Christmas is about spending time with those you love, and that's often best done with a full plate and happy heart. After 25 hectic days of festivities and feasting, there's always one last meal on our minds: Christmas dinner. In the South, that means casseroles, crown roasts, gratins, and biscuits aplenty. With a spread like this, you'll find that the only hard part is having to pick what makes it on your plate. Pair Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder with our ham-hocked collards and rustic buttermilk mashed potatoes, or maybe Orange-Glazed Ham with our best-ever macaroni and cheese recipe and a green bean casserole. With classics and fresh takes alike, these delicious dishes will get you through Christmas supper and beyond. Take a look through these easy Christmas dinner recipes to find the holiday menu that's made for your celebration style.
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Smoked Turkey Breast
Nothing says Christmas like fresh thyme and rosemary sprigs. After only 20 minutes of hands-on work, sit back and let the smoker infuse your bird with Christmas flavor.
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Our Best Ambrosia Ever
Ambrosia's story goes back further than your grandmother's table, but you can bring the best version to your table this holiday season. Whether you use ambrosia in dessert or co*cktail or enjoy it alone, you can't go wrong with this class dish.
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Cheddar Cheese Shortbread Crackers
For a holiday appetizer like no other, look no further than these cheddar cheese shortbread crackers. For even more festivity, check out the optional addition of pecan and thyme.
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Spiced Cranberry Mold
Take out your vintage copper molds, because your Christmas dinner spread is calling for this spiced cranberry mold. Though somewhat controversial, for some, the cranberry mold is a must-have holiday item.
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Prime Rib With Horseradish Dipping Sauce
Despite its sophisticated ambience, prime rib isn't actually hard to cook. This recipe will delivers a perfectly cooked and seasoned main course every time.
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Grits Dressing
Though cornbread dressing might reign supreme at Thanksgiving, we're letting this grits-based version head the holiday table this December.
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Old-School Green Bean Casserole
This old-school recipe is the definition of "don't mess with a good thing." From the frozen French-cut green beans to the crispy fried onion topping, it's a familiar staple on every Southern table, no matter the occasion.
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Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots
During Christmastime, Southerners will cover just about any vegetable with butter, sugar, and a bevy of festive spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. These carrots really hammer the holiday spirit home with their bright and colorful demeanor.
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Baked Ham With Brown Sugar Glaze
Baked ham is mainly a hands-off main dish. No brining, no marinades. This ham bakes for several hours. Then, you'll glaze it with a spicy-sweet sauce until the rind is crisp and caramelized.
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Baked Brie Bites
There's no better way to kick off Christmas celebrations than with these melty baked Brie bites. With only five ingredients and 18 minutes of prep, these little stars are topped with a dollop of pepper jelly, flaky sea salt, and a few crunchy toasted pecans for a Southern touch.
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Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls
If it isn't broken, don't fix it. If you can also make it ahead before the in-laws come into town, don't dare forget it. These yeast rolls made their mark in our November 1995 issue and are still one of our favorite holiday staples.
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Beet, Fennel, and Apple Salad
There's an occasional need for greens on the holiday spread, and not of the stewed, buttery, ham-hocked variety. Beets add welcome pops of color to this delicate side salad.
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Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions
Enter your most versatile Christmas side. It goes with any main meat dish you're cooking, but that doesn't mean it has to be plain, thanks to a tangy glaze of balsamic vinegar, garlic, and butter.
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Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
Warm roasted broccoli makes macaroni and cheese feel a little more wintry. Plus, it elevates the classic pasta bake from ho-hum to standout status on the holiday spread.
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Herbed Wild Rice Dressing
It's wild, that's for sure. Earthy wild rice is combined with crisp apples and celery, aromatic red onion, toasted walnuts, fresh parsley and sage, and buttery sourdough bread cubes. This innovative dressing dish belongs at Christmas.
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Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit
Trust us, we've tried hundreds of biscuit recipes. This is the hands-down favorite we keep coming back to. Look at them—they're practically begging to be perched on the edge of your dinner plate.
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Savory Corn Pudding
Naturally one of our sweeter side dishes, corn pudding is a Southern favorite during the holiday season. In this recipe, fresh thyme adds a savory twist that makes it taste fresh and new.
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Italian Casserole
This vintage recipe makes an appearance every year, whether made ahead to be served on busy gift-wrapping nights or added to the Christmas dinner menu when feeding a huge crowd (and kids!).
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Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites
Is it Christmas in the South without sausage balls? No. No, it's not. Switch things up with this seasonal twist that incorporates spicy, peppery Mexican-style chorizo sausage and mashed sweet potatoes.
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Sautéed Mustard Greens with Garlic and Lemon
When the casseroles are already plentiful, these mustard greens will look so fresh and inviting on the table. The garlicky, lemony platter of veggies will be a quick favorite.
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Classic Candied Yams
Don't call this classic dish outdated, at least before you've tasted it. Lightly spiced and oh-so-sweet, these candied yams are about to become a mainstay alongside the sweet potato casserole.
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Chicken-and-Biscuit Cobbler
Cobbler? For dinner? Groundbreaking. What sets this comforting chicken casserole apart is that it's topped with fluffy homemade biscuits (that happen to have chopped bacon in them).
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Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks
Free up your oven space, and let these too-easy, too-flavorful collards wow the Christmas crowd. After a simple 15 minutes of prep time, these ham-hocked collard greens finish in your slow cooker.
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Best Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
There's no better case for serving macaroni and cheese at Christmas dinner than this best-ever version. You won't find a creamier, meltier macaroni and cheese rendition in all the land.
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Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole
If it's topped with fried onions and crispy bacon, is there a Southerner that won't love it? This casserole is a glorious mashup of two of our favorite vegetables to serve during the holidays: green beans and Brussels sprouts.
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Pumpkin-Buttermilk Biscuits with Crispy Ham and Honey Butter
Surprise everyone with this festive take on buttermilk biscuits. Pumpkin puree gives the biscuits their bright hue and flavorful twist, while the honey butter and salty country ham balance each other perfectly.
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Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Burgundy-Mushroom Sauce
Find a prettier main dish, we challenge. These tender spirals of beef filled with creamy spinach and leeks always receive perfect scores on taste and style.
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Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole
Why not gussy up a classic Southern sandwich for the holiday season? If it's from the South, chances are we're going to try to make a casserole out of it, and this one is (thankfully) quite incredible.
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Grits and Greens with Brown Butter Hot Sauce
Grits and greens, greens and grits—we'll take them any way we can. This creamy side dish combines the two Southern staples with a brown butter hot sauce that'll leave the taste buds reeling.
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Classic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
Consider this an old-school recipe, perfected. A power trio of tangy buttermilk, creamy butter, and velvety rich crème fraîche make these mashed potatoes the best-ever rendition.
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Slow-Cooker Green Beans
Crave the taste of your grandmother's green beans? This slow-cooker recipe gets you there, with a little extra bacon. We'll swear up and down that this side dish makes every festive dinner just a little bit better.
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The Ultimate Make-Ahead Gravy
Get out your best gravy boat—because this gravy deserves a nice home. Though this recipe takes only one pot and 30 minutes, you can still make it ahead to mark something off your to-do list.
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Classic Cranberry Salad
We know you're already stocking up on those cans of congealed cranberry, but this fresh cranberry salad can fit on the table, too. Filled with pears, pineapple, celery, and pecans, this recipe offers a fresh, crunchy take on the nostalgic dish.
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Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie
There's always room for pot pie. If hosting a large crowd or a potluck-style Christmas meal, look no further than this old-school chicken casserole with a golden, crispy crust.
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Herbed Potato Stacks
These stacks make the short list for most adorable side dish and feature a short ingredient list to boot. Baked in a muffin pan, the tiny potato towers get deliciously crispy on the outside, yet creamy and tender on the inside.
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Skillet Squash Blossom
At first glance, we're intrigued. At first bite, we're sold. Bacon, thyme, and a little maple syrup help make up the squash blossom's success.
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French Onion Soup Casserole
Like we said, we'll make anything a casserole. Transform your comforting bowl of onion soup into this cheesy, caramelized, layered masterpiece.
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Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust
Want to bring major flavor without spending too much time in the kitchen? The rosemary aromatics of this cheesy two-potato gratin will put you in the holiday spirit.
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Smashed Baby Red Potatoes
Smashed, not mashed. You'll find something inherently satisfying about smashing these baby red potatoes. Coated in a heavenly garlic-herb butter sauce, these will be an instant hit.
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Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole
If broccoli-and-cheese casserole is wrong, then we don't want to be right. (We'd wager that just about every Southerner feels the same.) Make the classic dish a little extra special by using this recipe that skips the canned cream of mushroom soup and frozen broccoli.
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Oyster Casserole
You might know it as oyster dressing, oyster pie, or even scalloped oysters. Oyster casserole is part of many Southerners' Christmas traditions, and this recipe is our Test Kitchen's favorite rendition.
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Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas
The perk of using gnocchi instead of traditional pasta in your gratin? It takes so much less time to cook. This ham-and-pea gratin shakes things up.
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Arugula Salad with Bacony Croutons and Sherry Vinaigrette
Arugula, blue cheese, Honeycrisp apple, toasted pecans, and bacon fat croutons make up this indulgent salad.
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Buttery Toasted Pecans
This quick and easy recipe will get you into the holiday spirit. Set these out for snacking or use them to top your holiday pie.
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Peppercorn-Crusted Standing Rib Roast with Roasted Vegetables
Slather the roast in herb butter and let it sit overnight for a flavorful and impressive main dish. The peppery crust makes this dish a memorable holiday meal.
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Creamed Greens Casserole
What better way to get your greens in than with a gratin? Kale and collards bake in a creamy sauce. It's the perfect side for turkey, beef, and chicken.
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Classic Lasagna
Lasagna can be served any time of year, but we love to serve it on Christmas for a bit of comfort food.
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Fennel-and-Potato Gratin
A casserole dish of cheesy potato gratin pleases every palate, in our experience. This recipe gets a festive touch from fennel and nutmeg.
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Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder
Even a humble pork shoulder roast likes to dress up for the occasion. Between the apple cider, Dijon mustard, and brown sugar, this main dish hits the trifecta of flavor.
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Skillet Cornbread
Three words: Hot. Bacon. Drippings. Say hello to the secret weapon behind this perfect skillet recipe for Southern cornbread.
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Perfect Beef Tenderloin
It's all in the technique. If you're a less-is-more, quality-first type of person, this perfectly cooked beef tenderloin will soon become a Christmas staple. (Hint: It also makes for great leftovers, placed inside a biscuit.)
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Classic Roasted Duck with Orange-Bourbon-Molasses Glaze
Feel instantly fancy when serving this perfectly crispy roasted duck. The secret is in the sauce: a glaze of orange marmalade, bourbon, molasses, lemon juice, and ginger.
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Classic Fresh Field Peas
If there's a recipe that couldn't benefit from the addition of ham hocks or bacon drippings, we've yet to find it. Luckily, this recipe for fresh field peas covers its bases, using both.
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Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes
If there was ever an occasion to take your mashed potatoes over the top, Christmas seems like the time. In this recipe, we made mashed potatoes with heavy cream and butter but added plain goat cheese for an extra dose of flavor and silkiness.
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Hot Cheesy Crab Dip
Jumbo lump crab meat makes this cheesy dip worthy of a holiday spread. It will only take a few bites for your guests to start requesting the recipe.
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Baked Ham with Brown Sugar-Citrus Glaze
Give your go-to ham glaze the holiday season off and swap in this bright, fresh version made with orange juice, marmalade, and brown sugar.
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Christmas Snow Salad
No Southern holiday is complete without at least one jiggly gelatin masterpiece. Like a delightfully retro Christmas tree ornament, this colorful salad will stand out on your dining room sideboard.
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Mamau's Cheese Straws
This take on a Southern classic was inspired by our editor-in-chief's grandmother, Mamau. She never broke the tradition of serving this same little snack on Christmas Eve.
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Southern Cornbread Dressing
Thought cornbread dressing was just for Thanksgiving? You'll be pleasantly surprised when you taste how well this buttery side dish pairs with beef tenderloin, duck, and ham.
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Cornmeal Popovers
You'll be reaching into the breadbasket more than once for this light and fluffy dinner-roll alternative.
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Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
Delightfully caramelized roasted vegetables balance out any rich sides on your holiday table. The carrots and parsnips get of boost of flavor from a “fall” herb butter made with fresh thyme, sage, and parsley.
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Jessica B. Harris' Harvard Beets
In some homes, tradition dictates serving a platter of these gem-colored beets at Christmas dinner. Coated in a rich, glossy sauce, these beets can be served warm or chilled.
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Sweet Potato Stacks
If you’re thinking of skipping the sweet potato casserole this year, these stacks pair perfectly with a holiday turkey. Stack sliced sweet potatoes in a muffin tin and top with sweetened rosemary-infused butter before baking.
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Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey
Sweet, vibrant citrus rounds make this a holiday fruit salad that guests will want to dig into. A drizzle of spiced honey, fresh mint, olive oil, and sea salt finish the dish.
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Butternut Squash Bread Pudding
When you crave something different for the holiday menu, look no further than this comforting bread pudding. Made with butternut squash, challah, and Gruyere, it has all the components of a surefire winner.
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Stuffed-Pepper Wreath
Check easy and pretty off your to-do list with this festive wreath of peppers and olives. This arrangement is almost too pretty to eat.
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Pecan-Coated Pork Loin Roast
Dark brown sugar and herbs season this pork roast overnight for rich flavor. Roll the roast in chopped pecans before baking for a crunchy crust.
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Braised Lamb Shanks with Parmesan-Chive Grits
Impress guests with a sophisticated holiday dinner made right in your slow cooker. Choose lamb shanks that are about the same size and trimmed of excess fat. Reserved liquid flavors the grits.
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Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
Bacon brings the flavor to a simple holiday main dish that cooks in under 30 minutes. Slice into rounds for serving to ensure bacon in every forkful.
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Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables with Spicy Pecan Topping
Round out the holiday menu with a platter of roasted root vegetables, including sweet potatoes, carrots, onion, and two types of beets. Make a double batch of the spiced pecans for topping. They make a great co*cktail snack.
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Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
It’s not a holiday without mac and cheese and this version includes a seasonal twist—pureed butternut squash. This impressive side cooks on a sheet pan and is table ready in 30 minutes.
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Harvest Salad
Don’t kick off the celebration with an ordinary salad. Filled with kale, Brussels sprouts, apples, and roasted squash, guests will make room on their plates for this holiday-worthy salad.
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Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes
Though this dish does bake awhile, there’s practically no hands-on time. It takes just a few ingredients to create this creamy classic that's perfect for the holidays and weeknights.
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Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin
When this creamy casserole hits the table, everyone will dig in. This recipe pairs well with meat, but it also makes a great vegetarian main dish served with salad on the side.
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Spice-Rubbed Tenderloin with Mustard-Cream Sauce
When it comes to the tenderest of tenderloins, your spice cabinet has you covered for Christmas. The tangy mustard-cream sauce is just the kick of flavor on top.