Like these pomegranate-maple lamb chops
By Emma Singer
•
Published Oct 6, 2023
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Baked ham, roast turkey, green bean casserole…Christmas has tasted the same for far too long. If you agree, check out these nontraditional Christmas dinner ideas, so you can shake things up and serve a holiday feast that excites and impresses. Your guests will thank you, we promise.
1. Shepherd's Pie
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
This traditional Irish dish featuring a layer of mashed potatoes atop a rich beef stew might not be a common Christmas menu item, but it’s so festive and comforting it probably should be.
2. Moroccan Couscous Stuffed Cornish Hens
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: high protein, sheet pan recipe, special occasion-worthy
Turkey seems pretty lackluster compared to these cornish hens, which are adorned with dried apricots, honey and spices, then roasted until golden brown. Sexy, no?
What’s Cooking Good Looking
3. Thai Peanut Sweet Potato Skins
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, gluten-free
Coterie member Jodi Moreno’s potato skins feature sweet potato dressed up with Thai peanut sauce and an assortment of garnishes (think: cilantro, basil, toasted nuts, scallion) that deliver bold flavor and plenty of textural appeal. The end result is a long overdue update on a classic party appetizer.
4. Butternut Squash Lasagna
- Time Commitment: 2 hours
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, crowd-pleaser, gluten-free, vegetarian
Swap butternut squash in for pasta and you’ve got a festive, seasonal twist on lasagna that boasts all the cheesy goodness without the sky-high carb count.
5. 3-Cheese Pumpkin Pasta Casserole with Spinach
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, high protein
Who needs pumpkin pie when you can use that can of puree to whip up a rich and cheesy pasta casserole that can feed a crowd?
6. Firecracker Chicken with Rice
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <500 calories, high protein
Chinese food on Christmas is a time-honored tradition among folks who don’t celebrate the holiday, and let’s just say they’re onto something. Branch out from the standard holiday fareand serve up some sriracha-spiked firecracker chicken at your feast fora dish that tastes like a breath of fresh air.
7. Cheater’s Slow-Cooker Beef Bourguignon
- Time Commitment: 8 hours 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, slow cooker recipe
A classic French stew that’s rich, hearty and special occasion-worthy. Our cheater’s version relies on the slow cooker as a fuss-free alternative to sweating over the stove. The finished dish would make Julia Child proud.
8. Slow-Cooker French Onion Soup
- Time Commitment: 7 hours 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, one pot, <10 ingredients
If you’re leaning into French comfort food this holiday, it just makes sense to have your guests warm up with a cheesy bowl of French onion soup before the beef bourguignon is served. Better still, this slow-cooker version is a no-stir solution that will allow you to actually spend some time out of the kitchen.
9. Brussels Sprouts Latkes
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, beginner-friendly, one pan
A classic Christmas veggie side meets a Hanukkah staple and the result is crisp, crave-worthy fritter that tastes like holiday magic.
10. Vegan Kentucky Fried Chick’n
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, high protein
Fun fact: KFC is a Christmas tradition in Japan. You can celebrate the holiday Tokyo-style and feed your vegan friends, too, with this highly convincing, meatless version, featuring a tofu and seitan substitute fried in a kicky, seasoned batter.
11. Spinach and Three-Cheese Stuffed Shells
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly
Jumbo shells are the perfect vessel for Italian sausage and three different types of cheese in this cozy and comforting baked pasta dish.
Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
12. Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms and Bacon
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, gluten free
This polenta is elegant, decadent and loaded with umami flavor. We like to make it with a gourmet mix of wild mushrooms (chanterelles, maitake, oyster) and finish it with a drizzle of truffle oil for an extra special touch.
13. Leek, Kale and Goat Cheese Strata
- Time Commitment: 8 hours 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, high protein
Presenting a close cousin of stuffing with a fresh flavor profile of tangy goat cheese, melty leeks and spicy dijon.
14. Coconut Creamed Spinach
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, one pan, low carb, beginner-friendly
Update a classic with curry powder, ginger and coconut milk and you’ve got a creamed spinach side that’s anything but snoozy—just be sure to use full-fat coconut milk for best results.
15. Baked Brie with Cranberries and Pomegranate
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, <500 calories
No one can refuse hot, gooey baked Brie. This version boasts a decidedly festive garnish of pomegranate seeds, cranberries, rosemary and pecans that looks almost too pretty to eat.
16. Hasselback Butternut Squash
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd pleaser. <10 ingredients, low carb, <500 calories
Apply this Scandinavian cooking technique to butternut squash for an eye-pleasing holiday side that features the swoon-worthy flavor combination of fresh herbs, honey and whole-ground mustard.
17. Slow-Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Time Commitment: 7 hours 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special-occasion worthy
Creamy, comforting and oh-so-satisfying—this slow-cooker chicken pot pie is more stew than soup, which means you can serve it as an appetizer or as a perfectly cozy Christmas main.
18. Beet and Goat Cheese Tart
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, low carb, <500 calories, vegetarian
The classic combination of beets and goat cheese tastes and looks more festive when sprinkled with aromatic thyme and baked into a pretty puff pastry tart.
19. Delicata Squash Agrodolce
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, beginner-friendly, sheet pan recipe
This seasonal side features beautifully caramelized rings of delicata squash and a sweet, sour and spicy glaze that you’ll want to use on just about everything.
20. Kale and Cheddar Cheese Galette
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <500 calories, special occasion-worthy
This kale and cheddar galette has enough aesthetic appeal to be a centerpiece and enough palate-pleasing decadence to make everyone excited about eating their greens.
21. Pomegranate-Maple Glazed Lamb Chops
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, low carb, gluten-free
Impress your guests with these fancy, pomegranate glazed lamb chops and your Christmas feast will be the talk of the town.
22. Pistachio-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Apple and Escarole Salad
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein, low carb, sheet pan recipe
Ground pistachio and spices make a flavorful and texturally appealing crust for buttery, melt-in-your-mouth pork in this standout main dish.
23. Harissa and Honey-Roasted Carrots
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe, vegetarian
Tangy yogurt sauce, a subtly sweet and boldly flavored harissa glaze and an aromatic garnish of herbs and seeds come together to achieve the impossible. Yep, these roasted carrots are just that exciting.
24. Baked Zucchini ‘Ziti’ Spirals with Mozzarella
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: low-carb, gluten-free, <500 calories, crowd-pleaser
This low-carb take on baked ziti is every bit as tasty as the original pasta dish and scores bonus points for a beautiful presentation that’s blessedly easy to accomplish.
25. Spicy Sichuan Pork Noodles
- Time Commitment: 18 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, high protein
Chinese food on Christmas is the OG non-traditional tradition, and these spicy pork noodles do not disappoint.
26. French Onion Brisket
- Time Commitment: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, make ahead, one pot
A little French, a little Jewish and exceedingly delicious—this praise-worthy holiday centerpiece dish boasts a mouthwatering combination of rich and tender brisket, sweet caramelized onions and just a splash of sherry vinegar for a hint of acidity that will make your palate sing.
27. Curried Parsnip and Apple Soup
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, beginner-friendly, one pot
If you were to condense the spirit of Christmas into a bowl of soup, this blend of warm curry spices, tart apples and earthy parsnip is what you’d get.
28. Cheater’s White Wine Coq au Vin
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, low-carb, one pot
This simplified version of coq au vin has all the elegance and flavor of the classic (and famously fussy) French dish…and you don’t need a culinary degree to pull it off.
29. Lobster Risotto
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, beginner-friendly
Is anybody ever more excited about turkey or ham than lobster? We think not.
30. Crispy Chickpeas and Scallops with Garlic-Harissa Oil
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <500 calories, high protein
If you neglected to serve up this divine combination of Middle Eastern spices, crispy chickpeas and buttery scallops for the Feast of the Seven Fishes, now’s your chance.
31. Sweet and Spicy Plantain Salad
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, <30 minutes, vegan
Add a little Caribbean flavor to your Christmas spread with this combination of beans, avocado, plantain and mango for a colorful side salad that tastes like a party in your mouth.
32. Falafel Salad with Spicy Yogurt Sauce
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: no cook, <500 calories, vegetarian
This hearty salad featuring a creamy, sriracha-spiked yogurt sauce comes together in a flash with store-bought falafel. It’s also a perfect accompaniment to pomegranate-glazed lamb chops (above) or Iraqi roasted salmon (below).
33. Jake Cohen’s Iraqi Roasted Salmon with Tomato and Lemon
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein, low carb, crowd-pleaser
Cumin, coriander and turmeric combine to create an intoxicating spice blend; when paired with the bright acidity of citrus and tomato, the end result is a far cry from your snoozy weeknight salmon dinner.
34. Mac and Cheese with Crispy Parmesan-Phyllo Crust
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Mac and cheese is the creamy, indulgent comfort food that everyone in attendance is secretly craving. Add some phyllo rosettes (it’s not hard, we swear!) and you have a family favorite that’s truly special occasion-worthy.
35. Weeknight Skillet Paella
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy, one pan
Paella is a celebratory dish that boasts a statement-making presentation. It’s also a labor of love (emphasis on labor). Or you could cheat with our tasty weeknight version, which can be easily enhanced with the addition of lobster and crab legs if you’re feeling fancy.
36. Fall Roasted Vegetable and Lentil Salad with Pine Nut Cream
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
Lentils lend heartiness to this warm and colorful salad and the pine nut cream is such a luscious complement that we can no longer imagine roasted veggies without it.
37. Spaghetti Squash Casserole
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein, low carb, crowd-pleaser
Spaghetti squash has paired up with ground turkey to fight for entree status and the result is more than the sum of its parts. (Not to mentiona major improvement on the time-sucking hassle of roasting a giant bird.)
38. Kale Colcannon
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
Serve this Irish twist on classic mashed potatoes with any hearty stew and the crowd will go wild.
39. Irish Lamb Stew
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 55 minutes
- •Why I Love It: high protein, one pot, crowd-pleaser
Tender chunks of lamb and hearty vegetables swim in a Guinness-infused gravy. Let’s just say the only thing missing is some colcannon potatoes on the side.
40. Crockpot Braised Red Wine Short Ribs with Cheddar Potato Perogies
- Time Commitment: 8 hours 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, slow cooker recipe
Melt-in-the-mouth short ribs and mushrooms in a rich red wine sauce are so elegant and gourmet, no one will ever guess it’s a Crockpot dump dinner. (Psst: The pierogies are optional but encouraged if you’re looking for a quick and easy side.)
41. Gnocchi with Fennel, Spinach and Mushrooms
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, <500 calories, beginner-friendly
Serve this savory, satisfying dish of crispy pan-fried gnocchi, caramelized fennel, mushrooms, goat cheese and greens as a hearty side or a vegetarian main.
42. Potato, Turnip and Spring Onion Potage
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <500 calories, vegetarian
What is potage, you ask? It’s the fancy French term for thick veggie soup and this creamy, buttery and delicately flavored blend of potato, turnip, leeks and green onions is a truly delightful example.
43. Savory Leek Bread
- Time Commitment: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Leeks make everything better. Same goes for cheese. Stuff them both in a loaf of bread and you’ve got a sinfully delicious starter that will earn you “Star Baker” status.
44. Cioppino with Fennel and Saffron
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, low carb, high protein, crowd-pleaser
Another no-brainer for a Feast of the Seven Fishes—this San Francisco cioppino gets a boost from saffron, fennel and a splash of wine.
45. Scalloped Potatoes
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten-free, vegetarian, sheet pan recipe, kid-friendly
These cheesy scalloped potatoes (i.e., potatoes au gratin) are sinfully delicious and easy on the eyes, to boot. Serve ‘em up and no one will miss the standard mash. Trust.
46. Chinese Five Spice-Roasted Peking Chicken
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten-free, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Take a page out of Coterie member Phoebe Lapine’s book and season your bird with Chinese five spice for a bold, warm flavor that’s unexpectedly festive.
47. Ina Garten’s Tuscan Turkey Roulade
- Time Commitment: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein. <500 calories, low carb, crowd-pleaser
Whole roasted turkey is, you know, fine. Ina Garten’s recipe for juicy turkey breast stuffed with prosciutto, garlic and herbs, on the other hand, is what we call exceptional.
48. Ham and Cheese Bread Pudding
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
This casserole-style souffle is the definition of decadence and our new favorite way to feature ham on the Christmas menu.
49. Sauteed Green Beans with Red Peppers and Almonds
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, low-carb, gluten-free
Green bean casserole? Yawn. Lighten things up with a quick and flavorful green bean stir-fry, featuring sweet red pepper and the pleasantly crunchy almonds.
50. Jamaican Oxtails
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: instant pot, slow cooker, high protein
This traditional Jamaican stew of tender oxtail and creamy butter beans is a flavor bomb that’s destined to be the star of the show on any special occasion, Christmas included.
Freelance PureWow Editor
Emma Singer is a freelance contributing editor and writer at PureWow who has over 7 years of professional proofreading, copyediting and writing experience. At PureWow, she covers...
