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25 of Our Favorite No-Fuss Christmas Recipes

From Christmas Eve through Christmas dinner, these easy dishes serve up a big helping of holiday magic.

Once the holiday season is in full swing, the hectic flurry of shopping and cooking leaves you feeling like you’re never out of the kitchen. We say it’s time to go cold turkey and break that habit. After all, if you’re spending more time cooking than with loved ones, what’s the point? We’ve rounded up our absolute favorite Christmas recipes that are not only perfect for entertaining throughout the entire holiday but feature some smart Savory twists that will help you skip the fuss.  

Snacks and Drinks Christmas Recipes  

Christmas Cranberry Punch 

Bright, refreshing, and easy to double, this ruby red punch is perfect for toasting the end of a long, happy holiday. Sprigs of rosemary make it the drink of choice for a tree trimming or caroling party.  

Get the recipe: Christmas Cranberry Punch 

Citrus Sipper Mocktail  

This alcohol-free option still feels festive and fun thanks to its bright and bubbly flavor. For an extra touch, top off with non-alcoholic ginger beer or add sparkling wine to turn it into a cocktail. 

Get the recipe: Citrus Sipper Mocktail

Cucumber and Cheese Christmas Trees  

This healthy appetizer takes just minutes to assemble and makes your snack table look like a miniature Christmas tree lot. Try using pepper jack with its red and green chiles as a festive upgrade to the Monterey Jack for the cutout stars.  

Get the recipe: Cucumber and Cheese Christmas Trees 

Pepperoni and Cheese “Candy Cane”  

A savory spin on an instantly recognizable design, this playful appetizer doubles as a conversation starter. It’s easy enough to be a fun project for even the youngest elves in your workshop.  

Get the recipe: Pepperoni and Cheese “Candy Cane” 

Eggnog Hot Chocolate 

Two Christmas mainstays team up in this double feature drink we never knew we needed. Whether you’re watching the snowfall out the window or staying warm by the fire with your family, this velvety smooth, winter warmer really captures the spirit of the holidays.  

Get the recipe: Eggnog Hot Chocolate 

Holiday Cheese Trees   

Deck the halls with this adorable appetizer! This recipe is the life of any party because it’s cute, cheesy, and budget-friendly (our favorite part). It’s perfect for turning your cheeseboard into a festive masterpiece. 

Get the recipe: Holiday Cheese Trees 

Raspberry and Brie Bites   

These savory-sweet morsels combine just five ingredients, including tart jam and crunchy nuts, for a perfect addition to any festive gathering. It’s a great choice for last-minute entertaining. 

Get the recipe: Raspberry and Brie Bites

Eve and Dinner Christmas Recipes

Mashed Butternut Squash  

Simplify your side dish prep with pre-cut squash! This vibrant and easy vegetarian side comes together in under 20 minutes, making it a quick and delicious seasonal addition to any meal. 

Get the recipe: Mashed Butternut Squash

Ginger Beer-Glazed Spiral Ham  

Your favorite cocktail (or mocktail) just became your go-to secret ingredient for the perfect holiday ham. Fresh ginger helps to amp up the gingery flavors while brown sugar and soy sauce help to balance with sweetness and salt. We especially love using clove and sage to really bring out the festive flavors.  

Get the recipe: Ginger Beer-Glazed Spiral Ham 

Salt-Crusted Prime Rib  

Make your holiday feast unforgettable with this impressive prime rib. It’s roasted to perfection with a salt crust that locks in the flavor. Serve it with a simple, five-ingredient creamy horseradish sauce for a show stopping entrée. 

Get the recipe: Salt-Crusted Prime Rib 

Christmas Eve Pasta with Grape Tomatoes and Mozzarella  

These cheerful little bowls of pasta are bursting with holiday colors and have the flavor to match. It’s a great, fast meal to throw together on Christmas Eve so you can spend more time with your family.  

Get the recipe: Christmas Eve Pasta with Grape Tomatoes and Mozzarella 

Bourbon and Orange-Glazed Ham 

Spicy bourbon, sweet brown sugar, and zesty citrus come together for the perfect holiday-worthy glaze. This five-ingredient ham is a true showstopper that takes just five minutes to prepare but will have your guests talking about it for years to come.  

Get the recipe: Bourbon and Orange-Glazed Ham 

Easy Garlic and Sage Turkey 

This flavorful recipe combines the aromatic blend of garlic and sage with juicy, tender turkey for a hassle-free, yet impressive main dish. Perfect for a stress-free holiday dinner, it’s a surefire way to elevate your meal. 

Get the recipe: Easy Garlic and Sage Turkey 

Brussels Sprouts and Arugula Salad with Pomegranate Dressing  

Bright red pomegranate seeds sparkle like ornaments in this festive winter salad made of crunchy shredded Brussels sprouts and peppery arugula. A tart pomegranate dressing balances the bitter greens and brings it all together.   

Get the recipe: Brussels Sprout and Arugula Salad with Pomegranate Dressing   

Creamy Brie Mashed Potatoes 

This luxurious side dish combines rich, creamy Brie cheese with perfectly mashed potatoes for an irresistible, decadent twist on a classic. It’s the perfect (super easy) way to add a touch of elegance to your holiday dinner. 

Get the recipe: Creamy Brie Mashed Potatoes 

Breakfast Christmas Recipes

Overnight Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole  

Bypass all the hard work of making French toast without shortcutting the flavor. Assemble it the night before and your slow cooker’s warming function will make sure it’s hot and ready at the same time as your family starts opening gifts.  

Get the recipe: Overnight Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole 

Everything Bagel Breakfast Bake  

Packed with everything bagels, cheese, and eggs, your family will want to tear into this casserole faster than the wrapping paper on their gifts. Prepped the night before, it’s the no-fuss breakfast star of Christmas morning.  

Get the recipe: Everything Bagel Breakfast Bake 

Make-Ahead Sheet Pan Eggnog Pancakes 

These fluffy, festive pancakes are infused with the rich flavor of eggnog and baked on a sheet pan for easy serving. Perfect for feeding a crowd with minimal effort, they make holiday mornings both delicious and stress-free. 

Get the recipe: Make-Ahead Sheet Pan Eggnog Pancakes 

Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree  

Christmas recipes don’t need to be hard! Pop open a tube of premade cinnamon rolls and you have a perfect Christmas morning dish, but amp them up with orange, sanding sugar, cinnamon candies, and marshmallows and arrange them into a Christmas tree shape, and you have a true holiday showstopper.  

Get the recipe: Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree 

Sweet Christmas Recipes  

Stained-Glass Ginger Cookies  

These nostalgic, see-through cookies are so much fun to make with kids and significantly easier than they seem. We like to bake extra to hang on the Christmas tree and let the lights shine through the colored candy windows.  

Get the recipe: Stained-Glass Ginger Cookies 

Three-Ingredient Peppermint Fudge 

Sweetened condensed milk is the secret behind the smoothest fudge you’ve ever had. With the time-tested pairing of peppermint and chocolate, this festive concoction is the epitome of simple and sweet.  

Get the recipe: Three-Ingredient Peppermint Fudge   

Sugar Cookie Bars 

Why mess with trays of fussy individual cookies when you can just press the dough in a pan and then cut them into bars? Kids will love these just as they are with the colorful frostings, but we recommend the fruitcake variation for grownups who love a little extra merry in their holiday.  

Get the recipe: Sugar Cookie Bars 

Cream Puff Tower 

This centerpiece dessert, called a croquembouche in France, will have all your guests talking, and nobody has to know that you never turned on the oven. Store-bought frozen cream puffs trim hours of work off a traditional croquembouche, and the foam cone center makes it much easier to assemble.  

Get the recipe: Cream Puff Tower 

Christmas Wreath Cupcakes  

This festive dessert is a breeze with store-bought cake mix and vanilla frosting. Then comes the fun part: Decorating the cupcakes with colorful sprinkles and Christmas candies for a show-stopping centerpiece that’s as fun to make as it is to eat.  

Get the recipe: Christmas Wreath Cupcakes

Cake Mix Gingerbread Men 

Doctoring up a boxed spice cake mix means you’re only minutes away from rolling and cutting out gingerbread cookies with the kids. Squeeze pouches of white icing makes them easy for even the smallest of hands to decorate.  

Get the recipe: Cake Mix Gingerbread Men 

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