Best Non Traditional Christmas Dinner Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I have for Christmas dinner instead of turkey? ›

Simplify the Menu

Create a holiday menu and ask dinner guests to contribute something. A family member or close friend can bring anything from a bottle of wine to mashed potatoes. When you make the menu, ask the whole family what they want included in the holiday menus.

Other poultry candidates include rich and fatty duck or roasted chicken, both of which will stand in seamlessly and pair perfectly with classic Thanksgiving sides. There are also cuts of beef to consider such as prime rib, beef tenderloin, brisket or pot roast.

Nut Roast. The most popular Christmas meal for vegetarians and vegans is the nut roast. This typically describes a mixture of nuts, breadcrumbs, leeks, onions, broth and either oil or butter. However, this recipe is malleable and offers the opportunity for many alterations according to personal preference.

Overall the traditional Christmas dinner classic, the turkey, is far and away the winner for most popular festive food.

You likely will want to choose a main first, like a turkey, Christmas ham, casserole or other show-stopping dishes. Then, you can compliment your main with Christmas side dishes and holiday appetizers. And of course, you can't forget about sweet Christmas desserts and festive co*cktails to sip on throughout the night!

Traditional American Christmas dinner food. The traditional American Christmas dinner is very similar to a Thanksgiving dinner. It usually includes a stuffed bird (turkey is the most common), with gravy and some classic sides.

– If you don't know the host well, play it safe with flowers, a house plant, a bottle of wine, or a box of boutique chocolates. – If you know the host well, choose a gift you know they will like—a small artwork, a six-pack of their favorite craft beer, or a special Christmas tree ornament.

What can I serve instead of turkey? ›

For smaller crowds, swap the turkey with chicken, Cornish game hens, or stuff and roast individual quails for each guest, which is very elegant for a plated meal. Our roast chicken with sourdough stuffing, pomegranate roast chicken, and cranberry stuffed cornish game hen bring a festive Thanksgiving vibe to the table.