23 Christmas Food Recipes for Dinner and Dessert

In December, every minute is precious. There are parties to attend, gifts to buy, and school performances to attend. We’ve rounded up some of the best Christmas food recipes to help you save time on food planning!

Christmas food appetizer recipes

Whether you’re waiting for everyone to show up or just snacking throughout the day, these recipes make great appetizers around the holidays:

1. Apple brickle dip

Are visions of sugar plums dancing in your head? Indulge your sweet tooth with apple brickle dip, made from cream cheese and sweetened with sugar, vanilla, and toffee bits! Serve with apples or graham crackers. 

2. Easy roasted red pepper hummus

Served with cucumber slices, pepper strips, and crackers, this easy roasted red pepper hummus will be a hit at your Christmas party!

3. Baked Brie with cranberry compote and pecans

Your guests will think you spent all day in the kitchen when you serve up this baked Brie with cranberry compote and pecan dip! It’s a whole round of Brie topped with a tangy sauce and garnished with crunchy pecan bits. Serve with crackers or crusty bread. 

4. Garlic-rosemary money bread

No one will ever guess that you started with canned buttermilk biscuits to make this garlic-rosemary monkey bread! A savory twist on the classic cinnamon-sugar monkey bread and will disappear just as fast. 

5. Chili-lime peanuts

Two unique flavors team up to make chili-lime peanuts, which are sure to be a hit with anyone who enjoys their food with a bit of spice! The recipe uses few ingredients and can easily be doubled. 

6. Texas caviar

Black-eyed peas serve as the starting point for this southwest-style salsa, while red, yellow, and orange bell peppers plus green onions add color and flavor. Serve Texas caviar with tortilla chips or pita chips!

Christmas food main dish recipes

We’ve rounded up some of the best main dishes that are not only delicious but easy to make. Save time by prepping ingredients and marinades ahead of time:

1. Always juicy baked ham

Start with smoked ham, cover it with a mixture of beer, mustard, brown sugar, and bake. That’s all it takes to make this baked ham recipe! You’ll end up with not only a great main dish but also leftovers which make delicious sandwiches. 

2. Lemon & dill chicken

Bursting with citrusy flavor, the lemon and dill chicken cooks up quickly and is pleasing to even the pickiest palates! Serve with sides of asparagus and rice. 

3. Garlic roasted salmon & Brussels sprouts

Sophisticated yet straightforward perfectly describes this recipe for garlic roasted salmon and Brussels sprouts! Not a fan of garlic? You can use less than the 14 cloves called for in the recipe. 

4. Autumn root vegetable chili

Vegetarian or not, you’ll love the fall flavors that combine in the autumn root vegetable chili! Beans provide extra protein while roasted carrots, butternut squash, parsnips, and turnips add to the rich flavor of this hearty dish. 

5. Honey-orange firecracker shrimp

Enjoy fried jumbo shrimp topped with a sweet and tangy sauce with this honey-orange firecracker shrimp recipe. You can easily swap the shrimp for popcorn chicken and get equally delicious results!

6. Pan seared beef with tarragon sauce 

Transform a round beef roast into this delicious pan-seared beef with tarragon sauce! The rich sauce pairs nicely with roasted or mashed potatoes. 

Christmas food veggie recipes

Say no to bland, boring steamed veggies with these recipes, which will have guests coming back for seconds:

Pro-tip: make three or four vegetables, so there’s plenty of variety, and you’ll have leftovers to use in the days after Christmas!

1. Absolutely delicious green bean casserole

The absolutely delicious green bean casserole creator is confident that you and your holiday guests will love this creamy casserole made with two kinds of cheese, filled with savory mushrooms and green beans, and topped with crunchy French-fried onions!

2. Cheddar, scallion, & bacon mashed potatoes

Dress up ordinary potatoes by making cheddar, scallion, and bacon mashed potatoes. Bits of real bacon and scallions add a bit of crunch and texture to a holiday favorite!

3. Brilliant sautéed broccoli

Transform ordinary broccoli into a showstopper with this recipe for brilliant sautéed broccoli! A variety of spices plus a sprinkle of parmesan cheese make this a dish that will disappear quickly.

4. Accordion sweet potatoes

Skip the mashed sweet potatoes in favor of these baked accordion sweet potatoes, which are covered in a maple syrup glaze and topped with walnuts, raisins, and cinnamon!

5. Savoy cabbage and fennel slaw

Save time, and increase the flavor by making this savoy cabbage and fennel slaw 24 hours in advance! This will allow the cabbage, fennel, and zucchini flavors to be infused with the tangy mustard vinaigrette. 

6. Zucchini gratin

This recipe for zucchini gratin uses no butter or cream but is full of garden-fresh flavor from garlic and zucchini. Topped with bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, no one will ever realize just how healthy it is!

Christmas food dessert recipes

Top off your meal with one of these succulent dessert recipes for Christmas:

1. Chocolate-bourbon pecan pie

Upgrade a classic with bittersweet chocolate and Kentucky Burbon. The chocolate-bourbon pecan pie is stellar on its own but is also wonderful with a dollop of whipped cream or scoop of ice cream!

2. Blueberry swirl cheesecake bars

These blueberry swirl cheesecake bars taste just as good as cheesecake, cook up faster, and are easily transported to any holiday function where you need to provide a sweet treat!

3. Bread pudding in the slow cooker

Let your slow cooker do the heavy lifting with this recipe for bread pudding in the slow cooker! A buttery sauce is poured over day-old bread and raisins to create a dessert that is comfort food at its finest. Serve with vanilla bean or butter pecan for a truly decadent dessert. 

4. Peanut butter & pretzel truffles

The peanut butter and pretzel truffles ingredients couldn’t be any more straightforward: peanut butter, pretzels, and chocolate chips. Make a triple batch, as these won’t last long! 

5. Peppermint surprise brownies

Chocolate mint candies give basic brownies a festive twist in this recipe for peppermint surprise brownies! Add a drizzle of chocolate and sprinkle of powdered sugar for added flair. 

Save time this Christmas with grocery delivery

It’s Christmas time, and you have a to-do list as long as a child’s wish list for Santa. Give yourself the gift of time by ordering your groceries online. An Instacart shopper will collect your order and deliver it to your door, so you have more time for baking, decorating, and making memories with your loved ones!

Tasty Christmas Food Recipes

Recipe by InstacartCourse: Holidays, RecipesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

1

hour 

A collection of delicious Christmas food recipes for the whole family to enjoy.

Ingredients

• Apple Brickle Dip

• Easy roasted red pepper hummus

• Baked Brie with cranberry compote and pecans

• Garlic-rosemary money bread

• Chili-lime peanuts

• Texas caviar

• Always juicy baked ham

• Lemon & dill chicken

• Garlic roasted salmon & Brussels sprouts

• Autumn root vegetable chili

• Honey-orange firecracker shrimp

• Pan-seared beef with tarragon sauce 

• Absolutely delicious green bean casserole

• Cheddar, scallion, & bacon mashed potatoes

• Brilliant sautéed broccoli

• Accordion sweet potatoes

• Savoy cabbage and fennel slaw

• Zucchini gratin

Directions

• Pick your favorite dish from those listed above.
• Purchase the ingredients you don’t already have directly from the recipe directions.
• Cook, Serve, and enjoy!

Instacart

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