When you know you’ll spend Christmas Day whipping up a fabulous feast, it’s easy to fall back on takeout for dinner on Christmas Eve. You want something tasty, but you also have a million other things to do. Before you pick up the phone, consider one of these 70 Christmas Eve dinner ideas, all of which happen to take one hour or less to make. From main courses, like hearty goat cheese pasta with spinach and artichokes and baked ginger and lemon chicken; to side dishes, like creamy polenta with roasted mushrooms and bacon and citrus, shrimp and quinoa salad with feta, there’s something on this list to suit the entire family.
70 Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas That Take One Hour or Less
Published Oct 15, 2023
1. Jammy Upside-Down Onion Tart (50 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Pair this easy-yet-elegant tart with a big green salad and you’ll have a vegetarian dinner worthy of any celebration.
2. Strip Steak with Harissa Butter and Parsley Salad (20 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, high protein, special occasion–worthy
Skip the steakhouse and make it at home—you’ve got this. Parsley gets elevated from a forgettable garnish to the star ingredient of the accompanying salad.
3. Sausage and Fennel Pasta (25 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
You can thank the Italian sausage for infusing the dish with all that flavor in basically no time at all.
4. Baked Ginger and Lemon Chicken (1 hour)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: one pan, high protein
Ooh, this flavor combination is so cozy. Bonus, you can also make it with chicken wings for a more casual meal.
5. Antoni Porowski’s Lazy Pierogi with Wild Mushrooms, Cabbage and Prunes (35 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, low sugar, crowd-pleaser
Just because dinner is low-effort doesn’t mean it can’t feel special. Allow Queer Eye’s own resident foodie to show you how it’s done.
6. Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken (35 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, kid-friendly, high protein
Consider this a lesson in how to sheet pan: The vegetables are cooked first before adding the chicken, so everything is actually done at the same time. (Plus, it’s so much tastier than takeout.)
7. Rigatoni with Vodka Sauce (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
FYI, a deeply flavorful and creamy vodka sauce isn’t difficult to make at home, as long as you have a tube of double-concentrated tomato paste on hand.
8. Spiced Lamb Meatball and Escarole Soup (45 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly
This soup tastes like a million bucks—it was inspired by lamb shawarma and Italian wedding soup—but takes less than an hour to make.
9. Sheet Pan Tomato Basil Gnocchi (35 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, vegetarian, low sugar, kid-friendly
When baked on a sheet pan, store-bought gnocchi becomes irresistibly crisp on the outside but stays pillowy soft on the inside (without any boiling).
10. Caramelized Mushroom Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, special occasion–worthy
This dish will convert even the most staunch mushroom haters—it’s all in the caramelization technique.
11. Cacio e Pepe (20 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
A classic Italian recipe that feels fancy (especially if you nail the pronunciation), but it actually requires just four ingredients if you don’t count salt and pepper.
12. One-Pan Roasted Salmon with Potatoes and Romaine (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients, dairy free
The main course and side dishes all come together on the same pan, so you can wrap last-minute gifts instead of cleaning up after dinner.
13. 3-Cheese Mac and Cheese (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Our mantra about Christmas Eve? You should be consuming as much cheese as possible.
14. Alison Roman’s Swordfish with Crushed Olives and Oregano (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy
Presenting the easiest way to cook fish at home: This stunner calls for fewer than ten ingredients and the most difficult thing you have to do is toss together the sauce.
15. Goat Cheese Pasta with Spinach and Artichokes (25 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <500 calories, beginner-friendly
The secret to a creamy, 30-minute pasta dish? Goat cheese. It melts together with the pasta water for the easiest sauce ever.
16. Citrus, Shrimp and Quinoa Salad with Feta (20 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, high protein
If you’re anticipating a gut-busting Christmas feast, why not keep things on the lighter side with a bright, briny shrimp salad?
17. Pan-Seared Scallops with Citrusy Corn Succotash (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, gluten free
Something about scallops screams special occasion, so it’s a pleasant surprise that they require only two minutes of cooking per side (and are actually pretty nutritious).
18. Moules-Frites (Steamed Mussels and Fries) (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, <30 minutes, one pan
We don’t know if Parisians eat mussels and fries on the night before Christmas, but Santa does.
19. Chrissy Teigen’s Cheesy Chicken Milanese (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
Pan-fried chicken stuffed with gooey, melty cheese is our idea of festive. Serve it with thin ribbons of Parmesan for good measure.
20. Greek Chicken and Rice Skillet (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly, gluten free
Easy, gorgeous and delicious are our three favorite food groups. Plus, there’s feta—need we say more?
21. Whole Roasted Branzino with Shaved Fennel Slaw (1 hour, 10 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Yes, you can (and should) roast a whole fish at home. Ask the fishmonger at your supermarket to clean the fish, so all you’ll have to do is add citrus and herbs.
22. Firecracker Chicken with Rice (35 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, high protein
If you’re really craving takeout on Christmas Eve, make a meal out of this easy, breezy General Tso’s-inspired chicken.
23. One Pot Cheater’s Bouillabaisse (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy
This Provençal seafood stew normally takes two hours to make, but we’re proving you can do it in less than half that amount of time (and it tastes just as good).
24. Cheater’s Beef Stroganoff (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
By the time you pour yourself a glass of chilled red wine, dinner will already be on the table.
25. Pomegranate-Maple Glazed Lamb Chops (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, gluten free, high protein
We promise these lamb chops are as foolproof to cook as chicken. The pomegranate molasses glaze is a sweet-and-sour cherry on top.
26. Pistachio-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Apple and Escarole Salad (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
If you’re used to dry, boring pork tenderloin, you’re in for a treat. This one is buttery and tender, and best of all, the entire meal is cooked on a single baking sheet.
27. Ultimate Cheese Plate with Roasted Grapes (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, <30 minutes, vegetarian
If you can’t serve a cheese platter and call it dinner on Christmas Eve, when can you?
28. Pan-Fried Cod with Orange and Swiss Chard (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly
From fridge to table in 30 minutes is our new mantra. If you’re not into Swiss chard, try kale or collard greens instead.
29. Pork Scallopini with Lemon, Capers and Radicchio (20 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
A well-stocked pantry is all you really need for this quick-cooking dish that makes an excellent Christmas Eve dinner. It’s as simple to make as chicken cutlets but feels fancy enough for a celebration.
30. Homemade Swedish Meatballs (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Hearty, comforting meatballs are always a good idea. These are best served on a bed of buttery mashed potatoes.
31. One Pan Steak with Beets and Crispy Kale (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, gluten free, dairy free
No fuss and no muss here—just a few juicy, impeccably cooked steaks and practically no cleanup. Merry indeed.
32. Instant Pot Risotto à la Carbonara (25 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, Instant Pot recipe, special occasion–worthy
Risotto is a classic Italian dish that requires time, patience and attention…until you make it in an Instant Pot in 25 minutes and subsequently knock your dinner guests’ socks off.
33. Tomato-Poached Cod with Fresh Herbs (25 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
This simple-yet-elegant dish relies on canned tomatoes, so it can be made any time of year. (We heard the big man up north loves it.)
34. Sheet Pan Honey Tahini Salmon with Chickpeas and Couscous (25 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser
For a dinner to be truly foolproof, it should require minimal prep, little cooking time and almost zero cleanup once it’s been devoured. This checks all the boxes quite nicely.
35. Spicy Bucatini Amatriciana (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
There’s nothing like a heaping plate of spicy pasta to lull you into a long winter’s nap.
36. Buckwheat Gnocchi with Cabbage, Potatoes and Fontina (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
This is based on a traditional northern Italian dish made with buckwheat pasta, but since it can be hard to find stateside, we suggest you make your own. (It’s easy, promise.)
37. Bacon-Wrapped Black Cod with Spinach and Capers (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly, gluten free
You’ve got gifts wrapped in festive paper under the tree and in crispy bacon on your plate.
38. Baked Chicken and Mushroom Risotto (45 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly
It’s just as creamy as the original, but without all the stirring and standing at the stove.
39. Pasta Florentine with Grilled Chicken (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
If you don’t have a grill pan, you can just as easily sauté the chicken until crisp and golden brown.
40. Shrimp and Pasta Stew (45 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, high protein, crowd-pleaser
The shrimp and pasta both absorb lots of flavor and cook in a flash, and the addition of tomato, parsley and lemon brighten up this otherwise hearty dish.
41. Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms and Bacon (50 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
It’s creamy, filling and best of all, easier to make than you think.
42. Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly
It only tastes like you spent all day making it, but the store-bought gnocchi insures you’ll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy a festive cocktail.
43. Salmon and Fennel Dinner Salad (55 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, gluten free, dairy free
Salad? On Christmas Eve? You bet. This one is packed with rich salmon and a creamy yogurt dressing, so it’s anything but bland.
44. Chicken Gnocchi Soup (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
It’s nostalgic, comforting and low-effort, aka everything we want in a Christmas Eve dinner.
45. Dijon-Maple Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash (55 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, special occasion–worthy
It looks like a fancy-pants dinner, but don’t tell anyone it took a measly ten minutes to prepare. (The oven does all the hard work for you.)
46. Chicken Thighs with Pancetta and Green Olives (50 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, gluten free
The trick to the crispiest chicken thighs is to start with a cold skillet and go low and slow, like bacon. File this one under “genius.”
47. Cheater’s Sicilian-Style Pizza with Jalapeños and Honey (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Pizza and presents has a nice ring to it, especially when the pie is homemade.
48. Easy One Pan Baked Ziti (1 hour)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: one pan, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
“One pan” is our middle name. (Or is it “cheese pull”? We forget. Either way, this dish is calling us.)
49. Honey Mustard Sheet Pan Chicken with Brussels Sprouts (50 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs have all the flavor and juiciness of a whole bird, but they cook in much less time. And the cleanup? It’s already done.
50. Balsamic Brown Butter Tortellini with Spinach and Hazelnuts (20 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
Store-bought cheese tortellini takes almost zero effort to dress up and tastes like you spent all day making it. But instead of pairing the pasta with jarred marinara, try this (just as easy) balsamic brown butter sauce with spinach and hazelnuts.
51. Crispy Tofu Steaks with Broccoli Rabe and Romesco (50 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, vegan, dairy free
Need a break from all the meat you plan to eat on Christmas Day? This recipe for crispy tofu steaks is a good place to start.
52. Pomegranate-Sumac Chicken with Roasted Carrots (1 hour)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, special occasion–worthy
The chicken is brined in buttermilk for extra tenderness and a golden-brown crust. Sheet pan dinner for Christmas Eve dinner? You bet.
53. One Pot, 15-Minute Pasta Limone (15 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <15 minutes, beginner-friendly, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
Keep this one-pot, 15-minute pasta dinner in your back pocket: You likely have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already, and it comes together in practically no time. (Plus, it tastes like a restaurant dish.)
54. Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma with Lemon-Tahini Drizzle (45 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, gluten free, dairy free
Here’s a light dinner recipe before you dig in on Christmas Day. And in case you were wondering, it’s also paleo friendly and gluten, dairy and grain free. If you ask us, it was love at lemon-tahini drizzle.
55. Cheater’s White Wine Coq au Vin (55 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion-worthy
This recipe calls for two cups of wine, and a bottle contains about three. The chef gets to decide what to do with that final cup…just saying.
56. Broccoli Pesto Pasta (23 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 23 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Consider this secretly nutritious dish the calm before the cookie storm.
57. Polenta and Meatballs (1 hour, 5 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion–worthy
OK, technically this takes more than an hour to make…but you won’t complain about five minutes once you taste the meatballs.
58. Salmon with Pesto and Blistered Tomatoes (35 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
This one looks really elegant but calls for only five ingredients (and it can be assembled ahead of time).
59. Skillet Steak with Asparagus and Potatoes (1 hour)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion–worthy, gluten free
It turns out one-pan dinners can be just as fancy without all that cleanup.
60. Cast Iron Pork Chops with Cacao-Spiced Rub (1 hour)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: keto, low carb, high protein
Serve this with a simple green salad and admire your work.
61. Salmon al Pastor
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, low carb, high protein
Rethink the ho-hum-yet-healthy salmon you serve on repeat during the week. This version is just as simple to prepare, but borrows sweet and spicy flavors from al pastor for a dish with a kick.
62. Easy Green Chicken Enchiladas (40 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
If you have a leftover rotisserie chicken in your fridge, consider this dish already halfway done.
63. Crispy Chickpeas and Scallops with Garlic-Harissa Oil (25 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Follow the steps for pan-searing here (patted dry seafood, hot pan, two minutes per side) and you’ll have perfectly caramelized and meltingly tender scallops in no time.
64. Instant Pot Mushroom Wild Rice Soup (45 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
As it turns out, you don’t have to spend hours tending a simmering pot to achieve cozy dinnertime bliss. Just ask your Instant Pot how it’s done.
65. Orzotto with Winter Squash and Rosemary (50 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pot, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
Thanks to the starch in the pasta, this dish has all the creamy texture of risotto with almost no stirring or stove-watching required. We used honeynut squash because it’s adorably mini, but any variety (like butternut, kabocha or delicata) would work.
66. Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, make-ahead
Trust us—nobody will be disappointed about homemade pizza on Christmas Eve. Now pass the red pepper flakes.
67. Fall Cobb Salad with Maple Vinaigrette (1 hour)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: gluten free, make-ahead
Hearty, colorful and totally holiday appropriate. This salad will likely become one of your weeknight go-tos.
68. Shrimp Rolls with New England–Style Dressing (20 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
Summer in December? Don't mind if we do. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and fresh chives for that extra umph.
69. Stir Fried Noodles with Kimchi and Pork (30 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, high protein
If your typical Christmas Eve meal means ordering takeout, it’s time for a new holiday tradition—making this spicy stir-fry instead. To really take things up a notch, sprinkle some furikake or crumble some toasted nori onto the noodles just before serving.
70. Fried Green Tomatoes (20 minutes)
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy
Easy and comforting, aka the perfect Christmas Eve dinner. If you have a favorite aioli recipe, we strongly suggest whipping it up as a dip.
Katherine Gillen is PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City restaurants. She used to sling sugary desserts in a pastry kitchen, but now she’s an avid home cook and fanatic baker.
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