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Christmas Dinner Menu

Plan your Christmas dinner menu with these delicious holiday appetizers, entrées, side dishes and desserts. Includes a FREE printable Christmas menu template, cooking schedule and shopping list to help keep you organized! 

Collage of Christmas dinner recipes.
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Holiday Dinner Meals

Christmas is one of my absolute favorite holidays. I love the festive decorations, music, holiday cheer and especially the FOOD! Between all of Christmas breakfast ideas, holiday desserts, Christmas cookies or the big Christmas dinner, it’s a dream come true for a foodie like me.

I look forward to Christmas dinner every year. I love spending time in the kitchen with my family and making all of our favorite holiday dishes. Those are some of my most cherished memories.

Below are the dishes that I’m planning to make for our Christmas dinner this year. I thought I would share them in case you need a little extra inspiration. These Christmas menu ideas are super easy, delicious and perfect for celebrating the holiday season with the ones you love!

Appetizers

We usually keep Christmas appetizers pretty light so that we don’t ruin our appetite before the big meal. And because so much of my time goes into making the main course, I like to keep it super easy with appetizers. All of these recipes can be made with less than 5 ingredients and are so simple to prep!

christmas tree fruit platter
Fruit Christmas Tree
This fruit Christmas tree is fresh, fun, and festive! Wow your guests with this simple and impressive fruit platter that can be assembled in minutes!
Total Time: 10 minutes
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a close up of a cheese ball with crackers
Cream Cheese Ball
Hands down one of the easiest and yummiest recipes to serve at your next holiday party! This easy cheese ball recipe is always a huge hit!
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
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Christmas charcuterie board on counter
Christmas Charcuterie Board
Wow your guests this year with a stunning Christmas charcuterie board. Displaying all your yummy sampling items on one beautiful platter is what I like to call easy entertaining!
Total Time: 20 minutes
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Cranberry Meatballs
These mouthwatering cranberry meatballs made with cranberry and chili sauce are sweet and tangy with an intensely bold flavor. Made with only 3 ingredients, they are always a super simple crowd pleaser!
Total Time: 3 hours
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Christmas punch in a glass pitcher.
Holiday Punch
Simple holiday punch recipe made with fresh fruit juices and lemon-lime soda. Easy to make and such a delicious combination!
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Christmas Dinner Menu

We usually have roasted turkey on our Thanksgiving menu and save baked ham for Christmas. I prefer ham over turkey anyways, so I’m always extra excited for Christmas dinner. You could always make a crockpot spiral ham to free up extra oven space if needed. I love using the leftovers to make ham and bean soup or these easy ham and cheese sliders.

Oven Baked Ham
This oven baked ham is so easy to make and is great for beginners. You only need 5 simple ingredients and about 5 minutes to prep. It's the perfect dish for the holidays! 
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
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pan of cheesy potatoes
Cheesy Potatoes
My favorite recipe for cheesy potatoes – aka funeral potatoes or cheesy potato casserole. This dish is so comforting, always a crowd pleaser and perfect for any holiday dinner!
Total Time: 40 minutes
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green bean casserole in crock pot
Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
One of the most popular holiday side dishes just got easier! Made with just 5 simple ingredients, this creamy, comforting crockpot green bean casserole is always a hit!
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
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pear and pomegranate salad
Pear Salad
Fresh pear salad filled with mixed greens, juicy sliced pears, pomegranate seeds, candied pecans, feta cheese and topped with a balsamic dressing. This is the perfect salad to serve at your holiday dinner this year! 
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Dinner rolls in a baking dish.
Homemade Dinner Rolls
The absolute best dinner rolls you'll ever make! Super soft and fluffy with amazing flavor. Easily made with just 7 simple ingredients!
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
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roasted vegetables
Roasted Vegetables
Delicious baked vegetables coated in olive oil, balsamic vinegar and flavorful spices. Perfectly crispy and roasted to perfection. These oven roasted veggies are always on repeat!
Total Time: 40 minutes
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stuffing inside of white crockpot
Crockpot Stuffing
This classic crockpot stuffing has timeless flavors and mouthwatering aromas! Add a little calm to the holiday chaos by making a simple delicious slow cooker stuffing!
Total Time: 55 minutes
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Slice of raspberry pretzel salad on a white plate.
Raspberry Jello Pretzel Salad
Raspberry jello pretzel salad is a little sweet, a little salty and a LOT of deliciousness! The cream cheese mixture and salted pretzel crust mixed with the raspberry jello is the absolute perfect combination. 
Total Time: 4 hours
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Desserts

Save the best for last! I’m never too full for dessert. :) The kids and I love decorating sugar cookies a few days beforehand. It’s a fun Christmas activity for the family and is an easy way to knock dessert out in advance. It frees up extra time to make any other holiday desserts that you might also want to serve.

Christmas Sugar Cookies
Ring in the holiday season with these easy Christmas sugar cookies! Perfectly soft and fluffy with amazing flavor. The best recipe to use when decorating sugar cookies for Christmas! 
Total Time: 1 hour 28 minutes
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Oreo balls stacked on a plate.
Oreo Balls
These OREO balls are made with just 3 simple ingredients and are such an easy dessert recipe to make. Drizzle with chocolate or top with your favorite colored sprinkles for the perfect decorative treat!
Total Time: 35 minutes
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Christmas crack stacked on a white counter.
Christmas Crack Recipe
You are going to want to put this Christmas crack toffee on your MUST MAKE list this year. It takes SWEET and SALTY to a whole new level and it only takes 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to make!
Total Time: 27 minutes
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Free Printable Christmas Menu Template

Print out this free editable Christmas menu template when planning your Christmas dinner this year. It also includes a cooking schedule and shopping list to help you stay organized for the big day.

christmas menu planning printables


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