Planning a holiday meal is easier when you have ideas that invite everyone to the table. These menus use comforting flavors that suit gatherings of all sizes. Mix and match dishes to build a warm, welcoming spread, and with a bit of prep each option can help you serve a memorable celebration. Use these suggestions to start planning your next festive feast.
A roast chicken adds a homey centerpiece and fills the house with a gentle aroma. It’s a classic choice that appeals to both kids and adults; the golden skin and tender meat pair well with simple vegetables or soft rolls. You’ll need a whole chicken, softened butter, minced garlic, thyme, rosemary, olive oil, lemon, salt, pepper, and optional carrots, potatoes or onions. Rub the dried chicken with a butter, garlic and herb mixture, tuck butter under the skin for moisture, arrange vegetables around it, drizzle with olive oil, roast at 475°F (245°C) for about 10 minutes, then lower to 375°F (190°C) until cooked through. Let it rest before slicing.
A creamy baked pasta is comforting and crowd-pleasing, easy to make ahead and reheat before guests arrive. Ingredients include pasta, milk and/or cream, butter, flour, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic, nutmeg, salt and pepper, with optional spinach, mushrooms or shredded chicken. Cook the pasta, make a béchamel-style sauce with butter, flour, milk and cream, stir in garlic and cheeses, combine with the pasta, top with extra cheese and bake at 375°F (190°C) until lightly golden.
A maple-glazed ham offers a sweet-and-savory centerpiece that slices easily and feeds a crowd, with leftovers that work well for breakfast. You’ll need a whole ham, maple syrup, brown sugar, mustard, garlic, black pepper, cloves, butter and optional pineapple or orange slices and citrus zest. Score the ham, brush on the glaze, bake at 325°F (165°C) while basting to build a glossy finish, and add fruit slices toward the end of baking. Let it rest before carving.
A slow-cooked beef stew is hearty and warming, ideal for cool evenings and easy to serve with bread or mashed potatoes. Use beef chunks, carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, garlic, tomato paste, broth, bay leaves, salt, pepper and optional peas or mushrooms; a little flour thickens the sauce and parsley brightens the dish. Brown the beef, add the vegetables, tomato paste, broth and seasonings, then simmer gently until the beef is tender and the vegetables are soft.
Baked salmon brings a lighter, bright option to the holiday table, with lemon and dill giving it a fresh, seasonal flavor. You’ll need salmon fillets, lemon, dill, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper, plus optional butter and extra lemon slices. Place the fillets on a tray, drizzle with olive oil, add garlic, dill and lemon, and bake at 400°F (205°C) until the salmon flakes easily.
Holiday stuffed peppers add color and a balanced mix of vegetables and protein, making an attractive and practical choice for gatherings. Ingredients include bell peppers, rice, ground beef or turkey, onions, garlic, tomatoes, cheese, herbs, salt, pepper, and optional beans or corn. Cut the tops off the peppers and remove seeds, cook the filling by mixing rice, meat and seasonings, fill the peppers, top with cheese and bake at 375°F (190°C) until the peppers are tender.
Mashed potatoes with gravy are a comforting staple that complements many mains. You’ll need potatoes, butter, cream or milk, garlic, salt, pepper and parsley; for gravy use broth, flour, butter and optional onions. Boil potatoes until tender, mash with butter and cream, make gravy by whisking flour into butter then adding broth and simmering until smooth, and serve the potatoes with warm gravy.
A Chicken Alfredo bake is creamy, filling and easy to prepare ahead. Ingredients include pasta, cooked chicken, butter, cream, Parmesan, garlic, salt, pepper and parsley, with optional spinach and mozzarella. Prepare an Alfredo sauce with butter, cream and Parmesan, combine with cooked pasta and chicken, transfer to a baking dish, top with cheese and bake at 375°F (190°C) until golden.
A vegetable stir-fry offers a lighter, fresh option and cooks quickly—perfect for balancing heavier dishes. Use broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, honey and cornstarch, with optional tofu or chicken, sesame oil and scallions. Stir-fry the vegetables in hot oil until tender-crisp, add garlic and ginger, toss in a slightly thickened soy sauce and serve over rice or noodles.
Shepherd’s pie is a one-dish crowd-pleaser that combines meat, vegetables and mashed potatoes for a comforting bake that holds up well on a buffet. Ingredients include ground beef or lamb, onions, carrots, peas, tomato paste, broth, mashed potatoes, butter, salt, pepper and optional cream for the potatoes and paprika for color. Cook the meat and vegetables with tomato paste and broth, spread in a baking dish, top with mashed potatoes and bake at 375°F (190°C) until the top is lightly golden.
Bread pudding adds gentle sweetness and seasonal spices to the table while using up leftover bread. You’ll need bread cubes, milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, butter and optional raisins or chocolate chips, with brown sugar to deepen the flavor. Mix bread with the milk-and-egg mixture, stir in spices and add-ins, transfer to a baking dish and bake at 350°F (175°C) until set.
Pulled pork is a low-maintenance option that becomes tender as it cooks slowly and is great for sandwiches or bowls. Use pork shoulder, onions, garlic, apple juice, vinegar, brown sugar, salt, pepper, paprika, bay leaves and optional honey. Brown the pork, place it in a slow cooker with the aromatics, liquids and seasonings, cook until it’s tender enough to shred, and serve warm.
