When the entire family is coming over, it is helpful to have recipes that are easy to prepare and easy to scale up. These nineteen simple recipes cover appetizers, side dishes, main courses, desserts, and even drinks, so you will have everything you need. All of the recipes are make-ahead, so you will not have to struggle preparing the food while enjoying your party. Let's make sure we have food for everyone.
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1) Festive Cranberry Meatballs
Sweet and tangy, these disappear off the appetizer table every single year!
Five simple dinners. One grocery list.
No recipe hunting, no messy shopping notes, no complicated chef projects. Just family dinners that fit real weeks.
Ingredients
Method
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Add the meatballs and stir to coat them well.
- Cover and simmer 25-30 minutes until the meatballs are heated through.
- Transfer to a slow cooker on warm and serve with toothpicks.
Notes
2) Baked Brie with Apricot Preserves
Melty, gooey, and elegant with hardly any work involved — this is your kind of appetizer!
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350F and place the brie in a small baking dish.
- Bake the brie for 12-15 minutes until soft and gooey inside.
- Warm the apricot preserves with the honey until pourable.
- Spoon the apricot mixture over the warm brie.
- Top with toasted almonds and thyme, and serve with crackers.
3) Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots
Easy as pie, you can make a whole sheet pan of these tasty, glazed treats!
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 425F and line a large baking sheet.
- Toss the carrots with olive oil, garlic, melted butter, honey, and salt.
- Spread in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Roast 25-30 minutes, tossing once, until caramelized and tender.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
4) Maple Mustard Ham Glaze
An easy method for transforming a simple ham into a table centerpiece.
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk maple syrup, Dijon, brown sugar, vinegar, and cloves in a saucepan.
- Simmer over medium heat, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Reheat a fully cooked ham following its package or full recipe. Brush with half the warm glaze during the final 30 minutes.
- Brush with remaining glaze during the final 15 minutes; continue reheating to the specified endpoint.
- For table service, reserve a clean portion before any brush touches the ham.
Notes
5) Gingerbread Trifle
There are no baking worries as you showcase a glass bowl layered with spice cake, cream, and caramel.
Ingredients
Method
- Whip the heavy cream with the powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon to soft peaks.
- Layer half the gingerbread cubes in the bottom of a trifle bowl.
- Add a layer of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel.
- Repeat with the remaining cake, cream, and caramel.
- Top with gingersnap crumbs and chill at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
6) Parmesan Garlic Potatoes
Cheesy crispy edges potatoes that feed a crowd and cost almost nothing!
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 425F and toss the potatoes with olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Spread cut-side down on a baking sheet.
- Roast 25 minutes until the bottoms are golden and crisp.
- Sprinkle with parmesan and roast 8-10 more minutes until melted and crusty.
- Serve hot with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
7) Eggnog Cheesecake Bars
All that eggnog cheesecake magic, now cut into easy squares and ready to serve a big crowd!
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the graham crumbs and melted butter, press into a parchment-lined 9x13 pan, and bake at 325F for 10 minutes.
- Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
- Blend in the eggnog, eggs, vanilla, and nutmeg.
- Pour over the crust and bake at 325F for 30-35 minutes until just set.
- Cool completely, then chill at least 3 hours.
- Dust with nutmeg and cut into bars.
Notes
8) Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
It's salty and crispy, with a surprisingly nice appearance for how easy it is to prepare.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Bundle 3-4 asparagus spears together and wrap each bundle with a slice of bacon.
- Place seam-side down on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with brown sugar and pepper.
- Roast 22-25 minutes until the bacon is crisp and the asparagus is tender.
9) Peppermint Bark Fudge
Creamy chocolate fudge with a crunchy candy cane topping! WOW! You would want to make a giant batch so you can share with friends and family.
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Ingredients
Method
- Line an 8x8 pan with parchment.
- Melt the semisweet chips with the condensed milk, peppermint extract, and salt until smooth.
- Spread the chocolate fudge into the pan.
- Melt the white chocolate and drizzle it over the top, swirling lightly.
- Sprinkle with crushed peppermint and press it in gently.
- Chill at least 2 hours, then cut into squares.
10) Sweet Potato Casserole
The classic dessert that's so good everyone scrapes the bowl clean!
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease a large baking dish.
- Mix the mashed sweet potatoes with 0.25 cup brown sugar, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla.
- Spread into the baking dish.
- Combine the pecans, remaining brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon for the topping.
- Sprinkle the topping over the sweet potatoes.
- Bake 30-35 minutes until set and golden on top.
11) Pomegranate Brussels Sprouts
Even skeptics will come around to these crispy roasted sprouts with little ruby jewels.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 425F and toss the sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Spread cut-side down on a baking sheet.
- Roast 25-30 minutes until crispy and deeply browned.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
- Toss with pomegranate seeds and toasted pecans, then serve.
12) Chocolate Yule Log
It looks like a masterpiece from a bakery, and even better, it tastes amazing. Plus, it’s easier to make than you think!
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a jelly-roll pan with parchment.
- Beat the egg yolks with sugar until pale, then fold in the cocoa and flour.
- Whip the egg whites to stiff peaks and gently fold them in.
- Spread into the pan and bake 10-12 minutes, then roll up warm in a towel to cool.
- Whip the cream with powdered sugar and vanilla, unroll the cake, and spread the filling.
- Re-roll the cake, frost with ganache, drag a fork for bark texture, and chill 1 hour before serving.
Notes
13) Balsamic Glazed Roast Beef
A beautiful, succulent roast that has a wonderfully sweet and tangy crust and cuts beautifully.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 450F and pat the roast dry.
- Whisk the balsamic, Dijon, garlic, rosemary, olive oil, salt, and pepper into a paste.
- Rub the paste all over the roast and place it on a rack in a roasting pan.
- Roast at 450F for 15 minutes, then lower to 325F.
- Continue roasting about 55 minutes until a thermometer reads 130F for medium-rare.
- Rest 15 minutes, then slice thin against the grain.
Notes
14) Spinach Artichoke Dip
These appetizers ooze with cheesy goodness and has everyone surrounding them, all night long.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375F and grease a baking dish.
- Beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic, and salt until smooth.
- Fold in the spinach, artichokes, mozzarella, and half the parmesan.
- Spread into the dish and top with the remaining parmesan.
- Bake 22-25 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
- Serve warm with bread and crackers.
Notes
15) Caramel Apple Sangria
Here is a punch recipe that evokes the coziest vibes of both fall and Christmas, and can be made in pitcher batches.
Ingredients
Method
- Combine the white wine, apple cider, caramel syrup, and caramel vodka in a large pitcher.
- Stir in the apple slices and cinnamon sticks.
- Chill at least 2 hours.
- Top with club soda right before serving.
- Pour over ice and garnish each glass with an apple slice.
Notes
16) Cinnamon Sugar Pecans
Sweet and crunchy, they are really good and dangerous. You should set out a bowl and see them vanish.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 250F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Whisk the egg white with the vanilla until frothy.
- Toss the pecans in the egg white until coated.
- Mix the sugar, cinnamon, and salt, then toss with the pecans.
- Spread on the baking sheet and bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Cool completely so they crisp up before serving.
17) Lemon Herb Roasted Turkey
A bright and juicy turkey that is easier than expectations for the holiday.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 325F and pat the turkey dry.
- Mix the butter with lemon zest, garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
- Loosen the skin and spread the herb butter under and over the skin.
- Place the lemon halves inside the cavity and tie the legs.
- Roast about 3.5 hours, basting occasionally, until a thermometer reads 165F in the thigh.
- Rest 20 minutes before carving.
Notes
18) Cheddar Sausage Biscuits
Cheesy bites are great for breakfast or as a tasty appetizer or snack.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375F and brown the sausage in a skillet, then drain.
- Stir together the baking mix, cheddar, and garlic powder.
- Mix in the cooked sausage and milk until a soft dough forms.
- Scoop heaping spoonfuls onto a lined baking sheet.
- Bake 18-20 minutes until golden, then brush with melted butter.
19) Spiced Mulled Wine
Warm and fragrant, it’s the beverage that fills the entire house with the aroma of Christmas.
Ingredients
Method
- Pour the red wine into a large pot over low heat.
- Add the orange slices, honey, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise.
- Warm gently for 25-30 minutes, never letting it boil.
- Stir in the brandy at the end.
- Ladle into mugs, garnishing with an orange slice and a cinnamon stick.
