59 Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas for Holly Jolly Comfort
Many argue that Christmas Eve dinner is incomplete without a saucy, cheesy lasagna; others say the occasion requires a traditional glazed ham (how else are you supposed to have leftover sandwiches on Christmas Day?). Some treat their Christmas Eve menu as Thanksgiving Round II, with the turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce to match; others prepare a full Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes. Our opinion: there is no right or wrong way to do the holiday meal.
Accordingly, this collection of Christmas Eve dinner ideas has inspiration for every type of celebration. For those who want extra time in the kitchen, a bronzed, crispy roast duck and potatoes au gratin make excellent cooking projects. If you save the feast for Christmas Day, an ample spread of hors d’oeuvres and festive cocktails will fuel you through the last-minute preparations. Whichever route you choose, save room for dessert—even if it’s just a cookie plucked off the plate for Santa.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog1/59Homemade Cheese Spread With Garlic and Herbs
Channel the flavors of herby, spreadable Boursin cheese into homemade dip. Serve with seeded crackers before Christmas Eve dinner, then save the leftovers for slathering on bagels for Christmas Day brunch.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton2/59Mulled Wine
Combine red wine, brandy, and all the spices in a saucepan to make this warming winter drink. Keep it warm in a slow cooker on low heat and set a ladle beside it so guests can help themselves.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell4/59Relish Tray
It’s easy enough to assemble a retro relish tray on the fly (and bring your older relatives immense delight in the process). For extra pizzazz, serve it with garlicky cheese spread or ranch-y dip.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano7/59Simple Roast Chicken
An elegant roast chicken feels just as celebratory for a smaller holiday gathering as a turkey (and it’s much more manageable). Go with Thomas Keller’s expert recipe, seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and thyme. It’s an easy Christmas Eve dinner idea that never misses.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton8/59St. Louis Toasted Ravioli
Crispy, toasty deep-fried ravioli are an everlasting crowd-pleaser. Whip up a quick pesto to serve alongside the sidecar of marinara and channel a red-and-green Christmas theme.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich9/59Mashed Potatoes and Leeks With Thyme
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton10/59French Silk Pie
Give your oven a break with this dreamy, no-bake chocolate pie. Luscious chocolate mousse sits under a cloudlike layer of whipped cream and hand-shaven chocolate curls.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton11/59Stuffed Mushrooms
A classic dinner party starter, these adorable bite-size mushroom caps (no portobellos here, please) are filled with sautéed veggies, breadcrumbs, and lots of Parmesan cheese.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton12/59Chili Crab Dip With Shrimp Chips
Don’t skimp on the fresh herbs in this spicy chili crab dip; they cut through the spice to keep you coming back for another bite. Keep the recipe on hand for your New Year’s Eve party spread too.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton13/59Gourmet’s Classic Eggnog
A conversation starter for any holiday gathering, homemade eggnog will set a holly-jolly tone for the evening. Plus, this Christmas cocktail serves a crowd.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi14/59Figs-in-a-Blanket With Goat Cheese
With jammy roasted figs, melty cheese, and buttery puff pastry, this vegetarian take on pigs in a blanket will please the whole family (yes, even the meat lovers). Feel free to switch up the cheese too: try them with blue cheese, Brie, or Manchego.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne15/59Cardamom-Pistachio Bûche de Noël
A yule log will be a showstopper on any Christmas dessert table. This recipe tastes as good as it looks, with earthy, wintry flavors like cardamom, pistachio, and bittersweet dark chocolate. Make the buttercream, cake, and meringue mushrooms ahead of time to expedite day-of prep.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton16/59Kale Salad With Brussels Sprouts, Apples, and Hazelnuts
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich17/59Parker House Rolls
Your Christmas Eve dinner would be incomplete without pillowy Parker House rolls. They’re the absorbent vehicle you need to sop up the gravy and cranberry sauce on your plate.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich18/59Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Fried Onions
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Liza Jernow19/59Clams Casino With Bacon and Bell Pepper
A platter of clams on the half shell looks fancy, but requires only a handful of ingredients to prepare. It’s the perfect appetizer to kick off the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi20/59Classic Cranberry Sauce
Tart cranberry sauce brings balance to a holiday dinner menu. This bright compote is the ideal palate cleanser between bites of buttery mashed potatoes and baked ham.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog21/59Brown Sugar–Mustard Glazed Ham
This sweet, tangy glazed ham recipe is easy enough for a novice cook to tackle—and showstopping enough to be the dinner table’s centerpiece. The trick to ensuring the ham doesn’t dry out is buying one with the rind still on, which locks in the moisture during the first bake; you’ll cut it off before glazing.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell22/59Green Beans Amandine
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mira Evnine23/59Lyonnaise Potatoes
Here lies the simplest way to lyonnaise potatoes: Boiling, then pan-frying the spuds until beautifully crispy, then mixing with caramelized onions for a boost of melty richness.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell25/59Pistachio and Pomegranate Meatballs (Kufteh-Ye Pesteh-o Anar)
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce27/59Vegetarian Lasagna With Easy Roasted Tomato Sauce
People will gather around the holiday table for a good lasagna. A great lasagna, however, will feed everyone, including the vegetarians in the mix.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mira Evnine28/59Roasted Brussels Sprouts
These crispy, caramelized brussels sprouts will convert even the brassica naysayer. Eat a few straight off the sheet pan for a chef’s snack—you deserve it.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano and Stevie Stewart29/59Original New York Cheesecake
A creamy, tangy cheesecake offers a blank canvas for festive garnishes. Top it with shiny chocolate ganache, candied cranberries, or any edible decoration that suits your fancy.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton31/59Kale Salad With Butternut Squash, Pomegranate, and Pumpkin Seeds
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova32/59Christmas Bombe With Spiced Cake and Chocolate-Brandy Glaze
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Sean Dooley34/59Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Want a sweet potato side dish that skips the dessert-like sweetness of the marshmallow-topped casserole? Mash roasted sweet potatoes with butter and cream—plus a little maple syrup to enhance their natural sweetness.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich35/59Easy, Cheesy Sausage Lasagna
Not all Christmas Eve menus revolve around a prime rib roast. Sometimes, the perfect main course is a hefty lasagna, zhuzhed up with spicy Italian sausage and three types of cheese.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton36/59Shrimp Scampi
Planning for seven courses of seafood is no small task. Whether you start the evening with anchovies on seedy rye or conclude with an aromatic bouillabaisse, shrimp sautéed in white wine, butter, and lots of garlic is a definite crowd-pleaser.
Photo by Andrew Purcell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell38/59Leg of Lamb With Garlic and Rosemary
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou39/59Cheesy Samosa Puffs
Forget presents wrapped under the Christmas tree: We’re all about what’s wrapped up in flaky puff pastry. Set these spiced, cheesy potato samosas on the appetizer spread while they’re still hot and watch them fly off the plate.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich40/59Latticed Apple and Cranberry Tart
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich41/59Warmed Spiced Olives
Flash a few pantry staples on the stove, and voilà: You have an easy, elegant Christmas appetizer for sophisticated snacking.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich43/59Roast Turkey With New England Stuffing and Cream Sauce
Deglazing the roasting pan with white wine and a chicken velouté, then reducing it with cream, makes a built-in gravy to sauce this roast turkey.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich44/59Molded Cranberry and Wine Jelly
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert45/59Potatoes au Gratin
This Christmas Eve, skip the standard mashed potatoes. Baked in cream and cheese, these shingled spuds are our ultimate comfort food.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini46/59Cheesy Baked Butternut Squash Polenta
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi47/59Sweet Potato Casserole With Easy Candied Pecans
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton48/59Tamales con Elote y Chile Poblano (Tamales With Corn and Poblano Chiles)
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Simon Andrews52/59Crisp Roast Duck
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Kim54/59Mid-Century Modern Cookie House
Don’t let Christmas cakes steal all the attention after dinner. A “gingerbread house” constructed from cardamom cookies will rival any bake on the table. Go all-out and decorate it with fairy lights and a miniature bicycle.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich56/59Caramel Nut Tart
Pecan pie? So last Thanksgiving. Go Christmas chic with this walnut and pecan tart. It trades the corn syrup filling for brown sugar caramel, mixed with a variety of nuts. It’s the perfect way to end your Christmas Eve dinner.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich58/59Buttered Green Beans
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Simon Andrews59/59Chocolate Mousse
