5 Effortless Christmas Dinner Ideas That Are Festive Without the Hassle

These simple yet festive Christmas dinner ideas will impress your guests while keeping kitchen time to a minimum. You’ll be able to enjoy the holiday fun while serving a delicious, memorable meal. Read on for five easy-to-make main dishes and their perfect side pairings. Wishing you a joyous holiday season!

1. Chef John’s Perfectly Cooked Prime Rib

The secret to a flawless prime rib isn’t in the spices or sauces but in the way it’s cooked. Most of the magic happens during ‘carry-over cooking,’ when the oven is switched off. After just 20 minutes in the oven, residual heat does the rest. Remember the key step: The roast needs to be at room temperature before it goes in the oven. Get the recipe.

Side Dish Inspirations

Looking for the ideal sides to complement your prime rib? Try quick and easy pan-seared Parmesan Brussels Sprouts, drizzled with butter, garlic, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. For an extra zing, add a dash of crushed red pepper flakes, just like Sarah Jo does in her kitchen.

Since your oven will be in use, take advantage of your stovetop to make these Holiday-Only Mashed Potatoes. Creamy and rich with butter, these indulgent mashed potatoes are the perfect treat for a festive meal.

2. Honey-Glazed Ham

Ham is a beloved Christmas classic, and for good reason: crispy, sweet skin and juicy, flavorful meat. You can baste it as it roasts, allowing you to focus on preparing the rest of your holiday feast. Colleen B. Smith, the recipe creator, opts for a pre-sliced ham to make serving even simpler. Get the recipe.

Side Dish Inspirations

Sweet and savory come together perfectly when you pair this ham with Simple Roasted Butternut Squash. Roasting the naturally sweet squash with garlic and olive oil brings out its rich, aromatic flavor. Jab recommends using a simple vegetable peeler instead of a knife to prep the squash easily.

Add a burst of color to your table with these easy-to-make Italian Peas. To avoid wrinkling, try this tip from TTV78: soak frozen peas in water for 20 minutes, drain thoroughly, and then toss them into the onion mixture to heat through.

3. Slow Cooker Herbed Turkey Breast

If you’re looking to skip the hassle of cooking a whole turkey and hours of oven time, use your slow cooker for a simple yet impressive turkey breast. Coated with fresh herbs and a generous splash of white wine, the slow cooker handles the rest. Naples34102 cooked theirs for about 6 ½ hours on low, and the pan drippings make a mouthwatering gravy. Get the recipe.

Side Dish Inspirations

Garlic Green Beans sautéed with generous amounts of garlic and topped with Parmesan cheese come together in just 10 minutes. If you choose fresh green beans over canned, Daniel den Hoed steams them in salted water for about 4 minutes before sautéing for an extra tender texture.

Brighten up your holiday spread with Candied Sweet Potatoes, a dish that’s sure to delight both kids and adults. TIRGO cuts down on prep time by leaving the skin on while chopping the potatoes, then boiling them until just tender. The skin easily peels off, saving time in both the prep and cooking stages.

4. Simple Savory Pork Roast

This simple yet flavorful pork roast is a true holiday standout, featuring a blend of fresh and dried herbs with savory spices. To achieve a crispy crust, TRACYCOOK rubs the roast with olive oil before seasoning, and ensures the roast is at room temperature before cooking. Get the recipe.

Side Dish Inspirations

Save time and enjoy more moments with family by preparing Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes. A generous amount of cream cheese and sour cream is the key to keeping these potatoes smooth and creamy when reheating, so be sure not to skip it! Want to make reheating even simpler? Place them in a slow cooker set to Low a few hours before serving, just like KRoggenb suggests.

Vibrantly colored and sweet-tangy Orange Glazed Carrots make the perfect side dish to pair with a savory pork roast. Winter Ivy and other reviewers recommend cooking the glaze and carrots separately to ensure the sauce stays thick and rich, then combining them at the end.

5. Stuffed Acorn Squash

If you’re hosting a vegetarian dinner or catering to a few non-meat eaters, this vibrant and elegant dish will impress everyone. Using prepared bread stuffing simplifies the process, and be sure to swap chicken stock for vegetable broth. For an extra savory kick and some added protein, Maggie suggests mixing feta cheese into the stuffing. Get the recipe.

Side Dish Inspirations

Add a pop of vibrant green to your table with Sautéed Kale with Apples. Skip the hassle of removing tough kale stems by opting for pre-washed baby kale, a time-saving tip from JMANSAVAGE.

A side dish that practically makes itself, Roasted Garlic Cauliflower is a foolproof choice. For perfectly even roasting, tunatwist recommends cutting the cauliflower florets to a uniform size.