Easy, simple, and flavorful Christmas lunch ideas you need to try!
The merriest of the season is coming and what better way to celebrate it than by spending that day with our beloved family, and of course eating delicious and healthy meals with them.
So, are you done planning what to serve your guests?
If not, then worry no more!
Festive Christmas Lunch Ideas You Can Meal Prep
We have the most amazing and sumptuous Christmas lunch ideas that everyone will love! From roasted glazed ham to roasted chicken, pasta, and more, they are sure to bring more colors and freshness to your festive Holidays!
Plus, they’re the perfect meal prep recipes so you can at least save time during this super busy season.
So check these out, lovelies, and add these recipes to your list right now!
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Delicious Christmas Lunch Ideas You Can Meal Prep
1. Oven Roasted Cranberry Dijon Glazed Ham
Photo Credit: thefoodcharlatan.com
First on the list of our Christmas lunch ideas is this festive Oven Roasted Cranberry Dijon Glazed Ham!
Since fresh cranberries are used in this recipe, it is ideal for the holiday season!
The dijon mustard adds a great zing that I enjoy. It’s very simple to put together this recipe that shows how to glaze a ham.
See it here: The Food Charlatan
2. Gruyere Mushroom Caramelized Onion Bites (Christmas lunch ideas)
Photo Credit: littlespicejar.com
I’ve never had anything like these caramelized onion bites before! They are the ideal appetizer to serve to guests before a formal holiday lunch.
The caramelized onion and sautéed mushroom filling can be prepared up to 48 hours ahead of time, but nobody needs to know that because they look so fancy.
Your holidays will be even more amazing thanks to the caramelized onion bites. The smoky gruyere, the caramelized onions, the mushrooms, and the garlic – this is what dreams are made of!
See it here: Little Spice Jar
3. Roasted Mushrooms in a Browned Butter, Garlic and Thyme Sauce
Photo Credit: closetcooking.com
It only takes a few simple steps to prepare this dish: roast the mushrooms, brown some butter, add the garlic and thyme, and then toss the roasted mushrooms into the sauce.
With mushrooms, garlic, and butter, you really can’t go wrong. Browning the butter, with its slightly nutty flavor and aroma, only improves the dish.
This dish of roasted mushrooms with browned butter, garlic, and thyme makes a delicious side dish for any Christmas lunch meal.
See it here: Closet Cooking
4. Red Wine Cranberry Braised Short Ribs (Christmas lunch ideas)
Photo Credit: halfbakedharvest.com
With fresh herbs, sweet cranberries, and red wine, short ribs are slowly cooked.
These braised short ribs are the one warm holiday dish you must prepare.
They are a festive, one-pot lunch or dinner that is delicious!
See it here: Half Baked Harvest
5. Sausage Stuffing Balls – Juicy And Delicious
Photo Credit: insidetherustickitchen.com
Sausage, apple, garlic, and herbs combine to make delicious, soft, and juicy sausage stuffing balls.
These bite-sized treats are ideal for any festive spread, whether it’s Christmas, Thanksgiving, or simply because it’s the best time of year!
Serve with cranberry sauce made from scratch.
See it here: Inside the Rustic Kitchen
6. Cranberry Jalapeno Dip for the Holidays (Christmas lunch ideas)
Photo Credit: sparrowsandlily.com
This dip is incredibly festive and has such a distinctive taste combination.
One of the tastiest appetizers I’ve had in a long time is made out of cranberry, jalapeno, green onion, and cream cheese.
It is one of the most “complete” dishes I’ve ever tasted when eaten with crackers since it has the perfect balance of acidic, spicy, and sweet.
See it here: Sparrows and Lily
7. Roasted Italian Tomatoes
Photo Credit: cantstayoutofthekitchen.com
I can’t recommend these Roasted Italian Tomatoes enough if you need to use up garden tomatoes or want a delicious (low-calorie) side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
They’re extremely simple to make. They’re much better with fresh herbs, but if you can’t find any, dried herbs will suffice.
Roasted Italian tomatoes are low in calories, gluten-free, and vegan for those who prefer to eat clean.
See it here: Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen
8. Sheet Pan Honey Balsamic Chicken Thighs with Veggies (Christmas lunch ideas)
Photo Credit: myfoodstory.com
With a finger-licking honey balsamic marinade, everything is cooked on a single sheet pan until the chicken is crispy and golden.
Is there anything better than flavorful chicken and vegetables roasted in one skillet throughout the year, regardless of the season or the weather?
Our go-to recipe is this sheet pan honey balsamic chicken thighs. We adore balsamic vinegar and the sweetness and tang it can give to a salad, an entrée, or an appetizer.
See it here: My Food Story
9. One Pan Broccoli Cheese Wild Rice Casserole
Photo Credit: halfbakedharvest.com
In one casserole, you’ll find roasted broccoli, fresh herbs, hearty wild rice, and plenty of melty cheese.
This works well as both a healthy vegetarian main course and a side dish for your next holiday roast.
Whatever way you serve it, cheesy broccoli with rice is always a winning combination!
See it here: Half Baked Harvest
10. Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots (Christmas lunch ideas)
Photo Credit: eatwell101.com
Honey garlic butter roasted carrots are incredibly simple to prepare and delicious!
It’s the perfect side for a weeknight meal or a holiday crowd, with a pinch of cracked black pepper and Kosher salt.
See it here: Eatwell101
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11. Roasted Butternut Squash Wild Rice Salad with Apple and Cranberries
Photo Credit: kristineskitchenblog.com
You’ll love this recipe because it’s so adaptable. I’m sure you’ll find a reason to make this wild rice salad as long as butternut squash is in season.
Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas lunch, or on any random day, this salad is fantastic! You’re doing Sunday meal prep and need to prepare lunches for the week? This is perfect!
The flavors meld over three days in the refrigerator, making this healthy wild rice salad even better.
Whether you’re preparing ahead for your meals or a holiday dinner, the make-ahead option is very convenient.
See it here: Kristine’s Kitchen
12. Cranberry Balsamic Roasted Chicken (Christmas lunch ideas)
Photo Credit: cottercrunch.com
For a Christmas lunch table, this recipe for cranberry chicken makes a simple, healthy dish.
Cranberries and fresh thyme enhance the flavor of the chicken while the tangy balsamic marinade keeps the meat juicy.
Not to mention, cranberries are high in vitamin C and other antioxidants. They are undoubtedly among the healthiest foods on earth!
The result? A juicy, crispy-skinned chicken dinner with tangy and tart flavors.
It’s a fantastic recipe for making meals in advance.
See it here: Cotter Crunch
13. Ginger Sesame Chicken Potstickers with Sweet Chili Pomegranate Sauce
Photo Credit: halfbakedharvest.com
Ginger Sesame Chicken Potstickers with Sweet Chili Pomegranate Sauce are superior to takeout.
With chicken, ginger, and sesame-crusted wrappers, these simple homemade potstickers are served with a sweet and sour chili pomegranate sauce.
Serve these as an appetizer at your upcoming holiday party or prepare them as a fun and healthy dinner any night of the week!
See it here: Half Baked Harvest
14. Sausage Cheddar and Mushroom Pasta Bake (Christmas lunch ideas)
Photo Credit: sainsburysmagazine.co.uk
A holiday lunch isn’t complete without pasta. So if you’re looking for one, try this pasta recipe! It comes with mushrooms, sausage, and cheddar.
This super indulgent dish will surely fill your appetite!
See it here: Sainsbury’s Magazine
15. Healthier Instant Pot Coq au Vin
Photo Credit: halfbakedharvest.com
Coq au Vin is the fancy French way of saying chicken braised in red wine.
This dish is hearty, flavorful, warming, and delicious. Excellent for holiday entertaining as well as a straightforward family lunch or dinner.
For chilly fall and winter nights when you want a fancy slow-braised chicken but need it ready in less than an hour, try this healthier Instant Pot coq au vin.
All are prepared in an instant pot (or a slow cooker) with basic, healthy ingredients that you may already have.
See it here: Half Baked Harvest
16. Christmas Honeycomb Cannelloni (Christmas lunch ideas)
Photo Credit: cookrepublic.com
The Christmas honeycomb cannelloni is based on the lasagne concept but instead of layering horizontally, you layer vertically.
You can use mincemeat, go meatless, and fill it up with veggies and legumes.
After an hour of your undivided attention, you can put it away for a few hours and completely forget about it.
Then, all that’s left to do is bake it in the oven for 30 minutes before serving. It is the main dish that is vegetarian.
How many Christmas dishes can make that claim? It can easily feed 10 people as well.
See it here: Cook Republic
17. The Ultimate Porchetta with Lemony Herb Sauce – A Holiday Showstopper
Photo Credit: cookbookmemoir.com
This porchetta turns any christmas lunch into a true celebration.
You slow roast pork belly until the meat turns tender and rich.
High heat at the end creates crisp crackling skin with bold crunch.
Collard greens, fennel, and herbs fill the center with savory flavor.
A bright lemony herb sauce adds fresh balance to each slice.
Serve this dish for christmas lunch when you want guests to remember the meal.
See it here: Cook Book Memoir
18. Pesto Cheese Stuffed Shells (Christmas lunch ideas)
Photo Credit: halfbakedharvest.com
Consider this dish to be somewhat similar to manicotti but in a shell form. It is also probably a little simpler to prepare than manicotti.
To flavor the sauce without spending all day cooking it, I love using spicy sausage. To give the sauce an extra kick, I also add a little vodka to it.
I adore all Italian sauces made with vodka.
You can prepare the dish in advance, keep it fully assembled in the fridge, and then bake it before serving.
See it here: Half Baked Harvest
19. Seared Duck Breast with Roasted Plums
Photo Credit: feastingathome.com
This simple yet decadent recipe is surprisingly quick and easy enough for a weeknight meal when you need a little extra love and self-care.
The earthy duck breast went perfectly with the tangy roasted plums.
Make it also for a special occasion like Christmas lunch. It takes 35 minutes to prepare and is an excellent introduction to duck if you’ve never cooked it before.
See it here: Feasting at Home
20. Winter Pomegranate Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts. (Christmas lunch ideas)
Photo Credit: halfbakedharvest.com
My favorite “house” salad is this Winter Pomegranate Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts and Balsamic Fig Vinaigrette.
Baby arugula, mixed greens, pomegranates, sweet and spicy maple-roasted walnuts, and plenty of crumbled goat cheese, all tossed with a delicious balsamic fig vinaigrette for a salad that’s easy to make, healthy, and goes with almost any meal.
This stunning winter salad will never get old and is best to include in your Christmas day lunch!
See it here: Half Baked Harvest
20 Delicious Christmas Lunch Ideas
Ingredients
- Oven Roasted Cranberry Dijon Glazed Ham
- Gruyere Mushroom Caramelized Onion Bites
- Roasted Mushrooms in a Browned Butter, Garlic and Thyme Sauce
- Red Wine Cranberry Braised Short Ribs
- Sausage Stuffing Balls – Juicy And Delicious
- Cranberry Jalapeno Dip for the Holidays
- Roasted Italian Tomatoes
- Sheet Pan Honey Balsamic Chicken Thighs with Veggies
- One Pan Broccoli Cheese Wild Rice Casserole
- Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots
- Roasted Butternut Squash Wild Rice Salad with Apple and Cranberries
- Cranberry Balsamic Roasted Chicken
- Ginger Sesame Chicken Potstickers with Sweet Chili Pomegranate Sauce
- Sausage Cheddar and Mushroom Pasta Bake
- Healthier Instant Pot Coq au Vin
- Christmas Honeycomb Cannelloni
- Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Loin with Roasted Apples
- Pesto Cheese Stuffed Shells
- Seared Duck Breast with Roasted Plums
- Winter Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts + Balsamic Fig Dressing
Instructions
- Select your choice of Christmas lunch ideas from the article.
- Click on the link to get the full recipes and instructions.
- Get ready to cook these delicious meals and enjoy!
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Alright, lovelies! I hope this list of 20 Delicious Christmas Lunch Ideas helps you plan your meal this Holiday season.
What’s your favorite Christmas recipe? Tell me more about it in the comments!
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Looking at these sumptuous meals makes me hungry already! No. 17 looks so festive! I wanna try that one.
You shared lunch ideas that keep holiday meals simple and smooth.