13 Low-Effort Recipes to Make Between Christmas and the New Year

For busy holiday hosts who spend the season baking, decorating, shopping, wrapping, and more, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day can feel like the ultimate gift. It’s a time to recharge, and an opportunity to spend time with loved ones without the frenzy of holiday activities. If your idea of a perfect break includes plenty of couch time, staying cozy, and eating delicious food, we’ve got you covered. These 10 recipes are low effort, big reward, and can feed the entire family. These wintery meals are hearty, sneak in some extra nourishment, and are hardly any work at all, thanks to a short list of ingredients and minimal prep. They’re perfect for sharing after a day of playing with the kids, walking through the snow, or doing nothing at all. Save these after-Christmas recipes for a week of rest and relaxation inside and out.

Tomato-Lentil Soup  

Cozy up to a bowl of this hearty, plant-forward soup. All you need is 30 minutes and a few pantry staples for a nourishing dinner everyone will love. A touch of cumin brings a pop of flavor, and blending half of the mixture adds creaminess while maintaining texture.   

Creamy White Chicken Lasagna Soup  

The viral lasagna soup gets a twist with this kid-friendly recipe. Chewy lasagna noodles float in a creamy broth with hearty chicken and a herbaceous ricotta mixture. Baby bell mushrooms and spinach bring a little extra nutrition to the mix, all while staying comforting for a chilly night.   

Turkey-Quinoa Taco Casserole  

A casserole is the perfect dish for days you just don’t want to decide on dinner. Quickly cooked and spiced turkey is added to a single dish with the remaining ingredients and comes together in the oven. Fluffy quinoa, hearty beans and corn, and gooey cheese all become a Tex-Mex favorite that will be oh-so good on those in-between days.   

Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup

This belly-warming recipe is the definition of cozy, and is a delicious way to stretch a buck after a month of holiday splurging. It’s a classic recipe that leans into baby spinach, broccoli, and cannellini beans to bulk up this vegetarian soup but still keep things light. It’s hearty, affordable, and made with plenty of cheddar cheese. What more could you want?

Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Bake

This comforting casserole is kid-friendly, thanks to a layer of melty mozzarella and family-friendly sweet potatoes, but loaded with nutrients you can feel good about serving. Ten minutes of prep is all you need for a complete meal-in-one loaded with lean ground turkey, spices, and baby spinach. Don’t forget the hot sauce on the side for the adults!

Pot Roasted Vegetables

If too many cookies and candy canes have you craving something nutritious and satisfying, try this plant-powered take on pot roast. A medley of root vegetables–think carrots, parsnips, and potatoes–alongside mushrooms and celery becomes savory-sweet and caramelized, roasted low and slow in the oven. Serve over noodles, polenta, or rice for a complete, vegan-friendly meal.

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

This mashup recipe combines two family-friendly dishes into one “set it and forget it” meal that’s perfect for lazy days. Classic taco ingredients, like ground beef, bell peppers, chilies, beans, and corn, combine into a hearty dish that’s somewhere in between soup and stew. Serve topped with crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, and/or any of your favorite Tex-Mex fixings.

Instant Pot® Hoppin’ John with Greens

You don’t have to wait until New Year’s Day for this easy spin on Hoppin’ John, a traditional southern side dish said to bring good luck in the coming year. The Instant Pot makes it easy to serve our meal-worthy version with savory ham, collard greens, black-eyed peas, and rice in under an hour, no soaking or stirring required.

Sheet Pan Tikka Masala Chicken and Cauliflower

Ditch the takeout menu and pull out a sheet pan for this version of an Indian restaurant favorite. Jarred tikka masala sauce is the time-saving shortcut that adds layers of flavor and gentle spice to chicken breast and cauliflower served with a side of fluffy store-bought naan.

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

Five ingredients plus 10 minutes of prep equals vacation math that anyone can do. The slow cooker does most of the work for this comforting, ooey-gooey baked ziti made with your favorite tomato sauce and two kinds of cheese.

Weeknight Pasta Fagioli

Even if you can’t remember what day it is, this quick and easy riff on “pasta fazool” is ready whenever you are. A mix of pre-chopped fresh, frozen, and canned veggies and beans helps get this comforting soup with ramen noodles and fresh basil on the table in 15 minutes.

Chicken with Peas and Mushrooms

Just add your favorite starch alongside this cozy skillet chicken for a complete, cold-weather comfort meal that’s ready in 15 minutes. A simple three-ingredient pan sauce made with garlic adds flavor and luscious texture to chicken breasts cooked together with sliced mushrooms and frozen peas.

Christmas Eve Pasta with Grape Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Christmas may be over, but there’s no wrong time to enjoy this festive,15-minute pasta decked in red and green. Grape tomatoes and mini mozzarella pearls are the “ornaments” tossed with linguine noodles tinted green from store-bought pesto and fresh basil.