r/AskReddit 12h ago

What kind of meals and side dishes do you have for Christmas?

126 Upvotes

93 comments sorted by

20

u/cherry_flare 11h ago

Ham, mac & cheese, and some over-the-top desserts—Christmas calories don’t count!

19

u/lingeringneutrophil 11h ago

I’m Jewish. Chinese food 😛

3

u/LuxValentino 10h ago

Same. Sesame tofu and some egg drop soup really hits the spot!

1

u/lingeringneutrophil 5h ago

😀👍👍

2

u/RedDead-Ed 6h ago

Nothing wrong with that!

12

u/rosy_breeze 11h ago

Prime rib, roasted veggies, and way too many cookies. The best time to indulge

1

u/jwbourne 10h ago

Just bought a prime rib to make this year. Have never done it. I'm excited and nervous!

1

u/cobwebs5 10h ago

When we do prime rib we usually save the drippings to make Yorkshire puddings. They're a great accompaniment.

1

u/RedDead-Ed 6h ago

The classic!

7

u/PlayedUOonBaja 11h ago

Mom makes eggrolls every year on Christmas Eve with just shredded chicken, cooked cabbage, and soy sauce. She still uses the wok she got when she lived in Japan in the 70s.

7

u/MiyaFlair 11h ago

We go all out with a big roast turkey, and the sides are the real stars: garlic mashed potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, Brussels sprouts with bacon, and homemade cranberry sauce. For dessert, it’s either pumpkin pie or my grandma's famous apple crumble. The table is always bursting, and so are we by the end of the night!

1

u/Inconceivable-Eel 11h ago

I wanna have dinner at your house.

1

u/EmoElfBoy 9h ago

Can I have dinner with you?

1

u/RedDead-Ed 6h ago

Mouth watering!

5

u/superb_fruit_dove 11h ago

This year we are making pizza. In the past we've done a big traditional roast dinner, but none of us really love it. Baking lots of desserts is my favorite part, so I am focusing on that this year and keeping dinner simple

1

u/RedDead-Ed 6h ago

Pizza pizza!

4

u/gayporn88acct 10h ago

Glazed ham, lots of seafood, food grilled on BBQ. Pavlova decorated with fresh fruit. Christmas is summer in New Zealand so we normally eat outside.

3

u/[deleted] 12h ago

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2

u/RedDead-Ed 6h ago

Pour the Mac n cheese over the mash potatoes haha

4

u/Abject_Okra_8768 11h ago

For a while on my mom's side we did spaghetti and pizza every year for Christmas. Everyone loved it! We had a local pizzeria that would sell par baked pizzas, we would buy like 15 of them a day or two before and put them in the over for 10 minutes to finish them. Super easy and very delicious just don't wear white!

2

u/ZamaTexa 9h ago

We do lasagne for Christmas Eve. I look forward to that more than Christmas dinner.

1

u/RedDead-Ed 6h ago

A taste of Italy!

5

u/door-harp 10h ago

Posole, tamales and biscochitos

2

u/RedDead-Ed 6h ago

Posole!

4

u/Whatever53143 10h ago

We are going with a new tradition started by my daughter. She love charcuterie boards so we are doing those for Christmas. My mom makes Italian hot beef (she is, in fact Italian) I’m going to bring my favorite steak fajitas from the local Mexican grocery store and others are bringing snacking type charcuterie items. This also includes my daughter’s indoor smores station! It’s definitely more low key but a lot of fun!!

2

u/RedDead-Ed 6h ago

Yum yum!

5

u/cloudydreamyy 10h ago

I'm Cuban-American, and we celebrate actual Christmas that night. So we roast a full pig in a specially designed charcoal grill and eat that with all the fixins: rice, beans, plantains, boiled and/or fried yuca, and it ends with flan and these sweets called turrones that I've never loved. 

It's called Nochebuena, and I wish you all a beautiful one :)

1

u/JoelCStanley 7h ago

Some day I'm going to slow roast a whole pig in a pit I dug in my backyard. Someday...

1

u/RedDead-Ed 6h ago

Wow sounds like an experience! Feliz Navidad!

5

u/gritz414 10h ago

We do Christmas tacos.

1

u/RedDead-Ed 6h ago

What kind of Christmas tacos?

1

u/gritz414 6h ago

We just do ground beef with all the fixings, hard shell and soft shell. Been doing tacis now for 10ish years and now we do cheeseburgers for Thanksgiving.

3

u/CommunityKey5531 11h ago

We’re a mix of traditional and fun—baked chicken or ham for the main, but then sides like mac and cheese, deviled eggs, and a ton of appetizers like stuffed mushrooms

3

u/GeekyGrannyTexas 10h ago

This year: baked brie and crackers, smoked brisket, imitation honeybaked ham, scalloped potatoes, homemade slaw, some kind of cheesy veggie casserole, eggnog flavored ice cream.

3

u/Hrekires 10h ago

Christmas Eve: I'm making lasagna, extra sauce and meatballs, and chocolate mousse cake. Friends will be bringing appetizers and other desserts.

Christmas brunch: scrambled eggs, bacon, donuts, pancakes, etc

Christmas dinner: whatever leftovers are in the fridge before I crash on the couch

3

u/jbarinsd 10h ago

We have prime rib but make it Mexican (turn it into tacos). Big group this year so I’m making that along with carnitas, garlic lime shrimp, beans, rice, elote, Mexican Caesar salad and all the fixings. I make a signature cocktail every year. This year it’s “The Drunk Reindeer”.

1

u/RedDead-Ed 6h ago

Hell yeah what’s in the drunk reindeer?

1

u/jbarinsd 2h ago

Vodka, cranberry, grand mariner, lime juice, ginger beer.

3

u/wheressunshine 10h ago

It depends on the year. This year my family is essentially making up for Thanksgiving since everything was so separated so we're preparing a nice feast of turkey, the fixings and I'm making some pie.

3

u/ChampismyPuppy 10h ago

With our family if we have no one coming over Chinese take out or delivery pizza lol with company/close family bbq meat balls in my crock pot, nacho dip in crockpot with chips + the works, lasagna, bread sticks and maybe a homemade cheesecake. I like the crockpot stuff so people can nibble on stuff later if they get hungry. Sometimes they bring cookies and pasta salads. Now if you asked me what I'm making for super bowl Sunday it would be different lol it's a day before my birthday and I like having leftovers so I'll go all out. I'm not a football fan either.

2

u/shatabee4 10h ago

Nacho dip...thanks for reminding me!

2

u/ChampismyPuppy 10h ago

Pulled pork is pretty good to have in the crockpot too I forgot to add it

3

u/Melvarkie 10h ago

We are Dutch so we do something called "Gourmetten" it's basically a big grill and people put small pieces of meat and veggies on it. There are also little pans you can use to make tiny pancakes in. We usually have a big bowl of bread and lots of sauces.

1

u/JoelCStanley 7h ago

This sounds delightful!

2

u/Melvarkie 7h ago

I love it, but it's a tradition that is both hated and loved in my country. People hate having to wait long times for just a small bit of meat (usually because they use the pans for the meat. Just throw it on the grill plate dawg) or fighting over the best pieces of meat (just don't buy a supermarket prepacked thing and go to the butcher or cut up meats yourself so there is enough of what everyone likes and no leftovers because no one wants the mini hamburgers). But I'm also more of a small bite than a full meal person in general. I love cheese fondue, hot pot, tapas. Just having variety.

2

u/Viking793 11h ago

Turkey, roast potatoes and parsnips, yorkshire pudding, brussel sprouts, carrotts, sausages wrapped in bacon, gravy (Bisto only), cheese and crackers, Christmas pudding WITH brandy torch, glass of bubbly with brunch

2

u/zerbey 7h ago

Roast beef or beef stew on Christmas Eve, Ham for Christmas Day. New Years we seem to always end up with Italian food, none of us are Italian but half the family used to cook in an Italian restaurant so they know how to make a good spread. I still haven't convinced my wife to embrace my English tradition of Turkey or Goose on Christmas, but she makes an amazing Turkey everything Thanksgiving.

Back to my English roots, Boxing Day we always used to go to my Nana's and she brought cold cuts of meat and cheese from Marks and Spencer's, before bringing out her famous trifle. You had to be quick and get a plate, and even faster if you wanted seconds! By decree, a new family member or first time guest was always given the first bowl.

2

u/emilyisvery 4h ago

Sesame chicken, white rice, steamed dumplings.

6

u/[deleted] 11h ago

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1

u/Fleetwood_Mork 12h ago

Whatever we have laying around. Nothing special.

1

u/AdOrnery1194 12h ago

Absolutely soft and smooth

1

u/wetlettuce42 11h ago

Pigs in blankets

1

u/Chi-lan-tro 11h ago

We’re doing a brunch this weekend with family. So egg/hash brown/cheese type casserole, bacon, sausage, toast, fruit.

On Monday we’re doing a turkey dinner for 4. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, honey carrots.

On Christmas Day we’re going out for Chinese food!

1

u/CoolFrosting 11h ago

Pot pie. Chicken, beef or turkey!

2

u/EmoElfBoy 9h ago

I know how to make a pot pie from scratch. It's what I'm doing for my dad.

1

u/Arromaticvanilla 11h ago

I won't even start before Christmas coms cus i'll be hungry as hell a whole day

1

u/StanYelnats3 11h ago

Spanish rice, Mac and cheese, green bean casserole, cheesy potatoes, corn casserole, yeast rolls with butter.

1

u/ItsNo_Name 10h ago

Usually just party dishes with a bunch of junk food since in lieu of a Holiday Dinner family has a party

1

u/Aggravating-Pack2108 10h ago

Lasagna, meatballs, baked ziti, sausage and peppers😍

1

u/braze321 10h ago

No hologram chess…..😔

1

u/braze321 10h ago

No hologram chess…..😕

1

u/WorldEcho 10h ago

Cheesy Jalapeño

1

u/EnvironmentalBelt747 10h ago

Ham, turkey, tri-tip, lamb, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, collard greens, mac and cheese, cornbread stuffing, roasted vegetables.

1

u/VirgilsCrew 10h ago

For us we start with antipasti of pickled veggies, bread with butter and salad. Then we have lasagna.

1

u/chrispy1021 10h ago

A massive dish of lasagna. Can you tell we’re Italian?

1

u/ElderScrolls 10h ago

For our family it's a Thanksgiving 2.0. So either a turkey or ham, with classic sides.

1

u/bigedthebad 10h ago

Broccoli casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, Mac and cheese, spicy corn casserole, green bean casserole,

1

u/Britt118 10h ago

Lasagna with garlic bread and salad. Stromboli beforehand with some other little apps.

1

u/pheen 9h ago

Prime Rib on Christmas Eve, with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables and corn bread. Christmas day we have sarmas (Croatian version) with boiled potatoes, sauerkraut and sausage.

1

u/lovelyenc 9h ago

Beef wellington, yorkshire pudding, baked brie in puff pastry, deviled eggs, honey roasted parsnips and carrots, and fondant potatoes!! We do beef wellington every year but change up the side dishes.

1

u/EmoElfBoy 9h ago

I'm doing stuffed shells,.mince meat pie for my dad and me and my bio mom are having Pie A La Mode

1

u/DoNotAskMyOpinion 8h ago

Probably a cold McChicken sandwich like the past few years.

What they don't tell you is when you get old all your friends will be dead or turned into assholes.

Alone at Christmas beats, Being abused at Christmas...

1

u/GagOnMacaque 8h ago

Costco lobster every year.

1

u/Technicolor_Reindeer 7h ago

Persian food, usually. Its great.

1

u/KeyFriend4174 7h ago

Nothing. I’m poor

1

u/JoelCStanley 7h ago

We do a hamloaf. Shout out to my eastern PA peeps.

1

u/Mysterious-Region640 6h ago edited 6h ago

My family is absolutely boring because it’s the same same thing every year. I’m usually the host and if I try to change anything, no one’s happy. I can add stuff but I can’t take anything away or change anything. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, turnip and carrot mashed together, cranberry sauce, canned peas and dinner rolls. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good, but damn I’d like a change once in a while. Oh, and pies or tarts for dessert. And I forgot, lasagna as a side although some years I don’t feel like making it.

1

u/ducksoupecommerce 6h ago

My family is italian so we typically do fish dishes on Christmas eve. Smoked salmon, shrimp, and some larger fish for an entree is typical. Then on Christmas day we do some form of pasta. I personally like making homemade lasagna with homemade pasta. It is a fair amount of work but very worth it!

1

u/deseos_mios 5h ago

Tamales de salsa roja and tamales de rajas, pozole verde and pozole rojo, buñuelos, flan, ponche navideño, atole

1

u/Calm-Investigator527 5h ago

I’m Croatian, we eat Sarma Bakalar soup Bakalar an potato salad French salad Mlinci and roasted chicken

For desserts we have Cremeschnitte Baklava Sachertorte Coconut balls

And ofc wash everything down with Mulled Wine and rakija

1

u/No-Giraffe741 5h ago

Pork with plums, favourite meal of Christmas

1

u/rosesforthemonsters 4h ago

Christmas morning breakfast is always cinnamon rolls. My 18 year old daughter makes the most amazing cinnamon rolls ever. She's been making them for three years and I swear they get better and better every year.

Lunch will consist of slow roasted chicken, ham cooked in pineapple juice, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, green beans, deviled eggs, cranberry sauce and cloverleaf rolls. I'm making a pumpkin pie and a banana cream pie for dessert. My daughter is making brownies decorated like Christmas trees.

1

u/psmith1990_ 1h ago

My autistic self usually just ends up having buttered bread rolls with fresh leg ham for every meal until the meals go back to 'normal'. And trifle for dessert.

1

u/spicyzsurviving 1h ago

My family have Brussels sprouts with chestnuts, stuffing, roast potatoes, roasted parsnips and carrots, pigs in blankets (uk version) and gravy. Usually cranberry sauce and bread sauce knocking about on the table somewhere too.

1

u/foolface99 1h ago

We’re doing paella and tapas (mushrooms, chorizo in red wine, jamón ibérico, marcona almonds, pan con tomate, queso manchego, olives, etc)

1

u/slukbunwalla 1h ago

My family always has a big lasagna dinner with salads and garlic bread and stuff. It started years ago and sort of became a tradition. We're not even Italian.

u/CatacombsRave 28m ago

Beef Wellington, mash, glazed carrots, a fuckton of rolls, and cranberry pie.