2023 is almost in the rearview. If you ask us, there’s only one right way to celebrate: with a killer meal—or better yet, seven of them, including a flavorful Christmas main. Whether it’s just you and a few roommates or your whole family counting down to the new year, these communal dinners are sure to keep everyone feeling satisfied, merry and bright. (P.S.: These recipes are tasty on their own…but serving them with fresh bubbly would certainly up the seasonal ante.)
Here’s What to Cook Every Night This Week (December 25 – 31)
End the year deliciously
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Published Dec 23, 2023
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
mikroman6/Getty Images
Shopping List
Produce
13 garlic cloves
1 orange
1 sweet onion
1 small butternut squash
One 2-inch piece fresh ginger
1 small red onion
8 shallots
8 ounces cremini mushrooms
2 lemons
2 bunches scallions
1 bunch chives
1 bunch flat-leaf parsley
Meat
One 10- to 12-pound boneless ham
3 ounces salami
3 ounces prosciutto
1 pound boneless short ribs
6 chicken thighs
Two 10- to 12-ounce boneless sirloin or New York strip steaks (1 to 1½ inches thick)
Dairy
8 ounces burrata cheese
8 ounces spreadable herb cheese
2 sticks unsalted butter
6 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
Grains
1 loaf crusty bread
6 ounces pearled farro
1 pound spaghetti
Canned and Packaged Goods
2 ounces sun-dried tomatoes
4 ounces pesto
4 ounces olive tapenade
5 ounces quince paste
Cornichons, for serving
Marinated artichoke hearts, for serving
Pickled peppers, for serving
Olives, for serving
2 ounces dry roasted, peeled peanuts
1 packet ranch seasoning
Pantry Ingredients: honey, brown sugar, whole-grain mustard, crushed red pepper flakes, freshly ground black pepper, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, kosher salt, dried thyme, ground ginger, cayenne, garlic powder, peanut oil, all-purpose flour, dried sage, harissa paste
Monday: Spicy Orange Honey-Glazed Ham
Good news: The main event is only eight ingredients away. Even better, almost everything you need to prepare it is likely in your kitchen right now. Serving up to 25 people in less than 90 minutes counts as a Christmas miracle, right?
Tuesday: Italian Bruschetta Bar
Wednesday: Farro Risotto with Butternut Squash and Scallions
Luxurious, creamy and soul-soothing—without the nonstop stirring that traditional risotto requires. Chalk it up to nutty pearled farro, which turns tender in a flash thanks to the handy Instant Pot.
Thursday: Beef Suya
Why wait for warm weather to serve dinner on a stick? This popular Nigerian street food stars skewered strips of grilled short rib, seasoned with a roasted peanut powder called yagi. Save the leftovers to spruce up beef jerky, stews, roasted squash or baked sweet potatoes.
Friday: Parmesan-Ranch Chicken Thighs
Saturday: Shallot and Spicy Mushroom Pasta
Hearty creminis make this pasta decadent sans meat. Your choice of red pepper flakes infuses every bite with heat, while fresh lemon juice brings the whole dish to life. Riff on the original by sautéing thin-sliced chestnuts alongside the shrooms, or substitute Parmesan with grilled slabs of tangy halloumi.
Sunday: Antoni Porowski’s Strip Steak with Harissa Butter and Parsley Salad
Send 2023 off with a bang in the form of juicy sirloin steak, slathered in spicy, citrusy compound butter. Not only will the dish wow any New Year’s Eve partygoer, but it’ll also only take you 20 minutes to prepare. That’s a win-win in our book.
