Top 10 Christmas Dinner Foods
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It getting the time of year for your friends and family to get together and celebrate Christmas. There is no better way to celebrate than by getting around the table and having a traditional Christmas dinner. Perhaps you are craving some traditional Christmas plates or you want to mix it up a bit this Christmas, check out below for the top 10 Christmas dinner foods that you should have on your table this year!
#10. Roast Christmas Goose
#9. Honey Glazed Ham
Instead of cooking some sort of bird this year for your Christmas dinner, consider making a honey glazed ham the main meal this year. In fact, this recipe with cardamom, pepper, and cloves is one to die for![2]the Spruce Eats – Honey Glazed Ham Not only is the ham much juicer than a turkey, many people actually prefer it. With a thick and rich glaze on the ham, it only makes it taste that much better. Don’t be surprised if everyone is asking for seconds!
#8. Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts used to be considered one of the worst Christmas dinner food items. However, no more! In fact, when you cook it right, it easily is one of the tastiest Christmas dinner items that you can cook. The trick is to roast them rather than boiling them.[3]Waitrose – Top 10 Christmas Dishes You can even add a bit of lemon juice afterwards to add a bit of extra flavor. The char on the Brussels sprouts really brings out a great flavor.
#7. Stuffing
Without a doubt, stuffing is one of the heroes of any meal whether it be Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. One of the great things about stuffing, is that there are so many ways to cook it. Some great ingredients that you should consider adding to your stuffing include pancetta, hazelnuts, cherries, and caramelized fennel.[4]good food – Christmas stuffing recipes You can literally stuff a turkey and get all of the great meat flavor in it. However, most likely that won’t be enough stuffing, as everyone is going to want to come back for seconds and thirds. But don’t worry. There are plenty of great stuffing recipes that you can make without putting them in a bird.
#6. Holiday Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole is a Christmas dinner staple. Also it is a great way to trick you kids into eating a little bit healthy for Christmas. However, you don’t have to make the same old green bean casserole. If you want to kick it up a notch, consider adding some of the ham you already are probably cooking to eat to give it a great rich flavor![5]Taste of Home – Holiday Green Bean Casserole
5. Pigs in blankets
Pigs in blankets are a quintessential Christmas dinner item. Who wouldn’t like pastry wrapped meat! However, if you want to spicy it up a little bit this year, consider adding some medjool dates to it.[6]Waitrose – Pigs in blankets The sweetness of the dates adds a great flavor to the saltiness of the bacon. Once you try it like this, you probably will be asking yourself why you had never done that before!
#4. Cranberry sauce
Cranberry sauce is a perfect accompaniment and dessert to any Christmas dinner. The sweetness of the cranberry sauce goes great with almost anything on your Christmas dinner plate. In fact, don’t forget to make extra as they also go great with a cold slice of ham the next day.
One of the great things about cranberry sauce is that they are very easy to make. However, not many people make it themselves and rather opt to buy premade cranberry sauce from the store. But don’t be fooled, a premade sauce is nothing like a homemade one.[7]The Guardian – How to cook the perfect Christmas dinners Once everyone tries your home made cranberry sauce, everyone will definitely want more.
#3. Mince pies
Mincemeat pie is a Christmas dinner staple that many people don’t like it. However, that is probably because they haven’t eaten one made correctly. Probably the first problem is that you bought the mincemeat pie from the store. If you really want the best mincemeat pies it is best to make it yourself. Fortunately, they are not that difficult. You just need the right kind of dough, one that is not too sweet, and mincemeat. You can make your own tasty mincemeat quite easily. All you need to do is mix and chop meat (such as venison, beef, or beef suet), spices, distilled spirits, and dried fruit. If you want to really kick it up a notch, also add some bananas and apple slices to give it a great sweet flavor.[8]the Spruce Eats – Easy Traditional British Mince Pie Recipe
#2. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a classic Christmas diner item, especially in the South. Unfortunately, most people only know a few ways to prepare them such as in pies and casseroles. This can be very tasty. For example, sweet potatoes with roasted marshmallows are a Christmas dinner favorite. However, there are so many other ways to prepare sweet potatoes. This year consider changing it up a bit and making a sweet potato fettuccine, sweet potatoes biscuits, or even a sweet potato and onion tart.[9]Southern Living – 23 Ways with Sweet Potatoes Not only will you surprise all your guests, you will get them coming back for more!
#1. Rutabaga
Similar to brussels sprouts, most people don’t think very highly of rutabaga. In fact, most people don’t every like it when Christmas dinner comes around. Most likely the problem is that you are not preparing it correctly. The two best ways to prepare rutabaga is either cubed or mashed.
If you don’t have a lot of time, go for the cubed rutabaga. All you have to do is add some seasons and roast it. Some great seasoning include pepper, salt, butter, vanilla bean, or even spicy curry.[10]Pen & Fork – Roasted Rutabaga
If you have some more time, go for a mashed rutabaga. The first steps are exactly the same as the cubed version. However, after roasting them, you can mash them until you achieve the mashed texture you are looking for.
No matter what version of rutabaga you make, everyone at the table is bound to love it. The great thing is that they go great as a side to almost anything, but especially ham or roasted chicken.
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