Better Homes And Gardens Christmas Dinner Plates

Mocha Buche de Noel

Credit: Andy Lyons

The holidays just aren't the holidays without a feast full of beautiful and delicious recipes to share. Our traditional Christmas dinner menu has all your favorite holiday recipes to choose from, including appetizers, main-dish meats, festive side-dish recipes, and desserts. Start planning your traditional Christmas dinner today!

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Warm Brie with Fig and Pistachio Tapenade

Credit: Kritsada Panichgul

Cheese balls, charcuterie boards, cheese logs, and baked cheese are must-have holiday appetizers. Try our melty, gooey baked brie with a pistachio-fig topping this year. Dipper ideas include apples, pears, crackers, and baguette slides.

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Bacon-Filled Medjool Dates

Credit: Blaine Moats

Get the Christmas appetizers started with one of our scrumptious bacon-filled dates. The combination of salty bacon and sweet dates (with honey drizzled on top!) will tantalize your taste buds.

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Roasted Squash Soup

Credit: James Baigrie

Incorporate butternut squash or pumpkin in this creamy soup that makes for a hearty starter for your traditional Christmas dinner. To cut down on day-of stress, prepare it up to two days in advance, reheat just before dinner, and add the finishing touch: a dollop of cream.

Related: 37 Holiday Soup Recipes to Start Your Feast Off in Delicious Style

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Coffee-Crusted Beef Tenderloin

Credit: Andy Lyons

Beef tenderloin only gets better when it's rubbed with a sweet and savory mix of ground coffee beans, brown sugar, garlic powder, and more. If you're missing any of the spices, don't make a special trip to the supermarket—simply use our substitution tips listed with the recipe.

Related: 13 Impressive Roast Beef Recipes You Should Make for Christmas Dinner

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Holiday Ham

Credit: Jason Donnelly

Ham is just as festive as any other main dish, but offers a bounty of flavor options based on your preferences. For the richest, meatiest flavor and superior texture, a bone-in ham is the way to go. Serve this Christmas ham recipe with fresh herbs and sliced oranges.

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Brisket with Ginger, Orange Peel, and Tomato

Credit: Andy Lyons

Nothing says "special occasion" like our melt-in-your-mouth beef brisket recipe. Each bite of the easy Christmas main dish boasts bold ginger and citrus flavors.

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Roast Turkey with Arugula-Pesto Rub

Credit: Jason Donnelly

Turkey is the ultimate when it comes to main-dish holiday recipes, and our roasted version is no exception. A homemade basil-arugula pesto flavors every inch of the tender bird.

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Fried Smashed Potatoes

Credit: Jason Donnelly

All types of potatoes make top-notch holiday side dishes, but these fried smashed taters are among our favorites. The small red potatoes are lightly seasoned with a mix of salt and pepper, Parmesan cheese, and parsley.

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Old-Fashioned Bread Stuffing

Classic Bread Stuffing

Credit: Andy Lyons

Most stuffing recipes give a range in the amount of broth you use—how much you add depends on your preference. Master our traditional stuffing recipe by basing your broth usage on bread: more dense and absorbent means more broth; lighter and airier means less.

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Green Beans with Pancetta with Brown Butter

Green Beans and Pancetta with Browned Butter

Credit: Con Poulos

Chances are, you enjoyed a scoop of green bean casserole at Thanksgiving, so try a new, elegant twist for your traditional Christmas dinner side. Roasted chestnuts make a perfectly-fitting (and delicious) addition to these sauteed green beans.

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Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes might be the more traditional route, but we suggest upping the ante with a cheesy twice-baked spud. Customize your recipe by following our variations featuring roasted garlic, bacon-cheddar, broccoli-cheese, and more.

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Caramelized Acorn Squash

Credit: Blaine Moats

Roasted root vegetables (squash in particular) are classic holiday side dishes. We love how acorn squash takes on a sweet, seasonal flavor when caramelized and drizzled with a homemade brown sugar glaze.

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Easy Parmesan-Fennel Rolls

Credit: Jason Donnelly

Make our savory rolls one of three ways based on your favorite type: hot-cross-style, S-shape, or kaiser rolls. Bonus: You can also make this holiday side in advance. Just store for up to 3 days and reheat in the oven.

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The Best Christmas Sugar Cookies

The Best Sugar Cookies

Credit: Jason Donnelly

What's Christmas without fun holiday-theme Christmas cookies? Try our best-of-the-best sugar cookies to satisfy your sweet tooth this year.

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Classic Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie

Credit: Con Poulos

Christmas just isn't the same without a rich and elegant pecan pie ready and waiting after dinner. Our classic Christmas pie recipe has everything you're looking for in a standout holiday dessert.

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Classic Gingerbread Cutouts

Credit: Ann Stratton

Adorable spiced gingerbread people make the rounds on Christmas dinner menu—don't let this year be the exception. Just one batch of these classic Christmas cookies makes a whopping 90 servings!

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Festive Rice Pudding

Credit: Sang An

Plum pudding may be the traditional Christmas dessert, but our rice pudding is just as delicious without all the work. Top each serving with purchased lingonberry sauce for an extra festive touch.

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Mocha Buche de Noel

Credit: Andy Lyons

This cake roll looks like a Christmas tree branch and tastes like those little cream-stuffed chocolate cakes you remember from childhood. Decorate with sugar-dusted cranberries and rosemary sprigs for a wintery finish.

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