15 Classic Holiday Menus
Photo, Erik Putz. Food styling, Ashley Denton. Prop styling, Rayna Marlee Schwartz.
Even if the menu doesn't change a lot from year to year (who wants to give up turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and stuffing?) there are plenty of ways to dress up the classics so they pack a little more flavour and visual punch. From traditional tourtière, to herbed turkeys, cranberry stuffing and more, here are menus to inspire this year's holiday meals:
Meatless Menu
Appetizer
Fig and Radicchio Salad
Main
Butternut Squash Wellingtons
Sides
Cheesy Creamed Corn
Miso Mashed Potatoes
Gingery Green Beans with crispy fried onions
Dessert
Classic apple pie
Classic turkey dinner
Cocktail
Mulled wine sangria
Appetizer
Holiday salad with bacon pangrattato
Shallot tarte tatin
Main
Roast turkey with cider gravy
Side
Pesto green beans
Creamy scalloped potatoes with crispy potato skins
Dessert
Pomegranate posset
Updated Christmas dinner
Cocktail
Cranberry Aperol spritz
Appetizer
Waldorf salad with chive dressing
Roasted Brussels sprouts with pork belly
Main
Garlic butter turkey with roasted garlic gravy
Roasted, spiced squash wedges
Ciabatta and sausage stuffing
Dessert
Apple cobbler
A Christmas Eve feast
Appetizer
Lobster chowder
Main
Holiday tourtière
Sides
Beet relish
Pickled mustard seeds
Pear and watercress salad
Dessert
Sticky toffee pudding topped with gingerbread caramel sauce and vanilla custard sauce
Drinks
Moonshine sour
A homestyle holiday menu
Main
Pineapple-ginger-glazed ham
Sides
Cheddar and onion buttermilk biscuits
Scalloped potatoes
Kale and brussels sprouts salad
Sweet and sour red cabbage and pears
Dessert
Gingerbread layer cake with brown butter icing
Traditional British holiday menu
Appetizer
Velvety mushroom soup
Main
Ultimate roast beef and gravy
Sides
Carrot and rutabaga mash
Yorkshire puddings
Crispy roast potatoes
Dessert
Christmas pudding with brandy-butter sauce
Rustic holiday dinner menu
Appetizer
Herbed goat cheese
Main
Roast oregano lamb with vegetable caponata
Feta pistachio pesto and pita
Dessert
Chocolate pâté
French-Canadian holiday dinner menu
Appetizer
Modern pea soup
Main
Tourtiére tart
Sides
Quick-pickled vegetables
Buttery root vegetables
Desserts
Maple crème brûlée
Maple fudge
Tricked-out turkey dinner
Sides
Italian polenta stuffing
Sweet and sour carrots
Baked cranberry sauce
Dessert
White fruitcake
Tarted-up holiday brunch
Main
French onion tart
Side
Red and green salad with caper vinaigrette
Dessert
Sweet monkey bread
Cracklin’ pork roast dinner
Main
Cracklin’ pork roast with marsala gravy
Sides
Dreamy creamy potato mash
Garlicky kale
Dessert
No-bake mocha biscuit cake
Luxe Christmas Eve menu
Appetizer
Pea and asparagus soup
Side
Arugula and hazelnut salad
Dessert
Classic lemon tart
English countryside holiday menu
Main
Bacon-wrapped tenderloin with caramelized shallots and cranberry-port jus
Sides
Crispy roasted potatoes
Lemony swiss chard
Dessert
Sticky-toffee pudding
Vegetarian Christmas menu
Appetizers
Roasted spiced almonds
Garlic-orange spiced olives
Pumpkin soup with maple-thyme cream
Main
Spinach and feta phyllo tart
Christmas orange salad
Dessert
Raspberry semifreddo
Watch: How to carve a turkey
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