Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas

A traditional British and Irish roast chicken meal that's economical and delicious. This Bisto roast chicken dinner is easy to prepare and makes an excellent alternative to turkey for Christmas Eve, feeding the family without breaking the bank.

Slow-cooked leg of lamb yields meat that falls off the bone, reminiscent of Turkish lamb tandir. The gentle pot-roasting method keeps the meat moist and succulent, providing a tender alternative to roast chicken or beef for a special holiday dinner.

Prime rib is a tender cut with marbling that enhances flavour. This rib roast becomes a deeply tasty centrepiece and a fantastic substitute for turkey, perfect for Christmas Eve. It's the author’s favourite beef recipe and pairs beautifully with Yorkshire pudding and gravy.

This recipe teaches how to cook a rack of pork with the crispiest crackling. Using a Frenched rack and scoring the rind ensures tender meat and crunchy crackling. It's a wonderful roast for Christmas Eve, complete with rich gravy from the pan drippings.

Pan-seared duck breasts topped with a vibrant orange sauce; the classic duck and orange combination is quick to prepare and tastes luxurious. The sauce is simple and can be ready in minutes, making this elegant dish perfect for an intimate Christmas Eve dinner.

Tenderloin is stuffed with herbs and wrapped in smoky bacon. The bacon keeps the meat moist and adds rich flavour, while the stuffing infuses herbs throughout. It's quick yet impressive—ideal for a holiday dinner when you want maximum flavour with minimal fuss.

A show-stopping lamb roast shaped into a regal crown and served on a bed of fluffy couscous and served with a pistachio-mint sauce, this crown roast of lamb is a centerpiece fit for a holiday meal.

Duck legs slowly braised in red wine with polenta and spinach. The sauce becomes deeply flavoured and luxurious, making this sophisticated main course perfect for a winter holiday celebration.

Beef tenderloin is seasoned simply and roasted to perfection. This recipe offers an easier alternative to prime rib yet delivers a tender and showy roast. It’s perfect for a Christmas Eve feast and comes together quickly with minimal preparation.

A vegetarian main course packed with festive flavours. Chestnuts, spinach and blue cheese are wrapped in flaky puff pastry, creating a buttery crust and rich filling. This makes a striking meat-free centrepiece for a special Christmas Eve dinner.

A whole side of salmon baked with a honey butter glaze, slathered in creamy dill sauce and topped with a festive tapenade of cranberries, almonds and parsley. Finished with pomegranate seeds, this sweet-savory dish is easy to prepare and visually stunning.

This iconic San Francisco tomato-based stew is filled with seafood such as Dungeness crab, snapper, shrimp and clams simmered in a wine-spiked broth. The hearty yet refined dish, traditionally served with sourdough bread, brings coastal flavour to a Christmas Eve menu.