72 Easy Christmas Dinner Ideas That Anyone Can Cook (and Everyone Will Love)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, make ahead

Pie for dinner? Don’t mind if we do, especially when it’s this savory, vegetarian-friendly number. Serve it with white wine for a next-level meal.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: make ahead, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly

With tons of caramelized onions and fresh herbs, this hearty main beats roast beef by a mile. Even if your family always makes brisket in a tomato-based sauce, your relatives just might be converted at first bite.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, Whole30 approved, beginner-friendly

Pork tenderloin has a reputation for being dry and sad. This one is tender, buttery and totally festive. Season the salad with as much salt and pepper as you see fit; it'll bring the mustard vinaigrette to life.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, Whole30-approved

Even staunch fish haters may be swayed by this stunner. Just take note: Recipe developer Alison Roman recommends cooking the steaks to medium-rare, so the sauce and meat firm up together after cooking. (You don't want it to turn out tough.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes (plus marinating time)
• Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy

This might be the most beautiful one-pan dinner we’ve ever laid eyes on. Thankfully, it tastes as good as it looks. They chicken is crowned with an unconventional garnish that you'll want to use time and time again: carrot greens.

• Time Commitment: 6 hours and 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, high protein

You'll barely need to lift a finger to make the most stunning, succulent turkey breast Christmas dinner has ever seen. The secret is rubbing the bird with herb-packed garlic butter. The Crockpot will take care of the rest.

• Time Commitment: 8 hours and 55 minutes
• Why We Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly

All we want for Christmas is for the Barefoot Contessa to cater dinner, but we’ll settle for this sweet-and-savory updated classic that's easy enough to cook ourselves. Make sure to serve the chicken with the hot pan juices to keep it moist and tender.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: make ahead, <10 ingredients, Whole30-approved

An impressively juicy, spicy roast chicken for Christmas dinner is just four ingredients away. Serve it with a big green salad and your job is done. Consider repurposing the leftovers (if there are any, that is) for salads, pastas and rice bowls.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly

Our Italian is rusty, but we think that's how you say “Merry Christmas.” This beauty comes together in a single pot, so it's as convenient as it is devourable. Go ham with the freshly cracked black pepper.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why We Love It: kid-friendly, high protein, special-occasion-worthy

We love when our Christmas dinner matches the decor. Your cast iron pan all but guarantees that the chicken thighs turn out impeccably crisp and juicy. Serve it immediately with rice, greens, couscous or mashed potatoes.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, kid-friendly

This comforting meal tastes like staying in your pajamas until noon. Preparing the crispy leeks is easy, but be sure to keep an eye on them so they don't burn. (P.S.: You can cook them in bacon fat if your guests eat meat.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly

This is a dish best served with wine and a fireside glow. Better yet, it'll only leave you with one dirty pan to clean. Even though it's best fresh out the oven, recipe developer Dorie Greenspan reminds us that the leftovers are almost just as tasty.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy

If you have 60 minutes, you have enough time to pull off this elegant French dish. (We won’t tell anyone about the shortcuts.) One difference between this and the non-cheaters' coq au vin? It’s made with dry white wine instead of red—oh, and the O.G. takes hours to prepare.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly

The holidays are a great excuse to show off. This Christmas dinner recipe serves two, but it can easily be doubled if you're cooking for more people. While frozen lobster tails will work in a pinch, the recipe stresses that fresh is the way to go.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: one pan, vegetarian, beginner-friendly

Proof that you don’t need a fancy, expensive cut of meat for an impressive, holiday-ready meal. Don't skip the cooling step, or else your guest's mouths will pay the price. Substitute summer squash and zucchini with sweet potato for some wintry flair.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly

This feels very “Christmas in Bourdeaux,” and we’re not mad about it. The reason why this version is lighter than other chicken fricassée recipes is that traditional cream is subbed for egg yolks and lemons.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, high protein

Thought you had to spend hours for a gourmet Christmas dinner? Think again: This one takes just 20 minutes, and it's bound to make your guests ooh and ahh. Serve it with additional lemon wedges to spritz over the pork and radicchio.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, Whole30-approved

It’s giving the Feast of the Seven Fishes, only for a heck of a lot less work. The garnishes (fresh parsley! red onion! orange wedges!) are key for both taste and presentation, so don't skimp on them.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy

Dreamy, creamy and oh-so seasonal, not to mention nutritious. (That's a plus, considering all the cookies you’ll be eating.) Use guanciale if you can find it, but pancetta or bacon will do if not. And go to town with the shaved Parmesan on top—we won't judge.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy

This one's for you, holiday purists. It boasts all the old-school flavors (citrus, sugar, spices) and cooks in a fraction of the usual time, since the recipe calls for boneless ham. Be sure to baste it every 15 minutes until it's done cooking for moisture.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, kid-friendly

Consider the squash a Christmas tree and the quinoa, hazelnuts, corn and chickpeas the lights and ornaments. We'd recommend broiling each stuffed butternut half before serving to turn the topping slightly crunchy.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, special occasion-worthy

If you can cook chicken, this seasonal masterpiece is within reach—promise. The chops only need about four minutes per side on the grill to cook to perfection. You may not have pomegranate molasses in your pantry, but you can likely find it in the international aisle of most grocery stores.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly

This baby roasts in just two hours since the bird is deboned, so you'll have plenty of time to prepare sides, mix cocktails and set the table. Better yet, the light and dark meat roast together, so juicy results are a sure thing.

• Time Commitment: 8 hours and 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, gluten free, kid-friendly

Don't let the long cook time deter you. All you need to do is set up the Crockpot early on Christmas morning, and it'll be ready to devour by dinnertime. Better yet, cook it overnight on Christmas Eve and leave it on on warm until you're ready to serve.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, high protein

A nine-ingredient main that only takes 40 minutes? Sounds like a Christmas miracle to us. Be generous with the capers—their punchy flavor cuts right through the slightly bitter spinach and rich, fatty bacon.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy

The vegetarians at your table will be thrilled (and TBH, so will the meat lovers). While it seems like a tricky dish to pull off, the gnocchi itself only has five ingredients—what could be more simple than that? Finish each plate with shaved Manchego cheese and a few cracks of black pepper.

• Time Commitment: 6 hours and 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, Instant Pot recipe, slow cooker recipe

Might we suggest serving these over our 20-minute mashed potatoes? Take note: You can prepare this beauty in the Instant Pot or Crockpot, depending on what you have on hand and how long you're willing to wait to eat. (Just looking at the cream sauce has us feeling impatient.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: gluten free, Paleo-friendly, kid-friendly

Write this down: Salting the pork chops and allowing them to come to room temperature before cooking is the key to melt-in-your-mouth tender results. The bold spice rub (which would work on chicken, steak or vegetables too, BTW) is just a tasty bonus.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly

This beauty is a twist on an Ina Garten classic, the riff being in the form tart, festive cranberries. The stew it's served with crusty bread or egg noodles, but it'll also pair gorgeously with roasted or mashed potatoes. Your call, chef.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: one pan, Paleo-friendly, gluten free

If you're only feeding a few people this year, look no further than this sheet pan wonder. The trick to keeping it juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside is using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs instead of breasts. Bonus? It's a total cinch to clean up.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, Whole30-approved

Speaking of minimal mess, this 40-minute recipe prepares your protein, starch and greens in one fell swoop. Just don't overcook the salmon and you'll be good to go.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, kid-friendly

Fennel is a great winter pick, but feel free to use bok choy, green beans or any other veggies you have on hand instead. The one non-negotiably? You'll need to serve this main with a surplus of napkins—things are about to get sticky.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, Paleo-friendly

The Barefoot Contessa does it again, this time with the help of prosciutto, fresh herbs and garlic. While you can debone the bird yourself, the butcher can also get the job done...so we'll opt for that.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, kid-friendly

We'd pair this bright main with oven-roasted sweet potatoes, avocado rice or Brussels sprouts latkes. The trick to keeping it juicy is brushing the glaze over the pork and reapplying it every five minutes as it roasts. The results will be deeply juicy and flavorful.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly

Indulge at dinner with a green salad or serve it up for brunch with a mimosa. Either way, your guests will demolish it in 30 seconds flat. Just be sure to let the potatoes cool before spreading the crème fraîche on top.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: Paleo-friendly, gluten free, high-protein

Ooh, what a pretty centerpiece. We can hear your guests already: “turkey who?” Don't forget to serve it with extra harissa yogurt on the side, for those craving extra kick.

• Time Commitment: 8 hours and 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, high protein

Admit it: Your hosting style is definitely set it and forget it. But don't worry, we won't tell your relatives that the Crockpot made dinner for you. While beef bourguignon is generally a tricky dish, using the slow cooker makes it beyond simple.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: gluten free, high protein, <30 minutes

A low-key holiday calls for creamy Parmesan polenta, savory sausage and no more than 30 minutes at the stove. Serve it with extra Parm on the side and let the compliments roll in.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 10 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, high protein

Queer Eye's resident foodie just might have the simplest, most flavorful roast chicken recipe ever. While you may want to slice it hot out the oven, you should wait at least five minutes before doing so. This will keep all the juices in the bird and off your carving board.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

Mushrooms, garlic, herbs and heavy cream > gloppy canned cream of mushroom soup. The filling is packed with sweet onions, fresh thyme and rosemary and a flurry of lemon zest for a modest dose of bitterness and color.

• Time Commitment: 8 hours and 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, make ahead, special occasion-worthy

Eggplant can be delicious without being doused in red sauce and cheese. These nutritious beauties can also be made totally vegan if you swap the Greek yogurt for non-dairy yogurt. Finish each piece with a generous squeeze of lemon.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: gluten free, one pan, high protein

Butter, lemon, heavy cream and Parmesan go a long, long way. Remember: If your Christmas dinner crowd doesn't finish it all in one go, leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

• Time Commitment: 8 hours and 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian

You won't find any red sauce here—or pasta, for that matter. This lasagna stars spiralized butternut squash, garlicky spinach, fresh herbs, mozzarella and all the ricotta instead. Broil it at the end until bubbly and browned on top.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, high protein

OK, you most likely have every single ingredient you need already in your kitchen (well, minus the bird). That's a no-brainer in our book. Use every drop of the charred lemon juice; it's a total game-changer.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, beginner-friendly

Consider this Dutch oven recipe a chance at a Caribbean vacay without needing to brave the airport at Christmas. The jerk BBQ sauce, which can be made ahead, is equal parts sweet, tart, fruity and herbaceous.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 3 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

We can hear your vegetarian cousin's gasp of joy already. Just make sure to serve this plant-based beauty with a hearty green salad, rice pilaf and mac and cheese to make the spread more filling.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: kid-friendly, high protein, beginner-friendly

Fair warning: Once the kids' table gets a taste, you'll be stuck making this main year after year. (Thankfully, it's a breeze to whip up.) The recipe calls for breasts but you can get creative with what cut you use; the magic is all in the breading anyway.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 55 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

There's truly nothing frozen puff pastry can't do. You won't miss the beef one bit, promise. You'll want to serve it warm, but letting it cool for a few minutes before slicing will help it stay intact as you slice.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy

Slicing the squash from one end to the other without cutting through the bottom allows each and every piece to roast to crispy perfection. (Plus, it lets the honey-herb butter seep into every crevice.) Might we suggest making a double batch so you're guaranteed leftovers?

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 10 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, high pr0tein

If you're only serving a few people, there's no need to gussy up an entire bird. Go the medieval route with these savory-sweet turkey legs fit for a ren faire. Don't skip the final baste before serving—you want them to turn out as succulent as possible.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

Most comfort food contains meat or dairy. But this dish puts caramelized veggies, decadent cashew cream and crispy pine nuts front and center. Serve it with a plethora of hot sauces.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy

Nothing screams "celebration" quite like this classic Spanish dish. How do we pull off paella in one hour, you ask? We reduced the seafood to shrimp and littleneck clams. (Don't worry, there's still plenty of chorizo.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, kid-friendly

This hybrid bake gives you the best of both worlds. Not to mention, it's totally picky kid-approved. Adding extra cheese on top isn't technically required, but it's certainly recommended.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, special occasion-worthy

Bet you had no idea you could hop a 30-minute flight to the French countryside, huh? Call it a Christmas miracle. Don't forget to top each plate with the reserved fennel fronds before serving them.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy

Creamy risotto tastes divine in a bowl (or heck, straight from the pot), but we have an even better idea. Take note: Before dividing the risotto into the mushroom caps, it should look thick and decadent, so be sure to stir it frequently as it cooks.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, gluten free, special occasion-worthy

Christmas dinner for two? We have just the thing. (There's nothing more romantic than only having one dirty dish to clean after a meal.) After transferring the steak to the oven, it should only cook for about 10 minutes for a medium rare finish.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly

Not only are sautéed trumpet mushrooms an uncanny scallop substitute, they're way cheaper and less fussy to cook than the real thing. Extra chives and fresh lemon juice are stellar finishing touches. (We wouldn't blame you for adding a flurry of grated Parm either.)

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly

It may look like a side dish to you. But thanks to filling barley, this risotto is fit to be a main. Seriously—each plate contains 18 grams of protein, so we wouldn't blame you for keeping Christmas dinner prep as simple as possible with minimal additional sides.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly

Cut your favorite cruciferous veggie into thick slices, sear them on the stove just like real steak and finish them with a lemon-herb sauce you'll want to drizzle on everything. The plant-based eaters at your dinner will be totally wowed.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, gluten free

Pro tip? Serve the bacon on the side and cook it in a separate pan from the mushrooms to make the dish vegetarian-optional. Oh, and crown each serving with a sunny-side-up egg to really gild the lily.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

Make this vegan masterpiece and everyone will think you’re a professional chef (or a magician.) Either way, keep that plant-based mushroom bacon recipe in your back pocket for future brunches at your place.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: gluten free, high protein, kid-friendly

The whole family likes chicken Parm, right? (Silly question.) Well, this potato-chip crusted chicken with arugula pesto has a similar vibe, but it's way more unexpected. Feel free to use different greens in the pesto, like spinach, basil, kale or parsley.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy

With this recipe in our back pocket, we're ready for whatever winter (or Santa) brings. Regardless, remember to finish it with flaky salt for an Insta-worthy presentation your guests will adore.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, kid-friendly

Sure, the vegetables are deeply caramelized for maximum flavor. But let’s also give a shoutout to the sweet and salty seed-nut crunch—that isn't a step to be skipped. Did we mention this creamy soul-soother is dairy-free?

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly

If you want to look like a professional pastry chef, this cheesy, starchy galette is the ticket. Play around with replacing one potato with an apple, alternating spud and apple slices while assembling, for a little hint of seasonal sweet-tart flavor.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, make ahead, beginner-friendly

Alternatively, you can switch up your savory tart game with this gorgeous allium-filled number. It’s ready in less than an hour and pairs perfectly with a crisp green salad. (Oh, and it starts with store-bought puff pastry.)

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly

Deck the halls with the easiest vodka sauce you’ll ever make. THe booze helps deglaze the pan, adds heat to the sauce and tames the sweetness of the tomato. We'd recommend using a cheap bottle for this one, but the liquor store is your oyster.

• Time Commitment: 5 hours and 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: gluten free, <10 ingredients, one pan

The Grinch’s roast beast has nothing on this golden brown chicken. The secret is brining it in buttermilk a day ahead for a supremely tender finish. Don't even get us started on the indulgent potatoes, cooked in the chicken's pan juices.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

Hearty, festive and everything you could want on for Christmas dinner. This seasonal gem freezes like a charm for some absolutely incredible leftovers, so don't fret if you have leftovers. (Although we doubt that'll happen.)

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: kid-friendly, one pan, beginner-friendly

All we want for Christmas is an empty sink. Add extra basil for a from-scratch finishing touch, and be ever so generous with the Parmesan—you're on the nice list this year, after all.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy

Never cooked loin chops? Unlike smaller rib chops, these are slightly larger with more meat, and they look sort of like mini T-bone steaks. Make double of the pistachio butter to drizzle over charred veggies, smear over pan-fried fish or spread on pita.

• Time Commitment: 7 hours and 10 minutes
• Why We Love It: gluten free, slow cooker recipe, kid-friendly

At the top of our wish list is days worth of leftovers. If you aren't craving a sandwich, use the saucy meat in tacos. Spice it up even further by mixing in diced jalapeños or crushed red pepper flakes.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegan, <30 minutes, special-occasion-worthy

Your veggie guests will thank you for this filling salad, which stars smoked tofu instead of meat. This colorful number is sure to get you all the Instagram likes, if you care about that sort of thing. Use a mandolin for a uniform, paper-thin shred.