Happy Sunday my friends! I hope you’re having a restful weekend gearing up for the upcoming holiday week. In today’s post I rounded up my top picks for holiday recipes if you’re in need of inspo—everything from snacks and drinks to full on menus—so grab your coffee, take a scroll through, and let me know what you’ll be trying!
Before I get into it, some very exciting reminders:
✅ Don’t Think About Dinner is still discounted on Amazon and Target and makes for the perfect last-minute gift when you print this gift tag! Get signed copies here.
✅ Our next DTAD Weekly Giveaway is at the bottom of this post! And the theme? Dinner Party!!! I’m talking faves like Ghia, Fishwife, Graza, Fly by Jing, Crow Canyon Home, Unreal Snacks, & more!!
✅ The DTAD Sweepstakes is open for entries, and you DON’T want to miss out on entering. This is a huge huge bundle of a bunch of my kitchen faves—enter here!
✅ Book tour tickets for NY, Boston, DC, Chicago, Austin, Seattle, & SF are available and also count as a preorder for accessing the preorder bonuses! (Somerville has sold out, so Boston friends get your Trillium tickets before that one sells out too!)
Okay, let’s talk holiday recipes!
If you’re the one hosting:
2025 holiday menu: In case you missed it, this year’s holiday menu is out now! Head here to check it out and try my smoky brown sugar pork tenderloin recipe.
2024 holiday menu: You can always reuse an oldie, but a goodie! Head here to check out last year’s holiday menu. The pot roast is my fave!
miso apple cider roasted chicken: Sure to be a crowd pleaser, this dish combines all my favorite holiday flavors like apples, miso, sage and thyme!
orange cranberry spatchcock chicken: If you’re looking for a show stopper this year, this spatchcocked chicken is dressed to impress with the tastiest orange cranberry glaze that gives your chicken a moist center, and sweet outer layer.
rosemary cider short ribs: Thinking something a litter fancier this year? These rosemary cider short ribs will have you guests asking if you hired a personal chef..
If you have a family potluck:
french onion pasta: If adding dishes to the list of holiday to-do’s is your worst nightmare, this french onion pasta is the one for you. Coming together in just one pan, it’s a comfort meal that also saves you the hassle! This is my go-to pan.
pulled chicken sliders: I love these chicken sliders for family events that everyone will enjoy, from kiddos to grandparents! They combine your classic chicken parm flavors with the ease of a slider, perfect for any holiday.
shrimp spaghetti: My marry me shrimp spaghetti just might be getting you a ring this holiday season… 😂 Proceed with caution to whom you serve!
roasted brussels sprouts and kale salad: Athena Eats Goood’s favorite dish to bring to her Christmas Eve celebration! Veggies sometimes get forgotten in a potluck, so this salad is a simple way to slip in some greens.
dairy-free spinach and artichoke dip: No good pot luck is complete without a good dip and this dairy free option is perfect for all to enjoy!
If you’re low on time:
date and cheddar chopped salad: This date and cheddar chopped salad is easily customizable for anyone to enjoy! You can check out all my swaps and subs here. BTW this big wooden bowl I love for salads is 70% off currently!
harvest sheet pan: I love a good sheet pan recipe around the holidays to save time, and energy. And for an extra festive feel, I like to use this wintery green one.
tortellini pasta salad: Pasta salads are an easy go-to dish to add some color and veggies back to the table! This mediterranean inspired one is vegetarian, but still packed with protein thanks to the chickpeas.
garlic and herb orzo pasta salad: This orzo salad gets better the longer you let it chill and soak up that delicious dressing. To avoid wilting, I like to prep ahead and leave out the spinach until serving.
If you’re on dessert duty:
festive sprinkle cookies: It just wouldn’t be the holidays without a festive cookie! I love using these dye-free holiday sprinkles.
hot chocolate cookies: Sometimes I just don’t want to drink my dessert, and these hot chocolate cookies are exactly what I need to cure that cocoa craving! Topped with mini marshmallows, each one gives hot cocoa vibes!
cashew freezer fudge: This cashew freezer fudge comes together in just 15 minutes—no baking required—perfect for a last minute dessert that can cool in the freezer while you eat dinner.
frosted chocolate peppermint bread: For something that looks and tastes like holiday spirit, you have got to try this frosted chocolate peppermint bread! Free of grains, dairy, and gluten, you won’t feel bad going back for seconds.
gluten & dairy free frosted peppermint brownies: Combining fall and winter classics, you won’t believe that this recipe calls for pumpkin puree AND candy canes! An easy way to use up your holiday candy.
If you’re serving holiday breakfast:
cheddar and chive breakfast biscuits: If you’re looking to impress your guests and serve a high protein, nourishing meal, these cheddar and chive breakfast biscuits are the one for you. Easy to prep ahead and freeze up to 3 months.
cheesy breakfast casserole: I love a breakfast casserole that I can prep the day before, so come holiday morning, I can just reheat and enjoy! Cheesy, eggy, and potatoey, this dish combines all your breakfast favorites!
raspberry swirl baked oats: If having cake for breakfast is your kinda idea of a holiday vacation, let me introduce you to my raspberry swirl baked oats! Just as beautiful as they are tasty, and best topped with a dollop of greek yogurt.
veggie and egg breakfast sandwiches: Everyone loves a good breakfast sandwich, and this one ensures you’re getting those veggies in before noon! Easily customizable, you can use whatever veggies you have on hand.
Looking for a fun mocktail to prepare for the holidays along with your meals? Try my mint mocha espresso “martinis”!! The recipe above makes you two 6-ounce drinks and the best part? You’ll be getting your electrolyte fix at the same time thanks to LMNT electrolytes. I know it sounds crazy, but chocolate salt is DELISH and so fun to mix into drinks this time of year. I also love it hot as an electrolyte hot chocolate!! No sugar, artificial colors, or dodgy ingredients: use this link for a free LMNT sample pack with any purchase.
Don’t Think About Dinner is less than one month away from being in your hands!!
To celebrate and thank YOU for all the support pre-ordering the book, getting tour tickets, and just leaving messages of support and excitement I’m doing weekly giveaways… and today is week 2! This week’s giveaway? Dinner Party!
3 winners will get:
Ghia Aperetif Duo
Zero Proof Oddbird GSM (red wine), Saint Viviana Sauv Blanc (white wine), Lapo’s Negroni cans, & 4 Lapo’s Espresso Martini cans
FishWife Smoky Trio
Crown Canyon Home Catalina Large Salad Bowl in Pink Sunset
Fly by Jing Chili Crisp Duo
Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers, Organic Seed Flour Crackers, Pop Mmms, & Veggie Pita Crackers
Row7 Koginut squash (2x), Upstate Abundance potatoes, seed gift set
Banza brown rice pasta (mixed shapes, 6 boxes!)
Tate’s GF Tiny Tate’s (2 bags) & GF Chocolate Chip cookies (2 bags)
Unreal Variety Pack
To enter, comment your best hosting tip or your dinner party essential!
The next Don’t Think About Dinner Club is Monday 12/22 at 7pm EST with my friend and author of the upcoming cookbook Dig In, Erin O'Brien! We’re giving you another sneak peek of a recipe from the book—Crunchy Pork Lettuce Wraps with Carrot Slaw!! Access the recipe early and follow along via the preorder bonus bundle 🥕 More giveaways, Q&A, book sneak peeks, and more while we’re on… see ya there!!
& ICYMI: I had so much fun cooking on live with Zoe Barrie Soderstrom this week! Recipe sneak peek is in the preorder bundle as well!
Let me know what you’re trying this week and send your photos in our chat!
Give yourself permission to use (compostable!) paper plates so you can actually
Be present with people rather than doing dishes
I love prepping as much as I can the day before and I let my crock pot and oven do a lot of the heavy lifting. No complicated stove top recipes!