Christmas is a time to celebrate traditions old and new. There's the long-standing history of Christmas trees, of course, but what about trends like white Christmas trees or upside-down Christmas trees? Your household likely engages in favorite Christmas activities, Christmas party games, and other annual traditions like DIY Christmas stockings personalized for each member of the family. But as families grow and branch off, memories are created and brand-new traditions are formed. So when you're planning your annual Christmas dinner, consider incorporating some non-traditional Christmas dinner ideas alongside the classic holiday recipes that have been go-tos for as long as you can remember.
Even your favorite holiday dish was something you had to try for the first time once. A few Christmases from now, you might be enjoying an easy Christmas dinner of Mexican-Glazed Meatloaves — but not unless you break out of your comfort zone and try them this year. Getting creative in the kitchen is nothing to be afraid of, and it's a surefire way to discover what you do (and don't) enjoy cooking and eating — on the holidays and throughout the year. Whether you're preparing a vegetarian Christmas dinner, a comfort food recipe that's only unconventional on Christmas, or you're willing to choose a totally unexpected dish in general just to add some excitement to your holiday table, these 60 alternative Christmas recipes are a great place to start.
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1
Asparagus and Potato Galette
STEVE GIRALT
This galette looks elegant, but it's secretly super quick and simple. Filled with hearty ingredients, including potatoes, as well as fresh green produce like asparagus, create a perfectly balanced dish this Christmas.
These savory tartlets are inspired by flavors of the Mediterranean. Reminiscent of Greek spanakopita, they combine spinach, feta cheese, and fresh dill in a crunchy phyllo dough shell. Talk about a unique take on your classic Christmas appetizers!
Bring a taste of summer to the traditionally wintry Christmas dinner spread with these mini crab cakes that are sure to get rave reviews from your guests.
The combination of buttery cornbread with the chopped chiles and cheese will leave your tastebuds singing praises. For an extra touch, serve with maple butter for the perfect salty and sweet combo.
This glazed ham will become a must-have for Christmas, simply because of how easy and low-maintenance it is to make. After a quick 10 minute prep, pop it in the oven for an hour and a half, then glaze and serve.
Potatoes seem to be a necessary staple during the holiday season, but with so many innovative ways to make them, they are never boring. With only five ingredients, you can create some cheesy and creamy gratin potatoes that are so good, you'll easily be reaching for seconds.
Even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy nibbling on these rolls come dinnertime. Sweeten with maple syrup and salt on top, or get creative with rosemary, sage, or even lavender.
Whether you're a vegetarian or not, this hearty vegetable lasagna will be one of your favorite holiday dishes once you take a bite. Packed with lots of veggies, you get all the flavor plus smart substitutions that cut out unnecessary calories.
Drizzled with spiced syrup, these sweet potatoes have a little kick to them, which perfectly compliments the other sweet flavors of the dish so it's not overwhelming.
If you aren't too turkeyed-out from Thanksgiving, this garlic and herb roasted bird makes for a crowd-favorite, and will look absolutely stunning as the centerpiece to your table.
Some may say stuffing is a Thanksgiving-only dish, but when you think about how delicious it is, how could you not serve it on Christmas? Prepare yourself for some cheesy bread goodness with this easy recipe.
Sometimes, it's best to stick with the simple, and these decadent garlic and sage infused mashed potatoes are as easy as it gets. Plus, they are super delish!
Roast chicken paired with some fresh squash and arugula is the perfect meal to satisfy you for dinner while still leaving some room for those holiday desserts.
Green beans might not be the food everyone craves before the holiday meal, but one bite of these tangy bacon vinaigrette veggies and everyone will be clamoring once they hit the table. You can use the salty-sweet sauce on Brussels sprouts as well.
And speaking of those versatile veggies... sweet and sour sprouts anyone? Honey, vinegar, and chiles blend with sautéed Brussels sprouts for an unbelievably tasty dish.
If you love cornbread and stuffing, then this dish is just what you want this holiday season. Blend crumbled cornbread with sweet sausage, chestnuts, and pears for a slightly sweet and salty side.
Cinnamon-Spiced Sweet Potato Soup with Maple Croutons
CON POULOS
Soup is so simple and so underrated. This creamy sweet potato soup, spiced with cinnamon and maple croutons, is the cozy dish you'll want to serve at your holiday dinner, and enjoy all winter long.
Great as a pre-dinner app or as part of the big meal, these cranberry meatballs bring a tangy sweetness to the salty flavors of the meatball, creating a perfect flavor profile.
Thanks to this one-dish meal, you can say goodbye to a big post-dinner cleanup. Enjoy roasted sausages with cubed sweet potatoes, cannellini beans, and Swiss chard for a meal packed with protein and antioxidants.
Honestly, can you ever have too many rolls on the dinner table? Probably not, but if you have to choose, these garlic miso rolls should be your number one pick.
From olive oil and tomato paste to cinnamon and beer (yes, beer!), this hearty and warm cottage pie has all of the flavor you're looking for on Christmas.
The vegetables in this dish not only lend nutrition, but color and a crunchy texture as well. Feel free to substitute sugar snap peas or snow peas for green beans, but don't skimp on the fresh ginger — the powdered version won't hold its own in this dish.
Adobo sauce, chipotle chillies, and chorizo make this meatloaf dinner a delicious fiesta. You can even cut cooking time by almost an hour by making 4 mini loaves from this recipe instead of one big meatloaf.
Based on the traditional Russian soup, this satisfying pasta gets its boldness and bright color from two pounds of beets. Complementing the root vegetable's rusticity and heft are hearty whole wheat linguine and quick-browning ground beef.
Annie O'SullivanAs a member of the Special Projects Team, Annie works with the GH Tested program writing up product reviews and roundups and helps plan and run annual expos and events like the GH Parenting Summit, Xmas in July Expo, Cleaning Summit, Winter Essentials Expo, and more.
Jamie KravitzAssociate EditorJamie Kravitz (she/her) is the associate editor of Woman’s Day, where she oversees the brand's digital platforms and covers holidays, food, and more.
