg DuPree You might know it as oyster dressing, oyster pie, or even scalloped oysters. Oyster casserole is part of many Southerners' Christmas traditions, and this recipe is our Test Kitchen's favorite rendition. Get The Recipe 42 of 75 Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox The perk of using gnocchi instead of traditional pasta in your gratin? It takes so much less time to cook. This ham-and-pea gratin shakes things up. Get The Recipe 43 of 75 Arugula Salad with Bacony Croutons and Sherry Vinaigrette Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Arugula, blue cheese, Honeycrisp apple, toasted pecans, and bacon fat croutons make up this indulgent salad. Get The Recipe 44 of 75 Buttery Toasted Pecans Iain Bagwell This quick and easy recipe will get you into the holiday spirit. Set these out for snacking or use them to top your holiday pie. Get The Recipe 45 of 75 Peppercorn-Crusted Standing Rib Roast with Roasted Vegetables Laurey W. Glenn Slather the roast in herb butter and let it sit overnight for a flavorful and impressive main dish. The peppery crust makes this dish a memorable holiday meal. Get The Recipe 46 of 75 Creamed Greens Casserole Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer What better way to get your greens in than with a gratin? Kale and collards bake in a creamy sauce. It's the perfect side for turkey, beef, and chicken. Get The Recipe 47 of 75 Classic Lasagna LauriPatterson / Getty Images Lasagna can be served any time of year, but we love to serve it on Christmas for a bit of comfort food. Get The Recipe 48 of 75 Fennel-and-Potato Gratin Jennifer Davick A casserole dish of cheesy potato gratin pleases every palate, in our experience. This recipe gets a festive touch from fennel and nutmeg. Get The Recipe 49 of 75 Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder Alison Miksch Even a humble pork shoulder roast likes to dress up for the occasion. Between the apple cider, Dijon mustard, and brown sugar, this main dish hits the trifecta of flavor. Get The Recipe 50 of 75 Skillet Cornbread Jennifer Causey Three words: Hot. Bacon. Drippings. Say hello to the secret weapon behind this perfect skillet recipe for Southern cornbread. Get The Recipe 51 of 75 Perfect Beef Tenderloin Iain Bagwell It's all in the technique. If you're a less-is-more, quality-first type of person, this perfectly cooked beef tenderloin will soon become a Christmas staple. (Hint: It also makes for great leftovers, placed inside a biscuit.) Get The Recipe 52 of 75 Classic Roasted Duck with Orange-Bourbon-Molasses Glaze Southern Living Feel instantly fancy when serving this perfectly crispy roasted duck. The secret is in the sauce: a glaze of orange marmalade, bourbon, molasses, lemon juice, and ginger. Get The Recipe 53 of 75 Classic Fresh Field Peas Photo: Iain Bagwell If there's a recipe that couldn't benefit from the addition of ham hocks or bacon drippings, we've yet to find it. Luckily, this recipe for fresh field peas covers its bases, using both. Get The Recipe 54 of 75 Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes Southern Living If there was ever an occasion to take your mashed potatoes over the top, Christmas seems like the time. In this recipe, we made mashed potatoes with heavy cream and butter but added plain goat cheese for an extra dose of flavor and silkiness. Get The Recipe 55 of 75 Hot Cheesy Crab Dip Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Jumbo lump crab meat makes this cheesy dip worthy of a holiday spread. It will only take a few bites for your guests to start requesting the recipe. Get The Recipe 56 of 75 Baked Ham with Brown Sugar-Citrus Glaze Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Give your go-to ham glaze the holiday season off and swap in this bright, fresh version made with orange juice, marmalade, and brown sugar. Get The Recipe 57 of 75 Christmas Snow Salad Jennifer Causey No Southern holiday is complete without at least one jiggly gelatin masterpiece. Like a delightfully retro Christmas tree ornament, this colorful salad will stand out on your dining room sideboard. Get The Recipe 58 of 75 Mamau's Cheese Straws Robbie Caponetto; Prop Styling: Mary Beth Wetzel; Food Styling: Pam Lolley This take on a Southern classic was inspired by our editor-in-chief's grandmother, Mamau. She never broke the tradition of serving this same little snack on Christmas Eve. Get The Recipe 59 of 75 Southern Cornbread Dressing Lee Harrelson Thought cornbread dressing was just for Thanksgiving? You'll be pleasantly surprised when you taste how well this buttery side dish pairs with beef tenderloin, duck, and ham. Get The Recipe 60 of 75 Cornmeal Popovers Laurey W. Glenn You'll be reaching into the breadbasket more than once for this light and fluffy dinner-roll alternative. Get The Recipe 61 of 75 Roasted Carrots and Parsnips Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Delightfully caramelized roasted vegetables balance out any rich sides on your holiday table. The carrots and parsnips get of boost of flavor from a “fall” herb butter made with fresh thyme, sage, and parsley. Get The Recipe 62 of 75 Jessica B. Harris' Harvard Beets Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis In some homes, tradition dictates serving a platter of these gem-colored beets at Christmas dinner. Coated in a rich, glossy sauce, these beets can be served warm or chilled. Get The Recipe 63 of 75 Sweet Potato Stacks Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch If you’re thinking of skipping the sweet potato casserole this year, these stacks pair perfectly with a holiday turkey. Stack sliced sweet potatoes in a muffin tin and top with sweetened rosemary-infused butter before baking. Get The Recipe 64 of 75 Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey Iain Bagwell Sweet, vibrant citrus rounds make this a holiday fruit salad that guests will want to dig into. A drizzle of spiced honey, fresh mint, olive oil, and sea salt finish the dish. Get The Recipe 65 of 75 Butternut Squash Bread Pudding Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch When you crave something different for the holiday menu, look no further than this comforting bread pudding. Made with butternut squash, challah, and Gruyere, it has all the components of a surefire winner. Get The Recipe 66 of 75 Stuffed-Pepper Wreath Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Check easy and pretty off your to-do list with this festive wreath of peppers and olives. This arrangement is almost too pretty to eat. Get The Recipe 67 of 75 Pecan-Coated Pork Loin Roast Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Dark brown sugar and herbs season this pork roast overnight for rich flavor. Roll the roast in chopped pecans before baking for a crunchy crust. Get The Recipe 68 of 75 Braised Lamb Shanks with Parmesan-Chive Grits Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Impress guests with a sophisticated holiday dinner made right in your slow cooker. Choose lamb shanks that are about the same size and trimmed of excess fat. Reserved liquid flavors the grits. Get The Recipe 69 of 75 Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Beth Dreiling Hontzas Bacon brings the flavor to a simple holiday main dish that cooks in under 30 minutes. Slice into rounds for serving to ensure bacon in every forkful. Get The Recipe 70 of 75 Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables with Spicy Pecan Topping Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Round out the holiday menu with a platter of roasted root vegetables, including sweet potatoes, carrots, onion, and two types of beets. Make a double batch of the spiced pecans for topping. They make a great cocktail snack. Get The Recipe 71 of 75 Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall It’s not a holiday without mac and cheese and this version includes a seasonal twist—pureed butternut squash. This impressive side cooks on a sheet pan and is table ready in 30 minutes. Get The Recipe 72 of 75 Harvest Salad Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Don’t kick off the celebration with an ordinary salad. Filled with kale, Brussels sprouts, apples, and roasted squash, guests will make room on their plates for this holiday-worthy salad. Get The Recipe 73 of 75 Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Beth Dreiling Hontzas Though this dish does bake awhile, there’s practically no hands-on time. It takes just a few ingredients to create this creamy classic that's perfect for the holidays and weeknights. Get The Recipe 74 of 75 Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox When this creamy casserole hits the table, everyone will dig in. This recipe pairs well with meat, but it also makes a great vegetarian main dish served with salad on the side. Get The Recipe 75 of 75 Spice-Rubbed Tenderloin with Mustard-Cream Sauce Alison Miksch When it comes to the tenderest of tenderloins, your spice cabinet has you covered for Christmas. The tangy mustard-cream sauce is just the kick of flavor on top. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit