20+ Easy and Elegant Christmas Eve Dinners to Fête the Family
Make this meal special while saving energy for the next day.
Wondering what to make for Christmas Eve dinner? You've likely got your big Christmas Day dinner all planned out, and you certainly don't want to steal that meal's thunder. But Christmas Eve isn't just any old Friday night, either, so your standard weeknight quick and easy dinner recipes won't be enough. We're here to help. These dinners feel a little more special, and more importantly, they'll help keep you going for any last-minute late-night gift wrapping you may be preparing to do after the little ones have gone to bed, in order to give them the full "Santa came!" surprise.
Sausage and Apple Pies
What is it about getting your own personal little baked dish that feels so special?
Braised Beef with Tomatoes and Onions
This slow cooking dinner staple keeps things simple, with plenty of hearty winter flavor.
Lasagna Bolognese
Christmas Eve is just the time for unfussy comfort food. And what could be more comforting than lasagna?
Guinness Beef Stew
This winter stew of beef and root veggies is cooked in a rich stout-flavored sauce. Serve it with a loaf of crusty bread.
White Wine Coq Au Vin
This elegant French country recipe can burble away in the oven while you finish decorating and wrapping presents.
Turkey Roulade
If turkey isn't your Christmas Day dish, use breasts to make this easy but beautiful dish the night before.
Creamy Pumpkin Pasta with Pine Nut Gremolata
Nobody doesn't love pasta! This easy dish is full of hearty cold-weather flavors.
Chicken and Dumplings
Give the night-before dinner a bit of Southern flair.
Seared Sausage With Cabbage and Pink Lady Apples
This simple winter meal is delicious and easy to make.
Strip Steak With Lemon Mashed Potatoes
For a dinner that's tasty, feels fancy, and isn't going to take all day to make, don't forget a simple steak-and-potatoes dinner.
Shrimp Chowder with Herb Drop Biscuits
Looking for something more seafood-focused? Thirty minutes at the stove, and you've got plump shrimp and herb-flecked biscuits ready to go.
Steak with Creamy Mushrooms and Spinach
Here's a one-pan steak dinner that is absolutely celebration-worthy.
Potato and Manchego Casserole with Maple Bacon
This hearty dish is delicious and perfect for staying warm on a cold winter night.
Pork Chops With Bourbon-Molasses Glaze
These delightful pork chops smothered in a buttery bourbon-molasses glaze are sure to please the whole fam.
Herbed Chicken With Beets and Brussels
Need something healthy and hands-off? Look no further than this easy-yet-impressive dinner that's sure to please your whole flock.
Potato Gnocchi With Pork Ragù
Forget the classics and opt for this homemade gnocchi. Topped with a delectable meat sauce, it's a fantastic and memorable entrée. Though it takes a little time to put together, it's a great cooking project for the family.
Smothered Pork Chops with Broccoli and Mushrooms
The sauce these chops are "smothered" in, made with white wine, crème fraîche, and a bit of Dijon, is both easy and elegant.
Beef and Stout Skillet Pie
This flavorful one-pan beef pie is easy to make (a store-bought crust helps), but is hearty, and fancy enough to feel special.
Beer-Braised Pork Chops
Anjou pears add a sweetness to this savory lager-beer braised pork chop dinner.
Roasted Chicken with Fennel and Tomatoes
The genius of this recipe? Everything roasts together, which both melds the flavors and makes cooking and cleanup a breeze.
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