Description
This comprehensive Christmas menu features a well-rounded selection of appetizers, main course, sides, soup or salad, bread, desserts, and a holiday drink, designed to be prepared partly in advance to ease holiday stress while ensuring a festive and delicious feast for 4 to 8 guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Appetizers
- 1-3 assorted appetizers of your choice
Main Course
- 1 main course dish, such as roast turkey or ham
Sides
- 2-4 side dishes including options like creamy mashed potatoes, stovetop mac and cheese with white cheddar, creamy garlic mashed cauliflower, and cranberry sauce
Soup/Salad
- 1 soup and/or salad, prepared in advance or freshly assembled
Bread
- 1-2 types of bread such as dinner rolls or crusty baguette
Desserts
- 1-2 desserts, made ahead or storebought, examples include Christmas cake or cookies
Holiday Drink
- 1 holiday drink, such as eggnog or mulled wine
Instructions
- Plan Your Menu: Decide on all dishes including appetizers, main course, sides, soup or salad, bread, desserts, and drinks. Planning ahead makes grocery shopping and preparation smoother.
- Prepare Make-Ahead Dishes: Start cooking the dishes that can be made ahead like soups, some sides (mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, mashed cauliflower, cranberry sauce), and desserts. Store them in airtight containers, in the refrigerator or freezer as appropriate.
- Fresh Preparations: Prepare some sides fresh on the day of serving for best texture and taste. Fresh salads can be assembled from pre-chopped ingredients and pre-mixed dressings.
- Store Ingredients: Chop vegetables, beat eggs, and prepare salad dressings ahead of time. Keep all prepped ingredients in airtight containers in the fridge to save time on the serving day.
- Mix Homemade and Storebought: Feel free to integrate quality storebought items to reduce stress. For instance, opt for storebought desserts if baking feels overwhelming.
- Set the Table Early: Arrange dinnerware, glasses, flatware, and table décor the night before to minimize last-minute rush on Christmas Day.
- Reheat and Assemble: On serving day, reheat dishes made in advance according to recipe directions and assemble fresh salads and appetizers shortly before serving to ensure freshness.
- Enjoy Your Meal: Serve your beautifully prepared Christmas meal, enjoying the festive variety with your guests.
Notes
- Many dishes can be frozen and reheated from frozen, check each recipe for specific instructions.
- Store prepped components in airtight containers to maintain freshness.
- Balance between homemade and storebought options to reduce workload.
- Some sides are best when freshly made on the day.
- Soups can be stored safely for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
- Desserts can often be prepared weeks in advance and frozen.
- Setting the table and prepping decorations the night before reduces stress.
