The holiday season is busy enough without spending Christmas Day stuck in the kitchen. Planning a make-ahead menu is the secret to actually enjoying the day with your loved ones instead of frantically cooking.
A little advance prep can transform your holiday experience from stressful to joyful. Who doesn’t want to sip hot cocoa by the tree instead of juggling multiple pots and pans?
The key is choosing dishes that either improve with time or require minimal last-minute attention.
Here’s a complete make-ahead Christmas menu that lets you do 80% of the work before the big day. Each dish includes simple instructions for when to prep.
Appetizers
Cranberry and Brie Bites
Prepare the pastry cups and cranberry mixture two days ahead. Store separately, then assemble and bake just before guests arrive.
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Make completely 1-2 days ahead and refrigerate. Bake straight from the fridge, adding an extra 10 minutes to the baking time.
Charcuterie Board
Slice cheeses and prepare components the night before. Store covered in the refrigerator, then arrange on your board an hour before serving.
Try these charcuterie boards:
- Christmas Tree Charcuterie
- Ornament Charcuterie Board
- Christmas Wreath Grazing Board
- Candy Cane Charcuterie Board
- Red and Green Dessert Charcuterie
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Main Course
Honey Glazed Ham
Purchase a pre-cooked ham and make your glaze up to 3 days ahead. On Christmas, simply warm the ham and brush with glaze during the last 30 minutes.
Beef Tenderloin with Herb Butter
Season the beef and prepare the herb butter two days ahead. Bring to room temperature before roasting on Christmas Day.
Side Dishes
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Prepare completely up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate. Reheat in the oven with extra butter on top to keep them moist.
Roasted Root Vegetables
Chop all vegetables 2 days ahead and store in water. Drain, pat dry, and season the night before. Roast while the main dish rests.
Green Bean Casserole
Assemble completely (except toppings) 2 days ahead. Add crispy onions just before baking on Christmas Day.
Try this roasted garlic green bean casserole recipe.
Cranberry Orange Sauce
Make up to a week ahead and refrigerate. The flavors actually improve with time.
Desserts
Classic Christmas Trifle
Assemble completely 1 day ahead. The layers meld beautifully overnight.
Peppermint Chocolate Cookies
Bake up to a week ahead and freeze. Thaw at room temperature on Christmas morning.
Eggnog Cheesecake
Bake 2-3 days ahead and refrigerate. The texture and flavor improve with time.
Or these Christmas cookies with 5 ingredients or less!
The beauty of this menu is that when Christmas Day arrives, you’ll mainly be reheating rather than cooking from scratch. You can stagger the reheating times based on your serving schedule.
Remember to create a timeline working backward from your desired meal time. This helps coordinate when each dish needs attention.
Most importantly, embrace imperfection. Christmas is about the people around your table, not a picture-perfect meal. The greatest gift you can give your guests is your relaxed, present self.
