Christmas is coming up fast, and you are busy. It is a day for family and not to spend the day in the kitchen. Try one of the simple, delicious recipes to make your holiday easier.
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These are my favorite holiday recipes; while most of the recipes on this site are "Christmas friendly," here are some that I hope you will enjoy with your family.
Gatherings are ready-made for food safety issues and leftovers at the party. Let's plan for food safety and get it right. Check out the USDA Food Safety recommendations.
Breakfast Recipes
A great breakfast is a beautiful way to start the holiday morning, but you don't want to be stuck at the stove away from the family fun. Let's do something special with very little work that can be done ahead.
Smaller French Toast Casserole
French Toast Casserole is a classic breakfast/brunch dish for family gatherings or holidays. With this small batch recipe, you can easily make it for two or a crowd.
Small French Toast Casserole
Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake
This Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake recipe is fast and easy to make in under an hour. Filled with the sweetness of Cinnabun cinnamon rolls, topped with a tasty caramelized streusel topping and a frosting glaze, it is the perfect breakfast, brunch, or dessert recipe.
Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake Recipe
How to Cook Bacon in a Convection Oven
The easiest way to cook crispy bacon is in a convection oven on aluminum foil for easy cleanup of the bacon grease. Use standard or thick-cut bacon to make great crispy bacon strips for breakfast or other uses.
Convection Oven Bacon
How To Cook Sausage in the Oven
The best and easiest way to cook crispy and juicy breakfast sausage patties or links is in the oven. We always bake breakfast sausage patties or links, Italian sausages, or other full-size sausages for perfect sausages every time without the mess.
Bake Breakfast Sausage Patties
Main Dish Recipes
These recipes are for special and memorable meals that will keep you out of the kitchen.
Small Ribeye (Boneless Prime Rib) Roast
A ribeye roast, also known as a boneless prime rib roast, is a classic entrée for holidays and other special meals. With a garlic butter crust and delicious, juicy meat, this recipe is perfect for smaller gatherings but can easily be scaled for larger crowds. A bone-in stand rib roast can also be used.
Small Prime Rib Roast Recipe
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast—The Easy Way
Learn how to oven-roast a turkey breast the easiest way, with crispy skin and juicy, tender meat. With these easy, step-by-step photo instructions, anyone can bake turkey breasts perfectly.
Oven Roasted Turlkey Breast Recipe
Small Crock Pot Ham with Brown Sugar Honey Glaze
This Small Crock Pot Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze recipe uses Pineapple, a precooked quarter or half ham, and pantry spices to make a perfect holiday ham for a small household or as a second main dish for large holiday feasts.
Small Honey Glazed Ham Recipe
Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
Quick and easy, this New York Strip Steak recipe uses the classic sear-and-bake method to get the best moist and tender steaks every time. Trim and season, then a fast pan sear and finish to temperature in the oven.
Pan Seared Strip Steak
Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon
Learn to cook filet mignon like the best steakhouses. Start by pan-searing it briefly in a cast iron skillet, then finish cooking it in the oven. Fast and easy, it makes perfectly juicy and tender beef filet steak.
How to Cook Filet Mignon
Side Dish Recipes
A holiday meal is not complete without some tasty side dishes. Here are some excellent choices that will round out the holiday feast—all easy to make or make ahead.
Cheesy Potatoes with Real Potatoes
These delicious cheesy potatoes are made from scratch with real potatoes. Sometimes called funeral potatoes, this classic potato casserole recipe is made the old-fashioned way without hashbrown potatoes or canned soup.
Cheesy Potatoes with Real Potatoes
Broccoli Slaw Salad
Broccoli Slaw Salad has great crunch and flavor. It has broccoli slaw salad, veggies, almonds, and rice noodles. The homemade dressing is a delicious touch.
Broccoli Slaw Salad Recipe
Baked Green Beans with Bacon
Baked Green Beans with Bacon are the perfect side dish with any meal—an easy green bean recipe with brown sugar, garlic, bacon, and tender green beans.
Baked Green Beans with Bacon
Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes
You can easily make this old-fashioned scalloped potato recipe with tender potatoes and a creamy sauce, just like Grandma would. It's a small-batch recipe that easily scales down to make scalloped potatoes for two or doubles to serve family size.
Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes
Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
This caramelized Parmesan roasted cauliflower recipe will become your favorite way to cook cauliflower. Using fresh or frozen, it makes a great hot baked side dish.
Roasted Cauliflower
Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole
Make the holidays complete with an Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole. This easy, traditional recipe starts by baking sweet potatoes and ends with a pecan brown sugar topping or the alternate classic marshmallow topping. It is a creamy holiday classic that we enjoy every holiday season.
Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Dessert Recipes
Let's get a sweet ending to the family feast. You want a memorable dessert to top off the day. All of these recipes are guaranteed to satisfy.
Easy Cheesecake Bars
These Easy Cheesecake Bars are creamy and delicious with a Graham cracker crust and lemon—the quick small-batch recipe you need with great tasting cheesecake bars.
Cheesecake Bar Recipe
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
This easy recipe for Chocolate Chip Cheesecake or cheesecake bar with Oreo crust will become your signature dessert for special occasions and parties. Make a traditional full-size cheesecake or cheesecake bars or bites for finger treats at parties.
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake and Bars
Easy Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache Glaze
It's easy to make this classic, eloquent dessert by following simple step-by-step instructions. Finish with a chocolate ganache glaze, and you have the perfect decadent ending to any special dinner.
Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe
Crock Pot Apple Crisp
This super easy Crock Pot Apple Crisp uses apples, oats, and pantry ingredients to make a delicious crock pot dessert perfect for a holiday or everyday dinner.
Crock Pot Apple Crisp
Holiday Candy
Homemade candy is great around the house for the holidays and makes terrific house gifts.
Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Chocolate peanut clusters are the best candy treat and are super easy to make at home in your crock pot. Lightly salted peanuts covered with sweet chocolate coating make the perfect gift, or keep them all for yourself—you can always make more with this smaller recipe.Only a few ingredients.
Chocolate Peanut Cluster Recipe
Crock Pot Fudge
Make your holidays sweeter with this Crock Pot Fudge recipe. 4 ingredients and 15 minutes is all you need to make delicious chocolate fudge with the gentle heat of your crock pot—time to have fun with kids and make it together.
Crock Pot Fudge
Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters
Super easy and delicious white chocolate almond clusters are the perfect gift for the holidays or for any special occasion. Simple with these step by step photo instruction for the perfect white chocolate candy.
White Chocolate Almond Cluster Recipe
🐕For the party animals
Don't forget the dog treats.
Low-Fat Homemade Dog Treats—Healthy & Delicious
Low Fat Homemade Dog Treats are the perfect low-calorie treat for your dog. With only five ingredients, your dog will love the peanut butter and pumpkin taste. Much healthier than commercial treats—any veterinarian would approve.
Low Fat Dog Treat Recipe
Have a great holiday.
Molly, Lilly, Wifo, and DrDan
Editor's Note: Originally Published December 20, 2017. It is one of my recurring posts that will be updated and republished about this time yearly
Catherine says
Aloha Dr. Dan, Wifo, Molly and Lilly,
Happy Holidays to All My husband and I Love your recipes. It’s just
the two of us so I Love crock pot recipes. Everything I have made
of your recipes is super great. Wishing you a Safe Holiday Season
Aloha Catherine and Ric
Jerri says
Merry Christmas, DrDan! I just wanted to say thank you for your efforts in the kitchen to give us great and simple recipes with your tips on making them work!
Leslie says
I have used your menu ideas and recipes for several years, my family thinks I am a foodnetwork star. Thank you for all your hard work
DrDan says
Happy Holidays to You
Dan