Whether you’re hosting a large family gathering or an intimate dinner, choosing the right menu is key for creating a delicious and memorable Christmas feast this year! 

That said, keeping a spirit of peace and sanity are key ingredients to making sure the memories are happy ones! That’s why we’ve put together two festive dinner menus for you, along with a shopping list for each dish.

If you’re in the mood for a classic holiday spread or an elegant dinner, we’ve gathered a unique mix of traditional favorites and flavorful twists to suit every taste. 

What’s more, you can mix and match both menu options to make the perfect combination for you and your guest’s preferences!

Let’s get cooking!

Menu 1 — Cozy Classics

Starters:

Italian wedding soup

• Escarole or spinach leaves
• White onion
• Carrots 
• Celery 
• Chicken stock
• Large eggs
• Grated parmesan
• Acini de pepe or orzo pasta
• Ground beef
• Ground pork
• Bread or breadcrumbs
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Parsley

Baked brie in puff pastry

• Puff pastry
• Round brie cheese 
• Egg
• Optional extras: jam, preserves, roasted nuts and honey

Easy homemade dinner rolls

• Active dry yeast
• Warm water
• Whole or 2% milk
• Butter
• Sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Salt

Winter salad

• Mixed greens
• Pears
• Pecan halves
• Dried cranberries
• Blue cheese
• White wine or champagne vinegar
• Dijon mustard
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Sugar

Main (pick one!):

Honey glazed ham

• Half spiral cut ham
• Butter
• Dijon mustard
• Honey
• Granulated or brown sugar
• Nutmeg
• Cloves
• Cinnamon
• Paprika
• Ginger
• Allspice

Suggested wine pairing: Riesling, Gewürztraminer

Classic roast turkey

• Whole turkey
• Olive oil and/or butter
• Fresh herbs: parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme
• Prepared stuffing (optional)
• Large onion 
• Medium carrots 
• Celery 
• Chicken broth

Suggested wine pairing: Pinot noir (red), chardonnay (white)

Lasagna bolognese

• Lasagna pasta noodles
• Parmigiano cheese
• Butter 
• All-purpose flour
• Milk
• Nutmeg
• Salt
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Onion
• Celery
• Carrot
• Ground beef
• Can whole peeled tomatoes (or crushed tomatoes)

Suggested wine pairing: Chianti classico, sangiovese

Sides:

Buttermilk mashed potatoes

• Yukon gold or russet potatoes
• Milk
• Unsalted butter
• Buttermilk
• Black pepper
• Salt

Roasted green beans with almonds

• Green beans
• Olive oil
• Sea salt
• Black pepper 
• Slivered almonds

Cranberry sauce

• Fresh or frozen cranberries 
• Water 
• Granulated sugar 
• Lemon zest

Dessert:

Classic fruitcake

• Dried fruit:
  • Dark and golden raisins
  • Mixed unsweetened chopped dried fruit (peaches, apricots, pears, or apples)
  • Dried unsweetened black figs
  • Dried unsweetened tart cherries 
  • Dried unsweetened prunes
• Dark rum (to soak fruit, can swap with orange juice or earl gray tea)
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground ginger
• Ground nutmeg
• Kosher salt
• Unsalted butter softened
• Light brown sugar
• Large eggs
• Lemon zest
• Orange zest
• Slivered almonds (or chopped pecans or walnuts)
• Crystallized ginger
• Bittersweet chocolate or dark chocolate chips (optional)

Menu 2 — Elevated Eats

Starters:

Spanakopita bites

• Olive oil
• Medium yellow onion 
• Garlic cloves
• Frozen chopped spinach
• Fresh parsley 
• Fresh cilantro 
• Fresh dill 
• Salt and black pepper
• Eggs
• Crumbled feta cheese
• Puff pastry sheets

Stuffed mushrooms

• White or baby bella mushrooms
• Garlic cloves
• Plain breadcrumbs
• Parmigiano reggiano 
• Olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Crushed hot red pepper flakes
• Dry white wine
• Chicken stock 
• Fresh lemon juice
• Fresh parsley

Winter fruit salad

• Fresh pineapple chunks
• Fresh Mandarin orange sections
• Fresh pomegranate arils
• Fresh kiwi chunks 
• Fresh blueberries
• Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
• Lime zest
• Honey (or maple syrup or agave)

Main (pick one!):

Prime rib

• Beef prime rib (bone-in or out)
• Sea salt
• Black pepper (freshly ground)
• Fresh rosemary leaves
• Fresh thyme leaves
• Garlic cloves
• Extra virgin olive oil

Suggested wine pairing: Cabernet sauvignon

Italian seafood stew (cioppino)

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Fennel bulb 
• Onion
• Garlic cloves
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Canned crushed tomatoes
• Seafood stock (or chicken stock)
• Dry white wine (sauvignon blanc, pinot gris)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Cod filets
• Large shrimp (16 to 20-count, peeled and deveined)
• Bay scallops
• 12 mussels
• Fresh parsley
• Crostini (for serving)

Suggested wine pairing: Pino grigio, sauvignon blanc

Sides:

Scalloped potatoes

• Unsalted butter
• All-purpose flour
• Whole milk
• Vegetable or chicken broth
• Garlic clove
• Fresh thyme leaves
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Yukon gold potatoes
• Medium yellow onion
• Grated cheddar cheese

Holiday roasted vegetables

• Brussels sprouts
• Carrots
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar
• Fresh or dried rosemary leaves
• Fresh or dried thyme leaves
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Toasted pecans
• Dried cranberries

Dessert:

Maple pecan pie

• Pie crust (homemade or storebought) 
• Pecans (whole or halves)
• Unsalted butter
• Light or dark brown sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Pure vanilla extract
• Sea salt
• Eggs
• Pure maple syrup
• Whipped cream (for serving)