Christmas dinner is a time when the kitchen comes alive with family recipes, savory spices, and the kind of nostalgia that only the holidays can bring.
While everyone has their own version of a holiday feast, certain Christmas dinner dishes have become iconic in Christmas celebrations worldwide. Each of these foods brings with it a unique history, and when you serve them, you’re sharing a part of the past with the present.
Ready to create a delicious, meaningful meal? Here are seven Christmas dinner must haves, their backstories, and easy-to-follow recipes. Let’s get cooking!
1. Roast Turkey with Herb Butter
The History: Turkey wasn’t always a holiday staple. In early America, settlers and indigenous peoples alike were accustomed to cooking large birds that could feed a crowd, but the turkey itself became popular thanks to its size and affordability.
By the 1800s, turkey was named among the best Christmas dishes and became a popular choice for both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner foods in the United States. However, its fame as the Christmas bird likely started in England in the 16th century.
Charles Dickens even mentioned roast turkey in A Christmas Carol, sealing its fate as a classic holiday centerpiece.
The Recipe – Roasted Turkey
Ingredients:
- 1 whole turkey (12-14 lbs)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 bunch of fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 onions, quartered
- 1 lemon, halved
- 1 head of garlic, halved horizontally
- 4 cups chicken broth
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Mix softened butter with chopped herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Loosen the turkey’s skin and rub the herb butter underneath and over the skin.
- Stuff the turkey with onions, lemon, and garlic.
- Place the turkey on a roasting rack, breast-side up. Add some broth to the pan.
- Roast, basting occasionally, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (3-4 hours).
2. Honey-Glazed Ham
The History: The Christmas food tradition of serving ham goes back to pre-Christian winter solstice festivals in Northern Europe, where pigs were often slaughtered in the colder months when the meat could be stored safely.
The Norse even made offerings to Freyr, the god of fertility and prosperity, with ham. When Christianity spread, these winter feasts became entwined with Christmas dinner dishes, making ham a festive staple.
Honey-glazing likely came much later as a European-American innovation, adding a hint of sweetness to the savory meat and giving it a rich, caramelized look that has become iconic.
The Recipe – Honey-Glazed Ham
Ingredients:
- 1 fully cooked, bone-in ham (8-10 lbs)
- 1 cup honey
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Place ham in a roasting pan and score the surface to make a diamond pattern.
- Mix honey, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and cinnamon.
- Brush the glaze over the ham and cover with foil.
- Bake for 2 hours, basting with glaze every 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil, increase the oven temperature to 400°F, and bake for 15 minutes for a caramelized finish.
3. Yorkshire Pudding
The History: Marking the best in Christmas food traditions, Yorkshire pudding originated in England around the 18th century. Originally called “dripping pudding,” it was a thrifty dish meant to make the most of meat drippings.
Served as a starter to fill people up before Christmas dinner must haves, the more costly main course, Yorkshire pudding was initially made in large pans and served in slabs.
Today, they’re a beloved part of Christmas day food and Sunday roast dinners, pairing perfectly with gravy and roast meats. Traditionally, it’s considered almost sacrilegious to make them with anything other than beef drippings!
The Recipe – Yorkshire Pudding
Ingredients:
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ tsp salt
- Beef drippings or vegetable oil
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Whisk eggs, flour, milk, and salt into a smooth batter. Let it rest for 30 minutes.
- Place a small amount of beef drippings or oil in each muffin cup and heat in the oven until smoking hot.
- Pour batter into the hot oil, filling each cup halfway.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until puffed and golden.
4. Gingerbread Cookies
The History: Gingerbread has deep roots in medieval Europe, where ginger and spices were valuable trade items, often used in “spice breads” as far back as the 11th century.
In Germany, gingerbread houses became popular with the Christmas eve menu thanks to the Brothers Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel tale, and that German tradition spread across Europe and America.
Gingerbread cookies became a popular treat alongside Christmas main dishes in the U.S. in the 19th century, and they’re now a staple of holiday baking and decoration.
The Recipe – Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup molasses
- 1 large egg
Instructions:
- Mix flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.
- Cream butter and sugar, then add molasses and egg.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until combined.
- Roll out dough and cut into shapes.
- Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, then decorate!
5. Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
The History: Potatoes became an important staple in Europe in the 16th century, but mashed potatoes likely became popular due to their simplicity and comfort factor. Soon, they were rated among easy Christmas meals!
For the Christmas party menu, they became a favorite in the U.S., where the Irish and English immigrant influence made them a regular feature at Christmas dinners. Adding roasted garlic, a modern twist, brings out a richer, nuttier flavor, making them irresistible.
The Recipe – Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
- 3 lbs Yukon gold potatoes
- 1 head garlic
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut the top off the garlic head, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast for 30 minutes.
- Boil peeled potatoes until fork-tender.
- Squeeze the garlic cloves out of the peel and mash them into the cooked potatoes.
- Add cream, butter, salt, and pepper, and mash until creamy.
6. Pecan Pie
The History: Pecan pie adds to a simple Christmas dinner. It is a uniquely American dessert with roots in the South, where pecan trees grow in abundance.
The earliest pecan pie recipes appeared in Texas cookbooks in the late 19th century, and it gained popularity across the U.S. in the 1920s, thanks to Karo syrup (which is still a key ingredient). Also, it’s now one of the cheap Christmas dishes that still carry vigor and taste.
Its association with holidays and Christmas dish ideas stems from pecans’ seasonal availability and the pie’s rich, comforting flavor.
The Recipe – Pecan Pie
Ingredients:
- 1 pie crust
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ cups pecan halves
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the crust in a pie dish.
- Mix corn syrup, sugar, eggs, butter, and vanilla.
- Pour the mixture into the pie crust, then add pecans on top.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes until set in the center.
7. Eggnog
The History: Eggnog originated as “posset,” a British hot drink made with milk, eggs, and ale or wine in the Middle Ages.
When the drink crossed the Atlantic, Americans replaced the ale with rum or whiskey, making it a favorite holiday treat and complimenting xmas food ideas. By the 19th century, eggnog was an essential Christmas drink, associated with winter warmth and merriment.
The Recipe – Eggnog
Ingredients:
- 4 cups whole milk
- 5 large eggs
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup bourbon or rum (optional)
- Freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions:
- Heat milk on medium until just simmering.
- Whisk eggs and sugar, then slowly add the hot milk to the mixture.
- Return to the stove, cooking until it thickens slightly.
- Remove from heat, stir in cream, bourbon, and nutmeg.
- Chill before serving, and garnish with extra nutmeg.
Wrapping Up – Christmas Dinner Must Haves
So there you have it! From timeless roasts to sweet desserts, each Christmas dish presented carries its own unique place in Christmas history, making your holiday meal more than just a feast. Here’s to amazing Christmas meal ideas, delicious food and meaningful traditions this holiday season!
Merry Christmas 2024!
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