15 Perfect Dishes to Serve for Christmas Lunch
Whether you want to go all out at lunchtime or balance out all the holiday decadence with a lighter meal, we’ve got you covered with these crowd-pleasing Christmas lunch ideas.
Annabelle Breakey
Ah, Christmas lunch, a cousin of the Thanksgiving lunch and often a meal representation of the indulgence of the season. With its baked meats and thick soups and stews, Christmas lunch can be all about the heavy dishes.
For the main course, it’s hard to ignore tradition and the honey or maple-glazed baked ham. That plus a couple sides like a good hearty mushroom, beef, and bacon stew or a gooey baked mac and cheese covered in crispy breadcrumbs will set you well on your way toward a classic Christmas lunch.
Of course, a Christmas lunch doesn’t have to be all heavy dishes. In fact, you really need something to break it up. The classic way to do that would be with a nice salad, like a kale and apple salad, or an unconventional crab and tangerine salad. But those aren’t your only options. You can also bring a little lightness to the meal with creamy butternut squash ravioli, a white wine coq au vin, or a fresh and floral crab pasta with Prosecco and lemon sauce.
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Then there are some dishes, like squash and chickpea fritters and winter green turnovers, that are great for walking the line between heavy and light.
However you like your Christmas lunches, all heavy, all light, or a mix of both types of dishes, any one of these recipes is a great addition that’s sure to be appreciated by all.
Holiday Lunch Recipes
Classic Baked Ham with Maple-Mustard Glaze
Four ingredients are all it takes to create this ham’s special flavor and shine.
Crab Pasta with Prosecco and Meyer Lemon Sauce
Talk about a celebration-worthy dish. Meyer lemon’s gentle tang and floral quality couldn’t be a better partner for sweet Dungeness crab, and the sparkling wine brings it all together.
Mushroom, Beef, and Bacon Stew
You can use just about any mushroom you like for this stew (or a mix of varieties), as long as you add the more delicate ones during the last hour of cooking.
Recipe: Mushroom, Beef, and Bacon Stew
White Wine Coq au Vin
A fresh, herb-laced, Western version of the famous French dish that involves red wine and long braising, this coq au vin is also very pretty. It’s relatively quick and easy to make, too.
Recipe: White Wine Coq au Vin
Ultimate Mac ‘n’ Cheese
When you’re feeding the whole family on Christmas Day, why not pull out all the stops on a kid favorite? This version will delight the grownups at the table, too.
Recipe: Ultimate Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Crispy Grilled Kale and Pancetta Risotto
This hearty risotto comes from Denver chef Elise Wiggins. We love her the way she grills the kale before adding it to the risotto.
Quick Crab Stew in Fennel-Tomato Broth
To save time on Christmas Day, buy already-cooked crab at the fish market so that all you’ll need to do on the day of is throw ingredients into the pot for the flavors to meld. Don’t forget to serve with crusty bread for sopping up all that flavorful broth.
Giant Butternut Squash Ravioli
Use sheets of fresh pasta to make these meltingly delicious yet healthy ravioli from cookbook author Martha Rose Shulman.
Recipe: Giant Butternut Sqaush Ravioli
Winter Greens Turnovers
These creamy, flaky turnovers filled with greens can be served with a light salad for a satisfying holiday lunch.
Recipe: Winter Green Turnovers
Crab Bisque
If you have shells from a cracked-crab feast, make this delicious bisque the following day. “Slow and low is the only trick to cooking it,” Jordan Davis of Herringbone Restuarants says. Top with leftover shelled cooked crab, if you have some—it’s not absolutely necessary.
Recipe: Crab Bisque
Salmon and Grains Salad with Pistachio Salsa Verde
Kris Tominaga serves this dramatic salad at Cadet restaurant in Santa Monica. Wild rice and black quinoa (the quinoa fried until crunchy) form a backdrop for colorful greens and salmon. In winter, frozen sockeye salmon is an excellent choice.
Kale and Apple Salad with Walnut Dressing
If you’re looking to insert a healthier meal in between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner decadence, this hearty salad fits the bill.
Squash and Chickpea Fritters with Winter Greens and Hazelnut Salad
These crispy veggie fritters, served with a seasonal salad, make for an elegant vegetarian lunch.
Recipe: Squash and Chickpea Fritters with Winter Greens and Hazelnut Salad
Crab and Tangerine Salad
Just a few deftly chosen ingredients make for an elegant, complex-tasting salad. Serve it with warm rolls and glasses of cold, crisp white wine (our wine editor suggests Grenache Blanc).
Recipe: Crab and Tangerine Salad
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