"Holiday dinners tend to come with a lot of pressure to be special. And while special doesn’t necessarily mean fussy, it can be overwhelming to try to live up to those expectations. You start by planning out each part of your meal: Will there be appetizers? Are you making cocktails or just drinking wine, soda, or water? What kind of food do you want to eat, anyway? Then you have to find recipes, write up a grocery list—and that’s all before you even get to the actual cooking. Even if it’s just Christmas dinner for two, it can feel like a lot really quickly.
This 24-ounce Stanley is the take-anywhere hydration essential that’ll make an everyday appearance.
The good news is that holiday dinners can absolutely be both special and easy. Especially if you’re celebrating on a smaller scale this year, we would argue they should be easy. To help with your planning, we’ve pulled together 10 different Christmas dinner menus that will set your meal apart from the usual workweek fare without leaving you feeling like you’re in way over your head—because no one needs that kind of stress this time of year.
Short Rib Bourguignon with Gingerbread Cake and Grapefruit Bourbon Yule Mules
Main: Crockpot Short Rib Bourguignon
Cocktail: Grapefruit Bourbon Yule Mule
Dessert: Gingerbread Cake
Beef bourguignon is a classic dish that typically takes a while to make correctly, so this slow cooker version is perfect for creating a delicious meal for two. Simmered with onion, garlic, red wine, and herbs, then topped with sautéed mushrooms, these short ribs are incredibly flavorful and surprisingly low-effort. Since this dish needs several hours in the slow cooker, you’ll have plenty of time to make the drinks and dessert while it cooks. Also, keep in mind that this short rib recipe serves six, so if you’re only making a meal for two, you may want to half the recipe or prepare to have leftovers. This is one of those extra-special holiday meals that will put you and your partner in the spirit.
Vegan Mushroom Wellington with a Simple Winter Salad and Hot Toddies
Side: Winter Salad
Main: Vegan Mushroom Wellington
Cocktail: Hot Toddy
You won’t even miss the meat with this cozy vegetarian holiday menu. Pair a vegan mushroom Wellington with a hearty winter salad full of butternut squash and apples for a filling yet healthy meal. Making a Wellington is not as complicated as it might initially seem: Simply make the filling, wrap it in puff pastry, and pop it in the oven. This particular recipe only takes a little over an hour and is easy to freeze if you have any leftovers. Pair your dinner with a warming, spicy hot toddy for a holiday meal you’ll want to re-make year after year.
Cranberry Rosemary Chicken with Kale Salad and Champagne Spritzer
Side: Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing
Main: Cranberry Rosemary One-Pan Chicken
Cocktail: Pomegranate Champagne Spritzer
With rich colors of red and green, this menu will make your holiday table feel extra festive. The main dish comes together using a single baking dish, so post-meal cleanup will be super easy. You can even marinate the chicken in the fridge overnight to cut down on prep time the day of. If you’re only making Christmas dinner for two, you may want to half the recipe—or be prepared for plenty of leftovers! Feel free to whip up the dressing ahead of time, but don’t mix it in with the kale until you’re ready to eat to avoid soggy greens. Finish it off with a sparkling cocktail for a surprisingly easy yet ultra-festive meal.
Lasagna Soup with Garlic Breadsticks and Almond Florentines
Side: Buttery Garlic Breadsticks
Main: Lasagna Soup
Dessert: Almond Florentines
A warm pot of cheesy lasagna soup and a basket of breadsticks is just the thing for a cozy Christmas dinner at home. For dessert, keep the Italian theme going with a plate of classic almond florentines. You’ll want to whip these up the day before, as the caramelly coating needs time to set before you add the chocolate layer to the bottoms. On the day of your meal, start by mixing together the breadstick dough, which needs to rise for about 45 minutes before it’s ready to cut and shape. In the meantime, start on the soup. As that simmers on the stove, you’ll have plenty of time to finish up the breadsticks and get everything on the table.
Pasta Dinner with Fried Brussels Sprouts and Chocolate Cake
Side: Fried Brussels Sprouts with Lemon, Parmesan, and Breadcrumbs
Main: Slow Cooker Red Wine Sunday Ragù Pasta
Dessert: Flourless Chocolate Cake (with Mocha Whipped Cream)
Delicious pasta, savory Brussels sprouts, and a creamy, dreamy flourless chocolate cake? We can’t think of a more ideal Christmas dinner menu. The day before, make your flourless chocolate cake. It needs plenty of time to chill before you serve it (only a couple of hours, but you don’t want to feel stressed, right?). The mocha whipped cream can be made the day before as well but preferably not too early. The day of, start with your sauce, which will spend plenty of hands-off cooking time in your slow cooker. Then, while the sauce finishes off, you’ll have plenty of time to focus on frying the Brussels sprouts and pulling the whole meal together.
Lobster Ravioli and Prosciutto Rolls with Sautéed Greens
Side: Simple Sautéed Greens
Main: Lobster Ravioli
Appetizer: Prosciutto, Pear, and Arugula Rolls
At first glance, this might seem like it’s a tricky menu. Homemade lobster ravioli? But don’t fret, you’re not making any fresh pasta for this recipe, and everything comes together without too much fuss. Make the filling for the ravioli ahead of time to help cut down on last-minute stress (or even the ravioli themselves—Alex from The Defined Dish advised in the comment section that you can simply cover them with plastic wrap so that they don’t dry out!). Slice your pears right before you put your appetizer together to keep them freshest. Finally, cook your greens while your ravioli simmers—neither takes very long.
Vegetarian Cauliflower Piccata with Smoky Roasted Vegetables and Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes
Side: Smoky Maple Brussels Sprouts and Carrots
Main: Instant Pot Whole Cauliflower Piccata
Dessert: Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes and Bourbon Vanilla Buttercream
Looking for a vegetarian main that’s still a show-stopper? A whole roasted cauliflower never disappoints. This one is seasoned with delicious, savory spices and a sauce reminiscent of chicken piccata. Because you’re cooking your cauliflower in an Instant Pot, it cooks quickly. Prep your cauliflower, but don’t start cooking until you’re nearly ready to sit down to eat. The cupcakes can be made the day before so you’re not spending your whole holiday in the kitchen. Make sure to leave plenty of time for the cupcakes to cool completely before you ice them. If you don’t, the icing will melt off the cake (not really the look you were going for). Then, when you’re ready to make dinner, roast your Brussels sprouts and carrots, and finish with your cauliflower once the veggies are almost cooked (or even once they come out of the oven).
Sheet Pan Salmon and French Onion Tartlets
Appetizer: French Onion Tartlets
Main: Maple Mustard Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner
Cocktail: Holiday Negroni
If you like to start your holiday meal with hors d’oeuvres, this Christmas dinner menu is for you. These French onion tartlets look fancy but are actually a snap to make, making them the perfect thing to snack on while your main dish finishes in the oven. To make your prep work even easier, start by making the filling for your onion tartlets the day before. Pop that in the fridge overnight—one less thing you’ll have to do tomorrow. Then, on the day of, mix up the cocktail and fill your pastry shells for the tartlets before popping them in the oven. While those bake, start on your salmon sheet pan meal. Since it only requires about 10 minutes of prep, you can easily whip up this recipe while your tartlets are in the oven, then relax with an appetizer and a cocktail before dinner is ready.
Beef Tenderloin and Green Beans with Cranberry Cake
Side: Green Beans with Bacon Breadcrumbs
Main: Garlic Peppercorn Crusted Beef Tenderloin
Dessert: White Christmas Cranberry Layer Cake
Beef tenderloin is one of those dinners that looks impressive but isn’t actually all that difficult to make. Though this recipe technically serves a crowd, you can cut down the recipe on the website (it’ll do it automatically!) by adjusting the number of servings you want. Make sure to do that if you’re only cooking Christmas dinner for two. Since this menu includes a layer cake, that’s where you’ll start. In fact, you can make and fully assemble your cake the day before. Then, on the day of, start with the beef tenderloin. You need to let the beef sit out for a bit to come to room temperature, so leave yourself extra time. Make sure you have a meat thermometer handy—it’s the only way you can be absolutely sure if it’s cooked to your liking. While the meat is cooking, you’ll have a little time to prep your green beans. Finish your green beans while the meat is resting, then slice and serve.
Sheet Pan Turkey and Stuffing with Apple and Pear Salad
Cocktail: Mrs. Claus Cranberry Whiskey Cocktail
Main: Sheet Pan Herb Roasted Turkey and Cranberry Pecan Stuffing
Side: Harvest Fall Salad
If your family traditionally eats turkey and all of the fixings on Christmas Day, you don’t have to completely scrap that tradition this year if you don’t want to. Opt for this sheet pan turkey and stuffing situation to get all the flavors you love without the work of a whole roasted turkey and all the sides. Start with the star of the show and get that turkey and stuffing in the oven. While your turkey is roasting, you’ll have plenty of time to make your salad. Finish with a festive seasonal cocktail to tie it all together and make dinner all the more celebratory.