Looking for the perfect Christmas dinner ideas to wow your family and friends this holiday season? From classic comfort foods to elegant dishes, this list has something for everyone. Whether you’re hosting a small gathering or a festive crowd, these recipes are budget-friendly, delicious, and sure to impress!
Easy Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce Pot Roast
If you’re looking for a holiday dinner that is festive, flavorful, and effortless to prepare, this Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce Pot Roast is the perfect dish. Combining the classic tenderness of a pot roast with the tangy sweetness of cranberry sauce, this recipe is ideal for a memorable Christmas feast or any special occasion.
Irresistible Lamb Sliders
When it comes to holiday recipes, lamb isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind—but these Lamb Sliders will change that for good! They’re flavorful, festive, and surprisingly affordable. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a full-blown Christmas feast, these sliders are guaranteed to impress your guests. Bonus: they double as an amazing meatball recipe, so you’ve got options!
Meatball and Mozzarella Bake
Meatball and mozzarella bake is the perfect dish to bring joy to your holiday table or any dinner gathering. This recipe features tender, homemade meatballs baked to perfection in a rich tomato sauce and topped with gooey mozzarella cheese. Whether you serve it as a standalone dish, pair it with pasta, or create mini meatball sliders, this versatile recipe will become a family favorite!
Baked Manicotti
If you’re looking for a hearty, cheesy, and comforting meal that’s perfect for a cozy dinner or even a holiday celebration, Baked Manicotti is the dish for you. This recipe features pasta tubes stuffed with a rich, cheesy filling, topped with savory meat sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. It’s a dish that feels elegant and indulgent but is surprisingly easy to make—and can even be prepared ahead of time to make your life easier.
French Onion Mac and Cheese
If you’re looking for a unique twist on classic mac and cheese, look no further than this French onion soup mac and cheese. Combining the rich flavors of caramelized onions with gooey cheese and pasta, this dish is an indulgent, comforting treat that’s perfect for a cozy dinner or a festive holiday gathering.
Marry Me Chicken
Embrace the spirit of the season with a dish so divine, it’s nicknamed “Marry Me Chicken.” If a recipe is worthy of such a title, it’s undoubtedly fit for a Christmas celebration. Join me in creating a culinary masterpiece that promises to be the star of your festive feast.
Cranberry Balsamic Chicken
Delight your taste buds with the tantalizing flavors of Balsamic Cranberry Chicken—a delectable dish that’s not only easy to prepare but also perfect for any festive occasion. Paired with roasted asparagus, this culinary masterpiece promises a holiday meal that’s as effortless as it is delicious.
French Onion Chicken
This French Onion Chicken recipe, was originally crafted for a $20 date night but it’s perfect for any special occasion, including your Christmas dinner.
Coq Au Vin
This Coq Au Vin recipe feels sooo fancy and it is! But it’s so much less expensive than a prime rib or short ribs. The best part? You can make it in the slow cooker!
Chicken Marsala
This is my absolute favorite Chicken Marsala recipe. My favorite part is that you can use chicken broth instead of marsala wine, if you don’t have it. It’s full of flavor and I’ve served it at many dinner parties with lots of compliments. This will be a special on on Christmas day for sure!
Mississippi Pot Roast
I’ve made this one for many Christmas’s. It’s simple to throw together and always delivers. You can even serve it with some rolls on the side for Italian beef sandwiches!
Slow Cooker Beef
This beef recipe is very easy and comes from this amazing cookbook Dinner on a Dime. It’s an easy set it and forget it Christmas dinner that won’t disappint.
Million Dollar Spaghetti
One time my mother in law made this million dollar spaghetti for an event and the rest is history! I’ve been toying with the idea of making this this Christmas.
Shepherd’s Pie
There is something about this Shepherd’s Pie recipe. It’s really the best I’ve ever had. It’s the perfect warm and rich meal to have on a special day.
Ravioli Bake
It’s likely you already have the basics on hand for this ravioli bake. This is a low ingredient meal that requires minimal prep work and is super kid friendly. This is a really inexpensive way to feed a crowd at the holidays.
Sausage Lasagna Roll Ups
Discover a budget-friendly twist on the classic lasagna with these inexpensive and delicious Lasagna Roll-Ups. Created with affordable Dollar Tree ingredients, this recipe is perfect for a festive and wallet-friendly Christmas dinner.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Bake
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is the perfect choice for those that aren’t big fans of red sauce but still want a flavorful make-ahead casserole. It even looks festive with the white sauce, red bacon, and green parsley!
Poor Man’s Lasagna
Now you certainly don’t need to feel poor on Christmas. And you won’t, if you make this casserole. This is just a cheaper than lasagna alternative that has all the delicious Italian flavors to make your day special without the big price tag.
Balsamic Salmon
If you’re looking for a fish recipe this Christmas, this one will bring you joy! The Balsamic glaze on this salmon is something my mom raves about to this day. The fact that this recipe is made in one sheet pan is a plus!
For #15 – I just recommend you go with brunch instead of dinner! It’s a great budget friendly option and sometimes I think brunch is more fun that dinner!
Here is a video where I share a bunch of magical Christmas casseroles for your brunch:
I hope you love these recipes and have a magical holiday season!
Watch Me Make All of These Recipes Here on My YouTube Channel:
FOR MORE EASY HOLIDAY RECIPES CHECK OUT THESE VIDEOS:
MORE HOLIDAY MAIN RECIPES TO TRY:
Maria Ronan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Links on this site may include affiliate links to Amazon and its affiliate sites on which the owner of this website will make a referral commission. Thank you for supporting Meals With Maria! My videos and website are for entertainment purposes only. Any information related to food, food safety, cooking, recipes, etc. are my opinions only. Maria Ronan is not liable and/or responsible for any advice, services, or product you obtain through this video and websit