Indulge in gourmet Christmas Eve dinner ideas, from succulent roasts to festive desserts. Boost your holiday celebration with these recipes.
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Inspiring Christmas Eve Dinner Recipes
Nothing makes Christmas Eve more special than a delicious and festive dinner that celebrates the season. That’s why I’ve picked some of the most wonderful Christmas Eve dinner ideas that are sure to make your evening more memorable and tasty. From the juicy and tender standing rib roasts to the easy and quick sheet pan dinners, each dish is a feast for your eyes and your palate. Let’s make your Christmas Eve a night to remember with these creative and traditional dinner ideas.
Make your ham extra special with this easy and delicious ham glaze recipe. It’s sweet, tangy, and spiced with cloves, cinnamon, and mustard. Just whisk the ingredients together and brush over your ham before baking. Your guests will love the flavor and the glossy finish.
Nothing says holiday like a succulent standing rib roast. This recipe shows you how to cook it perfectly, with a crispy crust and a juicy, tender interior. You’ll also learn how to make a simple red wine sauce to serve with the roast. Impress your family and friends with this classic and elegant dish.
Save time and hassle with this sheet pan Christmas dinner. You can cook a whole beef tenderloin, roasted potatoes, carrots, and Brussels sprouts on one pan in the oven. It’s easy, quick, and delicious. Plus, you’ll have less dishes to wash afterwards. Enjoy a stress-free and satisfying holiday meal.
If you’re looking for a simple and tasty way to cook pork chops, try this juicy garlic baked pork chops recipe. It’s made with fresh garlic, sage butter, and a touch of honey. The pork chops are baked in the oven until golden and tender. They’re perfect for a cozy and comforting dinner.
Treat yourself to a decadent dessert with these red wine poached pears. They’re simmered in a rich red wine syrup with vanilla, cinnamon, and star anise. The pears become soft and infused with the wine’s flavor and color. Serve them with whipped cream, ice cream, or mascarpone cheese for a heavenly treat.
Learn how to roast a turkey with this foolproof roast turkey recipe. It’s easy, flavorful, and moist. You’ll need a turkey, butter, garlic, herbs, salt, pepper, and chicken stock. The recipe also includes tips on how to brine, stuff, and carve your turkey. Plus, you’ll get a bonus recipe for a delicious gravy.
Roasting a goose is a great alternative to turkey for your holiday feast. It’s rich, flavorful, and crispy. This recipe will show you how to roast a goose step by step, from preparing the bird, seasoning it, roasting it, and making a gravy. You’ll also get some suggestions for what to serve with your goose.
Deviled eggs are a classic appetizer that everyone loves. They’re easy to make, versatile, and elegant. This article will teach you how to master the deviled egg, from boiling the eggs, peeling them, making the filling, and piping it into the whites. You’ll also get some ideas for different variations and toppings.
This cheesy Christmas tree pull-apart bread is a fun and festive snack for your holiday party. It’s made with pizza dough, cheese, butter, garlic, and parsley. You’ll shape the dough into balls, stuff them with cheese, and arrange them into a tree shape. Then, bake until golden and cheesy. Pull apart and enjoy.
For a special occasion, treat yourself to this pan seared filet mignon with bordelaise sauce. It’s a restaurant-quality dish that you can make at home. You’ll sear the filet mignon in a skillet until crusty and medium-rare. Then, you’ll make a bordelaise sauce with red wine, beef stock, shallots, and butter. Serve the steak with the sauce and some mashed potatoes.
Potatoes au gratin are a creamy and cheesy side dish that goes well with any main course. They’re made with thinly sliced potatoes, heavy cream, garlic, cheese, and nutmeg. You’ll layer the potatoes and cheese in a baking dish, pour over the cream mixture, and bake until bubbly and golden. It’s a simple and satisfying dish that everyone will love.
Cauliflower cheese is a British dish that consists of cooked cauliflower florets covered in a cheese sauce and baked until golden. It’s a delicious and comforting side dish that can be served with roast meat, fish, or vegetables. You’ll need a cauliflower, butter, flour, milk, cheese, mustard, and breadcrumbs. The cheese sauce is easy to make and can be customized with different cheeses and seasonings.
Mashed potatoes are a staple side dish that can make any meal more satisfying. This creamy mashed potatoes recipe will show you how to make the best mashed potatoes ever. You’ll need potatoes, butter, cream cheese, sour cream, milk, salt, and pepper. The secret is to use a potato ricer or a masher to get a smooth and fluffy texture.
Chicken florentine pasta is a quick and easy dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes. It’s made with chicken, spinach, garlic, cream, parmesan cheese, and pasta. You’ll cook the chicken in a skillet, then make a creamy spinach sauce in the same pan. Then, you’ll toss the sauce with the cooked pasta and serve. It’s a hearty and delicious meal that the whole family will enjoy.
Cranberry sauce is a must-have for any Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. It’s sweet, tart, and fruity, and it complements the savory dishes on the table. This cranberry sauce recipe is easy to make and only requires four ingredients: fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, water, and orange zest. You’ll simmer the cranberries until they pop and thicken, then add the orange zest for a burst of flavor.
Beef Wellington is a classic dish that consists of a tender beef fillet wrapped in puff pastry with mushroom duxelles and prosciutto. It’s usually served for special occasions, but this easy Beef Wellington recipe for two makes it possible to enjoy it any time. You’ll need two beef fillets, puff pastry, mushrooms, onion, garlic, prosciutto, egg, butter, oil, salt, and pepper. The recipe also includes a simple red wine sauce to serve with the Beef Wellington.
Garlic butter lamb chops are a delicious and easy way to cook lamb. They’re juicy, tender, and full of flavor. You’ll need lamb chops, butter, garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. You’ll season the lamb chops and sear them in a skillet until browned. Then, you’ll add the butter, garlic, and herbs and baste the lamb chops with the melted butter. Serve with your favorite side dish and enjoy.
Roast beef tenderloin is a show-stopping main course that’s perfect for a special occasion. It’s a lean and tender cut of beef that’s roasted in the oven until medium-rare. You’ll need a beef tenderloin, salt, pepper, oil, butter, shallots, red wine, beef broth, and cornstarch. The recipe also includes a wine sauce that’s made with the pan drippings and adds a rich and savory flavor to the roast beef.
Christmas pudding is a traditional British dessert that’s served on Christmas Day. It’s a steamed cake that’s made with dried fruits, nuts, spices, suet, bread crumbs, eggs, and brandy. It’s usually made weeks or months in advance and stored in a cool place until ready to serve. Then, it’s reheated and flamed with more brandy. It’s often served with custard, cream, or brandy butter.
Lasagna is a classic Italian dish that’s made with layers of pasta, cheese, meat sauce, and béchamel sauce. It’s baked in the oven until bubbly and golden. It’s a hearty and satisfying meal that can feed a crowd. You’ll need lasagna noodles, ground beef, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, butter, flour, and milk. The recipe also includes step-by-step instructions and photos to help you make the best lasagna ever.
Roast chicken is a simple and delicious dish that can be enjoyed any day of the week. It’s a whole chicken that’s seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, lemon, and herbs. It’s roasted in the oven until crispy and juicy. You’ll need a chicken, salt, pepper, garlic, lemon, rosemary, thyme, butter, and chicken stock. The recipe also includes tips on how to truss, carve, and serve your roast chicken.
These petite appetizers are ideal for any gathering. Crafted with puff pastry, brie cheese, and raspberry jam, these bites offer a delightful combination of crispiness, creaminess, and sweetness in each mouthful—sure to be a hit with your guests.
Elevate special occasions with this spectacular main course. The recipe guides you through creating a succulent and tender roast beef with a delectably crispy crust. Gather prime rib roast, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper, and follow the tips for carving and serving this classic dish.
Combat chilly nights with the comfort of this hearty stew. Featuring tender turkey, fluffy dumplings, and a creamy broth, this recipe is a warmth-inducing blend of turkey, vegetables, chicken broth, cream, flour, and spices—easy to make and utterly delicious.
Busy days meet their match with this flavorful and tender beef dish. The slow-cooker magic transforms beef, vegetables, beef broth, red wine, and spices into a fall-apart tender delight. The recipe includes insights on thickening the sauce and serving these succulent beef tips.
Simplicity meets deliciousness in this go-to dish for any day of the week. Master the art of roasting a whole chicken until it’s crispy and juicy, utilizing ingredients like chicken, butter, garlic, lemon, and herbs. The recipe also shares tips on trussing, carving, and serving your roast chicken.
Elevate your dinner with this savory and satisfying pie. Ground beef, spinach, cheese, and pie crust come together in this easy-to-customize Italian spinach beef pie. Pair it with a salad or bread for a complete and delicious meal.
Family dinners get a comforting and cheesy upgrade with this pasta bake. Featuring penne pasta, spinach, mushrooms, cheese, and cream, this easy-to-make dish can be prepared in advance, baked until golden and bubbly, and enjoyed by all.
Impress dinner party guests with this juicy and flavorful pork dish. The recipe guides you through cooking pork tenderloin until it’s tender and juicy, using ingredients like pork tenderloin, mustard, cream, garlic, and herbs. Tips on making the creamy mustard sauce and serving the pork are also included.
Transform turkey breast into a delectable dish with this easy recipe. Featuring turkey breast, bacon, garlic, and herbs, this bacon-wrapped turkey breast can be cooked in the oven or on the grill, adding a smoky and salty flavor to the tender turkey.
Quick and easy, these herbed cheese rolls make a delightful addition to any meal. Crafted with flour, yeast, cheese, and herbs, these rolls are soft, fluffy, and bursting with flavor. Perfect for pairing with soup, salad, pasta, or as a tasty snack.
Elevate special occasions with this rich and flavorful beef dish. Braised beef short ribs are cooked until fall-off-the-bone tender, requiring ingredients like beef short ribs, vegetables, red wine, beef broth, and spices. The recipe also shares tips on making the sauce and serving the short ribs.
Simplify busy days with this comforting and easy casserole. Featuring chicken, rice, vegetables, and cream of mushroom soup, this chicken rice casserole is easy to prepare in advance, baked until golden and bubbly, and ready to enjoy.
Add a touch of elegance to your dinner party with these fancy side dishes. Mashed potatoes, butter, cream, egg yolks, and nutmeg combine to create duchess potatoes—piped into beautiful shapes and baked until golden and crispy. These potatoes are also suitable for freezing and reheating.
Bring a sweet and tangy twist to your holiday table with this Filipino-style pineapple glazed ham. Featuring ham, pineapple juice, brown sugar, and spices, this easy-to-make ham can be served hot or cold, adding a tropical flair to your festive feast.
Ingredients
- The Best Ham Glaze
- Standing Rib Roast (Prime Rib AU Jus)
- Sheet Pan Beef Tenderloin Meal
- Juicy Garlic Baked Pork Chops With Sage Butter
- Red Wine Poached Pears
- Roast Turkey
- Roast Goose Recipe
- Deviled Eggs Mastery
- Cheesy Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread
- Pan-Seared Filet Mignon Bordelaise
- Potatoes AU Gratin (Dauphinoise)
- Cauliflower Cheese
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Chicken Florentine Pasta
- Classic Cranberry Sauce
- Beef Wellington
- Garlic Butter Lamb Chops
- Roast Beef Tenderloin With Red Wine Sauce
- Traditional British Pudding
- Longtime Favorite Lasagna
- Roast Chicken
- Brie Bites
- Prime Rib for Christmas Dinner
- Creamy Turkey Dumpling Stew
- Tender Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy
- Crispy Roast Chicken With Vegetables
- Italian Spinach Beef Pie
- Creamy Spinach Mushroom Pasta Bake
- Pork Tenderloin With Creamy Mustard Sauce
- Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast
- 30 Minute Cheese Herb Rolls
- Braised Beef Short Ribs With Red Wine & Garlic
- Chicken Rice Casserole
- Duchess Potatoes
- Filipino-Style Pineapple-Glazed Ham
Instructions
- Choose a Christmas Eve dinner idea that sets the tone for a magical night.
- Gather up all the essential ingredients for your chosen festive dinner concept.
- Get set for a special and heartwarming journey into the world of Christmas Eve dining!
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