41 Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas, From Cozy Comfort to Elegant Extravagance
Our Christmas Eve dinner ideas don’t veer too much from the kinds of things we’d serve on Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve: We want decadent appetizers, meaty main courses, and side dishes (often buttery and potato-y) that the whole family will love. Examples: crispy potatoes with sour cream and caviar, a juicy côte de bœuf, and cheddar cheese-y corn pudding. So if you’re looking for restraint, you’re in the wrong place.
Now gather your loved ones and assign them tasks from the prep list—you’re going to need the extra muscle—because here are our best Christmas Eve dinner recipes.
PHOTO BY ALEX LAU, FOOD STYLING BY REBECCA JURKEVICH, PROP STYLING BY KALEN KAMINSKI1/41Slow Roast Beef
What could possibly be a more iconic Christmas Eve dinner idea than juicy roast beef with a mouthwatering crust? (Also, no shade to Christmas cookies, but we bet Santa would prefer a couple slices of this tucked into Parker House rolls.)
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens2/41Savory Cheese-Filled Croquembouche
One look at this appetizer and you know: The holiday season has arrived. Typically made with cream puffs dipped in caramel, this is a savory version of croquembouche made up of gougères filled with herbed cheese.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro3/41Boquerones With Green Olives and Orange
It’s no secret that we’re fans of tinned fish. Pop the lid, reach for some other pantry staples, and you’ve got a stunner of a starter.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua4/41Spicy Maple-Glazed Ham
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie5/41Furikake-Ranch Snack Mix
Like all good snack mixes, this one is a reliable crowd-pleaser, hitting all of the sweet and salty notes. Serve it with Cosmopolitan cocktails for a early aughts throwback vibes.
Photograph by Paola + Murray, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophia Pappas6/41Napa Cabbage Wedge With Sesame Ranch
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua7/41Salt Cod Brandade
Called brandade de morue in Provence, the cheesy, garlicky French mashed potato dip uses inexpensive dried salt cod. Save your money for the Champagne you serve with it.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro8/41Stuffed Poblanos With Beans and Greens
Photograph by Jenny Huang, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Martha Bernabe11/41Char Siu Wellington
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by JoJo Li12/41Greens With Magical Sesame Salt
You need something green on the table. This Vietnamese-inspired side dish, made with just six ingredients, including whichever leafy greens are your favorite, is a strong contender.
Photo by Yudi Ela, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie Strangio13/41Hallacas
Atlanta pastry chef Claudia Martinez’s family has been making what she describes as meaty Venezuelan tamales around the holidays for generations. Now you can make them, too.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Taneka Morris, prop styling by Suzie Myers14/41Crispy Smashed Potatoes With Salmon Caviar
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua15/41Roast Chicken With Cognac Sauce
Roast chicken can be considered fancy when it’s Jaques Pépin’s recipe and you serve it with a creamy cognac sauce. If roast turkey is what you’re after, though, we swear by this method.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni16/41The Easiest Glazed Carrots
Photo by Chelsie Craig, styling by Judy Mancini17/41Swordfish Steaks with Olive-Pistachio Sauce and Potatoes
If your family is Italian—or you want to pretend it is—then make a Feast of the Seven Fishes for Christmas Eve dinner and let these swordfish steaks be course number four.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman19/41Crystal’s Peppery Chicken and Dumplings
This version of chicken and dumplings, an Appalachian staple, is a good idea for a Christmas Eve dinner enjoyed by a crackling fire in your comfiest sweater.
Laura Murray21/41Homemade Caesar Dressing
If a steakhouse-style Christmas Eve dinner is your thing, then you must have a Caesar salad on the table. This classic dressing invites all of the usual suspects to the party: anchovies, garlic, egg yolk, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, vegetable oil (or swap in some olive oil, if you wish), and Parmesan.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime23/41Red Wine Spaghetti
Two bottles of red wine get cooked down to a glossy mahogany butter sauce for this pasta dish, so choose wisely: You want to use a very dry one that you enjoy drinking, such as a Chianti or Merlot, otherwise the dish will be too sweet.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni24/41Almost-Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Stying by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua25/41Pomegranate-and-Honey-Glazed Duck With Rice
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie26/41Masala Rice
The winter holidays are not a time for simple steamed rice. Warm spices, a spritz of lime juice, and ten minutes are all you need to serve a brighter, more complex side dish.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca28/41Roasted Carrot Soup With Crispy Shallots
Break out your sheet pan, because the depth of flavor for this dinner party starter comes from roasting carrots with red bell peppers, ginger, and shallots before blending it all together.
Photograph by Eva Kolenko. Food styling by Susie Theodorou. Set design by Kira Corbin. On set producer: Jennifer Thomas.29/41Prime Rib Roast With Habanero Crema
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni30/41Cheesy Corn Pudding
Boxed cornbread mix becomes its very best self thanks to cheddar cheese, sour cream, and chives. Don’t be tempted to swap in plain cornmeal—classic Jiffy mix is the only one that can do this job.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Catherine Campbell Pearson33/41Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
If low-key comfort food is more your style for Christmas Eve dinner, lean on this barbecue essential (which, in turn, leans on a slow cooker).
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks34/41Air Fryer Crispy Brussels Sprouts With Honey Butter
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Prop styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi35/41Spaghetti and Verrry Tender Meatballs
Fork-tender is great, but these beef and pork meatballs are spoon-tender—plus they contain grated onion and a touch of soy sauce borrowed from the Korean playbook for added umami.
Photograph by Guang Xu37/41Baked Brie Bites With Jezebel Sauce
You’ll want to bookmark this orange and mustard sauce and return to it next November. It makes for a great cranberry sauce alternative on the Thanksgiving table.
Photograph by Jessica Pettway, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh38/41Pork Tenderloin With Agrodolce Cherries
Pork tenderloin is quick-cooking, but it needs help in the flavor department. This version gets its sweetness and sourness from cherries, but you can also use whole red grapes, which are more accessible this time of year.
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski39/41Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht40/41Cottage Cheese Lasagna
Love cottage cheese? You’ll love this lasagna. Hate cottage cheese? You’ll still love this lasagna, which comes with a dose each of Fontina and Parmesan.
Photograph by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, Food Styling by Alison Roman, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski41/41Low-and-Slow Rib Roast