From a Crab Feast to a Festive Meal for Two, These Holiday Menu Ideas Work for Any Type of Gathering
Great recipes for your crab feast, classic roast dinner, finger-food party, Italian family lunch, easy holiday buffet, and more.
Photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy, food styling by Robyn Valarik
There are certain things it’s almost canon to have at the holidays. There will be a centerpiece dish, like a roast, or a turkey, right? (Though even that’s negotiable.) But what about all the other elements? There are so many appetizer, side, and dessert decisions to be made that the choices can seem overwhelming.
In situations like this, it can help to pick a theme. Below, we have more than a dozen thought out for you, from a crab feed to a vegetarian feast and a meal made up entirely of small plates. You don’t have to stick to each menu exactly, of course, but we hope you’ll find the meal plans helpful at the holidays, or any time you’re entertaining a large group of friends and loved ones.
Small-Plate Party
This year, forget the sit-down dinner and opt for small-plate recipes that you can make ahead and allow you and your guests to mingle. Enjoy chrstnut and celery root soup, ahi tuna confit, poached brisket with salsa verde, and more.
Feast on Crab
It’s prime time for sweet Dungeness. We share our secrets for amazing cracked crab and crabcakes, plus the best sauces for dipping.
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Cabernet Holiday Dinner
Pair the king of reds with the king of beef for a show-stopper of a holiday meal.
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Vegetarian Holiday Menu
Everyone can enjoy this hearty holiday meal, created by a chef at San Francisco’s landmark vegetarian restaurant, Greens.
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Italian Family Lunch
An Italian family’s generations-old tradition of making homemade sausage is shared in this rustic holiday menu.
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An Italian Christmas Eve
Savor spaghetti with anchovies and bread crumbs, salt-baked striped bass, and semifreddo this Christmas with a southern Italian-inspired menu.
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Grand Feast
Create an old-fashioned Christmas dinner complete with all the trimmings–including a magnificent standing rib roast–by following this menu and prep plan.
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Festive Menu for 2
Dinner doesn’t need a turkey or roast to feel like a holiday; Cornish hens are also celebratory, just in a size that’s perfect for smaller groups.
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Christmas in the Rockies
A rich and hearty Norwegian-inspired dinner menu brings the flavors of the Old World to Colorado.
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Your Midweek Holiday Party
A party in the middle of the week? You can pull it off in style with this menu of simple, crowd-pleasing hors d’oeuvres.
Dinner at the Ranch
Celebrate the season with a menu inspired by rancher Bill Niman and friends, including a stunning–yet simply made–Beef Rib Roast with Rosemary.
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Easy Open House Party
This menu mixes several chic recipes with a few ready-made items for stress-less entertaining, no matter the size of the crowd.
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Hanukkah Favorites
Brisket, latkes, and pickled salmon get updated in this modernized rendition of the season’s classic tastes.
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Finger Food Feast
No need to polish the silverware–instead, try dishes inspired by Ethiopian cooking for the ultimate in finger foods.
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Easy Holiday Beef Brisket
For a simple Hanukkah menu, start off with latkes then move to twice-baked brisket and a light salad before closing with an apple pie.
Easy Open House Buffet
This no-hassle menu features recipes that can be made ahead of time and taste fine served at room temperature, leaving you time to enjoy your guests.
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