Do you ever just sit down to make a plan for Christmas dinner ideas for the week and you either think, “I have no idea what I’m gonna make,” or, “I really just wanna try something new.” And then you instantly feel overwhelmed? Well, let’s destroy that Christmas menu planning overwhelm.
I mean, the last thing you need is to feel frustrated with figuring out everything you’ll be making, so let’s get rid of the biggest obstacle: the main dish for your holiday feast.
The main dish is gonna set the stage for the rest of your meal planning, so I went ahead and curated a list of super comforting and hearty Christmas recipes that are probably gonna make your friends and family think you’re a cooking genius.
Also, I made it a bit more simple for you and created a clickable list of each category so you can easily look around and find the type of Christmas dishes you wanna make.
So check them out and see which one works best for your Holiday meal!
In This Article:
Poultry
1. Cast Iron Chicken Thighs With Cherries
The thighs are some of the best parts of a chicken (in my opinion). They’re so juicy and soak up so many great flavors when cooking. Also, they don’t take long to get on the table which makes them perfect for a dinner main. Oh, and look at how beautiful this dish looks with the colorful cherries and spices. It’s perfect for your holiday menu!
GET THE RECIPE2. Roast Partridge With Red Currant Sauce
I really wanna make this festive recipe for Christmas Day. Also, I feel like this is something I would see in a movie where the owner of an English country home has his cooks prepare this Christmas meal for his holiday table. And can’t you just imagine this being the centerpiece on your table? It would look (and smell) so incredible!
GET THE RECIPE3. Glazed Roasted Duck
I love duck! It’s so juicy, delicious, and a tasty alternative to turkey or chicken. Also you kind of just feel like you’re eating at a nice restaurant for dinner.
Oh, and the glaze sounds so savory and good; it’s perfect for a duck recipe!
GET THE RECIPE4. Mexican Turkey (Pavo Navideño)
This Mexican turkey recipe looks super flavorful and juicy and we all know how hard it is to make sure our turkey doesn’t end up dry. So I’d say this Christmas recipe is worth a try for your festive gatherings.
Also, check out the ingredients, the spice combinations look so good! I would devour this in seconds.
GET THE RECIPE5. Stuffed Cornish Hens
These Cornish game hens look so pretty and delicious; I think they’re worth making for your Christmas table. And with wild rice, garlic, rosemary, and butter, this has to be so juicy, and the smells coming from the kitchen are probably incredible!
Also, this might be an elegant idea if you’re looking for a pretty main for a Christmas Eve dinner.
GET THE RECIPE6. Instant Pot Turkey Breast
Look at all those spices cooked into the skin. You have no idea how fast I’d tear into that turkey if I had that on my table.
And on top of that, with butter, sage, and garlic, it looks so juicy and savory! Such a good idea for a dinner main.
GET THE RECIPE7. Juicy Air Fryer Chicken
Cooking Christmas food throughout the day is already stressful enough, right? So why not just let the air fryer do the rest of the work for you and make this super juicy chicken main? Also the garlic, butter, and paprika make this sound so incredibly flavorful and savory.
GET THE RECIPE8. Perfectly Crispy Roast Chicken
Roasted chicken is one of the best smells you can have wafting throughout your home. I remember one summer evening just roasting some chicken in the oven, looking over at my husband as it started to cook and saying, “Does it smell like Christmas to you?” Just something about it brought back memories from childhood and the food we’d eat during the holidays.
Also, the fresh thyme, rosemary, garlic, and olive oil make this recipe sound like an instant holiday classic.
GET THE RECIPE9. Oven Roasted Turkey Tenderloin
This honestly looks like something you’d get at a nice restaurant, and it’d definitely look stunning on your table. Definitely a great way to make a turkey!
Also, with rosemary, thyme, and butter, it looks so flavorful. If I had this for dinner, I would be going back for seconds and thirds.
GET THE RECIPE10. Smoked Cornish Hens
I absolutely love Cornish game hens! They’re super easy to cook which means less time in the kitchen. Also, good food and less time spent cooking is a great way to celebrate the holidays.
GET THE RECIPE11. Slow Roasted Turkey Leg
Look at the garlic and all the delicious roasted veggies. And can’t you just imagine picking up that turkey leg and devouring it? Obviously the perfect main.👍
GET THE RECIPE12. Juicy Instant Pot Whole Chicken Rotisserie Style
I kind of love the rotisserie chicken you get from the store, so making it homemade (and with better ingredients) is a plus for me. Also with rosemary, garlic, butter, and olive oil, I can’t imagine this dish not being a hit.
GET THE RECIPE13. Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Simple, colorful roasted turkey, I think this would make the perfect centerpiece for holiday table.
And with an ingredient list that includes butter and sage and orange and basil, I can’t imagine this not tasting ridiculously good!
GET THE RECIPE14. Herb Roasted Bone-In Turkey Breast
Turkey with herb butter… I think any main with herb butter would be worthy of being the main for a Christmas dinner. Also, I love the fact that the ingredients include butter, white wine, garlic, and sage. I can just imagine how delicious this turkey tastes!
GET THE RECIPEPork
15. Air Fryer Ham Casserole
I love bakes and this one topped with cheese looks perfect for a holiday meal. Also, it’s a nice, different way to have ham be your main dish.
GET THE RECIPE16. Brown Sugar Glaze Spiral Ham
Brown sugar glaze… I’m pretty sure that’s the best way to enjoy a holiday ham. I mean, can’t you just imagine carrying that into the dining room with everyone seated at the table? It’s perfect.
GET THE RECIPE17. Creamy Mushroom Pork Shoulder Steak
Creamy, herby, smothered pork chops; these look so juicy and delicious. Also, they’d be a quick main compared to cooking an entire turkey in the oven.
GET THE RECIPELamb
18. Maqluba
I love Middle Eastern dishes like this, and if you’re feeling a bit adventurous and wanna try something new for your Christmas dinner, then why not? I mean, can’t you just imagine how amazing that lamb and juice-soaked rice tastes?
GET THE RECIPE19. Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder
All of those juices, baked garlic, and the fall-of-the-bone lamb look like an incredible dish for your Christmas menu. And I think all of your guests (including yourself) would be going back for second and third and fourth helpings!
GET THE RECIPE20. Lamb Korma Stew
Another fun way to have lamb for dinner. If you’re wanting to try something different this Christmas time, then I’d say this is a fun idea. And I bet all of those spices will make your home smell incredible.
GET THE RECIPEBeef
21. Prime Rib Roast
Prime rib is such an incredibly juicy, delicious main and an easy crowd-pleaser. Honestly hard to go wrong with this Christmas dinner main.
GET THE RECIPE22. Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
If I had pot roast like this growing up, I think it would have become one of my favorite dishes. And this looks like a great recipe that might just become one of your classic Christmas mains.
GET THE RECIPE23. Beef Tenderloin Roast
Another beef dish classic that’s perfect as a centerpiece for your holiday table. Also, I feel like this is one of the best things you can make because it pairs with so many different Christmas side dishes.
GET THE RECIPEFish
24. Mexican Bacalao Navideño
This Mexican dish looks like an incredibly comforting main for a Christmas dinner. I can just imagine dishing up a steaming bowl, sitting down, and taking the first hot bite. Definitely on my list of recipes to try!
GET THE RECIPE25. Baked Cod With Panko Crust
I love panko for crust and I can only imagine how delicious and savory this cod tastes. Also, it looks like it has the perfect crunch and is spiced to perfection. If you wanna have fish as your main, then this recipe is a great Christmas dinner idea to try this year!
GET THE RECIPE26. Garlic Butter Baked Trout
If I hear the words garlic and butter, then it’s an immediate yes from me. Also, this trout looks perfectly baked, spiced, and juicy, so if you’re gonna have fish, then this is a great option!
GET THE RECIPEPasta
27. The Ultimate Homemade Lasagna
Is lasagna ever not a good idea? I mean look at how cheesy and perfect this recipe looks. Can’t you just imagine dishing up a steaming plate of this lasagna, sitting down, and eating it up?
GET THE RECIPEVegan & Vegetarian
28. Vegan Butternut Squash Curry with Chickpeas
Curry + roasted butternut squash + chickpeas has to be one of the most comforting dish ideas out there! I can just imagine sitting down and grabbing a heaping spoon full on a cold day. Also, the smell of this wafting throughout the house has to be incredible!
GET THE RECIPE29. Vegan Stuffed Acorn Squash
I love acorn squash! It’s so buttery and delicious, smells incredible, and has a great texture. Also, how have I never thought of stuffing them? They’re perfect for it, and it sounds so delicious! A great idea for a vegan Christmas dinner!
GET THE RECIPE30. Vegan Nut Roast
I think vegan roasts sound like a filling and flavorful option for a main dish. With spices like paprika, sage, and thyme and ingredients like olive oil, red lentils, and breadcrumbs, it honestly sounds so savory and good!
GET THE RECIPE31. Vegan Chickpea and Sage Stuffed Butternut Squash
This roasted butternut squash looks so good I’m going to cry! 😭 Also sage and chickpeas?! This honestly looks like a culinary masterpiece because I could see myself having this at a high-end restaurant.
GET THE RECIPE32. Vegetarian Roast (Nut Roast with Cranberries)
This Christmas dinner recipe looks so delicious! Also, I bet the flavors of the sage, butter, porcini mushrooms, and tart cranberries all taste so good! Oh, and the colors are perfect for a festive Christmas dinner spread.
GET THE RECIPE33. Vegetarian Mushroom And Leek Pie
The filling looks so creamy and delicious! And with thyme, butter, garlic, and a crispy, flakey crust, it makes for a worthy dinner center piece.
GET THE RECIPE34. Vegetarian Stuffed Butternut Squash
I love butternut squash so much, so I couldn’t resist adding this to the list! Also, besides the fact that it looks incredibly tasty, the garlic, parm, and olive oil make this sound like a super comforting, savory, rich main for Christmas dinner.
GET THE RECIPE
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.