By Brooks Halliday
I’m of Italian heritage, and my husband is Jewish (AKA a “pizza bagel” family), so I get to experience the best of both worlds during the holiday season. Our home is fully decked out with wreaths and stockings as well as dreidels and menorahs. We even host a Chrismukkah party every December that combines the best of Hanukkah and Christmas festivities and food. One of my favorite hybrid holiday events, however, comes after Christmas is over.
At the end of a month full of get-togethers and celebrations, the day after Christmas can feel like a letdown. Searching for a way to ward off the post-Yuletide blues, we landed on a tradition that has become a beloved bookend to our holiday. It’s a nod to my Jewish in-laws’ tradition of eating Chinese food and seeing a movie on Christmas Day. Instead of going to a restaurant or ordering takeout, I make an easy, Chinese-inspired meal at home. Then we drive to see Christmas lights and finish the night watching a movie in our PJs.
After days of non-stop cooking and baking for the holidays, I opt for easy dishes on the day after Christmas. I look for recipes where the slow cooker or air fryer does most of the work and/or semi-homemade recipes that use shortcut ingredients (if you’re new to the joys of frozen nugget orange chicken, read on!). I’ll usually pair the meal with store-bought sides, like frozen potstickers or egg rolls, and microwave-ready rice so I get a relaxing, low-key Boxing Day along with the rest of the family.
Whether you want to start a tradition of your own or you’re just looking for easy, low-lift, post-holiday meal ideas, these tasty Chinese-inspired recipes are a gift that keeps on giving.
Air Fryer Sesame Chicken with Broccoli
Sesame chicken is my husband’s favorite, so when I found I could mimic our favorite restaurant’s version using the air fryer, I was psyched. The best part is that it’s totally make-ahead friendly. I freeze the chicken thighs in the marinade and just pop them in the air fryer when we’re ready to eat.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Sesame Chicken with Broccoli
Orange Chicken
If you have kids, odds are you have a bag of chicken nuggets in the freezer, and they’re more versatile than you might think. Just add a homemade, four-ingredient sauce that starts with orange marmalade, and you’ve got tangy, takeout-style orange chicken on the table in 15 minutes.
Get the recipe: Orange Chicken
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
This beef and broccoli was one of the first recipes that made me fall in love with my slow cooker. The meat comes out perfectly fork-tender every time. I usually have most of the other ingredients on hand, including frozen broccoli, so I make it year-round. I love that I can just chop the steak, dump the ingredients in the slow cooker, and come back to a complete dinner waiting for me.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Kung Pao Shrimp
Seafood feels like a special occasion, but it’s also quick and easy, so this version of Kung Pao Shrimp is a post-Christmas go-to for me. I buy the veggies pre-chopped, so I can literally toss them together in a few minutes. The peanuts are a simple garnish, but the crunch factor really makes the dish a standout.
Get the recipe: Kung Pao Shrimp
Sweet and Sour Meatballs with Sugar Snap Peas
This homemade sweet and sour sauce made with canned pineapple is incredibly flavorful and versatile. Frozen turkey meatballs are a great vehicle because they’re already seasoned and ready to go, but I’ve also served this sauce with pork and chicken. My kids love anything sweet, so the pineapple chunks make this one an easy sell. They even eat the snap peas without complaints.
Get the recipe: Sweet and Sour Meatballs with Sugar Snap Peas
Speedy Vegetable Lo Mein
Vegetable lo mein is my go-to Chinese takeout order, so I make this 15-minute at-home version often. It’s always comforting, especially in winter, and it’s an easy way to get my kids to eat their veggies. I don’t even mind that they pick up the tiny corn with their hands and try to eat it kernel by kernel off the “cob.”
Get the recipe: Speedy Vegetable Lo Mein
Chicken and Broccoli Fried Rice
Rice is another surefire way to entice my little ones to eat their greens. In fact, my oldest would probably live on rice (and pizza) alone if I let him. This dish is a complete meal with protein, not only from the chicken, but also eggs. I always make extra because leftovers the next day are delicious, warm or cold.
Get the recipe: Chicken and Broccoli Fried Rice
Vegetarian Moo Shu Wraps
After a month of rich, heavy meals and desserts, these veggie moo shu wraps hit the spot. The jicama and cabbage bulk things up and add fiber, so they’re filling, but still light. I cut back the sriracha sauce for the kids’ version, but serve extra on the side. I was skeptical at first about using tortillas, but they work really well in place of the traditional, restaurant-style wraps.
Get the recipe: Vegetarian Moo Shu Wraps
Brooks Halliday is a writer, recipe developer, food stylist, and mom based in New York City. In addition to writing for Savory and Hannaford Fresh magazine, she’s created delicious dishes for The Barefoot Contessa TV series, the James Beard Award-nominated special “Barefoot in Washington,” as well as numerous cookbooks and product brands, including Coca-Cola, Tyson, and Pepsi.
