Festive Ideas for Your Christmas Meal, From Cocktails to Entrees

There’s a lot that goes into planning the ultimate Christmas: You decorate a Christmas tree, wrap presents and sort through your family’s favorite recipes to organize your menu full of Christmas side dishes, appetizers and of course, Christmas desserts! With these straightforward (and tasty!) ideas, you’ll have all the info and inspo you need to put together the best Christmas dinner ideas.

Whether you’re looking for alternative recipe ideas to shake things up, smaller portion sizes for an intimate gathering or the perfect traditional Christmas dinner, it’s super simple to build a meal that everyone will enjoy. We even shuffled in a few meat-free mains if you've got vegetarian family members in town!

Maybe you're hosting your first holiday and wondering what to serve? A great roast is a good place to start — and we rounded up our best ham and roast beef recipes that totally double as festive centerpieces. Since even the most delicious meaty main needs some support, there are plenty of side dishes that go with ham, beef or even turkey (that’s right — the bird isn’t just for Thanksgiving!). Plus, we collected our best-ever desserts to end your meal on the right note. So just pick out your favorite ideas, write out your menu and enjoy the rest of the holiday season stress-free and so ready to feast.

Serve this centerpiece with a simple garlic-horseradish cream sauce.

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Sweet-sour glazed green beans pair perfectly with a holiday ham.

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RELATED: 35 Christmas Hams That Taste Amazing and Look Gorgeous on Your Dinner Table

Loads of spinach, a healthy dose of broccoli, three cheeses, basil and your favorite sauce makes this vegetarian Christmas dinner every bit as good as the roast.

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It's just not Christmas without sweet, creamy eggnog.

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This dish looks seriously impressive, but it's a lot easier to make than you'd think! To keep the puff pastry crisp on the outside, the beef inside gets wrapped in flavorful prosciutto spread with duxelles (a mixture of mushrooms, shallots and thyme).

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It only takes one pot (and a healthy dose of butter and cream!) to prep this luxurious side dish.

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RELATED: 46 Easy Mashed Potatoes To Help You Find the Ultimate Holiday Side

Squash, kale, potato and tomato star in this beautiful layered pie that takes 15 minutes to prep.

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Lay the foundation for your gingerbread house with this peppermint-infused dough.

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This classic cocktail with white rum, pineapple juice, maraschino liqueur and grenadine is fruity but not too sweet.

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RELATED: 24 Totally Delicious Classic Cocktails to Make at Home

Pineapple and oranges lend juicy sweetness to contrast the salty ham, while our secret ingredient (ginger beer!) gives everything a spicy finish.

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There should be spinach and artichoke dip at every holiday, sporting event or family gathering— it's the law.

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RELATED: 86 Best Dips for the Holidays, Happy Hour & Beyond

Pink, green, and black peppercorns lend serious spice and pretty pops of color to make this the perfect centerpiece for your Christmas dinner table.

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Bring vanilla bean to the savory side and try it in this easy sweet potato recipe that really makes the flavor shine.

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Sneak an extra veggie into your Christmas side dish with this parsnip-potato combo.

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This sparkling punch made with apple cider, brandy, and a splash of Prosecco makes a festive and fun way to toast the holiday.

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RELATED: 50 Boozy Christmas Cocktails That Are Sure To Get You Into the Christmas Spirit

Place graham squares on a baking sheet; top with chocolate and marshmallow snowmen (such as Peeps). Broil until golden, sprinkle with crushed candy canes and sandwich with another graham. Stack if desired.

Use store-bought puff pastry to impress your guests with a secretly simple and super elegant appetizer.

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Slow-cooked, caramelized onions and fresh thyme give this classic soup its winning flavor. Topped with tons of grated cheese, you'll want seconds (and thirds!).

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Filled with eggplant, zucchini and red peppers, this is hearty enough for a vegetarian main.

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Cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips make these chewy cookies a chocolate-lover's dream.

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RELATED: 25 Easy and Creative Chocolate Desserts That You Haven't Tried Yet

Impress your guests with these fancy (and easy!) bites, made with fresh sweet crab and topped with a crunchy mango-avocado relish.

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RELATED: 65 Easy Christmas Appetizers To Kick off Your Holiday Feast This Year

All Christmas dinner parties need a signature cocktail, and this bubbly, Aperol-based bev is the perfect elegant sipper.

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These Instant Pot short ribs braised in red wine, tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce will be the star of Christmas dinner, no effort required.

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RELATED: 30 Best Instant Pot Recipes for Easy Weeknight Dinners

Made with finely ground pecans, cinnamon and nutmeg, these taste like the holidays.

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A twist on a classic stew of chicken, bacon and mushrooms this crowd-pleaser uses rosé instead of red wine for a lighter, zippier take.

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They usually contain heavy cream, but coconut milk works wonders as a substitute!

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RELATED: 26 Best Vegan Desserts That Taste Like the Real Deal

Slow-cooked chicken and beans may look like a humble dish, but the rich flavors (thanks to sausage and bacon!) make for a delicious winter-ready stew.

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Warm up on a chilly Christmas night with a boozy, chocolatey drink.

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The last thing you want to do on Christmas day is wash dishes. So prep and roast your main course on one pan for a delicious, no-mess dinner.

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Spin your classic roasted veggies by throwing a fruit in the mix.

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Here's a dessert for everyone in your crew, no matter their diet.

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Why serve one cheese ball when you can have three, each with a flavor-packed coating your guests will absolutely enjoy?

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RELATED: 25 Easy Finger Food Ideas for Your Next Big Party

Spice up this traditional holiday side with paprika and nutmeg.

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Pumpkin isn't just for Thanksgiving! These spiced cupcakes are packed with flavor and make for the perfect addition to your Christmas dessert spread.

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RELATED: 47 Sweet and Savory Pumpkin Recipes to Make This Fall

Create cute cups by pressing puff pastry into muffin tins with a dollop of jam and gooey Brie cheese.

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This savory twist on a classic finger food will be a hit of your Christmas appetizers spread.

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The perfect centerpiece for any holiday dinner, festive spices meet chocolate in this rich and moist cake.

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Creamy greens gain a little extra sophistication with the addition of nutty gruyère.

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This elegant cocktail takes only 3 ingredients but will look and taste truly impressive.

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Fill these classic Christmas cookies with the jam of your choice and then package them up in a festive paper envelope.

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RELATED: 90 Irresistibly Good Christmas Cookies to Make This Season

If you're looking for a quick and cozy appetizer, start Christmas dinner with a veggie-loaded soup.

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RELATED: 10 Simple Soups for the Chilliest Days

Red chile adds a hint of spice to this elegant and earthy party dish.

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Swirl a jammy, homemade cranberry sauce into creamy cheesecake for a festive ending to Christmas dinner.

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Festive bubbly meets a mojito for a super-simple drink fit for a crowd.

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This timeless recipe is for so much more than Thanksgiving dinner. A golden brown bird with an easy gravy will be the showstopper this Christmas.

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Start Christmas dinner off right with this festive cheesy appetizer.

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Make mini apple pies for sharing or handing out as holiday gifts.

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Fresh parsley and basil make this rib roast super special.

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If you're trying to cater to dietary restrictions this Christmas, this tart is a must. While it's both gluten free and vegan (!) it lacks no flavor, making it everyone's favorite sweet this season.

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RELATED: 25 Gluten-Free Desserts That Will Be the Hit of Any Party

Even olive-haters will enjoy these flavor-packed bites.

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If you feel like you'll need some green veggies on your Christmas dinner table, serve this elegant take on a Caesar salad, topped with fresh pecorino and chopped hazelnuts.

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You'll want to make this cheesy and vegetarian casserole a part of every Christmas dinner menu, from this year onward.

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RELATED: 50 Easy Vegetarian Recipes for the Whole Family

With pops of color from the red potatoes and chives, these mashed potatoes are as beautiful as they are delicious.

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Butter, sliced almonds and raisins make these roasted sprouts even better.

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Skip the cookies and turn all the flavors of gingerbread into a super-easy and super moist cake.

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This fresh, crunchy side salad is the perfect pair to whatever you want to serve for Christmas dinner.

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This sweet ending requires no oven space, making it the ultimate sweet to finish to your Christmas dinner.

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Garnished with rosemary and flaky sea salt, these sweet and buttery dinner rolls are perfect for Christmas dinner.

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This cheesy bake is part greens, part spuds and totally delicious.

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With the flavors of spiced tea, these may outrank your ordinary sugar cookies this year.

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