65 Christmas Dinner Recipes You Need to Try This Holiday Season

By Kaitlyn Yarborough
Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

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. We rounded up over 60 of our all-time best Christmas dinner recipes, from Southern sideboard staples to show-stopping main dishes. With a Southern spread like this, you’ll find that the only hard part is having to pick. Pair Cider-Glazed 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.

 

 

 

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Oyster Casserole

Crumbled crackers often top this casserole, but we prefer homemade breadcrumbs because they soak up more butter. 

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Spice-Rubbed Tenderloin with Mustard-Cream Sauce

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Spice-Rubbed Tenderloin with Mustard-Cream Sauce

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.

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Grits Dressing

Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Grits Dressing  

Though cornbread dressing might reign supreme at Thanksgiving, we're letting this grits-based version head the holiday table this December. 

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Old-School Green Bean Casserole

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Old-School Green Bean Casserole

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. 

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Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

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. 

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Baked Brie Bites

Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Baked Brie Bites

There's no better way to kick off Christmas celebrations than with these melty baked Brie bites. 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. 

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Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder

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.

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Brussels Sprouts with Cornbread Croutons

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Cornbread Croutons

There are few things that make us drool more than the smell of roasted Brussels sprouts. Topped with homemade cornbread croutons and thyme-shallot butter sauce? Well, now they're just showing off. 

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Rustic Mashed Red Potatoes with Parmesan

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Rustic Mashed Red Potatoes with Parmesan

Mashed potatoes belong with our homemade gravy like Johnny belongs with June. This rustic recipe uses herbed cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, and chives to make sure the gravy isn't the only star of the show. 

 

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Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls

Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls

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. 

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Beet, Fennel, and Apple Salad

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Beet, Fennel, and Apple Salad

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 in this delicate side salad. 

 

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Blue Cheese-and-Pecan Stuffed Cherry Peppers

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Blue Cheese-and-Pecan Stuffed Cherry Peppers

Not too filling, yet totally packed with flavor, these tiny peppers are basically a perfect hot-and-sweet, crunchy-and-creamy appetizer wrapped up into a single bite. 

 

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Orange-Glazed Ham

Southern Living

Recipe: Orange-Glazed Ham

With a glistening glazed ham residing at the head of the holiday table, you're already off to a good start. A citrus glaze spiced with ginger, cloves, and dry mustard—and sweetened with brown sugar—hits all the right notes.

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Fennel-and-Potato Gratin

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Fennel-and-Potato Gratin

A casserole dish of cheesy potato gratin pleases every palette, in our experience. This recipe gets a festive touch from fennel and nutmeg. 

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Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions

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.

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Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Warm roasted broccoli makes macaroni and cheese feel a little more wintery. Plus, it elevates the classic pasta bake from ho-hum to standout status on the holiday spread. 

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Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuits

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit

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.

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Savory Corn Pudding

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Savory Corn Pudding 

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.

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Roasted Pumpkin-and-Baby Kale Salad

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling; Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin-and-Baby Kale Salad

Genius additions like herb-roasted pumpkin, toasted pecans, and goat cheese make this salad feel much less like an after-thought on the holiday dinner spread. (Which is often the fate of side salads amongst all of those casseroles.)

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Italian Casserole

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Italian Casserole 

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!). 

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Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites

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.

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Grilled Pork Loin Steaks with Cherry-Plum Sauce

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Grilled Pork Loin Steaks with Cherry-Plum Sauce

It's the heavenly cherry-plum sauce that really makes these pork loin steaks sing for the Christmas supper. Not to mention, you can make the sauce up to four days ahead, ensuring easy (well, easier) work for you on the day-of. 

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Sautéed Mustard Greens with Garlic and Lemon

Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Sautéed Mustard Greens with Garlic and Lemon

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. 

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Baby Hasselback Potatoes with Blue Cheese and Bacon

Laurey Glenn

Recipe: Baby Hasselback Potatoes with Blue Cheese and Bacon

Get ready to swoon at the smell of the accordian-like slices of these Hasselback potatoes crisping in the oven. The blue cheese and bacon just really tip the scale over into holiday dinner perfection. 

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Classic Candied Yams

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Classic Candied Yams

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. 

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Young Lettuces and Shaved Winter Vegetables with Walnut Vinaigrette

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Young Lettuces and Shaved Winter Vegetables with Walnut Vinaigrette

It's the nice, mild salad needed in a room full of showboats like crown roast and squash casserole. Soft baby lettuces are the trick to the subtle salad. 

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Skillet Cornbread

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Skillet Cornbread

Three words: Hot. Bacon. Drippings. Say hello to the secret weapon behind this perfect skillet recipe for Southern cornbread. 

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Chicken-and-Biscuit Cobbler

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Chicken-and-Biscuit Cobbler

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).

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Perfect Beef Tenderloin

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Perfect Beef Tenderloin  

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.) 

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Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks

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. 

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Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese

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. 

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Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

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. 

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Pumpkin-Buttermilk Biscuits with Crispy Ham and Honey Butter

Photo: Victor Protasio; Propr Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Pumpkin-Buttermilk Biscuits with Crispy Ham and Honey Butter

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. 

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Christmas Salad

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Christmas Salad

It's earned its name. Packed with bacon, beets, feta cheese, and toasted pumpkin seeds, this salad is a reader-favorite starter for formal Christmas menus. 

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Mini Mushroom-and-Goat Cheese Pot Pies

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton

Recipe: Mini Mushroom-and-Goat Cheese Pot Pies

Something about mini savory pies just feels right at Christmastime. These meatless bites are filled with mushrooms, goat cheese, and a little dry sherry. 

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Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Burgundy-Mushroom Sauce

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Burgundy-Mushroom Sauce

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. 

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Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole

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 casserole out of it, and this one is (thankfully) quite incredible.

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Grits and Greens with Brown Butter Hot Sauce

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Grits and Greens with Brown Butter Hot Sauce

Grits and greens, greens and grits—we'll take them any way. This creamy side dish combines the two Southern staples with a brown butter hot sauce that'll leave the taste buds reeling. 

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Cider-Glazed Carrots with Walnuts

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Cider-Glazed Carrots with Walnuts

Carrots, meet your special-occasion makeover. Made with a handful of pantry ingredients—light brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, butter, dry mustard, and paprika—this tasty glaze makes carrots more than worthy of sitting alongside your Christmas spread. 

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Classic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Classic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

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. 

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Romaine with Creamy Olive Dressing

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Romaine with Creamy Olive Dressing

When you have a homemade dressing this good, romaine is about all you need. It's like a delicious palette cleanser before diving into the holiday feast. 

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Italian-Style Grits and Greens with Pulled Pork and Mushrooms

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Italian-Style Grits and Greens with Pulled Pork and Mushrooms

This is definitely the I've-got-company-coming platter. The mouthwatering piled-up presentation was made for this combination of slow-cooker Parmesan grits, pulled pork, and garlicky sautéed mushrooms.

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Crispy Pork Meatballs

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Crispy Pork Meatballs

For the whatever-goes Christmas dinner, start with these ah-mazing crispy Asian-inspired meatballs that guests can dip into a spicy mayo so good we'd dunk anything into it. 

 

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Citrus-Marinated Turkey Breast

Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Citrus-Marinated Turkey Breast  

Turkey isn't Thanksgiving-exclusive in our eyes, especially a super fresh, citrusy version like this. Serve up moist turkey breast with Christmasy takes on its traditional sides, such as one of our cornbread-free dressings. (Hint: Scroll down.)

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Herbed Wild Rice Dressing

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Herbed Wild Rice Dressing

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.

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Root Vegetable Gratin

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Root Vegetable Gratin

Want to bring major flavor without spending too much time in the kitchen? This 6-ingredient root vegetable gratin makes the most of the season's harvest and looks quite pretty while doing it. 

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