Unique dinner ideas for Christmas! These non traditional Christmas main dishes are a fun way to change up your holiday dinner menu.
So you’ve made all the holiday treats and Christmas baked goods, purchased all the gifts, and figured out the stocking stuffers …
… but now it’s time to plan Christmas dinner.
There’s turkey and ham of course, but that can get quite stale when serving it year after year.
We need some new recipes!
I put together a list of unique, non-traditional Christmas dinner ideas, so you have tons of inspiration for new dishes to serve this year.
These alternative Christmas dinners include fun Italian pasta recipes, comfort foods and seafood dishes, and family-friendly casual foods like sliders and easy crockpot meals.
There’s truly something for every type of celebration and “cooking skill level.”
In addition to the fun recipes below, other unique Christmas dinner ideas include:
Okay, let’s check out these alternative Christmas dinners!
47 Christmas Dinner Ideas
Homemade Lasagna
Photo Credit:
cupcakesandkalechips.com
This amazing homemade lasagna recipe is called the World’s Best Lasagna for a reason!
It’s a classic pasta made with layers of lasagna noodles, hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and mozzarella cheese baked to hot, gooey deliciousness.
Crockpot Cranberry Pork Loin
Photo Credit:
www.themagicalslowcooker.com
Classic Stuffed Shells
Photo Credit:
www.dinneratthezoo.com
Stuffed Shells are filled with three types of cheese, then covered in marinara sauce and more cheese and baked to golden brown perfection.
It’s a comfort food classic that’s special and hearty enough for holiday dinners.
Thanksgiving Sliders
Photo Credit:
www.simplystacie.net
Thanksgiving Sliders are a sweet and savory way to use up any holiday leftovers you might have.
These delicious baked turkey sandwiches are loaded with layers of stuffing, cranberry sauce and leftover turkey.
Perfect Ribeye Steaks
Photo Credit:
www.spendwithpennies.com
Tender ribeye steaks cooked to juicy perfection are the most flavorful cuts out there.
There is no need for special or fancy ingredients, just steaks, seasonings, a brush of oil, and a pat of butter for perfection – make them on the grill or in the oven.
Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo
Photo Credit:
www.themagicalslowcooker.com
Buttery Baked Salmon with Broccolini
Photo Credit:
www.mychefsapron.com
Baked Salmon is a beautiful buttery and moist fish dish with wonderful flavors and a fun presentation with the baby broccoli.
The subtle taste and aroma of dried Basil and chopped shallots nicely add a subtle sweetness.
Mini Individual Beef Wellingtons
Photo Credit:
coupleinthekitchen.com
For a smallish gathering, treat everyone to these stunning Mini Beef Wellingtons.
The individual portions means you get more buttery puff pastry per bite, not to mention incredible flavors with a stunning presentation.
Classic Meatloaf
Photo Credit:
thecookinchicks.com
Incredibly moist and flavorful Classic Meatloaf is comfort food at its finest. It makes the perfect hearty and casual holiday dinner.
Cranberry Chicken Thighs
Photo Credit:
littlesunnykitchen.com
A festive and easy meal, this Cranberry Chicken recipe is made with juicy, crispy chicken thighs and a delicious tart and savory sauce.
The whole thing is made in one pan, and ready in about half an hour.
Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Casserole
Photo Credit:
www.themagicalslowcooker.com
Thanksgiving Casserole has all the flavors of a delicious holiday feast conveniently made in your slow cooker.
Make the entire meal right in your crockpot with fresh ingredients while you’re busy doing other fun things.
Crispy Pork Belly Slices with Cider
Photo Credit:
slowthecookdown.com
Made with a handful of simple ingredients, Crispy Pork Belly Slices are all kinds of delicious!
The pork is slow cooked in a cider, honey and soy sauce for a wonderful sweet and salty bite. The crackling skin on top is so perfectly crispy the meat is juicy and tender.
Holiday Charcuterie Board
Photo Credit:
rufflesandrainboots.com
Instead of a big, sit down dinner, consider serving this fun Holiday Charcuterie Board for everyone to casually munch on while they mingle.
Stuffed Cornish Hens
Photo Credit:
littlesunnykitchen.com
Impress your guests and serve up these honey-glazed stuffed Cornish hens for the holidays.
Stuffed with a flavorful wild rice blend sweetened with apples and dried cranberries and with some pecans thrown in for added crunch.
Authentic Italian Manicotti
Photo Credit:
scarlatifamilykitchen.com
This authentic Italian manicotti recipe is one of the best out there! With manicotti shells made from crepes and a rich ricotta cheese filling, this comforting pasta dish is perfect for the holiday season.
Salmon Wellington
Photo Credit:
littlesunnykitchen.com
Take your salmon game to the next level with this gorgeous Salmon Wellington.
Perfectly cooked and succulent salmon sitting on a bed of garlicky sautéed spinach and wrapped in golden crispy and flaky puff pastry.
Buttermilk Roasted Chicken
Photo Credit:
slowthecookdown.com
Roasted with herbs, garlic and lemon, every bite of Buttermilk Roasted Chicken is full of flavor, and an effortless way to guarantee tender and juicy chicken every single time.
Easy Lobster Tail
Photo Credit:
littlesunnykitchen.com
Learn how to cook lobster tail the easy way! Your lobster will be tender, succulent, and perfect for impressing family and friends.
The best part is you can make this restaurant-quality dish at home in under 20 minutes.
Roast Beef Sliders
Photo Credit:
spaceshipsandlaserbeams.com
Tender roast beef topped with melted cheddar cheese on a soft sweet roll make these baked Roast Beef Sliders a fun and unique choice for Christmas dinner.
Easy Chicken Parmesan
Photo Credit:
www.spendwithpennies.com
Cheesy, easy, and comforting, Chicken Parmesan is a restaurant favorite made easy at home. It’s baked instead of fried, but still packed with a ton of delicious flavor.
Homemade Pierogi
Photo Credit:
alittlespoon.com
There’s nothing quite like Homemade Pierogi. These amazing Polish dumplings are good boiled, but they are transcendent fried in onion butter and slathered in sour cream.
Rosemary Citrus Roast Chicken with Roasted Potatoes
Photo Credit:
www.christinascucina.com
Rosemary Citrus Roast Chicken is so tender and juicy, and will look stunning on your holiday table.
Best of all, you can prepare it ahead of time and just throw it in the oven to roast before dinner.
Beef Tamales
Photo Credit:
inmamamaggieskitchen.com
A bit time consuming, but oh-so worth the effort, flavorful Beef Tamales are a holiday tradition in many Mexican households.
Amazingly delicious with just the right amount of spicy flavors, everyone will be anxious to unwrap these tasty goodies, top with salsa, and enjoy.
Swedish Meatballs
Photo Credit:
www.anediblemosaic.com
This Swedish meatballs recipe features tender, juicy meatballs seasoned with a hint of white pepper, allspice, and nutmeg, swimming in creamy Swedish meatball sauce.
It’s a gorgeous 30 minute meatball dinner that’s even better than at IKEA!
Mexican Fiesta
Photo Credit:
www.missinthekitchen.com
Creating a Mexican Fiesta is a super fun way to feed a crowd. It’s budget-friendly, easy and delicious, and the casual, buffet-style meal will ensure everyone has a good time.
French Beef Stew
Photo Credit:
www.keepingitsimpleblog.com
Provencal Beef Stew is a rich and delicious French beef stew with red wine that comes from the Provencal region of France.
Serve it with bread, noodles or polenta for a truly scrumptious, satisfying comfort food holiday dinner.
Upside Down Pizza
Photo Credit:
spaceshipsandlaserbeams.com
A unique casserole that literally flips its inspiration on its head, this Upside Down Pizza is loaded with your favorite pizza toppings covered by a bubbly top.
It’s perfect for pizza-lovers who’d enjoy a casual holiday dinner.
Chicken with Herbs de Provence
Photo Credit:
www.throughthefibrofog.com
Fragrant and oh-so-delicious, Creamy Chicken with Herbs de Provence is super easy to make with fridge and pantry staples.
It’s a simple skillet chicken recipe that doesn’t require any fancy equipment and comes together in about 30 minutes.
Mussels in Garlic Lemon Cream Sauce
Photo Credit:
homecookingcollective.com
Steamed Mussels in a cozy cream sauce with lemon, shallots, and garlic is an easy, one-pot dinner in less than an hour. It looks fancy, and the simplicity will be our little secret.
Lamb Ragu
Photo Credit:
homecookingcollective.com
Slow-braised Lamb Ragu has an incredible flavor and rich sauce from simmering luxuriously tender lamb, tomato, red wine, and herbs.
It’s so perfect for enjoying with pasta, polenta, or crusty bread.
Fagottini Pasta in a Cherry Tomato Sauce
Photo Credit:
www.the-pasta-project.com
This unique Italian recipe combines delicate homemade Fagottini Pasta filled with a rich, savory filling of eggplant and mozzarella and served in a vibrant cherry tomato sauce.
It’s a perfect dinner for those who love creative and authentic Italian cooking.
Cioppino
Photo Credit:
theforkedspoon.com
Cioppino is a comforting seafood stew filled with shrimp, clams, mussels, white fish, and crab legs all simmered in a rich broth made from tomatoes, white wine, and fish stock.
It’s ideal for seafood lovers, or if you’re celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
Baked Spaghetti
Photo Credit:
www.spendwithpennies.com
In this cozy dish, spaghetti is tossed with a zesty meat sauce, topped with cheese and oven-baked until hot and bubbly.
It can even be prepped ahead of time and baked just before it’s time to eat.
Caramelle with Sweet Potato Filling
Photo Credit:
thesageapron.com
Caramelle is a stuffed pasta shaped like a piece of wrapped candy.
It can be made with any type of savory filling – but to mimic the sweet meaning of caramelle, this recipe uses a roasted sweet potato filling and a simple balsamic & brown butter sauce with crispy prosciutto.
Chicken Wellington with Dijon Cream Sauce
Photo Credit:
thedizzycook.com
Chicken Wellington with Dijon Cream Sauce makes a fantastic holiday meal that’is also really affordable.
With flaky puff pastry, a simple duxelle of mushrooms and shallots, and a creamy dijon sauce, it’s equal parts flavorful and elegant.
Cranberry Chipotle BBQ Pulled Pork
Photo Credit:
snappygourmet.com
Cranberry Chipotle BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders are perfect for your holiday parties or as an appetizer or main dish anytime.
Let the slow cooker do all the work – your house will smell fabulous while it cooks!
Crispy German Schnitzel with Fondue Schnitzel Sauce
Photo Credit:
thesageapron.com
Fried schnitzel is a quintessential German dish that is quick, easy and so delicious.
This schnitzel recipe can be made with pork, veal, turkey or chicken and is made even better with a cheese fondue schnitzel sauce.
Shepherd’s Pie
Photo Credit:
www.spendwithpennies.com
Tender ground lamb (or beef) and vegetables get baked in a savory gravy with a fluffy mashed potato topping in this hearty Shepherd’s Pie recipe.
It’s a complete meal in one, so no need to make other side dishes unless you want to.
Shrimp Stuffed Salmon
Photo Credit:
thedizzycook.com
Shrimp Stuffed Salmon is an elegant meal made super easy. Shrimp is mixed with a garlic and spinach cream cheese filling and stuffed inside a salmon filet, then baked to perfection.
Christmas Soup
Photo Credit:
ericasrecipes.com
With the red tomatoes, green chilies, and tri-color pasta, Christmas Soup sure looks the part!
And not only is it colorful and festive, but this creamy, delicious, cheesy soup reheats beautifully for lunch leftovers post-holiday too.
Herb Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breast
Photo Credit:
www.throughthefibrofog.com
Deliciously decadent, Herb Ricotta Stuffed Chicken has minimal ingredients but lots of flavor.
Flavorful ricotta and fresh herb stuffing create a decadent ooey-gooey cheesy chicken deliciousness that pairs well with a variety of holiday sides.
Pesto Chicken Crepes
Photo Credit:
ericasrecipes.com
Pesto Chicken Crepes have juicy pesto chicken, onion, and cheese in delicate crepes finished with roasted red pepper sauce and fresh basil.
With the rich colors of basil and red pepper coulis, this recipe is festive for the holidays.
Fish Almondine
Photo Credit:
cravingcalifornia.com
Impressive-looking Fish Almondine is perfect for a holiday dinner party, but simple enough that you’ll want to make it all the time.
The fish filets cook quickly and the fragrant brown butter pan sauce comes together in just a few minutes. The result is a flavorful and elegant dish your guests are sure to love.
Creamy Truffle Chicken
Photo Credit:
www.nextinlime.com
Creamy Truffle Chicken feels fancy but not fussy, with high-end restaurant flavor without any time-consuming effort.
Everything cooks in one skillet, and the easy cleanup means a lot this time of year.
Easy Country-Style Pork Ribs
Photo Credit:
bakingmischief.com
Country Style Pork Ribs ribs are a rich and fall-apart tender alternative to traditional ribs. Cheap, easy to make, and SO good, this might just be your new favorite way to eat pork.
Chicken Stuffing Casserole
Photo Credit:
www.spendwithpennies.com
Chicken Stuffing Casserole is totally fuss-free and quick to make with pantry ingredients. Chicken and veggies are topped with stuffing and baked until bubbly.
It has delicious holiday flavor and takes about 35 minutes from start to finish.
Lemon Fettuccine with Garlic Shrimps
Photo Credit:
www.chocolatesandchai.com
Lemon Fettuccine with Garlic Shrimp has a light, fresh taste that’s refreshing after all the heavy holiday foods and sweets.
Ready to try some new non-traditional Christmas dinner recipes?
I hope this list of unique Christmas dinner ideas has given you tons of inspiration for new recipes to make this holiday season.
Whether you’re having a casual Christmas at home, or hosting a festive holiday dinner party, there are so many fun ideas to choose from.