Try Something Different for Dinner This Christmas
Thanksgiving has come and gone, and so has the turkey and dressing, in your opinion. If you and your spouse are planning to host Christmas dinner for your family or friends during this holiday season, consider opting for a nontraditional Christmas dinner. We’ve got ideas for various nontraditional Christmas dinners below—perfect for any time during the month of December, for small or large gatherings, or for enjoying a special night at home with your spouse.
1. Italian
Bruschetta, spaghetti and meatballs, and tiramisu for dessert—it’ll be a cozy, heartwarming, and nontraditional Christmas dinner.
2. Barbecue
This is a great happy medium because you still get some of your favorite traditional sides like macaroni and cheese and green beans, but you pair them with pulled pork, brisket, and barbecue ribs making it a nontraditional Christmas dinner idea.
3. Soup
Make your life easy with a one-pot or Crock-Pot meal. Whip up your favorite homemade chicken noodle soup, vegetable soup, or buffalo chicken soup recipe for the ultimate comfort meal and easy cleanup.
4. Tex-Mex
Honestly, would anyone turn down chips, guacamole and queso, a build-your-own taco bar, and churros for dessert?
5. Breakfast for Dinner
Pull out all the stops for an elaborate breakfast for dinner display—French toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, biscuits, gravy, yogurt, fruit, orange juice, you name it, you make it. And, you’ll have leftovers for Christmas morning breakfast if you make this nontraditional Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, for example.
6. Appetizers
This is a perfect potluck option because each guest can bring their favorite small appetizer—fruit tray, veggie tray, cheese, meatballs, chips and dip, pigs in a blanket, etc.
7. Roast Beef
Like above, you don’t have to get super creative if you’re looking for a nontraditional Christmas dinner idea. Just swap proteins from turkey and ham to a tender roast beef! Serve with mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, and rolls, and you’ll be set.
8. Low Country Boil
Try your hand at this one-pot Southern seafood feast. It can be a labor of love but the reward is a delicious smattering of shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes, seasoned perfectly. Serve it with melted butter and cocktail sauce and this will be a Christmas dinner you won’t forget.
9. Seafood
Moving along with the seafood theme, skip the turkey and swap your main protein for a fancy seafood option—crab legs, fresh fish, sautéed scallops. Bring the ocean to your landlocked home this Christmas.
10. Pizza
It’ll be like, “Home Alone!” What’s better (and easier for mom and dad) than having a pizza party? Order your favorite pizza or create your own pizzas at home!
