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This post is about easy Christmas dinner ideas.
Christmas dinner can be overwhelming to plan, but it doesn’t have to be. These easy Christmas dinner ideas can help you feel more in control this holiday. Perhaps you need help staying organized making Christmas dinner, planning a make-ahead Christmas dinner, or maybe you are looking for ways to reduce stress for an easy Christmas dinner. In this blog post, we will explore time-saving ideas to make Christmas dinner easy so that you can create a memorable holiday for all your guests.
This post is about easy Christmas dinner ideas.
PLAN YOUR EASY CHRISTMAS DINNER IDEAS IN ADVANCE
Whenever you tackle a major holiday, always plan your menus ahead of time. Planning your Christmas dinner menu two weeks ahead should give you enough time to write out your grocery list, go shopping, and prep the necessary components of your dishes. Design your menu with your guest’s dietary restrictions and allergies in mind. When hosting a large holiday party, stick with a majority of recipes that you have tested before or are comfortable preparing. Your familiarity with dishes will help you be more efficient in producing a large meal.
Once you have planned out your menu, create a comprehensive shopping list with every single ingredient required to make this meal. Cross-check the grocery list with items you already have in your pantry to avoid purchasing double or missing something. This will prevent unnecessary last-minute trips to the grocery store, which is especially stressful as the holiday comes closer. Buying your non-perishables ahead of time can put your mind at ease, knowing you won’t have to fight another customer for the last can of fried onions on the shelf.
MAKE-AHEAD CHRISTMAS DINNER
If you ask any chef, they will all agree that the most important step of cooking is mise en place, or “everything in its place”. This means gathering all the ingredients you need to make the dish— measuring out the ingredients ahead of time and preparing the vegetables by chopping or dicing— is the most crucial time-saving step. With you detailed plan you created, you can divide the prep into several days before, saving you time cooking Christmas day dinner. For example, if you plan to make your favorite Christmas stuffing recipe, cubing up the bread to let it dry out overnight and measuring out the spices and herbs the day before will make for an easy Christmas dinner.
Make-ahead Christmas dinner recipes also help make the day easier. Casseroles, or dishes that can easily reheat the day of, are a great time-saving tip for Christmas. Examples of classic Christmas dishes that are great reheated are green bean casserole, braised short ribs even mashed potatoes. Baked pasta dishes, like lasagna and stuffed manicotti, are also popular recipes for Christmas dinner. You could even create some make-ahead appetizers for the party. Stuffed Mushroom caps, meatballs, or a cheese board are all easy Christmas dinner ideas.
Setting the table early, or even the day before, will help save time on Christmas. Polishing the silverware and dusting off the fine china can take a lot of time. Ensuring that there are enough place settings for all your guests ahead of time, or assigning seats with name cards, can help alleviate some of the holiday stress. If you plan to have an extravagant festive centerpiece, setting the table first will help you plan how much space you have available for the flowers and candles.
CREATE A SIMPLE HOLIDAY MENU
When creating your holiday dinner menu, focus on just a few key dishes. Sticking to a few favorite dishes, or dishes that are easy to execute will be much easier than attempting to prepare a large variety of dishes. When you have more dishes, you have more ingredients, more recipes and more steps to keep track of. Below is an easy to follow guide for how many dishes to prepare in relation to the number of guests.
- 4 to 6 total guests: 1 main dish, 2 to 3 sides, 1 dessert
- 7 to 10 total guests: 2 main dishes, 3 to 5 sides, 2 desserts
- 11 to 14 total guests: 2 or 3 main dishes, 5 to 7 sides, 2 desserts
- 15 or more total guests: 3 main dishes, 7 to 9 sides, 3 desserts
Use semi-homemade, or even store bought options will help you create an easy Christmas dinner. Store bought pie crusts, jarred turkey gravy or cranberry sauce, and boxed dressing or stuffing will help you save time. Support your local bakery and order a festive cake or pie from them for the holiday. You could even call restaurants to see if they offer pick up catering holiday meals.
There is nothing better than cleaning up after a one-pot meal. Using a slow cooker or a dutch oven to prepare a casserole of a braised beef will help you stay clean and organized in the kitchen. Easy oven roasted vegetables with rosemary and thyme, crispy parmesan smashed potatoes, or even making an entire Christmas sheet-pan meal are all easy Christmas dinner ideas. The ease of cooking everything together with minimal clean up allows you to enjoy more time with your guests.
DELEGATE CHRISTMAS DINNER TASKS
The holidays are meant to spend time together and show appreciation of one another. However, inviting guests into your home for a festive meal can be more stressful than you’d like it to be. Turn your traditional Christmas dinner into a potluck or buffet style dinner. Encourage your guests to bring a dish of their choosing to the party. You can also assign tasks the day of, such as helping set the table, wash dishes, or carve the seasoned roast lamb. By delegating tasks, you can take some of the burden off of yourself to have everything done before dinner is served.
Assign tasks or roles to family members during the party. Ask your little cousin to keep an eye on the ice bucket and refill it when necessary. Your mom can be in charge of the wine, and your brother can be responsible for the appetizers. At the end of the meal, ask your siblings to all help out in the kitchen by washing and drying dishes while you put them away.
STAY ORGANIZED DURING THE HOLIDAYS
If you have multiple people helping you on the day, create a running to-do list of last minute details you want done. Your friend and family can start working on knocking things off the list without having to ask you, “Now what?” every 15 minutes.
Take a look at all your recipes and consider how long it will take to prepare each dish. Look at the equipment needed for each dish. If you have 5 different dishes that require either baking or roasting, you may not be able to fit them all in the oven at the same time. Create a timeline and a cooking schedule for Christmas day with all these considerations in mind. This will ensure that all the dishes are ready at the same time.
Be sure to utilize a kitchen timer if you need to keep track of several dishes cooking at once. Your glazed ham can easily burn if forgotten about in the oven. Clean up as you are cooking in the kitchen to prevent a time-consuming mess to be waiting for you at the end of the day. Keeping a “trash bowl” on your counter as you chop your veggies, and putting bottles of spices back after they are used can prevent clutter from piling up in your workspace.
HACKS, SHORTCUTS & IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER
Take advantage of kitchen hacks like precut vegetables or precooked dishes, which can simplify your holiday gathering. Check your local grocery to see if they have pre-cut mire pox or onions to be sautéed for your gravy. You can use pre-chopped broccoli to make cheesy broccoli casserole, or toss a premade salad mix with a simple vinaigrette.
Utilizing countertop appliances like slow-cookers or Instant pots can help free up oven space and simplify cooking. Appliances like this can create hearty, flavorful meals with minimal clean up. Offer pre-poured glasses of champagne or provide a large drink dispenser of a festive batch cocktail drink. This will free up time for you to utilize in the kitchen instead of playing bartender. If baking isn’t your strong suit, pick up dessert from a local bakery. Toss the apple pie in the oven 15 minutes prior to serving it to your guests with a big dollop of whipped cream.
REDUCE STRESS FOR AN EASY CHRISTMAS DINNER
When planning Christmas dinner, remember to stay calm and enjoy the process. Remember that Christmas dinner is about spending time with loved ones, not perfection. Take breaks as you need them to relax and enjoy the holiday atmosphere of the party. Ask your sister to keep an eye on the stove while you grab a drink in the living room. Be flexible, open to changes and go with the flow if things don’t go exactly how you envisioned them.
Cooking dinner for your friends and family can be a daunting task during the holiday season. But the best, easy Christmas dinner ideas can be narrowed down to 3 things: planning, delegating and simplifying. Choose to focus on the joy of the holiday not stress over the details.
EASY CHRISTMAS DINNER IDEAS Q&A
What are the top 10 Christmas dinner foods?
The top 10 Christmas dinner foods are usually ham, turkey, beef tenderloin, rack of lamb, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potato, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and apple pie.
How to make xmas dinner easy?
The best way to make xmas dinner easy is to plan ahead. Create a timeline of everything you need to cook and how long they cook for so that all your dishes are ready at the same time.
What are some different ideas for Christmas dinner?
If you are looking for different ideas for Christmas dinner, consider making a reservation at a restaurant to enjoy a meal for the holiday. You could also prepare a Christmas dinner with a different themed cuisine, or celebrate the holiday with a potluck style dinner.
What can I do instead of Christmas dinner?
Instead of Christmas dinner, create a magnificent charcuterie board overflowing with cheeses and meats. Provide your guests with an array of appetizers to be enjoyed as the meal. You don’t have to cook the typical Christmas dishes to have an enjoyable Christmas dinner.
How do you simplify Christmas dinner?
You can simplify Christmas dinner by delegating tasks to your family and friends. Ask your partner to help out in the kitchen and chop some vegetables for you as you begin cooking the food.
How to have a cheap Christmas dinner?
You can have a cheap Christmas dinner by preparing a sheet pan meal. You can roast potatoes, chicken and vegetables all on the same sheet pan. Warm up a jar of gravy and add a scoop of canned cranberries to add a touch of festivity to the meal.
What makes the best Christmas dinner?
Making the best Christmas dinner requires planning. Being considerate of your guest’s dietary restrictions shows how much you care. The best Christmas dinner is one shared with friends and family.
How do you make a simple old fashioned Christmas?
If you want to make a simple old fashioned Christmas, consider classic Christmas dinner ideas that have been around for years. Dishes like honey-glazed ham, carved prime-rib, scalloped potatoes and green bean casserole are all traditional crowd-pleasers.
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