Christmas Brunch and Dinner Recipes
Sharing some ideas for Christmas brunch and dinner recipes.
This year is flying back at warp speed, and I’m trying to do everything in my power to avoid the last-minute scramble. I started Christmas shopping early – I feel like it’s less of a hit on the budget when you space things out, too! – and am trying to plan and prep as much as I can. Last year, I had prepped a ton for Christmas dinner and it felt like huge treat. I think as moms, we have a lot of the to-dos on our shoulders, and the holiday season isn’t as fun if you spend it stressed and overwhelmed.
Christmas Brunch and Dinner Recipes
Since I was brainstorming ideas for Christmas brunch and dinner (both are at our house), I thought I’d share some sample recipes if you’re looking to prep in advance, too! Worth mentioning here that I get all of the meat for our holiday feasts from Butcher Box. They have beef tenderloin, turkeys, salmon, and it’s all great quality.
What I’m Cooking for Christmas
Beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce
Artichoke dip and crackers
A massive cheese board (I take food styling serious when it comes to a cheese board!)
Mashed sweet potatoes
Autumn salad with apples, feta, spiced walnuts and balsamic dressing
Homemade sourdough (made ahead and frozen)
Christmas cookies (I start baking early and just freeze everything! We usually do these thumbprint cookies, Mexican wedding cookies, peppermint bark, peanut butter blossoms, and sugar cookies)
Mulled wine (THE BEST)
and the Pilot’s famous egg nog.
I’m going to make most of the meal in advance, let the Traeger work its magic on the turkey, and just enjoy snacking and spending time with our friends throughout the day.
More of our go-to holiday recipes are here!
Holiday Recipe Ideas
Breakfast
Nana’s famous egg dish
This has one of my favorite holiday brunch dishes for SO long. It’s perfect to serve for any holiday, but I love making it on Christmas day for a fun treat. Add some fresh pico de Gallo salsa and you won’t ever eat it differently.
Nana’s creme brûlée French toast
After Nana’s famous egg dish recipe, you’ll find her adored creme brûlée French toast recipe. It’s the perfect for treat after the breakfast casserole. The top is perfectly crispy and creamy, and the bottom a crispy, caramelized portion. Chef’s kiss!
The most perfect cinnamon rolls
While this recipe is an overnight one, it is so, SO worth the wait. These cinnamon rolls are soft, fluffy, have lavish cream cheese icing—they’re truly delectable. Plus, they’re the perfect breakfast treat to have on Christmas morning as you’re relaxing, watching everyone opening their presents.
Sweet potato hash
This sweet potato hash is easy to make and even easier to enjoy. There are a couple different ways to serve this meal on your holiday morning. You can enjoy it alone, or, top it with an organic over-easy egg with some salsa! Super yummy.
Sweet potato, goat cheese and turkey bacon egg bake
If you’re new here, I love egg dishes. They freeze well, they’re versatile, and they’re really just my favorite food! This healthier Christmas breakfast idea is filling, and it’s good for you! It’s a great way to really amp up the protein in a tasty way.
Turkey bacon, kale, and cheese egg muffins
If you’re having a bigger spread, or even if you just want something quick and easy, these egg muffins are a crowd pleaser. Plus, something about them being a muffin as opposed to being a square cut out of a dish just makes them “cuter”. Feel free to add and take away veggies or meats as you wish!
Mediterranean egg bites
These egg bites are just another great addition to your Christmas brunch ideas. They’re similar to the egg muffins, but it’s another great choice to present on holiday mornings. It’s a nice way to have a savory and protein-packed breakfast, with a little less meal prep.
Apple pie walnut baked oatmeal
This breakfast idea may seem like a dessert from how sweet and flavorful it is, but it’s actually perfectly appropriate to serve as a breakfast. The baked oatmeal aspect takes it from a sweet dessert treat, to a customizable Christmas brunch recipe.
Lunch/dinner
Mexican style! We usually have enchiladas, rice and beans at my dad’s house.
There’s nothing wrong with sticking to what you know. Enchiladas, rice, and beans, are a comfort food for me—which makes it perfect to include in the list! The holidays are all about good food and good memories.
If you like Mexican style, try these chicken tacos with homemade tortillas!
If you’re picky about your tortillas like I am (#noshame), then making your own is super easy and overall totally worth it. These chicken tacos with the homemade tortillas are a great staple dish for a Christmas Eve dinner, or a Christmas Day snack.
Rosemary salmon with cranberry sauce (perfect to switch it up from turkey!)
If you’re not a big fan of turkey, you can still celebrate the holiday with rosemary salmon and cranberry sauce. It allows you to stick a healthier food routine during the holidays, without feeling like you’re missing out on any of the savory dishes.
Gluten-free stuffing
You don’t have to miss out on enjoying stuffing during the holidays if you’re gluten-free, you just need an inclusive option! This recipe is delicious, and it doesn’t skip out on any of the flavor that you might experience with other gluten-free alternatives.
Green bean casserole
A green bean casserole that’s dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, and has a creamy mushroom cashew sauce topped with crispy baked onions? Sign me up. This recipe is so good, I sometimes sneak it out of my Christmas brunch recipes itinerary just to make on a regular night!
Instant pot Mac and cheese
Sometimes, you just need to pull out the instant pot—even more so on the holidays. This Mac and cheese is creamy, cheesy, and healthier than your typical Mac and cheese recipe. It’s a staple item when it comes to holiday meals.
Savory chicken sausage butternut squash bowls
This is another recipe that’s good enough to be a justified Christmas meal, but it leans more on the side of being protein-packed and healthier in comparison. Not to mention, who wouldn’t rather eat their dinner out of a butternut squash bowl?
Desserts
Raw chocolate tart
This raw chocolate tart is so good, you’ll find yourself with finger marks in your cup when you’re done… (not speaking from personal experience 😉). It’s just a simple mix of raw ingredients that are ready to eat after an hour in the freezer!
Coconut oil peppermint bark
‘Tis the season for peppermint bark, but specifically, this peppermint bark made with coconut oil. As enjoyable as it is, I think my favorite part of this dessert is that it takes no time to make. It’s a great, Christmas-themed treat.
Healthy pumpkin pie
This year, you can enjoy a classic pumpkin pie, without dairy or refined sugar. This alternative uses maple syrup and coconut sugar to naturally sweeten the dessert. Something about knowing that you’re consuming healthier ingredients can make a dessert so much better.
Pumpkin pie brownies (omg I need to make these again)
If you’re new here, take caution when making these, because you won’t be able to stop. This is one of my favorite desserts—not only is it absolutely delicious, it also uses healthy fats, protein, skips out on the refined sugar, and leaves the dairy and grains behind.
Double chocolate Paleo gooey cake
This is the gooiest, most glorious, most chocolatey cake I’ve ever had. It also just so happens to be grain-free and egg-free. The texture isn’t necessarily cake-like, but it tastes all the same. Plus, if it’s just basically nuts and chocolate, it’s technically just trail mix, right?
Crunchy almond butter truffles
These delectable little desserts pack a punch in terms of flavor. They’re practically everything that’s good and sweet in the world, all while remaining free of added sugars and free of gluten. What more could we ask for?
Are you cooking this week? What’s on the menu? What’s your all-time favorite holiday dessert?
My nana makes a bomb chocolate pie, and I also love these cookie bars that madre makes called Grammies. I always say I’m going to just have one or two each day and then I have 18239.
It’s also worth mentioning that I FINALLY swapped our bakeware to a nontoxic option and am so happy I did it in time for all of the holiday baking. Check it out here. For plenty of more recipes for any and every occasion, take a look at my recipe list.
Have a great morning and I’ll see ya later today!
xoxo
Gina
29 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I’ve been thinking a lot of P and you guys hoping things were getting better. Can’t wait to hear everything that is going on. Sorry to hear you are staying in San Diego instead of going back to Tucson. I’m sure it will still be an awesome holiday!
thank you <3
I hope P is feeling better soon! She must not be feeling great if you’re not heading to Tucson this week. Hopefully, it will turn around soon. I’m so not ready for the holidays. I don’t have any of my groceries and my Dad gets here tomorrow.
yeah, last week was especially rough. it has to turn around at some point!
hope you’re having a great holiday season <3
What a fun date night! Can’t wait to hear an update on baby! Hopefully she’s doing better!
thank you!
I am happily not cooking this Christmas. I’m letting my mom take care of everything while I introduce the little to her first Christmas. I hope P starts feeling better soon now that she’s on a new formula. I know that mine started improving within 4 or 5 days of the hypoallergenic and was almost a different kid by week 2 1/2 on it. It’s such a joy when they are feeling good!
that is amazing. i would love to be enjoying madre’s cooking instead :/
what formula did you use? we were on alimentum but now it’s elecare
We are using Nutramagin. It has made such a difference. I hope your little one starts feeling better soon!
That margarita looks AMAZING. Ginger & chile–what a perfect combination!
i want it again! 🙂
One of the possible desserts on my menu this week is that dump cake. I’ve always wanted to try it and finally picked up the 3 ingredients. Pretty casual for a holiday but after either prime rib (xmas eve) or lasagna (xmas), no one’s picky.
YESSSSSS. you will love it 🙂
Want it alllll!
We had our annual “non-Christmas Christmas” (loooong story :)) event last night, so we’re getting a full turkey dinner twice this week. I’m excited 😀
We did a ton of cooking on Saturday when we hosted our holiday cocktail party (bacon water chestnuts & stuffed mushrooms were my favorites), but yesterday and Christmas day are hosted by other family members so we’re off the hook for the rest of the holiday cooking!
amazing 🙂 gotta love extra turkey dinners!
I just got my holiday meals (yes, I’m doing 2! Just shoot me now…) finalized so I can share them. 🙂
Xmas eve lunch for our immediate family: ham, skin on mashed potatoes, green beans w/ bacon & onions, candied carrots, & cheesy corn macaroni casserole. Apps: little smokies, pepper jelly dip, http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/candied-pecan-chex-mix-recipe/. We also hosted a Xmas party for friends this wknd & I made 3 different desserts (Swedish almond bars, brown sugar toffee cheesecake bars, chunky pecan pie bars), plenty of which were left over (there was so much food!) so I’ll serve those again on Thurs.
Xmas lunch for my extended fam: We do soups so everyone will bring one. I’m making chicken noodle & my husband will make chili. I’ll also make corn bread & http://allrecipes.com/recipe/216756/baked-ham-and-cheese-party-sandwiches/. (These are such a hit!) In addition to any apps I have leftover from Thurs., I’ll serve a jalepeno popper dip & crescent wrapped lil smokies. Depending on the leftover dessert situation I may make something new. (I’m all about the desserts so this is probably likely.) 😉 Hope you guys have a wonderful holiday! I’ll be recuperating Sat. & Sun.! 😛
can we come to your house?? haha
Hope P feels better and that the formula helps her out. I went to Indigo Grill a few years ago on a business trip and it was AMAZING. Highly recommend trying the cedar plank salmon! So jealous of all the fun restaurants in the San Diego area.
thank you, i hope so too <3
i'll definitely try the salmon next time!
Those cupcakes are adorable! And I’m totally on the same page of the frosting being better than the cake! I have no idea what I’m making for brunch. I want to keep it super simple but not sure how I’m going to swing it!
i think anything i can make in advance is a win 🙂
Hey Gina – just wanted to let you know that your smile is looking lovely these days! It’s noticeable, but not in a “they looked terrible before” way – I just think I’ve been paying closer attention because I’ve done Invisalign myself, and wanted to let you know how nice it’s looking!
thank you so much!! <3
I’ve been so busy wrapped up in finals that I have not even had time to process the fact that Christmas is only 4 days away! What?! I’m like you- frantically trying to get everything done.
That pot of brownie/peanut butter ice cream combo looks amazinggggg! I am going to convince my friends to head over there to try it when I am back in town.
you need to! you will LOVE
Holiday Barre Blast done! I only survived one round. That was some serious quaking. Thanks Gina!
All the best to you and your little crew this holiday!
yeah girl! that’s awesome 🙂 hope you’re having a great holiday season, too!
xo
Have you ever shared the Pilot’s famous egg nog recipe??? I’ve been looking for a good one! And, glad to hear baby girl is doing better! Sounds like you are working out all the kinks 😉 Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!
he’s uses julia child’s recipe: http://fitnessista.com/2012/12/1223-christmas-eve-eve/
thank you- hope you have a wonderful christmas, too!