Happiest Christmas Menus Ever

Plan a get-together for any occasion with these combinations of our favorite holiday foods.

The holidays are here, brimming with opportunities to gather around the table with loved ones and enjoy a delicious meal. To get a jumpstart on your holiday planning, check out this selection of creative and appealing holiday menus, where you will find ideas for cozy and casual meals, or formal and fancy traditional spreads. And because we enjoy a celebration meal anytime of day, we have included some holiday menus for breakfast or brunch. Holidays are busy, so to help you make the most of your time, within the menu ideas you will find helpful tips on which recipes can be made ahead and how to store them until time to bake and serve.

1 of 22 Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

The Cocktail Party: A Festive Party for 10

Recipe: Blue Cheese-and-Pecan Stuffed Cherry Peppers

Recipe: Prosciutto-and-Manchego Cheese Straws

Recipe: Crispy Pork Meatballs

Recipe: Garlic-Butter Roasted Shrimp Cocktail

Recipe: Spinach-and-Artichoke Bites

Recipe: Spiced Orange-Bourbon Punch

Recipe: Cranberry Sangría Punch

Recipe: DIY Deviled Egg Bar

Recipe: Fizzy Cider Punch

This festive party for 10 features yourbest friends, sparkly and fun decor, and a menu that's full of finger foods and big-batch drinks. Toast the season with a menu of sophisticated (but easy!) appetizers and crowd-pleasing punches.

2 of 22 Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

Christmas Eve With All The Trimmings

Recipe: Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Burgundy-Mushroom Sauce

Recipe: Cider-Glazed Carrots with Walnuts

Recipe: Herbed Potato Stacks

Recipe: Buttermilk Fantail Rolls

Recipe: Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions

Recipe: Beet, Fennel, and Apple Salad

This elegant sit-down dinner is everything you want in a celebratory meal—and it's easy on the cook too. This sophisticated menu is satisfying without being too heavy. Bring together close family to enjoy beef tenderloin and seasonal sides.

3 of 22 Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

A Merry Make-Ahead Brunch

Recipe: Pancake Bake with Cinnamon Streusel

Recipe: Sausage-and-Cheese Grits Quiche

Recipe: Country Ham Hash

Recipe: Christmas Sunrise

Recipe: Citrus Salad with Granola

Recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Bacon

Recipe: Romaine with Creamy Olive Dressing

Here's our gift to you: A memorable menu that won't steal any time away from family on December 25. Invite family and freinds over to enjoy a "help yourself" buffet of sweet and savory dishes. This entire brunch menu can be made or prepped in advance. Double recipes for a crowd, as needed.

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Fireside Brunch

Recipe: Gentlemen’s Casserole

Recipe: Chicken-and-White Cheddar Casserole

Recipe: Gruyère Cheese Sauce

Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Sauce

Recipe: Winter Fruit Compote

This menu is mostly make-ahead―so like us, you can relax and enjoy the beginning of the holiday.

You don’t have to sit at the dining room table to break out your best. Take a casual approach, and serve the meal fireside using your special china and silver.

5 of 22 Photo: William Dickey

Cozy Christmas Dinner

Recipe: Goat Cheese-Pesto Crostini

Recipe: Pork Loin Roast With Carolina Apple Compote (pictured)

Recipe: Bacon-Brown Sugar Brussels Sprouts (pictured)

Recipe: Butternut Squash Risotto (pictured)

Recipe: Home-Style Butterbeans

Recipe: Christmas Shortbread Cookies

These dishes create unexpected twists without being too fancy. Best of all, you can pull off this fabulous menu for 6 to 8 with plenty of time left to share with family and friends.

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Casual Holiday Gathering

Recipe: Holiday Roast With Gravy

Recipe: Sautéed Brussels Sprouts With Apples

Recipe: Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Recipe: White Chocolate-Cranberry Crème Brûlée

Recipe: Sugared Cranberries and Mint

This mouthwatering plate of holiday favorites may look fancy, but it's easy enough for even the novice cook to pull together with success.

7 of 22 Van Chaplin / Styling Mindi Shapiro Levine / Food Styling Pam Lolley

Cajun Christmas Eve

Recipe: Cajun Green Bean Stir-fry

Recipe: Cajun Bread Knots

Recipe: Satsuma Salad

Recipe: Shrimp and Andouille Sausage With Asiago Grits (pictured)

Recipe: Asiago Grits

Recipe: Pineapple-Apple Bread Pudding With Bourbon Sauce

This marvelous meal is full of spicy Louisiana flair. Gather family, invite friends, kick back, and relax—Cajun style.

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Casual Christmas Eve

Recipe: Citrus Batida

Recipe: Slow-Roasted Pork

Recipe: Caribbean Rice and Peas

Recipe: Winter Fruit-and-Cucumber Salad

Recipe: Rutabaga-Carrot Mash

Recipe: Sweet Potato Crème Brûlée

Serve Caribbean- and African-inspired dishes before Santa arrives this year. Each recipe is perfect to serve buffet style and easy to eat with a fork while balancing a plate on your lap. So fill your plate, find a comfy chair, and be joyful.

9 of 22 Photo: Ralph Anderson

Easygoing Southern Dinner

Recipe: Cheese Straws

Recipe: New Ambrosia With Buttermilk-Coconut Dressing

Recipe: Squash-and-Mushroom Hominy

Recipe: Hot Slaw à la Greyhound Grill

Recipe: Pork Loin Chops With Pear-and-Vidalia Pan Gravy

Recipe: Sweet Potato-Buttermilk Pie

Recipe: Hot-Spiced Bourbon Balls

Matt and Ted Lee adapted this tempting holiday menu for 6 from The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook (W.W. Norton, $35), their critically acclaimed collection of regional recipes and witty commentary (not to be missed by any food lover). This merry menu creates an easygoing style but reflects Ted and Matt's serious food knack for updating Southern classics without loosing a lick of their delectable essence.

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Ladies' Lunch

Recipe: Citrus Salad

Recipe: Ragoût of Mushrooms With Creamy Polenta (pictured)

Recipe: Creamy Polenta

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Let these outstanding recipes, along with the warmth and laughter of these friends, resonate with you and your family.

Ragoût of Mushrooms With Creamy Polenta is a hearty meatless main course. Don’t let polenta scare you―it’s just the Italian version of grits.

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Traditional Family Dinner

Recipe: Roasted Pork with Dried Fruit and Port Sauce

Recipe: Mashed Potatoes en Croûte

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

Ring in the Christmas season with a special family dinner. It will set the tone for the season and create memories for your children.

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Easy, Cozy Brunch

Recipe: Grits-and-Greens Breakfast Bake

Recipe: Streusel Coffee Cake

Recipe: Cornmeal-and-Brown Sugar-Crusted Bacon

Recipe: Coffee Milk Punch

Do some prep work in advance to pull off this menu with ease and time to spare. Your family will love the twists on their favorite breakfast dishes.

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Fun Holiday Luncheon

Recipe: Warm Lemon-Rosemary Olives

Recipe: Latina Lasagna

Recipe: Green Beans with Garlic

Recipe: Leafy Green Salad with Pears

Recipe: Mexican Chocolate Pound Cake

Invite over your office buddies or best girlfriends for a holiday luncheon full of Southern hospitality.

14 of 22 Photo: Jim Franco

Fresh and Elegant Holiday Dinner

Recipe: Cherry-Pecan Brie

Recipe: Tossed Greens-and-Grapes Salad

Recipe: Pancetta-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin with Whipped Horseradish Cream

Recipe: Crispy Potatoes with Fennel

Recipe: Lemon-Garlic Green Beans

Recipe: Easy Asiago-Olive Rolls

Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

This beef tenderloin menu inspires the creative cook in you while pleasing guests who love a traditional meal. From the start to its grand finish—Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake—this Christmas celebration will be one for the memory book.

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Splendid Holiday Feast

Recipe: Quick Winter Pickled Veggies

Recipe: Deviled Ham Terrine

Recipe: Fennel-Crusted Rib Roast

Recipe: Roasted Asparagus

Recipe: Warm Greens With Cornbread Croutons

Recipe: Buttermilk Panna Cotta With Zinfandel-Poached Figs

Test Kitchen pro Marian Cooper Cairns developed this mostly make-ahead menu that mixes traditional recipes with updated Southern classics.

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Tradition with a Twist

Recipe: Whiskey Sour

Recipe: Crab Crostini

Recipe: Roasted Dry-Rub Turkey With Gravy

Recipe: Cornbread Yeast Rolls

Recipe: Sautéed Green Beans

Recipe: Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Recipe: Smoky Cranberry-Apple Sauce

Recipe: Peanut Butter-Banana Sandwich Bread Puddings With Dark Caramel Sauce

Put the spark back in your turkey dinner with fresh recipes we promise will mingle beautifully with your family’s time-honored dishes.

17 of 22 Photo: Jim Franco

Glamorous Cocktail Party

Menu: Glamorous Cocktail Party

Crowd-pleasing small bites and sparkling drinks make for a festive-yet-relaxed holiday féte. (We'll clink to that.)

18 of 22 Photo: Jim Franco

Red Velvet Dessert Buffet

Menu: Red Velvet Dessert Buffet

This wondrous, Wonka-esque dessert buffet celebrates one of the South's most iconic flavors in creative new ways. And yes, you're going to need a bigger dessert plate.