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Today I am sharing our 2020 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dinner Menu. This year’s holiday menu focuses on the traditional recipes my family loves most, but includes a few new ones too. Our dinners are complete with cocktails, appetizers, sides, mains, and, of course, sweet desserts too. Bonus? I decided to share what we’ll be having for breakfast too…there’s certainly never too much food at Christmastime!
I’m very late to the game with this year’s menu. However, I figured I should still share what I’m planning to make this year…just in case there are any last-minute people out there like me! As always, I’m keeping things on the simple side since it’s just my immediate family for Christmas. But everyone in my family loves simple and traditional.
Cooking Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners are always my two favorite dinners of the year to cook. Unlike Thanksgiving, there is zero pressure to make multiple dishes and desserts. Instead, I just serve what my family really loves most…along with plenty of cocktails…and desserts too. I just have fun in the kitchen, and this year Asher is planning to help me!
I’m so excited!
So with that, here is this year’s menu. Hope this helps to inspire some of your holiday menus! Excited to see what you all put together!
Cocktails
I usually make one or two drinks on Christmas Eve…sometimes more if requested.
The Spicy Sweet Grinch Cocktail
Nightcap: The North Pole Cocktail…for a sweet Christmas Eve.
Or…my Vanilla Espresso Martini. Take your pick!
Appetizers
I make Chex Mix early in the day for everyone to snack on. Then I serve one to two appetizers before dinner.
Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread
Sweet and Savory Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Puff Pastry Twists
Dinner
I always do beef tenderloin as our main, but I also include a nice vegetarian option as well!
Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Mushrooms and White Wine Cream Sauce
Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup
Roasted Bacon Brussels Sprouts with Salted Honey
Winter Pomegranate Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts
Dessert
All the cookies! Tis’ the season! Serve the leftovers on Christmas Day!
Easy Hot Chocolate Lace Cookies
Salted Caramel Pretzel Snickerdoodles
Cocktails
Again, I make one to two cocktails, more as requested by the fam.
Nightcap: Creamy Coconut White Russian
Appetizers
I always do a cheese board, but I’ll be adding some bacon-wrapped dates and seasoned crackers this year!
Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates with Honey
Seasoned Crackers (new and coming soon)
Dinner
Excited to make my chicken marsala this year, but I’m including some vegetarian options too!
Creamy Balsamic Mushroom Chicken Marsala
Spicy Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka (vegetarian option)
OR something more traditional…Herb Butter Roasted Turkey with White Wine Pan Gravy
Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes
Shredded Brussels Sprout Bacon Salad (or Tomato Herb Salad)
Pull-Apart Garlic Butter Bread Wreath
OR I LOVE to make lasagnas on Christmas. Below are my favorites!
4 Cheese Sage Pesto Florentine Lasagna
Roasted Garlic Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats
Stuffed Spaghetti Squash 4 Cheese Pesto Lasagna
Dessert
All the chocolate for dessert!
For Breakfast, I like to make dishes that I can have baking in the oven while we open gifts. No need to spend the morning in the kitchen. Relax and enjoy the time with family!
Breakfast
Christmas Eve Morning: Baked Cinnamon Crème Brûlée French Toast with Raspberry Preserves
Christmas Morning: Easy Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls
Lastly, if you make any of these dishes from our 2020 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dinner Menu be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Wow girl you got it going on! I can’t wait to try several of these this Christmas, thank you for the inspiration and instruction!! 😃🎄🎅🏻
Thanks so much Katie! Happy Holidays, I hope you love the recipes! xT
I made your herb butter roasted turkey with the white wine gravy and the garlic mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving this year. What a hit! It was the most delicious and beautiful turkey I ever made. I received so many compliments and was thrilled with how it turned out! Thank you so much.
Hey Natasha,
Thank you so much for giving those a recipes a try, I love to hear that they were enjoyed. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
So happy I found you while searching for a Christmas Eve dinner menu that my entire family would enjoy this year! With Christmas music playing all day, we made the roasted beef tenderloin, crispy cheesy potato stacks, winter pomegranate salad, spicy pesto alla vodka and molten chocolate cracker pie. It was a delicious and beautiful dinner and I so enjoyed following your recipes to bring it all to our table. Thank you for making our evening yummy!
Hey Jaimee,
Thank you so much for following along! I am so glad you enjoyed the recipes, thanks for giving them a try! Merry Christmas! xTieghan
Hello, just to make you aware in Chrome these photos
don’t display correctly.
Hey Julius,
So sorry you are having issues with the photos, they are working correctly on our end:) Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Where did you get your beautiful gold flatware? Does it wear in the dishwasher?
Hey Susanna,
Here is the link for the flatware and I’ve had no issues with them wearing down: https://rstyle.me/+e7ZR8YTCRmsj-wsqR5wu2g
Please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Hey! I love your recipes and menu! Just wondering, do you have any recommendations for a Southern Hemisphere/ warm Christmas? I’m still adjusting to having Christmas in summer and am looking for some inspiration! Happy holidays!
Hey Tam,
Here are some ideas:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/4-cheese-caprese-mac-and-cheese/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/prosciutto-balsamic-peach-chicken/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/greek-salmon/
I hope you love the recipes! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Thank you for sharing! I would love to know how you prepare and plan to make all the food. I would love to make multiple dishes but I get overwhelmed and run behind schedule and end up making like two dishes lol.
Hey Hareem,
I really try to make anything ahead of time that will last and then using a slow cooker for things like mashed potatoes is great to help free up oven space! Merry Christmas! xTieghan