A Very Merry Christmas Dinner

Meggan Hill

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Craft your perfect Christmas dinner from our best holiday recipes. Whether you’re hosting a casual buffet or a formal sit-down dinner, we’ve got plenty of ideas to help you feed the ones you love the most.

A Christmas table with prime rib, scalloped potatoes, green beans, and rolls.

Growing up in Wisconsin, Christmas dinner with family always included a juicy baked ham, a seemingly infinite array of side dishes, and a sweets table that groaned from the weight of all my mom’s cookies and desserts.

This year, I wanted to pull out all of the stops. I kept some of my favorite things, but switched up the main event and learned how to make the most delicious Prime Rib ever.

Whether you’re celebrating with friends, having Christmas dinner with family, or celebrating a very, merry mixture of both, maybe my Christmas dinner ideas will inspire you to update your own traditions.

Table of Contents

  1. Prime Rib with Mustard Cream Sauce
  2. Scalloped Potatoes
  3. Green Beans with Bacon
  4. Soft Dinner Rolls
  5. Cranberry Apple Cider
  6. Cranberry Wreath Cake

Prime Rib with Mustard Cream Sauce

Prime Rib makes a mouth-watering, show-stopping centerpiece for any holiday gathering. If you’ve never attempted Prime Rib, fear not! All the information you need is there, broken-down and clearly explained, so you can approach this indulgent cut of meat with confidence, even as a beginner.

Prime Rib with Mustard Cream Sauce
Learn how to cook the perfect Prime Rib with step-by-step instructions and photos. This prime rib recipe will be the star of your holiday table, and it's even better with a drizzle of mustard cream sauce.
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A platter of sliced prime rib.

More enticing entree recipes

Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
This fabulous Bacon-wrapped Pork Tenderloin with roasted fennel is the sheet pan dinner of your dreams. The pork is tender, the bacon is salty, and the fennel soaks up the juices from both! It's also fancy enough for "company" and ready in an hour.
VIEW RECIPE
Bacon wrapped pork tenderloin surrounded by roasted fennel and onions.
How to Make Rotisserie Chicken
Learn how to make rotisserie chicken at home with my super simple spice rub (4 ingredients plus salt & pepper). Or, recreate that same delicious flavor for your next oven-roasted chicken! 
VIEW RECIPE
A rotisserie chicken on a white plate with slices of lemon.

Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes are creamy, cheesy, and delicious in every bite, a rich side dish that is perfect for a celebration. Layers and layers of thinly sliced potatoes swim in a homemade cheese sauce, then baked until golden brown and crunchy on top. These are great for dinner and brunch alike!

Scalloped Potatoes
At dinners and parties throughout the Midwest, Scalloped Potatoes are always the first thing to disappear. This recipe uses a quick, made-from-scratch cheese sauce that's layered with plenty of potatoes.
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A baking dish full of scalloped potatoes.

More perfect potato recipes

Cheesy Potato Casserole
Cheesy Potato Casserole is a cornerstone holiday recipe in the Midwest. This version has from-scratch cream of chicken soup and a crunchy cornflake topping.
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A pile of cheesy potato casserole on a plate.
Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
Oven-crisp Rosemary Roasted Potatoes are an easy, delicious side dish that goes with everything from quick family suppers to holiday feasts.
VIEW RECIPE
Roasted rosemary potatoes on a baking sheet.

Green Beans with Bacon

Everything is better with bacon, and green beans are no exception. Blanch the green beans to keep them bright green and tender crisp, then toss with chewy (or crispy) bacon and a touch of brown sugar for sweetness. It’s a vegetable side dish people go crazy for!

Green Beans with Bacon
An easy recipe for Green Beans with Bacon (and a touch of brown sugar, too). Cook the bacon and blanch the beans ahead of time, and this dish comes together in minutes.
VIEW RECIPE
Green beans with bacon on a white platter.

More tasty vegetable recipes

Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
This Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole is a great mix of convenience and from-scratch cooking and won't take up any oven space.
VIEW RECIPE
Slow cooker green bean casserole on a patterned platter.
Vegetable Casserole
Vegetable Casserole, just like mom used to make! Made with frozen veggies, Velveeta, and buttery cracker crumbs, it's always the first side dish to disappear.
VIEW RECIPE
A pan of vegetable casserole with Velveeta and cracker crumbs.

Soft Dinner Rolls

These soft, yeasty dinner rolls are perfect in every way: The size, shape, and texture you want, and so delicious slathered with butter. They are perfect for impromptu sandwiches or just enjoyed on the side of Prime Rib or whatever main dish you serve.

Soft Yeast Dinner Rolls
When nothing but homemade bread will do, try these easy Soft Yeast Dinner Rolls. They are perfect at your holiday table, on the side of Sunday Supper, piled with any kind of meat, or served simply with a bowl of soup.
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Soft yeast dinner rolls on a baking sheet.

More scrumptious bread recipes

Homemade Crescent Rolls
Pillowy soft with a sweet, buttery taste, these Homemade Crescent Rolls are perfect for all the holidays or a weekend baking project.
VIEW RECIPE
A basket of homemade crescent rolls.

Cranberry Apple Cider

A staple at the holidays, this Cranberry Apple Cider is the perfect winter warm-up for entertaining. Keep a big crockpot of cider next to mugs and a ladle, and guests can help themselves. It keeps tummies warm and adds a delicious aroma to your house, too. Stash a bottle of something on the side for the 21+ crowd, if desired.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider
Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider is simple to make, sweet, and delicious. This welcoming, spiced hot beverage makes the whole house smell amazing, too.
VIEW RECIPE
Slow cooker cranberry apple cider in a clear mug.

More Christmas cocktails

Brandy Old Fashioned
From Friday fish fries to supper clubs, the Wisconsin drink of choice is a Brandy Old Fashioned. Here's the authentic recipe for the Wisconsin twist on this famous classic cocktail.
VIEW RECIPE
A brandy old fashioned in a clear glass.
White Russian
The classic White Russian cocktail is made with vodka, Kahlúa, and cream. It's simple, delicious, and tastes a little bit like iced coffee.
VIEW RECIPE
A white Russian cocktail with a bottle of Kahlua in the background.

Cranberry Wreath Cake

This stunning Cranberry Wreath Cake is elevated with a ring of rosemary and sugared cranberries atop a decadent chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream. It’s a festive display for your Christmas table that tastes as good as it looks!

Cranberry Wreath Cake
Cranberry Wreath Cake is a luscious chocolate cake covered in sweet vanilla buttercream and is perfect for the holidays or any winter celebration. A crown of fresh rosemary and sugared cranberries makes a stunning finishing touch.
VIEW RECIPE
A cranberry wreath cake on a granite cake platter with a small plate of sugared cranberries next to it.

More delicious desserts

Bûche de Noël (Yule Log Cake)
It's officially Christmas when Buche de Noel appears, thickly frosted in chocolate ganache bark and dotted with tiny meringue mushrooms. If making a Yule Log cake seems too elaborate, don't worry; all the steps are broken down into one easy-to-manage project.
VIEW RECIPE
Christmas Sugar Cookies
These frosted Christmas Sugar Cookies are my grandma’s best recipe, so buttery and sweet! A family favorite. No Christmas is complete without them.
VIEW RECIPE
Frosted sugar cookies decorated for Christmas on a baking rack.
A Christmas table with prime rib, scalloped potatoes, green beans, and rolls.
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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Comments

  2. Once again, you developed an outstanding selection of ideas/recipes! The pictures as well as step by step recipes are very helpful. The difficult part is narrowing choices. Happy holidays. Thanks again.

    Reply

  3. I haven’t used any of these recipes yet but I will be using some of these recipes for Christmas dinner I’m always looking for a new recipe I get tired of cooking the same Christmas dinner year after year

    Reply